spain

Madrid ~

Finally! A post on my travelogue before i forgets everything.

Honestly, i couldn’t remember much stuff on madrid because i wasn’t the person incharge of the place and there’s nothing really much to see. For madrid, just a day or two would be enough to cover the cultural and historical stuff, but for partying…hahaha… never enough.

The first place we stayed, Cats Hostel is very recommended to those who likes to mix around with young, crazy people. Plus, it’s one of the advanced hostel i’ve ever seen. You get a bracelet when u check in and it’s also the key to enter the hostel, your room and locker! Plus, the place itself looks amazing as it used to be a palace and it’s world heritage or something.

Most of the places in Madrid are very near, and within 10mins walk, we reached Plaza Mayor. The main square and also the location of Tourist Information Centre (very important, but barce one sux!)

Paella…Spanish delicacies, which i don’t really like. It’s damp rice with some weird seafood on it. Oh, and Sangria too..

Puerto de Sol, like the city centre, shopping centre and stuff. The bear and strawberry tree is the official symbol of madrid but there’s absolutely no story behind it. At least our melaka got the kijang story la.

Temple de Debod..greek temple in spain. Have to climb abit and there’s a nice park and the ruins.

Shoe polishing is the thing in Madrid. See, no sexist.

The first night, we spend the first half at our hostel bar because they have a band performing there. The second half, we went to the club with about 20 over something americans, aussies, brits and i dono what else. The americans are really crazy, singing and shouting along the way. No surprise there when they got denied entry to THE CLUB of madrid. Palacio Gavaria, one of the best club i’ve been. they have 4 main dance floor, peppered with a dozen more mini ones and the dance floor is just like the ancient ballroom but they have dancers clad in leather bikini and chains dancing. Hahaha. Too bad i did not bring my camera along. Most memorable night of my life FOR SURE!

Second day, we moved to another place called Los Amigos, also very strategic place and nice warm place where we met some interesting people. Bull Fight tickets! We got ‘em cheap! the cheapest ticket we can get, haha as it can go up to 150euro. Anyway, it was so stupid to place a person that speaks no english at all at the ticket counter. We had to ask someone on the street to write down in spanish what we want to say and show to the lansi girl.

As expected, it’s gruesome, bloody and cruel. But there’s so many people watching, even little terrier.

Personally, i think its very cruel but then it gets so exiciting at times because we saw one matador got knocked over as well.

The night ahead was fun because we went out again, but just next to our hostel, there’s a Absolute Vodka launching and we unknowingly got it!! Woohoo!! Best party ever, free tattoo, free flow of vodka cocktails, surrounded by beautiful people, great company, what more can you ask for?

This is my first drink,

Second, *see! i’m clutching on to the freebies we get! Weee*

Third

and the rest is history :)

I transformed into catwoman. *Meooowww*

anyway, just joking…i don’t get drunk that easily. The chinese guy is from Germany our roommate in hostel!

Last day in Madrid, we went to the Royal Palace of Madrid which we spot some ballerina…i could spend hours watching them.

Sabatini Garden, with alot of funny art deco?

Last stop! Retiro Park with brocolli like trees. hehe…Very nice place to have a walk and relaxs. Go on Sunday because about 7pm they have this huge drum gathering. About 100 drummers gathers there every week and it’s very fun!!

Hobby that i thought long extinct! Stamp collecting and exchanging stamps seems to be a big thing here.

Before i end the post…i’ll leave you with a Yummy mcD yogurt! hAha…

Till next time!

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La La La Rambla..

Continuation of my barcelona post.

Last day in Barcelona, started off at Plaza Catalunya. The hub of the city and also home to the homeless. They say Trafalgar Square is the best to see alot of pigeons. They lied. There are so many pigeons here, it’s traumatizing.

For the best place to indulge in the Spanish ritual of the paseo (stroll), famous La Rambla is the place to be. One of my favourite place in Barce, too bad we were short of time, else i could spend the whole day here.

So full of life and activity, its a voyeuristic heaven. Countless human statues… Pay them a penny or two, they’ll turn into life.

