Nine things to do in Bruges

Introduction:

Bruges

About an hour's train ride away from Brussels is the beautiful town of Bruges, the capital of the west Flanders in the north west Belgium. Cobbled roads, colourful buildings of medieval architecture, canals, narrow lanes and back alleys characterise this quintessential Belgian town.

Getting Here:

Trains and buses from Brussels depart for Bruges. It's about an hour's ride.

Getting around:

Horse cart ride

Take a walk down the cobbled road, or bike through the lanes and alleys and let the medieval charm of Bruges cast it's spell on you. When your legs feel tired, take the canal ride: sit back and relax as your driver guides you through the history of the buildings on your either sides. If you wish to, ride down the pathways in a horse carriage and get transported back in time.

Things to do:

1. Take the Bruges Boat Tour

The one hour canal tour costs around 8 Euros (year: 2017). Enjoy the architecture and history of the buildings on your sides as you make your way through the canals.

Boat Tour

2. Go chocolate tasting (and buying.. a lot)

Belgian chocolates need no introduction. But it is said that Bruges is home to some of the creamiest of the lot. I surely felt so at the Dumon Chocolatiers. Other famous chocolatiers would include The Chocolate Line, Chocoholic and Chocolaterie Jan De Clerck

Dumon Chocolatier

3. Visit The Beer Wall

A wall decorated with different beer bottles and the glasses in which they are to be served: The Beer Wall is just next to the 2be, where you can enjoy some drinks and chill a while.

4. Take a brewery tour

Not far from the 2be is Brewery Bourgogne des Flandres. Their house ale has alcohol content of 5% and has a very rich and creamy finish. It is a blend of the mild Den Bruinen Os, which is brewed on site with an aged lambic - following a typical Flemish beer blending tradition of blending old and new beer. The lambic is brewed in the world's oldest lambic brewery, Timmermans near Brussels.

A complimentary glass of house ale comes with the brewery tour

5. Bike through the narrow lanes and bylanes

Biking is a classic way of exploring this lovely town.

Bikes and bikers characterise the roads

6. Ride a horse cart

Wish to get into rhythm with the medieval charm of Bruges? Ride a horse cart and feel the time rewind itself.

Ride a horse cart

7. Walk across the bridge of love by the Minnewater

They tell the story of a young and pretty girl named Minna, who was deeply in love with Stromberg, a warrior from the neighbouring tribe. When her father forced her to marry a groom of his choice, Minna escaped and ran into the forest. When Stromberg came back from the war, he searched for Minna. When he finally found her, she died in his arms of exhaustion. The lake was named after her: Minnewater. The bridge by its side became the bridge of love, in her honour. It is said that if you walk over the bridge and kiss your loved one, it will become eternal love.

Minnewater

8. Enjoy trappist beer

Silent monks of Trappist Order brew some of the best beers in the world. There are eleven such monasteries around the world, with six in Belgium itself. Although you cannot access the breweries, but you can enjoy the beer in different places in Belgium, the best ones being Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and the capital, Brussels. Chimay, Westmalle, Westvleteren, Achel, Orval, Rochefort are the Belgian trappist beers.

Chimay - A Belgian Trappist beer

9. Take a walking tour

There are many free walking tours available in Bruges, departing in morning and afternoon batches. Join one, or you can even explore the town by yourself on foot.

Ideal Time Commitment:

Although a day's trip to Bruges is doable, it is better to make it a weekend trip to enjoy the essence of the town to its fullest.

Bruges

10 unforgettable experiences in Paris

Introduction:

Hello, Paris!

Paris is the fashion capital of the world and home to some of the world's most beautiful works of art and architectures. But we won't talk about the grandeur today and save it for some other time. Instead, we will talk about the small packets of happy experiences that make Paris the city of love and a city to fall in love with.

1. Experiencing the pub culture of Paris around Quartier Pigalle:

Quartier Pigalle is known for being home to some of the famous cabarets in Paris, including Moulin Rouge. However, if you are not in for a cabaret show and only looking for a place to sit back and chill, this up and coming neighbourhood won't be disappointing you either. Get yourself a table, order your drink and enjoy the Paris night.

I personally liked the On The Road Pub, which was situated next to my hostel Le Village. Although this is not exactly in the Pigalle neighbourhood, it is in close proximity, a few minutes' walk from Anvers metro station. In spite of being lively, this area is not very loud and rather chilled.

