Sep 16, 2016

The day we visited 2 islands around the archipelago / How much it takes to travel around Europe

Hello, it’s me. Have you forgotten about my existence?

No class today, but I woke up at 830am, and decided today will be the day I get a blog post up.

Here’s my current view/ new obsession. Chocolate muffin for breakfast.

Okay so I think I’m going to commit blogging suicide when I say this, but…

I won’t be blogging for the most part of October.

ONLY because I’m not bringing my laptop on my escapade around the other parts of Europe.

BUT BEFORE YOU SAY, WAH EXCHANGE STUDENT SO LEPAK ONE AH!!

I would like to make a disclaimer:

I have no class during period 2 (Month of Oct-Early Nov), so that’s why I’m travelling.

Don’t know why but I can’t seem to kick the Singaporean student mentality out of my head. I’ve been present at every group meeting, doing my part before every meeting. I’m an exchange student lei, not even supposed to work THIS hard.

Like this weekend? I am staying HOME to…

FINISH. ALL. MY. READINGS. BECAUSE. I. HAVE. A. LOT. TO. COVER.

Okay, I’ll stop complaining about my first world problems. Need to reframe and convince myself that, this is the last time I’m studying. Last time I’m reading books I would never have otherwise picked up. LAST. TIME.

Back to my October escapade… Here’s my schedule, family! :)

You guys will not believe how much it cost us to book all these tickets.

This is the breakdown of my UK trip, which spans across 14 days. And before anyone has anything negative to say about it,

SHUT. UP. & KEEP YO OPINIONS TO YOSELF.

I’ve never been to this part of the world before, so let me decide for myself how and where I want to spend my days at. I’m actually REALLY excited about UK. I had a crazy obsession with the Union Jack flag during my teens, and finally, at 22, I’m going to the place where my dreams used to be made of.

Okay, so back to the expenses.

Air tickets to London: 100 KR= $15.95

YUP, you saw that right. AIR tickets to London cost us less than $16.

For me to cab from home (Pasir Ris) to SMU already costs $16+++, during NON PEAK PERIOD.

My flight from London to Paris costs 40 Pounds, and from Paris to Amsterdam, 34 Euros.

Like I’ve always wondered how many sugar daddies one needs to travel around Europe, but seriously, don’t need sugar daddies at all. Just maybe starve yourself for 2 weeks, can afford one.

Plans for Hamburg, Denmark & Copenhagen has not been set in stone yet, but we plan to do so within the coming week.

Also, any advise on what to pack? I am only allowed a 10kg hand carry. Sad, I know. But baggage costs more than the flight ticket, so it really does not make economical sense. I already see myself going CRAZY at Primark, Sephora, Boots & Superdrug la. So I intend to only bring 2 sets of clothes, cos I think I will just buy everything else. HAHAHAHAHA.

Have been watching a lot of Primark Hauls on youtube to psych myself out. Don’t even get me started on all the 3 for the price of 2 offers going on in Boots. Also screenshot all the make-up that I want to get my hands on, stored safely in my phone. Oh! Have in addition, done up a checklist of things I want to buy. HAHAHAHAHAHA. CANNOT WAIT LA SUPER EXCITED. CAN YOU FEEL MY EXCITEMENT.

Okay, back to the main reason for this post.

So, since we were kind of stuck here for the month, we wanted to know what options were available for us, in terms of where to go and what to do.

We decided last weekend, to check out the Archipelago of Gothenburg. Out of the 20+ islands available, we only managed to conquer 2.

First up, we took the ferry to…

Ok so to provide a little context. The transport system here works something like that:

You buy a transport card (like an EZ-link card), top up money, and then you’re good to go. Whenever you board your first ride of the day, you tap the card. Doesn’t matter if you’re on a tram, bus, or even ferry. YUP FERRY. Then for the next 90 minutes, you can board as many other modes of the 3 aforementioned forms of transportations, as many times as you want. Then when you’re done with your last ride of the day, just tap again.

So basically the difference is that instead of tapping as you go, you just tap at the start, and end of the day.

By right, that’s what you’re supposed to do la. But Singaporeans, means by left ma. So… sometimes we don’t tap. HAHAHA. Cos 1 tap costs $3.40. OKAY!!! $3.40 for 90 minutes!!!! I’M NOT RICH. I CAN’T DO THIS EVERY TIME. So I take my chances la ok. At most act blur lor.

