Europe April/May 2011

" When in doubt, just take the next small step "

" The most important human right is the right to dream " 

" Don't live in the Past. Don't dream of the Future. But concentrate on the Present " 

" My 36 days solo visit to Europe (Warsaw, Tallinn, Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, Turku, Paris, Barcelona, Florence, Pisa, Venice, Ljubljana & Zagreb, Sarajevo, Vienna & London) - My 3rd visit to major cities in Europe (27/4- 1/6/2011); focusing mainly on Scandinavian countries, Italy & Eastern Europe; my dreams of seeing Norwegian fjords, Bergen, La Sagrada Familia, The Leaning Tower of Pisa & Venice have been fulfilled "

Another year ! 2011 is another discover the Europe year for me to pursue my dream of seeing more wonderful places in earth. The harsh winter is gone and spring is around the corner in Europe (April/May) but the weather in my home country, Malaysia is forever summer ! What a wonderful time to travel in Europe !!! Flowers in gardens have fully blossomed and beautiful to look at - cheerful, bright, colorful and brilliant ! Since my last two visits to Europe in 2009 & 2010, there are a few more wonderful places I yearn to see which keep lingering in my mind .... Venice, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Barcelona, Norwegian fjords etc. This has led to my motivation shifting into high gears ....

After purchasing a return Air Asia promo ticket (Rm1,698=E$386) in August 2010, I started my planning and eagerly looking forward to this trip .....

Travel itinerary:

Kuala Lumpur > London > Warsaw > Vilnius > Helsinki > Turku > Stockholm > Oslo > Bergen > Oslo
Oslo > Paris > Barcelona > Florence > Pisa > Florence > Venice
Venice > Trieste > Ljubljana > Zagreb > Sarajevo > Vienna > London > Kuala Lumpur

I visited a total of 17 cities in 13 countries. I used a one month Eurolines bus pass (299 pounds=E$330) to travel to major cities in Europe ie London> Warsaw (single ticket 75 pounds), Oslo> Paris (E$160), Paris> Barcelona (E$E$81), Barcelona>Milan (E$91) & Vienna> London (E$79). So it was more economical to buy the Eurolines pass as I made a saving of E$160 compared with buying the bus tickets individually. In between the journeys, I spent an addition of E$330 on ferry, train & bus fares as travelling to certain countries eg Slovenia, Croatia & Bosnia were not covered by the Eurolines pass.

A few adverse events happened during the trip ie volcanic ash eruptions in Iceland, an earthquake in Southern Spain & ecoli outbreak on vegetables in Europe but fortunately these incidents did not affect my travel - all went according to schedule ! Lucky me !!

Some interesting pictures were taken during my 3rd visit to Europe, leaving behind a story to share & tell .....

Total expenses incurred in Europe (36 days): RM8,900 (Euro$2,020)

Cost breakdowns:
Air Asia ticket (KL-London return,promo)-Rm1,698
Travel insurance- Rm150
Hostels (29 nights)- Euro$442 +56 pounds (Rm2,248)
Eurolines bus (1-month Pass vadid from 29/4-29/5)-299 pounds (Rm1,500)
Regional trains, buses & Metro- Euro$406 + 19 pounds (Rm1,880)
Food & groceries-Euro$230 + 38 pound (Rm1,200)
Miscellaneous, entrance fees- Euro$52 (Rm230)
Exchange rates: Euro$1=Rm4.40; 1 Pound=Rm4.97; E$1=Nkr7.46; E$1=Skr7.92; E$1=Pln3.6; E$1=Ltl36.3
Regional Bus tickets:
Warsaw>Vilnius - 50Pln (E$14)
Vilnius>Riga>Talinn - 80Ltl (E$23)
Helsinki>Turku - E$20.70
Ljubliana>Zagred - E$13.40
Zagreb>Sarajevo - E$25
Sarajevo>Vienna - 198 Luna (E$27)

Airport shuttle bus London return - 8.50 Pound
Metro (Oyster card) - 10.00 Pound
Trams, trolley bus - E$30
Train tickets:
Stockholm>Oslo - Skr250 (E$30)
Oslo>Myrdal - Nkr399 (E$52)
Myrdal>Flam - Nkr250 (E$33)
Bergen>Oslo - Nkr399 (E52)
Milan>Florence - E$29.50
Florence>Pisa>Florence - E$5.80 x 2=E$11.60
Florence>Venice - E$15.10
Venice>Trieste - E$10.05
Trieste>Ljubliana - E$17.75
Ferries & cruise:
Talinn>Helsinki - E$18.20
Turku>Stockholm - E$15.00
Flam>Bergen - Nkr342 (E$45)

Entrance fee:
La Sagrada Familia - E$12.50
Casa Mila - E$14.90
Casa Baitlo - E$14.00
Luggage storage - 2 Pound

Travel Highlights:

Warsaw, Poland

Vilnius, Lithuania

Helsinki & Turku, Finland

Stockholm, Sweden



Oslo, Myrdal, Flam & Bergen, Norway

Barcelona, Spain

Florence, Pisa & Venice. Italy





Ljubljana, Slovenia



Zagreb, Croatia

Sarajevo, Bosnia

The Secrets of life: Good health is a blessing. Qigong + Travelling > Fond Memory "

Europe (Warsaw, Poland) April/May 2011

Date: 29-30/4/2011

Eurolines Bus Pass: London - Warsaw
(13.00 - 16.45 + 1 day = 17 hrs);
Hostel: Hostel Tamka - PLN32 (Euro$8.40 dorm)
Food: own prepared meals
Trams: E$3.70
Total expenses incurred in Poland: E$28.55

I had visited Krakow, Poland twice but not Warsaw. For this trip, I made a point to visit Warsaw, Vilnius of Lithuania & Tallinn of Estonia. From Tallinn, I could then take a ferry to Helsinki, Finland to begin my visit to Scandinavian countries.

After a 17 hr bus trip from London, I arrived in Warsaw central bus terminal in the late afternoon. I had to take two tram lines to check into my hostel. In the evening, I took a stroll to the Victory Square, about 40 mins walk from the hostel.

I spent the next day visiting the city center, the Palace of the Culture & Science and surrounding places. Due to time constraints, I was not able to visit the Old Town, Royal Castle Square & Barbican Gate etc.

80% of Warsaw's buildings were destroyed during the World War Two and most of the present buildings (including the Old Town, a UNESCO site) were re-constructed after the war.

Warsaw, Poland

" A sad story for Warsaw during the WWII (1940's); Nazi Germany & Soviet Union invasion; Polish uprising; 987 historical important buildings (85%) destroyed and only 64 left untouched; the rebuilt of historical Old Town after the war; fall of communism in 1989 and a new economic boom for Warsaw ! Not to miss visiting the Auschwiz Concentration camp in Krakow, a world Heritage site in Poland

The Secrets of life: Change what you can and accept what you can't "