Alternately, if you feel like socialising, join a pub crawl and make new friends while pub hopping.

Have a chilled evening with Rosé wine

2. Playing Pentaque/Boules in Canal de l'Ourcq:

Pentaque is a form of Boules. The first player throws the cochonnet (which translates to piglet), a small wooden ball. Next, the players take turns to throw the small steel balls standing behind a pre-defined line. The steel ball closest to the cochonnet wins the game.

Okay, so as it goes, I met these two fellow travellers during my last trip to Paris. One of them came up with the idea of doing something local and led us to this bar, BarOurcq, a few minutes' walk away from Laumière metro station. This bar, other than being cheaper than those in the tourist hotspots, offers its customers a chance to play Pentaque or Boules for free. We ordered a flask of Rosé wine. Upon finishing, we borrowed the game and headed to the sand stretches next to the canal for playing.

You must take a note, however, on this timings of the bar, which is only open in summer and spring:

• Wednesday and Thursday, 3pm to 12am
• Friday to Saturday, 3pm to 2am
• Sunday, 3pm to 10pm

Also, this bar does not take any advanced booking, hence try to go there early to avoid disappointment.

3. Snowfall in Paris:

To be fair, this is an exclusive winter experience, and no, I'm not talking about walking down the snow clad streets on a busy day, decked up in your favorite winter collection. The experience which I wish to share is about waking up early in the morning when the streets are still dark and quiet, and looking outside your hotel room to find tiny white flakes covering up the roofs; then rushing out of the hotel, excited and wrapped in whichever warm items came handy; standing in the middle of the street, hours past midnight, without a soul around: a snowfall experience to remember.

4. Pampering the sweet tooth inside with some savory desserts:

Among the first few things, which come to our minds talking about Paris, is patisserie. A trip to Paris is incomplete without patisserie hopping. Eclair, Creme Brulee, Madeleines, Macarons, Pastries and what not! The varieties and flavours are enough to give us the desire to indulge into those sinful extra calories and it really must not be resisted.

Time for some macarons

5. Eiffel tower lights after midnight:

Eiffel tower after sunset is one of the most sought after sights in Paris, especially the twinkling lights dancing along the four legs of the tower. The lights twinkle with an hourly interval and it continues for 5 minutes. However, the last show of the twinkling lights is just dreamy. The golden lights of the Eiffel tower go off at 12:55 am. It is then that the white lights twinkle one last time before the highly lit up area becomes completely dark. Bring a mat, grab yourself a place to sit on the grasses and enjoy the show.

Last show of twinkling nights

6. Enjoy a glass of Pastis at a local bar:

Pastis is an anise, or licorice flavoured French spirit or aperitif. Emerging 17 years after the ban on absinthe, it carries a similar taste but has a lot less alcohol content. It's a very popular drink in southern France, specially Provence and Marseilles.

A glass of Pastis

7. Try some fruits from the local fruit sellers:

As you explore the city, grab some fruits from the local fruit sellers and enjoy them on the go. Also, if you're on a budget trip, this could serve as an excellent, healthy and inexpensive meal as well.

A common fig

8. Visit the world's largest underground necropolis: Catacombs of Paris:

Remains of more than 6 million people rest in this huge ossuary built in a small part of the tunnel network built to consolidate Paris's ancient stone mines. This ossuary was created as part of the effort to eliminate the city's overflowing cemeteries. It extends south from the Barrière d’Enfer (literally, Gate of Hell) former city gate.

Please take a note here, do NOT play with, or vandalise the bones: they are real parts of deceased people and deserve the due respect.

Catacombs of Paris

9. Cruise the Seine river:

Many of us often wonder whether the Seine river cruise is worth it. Well, if you trust me, it is! Very much! I prefer the sunset or the post sunset cruise. Just board the boat, pick your glass of complimentary champagne, get to the open deck (or the closed cabin if you will) and enjoy the lit up cityscape.

You can get the tickets for the cruise from the counter at the bank of the river.

10. Bakery hopping:

Bakeries or boulangeries form a very crucial part of the French culture, thus making it an essential part of a trip to Paris. Croissants, Baguette, and all their different variants, with cheese, ham, chocolate, etc. are forever ready to treat your taste buds. In fact, so much is their significance in local culture, that if you're booking a hotel in Paris with breakfast option, chances are that you'll find some of these as a part of your breakfast.