Huh?? I thought I tapped already! Aiyo, uncle give chance please.

Rehearsed in my head already. Ready to reenact should it become a reality.

This is the ferry terminal. It’s actually quite near from where we stay, the distance is perhaps from Pasir Ris to Eunos (by train, not bus la hor).

It was perfect weather. Here’s the view from the port. Lots of ducks/ gulls. Really cute even though you can’t see them clearly here. Just know they exist.

Here, we were teaching Carol how to play Dai Di. HAHAHA, cos we MUST live up to the stereotype that Asians love their card games ma.

The face we give Dom whenever he says something stupid. Pictured here, half of Dom sipping on his hot choco, David in white, and Marcel in stripes. Also, Caroline, who just looks sick of Dom’s bullshit.

Not all that is pictured here are my friends okay. We aren’t some Chan Brothers tour group. Just thought it was nice to capture them from the back.

To be honest, this island was quite… bare? But not like aftermath of Indonesian forest fire kind of bare, like a very simple, almost breath takingly bare. Hopefully you’ll understand what I’m talking about as you look at the pictures.

There was a lot of walking involved that day. Pretty sure I hit 3 days’ worth of daily steps goal. We had to climb up a lot of rocks, for once, I felt like I could do rock climbing.

We chanced upon a ‘breakwater’, and then proceeded to spend almost 2 hours just chilling there, overlooking the ocean.

It was also low tide when we got there, so it was perfect. This was taken at 5pm?

And then we started taking “Student on Exchange New Facebook Profile Picture”

By the way, if I haven’t formally introduced, this is my room-mate/friend/ bf replacement, Caroline. We decided to come on exchange together, and it’s the best decision I’ve made in SMU. So much love for this girl.

I loved this place so much, it has surpassed my love for Bali.

The main crew. We have, from myself, in clockwise direction, Marcel, David, Carol, Dom, and Praizel, our new friend from NUS.

And if you’re like, but you’re on exchange! You should hang out with non-Singaporeans!! Then you go on exchange lor.

Someone needs to tell Dom to stop carrying his bag like a mother cradling her child in a sling sia.

I wanted to wear my Stans that day but got convinced by Carol not to. BEST. DECISION. EVER.

Kinda like the backlight thing going on… But alas, David the Garlic Clove appears.

Preddy preddy. Basically, we just sat on the rocks and chilled for the next hour.

Here’s a clearer, non backlit photo of how barren the land was.

Think there are like 300++ people living on this island? And they built a church. Like, I would love to retire on this island just because it’s so cosy!!!!!

Hehehe. Shameless plug of self here la I admit.

I did not expect myself to say this, but I really grew to love this SMU crew. The boys are currently in Iceland, and yala, miss them la.

Goodbye for now, new favourite place to be.

Then, we decided we had time to hop to another island to catch the sunset. So off we went to…

HAHAHAHA. Shoutout to Dom for being a champ at tolerating my constant teasing. All love for you, corndom.

As you can see, the sun rays look warmer. This was probably 630pm? Sunset was at 745pm.

I love this picture of us, THANKS Praz!! The artistic direction she was going for was “look like y’all talking and having fun.” So I looked dead into Carol’s eyes and said, “Hahaha, look at us, so happy, LAUGH BABE, JUST LOOK AT ME AND LAUGH.”

So basically, in order to see the sunset, we had to CLIMB. Like literally climb up the rocks, on all fours, secured footing, along with some huffin’ & puffin’.

But when we got to the top though…

WORTH. IT.

My camera really did not do the sunset justice.

This little island had more houses and stuff and lesser barren land. But beautiful, nonetheless.

The sun didn’t take long to set. And what I’ve learned here is… When there’s no sun, it gets COLD quick.

Okay, so I do have a video of us scaling down the rocks… But because we entered into someone else’s back yard, I’m not sure if it’s considered trespassing… So don’t want to invite trouble by posting it ya.

Almost paddlepop skies. Walao, I miss paddlepop ice cream. :((((

And end to my amazing trip around the islands. We are definitely going back for more.

Oh and before I leave… Remember I mentioned switching my Stan Smith for my Roscheknit?

Hello first shoe purchase of the trip :D :D :D

Peace out.