tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118280102024-03-07T23:52:11.596+08:00 Crap & SuchFor your infrequent dose of bull.jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.comBlogger440125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-41694960503019660932016-05-17T00:28:00.000+08:002016-05-17T00:44:04.290+08:0020151022 Iceland with its famous Blue Lagoon When I was little, I wanted to visit Iceland because I thought it was a land full of ice. Ironically, it is quite a lot greener than Greenland while Greenland is quite a lot icier than Iceland.<br>
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Iceland is the land of fire and ice. What does this mean? It means that there are many geothermal spots and many hot springs, the most famous of which is the <a href="http://www.bluelagoon.com/" target="_blank">Blue Lagoon</a>. As with most things in Iceland, it is not cheap to visit the Blue Lagoon so you've got to plan your day well. Our friend told us we could get the tickets at the counter when we reach so we didn't bother booking online. We were lucky because we went during an off-peak season and we went in the morning. Another friend went during Easter week and was told that the earliest entry time was 7pm. It was 2pm when they reached. So yes, I would recommend <a href="http://www.bluelagoon.com/blue-lagoon-spa/prices-and-packages/experience-packages/" target="_blank">booking your Blue Lagoon package online</a>. </div>
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We booked 2-way transport from town to the lagoon via <a href="http://www.bustravel.is/book-blue-lagoon-transport" target="_blank">Bustravel Iceland </a>at around S$72 for two. The price did not include entrance to Blue Lagoon. Being the kiasu people we are, we took the 8.45am trip and the journey took about 45 minutes. </div>
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The thing about Iceland is how it manages to surprise you. I thought the Blue Lagoon was just like another other hot springs. Boy, was I wrong. </div>
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As the bus meandered down the road into Blue Lagoon, we saw fields and fields of lava. According to the driver, they are pretty young lava fields. I guess this means that they were formed more recently; "recent" being a relative term. </div>
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When we alighted, the driver informed us of the timings available for the return trip and we could hop on to any.</div>
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Since we were still feeling warm from the cozy interior of the bus, we decided to explore the lands around the Blue Lagoon. And what a treat it was. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbiILi3vFSlpc_R_sXtfwGrC4oM-PnbU5ACQG2_Wg-FcjOpNuEbySnhzf0xsLo8reA2uGEGNvKdN6wes_dcepz4i3tyjAPZ8QqHGi_ZZwmEsUeEUe-2-y9lQoJF5etN1v7448Kw/s1600/blue+lagoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbiILi3vFSlpc_R_sXtfwGrC4oM-PnbU5ACQG2_Wg-FcjOpNuEbySnhzf0xsLo8reA2uGEGNvKdN6wes_dcepz4i3tyjAPZ8QqHGi_ZZwmEsUeEUe-2-y9lQoJF5etN1v7448Kw/s640/blue+lagoon.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>There's blue and then there's blue.</i></div>
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You'll see these gorgeous beds of blue water and if you're lucky, the sun will be peeping out while you take all those selfies.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1i_a0rkkB2SJfOw3fS9nyShTSKlgQlIPjvfjn8-x8GplJCYIXpfiwwsZE-zzyZLo8VM0-4meisSyy6bA6eAANocYY9YqE0PpTcqaJ375jPVWfrTDmO5IBArjeiFZGvB14eRM4Q/s1600/blue+lagoon+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1i_a0rkkB2SJfOw3fS9nyShTSKlgQlIPjvfjn8-x8GplJCYIXpfiwwsZE-zzyZLo8VM0-4meisSyy6bA6eAANocYY9YqE0PpTcqaJ375jPVWfrTDmO5IBArjeiFZGvB14eRM4Q/s640/blue+lagoon+2.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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The contrast of the blue against the dark lava field is quite spectacular. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ-GB6ilzjf9TQAxdaaoKh0zcS577syIqAoH5nsBCeE5xQAnmFeo0ltzmT1fQx00L1MN9TJlzwo3QbklpBNK7Ot4ANrrRJtU5zI_8Sz-j6JFTc38AuVfOq5SmIDYuVgwNk0haOw/s1600/blue+blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ-GB6ilzjf9TQAxdaaoKh0zcS577syIqAoH5nsBCeE5xQAnmFeo0ltzmT1fQx00L1MN9TJlzwo3QbklpBNK7Ot4ANrrRJtU5zI_8Sz-j6JFTc38AuVfOq5SmIDYuVgwNk0haOw/s640/blue+blue.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>The unexpected photo spot at the Blue Lagoon</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48B5kFYTp9BlRF9hu2DZK1AzuqNaKhUgsJocpZTJmyE4RiBiMpkVgmkC4rnDhPNn-fL9HeT4Qj_FGzX7tO0bk5X4Pwsm1N22fQ2ZBD41Cm6huPojaFt0sHx5VLr1mIxEh-s2hhw/s1600/Blue+lagoon+profile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48B5kFYTp9BlRF9hu2DZK1AzuqNaKhUgsJocpZTJmyE4RiBiMpkVgmkC4rnDhPNn-fL9HeT4Qj_FGzX7tO0bk5X4Pwsm1N22fQ2ZBD41Cm6huPojaFt0sHx5VLr1mIxEh-s2hhw/s640/Blue+lagoon+profile.jpg" width="480"></a></div>
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<i>Gotta take me one of those contemplative floatfie shots</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPX1JEno4F58z4eFkZSmpqWftKSzDAqcah62Q9W89UlAyzYI3YT_HkHGn-XkwlQYPGWUWsaOUhnQRfJA_sMJtxC45nmvHfDC1Wxz6KCYrO9eQorrtiF6q1_lRZSFMVGV5Yf8kIw/s1600/lava+field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPX1JEno4F58z4eFkZSmpqWftKSzDAqcah62Q9W89UlAyzYI3YT_HkHGn-XkwlQYPGWUWsaOUhnQRfJA_sMJtxC45nmvHfDC1Wxz6KCYrO9eQorrtiF6q1_lRZSFMVGV5Yf8kIw/s640/lava+field.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Marveling at the lava fields</i></div>
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The weather in Iceland can get a bit kooky. When you see the sun out, do as much exploring as you can because it may start pouring after 5 minutes. And with the long hours needed to travel from Singapore to Iceland, it's not very likely you will plan a return trip soon. Oh, of course you'll be quite pok (read: broke) after a trip here. </div>
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Depending on the ticket you buy, you may need to bring along towel and slippers. You can be a Singaporean and wear slippers there instead of covered shoes. Then I salute you. </div>
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I expected the Blue Lagoon to be similar to our local public swimming pools. You know, water to wade in, a small cafeteria and a small shop to sell some essentials. Maybe coin slot lockers, a filmsy entry ticket and basic shower facilities. </div>
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WRONG!</div>
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The Blue Lagoon is definitely a 5-star wading pool. Water to wade in? Yes, but it's mineral-rich water that makes your skin so soft and supple. Small cafeteria? Yes, but it's with awesome smoothies and there's an amazing restaurant, <a href="http://www.bluelagoon.com/food-and-drink/lava-restaurant/" target="_blank">Lava</a>, which served us the best meal I had in Iceland. </div>
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Here's proof:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMmVJr1Ph8pF6S0Kq0b9UiiVK-rRj5lomzv42uH5fBlgl4jlYdjjzLZvwWx3cACZChftVlmoVgWz6t5dQ1J-2soV1kmugmrKdUAK2SBGCcQCzE-V8WMh96HdnEU_geF5eHrdbpA/s1600/bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMmVJr1Ph8pF6S0Kq0b9UiiVK-rRj5lomzv42uH5fBlgl4jlYdjjzLZvwWx3cACZChftVlmoVgWz6t5dQ1J-2soV1kmugmrKdUAK2SBGCcQCzE-V8WMh96HdnEU_geF5eHrdbpA/s640/bread.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Amazing warm bread served with a blob of ??</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxcDXZl0VKjIl9wQcavZpcxnRba6cWEC_hNE_qkvFh4T4tbW-nl193YoEjsy076jw0F0fQc0U90Kl20V-amOALJKn4X61vwEL0lx0OPlXW36JjmH5rNdppYTiG8M8_z_CyrNlTg/s1600/artic+char.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxcDXZl0VKjIl9wQcavZpcxnRba6cWEC_hNE_qkvFh4T4tbW-nl193YoEjsy076jw0F0fQc0U90Kl20V-amOALJKn4X61vwEL0lx0OPlXW36JjmH5rNdppYTiG8M8_z_CyrNlTg/s640/artic+char.jpg" width="480"></a></div>
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<i>Arctic char with fennel, pearl onion, cucumber, toasted bread aioli</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZSJMAl-2j-Ub6OIsJNl5sSHvQMK3zLZeze5RZ90HFXYmowlqBaoSjRVZxYlgr57A1YpMCuvuw4WQldQbbVIo3uvlv0EZ8IAn7IHSd2PVyi97U_gzl0d7Kaz0ZGAoNvIeNstqGw/s1600/langoustine+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZSJMAl-2j-Ub6OIsJNl5sSHvQMK3zLZeze5RZ90HFXYmowlqBaoSjRVZxYlgr57A1YpMCuvuw4WQldQbbVIo3uvlv0EZ8IAn7IHSd2PVyi97U_gzl0d7Kaz0ZGAoNvIeNstqGw/s640/langoustine+soup.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Langoustine soup with garlic-marinated langoustine, white chocolade, seaweed</i></div>
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<i><b><u>FRESH</u></b> Cod, sunchokes, almonds, grapes, brown butter sauce</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-xY-yfkfg5kTRXC9QRqhudnn5IF6_tz1SitRgtJedLI_A2DDjOQ50ZDmPMX9OwtEcXAk_e1vZldHCA988mlTg81are2OBBMXHV23Tdqa5FsIwUq4CvxuLUkGB2dosV5JZRM8Tw/s1600/lamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-xY-yfkfg5kTRXC9QRqhudnn5IF6_tz1SitRgtJedLI_A2DDjOQ50ZDmPMX9OwtEcXAk_e1vZldHCA988mlTg81are2OBBMXHV23Tdqa5FsIwUq4CvxuLUkGB2dosV5JZRM8Tw/s640/lamb.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Rack of lamb with cabbage, smoked onion, lemon, green cabbage, apple </i></div>
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<i>“Ástarpungar” & caramel with c</i><i>aramel chocolate mousse, vanilla ice cream, salted caramel</i></div>
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There was a hiccup with serving our desserts. They got delayed and they served us the same item even though we ordered different sets. We didn't want to make a fuss so we tried to eat them. Not our cup of tea. </div>
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It's important to travel with people with similar taste in food. If you are a foodie and will die without trying new things, then travelling with a picky eater will be quite a challenge. Of course you can eat everything yourself but you'll be too full to try more or you'll be wasting food in order to try more. </div>
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A small shop to sell essentials? Yes, but they also sell high-end Blue Lagoon spa products. A hand cream sets you back a pretty S$55. The shop also sells swimsuit but fugly ones so bring your own. </div>
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Yes, you need to wear swimsuit. If you are conscious about your body, don't be! Firstly, the steam at the lagoon makes it hard for anyone to really see your cellulite. Besides, if Kate Moss has them, us mere mortals should be ok with ours. And you can wear a t-shirt and shorts over your swimsuit. Secondly, the water is opaque so once you're in the lagoon, people don't see the parts of your body that are submerged. You are encouraged to tie your hair up and not go underwater water because the high silica content will tangle your hair like mad and sting your eyes like crazy. And finally, once you disrobe in the 4 deg.C air, you will be rushing into the water so whatever body hangups you have will last 10 seconds at most. </div>
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So long as you don't slip and fall. x_x</div>
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If you intend to take photos, bring your weatherproof camera or casing. My brother's trusty Olympus weatherproof one worked well. I saw someone trying to use their iPhones for a selfie while they kept it inside a water-proof bag. Too much work.</div>
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Coin slot lockers, flimsy entry ticket and basic shower facilities? Wrong! </div>
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These are our entry tickets:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n6zyilPCScI4wGS-dQtsf0zDBUTTrvm-Ryo2GdZr9mGosUreuFpKZ4pHviqr1I1dcT_ORUwXos_DXQ9r3Xx31TPQEBOvRVffD5JWiMQPGdsC9X0w9Q3yKp9lXiLVW6HZWgXGYg/s1600/e+bracelet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n6zyilPCScI4wGS-dQtsf0zDBUTTrvm-Ryo2GdZr9mGosUreuFpKZ4pHviqr1I1dcT_ORUwXos_DXQ9r3Xx31TPQEBOvRVffD5JWiMQPGdsC9X0w9Q3yKp9lXiLVW6HZWgXGYg/s640/e+bracelet.jpg" width="480"></a></div>
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We tapped the electronic wristbands to buy stuff, lock lockers, exit and make payment.</div>
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The shower facilities came with high pressure water, big cubicles and toiletries. You can also find cotton wool, cotton buds and hairdryers. Be warned though that some cubicles do not have doors and some body-confident people do use them. Don't worry, ladies and gents have separate areas. We had a shock though because a nude old lady used one of these cubicles facing out instead of the wall and was happily grinning at everyone who walked by. </div>
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I had visited hot springs before and I can't say I'm a big fan. I prefer the cold and being hot makes me pekcek. </div>
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Blue Lagoon changed my mind. The water was a balmy 30+deg. C and the contrast with the cold air was just nice. If you're too hot, you can stand straighter to cool down and vice versa. </div>
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<i>This is an underwater shot. See, it's really opaque. No need to hold your stomach in.</i></div>
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<i>Yes, steammmmy...</i></div>
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<i>You can buah as much of this on your face as you want. It's free! </i></div>
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The landscape was not as ideal as we would like it to be. There were a number of cranes as they were building the <a href="http://www.bluelagoon.com/blue-lagoon-spa/accommodation/" target="_blank">Silica Hotel</a>.<br>
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There's a bar there so you can order drinks (yes, alcohol) as you wade in the pool. You can also go for spa there. I'm not sure how long you can stay inside the water. I think we stayed until our fingers became pruney. And that was just about right. Because it started pouring after we showered.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3cT1NJqb_kuHotjSejZVqHHVEtIfMnwwy_EMgvFeJlyoPt5faYIkGz8i-qe3Ku3mUAaLOonHPYJ4HO-iAG7qlIm2ik3Hkq-D79KDAE8hBzTwoqoO9xMmMZ014M6mFrN3_vppQQ/s1600/smoothie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3cT1NJqb_kuHotjSejZVqHHVEtIfMnwwy_EMgvFeJlyoPt5faYIkGz8i-qe3Ku3mUAaLOonHPYJ4HO-iAG7qlIm2ik3Hkq-D79KDAE8hBzTwoqoO9xMmMZ014M6mFrN3_vppQQ/s640/smoothie.jpg" width="480"></a></div>
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<i>Great time management. Just enough time to claim our complimentary drink as we looked at the pouring rain. Yes, I bring rain on all my travels. </i></div>
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We had rescheduled our aurora tour after the Blue Lagoon trip.<br>
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Guess what? It was postponed again. :(<br>
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jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com5Blue Lagoon, Iceland63.8791763 -22.44538750000003863.8756808 -22.455472500000038 63.8826718 -22.435302500000038tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-39279565156838571462016-01-14T22:36:00.001+08:002016-01-23T23:00:11.743+08:0020151021 Iceland with its Golden Circle Tour and KjotsupaGood morning Reykjavik! (Guess how long it took me to learn how to <strike>spell </strike>pronounce this? I'm not even sure if I'm doing it correctly!)<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/l/t1.0-9/12112087_10153745352319656_891053069814735427_n.jpg?oh=1213325f1049b764d6ee318bffd75da5&oe=570E9F66" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/l/t1.0-9/12112087_10153745352319656_891053069814735427_n.jpg?oh=1213325f1049b764d6ee318bffd75da5&oe=570E9F66" title="sun rise at reykjavik iceland" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The sun rise from the balcony was really something.</i></div>
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When you research on things to do in Iceland, you will inevitably find mentions about waterfalls after sieving through the photoshopped aurora images. :P<br />
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One of the most famous waterfalls is Gullfoss which we visited on Day 5.<br />
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Day tours are not cheap in Iceland. For the Golden Circle Tour, it cost us S$100 each. We chose <a href="http://www.grayline.com/tours/golden-circle/the-golden-circle-classic-tour-5963_9/" target="_blank">Grayline </a>because it's one of the most famous ones and we wanted reliability. I had been on Grayline tours before but I wouldn't say they are the best. The group is usually rather big and that can lead to issues with punctuality, space and noise. As with most big companies, there can also be an impersonal touch to the whole experience. By the way, if you're booking Grayline, the promo code "SEE5' seems to work. No harm trying ya!<br />
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Here's our not bad breakfast in Iceland.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlf1/v/t1.0-9/10455923_10153745303749656_1584935827007948316_n.jpg?oh=7b53956e6fe578f070c2df2cd8f9664d&oe=5746092E" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlf1/v/t1.0-9/10455923_10153745303749656_1584935827007948316_n.jpg?oh=7b53956e6fe578f070c2df2cd8f9664d&oe=5746092E" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Salad, buns, ham with honey mustard & coffee, Nomstable!</i></div>
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Clothes you need for Iceland? Let's see. We were there in October. the weather forecast was 0°C to 7°C. My gear:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Thermal crew neck top, S$24.90 (Heattech Extra Warm from <a href="http://www.uniqlo.com/sg/store/women/collections/heattech.html" target="_blank">Uniqlo</a>)</li>
<li>Thermal leggings, S$19.90 (Heattech Extra Warm from <a href="http://www.uniqlo.com/sg/store/women/collections/heattech.html" target="_blank">Uniqlo</a>)</li>
<li>Heattech socks, $14.90 (from <a href="http://www.uniqlo.com/sg/store/women/collections/heattech.html" target="_blank">Uniqlo</a>)</li>
<li>Heattech gloves, $24.90 (from <a href="http://www.uniqlo.com/sg/store/women/collections/heattech.html" target="_blank">Uniqlo</a>)</li>
<li>Woolen sweater (from <a href="http://www.target.com.au/" target="_blank">Target</a>) </li>
<li>Jeggings (from <a href="http://shop.mango.com/SG/women" target="_blank">Mango</a>)</li>
<li>Padded parka (from <a href="http://www.bellfieldclothing.com/chadan-parka-194=product" target="_blank">Bellfield</a> via <a href="http://www.zalora.sg/women/?catalogtype=Main" target="_blank">Zalora</a><span id="goog_1136760049"></span><span id="goog_1136760050"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>)</li>
<li>Woolen hat (from <a href="http://www.zara.com/sg/" target="_blank">Zara</a>) </li>
<li>Non-slip shoes (from <a href="http://global.ecco.com/en/collection/ladies/flat-shoes/intrinsic+1+ladies-860013-01001" target="_blank">Ecco</a>) </li>
</ul>
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Just think about putting these on. Tiring right?<br />
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Yes, it was but it was super necessary too. My torso was very well-protected throughout the trip. Can't say the same for bottom though. Shins got a bit cold, not to mention the extremities. Peiying wore thick, furry tights and she said she felt ok. You can get them from <a href="http://list.qoo10.sg/item/BUY-2-FREE-SHIP-S-5XL-PLUS-SIZE/420814140" target="_blank">Qoo10</a>.<br />
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Remember me mentioning that we chose the apartment based on its description? No? Haha. Never mind, now you know.<br />
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So yeah, the house was near <a href="http://hotelklettur.is/en/" target="_blank">Hotel Klettur</a>, which is one of the pick-up points for the tour. <a href="http://grayline.is/" target="_blank">Grayline </a>does pick up at most hotels and inns around town and it seems like they can pick you up from other locations so long as you leave the details in the comments when booking.<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12140688_10153745383949656_1549570426504552291_n.jpg?oh=a131aec99c92c89e44af2fe2def2fbf1&oe=57089C31&__gda__=1460352312_0ec641ce9460eccb6c7ea09c7e7a0015" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12140688_10153745383949656_1549570426504552291_n.jpg?oh=a131aec99c92c89e44af2fe2def2fbf1&oe=57089C31&__gda__=1460352312_0ec641ce9460eccb6c7ea09c7e7a0015" title="reykjavik sun rise" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>A beautiful day!</i></div>