Paris restaurants, morning croissants

11. Bonus experience: Hop on a public bus and enjoy the city views

I am always a fan of public buses wherever I go. They give you a lovely view around the city. Also, as chances are that you are surrounded by locals, you can get some insight into the local style of living.

Offbeat Indonesia: Hiking up the volcano Mount Bromo

Mount Bromo

Indonesia is home to a number of active volcanoes, and quite a few of them has gained popularity over the years. One such destination is Mount Bromo.

A vast stretch of barren land surrounded by hills. Upon it stands two volcanoes. One covered with casuarina trees marking the halt at the eruptions: Mount Batok. Further down, at the center of the stretch is a rocky grey highland breathing out lumps of cloudy smokes, at times spewing ashes: the mighty Mount Bromo.

Tracing back its name origins to the word “Brahma”, the Hindu god of creation. Mount Bromo is a part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. With a height of 2,329 metres, it is the most well-known of the Tengger massif and an active volcano.

Bromo Crater

Getting to Mount Bromo:

Any trek or tour to reach Bromo crater starts from Cemoro Lawang which is a small hamlet north-east of Mount Bromo and where the accommodations are available. To reach Cemoro Lawang, you need to get to Probolinggo; Small buses connect these two places. Probolinggo is connected to the major arrival points via public buses. The nearest airport is Surabaya. Alternate travel options from here include airport taxis to Probolinggo as well, but there you need to haggle for the prices.

Once at Cemoro Lawang, you will find a lot of jeep 4WD drivers calling out for sunrise tour to Penjakan and to mount Bromo / sea of sand. You can hire one of these or alternatively do the trek on your own as well. The hike to the sunrise points takes around 2-3 hours depending on your fitness level.

If you are opting for the hike, you might want to consider taking an accommodation nearest to the trail head.

To reach Bromo crater from where the jeep drops you, you may opt for a soft trek or horse ride to reach the base of the 250 steps those you need to climb to reach the rim of the crater. The entire trek (without horse ride option) takes around 45 mins to 1 hour.

Weather in Cemoro Lawang:

With an altitude of 2217 meters above sea level Cemero Lawang has a pleasantly cool weather during the day and gets colder by the night. The night sky can be quite clear, making it perfect for stargazing.

Attractions near Mount Bromo:

Sunrise from Penjakan: Penjakan hills nearby Mount Bromo offers spectacular sunrise views. A plethora of Jeep 4WD pick up services are available for the sunrise trip; this can be booked on spot/ They pick you up from Cemoro Lawang around 4 am in the morning. Penjakan summit is mostly crowded by tourists, hence a few alternate view points have opened up which offer as spectacular views. One of them is the King Kong Hills.

King Kong hills is named so because of its side view resembling the face of an ape. This hill overlooks the entire volcanic complex of Tengger, with Mount Semeru in the background. The sunrise view is on the other side.

The sunrise from behind the clouds

Three volcanoes - Bromo on the left, Batok to the right and Semeru in the background - View from King Kong Hills

Sea of Sand: Sea of sand is basically the ash deposits accumulated over the plain from the previous eruptions in the volcanic complex of Tengger. At places, the plain is hollow underground. It is a protected natural reserve since 1919. The volcanoes here (there are five in total) are formed inside a larger and more ancient Tengger Caldera and surrounded by the Sea of sand. At the centre of this moonscape sits Mount Bromo. Nearby Mount Bromo is Mount Batok, the only dormant volcano of the complex. It is covered in casuarina trees. The Sea of sand is surrounded by a steep crater wall of the larger Tengger caldera. The panorama here is truly breathtaking.

Sea of Sand with Mt. Batok in the background

Pura Luhur Poten: Just before the mountain base of Bromo, sits a Hindu temple called Pura Luhur Poten. The temple holds a significant importance to the Tenggerese spread across the mountain hamlets. The temple organises the annual Yadnya Kasada ceremony which lasts for about one month. On the 14th day, the Tenggerese assemble at the temple to seek blessings. Then the crowd proceeds along the crater edges of Mt Bromo where offerings are thrown into the crater. This temple uses natural black stones from volcanoes nearby: a pattern that makes it different from the Balinese temples which are mostly made from red bricks. There are several buildings and enclosures inside, aligned in a mandala zone composition.

