May's Travelogue

I was surprised to learn from friends who have travelled to Europe that many hotels there don't provide single-use toothbrushes or toothpaste and that guests need to bring their own. This was surprising because the hotels I’ve visited always provide these items. I always use my own personal items when travelling and rarely use single-use items, so it wasn’t a problem for me. However, I did wonder why wealthy European countries would skimp on such minor items. When shopping at supermarkets abroad, I noticed they don't provide plastic bags for free. Initially, I didn’t pay much attention, but I soon realized that every customer brought their own bags. At the checkout counter, they would scan the items and place them in their own bags. Cashiers don’t bag items; they simply scan and push them to the customer. One day, I forgot to bring a bag and ended up buying more items than planned. Struggling to carry everything, I noticed paper bags near the entrance. Assuming they were free, ...

Initially, I thought coffee preparation and drinking methods were the same worldwide. However, my first encounter with the differences in coffee culture happened on the plane. On my usual Asian trips, they would serve coffee with cream and sugar packets. On the flight to Europe, they served plain coffee, which surprised me. Not used to drinking coffee this way, we asked the flight attendants for creamer. They did provide it upon request, but it wasn't the usual powdered creamer. Instead, they gave us small single-use milk containers. I wondered why they didn’t serve it with the coffee in the first place. At hotels, breakfast was the same: just coffee, nothing else. Some hotels, upon seeing Asian faces, would ask if we wanted milk with our coffee. I found this strange since back home, we typically drink coffee with milk if we don’t like it sweetened. When they specifically asked if we wanted milk, I started to wonder how Europeans typically drank their coffee. Maybe they used cheese...

When we arrived in Venice, it was already dusk. Because it was winter, the days were shorter, and it got dark early. By the time we reached the motorboat dock, it was already dark, and the cold was noticeable. The sea breeze made us shiver. Since we had to cross by motorboat, we couldn't carry all our luggage. We took only the essentials and left the rest in the car. Upon arriving at the hotel, we checked in and took our belongings to our rooms. After freshening up, we immediately came back down because the agency had arranged a dinner for us. The dinner venue was on the main island of Venice, so we had to take another water taxi from the hotel. Outside, a thick mist enveloped the surroundings. Since it was nighttime and the cold was intense, the streets of Venice were relatively empty. This was fortunate, as despite our travel fatigue, the agency’s arrangement allowed us to experience Venice's night-time beauty. Excitement for dinner was building. Our group leader had mentione...

The allure of Venice played a significant role in making this trip happen. Venice is a small island city in northern Italy and a World Heritage City. It comprises 118 small islands. The city’s unique geography, resembling the shape of a fish, along with its distinctive way of life, has always fascinated me. Venice is a city without cars or motorcycles. To commute between the mainland and the islands or from one island to another, motorboats known as water taxis are used. The hotel we stayed in wasn't on the main island but on a separate small island, requiring us to take a water taxi to get to the main island. We could also see pleasure boats cruising around, allowing people to enjoy the beauty of the islands from the sea. Within the city, traditional gondolas are the primary mode of transportation. Venice is often called the "City of Canals" and the "City of Bridges." The city's layout includes small canals dug for internal transportation, much like streets...

For me, Italy can be aptly called "The Land of Graffiti." Everywhere you go in Italy, you can find graffiti. While France also has its share of graffiti, it isn't as abundant as it is in Italy. Graffiti enthusiasts argue that this art form brightens up the area, adding vibrancy and character. Although I appreciate the sentiment, my preference has always leaned towards clean and orderly surroundings, making it challenging for me to fully embrace graffiti. I have had to make a considerable effort to understand and appreciate it, given my inclination towards tidiness. Historically, graffiti emerged as a medium for people to express dissatisfaction, spread revolutionary messages, share poems, or communicate secretly. In Italy, particularly in Rome, almost every wall is covered with various forms of graffiti. The walls are adorned with colourful letters and vivid drawings that are captivating in their own right.  Everywhere you look, you can see spray-painted letters and drawi...

Certain places have captured the hearts of travellers through creative photography. One notable example is the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. The iconic tilted tower often appears in playful photos where visitors pretend to prop it up, creating the illusion of holding the tower upright. These photos have become so popular that visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa and taking such a photo feels like a quintessential part of the Italian travel experience. People often joke about their upcoming visit, saying things like, "When we get there, we'll help hold it up. Just don't collapse before we arrive!" The tower doesn't actually lean as dramatically as the photos suggest; it only has a tilt of about four degrees. However, with careful positioning and perspective, photographers can make it look as if it’s significantly more tilted. Originally named the Tower of Pisa, the structure is over 180 feet tall and consists of seven stories, topped with a finely crafted bronze be...

