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Showing posts from September, 2018

CUR: Willemstad Downtown

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Willemstad, Curaçao From Otrobanda , my BFF and I crossed Queen Emma Bridge to go to Punda. The vibrantly-coloured colonial shophouses lining Punda's waterfront are really something to marvel at while crossing the pontoon bridge. Behind the charm, however, lies the hard truth that slave trade was the primary business happening in the island in the 17th and 18th centuries.
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CUR: Ronde Markt

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Marshe Nobo, Willemstad, Curaçao Daily: 9.00am - 6.00pm Literally meaning 'New Market', Ronde Markt is a traditional indoor market located in Punda, which is the downtown area of the capital city of Curaçao. The circular building houses not only vendors selling fresh produce, household items and souvenirs, but also food stalls serving local and regional cuisine.
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CUR: Otrobanda

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Willemstad, Curaçao The capital city of Curaçao is classified into two main quarters: Punda (lit. city) and Otrobanda (lit. the other side). The two of them are geographically separated by Sint Anna Bay channel, but connected with two bridges. The development of the latter began in the 18th century when Punda became overpopulated.
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CUR: Rif Fort

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Gouverneur van Slobbeweg, Willemstad, Curaçao Daily: 9.00am - 11.00pm Situated at the mouth of Sint Anna Bay channel is Rif Fort, a fortification built under the order of King William I of the Netherlands in 1828. When it was serving its military purpose, it was equipped with a total of 56 cannons. At present, it functions as an open-air shopping area.
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CUR: Curaçao Suites Hotel

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Langestraat 13, Willemstad, Curaçao Curaçao Suites Hotel (3*) is located in Otrobanda, one of the quarters of Willemstad that's separated from the downtown area by a channel called Sint Anna Bay. It's a cosy hotel comprising only 17 suites at affordable prices, not to mention that buffet breakfast is always included in the room rates.
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NLD: KLM KL735 (Economy)

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AMS-CUR (9h 35m) Boeing 747-400 ETD: 9.15am (GMT + 2)  ETA: 12 .50pm (GMT - 4) My BFF and I could've flown straight to Paramaribo, Suriname from Amsterdam, the Netherlands by Suriname Airways. However, we decided to have a stopover at Willemstad, Curaçao in the Caribbean before flying to South America. That was my very first long-haul daytime flight, which turned out to be the worst flight ever.
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NLD: Schiphol Airport

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Evert van de Beekstraat 202, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Situated 9 km southwest of Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport isn't only the main international airport of the Netherlands, but also the third busiest airport in Europe in terms of passenger volume. Started operating as a military airbase in 1916, it was destroyed at the end of World War II, but the airfield was quickly restored with the new terminal building completed in 1949.
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NLD: De Kat Windmill

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Zaanse Schans, Zaandam, the Netherlands Daily: 9.30am - 4.30pm De Kat is the world's only remaining windmill that makes paints using traditional methods. Built in 1646, it originally functioned as an oil mill. The octagonal mill sitting on top of the storehouse was that of the former paint mill known as De Duinjager that was torn down in 1960.
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NLD: Kooijman Wooden Shoe Workshop

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Zaanse Schans, Zaandam, the Netherlands Daily: 8.00am - 5.00pm (winter) or 6.00pm (summer) The preservation of the well-known Dutch craft of wooden clog-making was initiated by Jaap and Ineke Kooijman on 1 April 1974. One such workshop-cum-museum was thus set up in Zaanse Schans , an area of Dutch industrial heritage, to introduce the art to locals and foreigners alike.
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NLD: Zaanse Schans

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Zaandam, the Netherlands A trip to the Netherlands isn't complete without getting up close and personal with its windmills. Historic windmills and distinctive wooden houses have been relocated to the recreational area reminiscent of an 18th century village. Due to its proximity to Amsterdam, many people choose to go to Zaanse Schans on a day trip.
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NLD: Amsterdam Old Town

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Amsterdam, the Netherlands The capital city of the Netherlands has always been one of my favourite places in the world. Originating as a small fishing village in the past, Amsterdam literally means a dam in Amstel River. It's colloquially known as the 'Venice of the North' due to the numerous canals that contribute to the wonderful landscape of the old town area.
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SIN: Sentosa Sandsation 2018 [till 16 September 2018]

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Siloso Beach, Sentosa Island, Singapore Daily: 10.00am - 9.00pm Let's take a quick break from the European adventure by looking at something held locally. 'Sentosa Sandsation' is the biggest sand sculpting festival in Southeast Asia. Even if you're not a fan of Marvel superheroes, it's worth visiting the free exhibition that's held at Siloso Beach from 1 to 16 September 2018.
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CAN: Toronto Downtown

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Toronto, Ontario, Canada Toronto, the capital of the Ontario province, is the largest city in Canada. As an international centre of business, finance, arts, sports and culture, it's one of the most multi-cultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world. It's said that approximately half of its residents were born outside of Canada.
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CAN: Super 8 by Wyndham Niagara Falls

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5577 Ellen Avenue, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada I suppose seeing Niagara Falls is one of the essential experiences when visiting Ontario, Canada. Without checking out of our hotel in Toronto, my BFF and I embarked on a quick 2D1N trip to the iconic destination. We opted to stay at Super 8 (2*), a budget-friendly choice managed by Wyndham Hotels, which offers complimentary breakfast to guests.
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TWN: Tze-Chiang Limited Express (Puyuma) 218

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Taipei - Xincheng (2h 1m) ETD: 10.26am (GMT + 8)  ETA:  12.27pm (GMT + 8) Having heard of the unparalleled beauty of Taroko Gorge, my BFF and I made it a point to see it with our own eyes despite the rainy season in June. Our journey began from Taipei Main Station by making use of the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) system on Tze-Chiang Limited Express (Puyuma), the newest, fastest and more spacious train type introduced in 2013.
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