Szentendre & Esztergom, Hungary

Welcome to Szentendre. A relaxing village 30mins away from Budapest, known for its cobblestone streets and masterful art. Took bus from Budapest at HUF 150.. About sin$1.30

On the way to the main Square.

Szentendre Main Square!

On the way to Church hill, just located above the Main Square.

13th-century Parish Church of St. John. One of the few intact medival churches in Hungary.

Visited the Szabo marzipan Museum and Confectionery. Recognized the picutre? Yes.. It’s the parliament in Budapest. This Model is made totally from Marzipan(Sweet almond paste). I was thinking and thinking about it and suddenly i felt so hungry and I took out my block of Marzipan that I bought eariler in the Confectionery and YUM.. it’s fucking good.. Hee hee.. Entrance to Museum HUF 400 ($3.6sin)

The Holy Crown of Hungary also known as the Crown of Saint Stephen, is the only crown known today with “holy” attribute.

Life-size Michael Jackson. Material: white chocolate and Marzipan. Weight 80kg. Worktime: 3 weeks.

The little mermaid.

Bugs Bunny!

Winnie the Pooh..

Em I’m not sure what this is… But to me she is My beautiful Candice!!!

Bibi.. this is the little Marzipan boy I bought for you.. But sadly, it’s a little crushed when I got back from the travel.. I bought this during the 4day of my 30days travel..so.. But my heart still crushes on yours… =)

101 Dalmatians

Aladdin and the magic lamp.

This is my favourite. A rotating story of Jack and the beanstalk?  Or maybe it’s the princess with very long hair for the prince to climb and save her.. I dunno which… But I like the rotating part… Feels like a big lolly rotating in front of you..

 

One of the many souvenirs shooOOOoops…

I visited the National wine Museum. HUF 2200 ($20sin) for 10 samples of wine tasting from wine-making regions throughout the country. I highly recommend it! It was really very informative and the wines were just great! The 100yr old cellar added on to the atmosphere.. =)

Wines tasting…

Exquisite Wine bottles..

And later a powerful local lunch. Hungarian veal stew with gnocchi! Plus the wine about $20sin.. And it’s a fucking good wine!! I was a little giddy after drinking.. hehehe… But I highly recommend that..

After that, I took a bus to Esztergom. HUF 160. About 1 hr journey..  Like a drunkard, I slept.

Esztergom! It’s suppose to be a major pilgrim and tourist destination?? (There isnt any tourist info desk). The birthplace of Saint-King Stephen and the site of the first Royal Court of Hungary. Home to Hungary’s largest Cathedral, the Basillica of Esztergom.

The bell chamber?? Was on the way to the Catherdral.

Here I am.. I mean here we are! The Largest Cathedral of Hungary. The Basillica of Esztergom.

The inside.

Bless me and Candice too??

 

Esztergom downtown..

Accross the Danube river is Slovakia! =)

I’m definately going over!!!

Here I am! In a Slovak restaurant for dinner.. Cheaper la! hahaha…

The magnificent Basillca of Esztergom from Slovakia side!!

 

Going back to Hungary.. Still like Hungary more.. =)

The next morning I’m leaving Budapest for Eger.. Thank you Monika, My host in Budapest!! Szia..

Budapest, Hungary d3

Day 3 Budapest!

The Centennial Memorial commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the city’s unification on Margaret Island,between Buda and Pest.. Took picture with my shit look alike Bread.. <See below>

Doesn’t it look like a shit!

The peaceful garden on Margaret Island… The garden pathway offer a refreshing break from the city beat.

You can rent a 4-wheeled bicycle and ride the small Island.

 

Entrance to Pálvölgyi Caves. Descend the 40m ladder for a tour of the caves. HUF 750 ($7sin) So sian I got the same time slot as the children.. Only all of them and an Asian! They often stare at me like a freak!! And the whole stupid tour is in Hungarian! I would request a more adventurous caving trip.. 5hrs wearing dirty clothes and a headlight helmet, crawling & climbing in the caves. About HUF 3000.

The caves…..

