Travel – Page 25 – The Wknd Travel

Going Solo In Europe: BRUSSELS – Belgium’s Center, Europe’s Capital & Most Boring City?

After spending 4.5 days around The Netherlands, walking around the streets & canals of Amsterdam, visiting a friend in Utrecht, enjoying the beautiful & not-so-crowded North Holland countryside & staying in a nice hostel called Generator Amsterdam, I decided to move to a new country – BELGIUM. Yes, I crossed the borders by land & found myself in the land of fries, beer, chocolates & waffles! Belgium is a country in western Europe known for its beautiful old towns & Renaissance architecture.

Interestingly, the country is divided into 3 regions – Flanders, Wallonia & Brussels-Capital. Flanders is the Dutch-speaking Flemish region closer to the Netherlands. Wallonia is the French-speaking Walloon region which was highly influenced by France. Brussels-Capital Region is center of the country which encompasses 19 municipalities with 19 mayors around Brussels. Each region has its own government & takes care of its own social services. As one, the country has a federal form of government led by the Prime Minister.

Fun fact! Do you know that Belgium holds the record of the longest period which a developed country has no elected government? Yes, it’s true. I remember our tour guide Tom saying this happened in 2010-2011 when the country only had a caretaker government for 541 days. Actually, the country has no elected government for the 2^nd time! It started in December 2018 when the running coalition collapsed. The country is under a caretaker government again, led by Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès. Something unique, right?

*I finally made it to Brussels, Belgium. I enjoyed walking around the Grand Place / Grote Markt! 🇧🇪*

Today, I will take you around the capital of Europe – Brussels. This was my first city in Belgium. I decided to come here from Amsterdam because it’s the nearest new country & city. I stayed in Belgium for 4 full days & 4 nights with 2 of the 4 days outside the main city.

Most people only go to Brussels for a day from Amsterdam or just stay for a day in the city & leave. People often regard the city as the most boring city in Europe. Is that the case? Let’s find out below.

Planning to go to Europe soon? Visa application is just easy. I applied for my own visa with VFS Netherlands. Know more about the simple application process here.

Brussels

Brussels started as a rural community beside the Senne River. It then grew into an important city in Belgium & in Europe. After World War II, the country became the center of international politics – having the headquarters of The European Union & the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The city is now the capital of the Brussels-Capital Region & also the country, Belgium.

Amsterdam to Brussels

Brussels is a little over 200 kilometers away from Amsterdam. Trains & buses link these 2 important European cities. These trains & buses leave almost every hour from these 2 cities. Trip takes around 2 hours for both modes of transportation. Train tickets cost roughly €50 while bus tickets are about a fifth – €10.

I chose the bus over the train just because it’s way cheaper. I took FlixBus on this trip from Amsterdam to Brussels. I bought my bus ticket from FlixBus mobile app. The ticket cost €9,99; it included a comfortable seat, 20 kilograms baggage allowance & free access to the bus wi-fi connection. The bus also has an entertainment system accessible via the passenger’s mobile phone. The bus left Amsterdam Sloterdijk station at 12:00 noon & arrived at Brussels North station around 2:15 in the afternoon.

Going Around Brussels

Going around Brussels is very easy. Most of the attractions are found around the central square known as Grand Place or Grote Markt Brussel. The best way to explore the city is by foot. Some attractions, which I didn’t go to, can be reached by taking the local metro. All inter-city & inter-country trains arrive at either Brussels North, Brussels Central & Brussels South Stations. These 3 stations are about 1 kilometer away from each other.

Free Walking Tour

Just like what I did in Amsterdam, I also took SANDEMANs New Europe free walking tour in Brussels. This tip-based walking tour was held by Tom, who walked us through the history of Brussels & Belgium in general for 2.5 hours. He’s a funny & informative tour guide; he even gave us recommendations on where else to go, where to eat & what else to do. He started the tour at Grand Place & ended in the Royal Palace of Brussels.

Places To See Around Brussels

Allow me to share with you the places we visited during the walking tour & those I discovered myself while walking around the city center.

Grote Markt

The Grote Markt or Grand Place in English is Brussels’ central square. It is surrounded by several guild halls & 2 important buildings in the city’s history – the Brussels Town Hall & the King’s House. This square is the country’s most famous landmark & in my opinion, one of most beautiful central squares I’ve been to in all places I visited last year. This central square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Maison du Roi / Broodhuis

Called by the French as Maison du Roi & by the Dutch as Broodhuis, this neo-gothic style building is the home of Brussels City Museum. The museum shows the history of Brussels from the old times to its contemporary situation. This building used to be the King’s House (thus Maison du Roi) in the 16^th century & was the bread market (thus called Broodhuis) setting from the 13^th century.

Brussels Town Hall

Right in front of the Brussels City Museum is the Town Hall of the City of Brussels. Built in the 15^th century, this building served as the town hall from the time it was built up until the present time. This building has a number of interesting asymmetrical elements which can only be noticed when pointed by the guides.

Everard t’Serclaes Sculpture

Everard t’Serclaes was a Brussels citizen who helped recover Brussels from the Flemings in the 1300s. His success was commemorated by a sculpture found in Charles Buls St, one street off the Grand Place. There’s a local myth which says rubbing Everard t’Serclaes’ statue brings good luck & grants the wishes of the person who rub it. This explains the shiny color of the statue’s arms & its other parts.

