1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After
Remission #68
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Canals of Amsterdam, Holland
(The serene canals of Amsterdam make for a refreshing boat-ride. It may not rival the beauty of Venice but it brings its own uniqueness, including hopping off to one of Amsterdam's many famed diamond jewelry shops along the boat cruise. No new carats for me but the scenery was brilliantly different all the same)
1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After
Remission #67
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Zaanse Schans, Holland
(All that one would know about Holland is right here in one place in this town on the North, with well-preserved historic windmills and houses, clogs-making, cheese of all shapes and sizes, and tulips. The setting is perfectly Dutch, with a crisp cold winter morning to add to the atmosphere)
1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After
Remission #66
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Manneken Pis, Brussels, Belgium
(This little boy has been pissing into the fountain here in Brussels for the last 500 years and is today the most famous landmark in Belgium. Legend has it that he saved the city from explosives in the 14th century by peeing into the fuse, thus stopping the explosion. Frankly, the Godiva chocolate outlet in front of it and the Grand Palace Square a few hundred metres further is more interesting than this little man. Get your fill of Godiva chocs here which is a good 30% cheaper)
1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After
Remission #65
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Angelina's Chocolate, Paris, France
(A sweet reward after a 4-hour shopping spree is this chocolate drink at Angelina, regarded as the best chocolate in the country. And it was right there at the Galeries Lafayette, tucked in a corner of the building. So this is what the rich & famous in Paris do..a leisurely shopping therapy followed by a cuppa rich molten chocolate, direct from the hills of Africa. Nice! And oh, don't forget to round off with the smooth-as-silk French macarons just around the corner. At 1.90euro each, you know they will melt in your mouth like pure Godiva chocs..)
1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After
Remission #64
- Galleries Lafayette, Paris, France
(Under the most beautiful glass-stained dome to grace any shopping mall, the Galleries Lafayette is pure shopping paradise. They have made it so easy for tourists, so much so that you get your tax refund back from a special counter inside the mall itself, and in cash too, as opposed to waiting till you get to an airport. This means you can 'recycle' the refund again and buy even more..now how naughtily convenient is that? And such good deals too, compared to Spore prices. Oh my goodness, so much to buy, so little time.. And how cool is that view of the city from the 7th floor, huh?)
1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After
Remission #63
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The Lourve Museum, Paris, France
("Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you".. Well, I didn't get to see the Lady with the Mystic Smile but only her home at the Lourve. The glass pyramid is so distinctive, and sitting in the middle of this huge museum ground made it really stand out. Next time, I shall stay away from this museum on Tuesdays because it is closed then..another good reason to come back)
1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After
Remission #62
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Palace of Versailles, France
(So big and so royal. The Palace of Versailles is a massive palace and garden some 30minutes drive outside of Paris, and said to be the much bigger brother of the one in Vienna, which in itself was already a giant masterpiece. King Louis XIV stands in front of the entrance, but my knowledge on this French monarch will likely be found wanting, when compared to the "other Louis" that this country is famous for..Louis Vuitton, sitting in Paris. Still, it's a beautiful place to see, especially the unique sculptured gardens)
1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After
Remission #61
- Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
(The hundreds of faces and colours of Eiffel Tower in all its glory, day as well as night, must be seen and felt to be fully enjoyed. The Seine river ride on the Bateaux Mouches is an experience not to be missed..it has to be the most beautiful and romantic river ride on earth..even with the cold wind outside. And when the lights+laser show on the Eiffel comes on as the clock strikes on the hour, it is exhilarating, taking one's breath away at its beauty! Watch this short video, and you will know what I mean..nothing beats it for sheer elegance. The boat, the river, the sunset, the French music in the background, Eiffel, and the lights..what a romantic, French combo!)
1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After
Remission #60
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Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France
( A triumphal return for me too, to this handsome Arc de Triomphe, in the heart of Paris. Its location right in the middle of 12 roads leading away from it is really mind-boggling if one has to ride around it as a tourist in a car. It looks bigger and taller up close than when seen from a photo or on TV)
1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After
Remission #59
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Jungfraujoch, Switzerland
(An ingenious engineer built it, and now, everyone can ride it to the Top of Europe, using his railway technology. The train meanders across ski-slopes and snow-laden villages, making it a real joy just watching the winter landscape. At the top, the view is spectacular, especially with the sun shining brightly. At -12C, it really didnt feel that cold, but the altitude took a toll - headaches a plenty! Jungfrau at over 11000ft is already higher than Mt Kinabalu, which puts things in perspective. Being up there gives one a real Mt Everest feeling - until a friend we met along the french highway-stop spoilt it by saying he just went to Europe's highest point at Mt Blanc! Who cares..I was at the real Top-of-Europe!)
1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After
Remission #58
- Chapel Bridge, Lucerne, Switzerland
(This romantic bridge stretches across the lake, and lies right in the middle of this city, making it a must-see while doing a bit of shopping for the famed Swiss watches at the well-known Bucherer store, just on the other side of the bridge. Pick up a good watch here, knowing it is a almost 30% cheaper than buying one in Spore..that's $600 better for a lovely $2400 lady Tag Heuer..a good deal indeed.)
1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After
Remission #57
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Mt Titlis, Engelberg, Switzerland
(Real snow on my face, at last! Yes, the snow-capped mountains at Engelberg was the perfect scene for the ride up to Mt Titlis, 3020m above sea-level. While not much can be seen with snow falling heavily, it makes for a lovely camera shot to be taken. Bakwah from Bee Cheng Hiang was with me in my last trip but this time, we brought Lim Chee Guan..yes, bakwah simply taste better up here)
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