The Ryanair Experience

My holidays in Europe would have never happened without Ryanair and Skyscanner. In fact, whenever i'm bored or when i have time, I make it a point to check out these two websites.

Thanks to them, practically all my air tickets, I just paid for the airport taxes or a 5 euro flat fee for my air ticket due to the promotions. In a way, thank you financial crisis ! -l-


But as many websites have shared. Traveling with Ryanair is not exactly a dream, normally, you get sent to faraway airports when the cost of traveling from the airport to the city is more than your airfare. You get delayed flights (yup!). You get flashbacks of your life when the plane tries to land (yup ! yup ! yup !). On their 737-800 planes, somehow I meet all the air turbulence that i have never met before on Asian airlines. (more flashbacks of my life!)

In order to save cost on Ryanair, I don't check in my luggage at all ( 5 euro saved !), I don't get travel insurance in case they lose my stuff or cancel my flight ( 10 euro saved !), no priority boarding ( who cares if you can get a seat?), disregard the fact that the flight flies at 6am in the morning ( sleeping in airports is something that i have extensive experience with now).

Other little things for the Ryanair experience, you can't get any sleep on the plane. Literally, the plane is loud, they play loud music. The airline crew earns a commission for every drink / food item they sell on the flight, so they tend to want waking, hungry/thirsty passengers around.

In spite of all the budget airlines that we have in Asia, nothing comes close to the price that Ryanair is offering. (S$40 including airport tax? beat that tiger air ! ) Maybe our budget airlines are not getting the economies of scale to lower the prices, the airport taxes in the region might be too pricey. But promoting more travel within Asia will be a good macroeconomic way to promote growth for Singapore, especially with our reputation for a hub. No ?

My General Impressions of Prague

Arrived at 6am in Prague on a night train, to see mobs of policemen paroling the station. The contrast was strikingly different from Budapest. We were staying in a relatively sleazy part of Prague but as a city, Prague was small and compact. Easily covered by foot, we half dragged ourselves around town.


Prague is separated as two towns, the New Town and the Old Town. The new town looks like a wider, greener Orchard Road. The Old Town is where all the beautiful architecture is.


The city felt like one giant walking postcard. I did not realise how true that was, until the next day, when I went up to Prague Castle. The biggest castle in the world. It felt like Disneyland for adults.




But Prague in general, is really a tourist town. The Old Town that i was referring to is overpriced, filled with tourists and souvenir shops. The attractions are priced almost out of the sky. In order for me to visit the Jewish Museum, even at a discounted student rate & not covering all of its sites, it was a close to a steep S$16. The Prague Castle, except for its free and magnificent cathedral, the rest was junk. Literally.


But look at this photo, who cares if it is or if it is not a tourist town. Breathtaking.

My General Impression of Budapest

Arrived in Budapest at night via Ryanair, both me and my friend just couldn't keep still and started to explore the city. Most of the sites can be easily covered on foot, so we spent a few hours walking in the dead of the night. The photos here are showing the famous Chain Bridge and Statue of Liberty.

We ended the night with a well-deserved drink at a local pub. Actually, Budapest is really quite affordable for the Singaporean traveller. For food, transport, or general items, I found that the prices are close to Singapore's or even cheaper in some cases. At the pub that I was having drinks in, it was S$1 for a beer, S$1.50 for a Bailey's, S$2 for 3 shots of tequila !


First impressions of Budapest were poor. When we first arrived, there were plenty of homeless people sleeping in the metro station, along the roads. As we walked, they were everywhere, just sleeping with a warm blanket out on the streets.

In one glance in any random direction, something would be under repair. Next was the fact that there was major graffiti all around the place. With all these factors in mind, you would think that i was running around in a war zone. But Budapest was a safe place to be in. Imagine 2 girls walking around on isolated streets at 2am in the night and nothing happened at all, I would call that quite safe. No?

The next day, we continued on our sight seeing to the Central Market and the Budapest castle. Another curious thing spotted in Budapest was the Nescafe car. In fact, not just one or two, I spotted three random cars parking in the same lot when we were making our way up to the castle.




Shall let the photos speak for themselves....

The last day in Budapest, we went for a Hungarian bath! I had a similar one before in Beijing during winter, this was the same. Natural hot springs with various pools, facilities & temperature, both indoors and outdoors. So i was hopping from room to room and pool to pool. Very fun !

Took the night train to Prague. In hindsight, I just realized why prices were so cheap when I got back. The same time we were there, the Hungarian government ordered a bailout for its banks. No wonder, the prices were so good. The currency was at an all time low against the Euro.

Pub Lunch and Seaside Walk at Dalkey

Went for a seaside walk with the gang at Dalkey today. Amazing weather, lovely views. Someone mentioned that this was the 2nd best view outside of Naples. I might or might not agree, but it's still all so beautiful.


We went to the most lovely pub that our host kindly brought us to.

I ordered a pint of Smithwicks, a local Irish beer, and a roast pork & brown sauce with lovely mashed potatoes, carrots and cabbage. Yum.

The exterior looks unimpressive, but lovely place, fantastic atmosphere.

The Club
17 Colliemore Road,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin

Hiking from Bray to Greystones

Weather was cloudy yet warm. Went for a picnic and hiking from Bray to Greystones today. I never knew that having a beer at a picnic by the sea could feel so refreshing!


After my 3 hour hike, spotted at a local store. The cutest macaroons and mushroom shaped chocolates called Mushroom in french ~ Kewl !