Belgium, Brussels ( Day 2 part 3)

Squinting into the shops in Brussels and you'll be surprised at what you can see!


Brussels gets even prettier as the sky darkens.


When I saw this, I suddenly missed "dim sum" T-T Cry...



Then we wandered into the metro for warmth! And we had frites (fries in french) with mayo sauce for lunch! You would be shocked at the quantity! The three of us happily tucked into one serving of fries, and it was more than enough...


The famous belgium frites! Crispy, golden chunks of heaven!


Burp! The fries was gone in a flash! Delicious!


After lunch, we made our way back into the MIM (Musical Instruments Museum) where we spent a magical afternoon listening to la musique! We were each given a ear-piece to listen to snippets of the instruments on display.


A cafe at the 10th floor of the museum...haha the food there was too pricey...can see cannot taste! ;p


Climb into this magical elevator to tour the museum :)


Smile when you're happy in a museum!


Then we walked back to the grand place and came across many exquisitely decorated chocolate shops ><







We strayed into this open-aired stretch of high end boutiques... chocolates were waaaaaaaay to expensive there.




The expensive bags and sweets from St Hubert. There, we dreamed of the near future where we could buy anything and everything without blinking an eye. There's no harm in dreaming is there when you do your best to fulfill your dreams :)) I get inspired by the unattainable :)) that's just me



On our way out of St Hubert, we posed with a street busker for a candid shot!


With our bellies growling, we went in search of dinner. We turned into an alley near the grand place that was packed with restaurants serving beer, moules (mussels), fries, and other belgium yummies.


We were quite unlucky at our choice of restaurants. A cunning waiter lured us into his shop with promises of good food at affordable prices. However, his temperament turned icy when we decided to order two set meals instead of three. He insisted that we order meals for three as we were a party of three. As he tried to coerce us into the deal, we were equally adamant. In the end, he relented but rendered the most terrible service! :( What a terrible experience! Throughout the meal, I was keeping a wary eye on the food, for fear that the nasty old man might have spat into it.

However, one isolated bad incident did not spoil our Belgium experience.


After dinner, we headed back towards our hotel and were astounded by La Grande Place at nightfall >< one word: WOW.

Prague's beauty and Belgium's grandeur...

Belgium, Brussels (Day 2) Part 2

Just a few steps away from Manneken Pis, we found the legendary Belgium Waffles!!!! OMG...How can food look so good? I'm in heaven! Wonderfully melty, chewy, belgium waffles!



And just round the corner from the most amazing belgium waffles shop, we bumped into the Manneken Pis! According to a local brochure, whenever the Manneken Pis changes into various costumes, it pisses beer!!!


Viola! We found the Grand Place! :D Just a few steps from the amazing waffle shop


Amazing! Even belgium babies are made up of chocolate! :D



At the entrance and in the interior of the metro, Bruxelles Central.



Looking cheery despite being feeling a little lost in the damp weather!


We found it at last!!! The museum of musical instruments! :D It was warm and cozy inside, and the displays and layout of the entire museum was magical and very educational.

Belgium, Brussels (Day 2) Part 1

Woke up in Brussels feeling hyped! :D As we left Hotel de France, we saw Brussels in daylight for the first time. And, the first thing that we saw was this: a gay sex club! Lol >< it was right next to our hotel in all it's rainbow glory! So it's a safe neighbourhood for us girls but I won't say the same for Jin Cheng ;p


Avenue de Stalingrad -> "pasionaria" , a 4 meter long megaphone that invites passer-bys to broadcast their ideas :) it establishes a link between individuals and the public... cool


We walked by the restaurant where we had our dinner on the first night. Le mech oui, thank you for a wonderful dinner!


Still happily looking for Grand Place, at the heart of Brussels, is Belgium's main tourist attraction.


Along the way, we came across a public urinal...People here sure are "open", they don't need much privacy ;p no need for doors!


It started to drizzle so we sought shelter in front of a shop selling antique stamps.



A photo with a friendly fellow who stopped to tell us about Madame Chapeau:

Madame Chapeau (2000, Brussels sculpture located at the corner of the Fédération des Mutualités Socialistes du Brabant building).

Designed to create a dynamics between two streets, this sculpture beams with its presence in the space that was allocated to the artist. The monument is precious to Belgium’s (and especially Brussels’) collective memory. It contributes to the connection of “the people who pass by” on two interactive parameters: the space of what is real and the time of what is imaginary. Looking at the lady closely, one notices the artist’s “zwanze” again: she is fearlessly counting her money in an area of Brussels that is famous for its pickpockets. She even teases them with her unsnatchable bronze wallet!

Madame Chapeau is one of the colourful characters of “Bossemans et Copenolle”, a 1938 comedy by Paul van Stalle and Joris d'Hanswijck, which features old Brussels’ “petits bourgeois”. This play is part of Belgium’s cultural heritage.


A cheeky guy who dashed into frame while we were posing in front of an "interesting" shop! He then cheerfully agreed to pose with us for a photo :D I love belgium folks


Naruto ( a ninja anime) in brussels! I was so excited to see it! ><


One of the many shops selling Manneken Pis-shaped chocolates in Brussels. They come in curious flavours like cassis, banana, raspberry, etc.


More souvenirs of the-boy-who-pissed... :P

Belgium, Brussels (Day One)

It was exciting day for us as we were about to embark on our first trip together since arriving in Prague. We've spent a week touring the capital of Czech Republic and now it's time to embark on our first adventure! I was buzzing with excitement!



We arrived at Charleroi (in Belgium, Brussels) at 4.30 p.m. it was rather chilly because of the winds >< cold!!!!


It was really windy in Belgium! Check out my wind-blown hair...lol! I really did arrive in Belgium in "Style" ;p Wizz air wasn't a bad way to fly although I wished they served complimentary refreshments on board! I was parched! But the fun part of the plan ride was that everyone in the plane clapped and cheered when the pilot made a smooth landing in Brussels :D angmohs here are so spontaneous! >< whee~


After hustling out of the airport we bought shuttle bus tickets for 13 euro each, very expensive!!! After a one hour ride in the stifling hot shuttle bus (we were seated where the engines were roaring...phew...damn hot lor...) we alighted at Brussels Midi, one of the main metro stations in Belgium. There, we were baffled by the sheer size of the station! And to our dismay...there was scarcely a map in sight! We then headed towards a perfume shop (in the station of course) and asked for directions. We then took the metro...haha it was just one stop...towards Lemonnier... And when we came out of the station... it started to HAIL!!! Ice literally started pelting down on us >< (ouch!)



After searching for Hotel de France in the painfully cold hail, we found our way... haha actually a nice granny walking her dog directed us there :) We warmed up a little before heading for dinner in a nearby restaurant, where we had fries, lagsane and sphagetti :D the portions were gianormous! Perfect for three starving students ;p