Europe Trip Day 13 : London - Big Ben, London Eye, Trafalgar Square & SOHO

We took the metro and alighted at Westminster. Once we emerged from the station, we could see the Elizabeth Tower with its iconic clock which is situated at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. The bell of the clock is popularly known as Big Ben and is apparently named after the Chief Commissioner of Works, Sir Benjamin Hall.

Europe Trip Day 12 : London - Harrods, Tower Bridge & London Bridge

We arrived in London after one hour and twenty minutes flight from Amsterdam. We took the metro from Heathrow Airport to Earl's Court station and walked about ten minutes before reaching our accommodation, the Millennium Bailey's Hotel. The Millennium Bailey's Hotel is a historic hotel dated all the way to the late nineteen century. The facade of the building retains the Victorian style and its interior decorated with Victorian furnishing.

Europe Trip Day 11 : Amsterdam - Zaanse Schans

After a nice continental breakfast, we embarked on a day trip to Zaanse Schans. We purchased tickets to travel from Amsterdam Central to Koog Zaandijk. After which we walked about ten minutes before reaching Zaanse Schans.

Europe Trip Day 10 : Amsterdam - Canals, Flower Market & Red Light District

We took the metro to Paris Nord and boarded a train from Paris Nord to Amsterdam Central. The train journey was around three hours and twenty minutes. Travelling via train is very convenient in Europe as there is no need to check-in and typically the train stops near to the city center. We booked the business class coach which had really comfortable and spacious seats. The best thing was that we were served breakfast as well.

Europe Trip Day 9 : Paris - Tuileries Garden, Louvre & Notre Dame

We did a leisure walk along the Seine river which was a good way to view many of the historical monuments and buildings located in the heart of Paris. We started at Place de la Concorde and after that strolled through the Tuileries Garden. We stopped for lunch at Cafe Des Marronniers located in the middle of the huge garden. This was where we had a delicious meal of onion soup and chicken tapas. 

Europe Trip Day 8 : Paris - Haussmann, Champs Elysee & Eiffel Tower

We hired a private taxi to bring us from Orleans to Paris. After about two hours, we reached our accommodation at Best Western Hotel Folkestone Opera. The hotel is conveniently located close to Champs Elysee which is the main shopping district in Paris. Printemps and Galeries Lafayette which are two popular malls for duty free shopping are also located within walking distance.

Europe Trip Day 7 : Orleans - Restaurants & Cafes

When it comes to fine dining, there are lots of choice in Orleans. One of the best that we been to is Chez Eugene where we had a gastronomic five course meal.

Europe Trip Day 6 : Loire Valley - Chateau de Chaumont

Chateau de Chaumont is perched on a hilltop and overlooks the Loire river. The nearest train station is Onzain and it takes about half an hour of trekking to get from the train station to the Chateau. 

Europe Trip Day 5 : Orleans - Museums & Cathedral

Joan of Arc is an important figure for Orleans and we could see traces of her throughout the city. The city has done well in ensuring her legacy lives on and her stories known by future generations.

Europe Trip Day 4 : Loire Valley - Chambord & Cheverny

Chateau de Chambord is the largest Chateau in the Loire valley. The Chateau was built as a hunting lodge for King François I in the 16th Century and the sprawling wooded park surrounding the Chateau provided the game reserves.

Europe Trip Day 3 : Orleans - Loire River & Parc Pasteur

Orleans is located to the south of Paris and can be reached via a two hour drive from Paris. Orleans is associated with Joan of Arc, the heroine who lead the liberation of Orleans in the 15th century. There are many monuments in Orleans to commemorate the achievements of the heroine. In addition, the city holds various medieval festivals and exhibitions to celebrate the important historical event. 

Europe Trip Day 2 : Loire Valley - Chateau de Chenonceau

The Loire Valley is well known for the Chateaus or Castles dominating the region and many of them with a rich history closely linked to the kings and nobles. The entire region which stretches from Orleans to Angers is designated as a UNESCO heritage site.

Europe Trip Day 1 : Changi Airport SilverKris Lounge

Our holiday experience started the moment we stepped into the airport. We were invited to the SilverKris Lounge after clearing the immigration. The SilverKris lounge is spacious and provides ample spaces for travelers to rest and relax. For travelers who need a bite, it has a buffet spread with a good selection of food and beverages. 

After a delightful meal, the next thing was to park ourselves comfortably in one of the sofa chairs while waiting to board the flight.


From the lounge, it was only a short walk to the boarding gates. Soon we were on our way on the long haul flight from Singapore to Paris. From Paris, it was another two to three hours of journey to Orleans via public transport. Due to the time zone difference, we gained a day which was useful for us to rest and to recharge our energy.

Europe Summer Holiday

Europe is a continent with a rich history and culture. It has an immense amount of architecture, art and tradition waiting for the traveler to discover and to experience. In the 14 days trip, we traveled across the boundaries of the great continent to explore Orleans, Loire Valley, Paris, Amsterdam and London. 

Lucerne - Mt Titlis

When we boarded the Luzern-Engelberg Express train, we were filled with anticipation and hoped that the weather remain sunny. Along the way, we started to see dark clouds and that sort of dampen our spirits a little bit. Then the train went into the tunnel and minutes later when it emerged we saw bright and sunny blue skies! Instantly everyone on the train started to cheer and we were filled with excitement once again.

Lucerne - Chapel Bridge & Lion Monument

Lucerne is a charming city located in central Switzerland. It straddles across the Reuss river and is surrounded by snow capped mountains. The view is simply mesmerizing everywhere you are in the city. 

Taiwan Trip Day 6 : Ximending

The buffet breakfast provided by In House Hotel had a good mix of continental and Asian selection. After a filling breakfast, we proceed to explore Ximending. Ximending is a place that is vibrant and full of energy. We could feel the good vibes as we wandered in the area. There are a lot of shops around to browse and a lot of nice food to try.

Taiwan Trip Day 5 : Shida Night Market

We bid farewell to Kenting and made our way back to Taipei. We took the Kenting Express Shuttle Bus and the High Speed Rail back to Taipei. On the train, we had our lunch consisting of a bento set and a can of mocha. We bought these at a convenient store at the train station. The bento set tasted great considering that it was precooked food. The mocha provided a nice refreshing boost with an aromatic blend of chocolate and caffeine. 

Taiwan Trip Day 4 : Kenting National Park

The breakfast provided at the hotel was a simple affair. Instead of the usual buffet, each person is entitled to a set meal which include bread, bacon and coffee. Nevertheless it provided us with the necessary energy to kick start the day.

Taiwan Trip Day 3 : Kenting Beach and Night Market

Kenting is a popular destination in Taiwan for beach lovers. We took the high speed rail from Taipei station to Zuoying station and it took us about one and a half hours to reach Zuoying. This was re markedly fast considering the long distance which we covered. After that we boarded the Kenting Express Bus 9189 that brought us directly to Kenting in two hours.