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They will pick you up in a mini bus and you will be transferred to a bigger coach at the terminal. You usually need to exchange your voucher for tickets at the terminal and it's good to walk a bit faster to get a better seat on the coach. Not asking you to push and shove but it was common to see other tourists running to get their seats. Not cool, dude, not cool. If, like me, you're travelling with someone who needs to clear bladder frequently, get your partner to head to toilet while you take the queue to validate the voucher.<br />
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For the Golden Circle Tour, the estimated duration was 8.5hours. How come 8.5hours at work doesn't seem to end while 8.5hours of tour seems short? :P<br />
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We weren't quite prepared for the exposure to the big, open space of Iceland. Not because of the space itself but because of the wind.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12122645_10153745489924656_6146898521872871808_n.jpg?oh=523d4298c17d00e17daeb9bbad1c05d4&oe=56FB48EC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12122645_10153745489924656_6146898521872871808_n.jpg?oh=523d4298c17d00e17daeb9bbad1c05d4&oe=56FB48EC" title="slippery when wet in Iceland. No joke." width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>They're not kidding with this sign. Slippery when wet.</i></div>
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You see the rings I was wearing in the photo? Don't bother to wear any for hiao sake. After this initial stupidity, I learnt that rings and gloves do not mix and it was more important to prevent frostbite than try to look chio.</div>
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First stop: <a href="http://www.thingvellir.is/english.aspx" target="_blank">Þingvellir National Park</a><br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12208292_10153772962199656_6126232392326438902_n.jpg?oh=767d63da790f174b5f494398fc9610c5&oe=573A4D09&__gda__=1459813067_ac8cfd570f3d43a9ffc3e0e45e118b67" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="284" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12208292_10153772962199656_6126232392326438902_n.jpg?oh=767d63da790f174b5f494398fc9610c5&oe=573A4D09&__gda__=1459813067_ac8cfd570f3d43a9ffc3e0e45e118b67" title="Þingvellir National Park, Iceland" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>A UNESCO World Heritage Site</i></div>
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Said to be one of the earliest parliaments in the world,the Alþingi is part of the national park. It was founded in 930 and our tour guide gave us a very vivid description of how it used to be. People from all over Iceland would congregate here after travelling for days and weeks on horseback and on foot. It was a time for laws and public policies to be set and social ties to be renewed. Merchants and common folks also gathered there to trade their wares and young people would mingle for an opportunity to find partners. Sounds positively festive, doesn't it?<br />
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The coach dropped us at the park and picked us up at the end of the walk. It was only a 20-minute walk.<br />
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It felt waaaaaaaay longer. And I blame it on the wind.<br />
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It is imperative to eat before you start the tour. Or you should have food with you. Even though we had a "bunwich" for breakfast, the hunger pangs started mid-way through the walk. Don't worry, if you don't feel up to it, you don't have start the trek.<br />
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You'll just miss sights like these:<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/q82/s960x960/12194792_10153772962504656_6830004555996440765_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/q82/s960x960/12194792_10153772962504656_6830004555996440765_o.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>See the humans for scale.</i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12190053_10153772962609656_7105106280496743719_n.jpg?oh=01a4433e7899f46d9624ceb010c03b8b&oe=57064B82&__gda__=1459468871_c8742ec5e1deee934272c0f3275e088c" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12190053_10153772962609656_7105106280496743719_n.jpg?oh=01a4433e7899f46d9624ceb010c03b8b&oe=57064B82&__gda__=1459468871_c8742ec5e1deee934272c0f3275e088c" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>There's a church.</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11168456_10153772962624656_4975928716210893188_n.jpg?oh=94e4e1b26f6fb1d57dfd906981f1f7b3&oe=57445058" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11168456_10153772962624656_4975928716210893188_n.jpg?oh=94e4e1b26f6fb1d57dfd906981f1f7b3&oe=57445058" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>I love the emptiness.</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12196271_10153772962839656_3338966024011247693_n.jpg?oh=4bc6b8196406781405c472f215bea4c9&oe=570AEE4F" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12196271_10153772962839656_3338966024011247693_n.jpg?oh=4bc6b8196406781405c472f215bea4c9&oe=570AEE4F" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>An autumny view</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpl1/v/t1.0-9/12065548_10153772962844656_1071644128396564897_n.jpg?oh=4a7a27dbc85f32040410ab70118000c9&oe=57464782" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpl1/v/t1.0-9/12065548_10153772962844656_1071644128396564897_n.jpg?oh=4a7a27dbc85f32040410ab70118000c9&oe=57464782" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>No one around. Simply awesome.</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/11666292_10153772962979656_5045989814458440629_n.jpg?oh=9e138e51ecc06f246e33e19667b41fe2&oe=57074E91" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/11666292_10153772962979656_5045989814458440629_n.jpg?oh=9e138e51ecc06f246e33e19667b41fe2&oe=57074E91" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>This looks pretty but it has a sinister past.</i></div>
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From the name <a href="http://www.icelandicroots.com/tag/thingvellir-drowning-pool/" target="_blank">Þingvellir Drowning Pool</a>, you can guess that this was a drowning site. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/spi/438327689/" target="_blank">These women</a> were apparently executed by drowning. Þingvellir was not just the site where laws were passed; it was also the site where punishment were meted out. </div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12194507_10153772963029656_5944536392210075910_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12194507_10153772963029656_5944536392210075910_o.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>Stunning, isn't it? </i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/12191892_10153772963044656_9207374682910903890_n.jpg?oh=73aae1a4c5fcef4a94213e194affca12&oe=57424F01&__gda__=1459348773_3600beeb111af64caf94145a8c7ad4c4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/12191892_10153772963044656_9207374682910903890_n.jpg?oh=73aae1a4c5fcef4a94213e194affca12&oe=57424F01&__gda__=1459348773_3600beeb111af64caf94145a8c7ad4c4" width="640" /></a></div>
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As the river flows,</div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12108836_10153772963109656_3294672288382999838_n.jpg?oh=a9e87b772b547558fc6abfd103f52b6b&oe=56FD6FC3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12108836_10153772963109656_3294672288382999838_n.jpg?oh=a9e87b772b547558fc6abfd103f52b6b&oe=56FD6FC3" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>To the sea, to the sea. No wait, this is still a river.</i></div>
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It was barely 10am but we were already hungry. So we ate this funny pie. </div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12144923_10153746039254656_5522721590275944802_n.jpg?oh=f43ef618b92056aa63767ff7a63b1d02&oe=5743B46A" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12144923_10153746039254656_5522721590275944802_n.jpg?oh=f43ef618b92056aa63767ff7a63b1d02&oe=5743B46A" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Not sure what we ate.</i></div>
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Ladies and gentlemen, introducing one of the most gorgeous views.<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12191661_10153772957809656_210555551691080941_n.jpg?oh=cb96c607de16558c9a2df0f8aecc6872&oe=573FA6F1&__gda__=1463945616_74ed076c106ec45a8a4acf2f9d21723f" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12191661_10153772957809656_210555551691080941_n.jpg?oh=cb96c607de16558c9a2df0f8aecc6872&oe=573FA6F1&__gda__=1463945616_74ed076c106ec45a8a4acf2f9d21723f" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>With a toilet in the foreground. </i></div>
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This is what you can expect in Iceland. It is a place of rugged beauty everywhere you turn. Or it might be me imagining the beauty where there is none.<br />
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You might have seen the legendary images of Gullfoss waterfall online. You know, the big one that falls into a crack in the ground and occasionally spits out a rainbow? Like the image from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gullfoss" target="_blank">Wikipedia </a>here:<br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Gullfoss%2C_Su%C3%B0urland%2C_Islandia%2C_2014-08-16%2C_DD_123.JPG/1024px-Gullfoss%2C_Su%C3%B0urland%2C_Islandia%2C_2014-08-16%2C_DD_123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Gullfoss%2C_Su%C3%B0urland%2C_Islandia%2C_2014-08-16%2C_DD_123.JPG/1024px-Gullfoss%2C_Su%C3%B0urland%2C_Islandia%2C_2014-08-16%2C_DD_123.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Just waiting for the unicorn to appear.</i></div>
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This was our view:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOh8QPbFRg9YLcFRhCLSUrrl9xSianhUHqeXOcQf1pPxtITeOIa6eBbFI_sUYfDQ3vtwKYTx-n0O186iX9Orb-1RX2c_mhimmdJhZUNc0a0DrntJimxMq4_3BoerNhoE2xESv68A/s1600/gullfoss+waterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOh8QPbFRg9YLcFRhCLSUrrl9xSianhUHqeXOcQf1pPxtITeOIa6eBbFI_sUYfDQ3vtwKYTx-n0O186iX9Orb-1RX2c_mhimmdJhZUNc0a0DrntJimxMq4_3BoerNhoE2xESv68A/s640/gullfoss+waterfall.jpg" width="520" /></a></div>
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<i>Contrary to my strong beliefs, it was overcast.</i></div>
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Can you imagine the sheer power of this waterfall? How tonnes and tonnes of water seems to be plunging into a crevice that appeared in the ground out of nowhere? Think about the sounds, the sights, the spray?<br />
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Ok, no need to think. Here's a video:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MxPcrOPWlMs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MxPcrOPWlMs?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<i>Too bad I cannot convey the freshness of the air. Or the cold.</i></div>
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This was the sight that greeted us at the top of the stairs. Yes, there's walking involved at every stop and most of them are on wet terrain. At this particular stop, the spray from mighty Gullfoss made sure of that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87x_6K3GcAgXMonTH8lxOHV-dwyvpBViTwrLHYLFvfVgqFUlZ0OQSJ9dw_fki26jj77DezRkbDpXS3FcExEIjq-go6Lg93SOeel4PyWOkNg-EjUnefMGVF-eQMnk7PkUhQcWSHA/s1600/gullfoss+from+a+distance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87x_6K3GcAgXMonTH8lxOHV-dwyvpBViTwrLHYLFvfVgqFUlZ0OQSJ9dw_fki26jj77DezRkbDpXS3FcExEIjq-go6Lg93SOeel4PyWOkNg-EjUnefMGVF-eQMnk7PkUhQcWSHA/s640/gullfoss+from+a+distance.jpg" width="522" /></a></div>
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<i>The view before we walked down the stairs.</i></div>
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Don't you just love how tiny you feel against the force of nature? It's important to feel insignificant sometimes because our worries and problems also appear much more trivial.<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12186371_10153772989644656_8815595114313507090_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12186371_10153772989644656_8815595114313507090_o.jpg" width="524" /></a></div>
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<i>Spot the humans in my artsy macro shot.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6eDJS1RW_slV9qhg-ywQK0BlEaM7imBy1cSiQnC0XyjwF31YVjb_z2jEajVr0o99VvpoMaBeUgmyn3ukcXHxx32aEuU-J6XhHl77_C3oRsycVhsoigbYrzpj3iLx8zg0GgJayA/s1600/gullfoss+steps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6eDJS1RW_slV9qhg-ywQK0BlEaM7imBy1cSiQnC0XyjwF31YVjb_z2jEajVr0o99VvpoMaBeUgmyn3ukcXHxx32aEuU-J6XhHl77_C3oRsycVhsoigbYrzpj3iLx8zg0GgJayA/s640/gullfoss+steps.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The steps before it all starts going straight down.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sYe3ZSgBeXZUdnhjzvAIpQoGtcm11dbtLyHX-NyxYtKxGfz_lQaTCWhnyI1VZywMEL2zXmBfoFocKyhDSzSr6L_EvuaneTX7O_rDJDc8G7YEUO5Tk4ljShKUSds3HPXbxS6vaQ/s1600/disappearing+gullfoss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sYe3ZSgBeXZUdnhjzvAIpQoGtcm11dbtLyHX-NyxYtKxGfz_lQaTCWhnyI1VZywMEL2zXmBfoFocKyhDSzSr6L_EvuaneTX7O_rDJDc8G7YEUO5Tk4ljShKUSds3HPXbxS6vaQ/s640/disappearing+gullfoss.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>It just... disappeared.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEC2J2Jhyphenhyphen7lMAnq1Pa8QsqH8DssO1MbII9EGpb6AA8X-PfkuY9G7vuzlQpMAMiMYmNY4VRVDgkXU0xINJMlYqIps0p4p5V-466KKnz62jlU5mxgOlW-ZWVc1BNlbwwYmsGb66Gw/s1600/gullfoss+plunge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEC2J2Jhyphenhyphen7lMAnq1Pa8QsqH8DssO1MbII9EGpb6AA8X-PfkuY9G7vuzlQpMAMiMYmNY4VRVDgkXU0xINJMlYqIps0p4p5V-466KKnz62jlU5mxgOlW-ZWVc1BNlbwwYmsGb66Gw/s640/gullfoss+plunge.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>The plunge.</i></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1-JVUxQoXYI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1-JVUxQoXYI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<i>Down, down, down...</i></div>
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I cannot reiterate this enough. Good, sturdy, non-slip shoes please. This is the kind of ground you will be walking on.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtl1/v/l/t1.0-9/10622697_10153772990244656_4022404691371010179_n.jpg?oh=9aa24bdefe249b9f30f363711201baf7&oe=57097DC9" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtl1/v/l/t1.0-9/10622697_10153772990244656_4022404691371010179_n.jpg?oh=9aa24bdefe249b9f30f363711201baf7&oe=57097DC9" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Wet and wet and wet. Track shoes may not cut it.</i></div>
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On to the next topic of the day: Kjotsupa.<br />
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Unless there are some dietary restrictions or preferences, I don't understand why some people want to eat food from back home when travelling. The older I get, the less things are new to me. I enjoy trying new tastes but then I am a pig. I do draw the line at eating bloody stuff though. OMG! I do have dietary preferences. Can't be a hipster who tries everything once now. *sad*<br />
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Anyway, we were recommended to try Icelandic soup, which Google says is known as "Kjotsupa". Essentially, it is a lamb soup made with Icelandic herbs. Lamb is a common meat in Iceland, as is fish.<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/t31.0-8/12184318_10153772990844656_639190153906811364_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/t31.0-8/12184318_10153772990844656_639190153906811364_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>I have no idea what else is in it besides carrots and potatoes.</i></div>
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It was comforting to drink this in the cold weather. I think all hot soups will be comforting in the Icelandic cold.<br />
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This was our first real meal, outside, in Iceland at <a href="http://gullfoss.is/cafe/" target="_blank">Gullfoss Cafe</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/886054_10153772990664656_4107055570789060480_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/886054_10153772990664656_4107055570789060480_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>A soup each and a chicken sandwich to share</i></div>
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Hello, soup is not an entree here. We thought we would still be hungry if we only drank the soup. Boy, were we wrong! No wonder the aunty from the next table kept turning back and staring at our portion. The bread rolls were unlimited. They had more usual food if lamb is not your thing. The meal set us back about S$50.<br />
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We needed the filling meal because we were going to take a huge risk at the next stop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYVXGPBsdX9ugZrC14zCXvkyYjiXWwRFAxjR5h4oAPW_5d32j7WgL4D5gF756fECwo8XNdneOWJCJXu9uJiJL6-T9A51sFqkxZHFJYQur6OX4ZIOziswWnVAyMJCOlm3qTO7Qwg/s1600/at+your+own+risk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYVXGPBsdX9ugZrC14zCXvkyYjiXWwRFAxjR5h4oAPW_5d32j7WgL4D5gF756fECwo8XNdneOWJCJXu9uJiJL6-T9A51sFqkxZHFJYQur6OX4ZIOziswWnVAyMJCOlm3qTO7Qwg/s640/at+your+own+risk.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>The nearest hospital is 62km away.</i></div>
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Most of these natural sights do not have people guarding them. Don't be an arse and pray pray ah! These natural wonders are way to powerful for humans to handle. Check out one right now:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjB6kMvDjxHVz_iNdgEe97zw-qQtdR7enqsnmEQv51WeOw7lG_n3ou2uX8vrgIhI4UFceBIjKazDs92uZBQy6yYfUE065RoNu7GXuG0dDvgOxZ0LoCRltn2-EA4rWO44DKbWDZQ/s1600/geysir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjB6kMvDjxHVz_iNdgEe97zw-qQtdR7enqsnmEQv51WeOw7lG_n3ou2uX8vrgIhI4UFceBIjKazDs92uZBQy6yYfUE065RoNu7GXuG0dDvgOxZ0LoCRltn2-EA4rWO44DKbWDZQ/s640/geysir.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Seems empty doesn't it? It wasn't.</div>
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This geyser erupts every few minutes. Did you know that geysers are named after The Great Geysir in Iceland? This is not the granddaddy though, The Great Geysir doesn't erupt as often after some earthquakes.<br />
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Here's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strokkur" target="_blank">Strokkur </a>in action.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1gTp4sZWkfM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1gTp4sZWkfM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<i>Choose a good spot to catch the action.</i></div>
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The area around the Geysir Parks is beautiful too. The wide, open spaces in Iceland are<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHTOPxFCS2HMBlYc1kvREL2rcSihzgqATx2POVnYlprsMwdBFE0Fil1kJpUFej4WSkzOKMmG65pARSa77iU0-wJMyyWaCHpCCTPU00GIkC-7iYuOGv46PZlOq7kAnYWAPeOBwVA/s1600/geysir+park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHTOPxFCS2HMBlYc1kvREL2rcSihzgqATx2POVnYlprsMwdBFE0Fil1kJpUFej4WSkzOKMmG65pARSa77iU0-wJMyyWaCHpCCTPU00GIkC-7iYuOGv46PZlOq7kAnYWAPeOBwVA/s640/geysir+park.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Iceland, the land of fire and ice.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1k9LEeCUr_hA2TTM8-jPQrw2fI_E52par6UoSA_gncx8Dnj_cQZtNzIIXlcpBZF_gMJeePbWIChDFAIcZ9IsNRDNx7mx3vmaaO2IuyZ5LL7Y0JtIxCljmDrtGx4sfiV_Nz1l58w/s1600/geyser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1k9LEeCUr_hA2TTM8-jPQrw2fI_E52par6UoSA_gncx8Dnj_cQZtNzIIXlcpBZF_gMJeePbWIChDFAIcZ9IsNRDNx7mx3vmaaO2IuyZ5LL7Y0JtIxCljmDrtGx4sfiV_Nz1l58w/s640/geyser.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>No one, empty, deserted, nada.</i></div>
