Pictures and I

As promised, here are some of my pictures taken during my trip to three German cities, namely, Hamburg, Berlin and Bremen. Since I'm in London now, insya-Allah, will put up some remarks (name at least) about each picture once I got back to Manchester.


Part 1 - City of Hamburg.


Rathaus (City Hall of Hamburg)

St. Nikolai Memorial

St. Katharinen Church
The Building of Hamburg Port Authority
City Sporthafen


Art Hall and Contemporary Gallery

Part 2 - City of Berlin












Part 3 - City of Bremen

Guten Tag!

Alhamdulillah, I´m in Berlin, Germany right now. Yesterday, I was in Hamburg and had a lovely time there. Hamburg, the second largest German city is so clean and such a suitable place to relax. Although, it may not have lots of attractions like Barcelona or Rome (I can´t compare it with Berlin because I have yet to explore Berlin). It really reminds me of Frankfurt (but it shorts of skyscrapers) and my beloved city of Melaka.

Insya-Allah, will upload the pictures once I got home.

Okay guys, got to go for my walking tour of Berlin. According to the leaflet, Berlin has some of the most memorable sights in Europe. And I´m so persuaded to help preserve them and the environment by leaving a smaller carbon footprint and going on a walking tour. Hehehe... please tell me you buy that! Have I mentioned that it´s free too and we just tip the guide if we´re generous enough.


p/s: korang rasa ada tak tips from me? Hehehe...

Cambridge Trip, Graduation and Happy Birthday, Proton!

I know... I have so many issues for this post.

First of all, it's regarding a trip to Cambridge. I was planning to pay a friend of mine a visit, tentative in early August. Unfortunately, my dissertation is not progressing as per my plan. Therefore, I'm forced to reschedule this trip to a later day.

Although Lee (yeap, he's the subject I'm currently referring) has given a flexibility at his end, but I'm afraid I can't be certain on when the next date would be. I'm totally aware that Lee is indeed a very busy person. More often than not, either he flies to places in continental Europe or frequents to London for a relaxing and enjoyable weekend.

Coincidentally, the resident club of my hall is organising a day trip to Cambridge too! It's this Saturday and costs only 3 pound sterling for an adult. Hmmm...



Let me sleep on it again and hopefully I could make up my mind soon, very soon.

Fendy and Dini will be officially graduating this afternoon. The girl is so clever! She and Sharil got first class while Fendy got 2:1 and all three will be conferred with Master degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Insya-Allah, I'll try my best to be there to celebrate this joyous moment of my adik-adik. Fendy's parents are here together with the parents of Farid (Ayap) and Izwan (Fir). I've met the parents of the latters but not Fendy's.





The above banana split was what I had at Thai Banana, a Thai restaurant opposite my hall. Both Dini and Fendy had nice buffet, not too lavish and too stingy. And it was reasonably priced too.

I hope we could come here again this Sunday. But... I just realised that I've promised to Shamel (my classmate from Syria), Frode (Sweden), Bolot (Kazakhstan) and Fusi (Cameron) that I will join them for a football game this Sunday. Me and football? Hehehe... it doesn't feel right, does it? Oh, my... I'm sure all of them will laugh at my kaki-bangkuness, big time!

Argh... we only die once, aren't we? What the heck!

Oh yeah, last Tuesday was the birthday for Malaysia's national car company, Proton. Happy 23rd Birthday, Proton. I hope Proton will make us proud one day. And I shall wait for that one fine day...

Opsss... I did it once again!

Oh, my... I've finally made my purchases for my Part IV Tour de Europe after a great length of hesitation, given the fact that I'm still struggling with my dissertation.

There is a saying "you only die once", so... after a careful consideration, I'm happy to announce that I'm going to Germany very soon, this month. Well, this is not my first time to Germany because I've been its financial and business capital of Frankfurt in December 2007.

