France | Day 10 & 11 The Graduation Trip (Paris - Dubai - Kuala Lumpur)

Au revoir Paris!

Finally, it was the last day of our 11^th day European cum graduation trip.

Sunrise on the last day

We booked the same metered taxi to catch our 1120H flight with Emirates via Dubai back home to Kuala Lumpur. Tips: Make sure you check your departure terminal before starting your journey to CDG. CDG has three main terminals and each terminal has it sub-terminals. In our case, we were flying from CDG T2C.

All our accommodations during our stay were booked using booking.com. I personally prefer this website because there are many offers to choose from and the website itself was very user-friendly.

I will be back again to England and Paris, I promised!

Emirates Airbus 380 ready for departure from CDG

A quick one hour transit at DBX

France | Day 8 & 9 The Graduation Trip (Paris)

Paris Paris!

Basically, we had two full days in Paris. We did not opt to use the Metro services and we decided to do our Paris Tour on foot! – this helped us save a lot on transportation budget because it was €17.50/pax for a daily pass! Before starting the tour, make sure you get hold of a Paris City Map (normally you can get them for free at the airport).

What to do and where to go if you have two days in Paris?

Day 1

1. Arch de Triomphe du Carrousel
2. Musée du Lourve, La Pyramide – My cousin, sister and I entered the museum and paid €12.00/pax just to see the famous Monalisa painting. Trust me it’s worth it! Tips: For those students who are studying in the EU (including UK), apparently, you can enter the museum for free! We had our lunch at the square. You can get cheap crepes and sandwiches across the road.
3. Palais-Royal
4. Obélisque de la Concorde
5. Champs-Élysées – this street is a shopping paradise and most major outlets are located here including Louis Vuitton!
6. Arch de Triomphe de I’Étoile – a very busy roundabout and a must-visit whenever you are in Paris!
7. Palais de Chaillot – a great spot for a really beautiful view of Tour Eiffel.
8. Tour Eiffel – your trip will not be complete without the Eiffel Tower! Even though this is my second time here, Eiffel Tower never failed to mesmerise me!
9. Walk along Seine River – it is the most economical and perhaps a healthy option if compared to the river cruise which is around €15.00/pax.
10. Musée d’Orsay

La familia in front of Arch de Triomphe du Carrousel

Musée du Lourve, La Pyramide

Amazing paintings in the museum

#SELFIES with Lisa! Finally I met her after my second visit!

Obélisque de la Concorde

Champs-Élysées. Spot my mum!

Arch de Triomphe de I’Étoile

The reason to be in Paris! #SELFIES

The view from Palais de Chaillot

The walk along the Seine River

Musée d’Orsay

Let's call it a day

Day 2

1. Pont des Art – the `love locks’ bridge. For those in love and if you believe in securing your love this is the bridge not to be missed! You can either purchase padlocks from the by-seller stationed on the bridge or bring your own custom padlocks!
2. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris – your visit will not be complete if you don’t pay a visit to this awesome gothic church! Entrance is free and always assure to turn off your camera flash whenever you plan to take pictures in the cathedral.
3. Hôtel de Ville – the city hall with great architecture design.
4. Tour Saint-Jacques
5. Place Vedôme – major outlets such as Chanel, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Dior is located here.

Pont des Art `Love Locks'

Along the street, there are many shops selling souvenirs

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris and the alter inside

Hôtel de Ville

Tour Saint-Jacques

It's a Sunday and everything is close even at Place Vedôme

Tips: There are lots of by-seller selling souvenirs around all the touristy spot. I would advise you to buy it from them because they sell those souvenirs for a fairly reasonable price if compared to those sold in shops. Beware of teenagers asking for signature and donation for some kind of petition! THIS IS A SCAM!

Pretty much this summed up our two days tour in Paris. Make sure to try the famous macaroons and drink lots of wine whenever you are in Paris. You can get great quality macaroons especially at Pierre Hermé. Please try to stop by any La Cure Gourmande to get a taste of good quality French candies, chocolates and biscuits! Reminder: Most shops in Paris are close on Sunday! 

Macaroons sold at  Pierre Hermé with my sister busy selecting her favourites

French candies, biscuits and chocolates sold at La Cure Gourmande

France | Day 7 The Graduation Trip (London - Paris)

Goodbye London, Bonjour Paris!

We travelled to Paris using British Airways. The flight departs from LHR T5 to CDG at 1725H and the journey was only an hour flight time. Initially, we wanted to take the Eurostar (underwater train crossing the English Chanel) to Paris but because the price was really costly (£160.00/pax) we decided to fly.  I got these one-way flight tickets for only £315.15 thanks to Skyscanner. Instead of taking the underground tube this time to LHR T5, we rented an MPV for £70.00. Tips: It is better to hire a car (especially when you are travelling with heavy luggage – mainly from the shopping) than taking a metered taxi to the airport because the operator will quote you a fixed price. Make sure to inquire for maximum luggage storage before booking the car because normally the driver will charge if your luggage count exceeds their storage quota. Normally an MPV can accommodate around five luggage only.

All checked in and of course a #SELFIES at LHR T5 with la Familia

We arrived at the LHR T5 precisely 1230H. Instead of the 5 hours waiting time, we waited almost 8 hours at the airport because our flight got delayed!  The delayed caused us to only arrive at CDG quarter to midnight! Tips: A reminder for those first-timers to Paris, taking public transportation such as the Metro or bus is very inconvenient especially when you are travelling in a group of five! Besides that, it is also very costly! Using the Metro itself will be €19.50 to the city centre with at least 3 changes in between. My advice will be to get a metered taxi. Usually, on a traffic-free day, it will only be around €70.00 for 45 minutes from CDG to the city centre.

Window view on Flight BA322 bound for CDG

For our stay in Paris, I have also booked an apartment which is situated at Rue de Lille which is just in the heart of Paris. The name of the apartment was My Address in Paris – St. Germain des Prés. Before entering the apartment, you need to climb six floors of stairs (which is a good cardio workout) but trust me once you are in the apartment, you will be amazed with the interior design and the sky view!

My Address in Paris – St. Germain des Prés

Midnight shopping for groceries. Trust me this is only a grocery shop!

United Kingdom | Day 6 The Graduation Trip (London)

Good morning London and Happy 19^th Birthday Ethel!

If you only have a day in London, it is advisable to start your London Tour at 0800H sharp!

We decided to purchase the underground tube daily ticket pass because it was cheap and walking will just be exhausting especially on a hot summer day in England. For a daily ticket pass in Zone 1 and 2 (London is divided into 6 zones where most of the touristy spots are concentrated in Zone 1 and 2), it was only £9.00/pax. Tips: This is better than the normal oyster card because the price is fixed and it is valid for 24 hours! Don't forget your Tube Map!

So, what to do if you only have 24 hours in London?

1. Big Ben, house of Parliaments – you will also get a view of the London Eye! Stop at Westminster.
2. A walk along Thames River
3. Buckingham Palace – make sure you arrive before 1130H and you will be in time for the changing of guards! Stop at Victoria.
4. Tower Bridge. Stop at Tower Hill.
5. Trafalgar Square – we had lunch here. Tips: Get the deal meal at Tesco! For £3.00, you will get a sandwich, crisp and a bottle of assorted drink! Stop at Charing Cross.
6. The British Museum – all museums in the UK are FREE OF CHARGE! Stop at Russel Square.
7. Oxford Street – SHOPPING!! Besides that, the biggest Primark Store is here! Stop at Marble Arch.
8. Last-minute souvenir shopping at Bayswater. Most of the souvenir shops close late at night. Tips: Try paying a visit when the shop is about to close, you will get ridiculous bargains!

Big Ben, House of Parliaments 

London's Eye which is just opposite Big Ben

La Familia in front of Buckingham Palace

The famous guards! #SELFIES

La Familia with Tower Bridge as the backdrop - dad always never looking at the camera

The view from Tower bridge overlooking The Shard - the tallest building in the European Union

#SELFIES at Trafalgar Square

La Familia at The British Museum

It was also my baby sister 19^th birthday (I bet this was the best birthday gift from my parents) today and we had a small cosy family dinner at the apartment! Menu of the night: Stir-fried pasta (thanks to Trisia) and New York Cheesecake from Sainsbury!

Dinner for the night!

Happy 19th Birthday girl!

United Kingdom | Day 5 The Graduation Trip (Falmouth - London)

London’s calling!

A panoramic view from Falmouth Pier

And so the time has come to once again bit goodbye to Cornwall! Both my parents fell in love with Cornwall and they wished they had more time here. Oh well, every good thing will always have its end.  Before returning the hired car, we went for a tour in Falmouth Town. My family really enjoyed the picturesque scenery, especially from the pier. We also managed to do some quick souvenir shopping before heading off to Pendennis Point for lunch. Under the hot summer sun accompanied by the cool sea breeze with a view that overlooked the whole of Falmouth, lunch for us was PERFECT (except for the part where the seagulls are always eyeing on your food)!

Lunch at Pendennis Point with the spectacular view overlooking the whole of Falmouth

We took the 1458H First Great Western service to London, departing from Penryn Station with stops at Truro and Par. The travelling time took us more than 7 hours instead of the normal 5 hours due to the train obstruction somewhere! We only arrived at London Paddington Station around 2315H.

I have booked the Bayswater Service Apartment for our stay in London – an apartment situated in Bayswater which is just 5 minutes drive from the station. We got the metered taxi instead of taking the underground tube train (EXPENSIVE!!!) and it was only £8.00/car to our apartment! Tips: Usually taxis in London only permit four passengers, but sometimes you just got to haggle! It is always cheap to travel by taxi (in large group especially) if the distance travelled is mainly in the city centre.

Bayswater Service Apartment located at 96-98 Inverness Terrace

United Kingdom | Day 4 The Graduation Trip (St. Ives - Land's End)

The Eid Fitr Mubarak photoshoot and the road trip

It was free and easy on the 4^th day. Both my parents woke up early and to kill time, I brought them for a quick shopping at ASDA (ASDA opens 24 hours 6 days in a week). The one thing I really love about the UK is supermarkets are easily assessable and the groceries are cheap (even though you convert it into Ringgit Malaysia)!

Later in the morning, I had an Eid-Fitr Mubarak themed photo shoot with my closest friends who came down the whole way from St. Albans for my graduation.

The hilarious and epic Eid-Fitr Mubarak photoshoot taken at Penryn Campus

A visit to Cornwall, will not be complete without paying a visit to the famous St. Ives, Land’s End and St. Micheal Mount. We departed from our apartment at 1200H and our first stop was St. Ives. St. Ives is a 55 minutes drive from Penryn and is a seaside town which is located north of Penzance. It offers a really spectacular view, especially on a summer day!

The spectacular view and crystal clear water at St. Ives

La Familia at St. Ives

Things to do if you only have 3 hours in St. Ives:

1. Walk along the coastline and embrace the view!
2. Eat mouth-watering waffles beside the beach.
3. Dine-in and enjoy a cream tea.
4. Eat lots of ice-cream especially Cornish made one because it’s summer!

Freshly baked and hot waffles by the beach! TOTAL BLISS!

Ice-creams on a hot summers day!

Our second stop was at Land’s End. It took us 45 minutes by car from St. Ives to get to Land’s End. It is the most westerly point of mainland Cornwall and England. The view here is stunning. Tips: Pay a visit during sunset because the view will be breathtaking. During the summer, the sun will only set at around 2100H, so plan your visit wisely! Besides that, you do not need to pay the parking fee (which is £3.00 per parking) after 1700H.

At the entrance and a must take picture!

The view from Land's End

La Familia

Our last stop of the day was at St. Michael’s Mount. The drive took us 30 minutes from Land’s End. St. Michael’s Mount is a tidal island which is 366m off the Mount’s Bay coast of Cornwall. During low tide, you can normally walk to the island because there is a man-made causeway of granite setts. However, please be careful as it might be slippery. During the trip, we did not walk to the island because I was having a dinner with a mate in Falmouth. Tips: On your way, please try not to miss a church where the crucifix is made out of surfboards! Fun-fact: St Michael’s Mount is one of the 43 tidal islands (unbridged) in Britain you can walk to from the mainland!

St. Michael Mount