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If you love doing jumping and floating shots, cold countries are the best places to do it. You don't get sweaty.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IuucKRKrhRZ-PoL22iM7ABAoNqhq0lF2hWddYCRvyKga5fPmhcx7_UM3sXbvJfMInPJHv96q70ZNmSwUOqm4bVWfA8KObT__xw0Gme3oZ7VmQULTFs-36QUtHVOBhLNCkaIM3A/s1600/jump+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IuucKRKrhRZ-PoL22iM7ABAoNqhq0lF2hWddYCRvyKga5fPmhcx7_UM3sXbvJfMInPJHv96q70ZNmSwUOqm4bVWfA8KObT__xw0Gme3oZ7VmQULTFs-36QUtHVOBhLNCkaIM3A/s640/jump+shot.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Take a shot from bottom up to make it look like you can jump higher.</div>
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Try to leave nature unspoiled ok? You're not supposed to throw anything into the pool. Just admire it and leave only footprint behind. A donation for the upkeep of the park would be welcomed too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-tHBIDRTvlEAijeXt0kjIPTVxRboHqyJA8bo49C5vHhnbXRsTzAynr07SZ_aKP0LAKzVOhE2MzVdgBRJsQnaZfPE2pbnkJeNrriIiPxwfwlURwbu3j-XI8dEMX-QJEN-PP8tow/s1600/no+coins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-tHBIDRTvlEAijeXt0kjIPTVxRboHqyJA8bo49C5vHhnbXRsTzAynr07SZ_aKP0LAKzVOhE2MzVdgBRJsQnaZfPE2pbnkJeNrriIiPxwfwlURwbu3j-XI8dEMX-QJEN-PP8tow/s640/no+coins.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>This would be so much prettier without the fugly coins in it. It's not a wishing well or a crap fountain.</i></div>
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The 2nd last stop of the day trip was the Skalholt area. This is where the first official school was founded and it's where you'll find this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O4RO-fnyJLNiUKc401eh2jC3mgM4fVZPxgz-CDwY72OQaKdT9MGh9rybfel6_Yq70SPFDVDUdIHGIcO37x4bZm0grYh85Y7TxKOdI1jS5ziM5GGUf8jWQ3YLBmE3o6XSrVkfLg/s1600/Skalholt+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O4RO-fnyJLNiUKc401eh2jC3mgM4fVZPxgz-CDwY72OQaKdT9MGh9rybfel6_Yq70SPFDVDUdIHGIcO37x4bZm0grYh85Y7TxKOdI1jS5ziM5GGUf8jWQ3YLBmE3o6XSrVkfLg/s640/Skalholt+church.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Skaholt cathedral </i></div>
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You can go into the building and the simplicity of its interior made me go back in time. Quite beautiful really.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gyRxU4Fv8kG2Jf5b3mU9h-chSZbJUOCCTABDGV2PUGhziQOT-srxTapSznD6NaTMgVK-WLPY5JWdEMAzkVPX5n0QrYJDp_-2aZqXnT8SkNk2YrwoST6E08BZBAfvnjT4LoOo9g/s1600/dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gyRxU4Fv8kG2Jf5b3mU9h-chSZbJUOCCTABDGV2PUGhziQOT-srxTapSznD6NaTMgVK-WLPY5JWdEMAzkVPX5n0QrYJDp_-2aZqXnT8SkNk2YrwoST6E08BZBAfvnjT4LoOo9g/s640/dog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The dog came to admire the view too. </i></div>
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When you round to the back of the church, the expansive Icelandic landscape will greet you again. This time, we go to share it with a friendly dog.<br />
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There is a larger cathedral next to the old one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_cZKysKauaJvPOX46mQ5tJfDcWz7MXDYB1u-F71voY8ODipDoap_ZLyM4mCE25FxAFrv1Vgga2-yRYYn89KLSqYpl5NNNDpAkeDqcN872LY-zxpGxWgSoHlVfczDWwn3mMULWg/s1600/Skalholt+churches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_cZKysKauaJvPOX46mQ5tJfDcWz7MXDYB1u-F71voY8ODipDoap_ZLyM4mCE25FxAFrv1Vgga2-yRYYn89KLSqYpl5NNNDpAkeDqcN872LY-zxpGxWgSoHlVfczDWwn3mMULWg/s640/Skalholt+churches.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>The white building at the back is the new build</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzn9Ef532TGd0m805D0jJtrbgI2-Rwg2Fz2eFnQCcaTmep5No0fo8n-FA7bIwzIaZxsSLxsLL2BMBBFDn7Rsm9UNFUhsq880yTXXXNbFJG7wUI6QQlEoTPdKH7XzCUBmxCGx9vg/s1600/Skalholt+church+inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzn9Ef532TGd0m805D0jJtrbgI2-Rwg2Fz2eFnQCcaTmep5No0fo8n-FA7bIwzIaZxsSLxsLL2BMBBFDn7Rsm9UNFUhsq880yTXXXNbFJG7wUI6QQlEoTPdKH7XzCUBmxCGx9vg/s640/Skalholt+church+inside.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>The interior of Skaholt cathedral </i></div>
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The final stop of the day was Fákasel, the Icelandic Horse Park. If you're keen you can watch a short 5-minute show of skilled jockeys demonstrating the different gaits of the Icelandic Horse.<br />
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Watch, the Flying Pace:<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Am-QNQ4a4Mc/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Am-QNQ4a4Mc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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If you're not keen on watching the show, you can wander round the small shop which sells a good variety of Icelandic products.<br />
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We headed back to town, all excited about the next event on our itinerary - chasing the Northern Lights! The mysterious Aurora is surely the top reason for visiting Iceland for many.<br />
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Then, disaster struck.<br />
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The tour was cancelled because the likelihood of seeing them was low that night.<br />
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WHY, OH WHY?! :~~~~~~(<br />
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Two very disappointed people then booked the tour for the next day and went back to do laundry and nua in the apartment. At least we had a digital media library to entertain us for a bit.<br />
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And this cute rubbish chute:<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12105705_10153746262609656_1903641702517352088_n.jpg?oh=bd6e74b1b686ac525b5c437c98007fce&oe=573B3942" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12105705_10153746262609656_1903641702517352088_n.jpg?oh=bd6e74b1b686ac525b5c437c98007fce&oe=573B3942" width="480" /></a></div>
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The extremely small chute is a good way to remind you to recycle your plastic, paper and glass bottles.</div>
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For our first full day in Iceland, we learnt these lessons:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>The cold in Iceland wilderness is no joke. Forget your rings and fanciful accessories. </li>
<li>Remember to wear gloves.</li>
<li>Non-slip shoes. Shoes that don't slip. Slip proof soles. Cannot stress enough.</li>
<li>Many of the natural sights are very powerful. Not the kind of place you want to monkey around.</li>
<li>Aurora do not turn up when you want them to. Don't build yourselves up for disappointment.</li>
</ol>
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It wasn't all that bad though. The next day, we had a pretty good one at the <a href="http://www.bluelagoon.com/" target="_blank">Blue Lagoon</a>. :)</div>
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jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com2Iceland64.963051 -19.02083500000003461.51099099999999 -29.347983500000034 68.415111 -8.6936865000000338tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-64971667534013608672016-01-09T23:45:00.000+08:002016-01-14T21:55:25.117+08:0020151020 Iceland with its brutal cold and series of unwelcoming events I'm not sure how we decided to go to Iceland. Iceland is one of the countries I wanted to visit since young. The reason? I wanted to see if it's all ice there. So you can guess why I was keen to go to Greenland too.<br />
<br />
We booked our flight for Singapore-Amsterdam-Singapore because Singapore Airlines was having a promotion. When it came to planning our itinerary, we toyed with including these countries:<br />
<ol>
<li>Germany</li>
<li>Paris</li>
<li>London</li>
<li>Spain</li>
<li>Greece</li>
<li>Norway</li>
<li>Sweden</li>
<li>Scotland </li>
<li>Switzerland </li>
</ol>
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You can tell that our geography is not very good. >_<</div>
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We ruled them out, very systematically:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Didn't feel like it.</li>
<li>I went there before.</li>
<li>I went there before. Twice. </li>
<li>Far from Amsterdam.</li>
<li>Far from Amsterdam.</li>
<li>Mac meal costs SGD17.</li>
<li>The only Swedish things we know are IKEA and meatballs. Not really. It was expensive too.</li>
<li>Not sure what we need to get around.</li>
<li>Expensive.</li>
</ol>
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We figured that since we were going to one of the cities in the northern part of Europe, we might as well visit Iceland. Who would reject the chance to see the aurora or pretend to be Ben Stiller in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359950/" target="_blank">The Secret Life of Walter Mitty</a>? </div>
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So Iceland it was.</div>
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We considered, very briefly, to do a self-drive. The <a href="https://www.icelandcarrental.is/Insurances" target="_blank">gravel protection insurance</a> made us drop the idea. And the fact that I am a driver on paper only. :P</div>
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We were fixated with <a href="http://www.airbnb.com.sg/" target="_blank">airbnb</a>. We didn't even consider staying in hotels or inns for the trip. I think we thought we would cook a lot. It wasn't that hard to choose our<a href="https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/1312334" target="_blank"> accommodation in Reykjavik</a> because of its description.<br />
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Let's go back to Day 4, the day we flew from Amsterdam to Reykjavik.<br />
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A few airlines offered flights and we chose <a href="http://www.icelandair.com/" target="_blank">Icelandair</a>. Remember to verify the check-in baggage the flight includes to avoid getting rude shocks and exorbitant surcharges when you reach the airport. Icelandair allows 23kg check-in and a handcarry. It costs around SGD600 for the round trip, which is not cheap.<br />
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We bade Amsterdam goodbye. As usual, when the two of us travel together, we reach places way too early. We checked in with more than enough time for a meal and a kopi and repeat.<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12189873_10153772949124656_6428342026252658665_n.jpg?oh=afb12a9ea299b7257581741a44fb0156&oe=570D4B46&__gda__=1463869571_fb93c7079e685823a7c3dc70ce51c2a0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12189873_10153772949124656_6428342026252658665_n.jpg?oh=afb12a9ea299b7257581741a44fb0156&oe=570D4B46&__gda__=1463869571_fb93c7079e685823a7c3dc70ce51c2a0" title="kopi, kopi. coffee in the airport" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Caffeine fix.</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12208260_10153772949269656_1199024057298570857_n.jpg?oh=a5e45bab0ad59479dcacfa7fab03cecd&oe=5700B000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12208260_10153772949269656_1199024057298570857_n.jpg?oh=a5e45bab0ad59479dcacfa7fab03cecd&oe=5700B000" title="beef burger with chips. what can go wrong?" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Burger with fab chips.</i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12188887_10153772949314656_5638266374388118837_n.jpg?oh=08d24e2316171062de82d28d3ad8ec9f&oe=570F3E1F&__gda__=1460581385_33f5d1073f5eb8b75873b7706e573dc1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12188887_10153772949314656_5638266374388118837_n.jpg?oh=08d24e2316171062de82d28d3ad8ec9f&oe=570F3E1F&__gda__=1460581385_33f5d1073f5eb8b75873b7706e573dc1" title="chicken and rocket. smooth mayo with chips. what can go wrong?" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Chicken sandwich with yummy mayonnaise. </i></div>
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Actually, our timing was just nice. Do not underestimate the time needed to cross customs. Besides bag scans and body scans, they also pat you down. Give yourself ample time. Ditch the jewellery and boots if you don't want to be holding up the line at the customs.<br />
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If you are on Instagram, you would likely have seen many cool things <a href="https://www.instagram.com/icelandair/?hl=en" target="_blank">Icelandair </a>posted. It's destination marketing at its finest.<br />
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Sadly, the flight is not the best. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing terribly bad about it. It was just underwhelming. The 3-hour flight included free drinks which is not very clearly stated in the menu. We thought we had to pay so we dished out some cash. The stewardess gave us a "huh" look when we passed her the money and a curt "you don't need to pay", Nary a smile in sight. It wasn't very clean. Comfort level was so-so. I guess they tried to make you excited with aurora wannabes emitting from the roof:<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12088213_10153744857404656_5785264610623532633_n.jpg?oh=1c32a2a44af235ffcf1cde24567311ec&oe=5714EB01" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12088213_10153744857404656_5785264610623532633_n.jpg?oh=1c32a2a44af235ffcf1cde24567311ec&oe=5714EB01" title="aurora wannabes on board icelandair" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Excited much? </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBML1E-sw4-Ps2-R2Rf6Bvh8Sndvjn8OVKW5reVA0TNEH2naG_wvgVckjcr5ovwUzQcU4wiFxDsBydV7CSAYuu_yh9DLaqth4OQuHVNkAPnDxqxYhzWm0sUqNypRPXSNmF7rKA9g/s1600/icelandair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBML1E-sw4-Ps2-R2Rf6Bvh8Sndvjn8OVKW5reVA0TNEH2naG_wvgVckjcr5ovwUzQcU4wiFxDsBydV7CSAYuu_yh9DLaqth4OQuHVNkAPnDxqxYhzWm0sUqNypRPXSNmF7rKA9g/s640/icelandair.jpg" title="rainy iceland" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Hello Iceland, I brought rain!</i></div>
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To clarify, Iceland is a pretty rainy place. "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes" is something we see on a lot of their souvenirs.<br />
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What's your usual sequence after you have disembarked from the flight? You go to the loo, whip out your passport, head for the customs, pray you still look like the photo in your passport, grab your luggage and clear security, no?<br />
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Well, in Iceland, no. You can completely bypass the steps from whipping out passport to clearing customs/security. Coming from clean and proper Singapore, we were bewildered by this and sought out an airport staff.<br />
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"Nobody gets stamped here." she said.<br />
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Ogaaayyy... So, that's that.<br />
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The most convenient to travel into town is via <a href="https://www.re.is/flybus/" target="_blank">Flybus</a>. We booked prior to the trip and you can find the counter at the airport, located near the exit. Customer service in Iceland is not unlike Singapore, efficient and generally unsmiling. Most Icelanders we encountered spoke perfect English but Icelandic is still very much alive here. No need to fear communication problems at least.<br />
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Up next, SIM card.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlp1/v/t1.0-9/12144835_10153744856629656_3077114182135546966_n.jpg?oh=6622b3fd7c2c05fb15def38d5a636861&oe=5710E798" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlp1/v/t1.0-9/12144835_10153744856629656_3077114182135546966_n.jpg?oh=6622b3fd7c2c05fb15def38d5a636861&oe=5710E798" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://www.siminn.is/english-tourist/voice-and-data/" target="_blank">Síminn </a>provided us with very reliable services</i>. </div>
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The Starter Package cost around S$20 and included voice and data. A very pleasant surprise we discovered about Iceland is that it's a very well-connected country. This seems to contrast with the fact that the wilderness is the main draw of Iceland. Imagine trekking on lava fields, taking a selfie and uploading it onto Facebook in seconds. I went for walk at MacRitchie Reservoir once and could hardly get 2G. Gah!<br />
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The ride into town took 45 minutes and for the first few minutes, we saw nothing but lava fields. It was a very surreal feeling to be inside a bus with free WIFI and travelling along a road that is flanked by miles and miles of lava fields. No houses, no buildings and generally, no cars. The sun was going down and the only lights we saw was from our coach. I think there were street lights but they were not as densely placed as what we city kids are used to.<br />
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Then, the series of unwelcoming events started. We booked an apartment, not a hotel and the drop-off point was a hotel. After alighting, we were "welcomed" by the howling wind and it started raining. Not a mist, but real rain drops.<br />
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Luckily, our host posted lots of photos of the apartment's surroundings and I am not completely hopeless with navigation.<br />
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Sadly, the walk was down a steep slope.<br />
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Steep considering that the burger and sandwich from lunch were well-digested and that we were lugging our 20kg luggage. Oh yes, please do get a 4-wheel luggage if you are planning a free and easy trip. No porters or tour guides to help you with them.<br />
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Hoods on, heads down, luggage firmly in hand, we braved the rain. Half way down, a loud whistle pierced through the howling wind. Come on, already miserable enough. Don't ga jiao, ga jiao leh.<br />
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Opps, it was our very nice host, Bjorn, who had been waiting for us at the drop-off point. Sort of in the rain too. x:<br />
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It's apparent that Bjorn is a honest man. The apartment looks exactly like the pictures on his <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/1312334" target="_blank">airbnb listing</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10534717_10153744762499656_5119035490609010093_n.jpg?oh=c1bf23daefe76e59c2b0b004cb405e20&oe=573BE763&__gda__=1464221557_3c1e0d188fbe2e4faa333d9fa32714eb" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10534717_10153744762499656_5119035490609010093_n.jpg?oh=c1bf23daefe76e59c2b0b004cb405e20&oe=573BE763&__gda__=1464221557_3c1e0d188fbe2e4faa333d9fa32714eb" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The beautiful living room where we spent more time than expected.</i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12004686_10153744762554656_8186574890476780880_n.jpg?oh=07de7d51740703eebf4c0fa8c980335b&oe=574650C2&__gda__=1464008847_d3f6803924e7bcd49cb91947ef350031" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12004686_10153744762554656_8186574890476780880_n.jpg?oh=07de7d51740703eebf4c0fa8c980335b&oe=574650C2&__gda__=1464008847_d3f6803924e7bcd49cb91947ef350031" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>The huge telly with an extensive media library that perked up some of our sad nights. (You'll see why in subsequent posts.)</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12106902_10153744762594656_1552779621680789099_n.jpg?oh=c594e913dac233bd652ce2714ea50d99&oe=5706769C" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12106902_10153744762594656_1552779621680789099_n.jpg?oh=c594e913dac233bd652ce2714ea50d99&oe=5706769C" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>More than enough room for 2.</i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12096187_10153744762629656_7096791132647073713_n.jpg?oh=235d317d45f7d3c6649934ca48435995&oe=570CB199&__gda__=1460843100_f513b11497d39a594dc9a825256f706b" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12096187_10153744762629656_7096791132647073713_n.jpg?oh=235d317d45f7d3c6649934ca48435995&oe=570CB199&__gda__=1460843100_f513b11497d39a594dc9a825256f706b" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Nice, cosy bedroom. </i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12109052_10153744762669656_3988966987396712955_n.jpg?oh=0c3f659da203c244cdf1bc460e22f1f9&oe=570CCAD3&__gda__=1459983518_5e1911084d05f360510446922b746a0f" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12109052_10153744762669656_3988966987396712955_n.jpg?oh=0c3f659da203c244cdf1bc460e22f1f9&oe=570CCAD3&__gda__=1459983518_5e1911084d05f360510446922b746a0f" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Simple, functional kitchen and dining area with a very important piece of equipment: <a href="https://www.dolce-gusto.com.sg/" target="_blank">Nescafe Dolce Gusto</a> (comes with capsules)</i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12143083_10153744762729656_1925780866736124664_n.jpg?oh=101c49e436b2cd3215b5b04f9851480d&oe=570B28CB&__gda__=1463785181_8aabab668d126ae9e55449a7a42eab07" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12143083_10153744762729656_1925780866736124664_n.jpg?oh=101c49e436b2cd3215b5b04f9851480d&oe=570B28CB&__gda__=1463785181_8aabab668d126ae9e55449a7a42eab07" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Bathroom the size of a bedroom here in Singapore. At least the size of my 2nd bedroom anyway.</i></div>
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Unless you have no nose, you would smell the sulphur every time you run the hot water. And it's completely <a href="http://grapevine.is/mag/articles/2014/07/01/something-in-the-water/" target="_blank">normal</a>. Not the most pleasant, but normal. Rotten eggs shower. </div>
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By then, the afternoon's burger and sandwich had completed disappeared from our guts and we needed to refuel asap. Knowing not to expect shops in Reykjavik to open as late as the ones back home, we geared ourselves to brave the rain and wind and off we went on our little trip to <a href="http://www.kronan.is/" target="_blank">Kronan</a><span id="goog_1136759975"></span><span id="goog_1136759976"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>. Although we were in a city, this city is a lot darker when it gets dark.</div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xal1/v/t1.0-9/10675628_10153745300374656_5876537772331070677_n.jpg?oh=74b3f6656e122223e21e1837006137ad&oe=570559F1&__gda__=1463828736_153f62bbcd9864e11686586ed86db08f" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xal1/v/t1.0-9/10675628_10153745300374656_5876537772331070677_n.jpg?oh=74b3f6656e122223e21e1837006137ad&oe=570559F1&__gda__=1463828736_153f62bbcd9864e11686586ed86db08f" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The white building is a church and the supermarket is about the 4th lamp post from there. (Taken from the apartment's balcony.)</i></div>
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By the way, here's a good article that breaks down the <a href="http://www.iheartreykjavik.net/2013/07/the-ultimate-guide-to-food-shopping-in-iceland/" target="_blank">supermarkets in Iceland</a>. </div>
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The wind hit us as soon as we left the safety of the building. It was around 4°C but the wind and rain made it feel much colder. Actually, I wouldn't know since this is the coldest place I've visited. Heh. </div>
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They drive on the left side in Iceland so many of the road directions seemed 'off' to us. To adapt on an empty stomach is hard. To do it in the howling wind and rain with the hood blocking your vision is harder. </div>
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We planned to pretty much eat all our breakfast and dinner at the apartment and here's the total:</div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfl1/v/t1.0-9/1509954_10153744676624656_2935384165740490564_n.jpg?oh=13f7adaea50893fe520a2d3755b8b0c3&oe=573D97D8&__gda__=1460335261_b5d27562dab0c5a6cada1305e27ab88f" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfl1/v/t1.0-9/1509954_10153744676624656_2935384165740490564_n.jpg?oh=13f7adaea50893fe520a2d3755b8b0c3&oe=573D97D8&__gda__=1460335261_b5d27562dab0c5a6cada1305e27ab88f" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>That's about S$90 worth of groceries for 2. Oh, and beer is about S$1. </i></div>
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They charge if you need plastic bag so bring your own if you have them. I always travel with my trusty <a href="http://www.envirosax.com/" target="_blank">Environsax </a>and it has never failed me although it is getting old (about 5 years now). I do have other recycling bags but their quality and size cannot make it. I can't find Environsax in Singapore now so please, please let me know if you know where I can find them at around S$15. I know they're available via Qoo10 at S$26 but they used to sell for around S$10 and I am a cheapskate. =_=</div>
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Why did I say that we experience a series of unwelcoming events? </div>
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<ol>
<li>Strong wind and real rain when we alighted = cold</li>
<li>Haven't eaten since 1pm = hungry</li>
<li>Braved the wind and rain to the supermarket = colder and wet</li>
<li>Carried the groceries back to the apartment = tired</li>
<li>Couldn't open the door = &*QBj(&!#@</li>
</ol>
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Yes, the door was jammed. We turned the key this way and that. We used brute strength, we whispered pleas. We inserted the key partially, we jammed it in forcefully. Nothing worked. After calling Bjorn, we were advised to jimmy the lock a.k.a. wiggle the keys a lot. </div>
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Finally!</div>
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Although <a href="http://jllt.blogspot.sg/2016/01/tips-on-travelling-in-brussels.html" target="_blank">Day 2</a> was the worst day of the trip, I had something good out of it. </div>
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Instant noodles.</div>
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When you're cold, hungry, wet and tired, pipping hot and spicy instant noodles are a godsend. That and</div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12208403_10153772957859656_5736667113815841484_n.jpg?oh=d8e4105e43cf3509938cd0eaf42c2896&oe=5710433A" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12208403_10153772957859656_5736667113815841484_n.jpg?oh=d8e4105e43cf3509938cd0eaf42c2896&oe=5710433A" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.almondy.com/en/retail/cakes/almond-cake-toblerone" target="_blank">Almondy Toblerone chocolate cake</a> with</i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12106704_10153744816429656_758888178050435555_n.jpg?oh=2432f97d8a29798f9d5e7a5bece6ce0a&oe=56FBA72D&__gda__=1459949835_4de97d4b041e31ce5dca5c0bde85189e" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12106704_10153744816429656_758888178050435555_n.jpg?oh=2432f97d8a29798f9d5e7a5bece6ce0a&oe=56FBA72D&__gda__=1459949835_4de97d4b041e31ce5dca5c0bde85189e" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>John Wick.</i></div>
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We learnt a few things from Day 4:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Allocate more time to clearing customs at Amsterdam.</li>
<li>Pour over the photos of your accommodation surroundings prior to your trip so you can run towards it in the event you arrive during adverse weather.</li>
<li>Bring along a recycling bag when grocery shopping in Iceland or prepare to fork out some moolah for bags. I recommend Environsax.</li>
<li>Get ready for the sulphurous smell from hot water in Iceland.</li>
<li>Make sure you have wet weather gear, a padded jacket with a hood, non-slip shoes when packing for Iceland.</li>
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Before I conclude the day, I would like to share an image of Icelandic Krona. Just because.</div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12122740_10153745312299656_6096020376915640145_n.jpg?oh=608ad11b63640d09f379efb9ffe2ced6&oe=570AE848&__gda__=1459387274_ae2868a0cd75e94714c746ababf2f5ea" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12122740_10153745312299656_6096020376915640145_n.jpg?oh=608ad11b63640d09f379efb9ffe2ced6&oe=570AE848&__gda__=1459387274_ae2868a0cd75e94714c746ababf2f5ea" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>We changed our money at Schiphol airport. I doubt you can find many money changers in Singapore that carry Icelandic Krona.</i></div>
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On Day 4, we finally took a break from self-navigating and left it all up to the tour guide. At last, the famous <a href="http://www.grayline.com/tours/golden-circle/the-golden-circle-classic-tour-5963_9/" target="_blank">Golden Circle Tour of Iceland</a>!</div>
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<a href="http://jllt.blogspot.sg/2016/01/20151017-amsterdam.html" target="_blank"><i>Day 1: Amsterdam with the sombre Anne Frank House and delicious Screaming Beans </i></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://jllt.blogspot.sg/2016/01/tips-on-travelling-in-brussels.html" target="_blank">Day 2: Brussels with its pissing boys, street art and French architecture</a></i><br />
<i><a href="https://jllt.blogspot.sg/2016/01/tips-on-travelling-in-amsterdam.html" target="_blank">Day 3: Amsterdam with its red lights and pale brew</a></i></div>
jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com3Reykjavík, Iceland64.126520599999992 -21.81743929999993364.015676599999992 -22.140162799999931 64.237364599999992 -21.494715799999934tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-64385101657872756812016-01-07T23:04:00.003+08:002016-01-11T18:51:55.837+08:0020151019 Amsterdam with its red lights and pale brewDay 3 started late.<br>
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We were supposed to catch the <a href="http://www.newamsterdamtours.com/daily-tours/free-walking-tour-amsterdam.html" target="_blank">walking tour </a>around the city but the residual headache from <a href="http://jllt.blogspot.sg/2016/01/tips-on-travelling-in-brussels.html" target="_blank">Day 2</a> forced us to stay in bed. That's the thing about free and easy trip, isn't it? You have the freedom to do what you want or don't want, stay as long as you like at one place, eat when you feel like it and sleep in if that's what you prefer.<br>
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Well, we missed the tour and it didn't cost us anything. Why? Because it's a free walking tour where you pay what you think your guide deserves at the end of the 3-hour journey. This (likely) gives the guide more incentive to do better, be more engaging, share more interesting tidbits of information as it relates closely to what they get paid. I tried this when I was in Paris and I found it to be a very informative introduction to the city. They will cover the popular sights, tell you the stories behind each, share juicy details of where which blockbuster was filmed and give you suggestions on where to go if you are looking for the most "authentic bar/restaurant/cafe/[fill in with whatever interests you].<br>
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Ok, quiz time!<br>
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Guess where we went for brekkie? Hint: We needed kopi!<br>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/12115646_10153771266194656_8234237954305846616_n.jpg?oh=f5cb905c0c503317410253604f480f32&oe=57020183&__gda__=1459817980_6ad7521a52567c66d580f16ec0eab25d" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/12115646_10153771266194656_8234237954305846616_n.jpg?oh=f5cb905c0c503317410253604f480f32&oe=57020183&__gda__=1459817980_6ad7521a52567c66d580f16ec0eab25d" title="the lims went to lim kopi" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Frothy, whitey </i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12193341_10153771266309656_36389908336876347_n.jpg?oh=5bdfb4de6cb78fa19e1d8ce1e2a34024&oe=570E442B&__gda__=1464457204_81a02f1b8ca0a7d9a0561c4e6eab788e" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12193341_10153771266309656_36389908336876347_n.jpg?oh=5bdfb4de6cb78fa19e1d8ce1e2a34024&oe=570E442B&__gda__=1464457204_81a02f1b8ca0a7d9a0561c4e6eab788e" title="is it me or does rocket go well with most ang moh food?" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Goaty, quichey</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12112397_10153771266454656_2082838756722149989_n.jpg?oh=c67d7f7e82048eaa075b369fba4e1b20&oe=570B1A6B" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12112397_10153771266454656_2082838756722149989_n.jpg?oh=c67d7f7e82048eaa075b369fba4e1b20&oe=570B1A6B" title="mmm.. rocket" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Porky, eggy</i></div>
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To give the most genuine review, we returned to <a href="http://screamingbeans.nl/" target="_blank">Screaming Beans</a> to make sure the first kopi wasn't a fluke.<br>
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It was't.<br>
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And it got better because the quiches were awesome too!<br>
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Prior to the trip, we were concerned about the cost of eating out in Europe. Turns out that the prices are similar to what you pay for hipster food and drinks here in Singapore. A latte is around 3euro while the quiche was 8euro. No additional charge. Yippee! If this is a price you are ok with paying and if you don't fancy your own food, your airbnb accommodation can omit the kitchen.<br>
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We experienced nothing but friendliness from the service staff at the places we visited. From the simple sandwich shop, to the more high-end <a href="https://www.google.com.sg/maps?q=chanel+amsterdam&ion=1&espv=2&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.&bvm=bv.110151844,d.c2E&biw=1366&bih=643&dpr=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiBofPe5pfKAhWDSo4KHUpQDGIQ_AUIBigB" target="_blank">Chanel</a>, everyone was the epitome of friendliness. It may also be me choosing to remember the good bits of the trip. Selective memory. No, not really. I have a few friends who really, really like Amsterdam and I have no doubts that they will migrate there if they can.<br>
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With time to kill till the next planned activity, we walked around the city of Amsterdam, our self-serviced tour.<br>
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Note: Don't use H&M as your landmark as there are many H&Ms. Walk down this lane, there's two. Turn the corner, that's one more. Brands that are more "up there" to us are common there. Samsonite? Check! Ecco? Check! Oh yeah, these are Western brands and I'm in Europe. Meh.<br>
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Day 1 taught me an important lesson. Try your shoes before your trip, especially if you expect to wear thick socks. My shoes are my exact size and with thick socks, they're not. Being the miser I am, I thought long and hard before I decided to buy this pair of Ecco shoes to make the rest of the trip easier:<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5_93VIJKtyXXxWg_q6d1y0JeEcQQKU-dP_QNat6IH3a_dAeAJawGZ0v7duH0-8wh_qRx-DCyEJ1ijh27iiP51Cv4exYphnRZm__GR7qYwJDOZv5W-5xjLv5M88G5pkqq1MhGgA/s1600/Ecco+Intrinsic+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5_93VIJKtyXXxWg_q6d1y0JeEcQQKU-dP_QNat6IH3a_dAeAJawGZ0v7duH0-8wh_qRx-DCyEJ1ijh27iiP51Cv4exYphnRZm__GR7qYwJDOZv5W-5xjLv5M88G5pkqq1MhGgA/s640/Ecco+Intrinsic+1.PNG" title="The shoe that probably saved my life in Iceland" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Behold! <a href="http://global.ecco.com/en/collection/ladies/flat-shoes/intrinsic+1+ladies-860013-01001" target="_blank">Ecco Intrinsic 1</a>.</i></div>
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You know what the best part about this pair of shoes is?<br>
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It is 30-40% cheaper than the price in Singapore! Shiok until ah!<br>
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Actually, I lied. The best part of the shoes is it's non-slip soles. You will learn why when I reach the Iceland posts.<br>
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The 2nd tour of the day was supposed to be the Alternative Amsterdam tour. Noticed the words "supposed to be"? 买个关子. Tell you more later.<br>
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We were at the meeting point, <a href="https://www.google.com.sg/maps?q=national+monument+at+dam+square&ion=1&espv=2&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.&bvm=bv.110151844,d.c2E&biw=1366&bih=643&dpr=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiR-p666JfKAhXQGo4KHVHsAIAQ_AUIBygC" target="_blank">National Monument at Dam Square</a>, too early and decided to recce the area. There are lots of restaurants. bistros, cafes and souvenir shops here. And hence, many tourists.<br>
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These started calling out to us...<br>
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<img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/12190069_10153771285694656_4064511169309686656_n.jpg?oh=591a0f269f8a09fb51649be60c0d679c&oe=570645C6&__gda__=1460328562_d47458ab489e4e2e4fe13b402733b6f8" title="sweet and savoury, anything you want" width="640"><i>Pastries, cakes, breads, doughnuts, sandwiches</i></div>
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These, my friends, are not cheap. They are around the price of a Starbucks in Singapore. Hmm, judging from the queue at the Starbucks near by workplace, it might not be that expensive after all. Sorry, not a Starbucks fan.<br>
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Remember how I said Day 3 was supposed to be a chillaxing day when I posted about <a href="http://jllt.blogspot.sg/2016/01/tips-on-travelling-in-brussels.html" target="_blank">Day 2</a>? It wasn't because <b><u>our tour got cancelled</u></b>!!! The guide was sick and we were left stranded. What to do, what to do? The dilemma of travelling. You want to take it easy and just enjoy your time there. Yet, your time there is limited so you want to make sure you've covered the worth covering bits. Twiddle thumbs, twiddle dee.<br>
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When life hands you lemons, make lemonades. When your tour gets cancelled, you get...<br>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12194797_10153771266974656_8990094854442395106_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12194797_10153771266974656_8990094854442395106_o.jpg" width="426"></a></div>
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<i>Drunk?</i></div>
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That's us at the <a href="http://www.heinekenexperience.com/AgeCheck" target="_blank">Heineken Experience</a>. I don't drink so don't ask me what I was doing there. Nevertheless, we expected to spend 1 hour there and ended up spending over 2 hours. Each ticket costs 18euro and you can buy them online at 16. There are many tour desks in the city where you can also get your tickets at a slightly cheaper rate. This means that you can head straight in upon arrival, without needing to queue for tickets.<br>
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At the brewery, you learn about how beer is made (duh!) and the history of Heineken. We expected all these. What we didn't expect:<br>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12193558_10153771286389656_3927551936335947134_n.jpg?oh=a72b7cb9fb3c0f1eee1859d464627692&oe=57023F48" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12193558_10153771286389656_3927551936335947134_n.jpg?oh=a72b7cb9fb3c0f1eee1859d464627692&oe=57023F48" width="480"></a></div>
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<i>Old skool posters</i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpl1/t31.0-8/s960x960/905709_10153771266869656_5132531277681560769_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpl1/t31.0-8/s960x960/905709_10153771266869656_5132531277681560769_o.jpg" width="426"></a></div>
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<i>Stained glass windows</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/12195943_10153771266969656_1833174123363646930_n.jpg?oh=5f8ed714b46920dba11d21831c0217d6&oe=5717DDBA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/12195943_10153771266969656_1833174123363646930_n.jpg?oh=5f8ed714b46920dba11d21831c0217d6&oe=5717DDBA" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Horses (see top left corner) </i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12185408_10153771266989656_5537646824281654346_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12185408_10153771266989656_5537646824281654346_o.jpg" width="426"></a></div>
