Europe Tips 2--its about what to bring!

When i am about to leave Indonesia to Europe, my bedroom just like a sinking boat everything scattered around. Errhh ya i know my mom will say thats pretty normal hehe..

pilah-pilih pakaian buat liburan

But i did it for my suitcase. I am not really a big fan of traveling with suitcase. I think i prefer to use 60-80 liters backpack rather than the 60" wheeled suitcase.

Packing is the most essential thing in traveling, i wish i could give you a packing list here, but hey everyone had different needs. Some of my friends think high heels is important rather than a comfort boyish sneakers. Its just different for everyone, had to suit the needs and the personality.

pack your belonging wisely....

1. Clothes
I think the best is to know the details about where you about to go. You have to know about the weather and humidity. Why this is important?? you don't want to wear short at 13 degrees temperature-been there done that!! anyone from tropical country like me consider 13 degrees like -1.. exaggerate things? heheh for those who laugh at these i bet you had 4 season there... try to walk in Singapore for more than 2 hours at mid day.. then if you're not swearing because of the high temperature.... then don't laugh at me!! a good dress that according to weather would be matters!!

The other thing about clothes?? ladies and gentlemen... when you travel to another part of the world... please do respect other culture... we don't need to see your thigh inside a mosque, temple or other sacred places. If you want to go to this kind of places, please do dress accordingly!! prepare for something more closed, long trouser, jeans, something with sleeve, or jacket perhaps? even if its at boiling heat... in the name of respect please do dress like others.

Also when you pack and finish it... take everything out and try to reduce half of it... you wont need half of the things you bring! in my case it work this way! i get rid a red dress, a heavy doc marc Boots, another sneakers, and some sweaters. I prefer to use double dress, you could use two shirt at same time if its too cold!

All you need is 8kgs of bag/suitcase the max... i know they gave you 15 kgs.. but come on!! its too heavy! do weight your luggage before you go to airport... and do remember not all places like in Paris--as example-- they dont have escalators.. theres no such thing as lift as well at the metro station!! you will be lifting those heavy luggage every each of painful stairs that you goes to!! so watch the weight!!

And do leave fake stuff sista!! im talking about the fake Prada bags or Gucci shoes that you bought from a tiny shop down town of Hongkong. If you don't want to get hose stuff held by officer in any Europe airport. Safe your time and at least no shame!

2. Meds
Once my friends said, when she saw the whole medications that i bring during my trip said i was about to get arrested in airport as drug smuggler. I bring the whole plastic bag of medications that i use. Flu meds-check, antibiotics-check, antacid-check, diarrhea meds-check, high doze of vit C and other supplements-check, and the list goes on. The last thing i want is getting sick in other countries... i rather to had meal in a luxury Paris restaurant rather to buy an antibiotics for my food poisoning--maybe hahaha... but health is important! thats the point. Not all of our medications are sold free in every country.. example even in Singapore i can not get a panadol for my flu because they INSIST on doctors prescription which is i can not get because i am not seing any doctors (God know how much cost for a doc visit in Singapore!!)

In another note, please do check if the medications you bring is allowed to bring inside the country. There are several medications also banned in some country but allowed in other country. The last thing you want is to get arrested as drug dealers in airport--as i mentioned before!

3. Beauty Kits Ecetera (Girls section--most of it)
Helloww princess.... you know you will get your monthly timers (sorry guys...) so be wise... last thing you want here is to try to get a feminine pads while you're grabbing your tummy and walking in pain to the nearest drugstore just to find ANOTHER TAMPONS.

Tampons-eekkk... whats this?? (never seen it in Indonesia)

Yes... tampons... i don't know what the heck is that when i see it my self when the cashier hand me a box of that.. and i see it.. and say.. no... i don't know how to wear this because i dont think in Indonesia people use it!!! lucky its not a great flow that i could use my daily pantyliners.

What every girls needs!! the emergency leakage first aid!

In Indonesia we know feminine pads, and we find it hard to get to know "tampons" its another kin of the..errhh same thing heheh... well it goes same to some other countries... they only know tampons and rarely sold the feminine pads. And the price??? ohhh hahah.. don't ask.. i swear its more expensive than my undies (that bought in Indonesia!!) don't do a foolish mistakes its worth one meal perhaps!

Please bring your own fave one... don't make a mess please....

