To Brasov From Bucharest

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Though Bucharest, the capital city of Romania might sounds plain and dull for me, but somehow there are other cities in Romania that are really worth for visit and discover. It's funny how two days in Bucharest was pretty long for me but then, a week in Romania may seem too short and inadequate on the other hand. I should plan my trip wisely next time. 

On my last day in Bucharest, I woke up super early in order to catch the local bus to Gara De Nord (known as Northern Train Station in Bucharest). This time I just bought a single-trip ticket costs 2.6 lei, instead of the day-pass of 8 lei. From where I stayed, the bus heading to Gara De Nord is #85 and #123 and the ride takes approximately 20 minutes. 

#1: Gara De Nord (known as Northern Train Station in Bucharest)

TAKING TRAIN TO BRASOV

Taking trains are the ideal way of reaching cities in western and central Romania such as Brasov, Sighisoara, Sibiu and more. And when comes to taking train, it's always what I love to do, especially when travel in Europe - convenient, comfortable and faster than taking buses. 

#2: Travelling within the regional of Romania by taking train

The first city out of Bucharest I'm heading to is Brasov, a city in the Transylvania region of Romania. Does Transylvania sounds familiar to you? If you have ever watched Hotel Transylvania, a computer-animated 3D comedy film by Adam Sandler and Selena Gomez, then probably the name of this place would not be a stranger to you. Unfortunately I couldn't find Hotel Transylvania when I was there. Guess after all, it's not real. It's just a fiction. 

Now back to my Brasov train trip. As usual, the "kiasu" in me I went and bought the train ticket one day in advance. Alternatively, you can book the domestic train tickets via online at the Romanian Railways website (here). However, I was having issue of buying online and therefore, my last resort was to go to the train station and immediately purchased from the station ticket window. Actually from Bucharest, there are 18 trains daily to Brasov and you don't have to worry if you couldn't catch the earliest train. As for the train fare, I bought at the price of 49 lei (approx. to RM50).  

ARRIVING IN BRASOV 

#3: After 3 hours of train ride, here I am arriving in Brasov.

#4: From Brasov Train Station, continue by taking bus line 4 heading to the Centre (Livada Poştei) as this is where the Old Town situated.


#5: This is where the bus stop in Livada Livada Poştei

I'm so in love with this charming and colourful little Old Town of Brasov. I told myself, "Now you're making a wise choice for choosing to stay here at least for 3 nights cause this place is so serene, peaceful and calm." This is where the real historic and architecture beauty of Brasov lies within the old town. 

#6: Brasov Huge Sign on Tampa Mountain


#7: If you look closely, there's a Starbucks Coffee on the right side.

#8: Council square of Brasov Old Town


#9: Colourful buildings lined along the street of Brasov Old Town


#10: Plenty of restaurants, cafes, shops, and convenience stores within the old town


#11: Within 3 days only, I already had two gelatos. #ohmydiet #ohmycalories


#12: 3-night stays in this hostel - One of the best hostels I have ever stayed throughout my solo trip

JugendStube Hostel Brasov

Date Stayed: 9 April - 12 April 2019 (3 nights)

Room Rate: 200 leu for total of three nights of a bed in 4-bed mixed dormitory room with private bathroom and free breakfast provided.

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Bucharest - The First City of Romania I Wandered

<< Previous Post: From Kota Kinabalu to Bucharest, Romania <<

After 3 different flights, 15 hours of transit and nearly 15 hours of flying time with two transit point at Singapore and Istanbul, finally I make it to Bucharest safe and sound. Besides being the largest and capital city, Bucharest is also the primary entry point into Romania.

FROM BUCHAREST AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN 

If you are travelling via air like me, all scheduled flights including low cost airlines will arrive at Henri Coanda International Airport. This is airport is widely known as Otopeni on all airline bookings due to its location situated in Otopeni, which is about 18km north of downtown. There are several ways to get from the airport to Bucharest downtown but because my accommodation is located nearby Unirii Square, hence I took bus no. 783. Before I hop-on into the bus, I went and changed some local currency inside the airport cause Romania has its own currency which known as Romanian leu. 1 euro is approximately to 4.60 leu and as for the bus fare, it cost 8.60 leu for round-trip.

MY STAY IN BUCHAREST

Little Bucharest Old Town Hostel 

Date Stayed: 7 April - 9 April 2019 (2 nights)

Room Rate: 105 leu for total of two nights of dormitory bed 

Location wise, it's smack in the middle of the old town surrounded by countless of restaurants, bars, shops and attractions but the condition of the hostel is a bit disappointed, especially with their bathroom and toilet. Need some improvement as they are often not clean and not functioning well too. On the other hand, their staffs are pretty friendly and helpful and I was served with a breakfast for free from them.

ATTRACTIONS IN BUCHAREST
Frankly speaking, throughout my two days in Bucharest I don't find it interesting and attractive compare to most of the cities I've been around Europe. Yes, Bucharest indeed has plenty of interesting cultural sites, insightful museums and amazing historical monuments but somehow, I wasn't attracted to any of them. Probably next time if you plan to visit Bucharest, try to make it short like 1 or 2 days will be sufficient.