Chocolate brownie soldier~

Angel among mortal

or if you are lucky, fairy that’s so sweet and gentle

or meet the copper jester that lick people on the face and screams I LOVE YOU BABEEEH!CALL ME!
I wanted to take photo with this one, but after witnessing what he did to the people, i change my mind… =.=

Other than that, there’s countless stalls that sells peacock, pigeons -.- and fluffy yellow chicks, artisans that deftly draws portraits like it’s a piece of cake and kiosks that sells overprice magnets, postcards and magazines from Financial Times to Penthouse.

Mercat de La Boqueria..yes, it’s a freaking market. How can a market be a tourist destination?? Well, it’s kinda sell everything under the sun, even Korean Bimbinbab…Cheeseee! I’m spoilt for choices

And they have the whole pig head on display, and i think they really like their ham and fruits.

They have small stalls that sells really really nice and fresh food normally grill. We had our lunch at this place call Kiosk Universal and we had to wait for more than 30mins just to get a seat. BUT! It’s just soo soo worth it. I’m not really a fan for prawns, but it’s just so out of the world!! SO FRESH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but i’m showing you guys the photos of the yummy mushrooms instead. haha

Gelato…each of us had 2 bola…Seriously, scoop = bola in spanish..hehe My fellow travellers, CarmendaFauntain, Kenetfu, Colyn and Aliciaaa :)

We explored Barri Gotic before heading to the beach. It’s a web of narrow alleys with beautiful Gothics buildings, medieval squares. Here lies Barcelona Cathedral, Museum de Picasso and lots more…This is Placa Reial, one of Barcelona most happening squares. Very happening at night for bar crawl, which also attracts of pickpockets. Pretty leh, with all the palm trees.

Port Olympic

Hmm..Didn’t know that spaniards are so filthy rich. Yachts all over the place…Seriously..where do all the money comes from!!

BEachessssssss…damn nice…we just spend the whole afternoon here…although the sun is very bright, it’s still damn cold with the merciless wind. Thank god for my cheap pashminas!! hhaaha

Then we rushed to our last destination, Montjuïc’s, a hill on the eastern end of Barcelona. The MAIN reason we were there is to watch the Font Màgica which according to information centre starts at 8pm, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Well, they lied again!! The show doesn’t starts till 930pm when we were fedup!! Why does the information centre ppl also lie to me T__T

Anyway, when we got there..there was like throngs of people. Keneft says it’s like going to watch a concert…Gueess what? There’s really a concert being held at the same time. The Police or something. I don’t care..i was sitting there for 1 freezing hour waiting for the stupid fountain to start.
So the fountains was really impressive as it follows the music that’s being played along side. It should be impressive as it’s one of the world best fountain. When the music goes fast and loud, the fountain will shoot high up and turns red. When it’s legato, it will be light blue and as if dancing…but stillllllllllll, it’s damn cold~ and hungry as well..

After the show, we went back to the hostel to get our backpack and headed to the bus terminal for our bus to Madrid. Here’s our funny hostel owner, Juan.

I really love barcelona and would love to revisit the culturistic city again.

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Barcelona – Oh, So Gaudi!

24th of September, we reached Girona airport at 9pm.
Decided to sleep there for the night. I ended up finishing my book and not really sleeping at all. Bus ticket to Barcelona is 11each i think.

Buying metro tickets to get to our hostel which is at Eixample area.. All in spanish, it’s a miracle we manage to get ourself there. Get the day ticket, it’s cheaper. First day, just went out for lunch and walk about Plaza Catalunya. And because kenetf wasn’t feeling well, i accompanied him back first while the girls explore Barri Gothic. And hey.. barcelona metro is so nice..and clean and even classical music was been played..So different from london tube, stuffy and narrow..all u hear is MIND THE GAP! MIND THE GAP!

2nd day -Very productive day as we manage to cover all the Gaudi places. First stop is the famous Sagrada Familia. Just 2 street away from where we stay. When we got there, we were breathless….from all the walking.

It was really one of the most amazing architecture i’ve seen. With all the nature and religious element blending together so cohesively. It’s one of Gaudi most amazing work and i think it is too. Although it’s not complete yet, even after 100 years of construction, i hope they will continue the effort.

