SOLO in Belgium

7/10/2006 7AM (Time in Europe)

On City Hopper between Amsterdam and Brussels.

I have concluded. God wanted me to come on this Europe trip to escape the haze in Singapore. This has to be it!

So far, things have been quite smooth. There was a bit of tension when my long haul flight arrived late at Amsterdam. I had 15 minutes to get to the next flight! For some strange reason, I had to go through some sort of customs checkpoint again to get to my gate for the flight to Brussels. Heard some Americans comment that it was bizarre to have passports checked again during transit. My sentiments exactly. (I found out later that this is European law).

On my flight to Amsterdam, I met a fellow-singaporean who was going for an East Europe back-packing trip by rail. It is also his first time to Europe. It is good to know that there are people on the same boat when you are travelling alone. =)


7/10/2006 8.10AM Brussels Airport Train Station Platform 3


Ooh! Nice and new station!

Nicer to know that I received my luggage at the arrival hall. Another passenger on the same flight told me that some of the luggages did not arrive. God must be sending angels to watch over me!

This friendly Belgian guy called Eino (a Finnish name pronounced as Ei-nar) showed me to the train station. I was going to Liege and he to Antswerp, so it was opposite directions. Once again, God has sent me help! So re-assuring to know that God is near me.

I have to transit in Leuven then take another train to Liege. The system looks like the one in UK. Should be quite self-explanatory.







8/10/2006 8.30AM Best Western Hotel

I wish I speak French. English seems so out of place here. Everyone is so chirpy and courteous, greeting one another in the morning with a pleasant "Bon jour!" I guess Europe is a really civilised place.

"Bonjour!" "Merci" These are the only 2 words I recognise. If I spoke them, I don't know if they will be mis-pronounced. Think I'll stick to English.

Nothing beats starting the morning with a hearty breakfast. The buffet breakfast provided was good. I tried everything on the spread. Is it me? Or does it taste different in Europe? The taste is so original. Eating western food in Europe is like eating sashimi in Japan. I contemplated on a second cup of coffee...but dismissed the thought. That would be indulgence.

OK. I am ready to walk to the Meuse River today!

Pictures of Meuse River

9/10/2006 7.50AM

Last night, Asma the Brunei delegate, Ian the Malta delegate and myself roamed the streets of Liege. It was fun but tiring. We were looking for a restaurant to have dinner after the reception at the hotel. It appeared that they only served finger foods. Lovely delicacies, fine dining, but with hardly enough proportions to fill the stomach.

I must say that the hotel was beautiful. It was a classy colonial hotel.

Food at the down town tavern was no where near what I get at the restaurant in Best Western Hotel. =(

This morning's breakfast warmed my stomach and delighted my tastebuds again.

I have made another observation about Europe. Everything is done in class. C.L.A.S.S.
The buildings look so run-down and old on the outside, but everything on the interior is beautiful, artistic and very clean.

10 /10/2006 12:38AM

It is over! The presentation, that is. It certainly was well received and yet generated a lot of discussion and debate as well.

I left the working group meeting still with no fixed idea of what can be done to solve our local problems... but with some better understanding of how Europe worked.

No answers. No answers at all.

So whilst I am pleased with my presentation, I feel disappointed in the lack of a solution.

Gala dinner was long but ended well. I had so much interaction with friends and the other delegates.

11/10/2006 8.25PM

Tonight will be my last night in Belgium. It is strange. Felt as it I was here for a long time. I guess it is because everyday is so packed with activities. But it is OK. I miss home even thought the experience here was a good one.

I guess one of my regrets is that I am not able to go to the town centre and see the area. It really looked pretty from where we had our gala dinner last night. at the Palais des Princes Eveques.

Tonight, we had another reception at the Museum of Modern Art. That was great as this was the museum I wanted to visit; and now I do so for free!

I can so totally relax now that my presentation is over. Perhaps I'll take a ride down to the town centre or something tomorrow.

12/10/2006 8.15AM

This morning, I got everything packed, had my last hearty breakfast at the Breakfast Room and am ready to go back HOME SWEET HOME! Will walk down to town centre if possible.

13/10/2006 3.30PM

Home. =)