Hindu Temple near Bromo

Recommended Detour: From Cemoro Lawang, take a bus back to Probolinggo and another bus from there to Bondowoso. From Bondowoso, you can take the morning bus for Sempol, from where you can hire an ojek to drop you off at Paltuding post, which is the base for trek to the Ijen crater.

Happy Panda notes:

• You must carry woollen gloves, socks and ear / head covers as it is quite cold
• You must prepare the cash to pay the entry fees to Bromo on the spot
• Souvenir ideas: Near Bromo, a no. of sellers sell handicrafts made of “forever love” flowers

Ideal Time Commitment: A weekend

Pocket Pinch: $$

Suggested Itinerary: Bromo - Ijen combined itinerary 4D / 3N

The Blue Fire Rings of Ijen

Introduction:

Blue Fire of Ijen

From the Paltuding post of Banyuwangi, starts the journey to chase the mysterious blue fire ring of Ijen. Speaking of mysterious, what could be more so, than trekking 3 Kms uphill with nothing but dark hill scapes all around you, in the wee hours of the night, with temperature going down from 10 degrees (at the base) to 5 degrees (at the top). The smell of sulphur gets stronger with each step towards the top of the mountain. Once finally there, as you struggle to catch a breath, you are greeted by a surreal play of electric blue flames. Now, the hypnotic blue fire draws you towards itself and you go further downhill towards the source and stand in awe as it dazzles your eyes.

The blue flame is ignited sulphuric gas, which arises from cracks at temperatures up to 600 degrees. The flames can be up to 5 metres high. It is the largest blue flame area in the world and local people refer to it as 'Blue Fire'. To go near the bank of the crater, you need to wear the mask due to the sulphur smokes.

The Lake:

Now, if you thought the blue fire is the only attraction of this area, you couldn't be more wrong. As the rising sun breaks the mysteries of the night and the blue flame vanishes with the advent of the light, the dawn unveils the lovely turquoise Crater Lake. This acidic lake is 1 km wide, the largest highly acidic lake in the world. An active vent at the edge of the lake is a source of elemental sulphur. The green of the lake, the yellow deposits contrasted against the grey surface of the bank, the blue of the sky and the smoke continue to paint the mysterious scenery of the caldera.

Ijen crater lake in daylight

Sulphur Mining:

Miners carry an approximate load of 50 kgs of sulphur in baskets per trip all the way up to the rim of the crater and then downhill to Paltuding, where a nearby sugar refinery pay them by the weight of sulphur transported. The workers also sell sulphur handicrafts for a humble price (can be bargained); though the tourists must take a note here that airport security will NOT allow any form of sulphur in the luggage or handbag.

Getting there:

The 3 kms trek to the Ijen volcano starts at Paltuding post, which can be reached from Banyuwangi or Bondowoso, depending on which route you are taking, the latter involving less transport changes.

If you are coming from Bali, you can take the ferry from Gilimanuk to Ketapang. From Ketapang, you can opt for a Bemo to Banyuwangi. From there, Paltuding post is about 1.5 to 2 hours' drive.

If you are coming from Surabaya or Mount Bromo, Bondowoso is more convenient. Buses run from Probolinggo to Bondowoso. From Bondowoso, you can take the morning bus for Sempol, from where you can hire an ojek to drop you off at Paltuding post.

The hike from Paltuding post is quite straight forward and can be done without a guide as well.

Getting around:

For visiting Ijen crater, you need to trek about 3 kms uphill to reach the rim and 1.5 kms downhill further to reach the bank of the crater. This entire trek takes around 1.5 – 2.5 hours depending on your fitness level. Alternately, you may opt to take the helpers to carry you to the top for 1.500.000 IDR. There is no other alternative available for this route

Weather in Paltuding / Ijen:

The temperature at the base of the Ijen trek during the night could be as low as 10 degrees and at the rim of the crater could be even colder upto 5 degrees.

Good to know:

• You must carry woollen gloves, socks and ear / head covers as it is quite cold
• You must carry masks to the Ijen crater due to the sulphur smokes
• You must prepare the cash to pay the entry fees to Ijen crater on the spot
• The Ijen blue flames are visible only until sunrise and the entire trek takes around 1.5 – 2.5 hours depending on your fitness level. Hence, you must plan the starting time accordingly.

Ideal Time Commitment: A weekend

Recommended Detour: Take a bus from Bondowoso to Probolinggo and another from there to Cemoro Lawang, the base for hiking Mount Bromo.


