Europe’s Calling
2012. A perfect year to chase my ultimate dream – an Euro
trip!! For me, age 25 is just nice. So, why should I take so long?? Yes, people
would say Europe is relatively expensive, but there should a cheaper way!
I have been waiting all this while and saving every penny that
I earned, read around the travel tips mostly about Europe, subscribed many
types of travel magazines through newsstand, study the globe map, make friends
so that I know the local culture, browse through the internet and the best part
is to follow the Nomadicmatt
travel blog so that I know the tips on how to save money for long travel
trip.
So last week when I found out that Matt is giving away 12
days of Euro Trip, I felt like jumping from the chair. Yay! It’s my great
opportunity. Well, who doesn’t want to travel for free, isn’t it? This is
really cooollll, since I wanted to go to Europe soooooooooooo mmmmuuuuccchhh.
Not in the other year, I want it to be an amazing and fantastic year of 2012!!
Let’s see if I could make it this year (finger cross)
Nelly, please get back into our core business. Why do I want
to go to Europe by right, and what am I going to plan while I am there. Hurm… I
have plenty in mind, since I am so fascinated about Europe long before and
always. I even bought the used Europe travel guidebook for MYR 20 (approx. 5
euros), printed in 1997, which was long and old enough. I know that I can’t
rely on this, “it’s out dated”!
Apart from its cultural diversity, history and mouth
watering food (sorry Matt, I copied this from you :P), Europe has lots to offer and still keeps its hidden
secrets, I mean the breathtaking nature. I love nature and ancient city (not to say that I am a traditional girl.lol)
but it’s something very different from my hometown, not even likely in SE Asia.
Here, we don’t have 4 seasons, and the only thing I could do to see the
stunning autumn by using my iPad (while dreaming as if I’m going to Europe). I
remember my friend from France told me that maple leaves vary greatly from one
country to another across Europe and it’s beautiful especially during fall when
the colours are changing. So, my initial
plan is to collect few maple leaves that fall down during the autumn from each
city that I hit (maybe nobody wants it, but for me it’s very beautiful and
valuable). I am so curious to see the difference between each of them (well,
curiosity kills the cat). Next, I will pin them with the dates and place
attached together into my personal travel book as the best memorable souvenirs
from the countries I have visited in Europe.
I would like to appreciate the wonder of nature because for me going to
Europe itself is a wonder. Oh, I can’t wait!!
To my surprised, Prague, Vienna and Budapest are listed in the
World’s
Top Walking Cities. So, what could I do when visiting all these 3 cities, I
would put on a pair of comfortable shoes and walk around including the outskirt
of the city as well. By walking, I believe that I could emerge myself into a
local culture and experience it by myself.
From what I have read, these 3 cities are also known as “coffee culture”
especially in Vienna. Being in each city for 4 days, I would like to try the
“Kaffeehauskultur” (traditional way to drink a cup of coffee) in all the cities
I have been to. We have some kind of coffee culture in Malaysia, but I want to
feel different while drinking coffee in Europe!!
Vienna indeed is the 2nd place for the World’s
Most Livable Cities. It’ll be my
great pleasure if I could enter and visit Vienna’s Kaffee houses at least one,
(but of course I want more, maybe twice a day so I can have more chances to
taste more coffees), where I can sit down, relax and enjoy the view with
refreshment while planning my visit. After all, Vienna is 2nd
World’s most livable city!!! It must be something even more surprising is
waiting for me during the night; perhaps I could go to Hard Rock Café to enjoy
life music and make friends. I want to see how the people here make Vienna’s so
alive especially at night! The only Asian countries listed in the ranking are
Japan (Osaka #12, Tokyo #18) and Hong Kong #31. European countries have
conquered the list. Thus, this is the main reason I want to go to Europe, to
experience the livable environment, which I may only get once in a lifetime.
Budapest – known for its reasonable budget city. Walking on
the bridge, spending time in charming café’s with lively atmosphere always in
my dream ever since. Apart from walking around the city, enjoy the night in
Hard Rock Café, I want to ride out of the city as well (which I never did in
Malaysia. lol). On the other hand, we always heard foreigners to teach English
in Asean (South East Asia) countries for volunteer, but I want to do something
opposite. How about I spend one day in any high school around Budapest (if I
get a chance), and teach English for free? I would love to experience teaching
in Europe where English is a second or foreign language. Okay, I know it’s not
going to work, but still it’s great if I get that golden opportunity – mingle
with the local people as well as gather a priceless traveling experience!
Renowned as a very ‘walkable city’, I would love to enjoy
Prague’s sight and magical atmosphere by myself. Apart from walking and trying
coffee in different café houses and again spending my night at Hard Rock Café,
I want to try one thing that I have never tried before in my life, but I want
to do it here, in Prague. Bungee Jumping from Zvikoske pohdradhi!!!! I bet it
must be crazy and the best of all in my life!! It is the climax of my trip to
Europe, where I have to risk my life. lol. If I have done things that I dreamt
all this while, I think I have found a trip of a lifetime – traveling to Europe
with bittersweet memories!!! I’m sure with the maple leaves pinned in my travel
book; I could always look at them and smile all over again. It is a remark of
each city I have been in Europe with it’s own unforgettable memory and valuable
experience – in 2012.
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