Summary of My 2018 Autumn in United Kingdom & Europe Trip

Finally my long and never-ending travelogue has comes to an end. I can't believe it took almost 4 months for me to blog and complete My 2018 Autumn in United Kingdom & Europe posts where I covered 4 amazing countries - United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain and Italy and also cities such as London, Porto, Lisbon, Barcelona, Madrid and Milan. 

Summary of My Trip Itinerary

Day	Destination
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19	Kota Kinabalu → Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur → Muscat → London London London London → Porto Porto Porto → Lisbon Lisbon + Sintra Lisbon → Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona → Madrid Madrid + Segovia Madrid + Seville Madrid Madrid → Milan Milan → Muscat Muscat → Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur → Kota Kinabalu

Share:

Fourth Day In Madrid - Our Last & Final Day

Since it's our last day in Madrid, we try to make a relaxed and laid-back one. No more another an hour long day-trips like we did to Segovia and Seville two days before. Plus, we had been travelling for more than two weeks, it's our 15th day here in Europe and so, we want something which is free and easy type. My mom and cousin would love to visit Primark (not again!) for another shopping spree and so, I proposed that we do the sightseeing activities first before end our day at their favourite shopping store.

Before we get ready for the day, I accompany my mom to few nearby supermarkets to get groceries in order to prepare for our breakfast. As you know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and we should eat like a king. My mom told me that she is pretty satisfied with the place I booked in Madrid because not just that she can cook and utilise their modern and fully equipped kitchen, she is also enjoying using their washing machine. I'm wondering, so many things to wash meh?

Share:

A Day Trip to Seville - Royal Alcázar & Plaza de España

On the second day in Madrid, we head to Segovia, a historic city on the northwest of Madrid.

As for the third day, we proceed to Seville, the capital of southern Spain's Andalusia region. 

Because the train ride from Madrid to Seville takes almost 3 hours even with the high-speed AVE train, we need to get up and leave our place in the early morning. Not even got the opportunity to witness the sunrise in Madrid itself.

FROM MADRID TO SEVILLE 

Just like what I shared on my previous post, there are two different two stations in Madrid - Chamartin and Atocha. The first one served those trains mostly from northbound whereas the latter served trains from southern Spain. Therefore in order to get to Seville, we need to depart from Atocha. Luckily is just less than 10 minutes walk from where we stayed without the need to take any metros. For our round-trip high-speed AVE train tickets between Madrid and Seville, we purchased in advance from Renfe website. 

Share:

A Day Trip to Segovia From Madrid

If you ask me are there many things to do and see in Madrid, I have to be honest with you - My answer would be "No!". But what's the reason behind I stay in Madrid for 4 nights? It's because I want take this opportunity to visit those nearby cities without the need of frequently hop on and hop off along with my heavy and bulky luggage together. 

There are few stunning and amazing cities you can do a day trip from Madrid; cities like Toledo, Segovia, Seville, Avila, El Escorial and more which are perfect getaway to escape from this hustling and bustling capital city of Spain. But because we're pressed for time, we can only pick and visit 1-2 cities only. And so, I began with Segovia first. Oh well, it was actually last minute decision to proceed with this plan after discussed with both of my mom and cousin on the night before we depart to Segovia. Luckily nowadays all the tickets can be purchased through online without the need to get to the train station. I purchased my train tickets online from Trainline.

Share:

Farewell Barcelona! And Our First Day In Madrid

"So long, farewell. Goodbye! I hate to go and leave this pretty sight."

HOW TO GET TO MADRID FROM BARCELONA

No matter how you adore a city or a country, you can't stay forever. So it's the time again for us to waive goodbye to Barcelona and hop on to the next city of Spain - Madrid, the nation's capital city. There are several options to get from Barcelona to Madrid; from plane to train and bus. Of course, the best way to travel between these two cities is by taking the AVE high-speed train. It's the fastest way to reach the destination in just under 3 hours with its modern and luxurious train. 

#1: Barcelona - Sants Train Station, the main and primary train station in Barcelona 

Share:

Barcelona Other Top Attractions

For Barcelona, I felt like spending 4 days and 3 nights are absolutely not enough to discover and explore this city cause there are plenty of things to do and see here. If not because we're pressed for time, I would definitely would love to spend almost a week here. Minus the overcrowded population, this city offers numerous of awe-inspiring and magnificent buildings which impossible for me see in elsewhere and this indirectly make me fall in love with the city even more. 

Apart from Plaza Espana, Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia where we're successfully went and visit during our stay in Barcelona, there are also other few top attractions we managed to squeeze in into our itinerary and catch a glimpse, like: 

1) Casa Mila - Popularly known as La Pedrera or "The Stone Quarry" was the last private residence designed by none other than Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. However, I decided not to pay visit because I would prefer to visit in the early morning cause as you know, by the noon time, the crowd is getting uncontrollable. So the only thing we did to keep as a memory is by taking the signature pose right in front of the building. Say cheese! 

Share:

La Sagrada Familia - Gaudi's Unfinished Masterpiece

Like they said, a trip to Barcelona is definitely incomplete without visit any of Gaudi's masterpiece of architecture. So we went and visit Gaudi's awe-inspiring park, Park Guell on the second day, how about on the third day? 