The world's largest continuous warehouse complex, Hamburg

I really had a great time there and can't wait to return to this wonderful country. I sincerely think Germans are very objective, highly disciplined and happening!

Based on my limited experience with hostels around Europe, I still consider that Frankfurt Hostel is the most clean, comfortable and professionally run hostel that I've ever stayed in so far. And I "was reliably informed" (don't associate me with RPK's SD, please...) that most of hostels in Germany have a similar standards and conditions. Insya-Allah, I'll be staying at the Generator Hostel Berlin. Hehehe, I know... what a name!

The City Hall of Bremen

I've also purchased the train tickets and can't wait to experience the most efficient train system in Europe. And it travels very fast too!

I don't cover much this time, just Bremen, Hamburg and of course, Berlin which I was reliably informed too by a handfull of backpackers that I met during my travel to Spain and Italy, as one of two most happening cities in Europe. The other one is Barcelona.

The Reichstag dome of the German Parliament, Berlin

Okay guys... I don't want to brag too much but would appreciate it if you could pray for my safety because once again, I'll be going all by myself.

Guten Tag!


p/s: Pictures taken from Yahoo! Travel.

In Rome with me...

Today is my third day is Rome. And it is super hot here. Somehow, I'm so glad that in Malaysia, the hot period of a day is between 11 am to 3 pm but here, it's from 9 am to 5 pm! It was 39 Celcius on the first day I arrived!

I spent the whole day yesterday to experience the Ancient Rome. That's include Colosseo, Palatino, Areo di Tito and Foro.

Today, I'm covering the Vatican City and areas surrounding it.

Insya-Allah, will be going home tomorrow and once I'm in Manchester, I will upload all the interesting pictures so that you guys will green with envy! hehehe...

Ciao!


Updated as at 1 July 2008

Kindly click on the following links to view the pictures from my trip to Rome, Italy:

Rome Trip 2008 Album I
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42677&l=eb8cb&id=722686470

Rome Trip 2008 Album II
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42682&l=981c9&id=722686470

Vatican City Trip 2008
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42685&l=2518b&id=722686470

In Pisa with me...

Buon Giorno!

I'm in Pisa, Italy now. And it's still hot here. It took about 4 hours from Venice to Pisa by train and the fare is EUR39.25. But, there is a cheaper alternative but you need to (1) buy early, (2) change train at least two times and (3) it takes 30-45 minutes more.

I've decided not to spend too much time in Pisa because the only thing that interests me is the leaning tower. Again, I will upload the pictures when I get back home.

Oh yeah... it's possible to spend about 2 hours in Pisa even you melenggang as me! You may walk to the Torre Pisa (betul ke, grammar ni?) but I decided to take bus (LAM Rossa) there which costs less than one Euro (EUR0.95 to be exact for 60 minutes).

Ciao!


Updated as at 1 July 2008

Please click on the following link to view pictures from my trip to Pisa, Italy:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42675&l=7a4e0&id=722686470

In Venice with me...

Alhamdulillah, I've safely arrived in Venice, Italy. It's really, really hot here! And for the first time in months, I'm sweating like a p** (can I use horse instead, or horse is only when to describe you're eating a lot!).

Although the place that I stay is quite a distance from the central of Venice, I so glad I did this. At least, I get to see the other Venicians (betul ke?) live. The place is in Magherita, about 15-20 minutes to the central of Venice.

Frankly speaking, you could cover the whole island in a day even if you walk as lenggang as me! If you're going there, just concentrate on San Marco and San Polo areas. If you're travelling alone like me, it's worthwhile to opt for waterbus (EUR6.50 one way or EUR16 for 24 hours pass), istead of gondola (EUR80 per gondola!). What I did is I walked all my way to San Marco, then took the waterbus on my way back to Piazza Roma.

Insya-Allah, will upload my pictures in Venice as I return to Manchester. Ciao!

p/s: Sorry for the delay on publishing official comment for Nor Azrina Zakaria's article. Will publish it once I get back to Manchester.