Suggested Itinerary: Bromo - Ijen combined itinerary 4D / 3N

A long weekend in Amsterdam

Introduction:

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is all about the blend of trend and tradition. Hence, the itinerary for visiting Amsterdam also must reflect the same aspect. Keeping that in mind, I am suggesting the following three days’ itinerary:

Day 1:

Museum quarter: Explore the rich collection of arts dating back to 200 years in the Rijksmuseum. Next, walk over to Van Gogh museum, which is less than 5 minutes’ walk away. The IAmsterdam sign will be on the way.

• Best time to visit: The best way to beat the crowd is to visit during the opening hour, around 9:00 am, or during the closing hour.
• Ticketing: Tickets need to be booked in advance.
• Getting there: From Centraal station, board tram 2 or 5 and get down at Rijksmuseum station. From here, the Rijksmuseum is a few minutes’ walk away.
•  Ideal time commitment: 3-4 hours.

Old city centre: The oldest part of Amsterdam is home to two of the most popular neighbourhoods in the city – Dam and De Wallen (Red-Light District).

• Damrak is the main street off the Centraal station. It culminates into the upbeat town square in Amsterdam, the Dam Square. The grandeur of the Royal Palace, the street performances, the cheerful ambience of the place is sure to make any gloomy day brighter. By the side of the Royal Palace, on the opposite side of the road, there is a café overlooking the Dam square. Enjoy some local food and drink there while enjoying the vibes of the place.
•  Next, keeping the Royal Palace behind you, walk towards the National monument, which is the white coloured monument standing tall against the scars of World War II.
• The Red-Light District is a few minutes’ walk from here. A grid of alleys and canals between the Warmoesstraat and the Nieuwmarkt contain several tiny apartments which are used to offer prostitution services. After the nightfall, the entire area is lit by red and pink neon lights, earning it the name: Red-Light District. The De Waag building is the heart of the Red Light district from where you can follow the crowd to eventually land up in the prostitution alleys. Note: It is strictly prohibited to click pictures in the alleys.

Day 2:

Anne Frank House: Take a walk through the life of the teenage Jewish diarist who spent more than two years of her life hiding in the secret annex with seven more people. Listening to the Church bells from there, cut off from the outside world, her only solace was her diary through which she lived on even after her tragic death.

• Best time to visit: The best way to beat the crowd is to visit during the opening hour, around 9:00 am, or during the closing hour.
• Getting there: From Centraal station, trams 13 and 17 we head towards the Westermarkt. From here, Anne Frank House is 5 minutes’ stroll away.
• Ideal time commitment: The entire tour of the house takes around 1-1.5 hours. Journey time to and from Centraal station is around 20 minutes total.

ZaanseSchans Windmills: About half an hour bus ride away from Amsterdam is the well preserved historic windmills of Zaanse Schans in the neighbourhood of Zaandam. Stroll through the fields or rent a bike as you enjoy the cool breeze kiss your face. Visit the windmills to see how it looks from the inside. Take the boat ride if you will or simply sit by the water enjoying some delicious ice cream or Stroop waffles.

• Getting there: From Amsterdam Centraal station, proceed to the bus departure platform. Take the bus 391 to Zaandam. The windmills are only 2 minutes' walk away from there. There are many buses and trains operating in this route, but I found this one the most straightforward.
• Ideal time commitment: 3 to 4 hours including journey time from Amsterdam

Canal cruise: Head to the old city centre and explore the crowded and quiet lanes and alleys. When you feel tired, head to the canal and board one of the open boats for an hour-long canal cruise. Sip your drink on-board, as your boat guide explains the history and fun facts about the various buildings you pass by.

Day 3:

Keep this day free and easy. Here is a list of things you can do for this day:

• Go for some cheap shopping in Waterloopien area
• Visit the Begijnhof courtyard with its hidden church
• Visit the Oude Kerk and the Nieu Kerk (Old and new Church)
• Go cheese tasting
• Try out local food
• Heinekken experience

Essential Tip: Try not to constrain yourself within time limits. If you find yourself lost in the charm of one place, stay there for as long as you want. Even if that means you need to sacrifice one point of interest from your itinerary. Similarly, if you do not find a place that much interesting, come out and invest your time somewhere you are more likely to find interest. Last but not the least, have a trip to cherish forever.

Also view: Amsterdam, Windmills of Zaanse Schans