Mannekin Pis

Mannekin Pis, they say Brussels’ most disappointing landmark, is located a few meters from the Grand Place. This statue of a naked little boy pissing into the fountain’s basin is a replica of the real one found in the Brussels City Museum. There are several legends behind this famous status. One of which is the little boy named Julianske who urinated on the burning explosives while the attackers were preparing on bombing Brussels. He then saved the city from the attackers.

This status is dressed in costumes multiple times a year; depending on the celebrations they have. Unfortunately, it was all naked during my 4-day visit. For the locals, this Mannekin Pis statue embodies their sense of humor & independence.

La Bourse de Bruxelles

La Bourse de Bruxelles, or the Brussels Stock Exchange Building in English, is neo-Palladian designed building that houses the city’s stock exchange. This building is found right outside the Grand Place & is guarded by 2 lion status.

This is the Brussels Stock Exchange building from the back. Sorry I don’t have the lions in the photo.

Église Saint Nicolas

Surrounded by old houses, Église Saint Nicolas or the Church of Saint Nicholas is Brussel’s oldest catholic church. This church is named after the patron of merchants or traders. This church is located at the back of the stock exchange building.

La Monnaie De Munt

La Monnaie De Munt is Brussels’ opera house. This old building is used for multiple functions & shows such as operas, concerts, dances & other entertainment shows.

Place des Martyrs / Martelarenplein

Place des Martyrs is a square dedicated to the martyrs of the Belgian revolution in the 1830s. This square is located next to one of Brussel’s busiest shopping street – Rue Neuve or Nieuwstraat. Dutch people call this place Martelarenplein.

Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert

Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, in English the Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert, is a long & glazed shopping arcade designed by Jean-Pierre Cluysenaer in the mid-1800s. The gallery is home of the expensive Belgian truffle & chocolate shops.

Brussels Cathedral

The Cathedral of Saint Michael & Saint Gudula is an important landmark in the City of Brussels. It is the city’s main cathedral, dedicated to their patron saints – St. Michael & St. Gudula. This gothic-style cathedral took 300 years to build & has undergone several restoration & renovation works.

Mont Des Artes / Kunstberg

Mont Des Artes in French or Kunstberg in Dutch is an arts & historical complex that houses the Royal Library of Belgium, the National Archives of Belgium & the Square – Brussels Convention Centre. It also has a beautifully maintained public garden with the statue of King Albert in front.

Brussels Park

Brussels Park, Parc de Bruxelles in French & Warandepark in Dutch, is the city’s largest urban park. It is located in the center of the city, with the Palace of the Nation on one side & the Royal Palace of Brussels on the other side.

Royal Palace of Brussels

The Royal Palace of Brussels is the official palace of the Belgian monarchy. It is not the official residence of the Royal Family of Belgium, but is the official function place of the monarchy. It is located in front of the Brussels Park. This was the last stop of Tom’s walking tour.

Delirium Café

Delirium Café is my favorite place in Brussels. It is a bar in Brussels that’s know for its long beer list. They hold the Guinness Book of World Records’ bar that offers the most kinds of beer in one setting. They have 2,004 kinds of beer from all over the world, including those produced locally in Belgium. I came to this bar 3 out of the 4 nights I was in Brussels. It’s definitely a place I’ll go back to in the future.

Missed Places

I didn’t have enough time in Brussels – believe it or not I missed a few notable sights like the Atomium, Parc du Cinquantenaire, Mini Europe & Ossegempark. I was supposed to go to these places on the morning of my last day but the weather didn’t cooperate. It was raining & it was just hard to walk around.

That concludes my feature about Brussels. Is it a boring city? I don’t think so; I think there’s a lot to see. It also has a very interesting history. While it may be my least favorite in all the cities I visited in this trip, it still has its own charm. Brussels is very small but it has one of the most beautiful central squares in Europe. Please do not miss the Grand Place or Grote Markt & please make sure to go there in the morning, in the afternoon (during sunset) & in the evening. The place is just magical. This square is my 2^nd favorite place in Brussels – after Delirium Café, of course.

Have you been to Brussels in the past? How did you find the city? Which is your favorite attraction? Comment your thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the city? You may send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thanks for joining me in Brussels today. Wait for the next one, I’ll take you around the beautiful city of Bruges!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: NORTH HOLLAND COUNTRYSIDE – A Day Trip To The Cheese Farm & Clogs Factory, Windmills & Waterlands

Windmills, cheese farms & wooden clogs – these are the things that people associate to the Netherlands. Unfortunately, these aren’t found in Amsterdam; they’re in the towns & villages found in the North Holland province.