Ok.. general stuff??
Bring your extra moist hand and body lotion if you go to a 4 seasons country... its cold there.. its true.. but its also dry!! very dry! its not like tropical country where you could walk and sweat like in the sauna. In Germany i run from bottom of hills to the Neuschwanstein and had no sweat! if its in Indonesia i would barely breathe and swimming in my own sweat! this is included a lipbalm... and guys.. dont pretend to be too tough for this.. you had the same lips like girls, and last thing you want a chopped ugly lips yikess... not a major attraction guys.. not healthy either! better if it had sun blocks too! mine comes from Nivea, works just nice (no need one with colors..haha)

Winter doesn't mean you can not had the sun burn. Hiking on a snowy mountain the same!! i got darker skin after i spent whole day at Zugspitze! and its -1 degree!! bring your sunblock!

Another note that i took is... when i was back in Indonesia i was  thinking of taking a small package of toiletries... shampoo etc. But then i am glad i didnt do it. First of all, back to the price again...  my journey total in 20 days, and almost everyday i wash my hair.. i took my one bottle of shampoo... as hello i dont want to use others shampoo and the price also..ck ck ck.. different!! unless you had unlimited money then go ahead buy your Loreal's shampoo from champ Elysees.. i dare you!

4. Foods-Snacks
I like my MILO pack... its sweets, and its cheap. I also like oreos, INDOMIE, noodles, ENERGEN cereal and Veggies Jacobs. I bring small packs all of those fave snacks. Just in case i can not find any  halal food. Or in case i dont have time or small money to do breakfast. Breakfast is awesome in Europe, you could buy fresh bread in Paris and drink it with your own NESCAFE and keep half for lunch... well they had huge bread!! i bring my own SARIKAYA jam also, and share it with Mr T and he love it!! haha they don't have that there in Europe.

I bring some gado-gado paste also.. this is from Indonesia, we could mix this for veggies, just like salad dressing also you could do it with beef or meat and it becomes satay seasoning, or just eat it with plain rice!! very easy.... i bring two cube of this and give it to my host in Paris as gift.. he went to Indonesia several times so he knows about this gado-gado seasoning which is peanuts mixed with red/palm sugar and some chilli.. very nice!

Bring some of snacks and your fave food.. in case if you missing home, or if your host ask if you could cook your traditional cook... why not!!


......to be continued......

Strasbourg Day 2-Tales of confuse people! (with beautiful parks!)

This is the 2nd day in Strasbourg. I learn a lot about this town today. Still with Mr T we walk and use tram to the city center. Mr T actually teach me bad stuff... we actually go on tram without paying! arrgghh! how can i believe its free!! (i know i am way too naive!) but please do not try this lol i felt guilty!

The sights of Strasbourg

First fact that Mr T told me is, this city is between Germany and French so there's a mix of cultures everywhere. Anyone here speak fluent French and Germany, i heard more French tho. And Mr T told me too that between 1870 until 1945 this city switch nationality up to 4 times!! between Germany and French. Strasbourg is the capital city of Alsace region. Its the 7th largest city in France with almost 280.000. people live here (not included tourist like us hehe)

oldest clock inside the NotreDame Catredal Strasbourg

This city was founded first time by the Romans, so its very old.. well if you consider 2000 years is old hehe... this city first build as a military camp for the Romans-to protect the northern territory from the barbarian attack.

With Germany and French culture also the old Romans its highly cultured city that surely will amazed you. This city also been on world heritage since 1988. There are plenty historical buildings to fulfill your needs of beauty *sigh* another interesting fact about this city is... its a "young people" city, with over 60% of it populations is people below age 40! (wink wink) its not all serious city because if the head of Europe Nation based here, its a good place to mingle for single hehehe...

Strasbourg history link with vineyard-Huge barrel gift from Couronne d'Or

First we went inside the cathedral that built in 1176-1436. The entrance is free. Inside is amazing.... its different from Notredame in Paris its more dark not much color.. the thing that i notice is the similar rose facade window. I like it better in Notredame in Paris somehome the light goes perfectly there in here.. its kind of darker..

This cathedral is the biggest church in Alsace but smaller compare to any other church in other regions.

Inside the church there's pipe organs and few sculpture also two tombs that i could see. But the most interesting part of this church was on  the back left side of it. There is a large/huge old astronomical clock. It was there since the medieval times as Mr T explain.

It's called the "Three king clock". Its just like a massive 18 meters tall cuckoo clock made from woods, copper and iron. Next to the clock on the left side is the prettiest pillar of all the church.. its called the angels pillars. There are actually 3 different clock there but the one that attract me is the huge one. Mr T show me how it work... he just laugh synicly because there are like almost hundred of people there taking pictures in front of the clock but none know how to make it work! i just said... ok Mr Mc Gyver show us!

About two meters from the left side of the clock theres a box made from glass.. i thought it was for church "contribution" lol hahaha... and its only took 2 euro to turn on the clock lights it said on the box hahah thats why Mr T so grumpy!!

As soon as he put on the 2 euro the lights is on and the dolls on the clock moving and its last for several minutes... awww!! why no one notice those???

