Antwerp Enchanted
Antwerp is a bit out of Malaysian's radar...which make it even more interesting i might say...hehehe...its the city that borders with Netherlands...the capital of the province of the Flanders ..the Dutch side of Belgium some might say...also been known as the city of diamonds...
It was rather an interesting trip...nothing much i can do given the circumstances i was in back then...i would love to explore more of the city instead of just focusing on the central station and the historic area...but then again...there is always next time...
Took train from The Hague...there were two options...first one via intercity train which is cheaper but a bit time consuming...about 2 hours ride...cost about EUR28...another one was via Fyra...from Rotterdam...bought the combined ticket with intercity train from The Hague to Rotterdam...then switch to Fyra direct to Antwerp...cost about EUR50...for about 1 hour ride...it can be cheaper if only we booked the ticket in advance...but the decision was made the nite prior to the trip...just have to deal with it...
We almost took the wrong Fyra train...phewww...luckily i asked the guy in the train...otherwise we will be going to Amsterdam instead of Antwerp which is the other way around...reached the Antwerp Central Station...bought the day pass ticket for all public transportation for EUR6...the tram is unlike the one in The Hague...the tram was shorter...and i was not even sure of how to validate the ticket in the first place...hahaha...silly me...
Immediately we headed to the Historisch Centrum...Grote Markt as my lead...reached there...went directly to the tourism office which was in the square area...seems like they were having some sort of festival around the area...took some of the brochures just to get some insight of what to do around the area...
The ferris wheel...whoaaa...it was cool...and scary too...EUR5 and we were so on for the experience...its open air...no safety belt...the seat is rather short...and it was a seriously high one...i can see the top of the buildings from up there...as well as the fantastic panoramic view of the city...
Lunch was not a problem...but kinda feel tired to be restricted to Arabic food...so we went Italian instead...scrumptious...affordable...EUR10 for fulfilling lunch...then walk again...one good thing about the sign-age was...it also give an estimated walking time from one site to another...it was really helpful just to coordinate the time...given the fact that time is the main constrain we had...we walked all the way to the antique street...interesting i might say...but i have to be practical that there's no way i can actually carry anything back...hehehe...
Similar to Brussels...Antwerp is still very much tempted me to get fatter...only that it doesn't have the smell of waffles in the air...but chocolate shops are aplenty...can't get away from it...the architecture of the buildings do remind me much of Netherlands...maybe because of the shapes...but it is still kinda interesting...
We went back to the Central Station area...next to the station is one of the oldest zoo in the world...and its in the middle of the city...it was closed by the time we reached there...it was winter...the morning is short...it get dark rather quickly...
Our train was 45 mins late...arghhhh...if only i had known it to be late...i wouldn't get back to the station on time...hahaha...but what to do...can't afford to miss the train...just have to bear with it...
Antwerp is interesting...old city...the old buildings are very much in tact...as well as the roads...they still have the pavements...it kinda give me that Prague feeling again...hahaha...can't help it coz i really enjoy Prague...wouldn't mind going there again though...hehehe...there are more to be explored in the city...would love to spend the nite there as well...but i can't back then...given the circumstances that i was in...Antwerp was never in my list in the first place...but of course...new experience always manage to leave me breathless...this time around...it was...Antwerp enchanted...
T.Y.S
Comments
I was so excited when I read your posting about Antwerp that i have included it in my journey to Belgium, and i was glad i did it! I fall in love with Antwerp, the warm people, the nice place, just love Antwerp so much.. Although the weather was not on our side (it rained all day long) but still, Antwerp had taken a piece of my heart and I'm sure i'll be coming again to Antwerp if Allah permits.. :)
I've read all you postings & god, its so lucky to be you! please keep on writing ya..
I am glad that my writing had gave you some idea about where to travel...and i love Antwerp too...
Thank you again...but there my travel experience is peanut compared to others...but alhamdulillah...i do manage to make some of my childhood dreams come true...
I yet to write about my recent trip to Manila...will do so when time permits...hehehe...
Like u, i feel that there is "something enchanting" about Antwerp that makes me wanna go there again.. :)
Yes, please do write about Manila, cant wait to read about it, will definitely wait for the posting to come! Take care bro, have a great day!
I wrote about Manila already...check it out...there wasn't much information since i was there on a course...so most of the days were visits and classes...but do read it anyway...hehehe...