Updated as at 1 July 2008

Please click on the following link to view pictures from my visit to Venice, Italy:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42669&l=157b6&id=722686470

Proton cars are more reliable than Mercedes Benz's?

You find it shocking? Me too.

Believe it or not, this is the latest finding of a brand reliability survey by the Which? Car magazine as published in its July 2008 edition.

The findings was also appeared on the Manchester Evening News on 20 June 2008.

And guys... here is the brand reliability table compiled by Which? Car magazine:

1. Honda, Japan (85)
2. Toyota, Japan (84)
3. Daihatsu, Japan (83)
4. Lexus, Japan (83)
5. Mazda, Japan (83)
6. Subaru, Japan (83)
7. Suzuki, Japan (83)
8. Hyundai, Korea (80)
9. Mitsubishi, Japan (80)
10. Porsche, Germany (80)
11. Mini, UK (78)
12. Nissan, Japan (78)
13. Ford, USA (78)
14. BMW, Germany (78)
15. Skoda, Czech Republic (78)
16. Kia, Korea (78)
17. Proton, Malaysia (78)
18. Mercedes Benz, Germany (78)
19. Audi, Germany (78)
20. Jaguar, UK (78)
21. Vauxhall, UK (78)
22. Citroen, France (75)
23. Volvo, Sweden (75)
24. Peugeot, France (75)
25. Smart, Germany (75)
26. Chevrolet, SA (75)
27. Daewoo, Korea (75)
28. Jeep, USA (75)
29. Saab, Sweden (73)
30. Seat, Spain (73)
31. MG, UK (73)
32. Alfa Romeo, Italy (73)
33. Rover, UK (70)
34. Fiat, Italy (69)
35. Renault, France (68)
36. Land Rover, UK (67)
37. Chrysler/Dodge, USA (67)

I personally think, 17 out of 37 car manufacturers is NOT TOO BAD for a small manufacturer like Proton. At least, Proton cars are more reliable than the French, Italian, Spanish and Swedish cars.

Congratulations, Proton and continue to do us proud with better quality and innovative cars. Malaysia Boleh!

On a unrelated matter, hehehe, I would like to announce that I'm going to Italy next week!!! Insya-Allah, will be flying from Liverpool to Venice and will be staying in Venice for two nights. Then, my next stop will be Pisa to see the infamous Leaning Tower. After Pisa, I will travel to Rome by train and, insya-Allah, will be staying there for three nights. Please wish me a safe journey because I'm a bit nervous with this part III of my Europe Tour, considering that I'll be doing it all by myself.

Caio!

Pictures of Brugge

Thanks to Mush & Lee for suggesting Brugge to be included in my part II of Eurore Tour. Guys... could you enlighten me with the real name of this city - is it Brugge or Bruges? Or is it one spelling in English and another one in local language, which is... well, I still clueless. Is it Dutch, German or French?

Anyhow, Brugge is a small yet beautiful, clean and relaxing city. It's about an hour journey from Brussels by train and with weekend ticket, it only costs you 13 Euro for return trip.

I enjoyed it very, very much. The entire city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage centre! And everything in the city centre is within walking distance. Hence, you may have more money to spend on your lunch in Brugge.

Arriving at Brugge Train Station

Bruggemuseum (for archeology)

Canal in Brugge (the opposite building is the Hospital Museum)





The Welcome Church of Our Lady

Another Bruggemuseum, Gruuthuse houses, among others, beautiful tapestries, 500 year old kitchen and a prayer chapel











The ambience of the infamous Markt

The Provincial Palace

The Bruggemuseum of Belfry







The statue of Jan Breydel & Pieter De Connick, the 2 heroes of Brugge who played important role in the resistence against French rule







The City Hall, which houses another Bruggemuseum





Chocolate cooking demonstration @the Choco-Story (chocolate museum)

A square @the Old Toll House





Another square, in front of the Brugge Concert Hall