So I stay behind all the time and take my pictures… hee Hee

It’s fucking falling…. KNN

Statue on Gellért Hill, Castle hill…

The castle Cave Church…

Night View of Budapest… I recommed hiking up the hill around 530pm and by the time you are up it shld be dark and beautiful…

The Liberty Statue (sometimes Freedom Statue) was first erected in 1947 in remembrance of the Soviet liberation of Hungary from Nazi forces during World War II. Its location upon Gellért Hill makes it a prominent feature of Budapest’s cityscape. The existing 14 meter tall bronze statue stands atop a 26 meter pedestal and holds a palm branch. The Hungarians told me they often see it as the biggest bottle opener in Hungary! Hahaha..

From Far……

Budapest at night…It soOOooo Beautiful….

The royal Castle

Budapest, Hungary

Day 2 Budapest///

Budapest Central Market.. I love Markets..

I was there at 7am!! Already alot of people.. Buying bread especially..

A lot of hungarian spices —-> mainly dried paprika (lantern pepper or capsicum)

It’s all about presentation and display…

Hungarians love meat… I love Hungarians..

Crepe with cottage cheese and apricot. *forgot how much*

Meat rolled in cabbage with salted turnip with sour cream and paprika powder… *forgot how much*

Hungary National Museum.

Found it interesting to see a statue wrapped in plastic in the main square.

More interesting to see a statue being chopped into pieces and shipped around…

Parliament House – Side view only

Parliament – 45 deg angle

Parliament – On the backside view across the river from Buda.. The Hungarian Parliament Building is the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary, one of Europe’s oldest legislative buildings, a notable landmark of Hungary and a popular tourist destination of Budapest. It is currently the largest building in Hungary, and the second largest Parliament in Europe.

Kossuth Memorial is an imposing statue of former Hungarian Regent-President Lajos Kossuth in front of the Hungarian Parliament Building. The memorial is an important Hungarian national symbol and scene of official celebrations. *Little kids playing and marching*

Mór Jókai, was a Hungarian dramatist and novelist.

1st underground subway in Europe!!! It’s still working now.. =)

Heros Square.

Me on Heros Square

Vajdahunyad Castle, or Vajdahunyad vára, is a castle in the City Park, that was built between 1896 and 1908, designed by Ignác Alpár.

Trying to be artistic… hahaha..

The statue of Anonymus, also displayed in the Castle court, was a chronicler in the XII century (probably of King Béla III). He wrote the first history books on the ancient Hungarians, mostly based on legends. Superstition says that by touching his pen you will receive good luck.

The Széchenyi Medicinal Bath (Széchenyi-gyógyfürdő) is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. Its water is supplied by two thermal springs, their temperature is 74°F/23°C and 77°F/25°C, respectively.

The inside…. I sneak in without paying.. =p

 

Hungarians playing chess…

Váci utca (Váci street) is one of the main pedestrian thoroughfares and perhaps the most famous street of central Budapest. It features a large number of restaurants and fashion outlets catering primarily to the tourist market. That’s me!

Budapest, Hungary

Once again.. I’m flying again.. This time is a Big advenure.. I will be travelling from 3rd march – 6th April.. Destination : HUNGARY, UKRAINE, MOLDOVA, ROMANIA, BULGARIA, CROATIA, FINLAND, ending with a 3day ROCK CLIMBING TRIP in SWEDEN with the Climbing club.

Sweden’s archiplelago from the plane.. Wizz air Flight was SEk499 ($115sin) Very ex but no choice.. =P

Hungary, officially in English the Republic of Hungary is a landlocked country in the Carpathia Basin  of Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Its capital is Budapest. Population: 10million. Hungary is one of the 15 most popular tourist destinations in the world, with a capital regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world. Hungary is famous for eating big red meat and drinking big red wine and smoking! =)

West railway station in Budapest..

Central railway station in Budapest

The Timewheel is the world’s largest hourglass. It is made of granite, steel, and glass, and weighs 60 tons. The sand flows from the upper to the lower glass chamber for one year. The last few grams of sand flow through at exactly midnight on New Year’s Eve and the Timewheel is then turned 180 degrees so the flow of the sand can resume for the next year. The turning is done by manual power using steel cables and it takes roughly 45 minutes for 4 people to complete the half turn.

Beef stew in Hungarian style. I forgot how much it was but it’s not very nice…

St. Stephen’s Basilica, the city’s largest church. Free

St Stephen’s Basilica is an ecclesiastic basilica. It is named in honour of Stephen, the first King of Hungary (c 975–1038), whose mummified fist is housed in the reliquary.

The interior of the Basilica…

Streets of Budapest..