After that we went outside to the right side of the cathedral... as we want to visit the tower. The ticket to get to the tower is 10 euro per person... but its a historical building once again... its worth the climb.. and again we love high places!!

But then after they gave us the ticket--First thing first Mr T said, we have to do lunch European way... i said its 10.30am.. its not really lunch time... but ok.. i wont mind. So we go back to the NotreDamde and there are plenty of tourist there. Very different than last night when we went there. Passing through the Place du Marche

So we had the brunch Mr T and me had crepe, but i had the large menu with ice cream and chocolate also banana (lol). W e enjoy the sun like every one else. I didn't bring any sun block because i just thought----a very wrong thought that it wont do anything to my already brown skin. LoL, it gets darker for sure! Because in Indonesia when you had these temperature around 18-19 degrees you wont get the sun burn... i dont think so in Indonesia.

No sweat just sun shine.. and i like it that way.. its just too dry for  me that i need to use high moist lip balm all the time! also using olive oil to keep my skin from dryness.


Its really nice to had the sun lights also to watch the tourist passing through around the NotreDame.  Admiring the cathedral that once held the world highest building (1647-1874). I can't stop telling Mr T about the difference between this cathedral with Notredame in Paris. The gargoyle is the most interesting for sure! This cathedral was designed by Erwin Von Steinbach also one of the most beautiful gothic architecture.

Ticket to get to Strasbourg NotreDame tower!

Mr T said, lets go to the tower now... so up up and awayyy we climb the tower... i feel very fit and stop several times for Mr T. Well he seemed on fit conditions too as we mocked each other to race to the top. We stop to admire the gargoyle on the top of the cathedral.

View from the top of Strasbourg cathedral

Some pictures that i take from top and around the cathedral...

More view from Strasbourg Notredame Cathedral

another part of the Strasbourg city

more view of the Strasbourg city

After enjoying the view of the Strasbourg city from top we walk through the Place du Marche again Mr T ask if i want to join the tour with the train in front of the Cathedral tower. I said, no problem. But eeekk... they closest tour was in Germany language. I wont enjoy those! So we walk again to the river bank..and next to the Palais Rohan we saw a boat tour ticketing! I'll ask Mr T said.

Swan family near the boat tour

While i am taking pictures Mr T back again waving two tickets.. wow.. we're going on a boat tour! Its a different boat compare to the one in Paris. I think the one in Paris much better.. because this one had glass on the top so its harder to take pictures because i can not use flash!

Strasbourg home of Council of Europe & European Parliement

The tour very informative, i really like it because they explain in details about the city history.. and even about the European Council! This is why the City was chosen by the Europeans as the seat of three institutions: the Council of Europe (since 1949), the European Court of Human Rights (since 1959) and the European Parliament (since 1979).

Near Palais Rohan Strasbourg

This city had amazing history since the Romans and now the house of 3 European council its a great achievements!

Palais Rohan Strasbourg

After the tour i told Mr T about the Orangerie Jardin and we walk a bit and use tram to get there.

Strasbourg-going to Orangerie Jardin!

Swan Family at Orangerie Strasbourg

Alsace crane? they eat meats!!!

The Pavillion Josephine at Parc De l'Orangerie

More pictures from Strasbourg

Strasbourg My First 1st Class (Part 1)

"Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter." -- Izaak Walton

.....Brussels-Paris-Strasbourg...... 3 cities in a day.. wow....(this is running through my head that day!)

From Paris Est at 6pm my train ride smoothly. TGV runs with average speed of 300kms per hour. I think im lucky enough to get the First Class ticket with the price of 2nd class wich is 40 Euro.

Strasbourg is an important city located between French and Germany. Thats where i am heading after Brussels. Theres some places that i book marked on my Lonely Planet books that been my guide for past few days.

I got text messeges from Mr T said that he drive from Karlsruhe, right from work. I met Mr T last year when i went to Macau. This time he invite me to see Europe, and its been 7 months since last time i see him! i hope he really there, if hes not..GRRRHH!!

The service is so so... i prefer 2nd class perhaps. I think this is the first time i regret to get the first class/luxury treats. Because i think its not for me. From the very beginning i step on the train with my extra bulky purple luggage.... This is the veru first time for me to ride train in Europe. My experience with train is quite less.

In Sumatra-Indonesia not much train, only return journey from Bandar Lampung to Prabumulih is my chance to get a train ride, that was back when i was in University, almost 10 years ago. The other chance to ride train in Java island is from Jakarta to Bandung. And even if its executive train, its a whole different train--all i could say: "ohh sh*t" when i see the other passengers with tie suite...Armani, Hugo Boss.. ohh.. Shuuuuuuutt! and an old lady with white grey hairs sit down elegangt on the seat i know i'm doomed.

