Europe April/May 2012

" LIFE is only traveled ONCE. Today's moment becomes TOMORROW's MEMORY. Enjoy every moment, good or bad, because the GIFT of LIFE is LIFE itself ......"

"Sometimes the road of  LIFE may seem a bit bumpy. But it is just a small part of the great journey you're on. "

"5 Rules of Happiness -  Don't Hate, Don't Worry, Give More, Expect Less, Live Simply"

" My 31 days in Central & Southern Europe (France, England, Scotland, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar & Morocco) from 11/4-12/5/2012 - My wife's first visit to Europe "

Travel itinerary: 

KL>Paris>London>Edinburgh>London

London>Geneva>Laussane>Bern>Lucerne>Interlaken>Zurich>

Lichtenstein>Zurich Zurich>Paris>Madrid>Lisbon/Sintra>Seville>Algeciras>Gilbratar

>Algeciras>Tarifa>Fez, Morocco

Morocco>Granada>Cordoba>Madrid>Toledo>Madrid>Paris>KL

There was no Arab Spring in nine of the countries I visited in Europe in April/May 2012 - my 4th trip. I enjoyed coming to Europe especially during the first season of the year ie Spring time. Winter is a real no go for me as I can't stand the bitter cold weather and Summer, we have it all year round in Malaysia so no fun at all wandering around in Europe under a heat wave ! Maybe I should come in Autumn for a change when the leaves turn brown ! 

On 8/7/2011, I made an online purchase for an Air Asia promotional ticket (Rm2,041=E$510 KL-Paris return). So once again, I have to hone my skills to prepare a travel plan for my 4 week journey to Europe. But in early 2012, Air Asia dropped a bombshell announcing the suspension of all their long haul flights to Europe. 

So what's next ? Ask for a refund or accept an alternative proposal from Air Asia to fly with another airline ? 

As an avid traveler, traveling spices up my retirement life. Now that I have done the travel and I am pleased to post some pictures in my travel blog so as to jog my memory whenever I think of the good old traveling days in Europe ! 

In free & easy traveling, there are bound to be challenges you have to face throughout the journey. There is no spoon feeding and you are very much on your own. You reap what you sow ! 

For this trip, a few things happened (the good, the bad & the ugly) :

- Air Asia suspended their flights from Kuala Lumpur to Paris from March 2012. I opted for a transfer to MAS flight and was granted but there was a lot of anxiety in between.

- My wife and in-laws accompanied me for 14 days in Europe. I traveled solo for another 14 days after their return. Traveling in pairs is the most wonderful thing in life. 

- My wife's wallet went missing from her handbag a day before her departure from Paris. 

- Due to Easter festive season, this caused an upset to our travel plan to London. But a gain to us when we modified our plan to include a visit to Edinburgh, Scotland. 

- Nearly missed our bus trip to Geneva after a wrong queue at the Eurolines Bus station to obtain our boarding passes in Paris. We were lucky as the bus we supposed to board arrived late. Otherwise, our whole Switzerland trip can be thrown into disarray.

- Unable to print a copy of my brother-in-law's on line purchase of a Eurolines Bus Pass (E$230) but got it fixed after several phone calls to their authorized agent in Belgium

- Inadvertently, I booked on-line into a hostel with an age restriction of 18-35 years in Paris. But I was allowed to stay after producing an email exchange of the hostel's acceptance when I clarified and brought the issue up prior to my arrival in Europe. 

- In Sept 2011, I fell flat on a slippery floor at a food stall in Xining, China and sprained my kneecap. I suffered acute pain each time I bend my knee. Surprisingly after one month of travelling (daily walkabout for 2-3 kms) in Europe, the pain is now totally gone - what a miracle ! 

Thanks god - my body and soul are still together after all these years of traveling ! No lost soul ! 

The KL Team - William Boey, Leong Soon Hoh, Leong Soon Mae & K M Cheng
(Standing tall in front of a snowy mountain in Vaduz, Liechtenstein) 
21/4/2012

Surprise ! Surprise ! Warmly greeted in Cordoba, Spain.

Sun, superb food & hospitality awaits you when in Spain 
7/5/2012

Happy Birthday - K M Cheng ! Treating myself with an exotic meal (E$4.30) in Fez, Morocco 

2/5/2012

Total expenses incurred (31 days): Rm8,999 (Euro$2,249)

Cost breakdown:

Air Asia Promo Ticket (KL>Paris return) : Rm2,014 (but fly MAS due to flight suspension)

Travel insurance: Rm220
Airport bus: Rm16
Eurolines Bus (30day Pass) : E$335 = Rm1,340
Hostels (22 nights) : 46pound + CHF175 + E$354 = Rm$2,242
Inter-regional train & coach : CHF250 + E$165 = Rm1,510
Metro / taxi / tram / bus : 11.6pound + E$63 = Rm310
Ferry (Algericas>Tanger,Morocco return) : E$35 + E$20 = Rm 220
Cable car (Gibraltar) : 9.75pound = Rm49
Entrance fee: E$48 = Rm192 (Versailles E$18+Alcazar E$8.50+ La Alhambra E$13.00+ Cordoba E$8.50)
Eurolines service fee: 8pound + CHF5 = Rm57
Souvenirs: CHF23 + E$20 = Rm158
Tour guide fee (Morocco) : E$5 = Rm20
Food & groceries ( own prepared meals) : 27pound + CHF25 + E$90 = Rm580 (most hostels provide free breakfast)
Currency exchange : Euro$1=Rm4.00; CHF(Swiss Franc)$1=Rm3.34; 1 Pound =Rm5.00

Travel Highlights: 

1) Paris - France

2) London - England

3) Edinburgh - Scotland

4) Switzerland

• Geneva

• Laussane

• Bern

• Lucerne

• Interlaken

• Zurich

5) Vaduz - Lichtenstein

6) Spain

• Madrid

• Toledo

• Seville 

• Algeciras & Tarifa

• Granada

• Cordoba

7) Portugal

• Lisbon

• Sintra 

8) Gibraltar - A British Colony 

9) Fez - Morocco