Malaysia (Pre Covid 19 - Reminisce My Good Old Days - The 25 Best Places to Visit in Europe & I) - July 2021

 

Covid-19 Malaysia - Parts of Kuala Lumpur & Selangor are placed under Enhanced Movement Control Control (EMCO) from July 3 > 16 2021 due to high infectivity rate & threat of new & dangerous Covid-19 variants. 

No sports, social & recreation activities throughout the EMCO (July 3 > 16 2021). All residents must stay at home but one representative per household will be allowed out to purchase essential goods ! Hence I have to stop my morning & evening walks during this period. My neighborhood on the 1st day of the early morning (07.00) of EMCO - roads were quiet like a "mouse" ! 

The Good News - Overseas tourists finally roam free in Phuket, Thailand - a "Phuket Sandbox" initiative allowing free movement on the island for fully vaccinated tourists with no quarantine required  ! Millions of people visited Phuket every year before the pandemic. 

" Air Asia X (Malaysia low cost airliner) regular direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to London & Paris (commencement in March 2009 > 2011, unfortunately this long-haul service was withdrawn in March 2012 due to high fuel prices); visa-free to over 40 European countries for Malaysian passport holders; a common visa policy in 26 European countries under Schengen; buying & using a 30 day Eurolines bus pass (Euro$340); London & Paris most visited cities in the world; UNESCO World Heritage sites, ancient ruins, all these factors had one way or another motivated me to a high gear wanting to "roam" & see Europe as much as I can ! As a consequence, my 5 free & easy visits & 2 package tours in the earlier years of my retirement & in recent years (2017 & 2019) had enabled me to accomplish my dreams of seeing a number of "Best Cities & Places" in Europe ! 

" Except Iceland & Malta, I had after my retirement years (2009 > 2014) visited a total of 24 of the Schengen countries in mainland Europe. Other non-Schengen countries I visited are Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Ireland, North Ireland & United Kingdom. In addition, using internal public transport eg trains, buses & ferries / cruise ships etc, I was able to visit a number of nearby visa-free countries within mainland Europe & cross border visits ie Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, Kosovo, Gibraltar, Russia (visa required) & Morocco. The number of European countries I had visited thus far is over 40 ! Covid-19 pandemic & stay home order at this point of time prompted me to do virtual travelling, watching You Tube & travel videos & also creating new posts in my travel blog to reminisce my Good Old Days in a number of countries I had visited over the years since my retirement in May 2006 ! 

" The Schengen Area is an area comprising 26 European countries (UK exited in Jan 2020) that have officially abolished all passport & all types of border controls at their mutual borders. The area mostly function as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy " 

The 25 Best Places to Visit in Europe highlighted in touropia's travel video are : (visited 21 of the Best Places out of the 25 highlighted in the travel video, the balance of the 4 Best Places ie Santorini, Geirangerfjord, Gullfoss Falls & Matterhorn, no doubt will be in everyone's dream to visit as well): 

1. Rome, Italy
2. Paris, France
3. Santorini, Greece (yet to visit)
4. Dubrovnik, Croatia
5. Barcelona, Spain
6. Geirangerfjord, Norway (yet to visit)
7. Istanbul, Turkey
8. Prague, Czech Republic
9. Amsterdam, Netherlands
10. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
11. London, England
12. Florence, Italy
13. Alhambra, Spain 
14. Monte Carlo, Monaco 
15. Venice, Italy
16. Moscow, Russia
17. Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
18. Athens, Greece
19. Gullfoss Falls, Iceland (yet to visit)
20. Lisbon, Portugal
21. Budapest, Hungary
22. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
23. Matterhorn, Switzerland (yet to visit)
24. Stonehenge, UK
25. Vienna, Austria 

In June 2017, my wife together with my brother in law + wife & my youngest sister joined a package tour to Eastern Europe. Here were some of the food (breakfast, lunch & dinner) our group had savored (in hotels, Asian style & European restaurants) while touring Eastern Europe: 

" All roads lead to Rome & Roaming freely in major countries of Europe " - behind every travel, these were the pictures of my Good Old Days free & easy traveling & package tours to Europe (2009>2012, 2104, 2017 & 2019): 

1) Rome, Italy (visited in May 2010)

2) Paris, France (May 2009, 2011, 2012 & 2014)

3) Dubrovnik, Croatia (May 2014 & March 2019)

4) Barcelona, Spain (May 2014 & 2011)

5) Istanbul, Turkey (Nov 2018 & Sept 2008) 

6) Prague, Czech Republic (May 2009 & June 2017) 

7) Amsterdam, Netherlands (May 2009)

8) Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany (June 2017)

9) London, England (May 2014, 2012, 2010 & 2009) 

10) Florence, Italy (May 2011) 

11) Alhambra, Spain (May 2012) 

12) Monte Carlo, Monaco (May 2014)

13) Venice, Italy (May 2011) 

14) Moscow, Russia (May 2009)

15) Bays of Kotor, Montenegro (March 2019 & May 2014

16) Athens, Greece (May 2010) 

17) Lisbon, Portugal (May 2012) 

18) Budapest, Hungary (June 2017 & May 2009) 

19) Plitvice Lakes, Croatia (March 2019)

20) Stonehenge, UK (May 2010)

21) Vienna, Austria (June 2017, May 2010 &  2011)  

The 4 Best Places in Europe as highlighted in touropia's travel video I have yet to visit are (likewise, it is also every traveller's dream) : 

22) Santorini, Greece (yet to visit)

23) Gullfoss Falls, Iceland (yet to visit)

24) Matterhorn, Switzerland (yet to visit)

25) Geirangerfjord, Norway (yet to visit)

Flam by Sognefjord Cruise, Norway (May 2011) - though I have yet to visit Geirangerfjord but in May 2011, I took a fjord cruise from Flam to Bergen through Sognefjord - the trip was equally scenic & impressive !