Luckily on the third in Barcelona, we don't have to wake up pretty early like we did on the day before cause one of the Spain's landmark monuments that we intend to visit will open to public at 9am onwards. And the one I mentioned is none other than the impressive enormous unfinished Roman Catholic church, La Sagrada Familia. 

#1

Do you know that La Sagrada Familia has been under construction for more than 130 years and yet, it's still on-going project even today? It's expected to be completed in 2026 marks the 100 year centenary of the death of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi in 1926. When the church is finished, it will be 144 years after the first stone was laid. 

Share:

Park Güell - Gaudi's Iconic Park in Barcelona

4.30 in the morning - that's where my alarm rang.

Normally, I'm not a morning person but for the sake of travelling, I can get up early than my usual working hours. That shows how powerful travelling is. I prefer to arrive those popular tourist attractions as early as I can in order to beat the crowd. 

So, what's the agenda on the second day in Barcelona that causing me to wake up so early? None other than Park Guell, one of the top rated tourist attractions of Barcelona. It's remarkably popular among the visitors and to be wise, it's best to get there earlier. 

HOW TO GET TO PARK GUELL

To reach here, the nearest metro is either Lesseps or Vallcarca Station under the Green Line (L3). However, both stations require 20 minutes walk to the park. In case you are lazy to walk so far away, you can continue by taking bus 116, 24 or H6 from any of the two stations mentioned earlier. 

#1: Park Guell before the sun rise

Share:

Adeus Lisbon and Hola Barcelona!

Continue from here...

After spending two nights in Lisbon including a day trip to Pena Palace of Sintra, it's time to bid goodbye to Portugal and proceed to third country for this leg of our trip - Spain! 

FROM LISBON CITY CENTER TO LISBON AIRPORT 

Generally for a budget-conscious traveller, it's always better to use public transport - buses or the metro system. You can take metro from any place in Lisbon city center directly to Aeroporto Station (Lisbon Airport) for just €2.00 (including €0.50 for the reusable card). But because you know, we had quite number of luggage with us plus they were heavy too, we opted for Uber. There is no issue in getting an Uber cause it is available throughout the city. From where we stayed in Lisbon straight to the airport, the Uber fare was €6.45 - it's relatively affordable cause we don't have to go through the hassle of changing station. 

FLYING TO BARCELONA WITH TAP PORTUGAL

#1: Barcelona, wait for me!

Share:

2018 Autumn in UK & Europe (Sneak Peek)

Oops!... I did it again

I was away for the past few weeks to United Kingdom (again!) and Europe as well (not again!) 

I booked my flight right after I came back from my trip to Tokyo earlier this year when I happened to stumble upon cheap fare offered by Oman Air. Imagine fly-in London and fly-out Milan for RM1,800 which is definitely so hard to resist this temptation. And so happened Malindo Air was having promo where return flight for Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur for RM225. So in total, the whole fare cost RM2,025. What a great steal!

For this round, I decided to bring along my mom cause she never been to any angmoh (Western) countries before, including Australia due to family commitment. Besides my mom, I also tagged my cousin together. Initially we plan to visit Iceland but I guess Iceland would be slightly boring for my mom, hence I changed my plan to visit Portugal and Spain since I have never been there too. 

Here's the quick sneak peek for our 19 days trip around London, Portugal, Spain and Milan:

#1: Hello London once again! I lost count how many times I've been to London cause I studied in United Kingdom before

#2: First time flying with RyanAir and Ola Portugal!


#3: Porto turns out to be my favourite one among all the cities I visited for this trip

#4: The famous tram 28 in Lisbon. We almost pickpocketed when arrived Lisbon from Porto but luckily I aware of that.

#5: A day trip to Sintra from Lisbon merely for this colourful and magnificent Pena Palace


#6: From Portugal to Spain. A trip to Barcelona is incomplete without visit any of Gaudi's masterpiece.


#7: Sagrada Familia - another of Gaudi's unfinished Roman Catholic church. Glad I bought the ticket online or else, I might need to join the long hours queue.


#8: Madrid, the capital city of Spain and we stayed here for four nights


#9: A day trip to Segovia from Madrid which takes about half an hour via high-speed train


#10: Another day trip to Seville which takes approximately 2 and half hour from Madrid but it's really worth it


#11: Ended our trip in Milan. Unfortunately, it's overrated for me - so crowded and once again, we almost being the target for pickpocket on our way from train station to airport.

For some travellers, they would try to cover as many countries as possible in this almost three weeks trip but for me, I try to slow down my travel pace not just for the sake of my mom but also I dislike rushing my trip lately. I don't feel any sense of enjoyment at all by rushing here and there. Probably this is a sign of aging. Oopsss...

All in nutshell, we explored 4 countries (United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain and Italy), wandered around 9 different cities and experienced 3 new airlines (Oman Air, RyanAir and TAP Air Portugal). I asked my mom whether she would love to return to Europe again, she said Yes! but with one condition - reduce the number of walking in future. Hahaha. Sorry mom for making you to walk more than 10,000 steps everyday. Sometimes, we even walked more than 20,000 in a day. I'm kidding not! But I glad that we survived till the end of the trip.

#12: My virgin experience flying with Oman Air - Not bad. I quite enjoy the in-flight entertainment but the food is so-so only. Still prefer Qatar Airways in-flight meal better. 

Share: