Day 1 - SG to Munich + Factory Outlet (Ingolstadt village)
Bad SQ service! We spent a long time at the check in counter trying to get our seats with bassinet. First option was for me alone with baby (have bassinet) - how can this be done for a 13 hours flight. Then they got another option for us to sit together but won't have bassinet (we took this option). Got on the plane, almost departing, infant belt not given (we asked for it). No baby food offered. BEST! but lucky enough my boy cooperated, he slept for a good 10 hours on the flight. I managed to catch some sleep on and off but got a real backache after that.
When we arrive early in the morning (Germany time), it was -3 degree. We wore all our jackets to walk outside for less than 5 mins to the car. even though it was 7.30 am, the sky was still dark. My little boy was really cute in full gear, he couldn't balance himself and he learnt to show the expression of coldness. We need to adjust our timing so we have to be out whole day so that we don't fall asleep.
Went to a shopping mall for lunch (China/HK buffet), cheap and wide variety. Shop for toiletries and necessities. We bought shoes. socks and boots to be wore there. Continue with factory outlet but didn't get anything (still trying to adapt to the coldness), sky darken again - daylight 8 am - 4 pm only. Ceyan cried more than usual probably because of the coldness and tiredness. Things will get better after a few days.
Day 2 - Neuschwanstein castle + Xmas mart
We booked the tour for the castle, there are a lot of stairs and it was never easy carrying a 11 kg boy. We took the horse carriage up the hill (halfway to the castle), poor horses (heavy hearted). They were smack for not walking fast enough, their legs are so slim and they squeezed so many people up the carriage not to mention we are going up hill. It wasn't a pleasant experience for me because of my little boy, having to keep him quiet and behave when the tour begin. I got really pissed off that i have to handle him alone. No help was given (feels like i am alone there with my son). Finally Er shen helped to carry him. Actions speak louder than words. I can't stand people who keep commenting and not rendering help to us. I tried my best to take care of him myself instead since a simple throwing of wet diaper wasn't an easy task for them.
At night we went on to Xmas mart (not sure of the location though), this is like our pasamalam but it is much more atas. Only have it during Christmas period - selling all sorts of gifts and decoration items. Their decorative items are so much nicer but of course, the prices are higher too.
Day 3 - Rothenburg Hotel UHL
Traveled to Rothenburg (still in Germany) but the drive was more than 3 hours. The place looks like Berjaya Hill in Malaysia but of course, bigger and nicer. The buildings are unique but our room being at the top level feels like low ceiling, the roof of their buildings are sharp. The view from our hotel room is lake and greenery. Freaking cold day for me, I didn't prepare myself enough without a snow cap, I got headache towards the end of the day. As usual, the day ends early, the shops close at 6-8 pm. All the shops selling souvenirs and Christmas decorations. Below our hotel is a China restaurant that we had dinner there. Chinese food are their favorite.
Day 4 - Strasbourg
We are in France after a few hours drive again. Staying for two nights at City Residence. France looks more crowded and have the city feel. We arrived later than expected and having a hard time finding a place for dinner as this is a place where Aunt is not familiar and we are depending on the map that the hotel gave us. The night falls quickly, dark streets and safety is a concern in France. People got worried (paranoid). Many shops are closed by 7 pm (even the shopping centre), we only managed to grab some mineral waters from the supermarket. Finally found a small shop selling Vietnamese food (feels like a takeaway place but we ate there). The menu in French, we had a hard time ordering and communicating with the service staff. The food was good though (or is it because we are hungry?).
Day 5 - Candery Church + Petite France
Walked for the whole day. Finally found the entrance of the shopping mall that we are trying to locate the night before. Had subway for breakfast and fine dining for lunch which took us 3 hours. The portion for the main course is considered big for Fine dining. Initially we thought we won't be full but we are wrong. The set is $40 euro which is not expensive for fine dining. We had Foie Gras (goose liver) as a starter. This is the first time i am trying this. It was a big piece and the taste was ok for a few mouth. I feel sick to have too much of it. Walked around the Candery church without baby as baby is sleeping with Aunt in the Cafe. Along the street, we can see the beautiful xmas lighting wrapped around the buildings. On the way back to the hotel, we walked past Petite France but I am not sure what should we be looking for so we just walked past it and decide to have dinner in the room.
Day 6 - Black Forest at Triberg
Back in Germany - Triberg in Black Forest. The hotel is manned by a few old folks, the rooms are spacious with a big bed and a sofa bed. Under the rooms, are pastries (once you open the room door, strong pastries smell is all over). Yummy. The cakes look very tasty but the taste was quite normal. Triberg is like a small town in the Black Forest, we had late lunch because little boy is sleeping and everyone wants him to have ample sleep before heading out. Came to our shock that their shops close at 5 pm, we hurried out to get some food before we starve to death. Headed back to hotel room after heavy lunch as the night falls again.
Day 7 - Switzerland - Rheinfall
We touch Switzerland specially for the waterfall, lost count of how long we traveled on car this time. There are only two shops there with the stunning waterfall. Managed to find a restaurant for lunch with the full view of the waterfall. We so called step into Switzerland but left shortly after. Some photo taking and lunch is all we did there.
Head off to Meersburg (a place for wine tasting). We took a ship there with our car, first experience, quite stable without the feel of being on the ship. The trip takes about 15 mins only. Nothing much, just sitting in the car on the ship. We had a hard time finding the hotel that we booked as the GPS said our destination is on the left and we see nothing because the area is pitch dark with no lamp post at all. We cannot even see the building. Of course, we called the hotel and found the place. I was really unwell on the car earlier on and true enough vomited like crazy once we get in the hotel. The hotel was really cold without any heater in the toilet and heater in the room don't seems to be working. I had to use my heatpad to warm myself. As usual Er shen helped to look after little boy while I rest in the room. As the roads outside are too dark, we decided to stay in hotel room to grab some snacks instead.
Day 8 & 9 - Back to Munich
Roam around to see Christmas decoration as all the shops are closed because of Christmas holiday. Woke up late as no plan today and head out for lunch at a Chinese restaurant then head back home to relax and chill. Watched move together and have home cooked dinner at Aunt apartment.
Day 10 - Vienna (Stop by Austria)
Moving off to Vienna (a place of music). Stop by Austria to pump petrol and lunch. The view outside the restaurant are really good with some places already snowed. The white mountains (a view that you won't get to see in Singapore). Stayed in Hotel Mecure - nice room and toilet (heater working well). Travelling time was 6 hours. By the time we reached Vienna, night falls already. Had our dinner at Saigon Restaurant (just beside our hotel). The food is nice and the banana sticky rice is something that I keep craving for but sadly only had 1/2 of it (shared with hubby) because little boy pooped. Rushing to bring him back to room to change.
Day 11 - Vienna (Stephansplatz)
Walked around the area to source for food. Had breakfast at a cafe nearby (finally a place with scrambled eggs). Don't know why the other hotel breakfasts that we went don't even have egg station. We were really contented with the scrambled eggs. Went to Schonbrunn via train and booked the tickets for musical concert "Schloss Schonbrunn Konzerte" (49 Euro per ticket). We took the train to Stephansplatz to kill time, walked into Zara to get some warmth as the concert only starts at 8 pm. The most amazing thing is my boy did not make noise and listened to the music for a good 40 mins then he fell asleep. Even when he wakes up, he is not grumpy. We left the place at about 10 pm head back to the hotel. Not to mention, this area is very very cold or maybe is because of the strong wind. We are really shivering when outside. Even the notice board are swaying because of the wind.
