The Cube

Stepping out of the metro of the same name, you can't miss the Colosseo right in front of you. The size is amazing... so is the queue. We got ourselves the Roma Pass, and this round, no long queuing to get into the monument.


After the freezing cold Amsterdam and Belgium, it was getting much warmer in Rome. In fact, many people were taking off their jackets and jumpers on the day we visited the Colesseo. We spent a good few hours walking through this place, inclusive of munching some takeaway pizza :P
The next stop was the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.


This area was huge. By the time we finished both Colosseo, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, it was evening time. Colosseo was crowded with tourist, getting a picture without another tourist poking their head in it needs much patience. It does feels kind of interesting and there's a good feel to it in visiting the places that I have once read in the History book. Grin. It also brought back memories of the computer game I used to play :P


Side note: Haih... weekends are always too short.. aren't they?

火车，火车，突突突 你要去那里？(loosely translate as train, train, where do you want to go)

It's one of the kiddy game I used to play and I remembered answering Italy or France of the many, many places. At that point of time, I never really thought that one fine day, I would stand in front of the Colosseum in Rome.

We took the long bus ride to Cherleroi Airport in Belgium to board our first flight with Ryanair. The unexpected part of the flight was - upon landed, they will have an announcement to declare that they have once again landed on time, with recording of trumpet blowing.

Anyway, upon reaching Rome Ciampino Airport, we got worried. It was getting late and the B&B specifically requested for a check in time as they do not stay there. I called the number given to inform that we will be late. Unsure if they understand me but they were there waiting when we reached.

Getting to the B&B was a nightmare. To begin with, the google map that I make print screen was a little off. It showed that it was really near the Rome Termini Station but the direction on the booking confirmation told us to take a metro. We decided to be good and followed instruction... wrong move. Termini Station was huge, and the walk from where the bus dropped us to metro was far, especially the Line A that we were after. We were unsure and tried to ask a couple of uniform wearing Romans, but was brushed off with a mocking, "No Engrish" followed by laughs among themselves. Barely a couple of hours in Rome, bad impression. It was a rude shock in comparison, despite we have been warned that Romans are not the most friendly. In fact, none of the people we approached that night were willing to help. It was getting late, and desperation level increased, but Lady Luck smiled upon us. We met two kind souls who got us to the B&B, and no, they are not Italians.

It's not the end of story upon reaching the B&B. The owner of the B&B told us that we might need to move the next day, to another B&B, run by her sister. Reason being that there was some confusion with the booking. What I don't understand was why we had to move when we already checked in while the other party has not yet. Anyhow, negotiation proved futile. We moved to another B&B the next day.

First stop -



Side note: This post is getting a little too long :P

To get to the sights in Brussels requiring us to cross the Grote Markt again, and of course, time for more picture taking. This is a big square and there were a lot of tourists.


There is a tourist information at this square but not very informative. Pampered by very knowledgable staffs working in tourist information centre in Amsterdam, the one in Brussel was quite a let down - especially the one located in the Grote Markt. We stumbled upon another tourist info centre while walking back to the B&B the night before and decided to give it a go, this other tourist info was much better.

After finished our errand of printing the flight itinery, I decided that it was time to get a new pair of shoes. It started with the worry of the shoe laces wouldn't hold till the end of the trip and that walking in puddles in the shoes during rainy days is taking its toll. Initially I thought shoes will be wet anyhow due to the heavy rain, but I was wrong, I was the only one walking in wet shoes... and it dawned on me that - it was due to the soles coming off.

Bought and put on the new shoes straightaway, we pay homage to the Mannekin Pis, a famous Brussels landmark of statue of a naked boy urinating. One of the legends revolves around fire being plotted and a boy urinated on it and saved the city. Many costumes were being presented to Mannekin Pis and on the day of our visit, the bronze statue was wearing an orange costume.


We roamed around the city...

St Hubert Gallery

and once again, had the famous waffle...


Belgium, of course, famous for their chocolates and you will see fine chocolate shops dotted the city...