Me on the other side wearing my flat, my black pantyhose (thank Lord i had brain to buy it at Champ Elyses!!) the best skirt that i had on my luggage, and a clean white shirt. I feel like a house maid on wrong train. Huhuhuhu...

Its not over with the feeling, i did made sure i am on the right train #13 first class and i look at my seat number is 61. So i sit down on the first 61 seat number. And this guy, age 35-45 come with snob face, maybe he had a drama school or something, so over react (perhaps too much opera) bhe stood with his ticket waving it on air say "this is my seat, hello this is my seat" he could ask to me if i get wrong seat. I said its 61 i show my ticket and he said "no its mine he show his ticket to me and point it right to my face" such a harsh guy. And then all sudden an old guy say "Miss i think this is your seat" i cant help say thank you to that guy. The jerk stood in dramaticly way and nod to everyone i think he could hear an applause there (jerrkkk!!) i sit on my seat and say thank you to that old guy, giving my best smile. He just smile and said no problem.

Its such humiliating moment, i just hate it instantly.. killing my mood for sure. The car it self very nice, you had electric socket and the seat are amazing. Talk about the seat, i just realize that me and that jerk actually right. There are two numbers on each seat. so Theres two 61 seat number on this car.. well well... difference only where that seat face...i didn't see that!! beside don't blame me i've done great job trying to interprete the ticket which is in FRENCH language!

During the trip i trie dto connect with wifi that available on the train.. but then if i want to use it i have to subscribe. So all i did just update my blog with word :( not cool! i tried to do something else like going to toilet and explore a bit... the next car is restaurant... there are plenty people there... all speak in French.. i could see some of them from my car with their suite and tie and black shiny shoes.. errhh.. i feel im very lost :( i just wish i could see someone in plain tshirt and shorts.. with friendly smile..

I got back to my seat and just try to enjoy the scenery.. at the average 300kms/hour this trin just like a bullet on a rail!! the view is amazing, i could see cows, houses and rivers.. some huge field with grass.. very different vegatation than Indonesia. Sun still shines as if its 3pm in Indonesia. I know its over 6pm and the sun lights fall on the scenery outside made it as unforgetful sight for me.

The beauty of Europe at a glimpse thats the correct thing to say. I wave to some people that wave to me from outside its fun...hahaha a bit hill billies but.. ijust like it when they smile and wave to me when the train slower-when it gets to a small city... i like how they live there.. surrounded by mountains.. theres kids with bicycle.. must be fresh and healthy there... very different than a small village in Indonesia for sure!

Its over 8 pm and i know that we're closing to Strasbourg as the train get slower and there are more houses outside. I see some factory, farms and i see a sign said Strasbourg Gare, oh my! its very close... i could see that some of the passenger even get ready and get their stuff on the compartement above.

We finally arrive nearly 8.30, i was so damn hungry!! i just ate crackers!

As the train stop, i just dont want to get any more attention i just let everyone goes down first--include the anoying guy. I was the last passenger on the train...

When i get down, there he was Mr T with LoL his "Germany" best looks hahahaha!! black tshirt, short and socks and sandal LoL thats very Germany. He looks like upset hahah! he was he told me about the traffic jam and he said something about trying to drive here fast because he afraid that he's going to be late.

Surprise, Mr T drive a car. Hahaha its rental car, but well... i think hes not use with driving! There are still sun lights when we drive out the station. We look for dinner that night.

One of Strasburg church

Theres not much i could see on the first night since its pretty late... i could see little bit around city as we walk down the city.. almost everything closed at 9pm! oh my! hahahahah

Strasburg streets- everything is closed after 9pm!

I went to several places that  night and actually quite spooky because less lights there... we went to a church and somehow went to the Cathedral. I wish i could see the view at night must be amazing.

spooky tower...

There are several people passes by, and we actually use tram to get from one point to another. The tram at Strasburg running until midnight. And its quite convinient actually. I rarely see taxi tho.

Strasburg cathedral at night

I dont know if i consider this good, but i am glad i could took some of pictures at night because some of this places must be very touristy at day light! but all i could say everything is clean, the road too...




Strassburg Cathedral door carvings 



Strasburg cathedral at night

We rushed back to hotel as we feel very tired after walking sevrela hours. Its close to midnight and there are less people walking on street already. Some bars still open tho..

Strasburg traditional house, i like it!

This guy create publications first time!

Mr T said Strasbourg is  the city of publications since its the very first time the printing machine invented here... i note.. i thought chinese found it first?? he just said i dont know hahahaha!

Midnight at Strasburg-empty street