Mandatory photo with the windmills at Zaanse Schans. The weather didn’t cooperate that day! 😢

After spending days walking around Amsterdam & a random afternoon in Utrecht, I decided to take a day trip to the north Dutch countryside to visit Zaanse Schans, Edam-Volendam & Marken. Today’s post will talk about the details of this day trip I took during my visit to the Netherlands in October 2019. In case you missed it, I already posted the details of my trips around the cities of Amsterdam & Utrecht.

day tour booking

If you read my previous posts about Amsterdam & Utrecht, you know that I opted to be spontaneous with my itinerary about this trip. I did some research when I prepared my dummy itinerary for the tourist visa application but ended up not following it. I read some blogs online & found out that the windmills are accessible by train or bus. The other towns are only accessible by bus; but best with the €10 Waterland day pass. I calculated the money I need to spend for the bus pass, back & forth ferry tickets (from Volendam to Marken & back) & I’ll end up spending heaps of money. I ended up taking a guided tour to these 4 places for €28.

I booked my day tour on GetYourGuide & took this Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken Tour. The day tour started at 8:15 & ran for 6.5 hours. Meeting place was near the front door of the NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace near Amsterdam Centraal. Our guide for the day trip was a Raquel – a freelance tour guide born & raised in Mabella, Spain & living in Amsterdam. Raquel’s tour was fun & informative. She told us the history of every place we visited & even gave cool trivia in every place.

Now let’s go to the Dutch countryside. I immediately noticed the change of scenery minutes after leaving Amsterdam. The views changed from colorful houses to beautiful green fields. Netherlands is a flat country; it doesn’t have mountains unlike the Philippines. Let me share with you where we went that day.

Did you know that applied for my Schengen tourist visa on my own? Yes! It’s just an easy process. Check out this DIY Schengen Tourist Visa post I published a few weeks ago.

Zaanse Schans

Our first stop was Zaanse Schans. Located about 30 minutes from the main city, this famous industrial neighborhood is in Zaandam, north of Amsterdam. During the 17th century, this area had hundreds of windmills being used by the people in daily tasks such as grinding spices, sawing wood & making oil.

At present, there are only a handful of windmills left. Some are still operational while the others are now museums. The neighborhood also has traditional wooden houses, workshops & warehouses. We walked around the windmills for 45 minutes. Too bad we arrived too early; all of them were still closed. The weather was cloudy during our visit. Apologies, I don’t have that windmill with clear blue sky photo.

EDAM

Edam was the second stop of this day tour. If Amsterdam was named because of its proximity of Amstel River, Edam was founded around a dam crossing the river E or Ije. Edam focused on shipbuilding & fishing in the early times which helped the place become an important trade town. The fall of shipbuilding industry saw the rise of cheese-making. The town had weekly cheese markets where farmers from different areas go visit & trade. This town is the birthplace of the world-famous Edam Cheese.

Edam is a small town with a very small town square. The highest structure in the town is a 4-storey (3.5 storey imo) building. The town was quiet during our visit – almost no people & no open establishments.

Simonehoeve

Our next stop was Simonehoeve – a traditional cheese farm & clogs factory. The owners of the farm showed to us how the traditional clogs & Dutch cheese are made. At the end of the tour around the facility, we had an unlimited cheese tasting (plus fruit wine & stoopwafels) activity. I tried all kinds of cheese available & they were all good. The farm also has an on site shop where clogs & locally made cheese can be purchased.

In case you missed it, I flew with Singapore Airlines from Singapore to Amsterdam last October 2019. Check out my flight report here & know how is it flying 13 hours with one of the world’s best airlines.

Volendam

After stuffing our stomachs with lots of cheese, we headed to Volendam. This Dutch town located by the Markermeer Lake northeast of Amsterdam is an old fishing village known for its; colorful wooden houses & old fishing boats in its harbor. Volendam is the place where tourists have lunch during their respective day trips. The town’s harbor has a long line of shops offering souvenirs, restaurants offering decently-priced meals & food carts selling traditional Dutch food.

We had our lunch break here & stayed for an hour. I was still full from all the cheese I had in Simonehoeve so I only opted for kibbeling for snack. It’s a traditional snack which has battered cod chunks, shrimp & mussels served with mayonnaise & garlic sauce. The snack cost me freakin’ €10; I forgot I was in a busy touristic place. I spent the remaining time in Volendam walking along the beautiful harbor.

marken

Our last stop was Marken – small fishing village in the municipality of Waterland. Found in the middle of the waters, this village became famous because of its colorful wooden houses. Marken was as quiet as Edam with close to no people around. The village has a small & peaceful harbor with a few open shops.

After our short walk around Marken, we boarded the tour bus & took a 30-minute drive back to Amsterdam. The bus dropped us off somewhere near A’DAM Lookout. I walked to the ferry terminal & took the free ferry back to Amsterdam Centraal. This ends the day trip I took to the North Holland countryside.

One last look at the beautiful & not-so-busy but touristic Volendam. Look at those colorful houses!