Since I already arrived in Bucharest and will be spending 2 nights there, these are the few attractions and places I went:


Stavropoleos Monastery


National Museum of Romanian History


Curtea Veche, 15th-century princely home but now turned into a museum

Romanian Athenaeum, a Neoclassical concert hal.


Bucharest Revolution Square


City clock in front of Palace of the Parliament


Palace of the Parliament

HOW TO GET AROUND IN BUCHAREST CITY
Majority of the attractions are sits within the great old town, which mean it's walkable from my hostel. However, there are few places I hop-on on the public bus to reach there and because of this, I decided to get the daily pass (costs 8 leu) for convenience purposes as it will not require any validation.


This is how bus stop looks like in Bucharest.


And this is where I got the daily pass

And I guess that's pretty sum up of what I did and saw in Bucharest. Not forgetting, I also did a little shopping in Unirea Shopping Center and groceries buying in Carrefour which are about 10 minutes of walk from the hostel I stayed.

Although Bucharest might sounds boring to me, but somehow, there are plenty of towns in Romania which are stunning and amazing. Want to know more? Do follow me for my next post.

Visited Starbucks store to have a look at their merchandise but at the end, I didn't buy any of them

Side Note: Majority of the photos took using Huawei P20 cause I accidentally dropped the camera given by the boyfriend on my first day in Romania. The lens damaged and unable to use. Start my trip with unfortunate event.

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From Kota Kinabalu to Bucharest, Romania

After successfully visited two of Balkans countries which are Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia in 2018, I just can't wait to visit the rest of Balkan countries and keep looking forward for it. Once I spotted the airfare with Singapore Airlines to Istanbul was within my budget, instantly I booked the ticket without thinking any longer. Either you take the risk of travelling alone, or you let go the opportunity of grabbing the cheap fare - I told myself. I rather choose the first one as I've been travelling alone quite a number of times. Plus, it's not like always you can grab these irresistible cheap fare, right?   

Just like my first trip to Balkans countries, I began with my flight from Kota Kinabalu to Singapore with Silk Air. At least this round the in-flight meal served by Silk Air is not disappointing than the one I had back in 2018. For your information, Silk Air has permanently ceased its operation for Kota Kinabalu - Singapore route last year and took over by Scoot, the low-cost carrier of the Singapore Airlines carrier.

#1: In-flight meal for Kota Kinabalu flight to Singapore via Silk Air.

So, what's my plan since I have like 8 hours of transit in Singapore before continue my next flight to Istanbul? Initially, I was tempted to visit the newly opened Jewel Changi which opened to the public less than a month, but sooner, I realised something is more important than this - which is my family. Therefore, I decided to go and visit my sister and my little nephew. Family comes first.

#2: Welcome to the most "canggih" airport - one of my most favourite airports.

How quickly time passed and the next thing I know, I need to get back to Singapore Changi Airport again to continue my next long-distance red-eye flight. My flight duration from Singapore to Istanbul took nearly 11 hours. Yes, 11 hours and if not mistaken, this is my first ever long distance flight I ever experienced with. Unfortunately, this airlines which awarded with "World's Best Airlines" failed to impress me cause they were using old fleet for the route between Singapore and Istanbul. Normally I never bother or particular about which aircraft used for any respective flights but when you are taking a long-haul flight, it does matter a lot. Sorry Singapore Airlines, but still, I personally think Qatar Airways is the best one. 

#3: Supper served by Singapore Airlines for flight Singapore to Istanbul


#4: We were served with breakfast before landed in Istanbul.

In 2018, I arrived in Istanbul Ataturk Airport but a year later, they moved to the new airport, simply known as the Istanbul Airport. Therefore, everything seems completely new, totally unfamiliar to me and I need to search all directions and information of this new airport. 

#5: Istanbul new airport - Istanbul Airport

Again for the second time, I was dilemma whether should I just stay inside the airport or heading to the town. This is because my flight to Bucharest (capital city of Romania) is around 3pm and I have like 7 hours to kill before proceed with my next flight. Making choice again! At the end, I decided to head to the town cause there's nothing much I can do if I remain to stay in the airport. I will share more about how to get to Istanbul town from the new Istanbul Airport in my next upcoming post. 

Right after I done with a cup of hot coffee and filled my hungry tummy with pasta in one random cafe in the bustling town of Istanbul, immediately I took bus departing to Istanbul Airport for me to catch my last flight of the day. As for my flight from Istanbul to Bucharest, I booked Pegasus Airlines, a Turkish low-cost airlines. I flew with Pegasus before for my flight to Sarajevo (the city of Bosnia & Herzegovina). 

In short, from Kota Kinabalu with 3 number of flights, 15 hours of transit and nearly 15 hours of flying time, proud to announce that finally I arrived in Romania - the third Balkans countries I've been. 

#6: Finally I'm in Bucharest - after 3 flights, 15 hours of transit and almost 15 hours of flight from Kota Kinabalu with two transit in Singapore and Istanbul. 

This post served as introduction of my travel adventures to the Balkans countries. So for my next post, it's all about Bucharest, the largest and capital city of Romania. Do watch out for this blog of mine 😉😉

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