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<i>Free beer and pop quizzes where you get, you guessed it, free beer</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggukhMY5HXfA3KlFQtDDjjOa8PXuzw2-BedV8cmy6t8AP71D3XBaxLtMyTf9UCRWxt6gnOyme2Uxu-rzu2zhP_e3P7hbLSziQB2mTbxftSxH5BhyT1BWrB_0ufsegBkYfX0Y2Teg/s1600/heineken+beer+pour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggukhMY5HXfA3KlFQtDDjjOa8PXuzw2-BedV8cmy6t8AP71D3XBaxLtMyTf9UCRWxt6gnOyme2Uxu-rzu2zhP_e3P7hbLSziQB2mTbxftSxH5BhyT1BWrB_0ufsegBkYfX0Y2Teg/s640/heineken+beer+pour.jpg" width="366"></a></div>
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<i>You can learn how to pour an e-beer or pour a real beer.</i></div>
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The tour came with 2 tokens to exchange for 2 beers. I don't drink and Peiying only drank one. We had 3 tokens to spare and we passed them to 2 guys who looked like that could handle more. Other freebies included in the tour were the digital booths where you can take digital photos and videos, which will be sent to your email.</div>
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According to JT, she was in a rush when she visited Amsterdam and her only to-do at Heineken was to engrave the glass for her husband and 1-year-old. 1-year-old with a beer glass? Hmmm.. </div>
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The lady was very pro. So pro that I shall let <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJWl4rUxiDU" target="_blank">the video</a> show you her skills.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zJWl4rUxiDU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zJWl4rUxiDU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<i>No hesitation, right? </i></div>
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The glass is sitting somewhere in the house. Great for beer drinkers, not so great for people who don't drink in their own houses.</div>
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We were reminded by JT to try <a href="http://www.kantjil.nl/en/" target="_blank">Kantjil & de Tijger</a>, an Indonesian restaurant. Our next tour will start at 7pm and it was 5:20pm by then time we were done with Heineken. Knowing that we'll need to eat before we embark on the 2-hour tour, we started our mad dash a.k.a. speed walking. You know how Google map gives you ETA and you sometimes think "where got so long"? </div>
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Sadly, Google is a smart one.</div>
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Luckily, we reached before the Friday crowd descended upon the restaurant. We managed to get a table promptly and almost immediately started ordering. We told the waitress that we were rushing for a tour and they also helped us chop chop curry pox. Even so, we only had a quarter of an hour to complete the meal. </div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12189013_10153771301749656_6710335875693545148_n.jpg?oh=47476d712ab899e601227bf9ecf430ed&oe=573F549C" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12189013_10153771301749656_6710335875693545148_n.jpg?oh=47476d712ab899e601227bf9ecf430ed&oe=573F549C" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>The very rushed 15-minute meal. </i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfl1/v/t1.0-9/12196367_10153771301734656_1064600929576767252_n.jpg?oh=41ac6041b03a20a940dda701ebf83b2c&oe=56FE30DD&__gda__=1460481564_2288ffecbe352d9b1c74fa4f4564b89b" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfl1/v/t1.0-9/12196367_10153771301734656_1064600929576767252_n.jpg?oh=41ac6041b03a20a940dda701ebf83b2c&oe=56FE30DD&__gda__=1460481564_2288ffecbe352d9b1c74fa4f4564b89b" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Soto Ayam came with nasi which we didn't know. So we had 3 portions of carbs.</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12188984_10153771301794656_9198372349674044532_n.jpg?oh=ecb4e7d4f98604f9343255e17f02584e&oe=5713BFA0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12188984_10153771301794656_9198372349674044532_n.jpg?oh=ecb4e7d4f98604f9343255e17f02584e&oe=5713BFA0" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Some funny fried rice </i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/12208667_10153771301899656_7330735207240095026_n.jpg?oh=494108c02402bacfcb9d16ce423722d8&oe=57028658&__gda__=1461087612_10b214b5a0ea3ee8e45cedebed92dc44" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/12208667_10153771301899656_7330735207240095026_n.jpg?oh=494108c02402bacfcb9d16ce423722d8&oe=57028658&__gda__=1461087612_10b214b5a0ea3ee8e45cedebed92dc44" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Dumplings with cannot-remember-what fillings</i></div>
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I don't think I have completed a meal that fast in my life. Practically shoved the food into my mouth and swallowed straight. </div>
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Oh, since we are talking about restaurants, I should share about tipping. It is not essential to tip in Amsterdam. They don't give you the stink eye if you don't. My uncle is in the F&B business and when we met on the first night, I asked him about the Dutch tipping etiquette. The reason why it's expensive to eat out in most of Europe is because the wages are high. A server gets around 2,000euro monthly salary so tipping is not a must. This comparatively high wage is reflected in restaurant prices and also how the server-to-table ratio can be 1:10. I'm sure a generous tip is always welcomed though.</div>
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We walked/ran to the National Monument, almost puking our dinner out in our haste. After all the rushing, we were there too early. ("">_<) This is a crowded area at all times of the day, perhaps in part due to this:</div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12118768_10153742487549656_4944703003553517036_n.jpg?oh=d88031e9ce9a182190b48ffc19dc80fd&oe=56FFBD4F&__gda__=1464366082_abae61ca4fbd6cabdf40106a502a6b9c" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12118768_10153742487549656_4944703003553517036_n.jpg?oh=d88031e9ce9a182190b48ffc19dc80fd&oe=56FFBD4F&__gda__=1464366082_abae61ca4fbd6cabdf40106a502a6b9c" width="480"></a></div>
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<i>A carnival!</i></div>
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For the last tour of the day, I spy something red. Can you guess? </div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12193604_10153771302069656_3426288225646035342_n.jpg?oh=520083f832f35ec8f31905bd776b5363&oe=5712DEF7" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12193604_10153771302069656_3426288225646035342_n.jpg?oh=520083f832f35ec8f31905bd776b5363&oe=5712DEF7" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Red lights, XXX. What can it be? </i></div>
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It's the <a href="http://www.newamsterdamtours.com/daily-tours/red-light-district-tour.html" target="_blank">Red Light Distric</a>t tour, of course. </div>
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My friends said it's quite safe to walk around the red light district by yourself. Without a guide, you probably would not know the fascinating tidbits like their working hours and that the average number of customers is 8 per shift. The ladies have to rent their windows from landlords and the rates vary based on the time of day and also the spot. There are lanes for bigger women, transvestites, and an elite ally. You'll get to know about the Fokken Sisters, the 69-year-old twin sisters who were still earning a living in the trade. There was a documentary made about them a few years ago and you can take a sneak peek on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RTP3UKJHzA" target="_blank">YouTube</a>. </div>
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The rates start from 50euros for something simple and the girls can negotiate with customers who want "extras". Interestingly, they can refuse to serve customers and we actually witnessed one of them doing that. The man was already hopping on one foot, ready to unbuckle his belt. </div>
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It was a tragic sight. </div>
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At the start of the walking tour, we were introduced to the oldest condom shop in Amsterdam, <a href="https://condomerie.com/" target="_blank">Condomerie</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtf1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12185252_10153771301889656_8812357630020147234_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtf1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12185252_10153771301889656_8812357630020147234_o.jpg" width="426"></a></div>
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<i>Quite a few of their condoms are just for display so read carefully in case you 闹出人命.</i></div>
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What do you think this shop sells?</div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/18255_10153771301884656_4093568550758542664_n.jpg?oh=00d82d62bddfde38034d763af60f10b5&oe=56FF838D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/18255_10153771301884656_4093568550758542664_n.jpg?oh=00d82d62bddfde38034d763af60f10b5&oe=56FF838D" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>It's not an Apple store.</i></div>
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Since I've shared some titillating information earlier, you probably zoomed in on the photo and saw the high-tech adult toys. There is a movement to clean up the red light district and this also means that window displays cannot be too explicit. In our walk around the neighborhood, we also saw that the ladies covered their bits up although there was little left to imagination. </div>
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If you expected them to be working hard to entice you, you expected wrong. Many of them were using their phones, no doubt chatting on Whatsapp and updating Facebook status. By the way, you're not allowed to take photos of the girls although you can capture signs and shops. </div>
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It was a rather strange experience to be in the neighbourhood. You see scantily-clad women alongside well-lit houses that were hosting dinner parties. Perhaps I expected the place to be a lot sleazier but I was surprised at how well-behaved most people seemed to be. Our guide shared that the girls are generally safe and crime rate isn't that high. However, you still need to be alert. One of the girls in our tour was wearing a tight-fitting bottom and was groped by a man who immediately ran away. So, watch your backs and asses and still be vigilant, ya'll hear? </div>
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Think that there is nothing that exciting to see if the windows are kept 'clean'? You can go for the peep shows. At 2euro for a 2-minute viewing, it is probably the most affordable introduction to the pornographic world. Instead of me explaining it, you can read more about the <a href="http://www.amsterdamredlightdistricttour.com/entertainment/sex-palace-peep-show/" target="_blank">Sex Palace peep show</a>.</div>
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Day 3 has taught us a few important lessons:</div>
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<li>Don't fret if tours get cancelled. Something better will come along.</li>
<li>Give yourself ample time to sit down and eat. Or risk puking when you walk/run after.</li>
<li>Tipping is not compulsory. </li>
<li>While it's not dangerous to walk around the red light district, it pays to be vigilant.</li>
<li>Don't taking photos of the working ladies or they might whack you. </li>
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While there was quite a bit of hurrying in the evening, Day 3 was way better than Day 2 because we went back to our studio with our heads full of information on beer and prostitution instead of pain. </div>
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Before I end this post, here are more <i>long kang </i>photos to share:</div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12187773_10153771286099656_3204556951451050040_n.jpg?oh=8995fc9ff93bf2757243a9b941eb1a2c&oe=57089EC9&__gda__=1463815836_3b64187cee6918746c96dccd0bcf60b8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12187773_10153771286099656_3204556951451050040_n.jpg?oh=8995fc9ff93bf2757243a9b941eb1a2c&oe=57089EC9&__gda__=1463815836_3b64187cee6918746c96dccd0bcf60b8" width="480"></a></div>
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<i>Long kang with flowers</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/12187715_10153771286194656_9193645037502090625_n.jpg?oh=6937316287e1cba0d263d7e56945e461&oe=57129B10" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/12187715_10153771286194656_9193645037502090625_n.jpg?oh=6937316287e1cba0d263d7e56945e461&oe=57129B10" width="480"></a></div>
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<i>Long kang with boats</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12191433_10153771286609656_8939529730658773374_n.jpg?oh=69e56776054fc7e307b5d9e040570f52&oe=57100B15" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12191433_10153771286609656_8939529730658773374_n.jpg?oh=69e56776054fc7e307b5d9e040570f52&oe=57100B15" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Long kang with an outdoor toilet along its banks </i></div>
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<i>(that's the white tube-like structure on the middle left of the photo)</i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/12196246_10153771302119656_863465969419708056_n.jpg?oh=0e036662f4e14367596f6d60dab2da72&oe=5708236E&__gda__=1464042694_52cf7bfcc20e8144d654442ad1ccfb99" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/12196246_10153771302119656_863465969419708056_n.jpg?oh=0e036662f4e14367596f6d60dab2da72&oe=5708236E&__gda__=1464042694_52cf7bfcc20e8144d654442ad1ccfb99" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Long kang at night</i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/12063646_10153771302189656_6744415340493137933_n.jpg?oh=942ca1f1dd30cbc9cf7a8bf782920baa&oe=5745A69E&__gda__=1459529979_df08c45356c29beca02d98189650c936" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/12063646_10153771302189656_6744415340493137933_n.jpg?oh=942ca1f1dd30cbc9cf7a8bf782920baa&oe=5745A69E&__gda__=1459529979_df08c45356c29beca02d98189650c936" width="640"></a></div>
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<i>Long kang with houses that have doors that lead straight out to long kang</i></div>
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On Day 4, we bade Amsterdam farewell again because we were flying to Iceland! </div>
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<a href="http://jllt.blogspot.sg/2016/01/20151017-amsterdam.html" target="_blank"><i>Day 1: Amsterdam with the sombre Anne Frank House and delicious Screaming Beans </i></a></div>
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<a href="http://jllt.blogspot.sg/2016/01/tips-on-travelling-in-brussels.html" target="_blank"><i>Day 2: Brussels with its pissing boys, street art and French architecture</i></a></div>
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jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com2Amsterdam, Netherlands52.3702157 4.895167899999933152.2151137 4.5724443999999327 52.5253177 5.2178913999999335tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-198812873067107142016-01-06T23:51:00.003+08:002016-01-14T21:53:50.617+08:0020151018 Brussels with its pissing boys and street artThe day started off well enough. Being the cheapskates we are, we chose one of the earlier trains to Brussels because they were cheaper. Actually, also not very cheap because it came up to S$170 per person, round trip.<br />
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But first, the beautiful sight of Amsterdam before the sun rise.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12108788_10153741054744656_4962437130548672895_n.jpg?oh=4010d3b65ab84f9641ee06048f69d26a&oe=56FD0C5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="pretty skies" border="0" height="480" src="https://scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12108788_10153741054744656_4962437130548672895_n.jpg?oh=4010d3b65ab84f9641ee06048f69d26a&oe=56FD0C5D" title="clear ,calm water before the storm of the day" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Beautiful reflections in the water but the water was not as clean as it seems</i></div>
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We left Amsterdam Centraal at 8:20am and reached Brussels (Bruxelles Midi) around 10am. On our itinerary was the <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/857" target="_blank">Grand Place</a> (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and also <a href="http://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm/4328" target="_blank">Manneken Pis</a>, the famous pissing boy. If we were to walk from Midi, it would take around 20 minutes. With the very high likelihood of us getting lost without a SIM card, we decided to take the train from Midi to Central. <br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12141759_10153762450254656_4080715218272690477_n.jpg?oh=955827257080fece1fe50d1c13eacea3&oe=57443E3B" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12141759_10153762450254656_4080715218272690477_n.jpg?oh=955827257080fece1fe50d1c13eacea3&oe=57443E3B" title="sun coming up, but it was cold" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Guess which station this is? Hint: Look at the sign. Lol. I'm funny.</i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12122816_10153739988239656_8232891516538283972_n.jpg?oh=af44b5982f183884e9cc77da6d88e73f&oe=5744A6BF&__gda__=1460793677_4c30c98243329dac4fedb2b300275e9d" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12122816_10153739988239656_8232891516538283972_n.jpg?oh=af44b5982f183884e9cc77da6d88e73f&oe=5744A6BF&__gda__=1460793677_4c30c98243329dac4fedb2b300275e9d" title="gotta do the 内八" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Gotta do the artsy feet shot, what with the fallen autumn leaves and all</i></div>
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The interesting thing about Brussels is that it is very different from Amsterdam. The architecture is very... French. I am no Arts connoisseur so you can judge for yourself.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12184155_10153762451779656_8188193109983462363_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12184155_10153762451779656_8188193109983462363_o.jpg" title="still early as you can tell from the lack of humans" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galeries_Royales_Saint-Hubert" target="_blank">Galerie Du Roi</a>, our introduction to Brussels</i></div>
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Do you know what Belgium is famous for? Are you ready?<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12191592_10153762451754656_2984810705604940278_n.jpg?oh=a5ca18435e5c322cee4057fa4a70cfa6&oe=570DFA18" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12191592_10153762451754656_2984810705604940278_n.jpg?oh=a5ca18435e5c322cee4057fa4a70cfa6&oe=570DFA18" title="the photo you will hate if you are hungry now" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Sweet stuff</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12195989_10153762451749656_7090124024453916353_n.jpg?oh=851c90fa957cfb8796b26e19888a18f7&oe=570D7261" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12195989_10153762451749656_7090124024453916353_n.jpg?oh=851c90fa957cfb8796b26e19888a18f7&oe=570D7261" title="pretty packaging" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Chocolates in pretty boxes</i></div>
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I'm not a huge fan of gourmet chocolate, being more of a Kinder Bueno girl myself, but I think Belgium is famous for chocolates. <a href="http://www.godiva.com.sg/" target="_blank">Godiva </a>was founded here in 1926 and Praline itself was invented here under the <a href="http://www.neuhaus-online-store.com/chocolate-store-en.htm" target="_blank">Neuhaus </a>house (haus house! lol!). Oh, I just realised the photo above of the pretty chocolates in blue boxes was taken at Neuhaus. Noob.<br />
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Anyway, I'm sure chocolate lovers will go gaga in Belgium because the pralines are a lot cheaper than what we get back home. We saw pralines going at around S$1 each at <a href="http://www.leonidas-chocolate.com/" target="_blank">Leonidas</a>.<br />