Chain Bridge.. Connecting Buda and Pest.. Yup.. Budapest is made up of 2 regions Buda and Pest, separated by the Danube river..

The parliament from Buda side…

On Castle hill…

Chain bridge + the whole of Pest at night.. I like Budapest very much for its night pictures.. Simply beautiful..

The far away dome is the St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Queen E.

Royal palace on the castle Hill.. Taken on the Chain bridge…

My couch in Budapest! Thanks Monica! =)

Malta

My host from couch surfing… Francesco!! He was very kind to accept my request last minute!!

The couch I’m sleeping on for 3 nights..

On the way back to the Airport and flying back to Sweden… Good bye Malta, Forever….

Mainland Malta, Malta

 

Day 7.. Lasy day in Malta already.. Going back tml in the morning.. Kind of miss the Valletta bus.. Hahah.. Look at the number of Old people per bus.. The whole Malta is full of old pple! Haha…

Tickets were always bought on the bus..And the process is slow so there is always a long queue..

 

The Colouful fishing village of Marsaxlokk.. Marsaxlokk Harbour…

Local Fisherman…

Smile!! =)

Tuesday and Sunday market… The fishes don’t seems so fresh in fact.. Haha..

Typical Fishing boat… Colourfully painted in Blue, red and yellow…

Ghar Dalam… Ghar Dalam was orginally the northern end of a long, Subterranean solution cavity whose southern end was the cave on the opposite side of the valley. An over lying river flowing seaward, gradually ate its way into the cavity and therein discharge its load of soil, pebbles and bones. These are the cave deposits.

Elephant, Hippo and Dear were the earliest inhabitants on Malta…

The Cave of  Ghar Dalan..

The Grandmaster palace. Displays of mediveal armour and full plates used by Knights..

The Long sword! Play Diablo 2 lo…

Gun powder pouches..

Canons!

The Golden bay… It is supposed to be a nice beach.. But i dun think so.. It’s only at most 200m only!!!

Church in Mgarr

Local fish supermarket…

 

Bakery..

Day and night picture of the church in Naxxar ( The place where I couch-Surf )

A political parade….

Finally I end my last day with traditional Maltese Rabbit! It’s really very very very evry nice.. A big portion with huge side dishes.. Initally I wanted to eat at a cheaper option, but it was closed! So I went to this posh restaurant, to realise that it’s really a good one! It was awarded with 2005, 2006, 2007 food award for it’s Maltese crusine.. Damn ZAI! Haha… €14

Mainland Malta, Malta

Day 6. Today is a nice and sunny day!! So i’m going to the Dingli Cliffs and Blue Grotto.. Both are able to  see to sea! On the way to Blue Grotto… Fucking beautiful  mediterranean sea…

On the way to Blue Grotto..

Just many of the flowers on the way….

People resting or sun-bathing just above the high cliffs…

Took the Mini Boat to the Blue Grotto… The “Blue Grotto” are some nice caves under the Cliffs… Lots of Corals too.. In summer, alot of people do scuba diving here… 30min, €8…

Clear Blue Waters… It’s blue because the Corals under are blue.. Nice hor? haha

Coming out of the cave!

Now rainbow colour…

 

SUper SuPer rainbow colour…

Going back to the starting point…

After the trip… I indulged myself in the mediterranean cruise.

I had Lampuki (a boneless fish) The menu says 3Pounds, but it turns out to be €10… But it’s okay as long as it’s good food!! =)

Now looking at the Small island on the other side of the cliffs.. The Dingli Cliffs are below me now…

A view of the mediterranean sea from a rock hole…

Me and the mediterranean Sea behind me.. An Old man (Passer-by)  told me that the sea lives the World’s largest Great white shark. Believe it or not..Haha…

Me again! =)

My Loyal companion along the way.. Mr Black dog!

Local Sheep herder…

Cactus… Many of  them…

A Local church with turkish influence… in Tarxien.

Inside the church….

Tarxien temple.. One of the oldest free standing monuments in the World…

The headless Figurine…

Million-years old rocks…

Mainland Malta, Malta

Day 5. Today it Sunday and Sunny!! Yes… Malta has Cactus! haha…

And those with Flowers too =)

Today is Sunday.. So there are a few street performers…

Street Performers.

“Want a city ride, Sir?” They often ask..

At Valletta Sunday’s Open market, part of the Bus station is used by this market…

Heaps of locals and Tourists and stall holders..