Have you been to these places in the Netherlands? Which one is your favorite? It’s hard to choose but I love the peaceful vibe of Marken. It’s a village where you’d want to live during retirement. Are there other cities or towns in the Netherlands which are worth visiting? Share you suggestions & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have questions about the towns & villages mentioned above? Send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

More Edam cheese from Simonehoeve before ending this blog post about the Dutch countryside. 😋

Thanks for making it this far! I really appreciate it. My posts about the Netherlands are about to end. Watch out for the last post next week before we move to a new country!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Last-Minute Japan Weekend: 48 Hours in FUKUOKA For Less Than ₱12,500 – Flights & Hostel Included

You’re an avid follower of my posts if you know that I love Japan so much. I’ve been to Japan several times & I always want to go back, even in the same places I’ve been to in the past. I posted crazy cheap Japan itineraries over the last few years – 9 days in Japan for less than ₱40,000 (my first ever Japan trip in 2015), 13 days solo trip around 8 Japanese cities for less than ₱50,000 (2016 trip), 7 days around Kawaguchiko & Takayama for less than ₱35,000 (2017 trip) & that 7-day Hokkaido winter trip for ₱45,000 (2018 trip). I also featured all cities & towns I’ve been to & even posted tips on what to do & not to do in Japan & where to find the best hostels. Japan content comprises a big chunk of my blog posts. I’m happy with the amount of views & visits these posts get.

I went to Japan twice in 2019. My first trip happened in early in the year where I started off in Tokyo, went down to Nagano, dropped by Matsumoto, then met up with my sisters to go around Osaka, Kyoto & Nara before flying to Fukuoka to catch my flight back to Manila. My second trip happened in the last quarter, right before I flew to Europe. My friend & I flew to Fukuoka to surprise our other friend & ruin her first solo international trip. We’re still good friends, don’t worry!

This trip to Fukuoka will be the topic of this post! My friend & I flew to Fukuoka last-minute (everything booked 3 weeks before the trip) & explored the city in 48 hours for less than ₱12,500 each. This will be my 2019 entry to my yearly crazy cheap Japan itineraries! Want to know how I did it? Check out below.

airfare

Believe it or not, I booked my return tickets to Fukuoka 3 weeks before the flight. Crazy, right? GetGo, Cebu Pacific Air‘s loyalty program, had a promo code that offered 5,000 points less. For some strange reasons, flights to & from Fukuoka were at 2,400 points per way. I ended up only paying for taxes & booking fees amounting to just ₱2,873.74. Such a steal! It may not be my cheapest ticket to Japan (it’s still that ₱850 ticket to Tokyo & ₱600+ ticket from Fukuoka to Manila last year), but it surely is still super cheap.

Want to know how I get these cheap tickets? I revealed my secrets in these blog posts – How to be a champ in booking low fare tickets part 1 & part 2.

accommodation

I planned & booked everything 3 weeks into the trip. Unlike Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka, Fukuoka doesn’t have many affordable accommodation options. Luckily, I found Nekokura Hostel in Hakata area. I stayed in a mixed dormitory room for 2 nights for ₱2,623 – that’s a little over ₱1,300 per night. The hostel is small but decent; it is also a cat rescue shelter. I wrote a comprehensive feature & review about my stay in Nekokura Hostel. Check out the hostel of the day feature here.

tourist visa

I got a 5-year multiple entry visa from Japan Embassy when I applied in 2016. The visa is still valid for this trip so I didn’t have to go through the application process. I posted a Tuesday Tip blog on how you can get a Japan visa in 4 easy steps. Check out the visa post here.

day-to-day budget

Travelling around Japan isn’t new to me. In fact, I already know how much train rides cost, how much a normal meal is & what else one pays for when going around the city. I gave myself ¥10,000 budget for this 48-hour trip around Fukuoka. This budget covered all transportation & food costs. Good thing I didn’t pay for any entrance fee during this trip. Spoiler alert: I managed to fit in everything in this budget!

2-Day Itinerary Around Fukuoka

DAY 0 – ARRIVAL

Upon arrival at Fukuoka Airport, my friends & I got off the plane, cleared immigration & got our Wi-Fi rental in the arrival hall. My friend’s Wi-Fi device booking can’t be found in their list. We ended up getting a new one. My share for this 48-hour trip cost ₱370. After getting our wi-fi router, we took the free bus to Fukuoka Airport’s domestic terminal / subway station. We took the train from the airport to Chiyo-Kenchōguchi Subway Station (¥260) & went straight to our hostel. A woman welcomed us for check in & accompanied us to the 2^nd floor to our rooms.

After a few minutes of rest, we walked to Nakasu area to grab some dinner. We had our meal at Matsuya – one of our favorite local food chains. I ordered a large gyūdon which came with a bowl of miso soup for ¥520. After the meal, we strolled around the area & checked out some of the nearby local food carts called yatai. We just had our dinner so we skipped eating in these food carts. We then dropped by a convenience store, got my favorite Lipton milk tea & a bottle of water (for ¥190) & walked back to our hostel.

Expenses: ¥970 + ₱1,990 (including travel tax)

DAY 1 – AROUND FUKUOKA

Our only full day in Fukuoka started with a breakfast at Family Mart. I got a tuna mayo onigiri, a bread & a bottle of milk tea for ¥560. Our first plan was to go to Nokonoshima Island Park but the weather wasn’t the best. We decided to skip the park & took the train to Dazaifu Station (¥620) to see Dazaifu Tenman-gū. This is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, an important figure during the Heian Period. The shrine was built over Michizane’s grave. We got lost along the way, boarded the wrong train & ended up paying for another ¥260 train ride.

After spending an hour around the shrine, we took 3 trains (¥820) to Fukuoka’s giant reclining Buddha found in Nanzoin Temple. We got off Kido Nanzoin-mae Station on the JR Sasaguri Line & walked up the hill for about 15 minutes to see the statue. This giant reclining Buddha, known as Nehanzo, was built in 1995 & is the world’s largest bronze statue.