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Time to get back to the sights. Being the busy career woman I am (ya, right), I didn't do much research prior to the trip except for sourcing for flights and accommodation while Peiying dug for activities and tours. Hence, the first sight of La Grand-Place was quite breathtaking.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/11026188_10153769572459656_6338664907451188016_n.jpg?oh=cd81ce19b14893128939f3fd53d60a07&oe=5712C1A8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/11026188_10153769572459656_6338664907451188016_n.jpg?oh=cd81ce19b14893128939f3fd53d60a07&oe=5712C1A8" title="Photo taken by moi" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>This is not a postcard.</i></div>
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Imagine walking down a narrow alley which widens to reveal tall, ornate, intricate buildings built hundreds of years ago.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnluWoBvliuTpNt7A-DTYpQpsLYq2r1-MkgqnPmaZTTMIM36hEfwIZmfulryKBbC6glEaMWRyXFGY5jqV0BP34aN1ZWh6SGu3KXasD6vCLs2qC64qdwcVC8xjLZqLF0EsGK_AlXA/s1600/Grand+Place.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnluWoBvliuTpNt7A-DTYpQpsLYq2r1-MkgqnPmaZTTMIM36hEfwIZmfulryKBbC6glEaMWRyXFGY5jqV0BP34aN1ZWh6SGu3KXasD6vCLs2qC64qdwcVC8xjLZqLF0EsGK_AlXA/s640/Grand+Place.JPG" title="small part of the site" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>See the human there for scale</i></div>
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Imagine walking to the middle of the square to find yourself surrounded by an eclectic blend of Baroque architecture, some buildings with gold elements, others in lovely dove blue. Imagine turning 360... wham! Sorry, it's one of those tourist spots with lots of people taking photos, selfies, wefies and we even saw students shouting their school cheers to announce to the world that they have arrived. No space for you to turn 360. 180 still got chance. <a href="http://www.hardrock.com/cafes/brussels/" target="_blank">Hard Rock Cafe</a> is actually located here so you get the idea.<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xla1/v/t1.0-9/12143289_10153747203889656_380487750205268280_n.jpg?oh=b74826469e92626ff0a51c84c66eb8df&oe=5749E837&__gda__=1460362489_fa57649522c8fe540b6fbafbc6652c37" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xla1/v/t1.0-9/12143289_10153747203889656_380487750205268280_n.jpg?oh=b74826469e92626ff0a51c84c66eb8df&oe=5749E837&__gda__=1460362489_fa57649522c8fe540b6fbafbc6652c37" title="why were the kids not looking at me in amazement?! WHY?!" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>You can float though.</i></div>
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That's not to say that this is a tourist trap. It does have a rich sense of history and the <a href="http://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm/4202" target="_blank">City Museum</a> houses some interesting artifacts, like tapestries and sculptures. Oh, I should probably mention that the entry (4 euro) comes with free WIFI. You're welcome.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12119089_10153740379784656_2388257925742756324_n.jpg?oh=e5da547b2153dbcae5056f121028deac&oe=570886B3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12119089_10153740379784656_2388257925742756324_n.jpg?oh=e5da547b2153dbcae5056f121028deac&oe=570886B3" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Getting our art on.</i></div>
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The other thing on our agenda was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manneken_Pis" target="_blank">Manneken Pis</a>, the Pissing Boy.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/12065885_10153769572454656_1868863518093891487_n.jpg?oh=8fa996b78806111662b7d3808db1b74b&oe=56FD4FB5" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/12065885_10153769572454656_1868863518093891487_n.jpg?oh=8fa996b78806111662b7d3808db1b74b&oe=56FD4FB5" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Hoards of tourists at Manneken Pis, the object of desire for many a thief</i></div>
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Do you know that the sculpture has many costume changes and there is a schedule to see what the upcoming outfits are? There is even a costume change ceremony. The only ceremony for <i>my </i>costume change is the cutting of price tag. Sometimes the statue is hooked up to kegs of beer which is dispensed into cups and shared with passer-bys. No such luck for us. The <a href="http://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm/5292" target="_blank">wardrobe of Manneken Pis</a> can rival that of Carrie Bradshaw and you can view it at the City Museum. More on that later.<br />
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Besides the statue, you will also see other kinds of pissing boy:<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12186709_10153764311404656_674561534324528953_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12186709_10153764311404656_674561534324528953_o.jpg" title="yo yo yo" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>Hip hop hipperty hop</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12182818_10153764311254656_6077309738442808943_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12182818_10153764311254656_6077309738442808943_o.jpg" title="Cold until turned blue still don't wear clothes?!" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>Waffle type. Doesn't look very sanitary though.</i></div>
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After visiting these two sites, we were quite lost. What to do next? We tried to recall all the phrases that start with "Belgium" and tada! Waffle time!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNb9MinOpzdHDTqxfoTfPmnUQLDzUdoRpvLd-BljGhQL93lKMf6x2VKCe5870I_-ClfVnKfSSgcQyxi9yIB42HuOFYTay7pNCrWwg5p_CTnarA6Zy4Ylbhi1IQapGDliaD5Rn0A/s1600/belgium+waffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNb9MinOpzdHDTqxfoTfPmnUQLDzUdoRpvLd-BljGhQL93lKMf6x2VKCe5870I_-ClfVnKfSSgcQyxi9yIB42HuOFYTay7pNCrWwg5p_CTnarA6Zy4Ylbhi1IQapGDliaD5Rn0A/s640/belgium+waffle.jpg" title="definitely for those with a sweet tooth only" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Chantilly cream and Belgian chocolate ice-cream. Potent! </i></div>
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By then, it was only 2pm. Our train was at 8pm. 6 hours away and we've done what we came to do. It was time to get lost.<br />
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Ok, we don't actually have the courage to really get lost. We decided to walk straight down various roads. I think we worried too much because (a) there were many signs pointing back to Le Grand Place and (b) most shops were one-of-a-kind so it was not that hard to remember landmarks.<br />
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Did you know that Brussels is the birthplace of Tintin? I didn't so I was surprised to see this:<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/s960x960/905743_10153764323989656_618046817908518934_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/s960x960/905743_10153764323989656_618046817908518934_o.jpg" title="can you imagine him moving, like really moving?" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>Tintin walking down the stairs like a boss.</i></div>
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If you're a fan, there is a <a href="http://www.museeherge.com/en" target="_blank">Herge Museum</a> you can visit and some tips on where to catch <a href="http://visitbrussels.be/bitc/BE_en/walk/390/tintin-walk.do" target="_blank">street paintings of Tintin</a>. Guess we're not fans then because I thought these are Tintin's friends:<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12189073_10153765416509656_5376672013696887023_n.jpg?oh=5e412ef32a07d6389648429cc445610c&oe=57151B22&__gda__=1461216224_ee56ac478a7e555262346bbde072b344" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12189073_10153765416509656_5376672013696887023_n.jpg?oh=5e412ef32a07d6389648429cc445610c&oe=57151B22&__gda__=1461216224_ee56ac478a7e555262346bbde072b344" title="peeping tom eh." width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Same artist but different comic. What are they looking at?</i></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_440074743"></span><span id="goog_440074744"></span><br />
They're not.<br />
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Have you ever imagine things you've drawn coming to life? Wouldn't it be nice if I can draw a Chanel or a house by the sea and they're all real? I know my bag will look like the counterfeit it is and the house will probably be topsy turvy, but hey, imagination~ imagination~~<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12063452_10153765422119656_8966622355092522279_n.jpg?oh=d9777fb76925a984317f5054a1e37e7b&oe=5741DC79&__gda__=1460195467_7f1ecd39277937b7e076f307c96a9731" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12063452_10153765422119656_8966622355092522279_n.jpg?oh=d9777fb76925a984317f5054a1e37e7b&oe=5741DC79&__gda__=1460195467_7f1ecd39277937b7e076f307c96a9731" title="the shop that is always open" width="640" /></i></a></div>
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<i>I recalled the draw-and-it-shall-come-to-life childhood fantasy when I saw this.</i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12190883_10153764311499656_8432976886354034316_n.jpg?oh=53142503028619adbcc1aa6ac68dfd3f&oe=57422738&__gda__=1459500081_3fbed4f4bae0b3ed095e432a15fe87bc" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12190883_10153764311499656_8432976886354034316_n.jpg?oh=53142503028619adbcc1aa6ac68dfd3f&oe=57422738&__gda__=1459500081_3fbed4f4bae0b3ed095e432a15fe87bc" title="maybe a doughnut stand stood here once?" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>We were semi-lost so I can't tell you where this is.</i></div>
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There was a place where we could take a lift up to get an expansive view of Brussels. Ok, I just Googled it and it's <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Attraction_Review-g188644-d314014-Reviews-Place_Poelaert-Brussels.html" target="_blank">Place Poelaert</a>. As this link is leading to a TripAdvisor page, I had to see what the highly ranked <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Attractions-g188644-Activities-Brussels.html" target="_blank">places of interest are in Brussels</a>. Mainly museums. I'm beginning to understand why Brussels wasn't our favorite part of the tour.<br />
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Sometimes we try to stuff too many things into our itinerary. Sometimes we are too chill about a trip. This is when you need to have a compatible travelling companion. I wouldn't say there are hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing your kaki but ideally, they should be someone you won't want to murder. Other things that are important:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Sleeping pattern/time</li>
<li>Stingyness level</li>
<li>Songs/movies preferences (go on a road trip and you'll know how important this is)</li>
<li>Reliability</li>
<li>Fairness</li>
</ol>
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1. and 3. are self-explanatory. For 2., it's from my friend's experience. She went on a trip with a group of friends and one of them was complaining about the shared travel funds because she didn't take alcoholic drinks and shouldn't be paying the same as others who were. I have to qualify that they were in Switzerland where a can of Coke is around 4Fr. and beer costs 5.50Fr. You get the idea?<br />
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When it comes to 4. Reliability, it matters because you usually split duty on trips. At the planning stage, I volunteered to look for accommodation and flights as I work in the hospitality industry and love pouring over these. Peiying contributed pre-trip by bookings activities and tours. We both did our fair share of research to come up with the itinerary. Imagine the person assigned to book flight booking a flight without check-in luggage (ka-ching!) or Person B "forgetting" to book the restaurant everyone wanted to try.<br />
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We don't all have skills that are relevant to travelling. Some may have driving licenses but shitty navigation skills. Others come with insider's info on where to go and what to do while the partners are pro in negotiation. We all have bits and pieces of ourselves that we can contribute to the trip. If you really don't have any, I think it is only fair that you start/end the trip with a little treat for the rest who are doing more. If you're too busy to do anything pre-trip, you can always do something during the trip, like offering to be the person in-charge of communal fund. Speaking of which, it's really helpful to have a pouch for communal fund where everyone pools in $X at the start of the trip for things like transport and food.<br />
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Ok, that was a pretty long digression.<br />
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As we wandered, we found a market. Not the food kind which would really perk us up but the flea kind. <a href="http://www.marcheauxpuces.be/index_uk.html" target="_blank">Les Amis du Vieux Marché</a> is what you should look out for if this is your scene.<br />
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So there we were, having covered quite a bit of distance. We didn't really feel hungry but there was nothing else on our itinerary. The other phrase we can think of that begins with Belgian? Belgian mussels.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpl1/v/t1.0-9/11231030_10153769567854656_7353368981780197178_n.jpg?oh=dd30859551f5e06d8e44744a6659bd73&oe=5711DD40" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpl1/v/t1.0-9/11231030_10153769567854656_7353368981780197178_n.jpg?oh=dd30859551f5e06d8e44744a6659bd73&oe=5711DD40" title="i drank Coke though" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Where there is Belgian mussels, there is Belgian beer.</i></div>
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We chanced upon the little bistro, <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Restaurant_Review-g188644-d1580176-Reviews-Le_Chat_Noir-Brussels.html" target="_blank">Le Chat Noir</a>, took a look at its menu and saw the mussels. It wasn't cramped full with tourists and it looked like a good place to "go local". The mussels were good but the fries we ordered on the side was even better. :x Apparently, fries or frites is something people queue for here:<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12194532_10153765422934656_6831744172077116124_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12194532_10153765422934656_6831744172077116124_o.jpg" title="(thinking like true blue Singaporean) there is a queue, so this must be good!" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>Don't want to get heaty. Cannot eat.</i></div>
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I found a 2012 <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/belgium/brussels/9564717/Brussels-Belgium-in-search-of-the-perfect-frite.html" target="_blank">article </a>here which tells you a bit more about frites. More than I can ever tell you.<br />
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By this time, it was only 4pm at max. I started to feel the ache at the back of my head, you know, the part where headaches usually start. We got so bored that we went back to Manneken Pis to see if the crowd had thinned and did the tourist selfie thing. The sky had changed so we headed to Le Grand Place and took this:<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12195041_10153765422234656_8243322861706272684_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/s960x960/12195041_10153765422234656_8243322861706272684_o.jpg" title="sad thing about people is that what seems grand at first becomes less grand on 2nd look." width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>Still crowded though.</i></div>
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This was when we decided to walk into the buildings to see what was there to see. City Museum, which I mentioned earlier, was not too expensive, which was the main reason for us visiting it. It had free WIFI too. Historians should be cursing and swearing at this statement now. You can take photos inside but you have to carry your backpack in front of you.<br />
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There were displays of paintings, sculptures and even household items. We saw cutlery, plates and intricate teapot. Not our cup of tea, you can say. Then a familiar figure emerged along the gallery.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/1506651_10153771285264656_1433464629307693464_n.jpg?oh=76daea4c6a068ed130f516356545080e&oe=56FCFD7C" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/1506651_10153771285264656_1433464629307693464_n.jpg?oh=76daea4c6a068ed130f516356545080e&oe=56FCFD7C" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Hello, old friend!</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12208739_10153771285384656_1367562570699123510_n.jpg?oh=78c0d3f5e0251749e3edfa1be10fd13e&oe=5700EA30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12208739_10153771285384656_1367562570699123510_n.jpg?oh=78c0d3f5e0251749e3edfa1be10fd13e&oe=5700EA30" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>The kind of art we like. The amusing kind.</i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10986459_10153771285419656_3924047945552262203_n.jpg?oh=24dbfdc8a011a532a4f9fd08ef1d80f3&oe=5744CDD8&__gda__=1459775933_8ca4af26971f1571e2d9170b6905d080" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10986459_10153771285419656_3924047945552262203_n.jpg?oh=24dbfdc8a011a532a4f9fd08ef1d80f3&oe=5744CDD8&__gda__=1459775933_8ca4af26971f1571e2d9170b6905d080" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>What a show(er)!</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_440074824"></span><span id="goog_440074825"></span>We discovered the part of the museum that really interests us, the wardrobe of Manneken Pis!<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12144745_10153741708279656_4526672039782090619_n.jpg?oh=4dae9b83c15f8ee31b9cf8739ae3303f&oe=5713C457" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12144745_10153741708279656_4526672039782090619_n.jpg?oh=4dae9b83c15f8ee31b9cf8739ae3303f&oe=5713C457" title="astronaut Pis!" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Carrie Bradshaw can retire.</i></div>
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You know what happened after I took this photo? A bell rang and I thought it was a fire alarm.<br />
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It wasn't.<br />
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It was worse.<br />
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The museum was closing. It was 5pm.<i> I thought we had a lot of time? What do you mean it's closing? But we just got here! This is the interesting bit! </i><br />
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So yeah, we didn't get to see much of the boy's fashion. If this is something that interests you, head up to the 3rd level first and make your way down.<br />
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What kind of souvenirs do you think we brought back? Belgian chocolate, of course. There are so many to choose from that a chocoholic would be giddy with joy. Us? We just went for the prettiest packaging.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10955372_10153765419824656_7462088758436767201_n.jpg?oh=2ecd88930e414776fc85b2f0631432d3&oe=5718ED70" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10955372_10153765419824656_7462088758436767201_n.jpg?oh=2ecd88930e414776fc85b2f0631432d3&oe=5718ED70" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.lecomptoirdemathilde.com/" target="_blank"><i>Le Comptoir de Mathilde</i></a></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12063888_10153765419674656_4099932488846330248_n.jpg?oh=a337ab6b445d21b684ddfa7f24a05886&oe=5747996A&__gda__=1460726567_9c13e16d3de1f68914527373bdac3915" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12063888_10153765419674656_4099932488846330248_n.jpg?oh=a337ab6b445d21b684ddfa7f24a05886&oe=5747996A&__gda__=1460726567_9c13e16d3de1f68914527373bdac3915" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>I'm not sure if any of these actually tastes good.</i></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/12063875_10153765419784656_2994925040723780652_n.jpg?oh=976235884eef99f4e5e3affbac784982&oe=570F29F0&__gda__=1460878404_4f105bd52054da9d5c13d595728e7a5d" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/12063875_10153765419784656_2994925040723780652_n.jpg?oh=976235884eef99f4e5e3affbac784982&oe=570F29F0&__gda__=1460878404_4f105bd52054da9d5c13d595728e7a5d" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>You get to sample some of these.</i></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12193688_10153765419939656_7937666438840499587_n.jpg?oh=ac711b39b174faee7138411dc706edbf&oe=57425858" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12193688_10153765419939656_7937666438840499587_n.jpg?oh=ac711b39b174faee7138411dc706edbf&oe=57425858" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Did I mention we were there for the packaging only?</i></div>