...also is the home to Godiva


We got some yummylicous chocolate truffles (from Neuhaus, according to Kimmie has very good chocolate - totally agree). These choc truffles serve as excellent dessert on our simple, budget food days :P

pardon the photo, I was anxious to have a bite

We left Brussels, taking an late evening flight to Rome.

To me, first time in the Europe continent and flying in to Amsterdam gave a very good impression. Amsterdam is a lovely place, beautiful scenaries, safe streets, friendly and helpful people. Hours of train ride away, we reached Brussels. We were being warned to be careful of theft, some people are less friendly but maybe because of the language barrier but there are people who did try to help despite we don't speak Dutch or French, and they don't speak English. Rome? ... that's another story.


Side note: Finished those tables.. but...

Taking the second last train back to Brussels from Brugge, we were tired and sleepy (at least for me... after the food). To get to the B&B where we stayed, we had to cross the Grand'Place (Grote Markt). Despite sleepy, we wanted to take some night shots. No tripod and nowhere to put the camera... here's what I got.

Town Hall

Broodhuis (King's House)

We roamed Brussels the next day before taking a night flight to Rome. :)


Side note: Still working at the same tables.. uggh..

Had the most proper and good meal in Brugge since initial touchdown in the Europe continent. Not that we didn't eat, but it wasn't those sit down meal...if you get what I meant. Met up with Kimmie in Brugge and she brought to The Hobbit for dinner. I grabbed this photo from sis's facebook pic... I didn't take the pic, in fact my brother in law commented that why is that those food photos are always with me inside. Reason being I was the one assign to buy food and cos sis has this powerful lens we refer to as "food lens". She will bring out the food lens to take tempting picture of the dish.

Like this one....


There was also a chicken dish but I don't have the picture to show. After dinner, we took the train back to Brussels. I think it is way cool that they have a close heated waiting place at the platform :)

Have had the intention to also put up some Brussels night pic but this post is type using only the phone and I am stupidly sleepy.... will make another post. :)


Side note: night night

We missed the train by a minute. Lucky for us, the train ticket was an open ticket, we could catch the next one. Unluckily, the next train was an hour away.

Before running for the tram, hurrying in the train station to the platform, we had heated up the green curry we bought the night before. Now, its like this, this green curry with rice dish was pre-packed and covered with a plastic film. To heat it up in the microwave, we had to poke some holes on the plastic allowing the curry to flow up. With all the hurrying, it ended up quite a mess to eat... especially when there are no seat to be seen in the Amsterdam Centraal station. We stood against a pillar and had green curry for breakfast... while waiting for the hour to pass.

3 hours later, we reached Brussels. The plan was to check in, dropped the bags and take another train to Brugge. Sis printed out some walking tours from the tourism website and we combined the tranquil and city of monuments walk.


That's the Belfry Tower at the end of it. Sis said there was a murder movie with Belfry as the location. Not sure which one though. First stop was at the Markt (Market Square).



We went up Belfry (entrance: 8 euro pp) and this is the first of many steps-climbing-monuments. Up we went 366 steps for this one... but unfortunately it is under restoration (as is many of the monuments) and only 2 sides is open for viewing, instead of able to go round 360 degrees.

from halfway up the tower

Sis also said that Brugge is the place to get laces. I thought it was suppose to be Burano (as I was to research for Italy, and Belgium is done by sis). Anyway, so there's a lot of shops selling laces and despite that, it is not cheap.


One can also take a boat ride on the canals. Of course, we didn't forget to eat famous Belgium waffle.



Side note: I'm such an idiot!

After Kinderdijk, we decided to go to Volendam (Arriva bus 110, open ticket 7.50 euro per person) before calling it a day. After all, it was our last day in Amsterdam. Volendam is a fishing village not far from the Amsterdam.

The houses in Volendam are nicely decorated. We joked about houses in our neighbourhood, that if we want our neighbourhood to be popular, everybody must decorate their houses, also keeping it tidy and neat at all times :P





Side note: Of the stops we made, Amsterdam tops the list of favourite :)