We took the train back to Nakasu-Kawabata Station (¥590) & went to Ichiran’s main store in Nakasu for late lunch. I got the regular tonkotsu ramen bowl & an extra order of firm noodles for ¥1,190. It was an expensive lunch but was super worth it. Ichiran Ramen is so good – I keep coming back every time I go to Japan. After lunch, we strolled along Kawabata Shopping Center & headed to Kushida Shrine. This is the home shrine of the famous Fukuoka festival called Hakata Gion Yamakasa. We further walked to Tōchō-ji, a Buddhist temple that houses the great wooden statue called Fukuoka Daibutsu. Unfortunately, the statue area was already closed. We just walked around the temple complex & took some photos near the 5-storey wooden pagoda.

After temple & shrine hopping, we walked back to Canal City Hakata – Fukuoka’s largest & most unique shopping complex. This 5-storey commercial complex has about 200 shops & restaurants & 2 hotels with canals running through the building. My friends had coffee while I ordered a cone of special vanilla ice cream (¥450). We walked around the shopping mall, watched the fountain & lights show & had omurice (¥858) for dinner at Pomme’s. We dropped by Don Quixote to buy treats (I didn’t) & the nearby supermarket to get some food for the next day’s breakfast (¥471). We walked back to our hostel & called it a day.

Expenses: ¥5,819 (includes all food & transportation)

DAY 2 – LAST DAY IN FUKUOKA

Missed this kind of breakfast – 1 box of Lipton milk tea & a rice meal from the supermarket. Yum!

Our last day in Fukuoka started with a breakfast at the hostel. We bought the food on our way to the hostel the night before. We left the hostel at 9:30 in the morning & took the train to Tenjin Station (¥210). We left our bags in the lockers found in the train station (¥600) & then took the bus to Fukuoka TV Tower (¥240). We didn’t go up the tower & instead decided to walk around the Momochi Seaside Park. We also sat down for a bit in the wooden chairs & enjoyed the peaceful beach.

This is the view from Fukuoka Castle Ruins’ viewpoint. Beautiful Fukuoka on a cloudy afternoon.

After an hour around the beach & the TV tower complex, we took the bus (¥240) to Fukuoka Castle Ruins. We went up the castle ruins & enjoyed the beautiful view of the city from the viewpoint. Warning! The way up & down to the castle ruins isn’t normal. Some may find it difficult going up & down those staircases & pathways. We walked down & headed to the nearby Ōhori Park. Locally known as Ōhori-koen, this park features a large pond with a walking path around it & in the middle. We bought snacks (¥569) in Boathouse Ōhori & enjoyed the view of the park from the café. We went to Ōhori’s famous pagoda in the middle & took photos before we left.

We took the train back to Tenjin Station (¥210), went around the shopping malls & bought cheese tarts from BAKE (¥216). We had our late lunch at Gyushin in Tenjin Underground Shopping Mall. I got a big bowl of gyūdon (again!!) for ¥630. After lunch, we parted ways with our friend, got our bags from the lockers & took the train (¥260) to Fukuoka Airport. Our flight to Manila left Fukuoka & arrived Manila on time.

Last meal before leaving Fukuoka. Had gyudon (agaaaain 😍) & this time with Bake Cheese Tart!

Expenses: ¥3,175 (includes all food & transportation)

summary of expenses

We knew 48 hours around Fukuoka isn’t enough but we managed to go the main sights found in & around the city. Let us look at the breakdown of our expenses for this quick trip to Fukuoka.

There you go – ₱ 12,369.10 for 48 hours in Fukuoka, Japan including return flights & hostel accommodation. I can’t believe I only spent ¥9,964 in Japan. I did it AGAIN – 5^th year in a row of going to Japan on budget. Travelling to Japan may be expensive for most people; but there will always be ways & means of making it affordable for everyone.

So Majo & I surprised Junelle in her supposed-to-be solo Japan trip. By the way, we’re still friends!

Have you been to Fukuoka, Japan before? What do you like about the city? How do you find it compared to the other cities? Share your thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Fukuoka? Feel free to send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Random street somewhere in Fukuoka City. Don’t you just love everything about this photo? 😍

Thanks for joining me today! I haven’t planned or booked anything yet but I am planning to try this weekend trip to other Japan cities like Tokyo, Osaka or Nagoya. Stay tuned!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: UTRECHT- Unplanned Afternoon Visit To Netherlands’ Underrated Canal City

Sometimes, the best things happen when unplanned. True enough, this happened to me when I took an unplanned afternoon visit to Utrecht, Netherlands last October. Yesterday, I shared with you details about my few days around Amsterdam. In those 5 days, I took trips to different cities & towns outside the center – Utrecht being one of them.

I messaged my Europe-based friends weeks before the trip & tried to set-up meet-ups during the trip. As mentioned in yesterday’s post, I caught up with my Amsterdam-based friend Tobias on my 2nd day in Amsterdam. I also got a reply from Megan, another Dutch friend I met in Krabi in 2015. Megan & I didn’t plan out where & when we’ll meet until when I was already in the Netherlands. We then decided to meet in Utrecht, the city where she’s based. This resulted into an unplanned afternoon in another canal city; perhaps a more beautiful & authentic one than Amsterdam.