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By then, it was only 6:30pm. We decided to slowly make our way to Midi station since Brussels had nothing left for us. The dull ache had gone up a notch to nagging pain level. </div>
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It took us almost 30 minutes to reach Midi. Along the way, we asked if we were going in the right direction and we were assured by the long-limbed locals that we were. It was supposed to be "just down the road" but it turned out to be half an hour with our not-so-long-limbed bodies. After confirming that we were in the right place, we sat down and waited. </div>
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The police came. No, not for us. They cordoned off an area near where we were sitting. Instead of panicking and moving away, we were so tired that we just sat and tried to learn French in 30 minutes. No one was allowed to walk down one of the passageways. Subsequently, we saw a few burly men in uniform carried out a luggage that looked like it was ripped apart. On hindsight, with all the high alert in Brussels now, we should probably have moved our asses and headed outside. May this be something no one has to experience.</div>
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On the journey back to Amsterdam, the headache escalated into a persistent throb. I downed a Panadol Extra and the persistent throb persisted. I was mentally preparing myself to brave the 3- to 5-minute walk back to our apartment. It was torture. It was the worst day of the trip for me. I took another Panadol after a hot shower which didn't improve matters. I dropped my head into the pillow and darkness took over. Meloodrama much? </div>
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What to conclude about Day 2 then?</div>
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<ol>
<li>It's probably enough to spend half a day in Brussels if you are not a fan of museums or chocolates. Given a choice, I would probably have given Brussels a miss, especially when we saw the chocolates we lugged back from Brussels selling in Amsterdam at the same price. Meh.</li>
<li>Choose your travel partner wisely. See tips above.</li>
<li>A communal fund is probably a good idea as it can simplify payments.</li>
<li>It's an even better idea to be alert and be safe than sorry when you encounter situations of high tensions.</li>
<li>Panadol Extra is good. Sufficient sleep is even better.</li>
</ol>
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Yeah, I did get the grandfather of headaches which didn't get better after popping pills. Nothing cures headache more than a good night's sleep. Thankfully, Day 3 was just going to be a chillaxing day. Or so we thought. </div>
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<a href="http://jllt.blogspot.sg/2016/01/20151017-amsterdam.html" target="_blank"><i>Day 1: Amsterdam with the sombre Anne Frank House and delicious Screaming Beans </i></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://jllt.blogspot.sg/2016/01/tips-on-travelling-in-amsterdam.html" target="_blank">Day 3: Amsterdam with its red lights and Heineken Experience</a></i></div>
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jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com1Brussels, Belgium50.8503396 4.351710300000036150.6899556 4.0289868000000357 51.0107236 4.6744338000000365tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-91359977737459505262016-01-04T22:43:00.002+08:002016-01-14T21:57:43.168+08:0020151017 Amsterdam with the somber Anne Frank House and delicious kopiIt has been more than 2 months since I returned from my trip. I've been telling my friends that I will be blogging about it. One friend has already booked her flight. If I procrastinate any longer, she will no longer friend me. *sad*<br />
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I hope I will complete this series of posts which is about my trip to Amsterdam, Brussels and Iceland before the next friend books their flight to any of these and unfriend me. Then I will be friendless. *sad*</div>
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Technically, the trip started on 16 Oct but since most of that was spent in an aeroplane, I think we can skip it and move straight to the more exciting bit. After a 13-hour flight, we landed at Schiphol Airport. Prior to the trip, I was contemplating whether I should buy a SIM card. You know, being unplugged and all those hipster stuff. Then, I chanced upon a tip about travelling which goes something along the lines of "why get lost when you can get connected?". It was a sign. </div>
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You can buy your SIM card at the airport and it costs around 30euros. It's really easy to talk to people at Amsterdam because most of them are really friendly. Sure, the customs guy did ask me a lot of questions (the standard, how long are you staying, where are you staying, purpose of visit etc) but they were just doing their job (I think). </div>
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We bought our train tickets to Amsterdam Centraal and waited for the train. We had a 20kg luggage each and a backpack. Please, please, please if there is one thing you take away from this series of posts, it will be to travel with a backpack. A cross-body means you will have one aching shoulder. A tote means you will be fumbling with it when you have to take care of your luggage. A handcarry means you will have one aching arm. You get the drift. A backpack also means that you can do this:</div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12109069_10153739060389656_1926297638230670985_n.jpg?oh=79bd50d2907ed650516f772974654600&oe=5747E5CC&__gda__=1460294273_7dde175c95569815da8fc5829d09be18" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="neh neh neh neh" border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12109069_10153739060389656_1926297638230670985_n.jpg?oh=79bd50d2907ed650516f772974654600&oe=5747E5CC&__gda__=1460294273_7dde175c95569815da8fc5829d09be18" title="can't touch this" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Pose for a picture with flailing arms and McHammer pants</i></div>
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Anyway, being the blur birds we are, we sat by our luggage, wondering aloud when everyone was alighting at a particular station. A nice lady then came up to us and asked why we weren't jumping off as it was the last station, Amsterdam Centraal. <i>Surely, it hasn't been 3 stops yet? </i>Till today, I am still not sure how we both missed counting one station.<br />
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Behold, Amsterdam Centraal:<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xlf1/v/t1.0-9/10151311_10153738102059656_7247509603921540023_n.jpg?oh=b16458a1f7a7b1bf538c705b16601960&oe=57115957&__gda__=1459855592_df459999ca4047c94afe9980f87d5201" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="i'm a big clock, tickory dock " border="0" height="480" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xlf1/v/t1.0-9/10151311_10153738102059656_7247509603921540023_n.jpg?oh=b16458a1f7a7b1bf538c705b16601960&oe=57115957&__gda__=1459855592_df459999ca4047c94afe9980f87d5201" title="ding dong ding dong ding ding dong" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>I bring rain on my travels. Be warned. </i></div>
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We booked our accommodation via <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.sg/" target="_blank">airbnb</a>. Unless you have been living under a rock, you would have heard of this wonderful sharing economy that is totally rad. I mean, you'll get bragging rights to travelling in a more "authentic" manner because you are essentially staying where locals stay. We chose our accommodation based on its proximity to Amsterdam Centraal as we knew we would be travelling out of Amsterdam a fair bit. We weren't disappointed with <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/742268" target="_blank">Green Alley</a>, which was a 3-5 minutes' walk from the station.<br />
<br />
Ok, for the uninitiated, <a href="http://www.airbnb.com/" target="_blank">airbnb </a>is a platform where you can book a room, a bed, an apartment, a condo, a villa, a <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/13253" target="_blank">castle</a>, a <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/880308" target="_blank">treehouse </a>or even an <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/235616" target="_blank">igloo</a>. You select the destination, enter the dates and choose away! You can contact the host to ask questions and settle arrival/departure details. I usually make my selection based on location, filtered by accommodation type and ratings and finally decide whether I can bear to part with the moolah required.<br />
<br />
Sadly, the previous tenant was still at the apartment and we had to be homeless kids for an hour or two. We dropped off our luggage and went wandering for kopi. I NEED MY KOPI! We walked up and down the streets,with me wrinkling my nose at the smell of weed and Peiying asking "where got?". Got, I tell you, got at every corner even though it was before noon.<br />
<br />
After narrowing down the finalists, we went with <a href="http://screamingbeans.nl/" target="_blank">Screaming Beans</a> (<a href="https://www.google.com.sg/maps?biw=1366&bih=643&q=Haarlemmerstraat+68&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.&bvm=bv.110151844,d.c2E&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjToJqYpZDKAhUFjo4KHQzXCAUQ_AUIBigB" target="_blank">Haarlemmerstraat 68</a>) and we were officially on a trip.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xal1/v/t1.0-9/12065774_10153738102279656_1270159740959025870_n.jpg?oh=2b5bc5771026031cb604921cc3294fab&oe=5710FECB" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="la kopi, la la la" border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xal1/v/t1.0-9/12065774_10153738102279656_1270159740959025870_n.jpg?oh=2b5bc5771026031cb604921cc3294fab&oe=5710FECB" title="kopi o, kopi o, 喝一杯浓浓的 kopi o" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Because the kopi damn zai ok!</i></div>
<br />
Before the kopi, we were like x_x. After the kopi, we went like @_@ and can notice interesting things like this:<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12087984_10153739050254656_2488218377225493737_n.jpg?oh=d72fbde5b04f900ba3804f26dcb96aa0&oe=56FFB0CE" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bicycle bicycle bicycle" border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12087984_10153739050254656_2488218377225493737_n.jpg?oh=d72fbde5b04f900ba3804f26dcb96aa0&oe=56FFB0CE" title="i want to ride a bicycle" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>All bicycles will be removed. Nope.</i></div>
<br />
And this:<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xla1/v/t1.0-9/12096635_10153739041454656_5499434751295524874_n.jpg?oh=edff3ae9ec195db80be5dc43dd507f53&oe=57186775" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="geddit?" border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xla1/v/t1.0-9/12096635_10153739041454656_5499434751295524874_n.jpg?oh=edff3ae9ec195db80be5dc43dd507f53&oe=57186775" title="what did the champion doe say to the other doe? "i win, doe". " width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Funny windows. Ha ha.</i></div>
<br />
After a bit more <strike>loitering</strike> drifting on the streets, we finally gained entry to our apartment for the next 3 nights.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/12063629_10153762429809656_8894560290019125318_n.jpg?oh=e4d1135f47ca8c1e52f8fc36cdc8ff73&oe=5709EC92" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ang ah ang" border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/12063629_10153762429809656_8894560290019125318_n.jpg?oh=e4d1135f47ca8c1e52f8fc36cdc8ff73&oe=5709EC92" title="no yellow brick road. but red brick road will do" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>View from the studio</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
After a quick shower, we headed out again. This time to haolian. Why? Thanks to a tip from JT, we booked our tickets to <a href="http://www.annefrank.org/en/Museum/Practical-information/Online-ticket-sales/" target="_blank">Anne Frank House online</a>. Why haolian? Because this was the queue:<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12088053_10153739867529656_4108207715095057165_n.jpg?oh=ef424d49647d4001031ea10334199234&oe=56FCFE3F" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="actually, queuing anytime is not fun" border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12088053_10153739867529656_4108207715095057165_n.jpg?oh=ef424d49647d4001031ea10334199234&oe=56FCFE3F" title="queuing in gloomy weather is not fun" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>After a long flight, this is not something you'll want to tackle</i></div>
<br />
We just sashayed in, showed our tickets and waited for the introduction to start. The Diary of Anne Frank must be one of the most famous diaries around. I read it when I was 15 a.k.a a long time ago. I think you should read it before visiting her house because you will get a richer experience. If you're not much of a bookworm, don't worry. The introduction will give you the background you need to begin to appreciate how lucky we are to live in (relatively) war-free times. I felt the optimism of a young girl, her hopes and dreams for her young life, her strength and despair during the war. Anne Frank House is no Disney. It is a solemn affair as we walked through the house, wondering how so many people can cramp into the tiny space, realising with horror how it must have been like to live like a mouse behind black-out shades. You will see the magazine cut-outs she pasted on her walls and the hopelessness of her situation can be overwhelming.<br />
<br />
We heard from our host that the queue is around 1.5 hour during winter and can be as long as 3 hours during summer. Yes, please buy your tickets online and a lead time of 1 month is recommended.<br />
<br />
Since we were in the city of canals, I have to include this for you:<br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12189108_10153762444534656_4607837743724431260_n.jpg?oh=058565dc55c0d934704898f69303db6e&oe=57446A78&__gda__=1460939658_3a0532b304145f2ef3f4d412c0910bae" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="rub-a-tub-tub" border="0" height="480" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12189108_10153762444534656_4607837743724431260_n.jpg?oh=058565dc55c0d934704898f69303db6e&oe=57446A78&__gda__=1460939658_3a0532b304145f2ef3f4d412c0910bae" title="row, row, row your boat gently down the canal" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>I bring gloomy weather too</i></div>
<br />
We met up with my uncle for dinner and he brought us to <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Volendam" target="_blank">Volendam</a>, a small fishing town. When in a fishing town, what can you eat? Go on, take a guess.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12189527_10153762444624656_5740725627449244340_n.jpg?oh=e046618a42ff183c74a166e719f5344d&oe=56FDF181" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="eat fish can swim you know?" border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12189527_10153762444624656_5740725627449244340_n.jpg?oh=e046618a42ff183c74a166e719f5344d&oe=56FDF181" title="mussels, mussels, will you give me muscles?" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Seafood! Did you guess correctly? Duh.</i></div>
<br />
So that concluded our first day in Europe. The weather was around 12 degree C which was a good starting temperature to prepare us for the big boy - Iceland.<br />
<br />
<br />
In summary, Day 1 tips are:<br />
<ol>
<li>Use <a href="http://www.airbnb.com/" target="_blank">airbnb</a> to find more reasonably-priced and interesting accommodation, unless you cannot do without room service.</li>
<li>Use a backpack. Keep your hands free to grab your luggage, take pictures, navigate labyrinth-like streets. </li>
<li>Buy your SIM card. Less stressful when wandering around.</li>
<li>If you're visiting <a href="http://www.annefrank.org/" target="_blank">Anne Frank house</a> (<a href="https://www.google.com.sg/maps/place/Anne+Frank+House/@52.3752182,4.8817878,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x47c609c5213e1149:0xd49a5d653e635b0a" target="_blank">Prinsengracht 263-267</a>), buy the tickets online a month in advance. </li>
<li>Kopi drinker? Go to <a href="http://screamingbeans.nl/" target="_blank">Screaming Beans</a> (<a href="https://www.google.com.sg/maps/place/Haarlemmerstraat+68,+1013+ET+Amsterdam,+Netherlands/@52.3804399,4.8898925,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x47c609c91f48ff11:0xd2a148fd83344f6" target="_blank">Haarlemmerstraat 68</a>)</li>
</ol>
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<div>
<a href="http://jllt.blogspot.sg/2016/01/tips-on-travelling-in-brussels.html" target="_blank">Day 2</a> was the worst day of the trip. Stay tuned for the horrors. </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="http://jllt.blogspot.sg/2016/01/tips-on-travelling-in-brussels.html" target="_blank">Day 2: Brussels with its pissing boys, street art and French architecture</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://jllt.blogspot.sg/2016/01/tips-on-travelling-in-amsterdam.html" target="_blank">Day 3: Amsterdam with its red lights and Heineken Experience</a></i></div>
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jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com0Amsterdam, Netherlands52.3702157 4.895167899999933152.2151137 4.5724443999999327 52.5253177 5.2178913999999335tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-47000217386144458162013-09-07T20:11:00.001+08:002013-09-07T20:11:56.496+08:00Hello! <p dir="ltr">It's been over a year since I last posted! </p>
<p dir="ltr">What got me started was reading a post by HONY where the image shown was that of an elderly writing on their journal and that they do it daily because so much happens in life!</p>
<p dir="ltr">That's right! While the things happening may not be the most exciting, that's what life is. If you're always on a high, you will drop dead fast. </p>
<p dir="ltr">So the most exciting thing that happened to me today was making dinner with my family and just enjoying the banter over a good roast chicken and some raclette. </p>
<p dir="ltr">It was my first time trying fennel and it was delicious! Its rare these days that I get exposed to a new taste, much less one that I actually do like. :) </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5brmlYK5PfbtDLcp9nkmJv_jxTkG8da2ip9jethGcI8kUN8P1TvKon9y8Y4DHxUT6aVJJGeG8-b-mK2QSaQNqUp396K873iVjt8Qb4LpknWKOhAN62CspK0prp-Dj7aF3Rg7moA/s1600/IMG_20130907_192631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5brmlYK5PfbtDLcp9nkmJv_jxTkG8da2ip9jethGcI8kUN8P1TvKon9y8Y4DHxUT6aVJJGeG8-b-mK2QSaQNqUp396K873iVjt8Qb4LpknWKOhAN62CspK0prp-Dj7aF3Rg7moA/s640/IMG_20130907_192631.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgB44PV2C4uF0LWSmJoNzZ768j0TO1pqVmKE-a5hDC4iaAMKG3EcF0qAeauUis9HtnG1Id0cOfLe-akWbKu05MGZ958Sae2BQ3l-U_kWDwSfgPzskwQVn_f7x11GQTn-TXLhYRWw/s1600/IMG_20130907_193045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgB44PV2C4uF0LWSmJoNzZ768j0TO1pqVmKE-a5hDC4iaAMKG3EcF0qAeauUis9HtnG1Id0cOfLe-akWbKu05MGZ958Sae2BQ3l-U_kWDwSfgPzskwQVn_f7x11GQTn-TXLhYRWw/s640/IMG_20130907_193045.jpg"> </a> </div>jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-88741682529488840092012-07-10T22:58:00.001+08:002012-07-10T22:58:47.508+08:00I'm still around!Gosh! It has been more than 2 years since I last blogged. What inspired me to blog today? Because I remember how much I love to make silly lists! Here's one:
<b>Just how much are you into him?</b>
<p>
1. Was your heart set a-fluttering?
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<a href="http://openclipart.org/people/tomas_arad/tomas_arad_heart.svg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="297" width="293" src="http://openclipart.org/people/tomas_arad/tomas_arad_heart.svg" /></a></div>
</p><p>
2. Did you get a tingling sensation in your nether regions? *nudge nudge*
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<a href="http://images.sodahead.com/polls/001869839/1947313531_cross_legs_answer_2_xlarge.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="350" width="294" src="http://images.sodahead.com/polls/001869839/1947313531_cross_legs_answer_2_xlarge.jpeg" /></a></div>
</p><p>
3. Did you have sometimes haha sometimes shy moments when you're with him?
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<a href="http://glamourpouch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Crazy-Fun-Girl-by-Philipp-Hilpert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="334" width="500" src="http://glamourpouch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Crazy-Fun-Girl-by-Philipp-Hilpert.jpg" /></a></div>
</p><p>
4. Was there a feeling that this could be more?
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<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2480196861_413722be7a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="375" width="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2480196861_413722be7a.jpg" /></a></div>
</p><p>
5. Did the date just fly by and you felt quite depressed at the end of it?
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<a href="http://timefliessoftware.com/timeflies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="472" width="628" src="http://timefliessoftware.com/timeflies.jpg" /></a></div>
</p><p>
6. Did you grab your phone and slam it down when you realize it wasn't him who just messaged you?
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<a href="http://focusedconversations.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/woman-yelling-at-cell-phone1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="http://focusedconversations.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/woman-yelling-at-cell-phone1.jpg" /></a></div>
</p><p>
7. Did you find yourself trying 3 or more outfits? Even if it's mental outfits? (Girl dictionary: 1 is hack care / 2 is normal / 3 is *tee hee hee)
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<a href="http://i3.iofferphoto.com/img/1126767600/_i/8166783/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="600" src="http://blog.stillthelovely.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/dress.jpg" /></a></div>
So long as you are giggling / blushing / nodding your head vehemently to any of the above, congratulations! You have fallen into the love river! :)jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-27191935680167647102010-07-01T10:33:00.000+08:002010-07-01T10:34:00.372+08:00in a course about blog and suddenly remember i have one!<br /><br />hello! how's everyone? any plans ahead? :)jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-60618117229529933892010-03-21T02:35:00.004+08:002013-09-07T20:29:02.599+08:00The series of unfortunate eventswe've been saying we need to record this down before we all forget how 'lucky' we were. yes, all the below did happened. The weather wasn't being typically perth according to SJ. during the two years she was there, she had not experienced the type of cold we were experiencing. never mind, we love the cold we said.<br><br>on that night, we wanted to club. on! its the last night in perth and we HAVE to do something. we made plans to head out with her friend to one of the few clubs in perth: metro.<br><br>since samuel's car can only take 4, including the driver, and there's 5 of us, it was decided that adrian and i will go to the club first. if we're going to run straight into the club, then theres no need to wear jacket rite? adrian left his at our rented apartment.<br><br>once at outside the club, we huddled together while waiting for samuel to return with SJ and JT. the wind was howling but the place was packed. after a while, we noticed something unusual. the crowd consisted mainly of students. as we shivered in the howling wind, we heard them speaking to one another:<br><br>"good thing we got the tickets early! i think its sold out now"<br><br>WHAT TICKETS? and what do you mean by sold out? hmm... getting strange...<br><br>finally, i saw the poster outside the club. there was a bash tonight. crap... if bashes there are anything like bashes in singapore, you get what i mean.<br><br>we called the gals and told them the bad news. too late. they were reaching soon.<br><br>before they could explain to samuel, he had dropped them off and went to find parking. more power, SJ was wearing spag top with short skirt. and seriously, the wind was unlike anything we had experienced before. BUT it's never too cold to camwhore!<br><br><img src="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs126.snc1/5408_116307449655_556319655_2154532_2669010_n.jpg"><br><br>after standing around in the wind for 10 minutes, samuel finally came back.<br><br>"what now? where to go?"<br>"there's this other club we can head to... a little messy there but we're out to club. should be about 15-20 minutes ride away only."<br><br>it was decided. we are going for club II (cannot recall the name la). since SJ was in her minis, we graciously decided SJ and JT should take samuel's ride first. something we would come to regret very soon. very regret kind...<br><br>once the trio left, adrian and i sought refuge behind the pillar. image this: the entrance to the club is up a flight of stairs and there was no effective shelter outside the club. essentially, this:<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaur6nx3KgTToexJyzsKFqmWwUIUn6RV-tlmRNsQeVmKzQSyvoGj61CqDPJAeusEZWncYsfjhFWXmKRHQfKKmM-OHJJ45ZtdxeKpIvngVMNaxrzMO1U9uBW1LQwAmU20_bSmEtw/s1600-h/cold+humans.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaur6nx3KgTToexJyzsKFqmWwUIUn6RV-tlmRNsQeVmKzQSyvoGj61CqDPJAeusEZWncYsfjhFWXmKRHQfKKmM-OHJJ45ZtdxeKpIvngVMNaxrzMO1U9uBW1LQwAmU20_bSmEtw/s320/cold+humans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450945055003463458" border="0"></a><br>while we stood there with our arms crossed, we heard a strange, unfamiliar noise (unfamiliar when you're in australia, the driest continent on earth). *pit pat pit pat pit pat*<br><br>RAIN!!! NO! MAKE THAT A DOWNPOUR!<br><br>heng right? the wind was making it worst by blowing the rain horizontally at us. big, fat droplets hitting you like people throwing fishballs at you. crap. it was getting really bad, we stood there for about 15 minutes. samuel should be back right? <span style="font-style:italic;">16 minutes.</span> where's samuel? <span style="font-style:italic;">17 minutes.</span> what's taking them so long? <span style="font-style:italic;">18 minutes.</span> come one! <span style="font-style:italic;">19 minutes.</span> did they head straight home? <span style="font-style:italic;">20 minutes.</span> <br><br>cannot tahan already! we went up the stairs, ready to enter the club for some shelter. once on the steps, we folded our arms and stood as still as we could. You know, if we move, we will may move the air more and get colder? :) waited and waited and i caught sight of something flapping on the ground. a $10 bill! that's like $12 in SGD? i pointed out to adrian. <br><br>"eh, $10 leh"<br>"so? i'm not going to move. nice and slightly warmer now"<br><br>we stood on the steps, watching the bill flapping.<br><br>FINALLY! after 30 minutes of pure (cold) agony, samuel returned. we ran into the car, plopped ourselves down and heaved a huge sign of relief. <br><br>"how come the 10 minute became 30?" we asked quizzically (not good to be rude and make your driver angry ah)<br><br>samuel pointed to the road block just ahead. Aha! <br><br>as we passed the road block, the police waved us on. he recognised samuel. As if we didn't have enough problems, samuel blurted back, "you sure i haven't been drinking?" +_+ <br><br><br><br>arrived at burswood casino, still cold, still wet, and getting hungry. hopped into the toilet and ATTEMPTED to dry off. <br><br>while waiting for everyone to convene, we were witnessing lots of people having a great time in an irish pub. looks good i thought. but i never thought that this will be a place that will revisit later. <br><br>never mind! let's hit the CLUB!<br><br>strangely, the club was not within the casino. we had to brave the wind and walked to the club. could this be the start of our good luck for the evening? NO QUEUE!!!<br><br>we swaggered up, ready to party the night off (what's left of it). <br><br>STOP!<br><br>huh? samuel was stopped by the bouncer. bouncer pointed at his shoes and shook his head. <br><br>COME ON! NO SNEAKERS?!?!!!!!<br><br>by now, you can imagine the filthy, filthy words that are going through our minds. samuel offered to head home to change while we enter the club. <br><br>NO! WE CAME TOGETHER, WE'RE GOING IN TOGETHER! <br><br>it was too cold to stand outside arguing with the bouncer. we adjourned to the casino. as we sat around the slot machines, we were enticed by the smell wafting from 24-hour cafe. eh! when you're cold and wet, it naturally comes with hungry.<br><br>the next moment, we were sitting down with a plate of fries, some hot drinks, and brainstorming on the next (club/pub/bar/anywhere with alcohol) destination. <br><br>remember the irish pub? yes, i did. we brushed off the fries crumbs and headed for it. 1am.<br><br>TMD! the pub was closed at 1am! bouncers were standing there, barring our way. one miserable drink can?!<br><br>miserable, cold, wet and tired. we stomped around the casino and the hotel looking for a lobby lounge, a hotel pub, anything! none. naddah. zilch. +_+<br><br>let's head for the club outside the casino again! <br><br>By the time we got there, guess what? It was closing and no longer admiting anyone even for one bloody drink! Its simply not our day or night rather!<br><div><br></div><div>By then we were truly defeated. we decided to xall it a night. Hopped into a cab and headed back to the apartment. While Adrian was paying, the 3 of us girls alighted from the cab. Just at the gate outside the apartment were two guys. They were what you would call under the influence of alcohol. As if we had not tried hard enough the whole night to get a drink, these two boisteriously offered their bottle to rub it in. </div><div><br></div><div>After some dodging, we made it back to the apartment. The unfortunate events did not end there. Since I caught some rain, the group graciously allowed me to shower first though I am sure that everyone just wanted to wash the swayness away.</div><div><br></div><div>When I turned on the tap, no hot water. Just when I was cursing and swearing, someone screamed "noooooooooooooooooo!!!" As if a mortal sound had been dealt. </div><div><br></div><div>We had no internet.</div>jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-25998447081689993892010-03-15T23:36:00.002+08:002010-03-15T23:44:04.093+08:00If your eyeshadow becomes blusher before you walk out the door...I seldom plug products but every once in a while, I come across something fantastic (like nando's).<br /><br />Today, it's not about food. If your eyeshadow seems to have the amazing power of converging into a thin, oily line before lunch, this is the product for you.<br /><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31KKLsOsz%2BL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbandecay.com/categories/EyeshadowPrimerPotion.cfm">Urban Decay's Primer Potion</a>, S$32 from Sephora. <br /><br />At first, it doesn't seem possible that a smear of this on your lids will make your eyeshadow stay. In fact, the thing practically disappear when you blend it into your lids. So never mind, I continued slapping on the shadow, prepared to be disappointed by yet another product touting A but giving Z. <br /><br />Do not be surprised when your eyeshadow turns out a lot more vibrant that you're used to. I think this is what the primer is meant to do. Most amazingly, my eyeshadow actually stayed on the lids and did not initiate its usual trek down to my cheeks. How COOL is that?<br /><br />If you're like me who have tonnes of eyeshadow pots in the drawer that you can never use (unless you like green/blue/purple blusher), this is your lifesaver. GRAB IT!jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-8600106328770663472010-03-15T23:33:00.003+08:002010-07-02T09:47:35.196+08:00Is this angelina?<img width"400" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojLg7ZNl6KlRJc4MfzW7mLz0tzM8zNY5oTJPmrrcafPaueE5NeTaxyd-hK8w7Q5IWTnOyJD_2ldS4S62pbOrPgaQqrtk3XogEANZXaMCRc3swMjIRAsGuFOX7cr7yFpAKXHLB/s1600/soshy.jpg" /><br /><br />Nope! it's <a href="http://www.thetimbalandbuzz.com/2009/10/introducing-soshy.html">her</a>jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-5043534528239907662010-02-16T21:55:00.002+08:002010-02-16T21:55:42.220+08:00what do u thinkof the new blog layout?jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-24638737336506604012010-02-16T14:13:00.003+08:002010-02-16T14:16:08.165+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.tinypic.com/2s9d7ys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://i48.tinypic.com/2s9d7ys.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />adore the <a href="http://www.knighttcat.com/2010/02/olgaforvanityfairitaly2009.html">bardot look </a>jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-57318840393998421032010-02-16T14:09:00.001+08:002010-02-16T14:10:56.496+08:00"now what" and "what now" are actually very different!<br /><br />on another note, check out <a href="http://www.knighttcat.com/2010/02/ohijustcantrememberijustcantremember.html">knighttcat's post</a><br /><br />it's all the about the latest colours...jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-60249685069085751372010-02-16T12:54:00.000+08:002010-02-16T12:55:44.508+08:00OMG! WHO IS THIS?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.handbag.com/?module=images&func=display&fileId=L2hvbWUveGNvcmUvaGFuZGJhZy94aGFuZGJhZy94YXJheWFyZXNpemVkLzBmYjU0YTBlMTZlMTA0NTkwYTU5ZjQwMWRjMDkyMTcwLTUyOGFiY2QyNjY2NzE1NDEzMTQyNTJmMjY3MTAxNmIzLmpwZw==" /><br /><a href="http://handbag.com">Source</a>jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-36503567172521649862010-01-23T00:12:00.001+08:002010-01-23T00:18:22.361+08:00how much time do u think u have for urself?<span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">the calculation:</span></span><br /><br />one day = <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">24 hours</span></span><br /><br />one meal = 1 hour<br />three meals = <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">3 hours </span></span><br /><br />one-way to work = 1 hour<br />two-ways to/from work = <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">2 hours</span></span><br /><br />regular work hours = 9 hours<br />regular OT hours = 2 hours<br />total work hours = <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">11 hours</span></span><br /><br />you should sleep = <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">8 hours</span></span><br /><br />what you're left with = <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">24</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">3</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">2</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">11</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">8</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> = ??? </span></span>jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-78443402789812435042010-01-23T00:11:00.001+08:002010-01-23T00:11:44.381+08:00a person who does not embrace a sunny day does not deserve its warmthjllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-55059503928662710402010-01-01T14:15:00.002+08:002010-01-01T14:16:04.141+08:00He's back!<img length="300" width="400" src="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs234.snc3/22136_228922999655_556319655_2973909_161312_n.jpg" />jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-12080059906314740362009-12-19T13:16:00.002+08:002009-12-19T13:35:59.065+08:00let's shop!sometimes.. we need a little <a href="http://indulgeinstyle.blogspot.com/">retail therapy</a> <br /><a href="http://indulgeinstyle.blogspot.com/"></a>jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-36944516807479645652009-10-25T23:34:00.003+08:002009-10-26T00:01:17.292+08:00It wasn't love at first sight.<br /><br />When I first saw you, I never thought you could make my heart go faster. It has been a long time since I last felt this way. <br /><br />Grudgingly, I decided to give you a try because I was bored and wanted something different. <br /><br />The first time we got together, I thought it was just a fleeting liking, a touch, a caress, no more. I didn't know what made me do it but I felt maybe I should give you a chance. Who knows, we may really be meant for each other. <br /><br />As we told ginger steps together, I fell more and more for you. I could not help it. Being with you was like floating on a cloud. You made me stand tall and I felt proud to have you with me. <br /><br />My heart began to beat faster and my lungs could not seemed to get enough air. It was then when I began to think that we could really work. <br /><br />Alas! You were not what I was used to. You needed me to invest more in you than what I was used to. We soon parted ways. <br /><br />I could not stop thinking of you. My heart was still racing, my mind running wild with the things I will give up just to have you. I made my choice. <br /><br />And we are together now.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezjxx3USQcfGySJkeDp0TBQViavgSOUQqPSYjeoAuEdGbmoJjnBoUs5khmsGMr82beIz0q7q-9FZz-Uw705tEe42RsRMHdkaR6folEnl3iI953CArpRyWU1SHQYrwUe2yNKQBTw/s1600-h/DSCF6189.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezjxx3USQcfGySJkeDp0TBQViavgSOUQqPSYjeoAuEdGbmoJjnBoUs5khmsGMr82beIz0q7q-9FZz-Uw705tEe42RsRMHdkaR6folEnl3iI953CArpRyWU1SHQYrwUe2yNKQBTw/s320/DSCF6189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396565688535653778" border="0" /></a><br />My new 5 inch heels. Yes. FIVE! F.I.V.E!jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-76162365147608543212009-10-07T00:18:00.001+08:002009-10-07T00:20:46.988+08:00his painit started with a backache.<br /><br />he thought yoga would help. so he asked his friends for some moves that he could do. it didn't help.<br /><br />he was overseas. he went to the doctor when the pain got too bad. i msn him because his status was about losing 7kg in a week. he told me the doctor made a hole in him to drain out the pus and it was 'very very very' painful. medication didn't help. it was supposed to be appendicitis. i asked him why he didn't come back to singapore since it was so bad. he said he couldnt travel then. we were still thankful that insurance covered the bills.<br /><br />but it didn't cover his life. he passed away yesterday. doctors had misdiagnosed. in the one month that he was asked to wait for his surgery, the cancer might have raged on. it was colon cancer. and stage 2. <br /><br />they told me all the treatments were too late. we were supposed to have gathering when u came back. <br /><br />goodbye my friend. i hope there's no more pain now. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">please take care of your health. pain is the sign that something is wrong.</span>jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-86171471743411263082009-10-06T01:17:00.002+08:002009-10-06T01:17:56.281+08:00Good bye Mr Ng. I hope you are no longer in pain. Take care my friend.jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-21408209490808166292009-09-30T23:49:00.001+08:002009-09-30T23:50:59.375+08:00blah blah blahit's been so long! i've changed job, went to perth (and back) and going to hong kong soon..<br /><br />ahhh.. time flies... do u know in another 3 months, another year would have passed? zzz <br /><br />ah well.. that's all for my 'im still alive' post :)jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11828010.post-30827200689986838932009-08-27T00:02:00.000+08:002009-08-27T00:03:05.059+08:00OMG! Photobucket messed up my blog! WTF!jllthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14808916330516396960noreply@blogger.com2