Day 12 - Salzburg (Salt Mine)
Heading to Salt Mine. Kind of look forward because of the slides. On the highway, we spotted snow. We were grumbling about not seeing snow at all then the snow fall. Aunt quickly find a safe spot to stop the vehicle so that we can get down to take some photos. I was really pissed, they all got down with me in the car trying to dress up my boy as quickly as I can. When i finally got down, the snow almost stopped with only rain (or ice). At least we managed to take a pic with the snow fresh below our sole. Why are they so selfish? And it was really not so cold that we need to wear so many clothing for him and the shoes. He didn't even get on the ground. Haiz that's really a waste.
We wore jump suit at the Salt Mine, the service staff is impressive with a look at us, she grabbed the exact size for us. None of us need to change the size. I couldn't really understand the tour though because need to carry my little boy throughout and he keep using the speaker as phone don't let me hold it. But the slides are so fun, really a waste that hubby blocked us in the photo taking during the slide. So we didn't purchase a photo for memory. The mirror lake inside the salt mine was interesting too. We also took a tram to reach the mine, feels like a themed park ride but it was not scary. We all sit in a row with baby in front. Good experience i would say. Traveled all the way back to Munich for Indian Cuisine. Don't really know how to appreciate that, feels the NAN in Singapore is nicer.
Finally the day has come, SHOPPING DAY! This was the bigger factory outlet that we went, the temperature has gone down to -6 degree but that didn't stop us from shopping. The shops are warm. We went many shops and bought a lot of things from there. Gucci, Polo, Coach, etc. Shopped until we don't want to leave but the shop closing at 9 pm. No choice, had our dinner late then head back home. By the time we reached home already 1 am. Shag but fruitful day.
Day 14 - Factory Outlet (Ingolstadt Village)
This is the factory outlet that we went on our first day of arrival. We were still adjusting our time and temperature so no one bought anything then. But today is different, last two days of our trip - time to spend money. Bought bags from Coach, Tumi and Furla. Enough damage already.
Day 15 - Munich City (Downtown)
We went to the downtown (aka Singapore Orchard) in Munich. Went in to their departmental stores with all the brands and compare the price. We also went to have the fanciful cakes but they are closed for indoor seats, we have to sit outside to enjoy our cakes. The hot drinks quickly turn cold. Having cakes and coffee at a temperature below 0. Are we crazy? The cakes looks really nice and taste not bad. Quite expensive though, each small cake is about 6-7 euro. The people are closing at 4 pm and we want to use their toilet to change diapers for boy and they turned us down. I had to carry him run around that area to change for him. Grumpy boy just woke up from his nap and feeling uncomfortable. Later the cafe let us use because we said we are the customers. This is really very unfriendly of them. We rushed to a shop called C.A (i feeding baby and hubby shopping for tshirts). Each tshirt was 5 euros, very cheap. Soon the night fall again and because is New Year eve, the shops closed at 4 pm - we were all chased out.
We were in the apartment before 12 to watch the fireworks that people played. They are allowed to play with fireworks from 12-1 am by law. Many people putting and we just enjoy the view. Packed luggage and prepare to return to Singapore.
Day 16 - Home Sweet Home
We should have the premium economy on the way back but because of some hiccups once again. We took the economy class and MIL and Er Shen took the premium economy. No infant meal for my little boy again. They say because we didn't select they didn't prepare. I am utterly disappointed with SQ seriously. My poor boy only got biscuits and 3 portions of milk for 11 hours. Worst part is he is fully awake as it was an afternoon flight. He only managed to sleep 3 hours before landing. When everyone is sleeping and the lights off, he is playing and walking around. When everyone is awake and lights on, he finally want to sleep because it was night time in Germany already. Shag. I am so tired, I couldn't rest at all for the entire flight duration. Zombified.
I have got bad frost bites in the mid of the trip or earlier. Thought it was just pure dryness. Applied cream but no use. Only when i come back to Singapore, people told me i should apply oil or oil based lotions. Cream is absorbed too quickly, not going to help. Fortunately after a week, it got better.
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