PS. Did you know that I applied for my own Schengen visa? Yes! The Embassy of The Netherlands gave me a multiple entry visa valid for 45 days. Know more about this DIY Schengen Visa application process here.

utrecht

Utrecht a city found in the very center of Netherlands. This populous city used to be the city center of Netherlands during the Middle Ages. The city lost its center to Amsterdam during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. Currently, Utrecht houses Utrecht University, the largest university in the Netherlands. The city has other academic institutions making it an important city for Dutch education. People normally come & live in Utrecht to study & finish school.

Found this uniquely-designed building outside Utrecht Centraal, near Hoog Catharijne in Utrecht.

Utrecht is 25 to 30 minutes away from Amsterdam via train. I took the intercity train from Amsterdam Centraal & arrived at Utrecht’s main station, Utrecht Centraal. Tickets cost €19 return. From there, I walked around the city, went in & out of different shops & passed by the Oudegracht, the city’s old canal. I met up with Megan after 2 hours of exploring & enjoyed some Dutch snacks over beers.

Let me share with you photos I took during the walk around the city & meet-up with my lovely friend, Megan. This entry will be more of a photo blog – don’t forget to check out the captions to know about the sightings.

The view outside Utrecht Centraal – the left side is modern; the right side view is old & traditional.

TivoliVredenburg is one of Utrecht’s modern buildings. It is a music complex, concert & events hall.

Oudegracht – Utrecht’s old canal which runs through the center of the city. Beautiful sighting!! 🙂

One of the few favorite photos I took in Utrecht during that afternoon visit to the lovely Dutch city!

St. Martin’s Cathedral, Utrecht is under renovation during my visit last October.

The world’s biggest bicycle parking garage is found in Utrecht under Utrecht Centraal. Cool beans!

I love how Utrecht’s weather is different from that of Amsterdam’s. It was a clear sunny afternoon!

Tried a Dutch local snack called *Olliebollen* (translates to oily ball); their local version of doughnut.

I also tried other local snacks – bitterballen (deep fried meat balls), cheese sticks & fried shrimp.

A photo with my friend Megan – the reason why I visited Utrecht. Had a great afternoon with her!

That ends my short but enjoyable visit to the city of Utrecht. It was not in the plan but I didn’t regret any time or money spent in this beautiful city. Amsterdam’s canals are beautiful; but from what I saw in this brief visit, Utrecht’s canals are way better. The canals give a certain local & unique Dutch vibe than that of Amsterdam’s. For sure there were other nice sightings or places to visit in the city but I had to go back to Amsterdam before the dark.

Hold it right there. In case you missed it, I also shared details about my flights to Europe from Manila to Singapore & Singapore to Amsterdam on board 5-star carrier Singapore Airlines. Check out these posts (MNL-SIN & SIN-AMS) to know about my flight experiences.

Have you been to Utrecht before? What do you think of the city & its canals? Which one do you prefer? Share your thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any question about Utrecht? Feel free to shoot an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

One last photo of Utrecht – look at that peaceful canal & the colorful & tall old houses around it. 😍

Thanks for reading up to this part. I hope you enjoyed the beautiful photos of Utrecht. Watch out for the next post on this Going Solo In Europe Series. I’ll take you to the Dutch countryside next time.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: AMSTERDAM – Beautiful Canals, Colorful Houses & Interesting Museums In A Bustling City

The long wait is over! It’s here; it’s time to start my Going Solo in Europe Blog Series! I know most of you are waiting for these blog posts. You guys want to know where I went, what I did in the countries I visited & how I managed to survive this trip by myself. I have a lot of stuff to share; how I wish I can everything done in no time. Please bear with me as I try to write & post one blog after another in between my busy work schedules. Now, let’s get this thing started.

Finally made it to Europe last year!! Started my 19-day Euro trip in Amsterdam in Netherlands! 🇳🇱

Last October-November 2019, I went on 2.5-week trip to Europe all by myself. It was my first time in Europe; first time to be far away from home for so long. I did everything from scratch – booked my own tickets & hostel accommodations, applied for a Schengen tourist visa, researched my route & planned the cities / countries I wanted to visit. It was hard at first but the excitement for the trip helped out carve a rough plan for this 19-day trip to Europe.

PS. I shared a few details about this trip in my 2019 Year In Review post. Check out this post if you are eager to know more about the route I took.

This solo trip of a lifetime started with a return ticket I booked with Singapore Airlines in January 2019. The ticket cost me roughly $720 & it included flights to Amsterdam, Netherlands & back from Copenhagen, Denmark. It was the cheapest ticket & route during that promotion. I read articles & forum posts in the past advising that the Netherlands Embassy is the easiest embassy to obtain a Schengen Visa – thus explains why I got a ticket arriving in Amsterdam. Months of planning passed & about 1.5 months into the trip, I got my tourist visa from VFS Netherlands. Click this link to know how I applied for a visa all by myself, without the help of any tour agency.

