재.

haven't posted here for 3 years; and in between then, i've gone from being a teenager to a young adult! I'm 22 now and i think i've changed quite a bit regarding life, death and everything in between. Hopefully i'm typing in a more mature tone compared to previous posts, because i skyped with my best friend and we were reading all my previous posts. It was super cringeworthy and hilarious, but i'm glad i still have these posts to remember my teenage self by. Ah youth... Would be funny to read these all again when i'm past 30!

In between these 3 years, i've graduated from poly, taken a gap year, did some travelling and outgrew my koreaboo phase (somehow) and fell back into anime and japanese music!

Visited Japan and Europe during my grad year in 2017, but it's too late to remember or write about that, so i'll write about my most recent trip to Europe this May! My brother was on school exchange from December to June, so my parents wanted to visit my brother and tour Europe since we're already there.

It was 28D27N, and we visited 8 countries (13 cities).
Looking back, wow i really crammed this planning, we changed cities every 2-3 days. It was frustrating and tough to plan at times but i managed to work with my parent's budget of S$5k/pax to get maximum fun per dollar haha.
General Trip outline:

Barcelona - 3N
Zurich - 2N
Lucerne - 2N
Interlaken - 1N
Freiburg - 2N
Luxembourg - 2N
Brussels - 3N
Amsterdam - 2N
Stockholm - 3N
Prague - 2N
Vienna - 2N
Dusseldorf - 2N

*We looped back to Germany, Dusseldorf because i wanted to go to a con.

Expenses

Rounded Expenses for 3 pax:
Lodging was around S$2.7k, using mainly Airbnb, hostels and homestay places through Booking.com.

Intercity transport was S$1.8k, excluding the flight to and from Singapore. We took 3 flights, trains and buses. If i could plan again for a longer trip, i'd go through more countries to explore and to save some money on flights.

So that's $1.5k each person for lodging and transport! a little above 50 bucks a day which i guess is pretty neat! (cheap lodging alone in Japan is around $50/night)

OK finally the travelling starts now!
I'll do a condensed version of my itinerary per city (photos and short descriptions) because it's way too much to cover.

Barcelona (3N)


Visited Barc 2 years ago in my Grad trip but visited some places i didn't get to last time! I really love Barcelona sights/people/food in general.

D1
Land > Check in > Las Ramblas + La Bouqueria Food Market.

looking at this instant diabetes

D2
Park Guell > Museo of Design > Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau (UNESCO Hospital) > Sagrada Familia

Second time here! STILL love Gaudi's architecture.

My dad can take nice photos if he wants to, but my mum is the better photographer.

broken porcelain and mosiac-ed! i really like this since i first saw it 2 years ago. Might try out a fashion concept like this someday.

catalonian colors/porcelain

watteau pleats! 18th century? can't recall but there were Charles Worth dresses here too.

really love how nature is a big part of this, its like a giant tree hive and i am but a small ant.

hehe my mum

best time to visit is at sunset, where the stained glass is at its peak glory, it's magnificent.

My parents and i went up different towers! it's extra $ but worth it because you get to see the new construction and an upclose view of the exterior. Also an amazing view of Barcelona from 75m(Passion Facade) or 55m (Nativity Facade) up.

fruits/plants so i think i was at the Nativity Tower.

spent so long in here, it was spiritual, i felt like i was basking in some warmth of a higher being. and i am not religious.

glory facade

D3
Gothic Quarter > Barcelona Cathedral >Picasso Museum > Ciutadella Park > La Barceloneta Beach

Barcelona Cathedral

another favourite to return to, Foccaceria Toscano, Carrer de Ferran, 41, 08002 Barcelona, Spain Really amazing pizza/foccacia and churros at a great price. Family run too!

Ciutadella Park

first duck encounter, i will have many more duck encounters later on. i love ducks.

Barceloneta Beach

Dinner at La Fonda! i missed having Paella, this one's authentic love it.

I highly recommend you to book all tickets online to avoid queuing and disappointment! Please check the links below for operating days and times as well as more info on visiting!

Parc Guell https://parkguell.barcelona/en?q=en
Barcelona Design Museum http://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/museudeldisseny/en/opening-times-and-prices
Sant Pau https://www.santpaubarcelona.org/en/visits-sant-pau-art-nouveau-site
Sagrada Familia https://sagradafamilia.org/en/home
Picasso Museum http://www.museupicasso.bcn.cat/en/

Some places i recommend which i didn't go this trip but last trip:
Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Monjuic Castle/Magic Fountain, National Art Museum (MNAC)


* ok legit its just been 1 city im so tired haha, shall update later


Zurich (2N)

Bahnhofstrasse > Beyer clock & watch Museum