Then we walked about 15mins up the street

to Hospital de la Santa Creu’l Sant Pau ..,fuuhh..name so long..imagine, if your wife is going into labour, and through the phone..u ask..Which hospital??? Then the answer is.. Hospital de la Santa Creu’l Sant Pau

-.-|||

anyway, it’s a fully functional hospital with very good looking nurse and doctors thats smokes like chimmey. ahhahaha..

Then we went to Park Guell. Another GAUDI creations. DON’T TRUST THE INFORMATION CENTER PEOPLE. damn it…Ask us to stop at wrong metro and then we have to walk damn damn damn far to reach it.!! ARghh … I’m not sure if you can see it, but the park is at the top of the slope… ARghhhhh

Finally reach up there, and then have to climb somemore because we saw alot of people went that way. There’s a pile of stone with 5 cross up there. Nothing up there except alot of people and the fear of falling down and die..

I went up and end up being too scared coming down. AGAIN! Be careful of pickpockets cos we even witness one happening in front of us. I guess the bird eye view did help us..haha

Finally the real…Park Güell which is amazing. MUST GO! Free entrance. There’s seats all over and you might think it’s damn hot to sit on it, but IT”S NOT! Surprisingly it’s very cool and the shape of the seats are design to contour exactly to our body. Genius!

Ooo..we met our seniors there :) The place is so colourful and full of life i like it there alot. I would suggest that you pack your lunches there and eat while watching people. There’s also alot of street performers there..playing music or something..

The famous dragon.. not lizard. The first of it’s kind for the mosaic tiling thingie.

After lunch, we went to La Pedrera. Gaudi actually tore down the whole building and rebuild it when it was handed over to him. It’s an apartment for the rich and all the walls can be changed and remove as the landlord wish. Amazing isn’t it.

Another amazing place to be, we spend more than 2 hours here listening to the audio guide and camwhoring at the roof. The chimmey and wind tunnel were all shaped very funny and unique. Very worth the entrance free, student 6euro.

Then just off La pedreda is Passeig de Gracia where all the big names in fashions lies. Too bad i’m too poor to enter any of the shops.

Casa Battlo – the legendary building with the roof of a dragon’s back and the balconies in the form of carnival maskes representing the dragon’s victim. It’s something you don get to see everyday for certain.

At night, we couldn’t find the Carre Ferran so we just went to Port Vell and hang out there..after that, we did manage to get ourself on the street without realizing till the next day.


The super nice and cheap supper we had at a pizza joint.


to be continue….

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Madrid night life

It lives up to my expectation and went beyond it. Last night, we went to a club which is the number 1 club in Madrid and it was amazing. It´s called Palace Gravia or something and the interior is like the ballroom in those big mansions. The difference is that they play R&B, Techno, House and Spanish songs instead of Mozarts or Beethovens :)

The crowd was full of adam levine and milo ventigmilia look alike. the cover charge was totally worth it, just to stand and stare.WAhahaha… and they have dancers clad in dominitrix kinda clothes, leather clad hot chicks with waist long hair and fake boobs dancing away with 2 topless 8paçks guys in leather with chains and tie around their neck. HahAhaha

Interesting enough?

Anyway, it was a crazy crazy night with the rest of the travellers from other parts of the world that speaks english.

AND! my market share over here is higher than genting shares in malaysia!!! Muahaha…got market value… :p

Adios…

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Saturday
29
07 Uncategorized 1 Comment

Ola from Spain

Hello ppl…i´m now in Spain..blogging from my hostel which is very nice with alot of foreigneirs which i dont understand their language at all. Interesting enough, i meet an indian thats born in Hongkong and raised inEngland. So, he speaks perfect cantonese and english as well. Thank god for him, or else, we will be better off talking to the wall. HAHahaha

Anyway, barcelona is amazing so far. Like what the indian says, Barcelona is whats best of London and it´s just so true. The weather has been kind to us so far and we have visited most of the places we should go before we can claim we have been to barce.

Tomorrow night, we´ll be heading to Madrid and hopefully able to catch a bull fighting ´game´or whatever you called it. Any tips or advice? After madrid, lisbon would be my last stop.
Leave a comment yah, as i would be able to connect to the internet like quite often. I have like 15mins per day to use the pc..hehe

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Wednesday
26
07 Trotting the globe 6 Comments

The Past is History

 

Thanks for Visiting!!!