In the past posts, I shared with you how my flights went from Manila to Singapore & Singapore to Amsterdam aboard one of the world’s best airlines, Singapore Airlines. Make sure to check out those posts to know how is it flying with such well-regarded airline. After flying 3 hours to Singapore, having 12 hours layover around Singapore & flying another 13 hours to Amsterdam, I finally made it to Europe! Today’s blog will talk about my first destination in Europe – Amsterdam.

amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. This populous city is known for its beautiful canals & it’s unique houses. The city’s history dated back in the 12^th century when this reclaimed fishing village around a dam in the Amstel River started to become an important port in the country’s economy. It then developed into one of Europe’s financial & trade center to which it is still like that today. Fun fact: The Amsterdam Stock Exchange is the oldest stock exchange in the world. This also explains the city’s big role in the history of European financial market. The city is also the center of Dutch cultural heritage.

going around amsterdam

Amsterdam’s public transportation system is simple & efficient. There are a number of options available to visitors – trams, trains, buses, ferries, taxis & even bicycles. Majority of the tourist destinations can be reached by riding the tram. There are various ticketing options for these transportation systems depending on the length of validity of the ticket. I tried GVB’s 1-day / 24-hour ticket for €8. This allowed me to have unlimited rides in GVB-operated buses, trams, trains & ferries around Amsterdam. The unlimited pass was not worth it in my opinion.

The Netherlands is a bicycle-friendly country. All roads have bicycle lanes, even up to the smallest roads in the countryside. Dutch people use bicycles in their everyday lives. I caught up with my friend Tobias, whom I met in Kawaguchiko, Japan last November 2017. He brought his bicycle & he asked me to try it & cycle around the city. It was a surreal experience but it was very cold. I never thought I would cycle around Amsterdam!

Caught up with my buddy Tobias who’s based in Amsterdam. We met in Japan in November 2017.

Amsterdam Schipol Airport (AMS), Netherlands’ main international airport is located 17 kilometers away from the city. Trains & shuttle buses connect the airport to the city. I took the intercity train from Amsterdam Schipol Airport Station to Amsterdam Centraal Station for about €7 one-way. The journey took about 20 minutes.

The best way to go around Amsterdam is by foot. I walked to & from my hostel everyday & around the city for the most part. Walking around the whole day was tiring; glad the cold weather made up for it. Walking also saved me some money; it was also a good exercise while on holiday.

free walking tour

One cool thing about travelling around Europe is the presence of free walking tours. These tours run on a tip-based system. The tour guests or joiners walk around the city with a guide through a personalized route (made by the guide) & get more information about the city’s history & culture. At the end of each tour, the joiners give tips to the guide as a ‘fee’ for the tour. The guides receive any amount of tip in these kinds of tours.

There are a number of walking tour companies that run in Amsterdam. I joined SANDEMANs NEW Europe’s Amsterdam walking tour with Karl. He guided us around the city, told stories of how Amsterdam & the Netherlands started & gave recommendations on what else to do & where else to go. Karl’s tour ran for about 3 hours with a 15-minute break in between.

These walking tours run every day. They offer tours in English & Spanish languages. Schedules & bookings are available in Sandemans website. Believe it or not, I had so much fun in this walking tour up to the point where I joined SANDEMANs NEW Europe’s walking tours in Brussels, Prague & Copenhagen. The walking is the best way to know a certain city in Europe.

amsterdam sightseeing

I stayed in Amsterdam & around Netherlands for 5 days. I wanted to go around the country at my pace, visit the countryside & explore more of what the city has to offer apart from all the canals. Believe it or not, I didn’t get the chance to visit all possible spots in those 5 days, I wish I stayed more. I’ve been to a lot of places in those 5 days, check out these places below.

Amsterdam Canals

People go to Amsterdam to see the canals. The city has about 165 canals which makes about 100 kilometers long when combined. The Amsterdam Canal Ring, which comprises most of the canals in the city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized in 2010. The beautiful old & crooked houses add up to the majestic views – from the hundreds to bridges over the canals.

Damrak

Damrak is the main street that connects Amsterdam Centraal, the city’s main train station, & Dam Square, the city’s town square. This is the “main street” to the center of Amsterdam. This 750-meter street has old buildings, shops, hotels & restaurants.

Dam Square

Dam Square is Amsterdam’s town square. It is the place where the free walking tours start. It is also where the Dutch war memorial dedicated to the fallen Dutch World War II solders is located.

Koninklijk Paleis van Amsterdam

Opposite the Dam Square is Koninklijk Paleis van Amsterdam, commonly known as the Royal Palace Amsterdam. This palace is the king’s official reception palace. The palace is open to visitors on normal days. Tickets cost €8 per person.

Amsterdam Centraal

Amsterdam Centraal is Amsterdam’s biggest & main station. The station has trains that can take you around the Netherlands & even to other countries like France, Belgium, Germany & Switzerland.

Van Gogh Museum

Van Gogh Museum is an art museum dedicated to the works of world-famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. The museum showcases hundreds of paintings made by Vincent Van Gogh during his time. It also has galleries that feature his modern counterparts & modern exhibition spaces. The museum is located in Museum Square in Amsterdam South. Tickets cost €19 & are available for purchase online.