And the most interesting items were these birds… Selling at about 10 for €1 and €15 for a pair… Look how beautiful they are:

Can I have 1 Please MUMMY….

I went for a 45min re-enactment of a military parade back in the early times at *Forgot* fort. The inspection was held every month when the Grandmaster came down to inspect the defence capabilities of the fort.

Fucking live gun powder lor!!! SIAO!

Whack pictures liao…. Haha =P *The Grandmasters*

*Normal guards*

*Canon Inspector*

And guess what!!! I saw the PRIME MINISTER OF MALTA!!! Look at him..Even as he walks, the light shines on him….The election is round the corner, so the politicians are finally showing up, giving all the cheesy promises as usual.. Haha..

Gozo, Malta

Morning View of the Harbour…

Saw the wall between the boats and the houses? I slept at one of the balconies yesterday… =)

Cycling to Marsalforn, a small fishing village North of Gozo.

Marsalforn! =)

I love this picture… Slow Snail with the Marsalforn sea as background.. haha

Mr and Mrs Fisherman

My 1st expensive dish in Malta. Tuna steak grilled in a mediterranean style… together with bread with vinegar and Olive oil, Salads, and fries with a cold Lager beer.  €13

A couple taking photos… Really hope it was me and Candice

Salt mines in Marsalforn…

I dunno how it works… But there are fucking alot of these everywhere… EVERYWHERE!!!

The Azure Window is the result of sea and wave erosion. Two gigantic columns, each some 40m in diameter, support a horizontaal block, which is about 100m long and 20m high. So that resemble a giant window… It’s AMAZing…..!!! SO… whack photos la… Hahah..

Clothes changing parade! HAHA=P

I’m Mr Strong!

I am PUSHer Lee

The Inland Sea..

Pizza- Spaghetti  €1.03

Returned the bicycle..Wanting to save the 20min bus tride back to the harbour, I decided to walk… 1.5hrs of walking in full battle order for €0.47! Worth it? Of coursr NOT!

Going home lo!! I was stranded at Malta ferry terminal coz the last bus back to my Hostel had left! But lucky me managed to hitch a hike back… It’s really very very very lucky!!! I was so prepared to camp again lor!!!! SIANX…But LUCKILY… Phew…

Back in my 3-star Hotel, Astra Hotel in Silema.. Only  €8 per night.. Got all facilities: Television, Heater/air-Com, Fridge, Bath tub… Took out my camping equipment.. Eat lo!!

Gozo, Malta

Day 3! I’m going to Gozo, Malta’s sister Island. (Malta consisst of 3 islands, Mainland Malta, Gozo and Comino) It’s a lot smaller than Malta and everywhere in Gozo could be reached by a bicycle.

The Gozo Channel ferry. Cost €4.66 return trip.. takes about 25min

 

Gozo Harbour.. Picture taken just when the Ferry is entering it’s bay..

On the way to the Victoria, Capital of Gozo.

The walls of the Citadel.

In olden times, the inhabitants clustered around the Island’s highest point and built a Citadel to warn the locals of dangerous pirates.

Cathedral built by the architect Lorenzo Gafa within the Citadel

Views from the Citadel…

St George’s Basilica was built between 1672 and 1678 and stands at the centre of a patchwork of narrow, winding streets.

Cycling in Beautiful Gozo now.. *The Statue of Christ* from far…

Xewkija Parish Church.

Barricades made of stones that you will see everywhere…

Ruins

The Ta’ Pinu Basilica. It’s a place of pilgrimage.

The Megalithic Temples of Ggantija. They are one of the best examples of prehistoric architecture on the Island and it’s now estimated that they were Built in about 3600 BC, which makes them the Oldest free standing structures in the WORLD, and the world’s oldest religious structures, pre-dating the Pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge. Steady yeah… haha.. 

Me and Ggantiji~ Young and Old…

Cycling back to my sleeping area?? Yes.. I didn’t want to spend anymore $$ on hostels.. So I brought my tent and sleeping bag and now I’m going to *Somewhere* to tent.. Dunno where yet…

Not here of course.. Church seen on the way to somewhere…

Finally found a good spot over-looking the Habour! If anyone catches me I would just say I’m a photographer going to take tml’s sun rise.. Haha.. KNN

Me and comfy tent and sleeping bag… haha

The Gozo Harbour at Night! Good night?? PUI!!! (It fucking rained the whole fucking night) DU LAN!