Italian artists have excelled not only in painting but also in sculpture. Remarkable sculptures can be found throughout Italy, especially in Vatican City. The Vatican Museum is divided into three fascinating sections: the Marble Zoo, the Carpet Gallery, and the Map Gallery. The Marble Zoo contains intricately carved statues of various animals, showcasing the artists' ability to accurately depict the structure of animals, not just human anatomy. The Carpet Gallery displays grand and majestic tapestries, each telling detailed stories through elaborate designs. The Map Gallery features meticulously detailed maps, demonstrating the exceptional skills of the cartographers of that era. Another awe-inspiring place in Vatican City is St. Peter's Basilica, home to extraordinary Mosaic Art. Mosaic designs, often considered outdated and less popular in contemporary decor, are transformed into masterpieces within the basilica. The meticulous arrangement of tiny, multicoloured marble pieces...

Like Siena, the city of Florence is located in the Tuscany region of central Italy. Florence is renowned as the birthplace of Renaissance architecture, a style that remains popular to this day. The Renaissance, which began in the 15th and 16th centuries, marked the transition from the ancient era to the modern age, bringing significant changes in lifestyle, education, society, and religious beliefs. During this period, significant advancements were made in governance, politics, science, literature, music, painting, architecture, and other arts. These changes began in Florence, where the Renaissance architectural style, characterized by a departure from the previously dominant Gothic style, gained prominence. Renaissance architecture introduced new colours, foundational structures, philosophies, and materials, focusing more on worldly views and practical realities rather than religious and mythical themes. Piazza Square Piazza Square The Renaissance period saw the emergence of many scie...

Serene and beautiful, Siena is a city that is part of the World Heritage Sites. It’s a very ancient city built between 1100 to 1400 AD, during the medieval period. From afar, Siena presents a stunning sight against the blue sky with its cluster of uniformly coloured ancient buildings. These structures are aligned in a harmonious monochromatic colour scheme, with subtle variations in hue, lightness, and warmth. Residents are not allowed to paint their houses in any colour they like; they must get permission from authorities and use approved colours.  As Siena is a cultural heritage site, its residents are also dedicated to preserving the city in its original form for many years. The town is situated at 322 meters above sea level and features a hilly terrain, with its streets constantly going up and down. The clean and orderly streets have minimal traffic, and large vehicles are not allowed. Small cars can be seen occasionally, but foot traffic is predominant, making the city’s envir...

We often say, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” No matter where we go, we should adapt to the local customs and live in harmony with the locals, practising their ways. This is considered politeness.  This saying originated from a historical context. In ancient times, the great Roman Empire was divided, with distinct customs in different regions. Saint Augustine moved from Rome to live in Milan. When he arrived in Milan, he noticed different customs. The Saint in Milan did not fast on Saturdays as they did in Rome. Curious, he approached the local bishop in Milan and asked about this difference. The bishop offered wisdom that would be remembered through history:  “When I am in Rome, I observe the Sabbath on Saturdays. When I am in Milan, I do not follow that custom. If you want to avoid criticism, follow the customs of the place you are in.” This phrase evolved into the widely used advice, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Every country has its unique customs, cultures, t...

  Many people asked me how to go to Europe and which is the best way to join a tour agency and to go free and easy.  My suggestion is _ Go free and easy, managing your trip as you wish if you want to visit only one country.  In contrast, you should choose the option of travelling with tour groups if you want to visit several countries simultaneously.  The Advantages of Agency (1) Using a huge coach, travelling for long journeys between two cities or countries is very convenient and saves more time to visit many places. You can leave your belongings on the bus while you wander around the new place as bringing many items can be stressful. The mode of free and easy may give you trouble carrying many bags along your journey.  (2) You can get the best travel itinerary for your visa. Also, you don't need to stress to book many hotels and transportation. (3) You don't need to waste time finding food and restaurants in new places. They can suggest the location, pri...

If you have a great plan to visit Europe, I would say that it is very important to collect the necessary things gradually at first. Therefore, I share a checklist to make sure all of your required items are ready.  A. Personal Travel Document  1. Passport 2. Visa 3. Air ticket 4. Hotel reservation documents and Address B. Personal Safety 1. Travel Insurance 2. Waist Pouch (To prevent pickpocketing, wearing this is the best option to keep important documents and valuable items.) C. Personal Health 1 . Analgesic, Antibiotic, Simethicone  2. Regular medicine for personal healthcare 3. Plaster, Balm, Hand Sanitiser, Tissue 4. Moisturiser, Lip Balm  D. Electronic Device 1. Power Bank  2. Traveller Charger ( Since every specific country in Europe use different types of plugs and sockets, you may need these chargers which are available to switch various kinds easily)  3. SD card ( taking extra is recommended to avoid not having enough memory by taking pictures) **...

Apart from Singaporeans and citizens of countries with visa-free agreements, citizens of small countries like me, Myanmar, still need to apply for a visa to visit Europe. It's called a Schengen Visa. The advantage of the Schengen Visa is that we can travel around every country, except the UK, in Europe by applying one time in a specific Embassy.  Firstly, we have to decide which embassy we should apply to. As every embassy has its own requirements, we have to check out the list carefully on each website. The most important thing in making the decision is which country you arrive at first.  For Instance, we must go French embassy website and book VFS Global for a biometric scan if our trip plan starts from there. As for me, I have booked at BLS International because my first arrival is in Rome, Italy.  Other necessary documents are as shown below. (1)    Employment Letter Sample of Employment Letter The Employment Letter is a recommendation letter from the curren...