Museumplein

Museumplein or Museum Square is a public square in Amsterdam Zuid (or Amsterdam South). It is where the city’s famous museums such as Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, MOCO Museum & Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam are located.

Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum is the Dutch national museum dedicated to the country’s arts & history. It showcases the country’s history, art & development from the middle ages to the 21^st century. Museum tickets cost €19 & can be bought online before the visit.

Vondelpark

Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s most famous park, located near Museumplein at the south of the city. This park is a popular recreation place for the locals. The park becomes a venue for shows, events & concerts during summer.

Anne Frank House

Anne Frank House is a house & biographical museum dedicated to Anne Frank, a Jewish wartime writer / diarist. Located at Prinsengracht 263, this house is the exact house where Anne & her family lived during the World War II. Anne Frank became famous on the publication of her diary; the diary that documents their life while hiding for more than 2 years during the World War II. Her translated diary, The Diary of a Young Girl, sold millions of copies worldwide.

They sell majority of the tickets online at least 2 months before the date. They also sell limited tickets at the museum doors on the day itself. Tickets get booked fast so make sure to plan out your visit. Tickets are at €10.50 including a booking fee of €0.50.

KINboat Open-Air Canal Boat Tour

Right outside the Anne Frank House is the boarding station of KINboat’s Open Air Canal Boat Tour. This 1-hour open boat canal tour took me around the Amsterdam canals for an hour. Our boat driver / tour guide showed us some interesting houses & important buildings around the city; also gave us some details of the city’s history & culture. We used an electric & environment-friendly open-air boat for the tour; which explains why the tour costs a few more euros than the usual canal boat tour.

I bought the open-air boat ticket about 15 minutes before the tour itself. Tickets cost €16 per person & are available online.

Basiliek van de Heilige Nicolaas

Basiliek van de Heilige Nicolaas or Basilica of Saint Nicholas is Amsterdam’s main catholic church. Located in the old district, just a few steps outside Amsterdam Centraal, this basilica is a popular tourist attraction to Catholics visiting Amsterdam. The church was built over 130 years ago & still sports the neo-baroque & neo-renaissance style of architecture. Entry to the church is free of charge.

Oosterpark

Oosterpark is the public park located behind the hostel where I stayed with. The massive park has a big pond with birds & different animals. People go here for recreation & relaxation in the morning until late afternoon.

Heineken Experience

One of the famous contributions of Netherlands to the modern world is Heineken Lager Beer. The beer originated in Amsterdam in the 1870s & was made through the efforts of Gerard Heineken. The lager beer has captured the attention of Europe, won several awards & continued its expansion until it became a global brand.

Heineken’s first ever brewery was transformed into an interactive museum called Heineken Experience. This guided tour showcased how the beer started brewing in the past, how it was produced & how it conquered the world. This interactive tour takes about 1.5 to 2 hours & includes 2 glasses of beer. Tours can pre-booked online. I got my ticket about an hour before the tour & it cost me €18.

Red-Light District

De Wallen is Amsterdam’s famous red-light district. This area is composed of hundreds of places offering legal sexual services. The alleys are characterized by transparent glass windows with ladies (legal prostitutes) seating or standing behind under a red light. The area also has cafes & coffee shops selling cannabis & all other stuff you can think of.

Leidseplein

Leidseplein or Leiden Square is a small entertainment square located at the northern tip of Vondelpark. This square has cafes, bars, restaurants, music venues & dance clubs where tourists primarily go to at night. I came to this place & met up with my buddy, Tobias whom I met in Japan in 2017.

Rembrandtplein

Rembrandtplein or Rembrandt Square is another entertainment square found in Amsterdam. Named after Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn, this square used to be a butter & dairy market where local farmers go to & sell their products. Nowadays, this area is known as one of the city’s nightlife spots. The square now has many cafes, bars & restaurants around it. It is also one of the famous areas for hotels in the city.

missed places

I was in Amsterdam for 5 days & I didn’t have the time to go all places. I also went one afternoon to Utrecht & a day up north to the countryside. I missed a few places which I will definitely put on my list when I go back. These places include A’Dam Lookout, MOCO Museum (I missed the Banksy special gallery during my stay), Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, NEMO Science Museum, Jordaan & Bloemenmarkt (which I heard was super touristy – need to see it still).

People usually go to Amsterdam for just 1-2 days but I think there’s more to see than just the Dam Square, the Amsterdam Canals & the museums. The city may be too busy, too full of tourists but it has an unexplained impact that would make you think of visiting over & over again. It’s been months since I’ve been to Amsterdam & I am dying to go back. I want to just walk around the city, enjoy the beautiful views from the canals, savor the sights of colorful crooked houses & learn more about the city through the other museums. Amsterdam is & will be always be special. It was my first city to visit in Europe & will always be one of my favorites.

Have you been to Amsterdam in the past? What are your favorite places or sightings in the city? Do you also have that feeling of wanting to go back to the city in the future? If you haven’t been to Amsterdam, is it one of the places where you want to go? Let’s engage into a discussion. Share your thoughts & experiences in the comment section below. Do you have any questions about Amsterdam? Feel free to send the questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thanks for joining me in Amsterdam, the first installment of my Going Solo In Europe Series. Watch out for the photo blog about the beautiful Utrecht!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.