Ahoj everyone!
Today, Malaysians go to the polls so I wanted to just keep this light and easy because Heaven knows, its heated enough out there! 😛 I thought I’d share a little about what’s been going on and why I had a little cryptic message on my blog 2 weeks ago and just why things have been up and down here at MWS central with the regular blog schedule all over the place.
First off, I had a freak accident that resulted in my car being quite badly damaged. No one was hurt and I don’t want to dwell on details but suffice to say that it was and still is a horrible time, the car is still at the service centre for repairs and there’s a lot on my plate to have to deal with a lot of crap. I tell you, people will try to wriggle their way out of paying money if they could! I’m trying to make sure that doesn’t happen. Its what’s my time is mostly taken up with now which I hope explains why blogging wasn’t top priority for me in the past couple of weeks. I’ll get better at managing time, promise (too much backlog to catch up with, but I hope this explains the why)
Freak accident aside, I was also away on a vacation to a city I’d been wanting to visit forever, ever since I can remember. I was in Prague, Czech Republic and I had the best time of my life! 😀
I don’t know when I got the idea that I had to visit Prague. It might have something to do with the fact that in school, I had a pen-pal from Czechoslovakia as it then was. We corresponded a while, and I remember her telling me about how beautiful her city was. We lost touch a few years later, but the worm of an idea of visiting the country wriggled its way into my head and stayed there.
Oldest working astronomical clock in the world ~ Prague, Old Town Square
Its taken quite a few years for it to happen, but happen it did! I would love to tell you a little more about what I did there, what I saw and just how much food I ate (OMG! The meats!) but I can’t do it in one sitting. There’s just so much, and I don’t know how interested anyone is in knowing what to do there or visit there. This isn’t a travel blog after all, even if I love my travel very much but I might split it up over a few weeks – just let me know when it bores you, or you can tell me what you want to know too 🙂
Prague Castle by night as seen from across the river
Suffice to say that I love the city. Its beautiful and romantic. There aren’t many cities in the world where you get a beautiful castle overlooking a river or a fairytale atmosphere in the old parts of the town. I had a great time getting lost in the little cobblestoned streets, turning round a corner and going “Oh! I was just here a few minutes ago!” I loved the history and how well preserved everything is because Hitler apparently loved the city so much, he wanted to preserve as much of his retirement home as he could.
Grilled Pork Knuckle ~ 305CZK (approx RM47)
I enjoyed the food a lot even if it was mostly just meats the size of my face and beers in tankards bigger than my usual capacity. I had been warned ahead of time to “leave at home your notion of greens” and truly, greens aren’t the Czech’s top 10 foods.
Eggenberg beer 0.5l light and dark at Eggenberg brewery ~ Ceský Krumlov
If you’ve never eaten a “trdelnik” I highly recommend it, especially from a little bakery called Krust, just off the Old Town Square. There are other stalls selling it but the best I had came from this bakery even if its a tiny bit pricier than other places at 60CZK (approx RM4). I had one almost every day. Yes, I’m now fatter than when I left – don’t judge 😛
Ahoj Trdelnik! You made me fat (but I forgive you because you’re so good!)
I also went out of the city to 2 other nearby towns of Kutná Hora and Ceský Krumlov – the former has a most interesting church decorated with bones of over 40,000 humans. Yes, humans. Wanna see pictures? 😀 The latter is a UNESCO Heritage Site and to me, a fairytale town where I sat by the river in the cool sun, having a lunch feast while watching ducks and with a view of the castle. Quite a perfect afternoon 😀
So this has been what’s happening with me. It was the worst of times and it was the best of times. You don’t want to see pictures of the worst of times, so I’ll just leave you with the pretty ones 🙂
I went without having much of an idea of what to do, where to go, what to see (due to my trauma) but it all turned out for the best, and I even had time to slip in some shopping 😉 Special shoutouts go out to Charlotte at Lipglossiping and A, a lovely reader who lives in Prague (who I had the chance to meet!) for helping me with my many questions. That, free wifi and a pretty affordable data mobile phone package helped me get around and I had a great time.
I’ll tell you more soon (Or you can ask me questions and we can take it from there 🙂 )
Have you been to Prague? Is it in your list of must-visit cities in the world?
Its been on my list for the longest time and I was very happy to finally book my tickets and cross it off. I would love to return some day. If I lived in Europe, I probably would. But as I don’t, it’ll just have to be a quick stopover next time 😉
Paris B
Tammy says
So so sorry about your accident Paris! But so so happy that you had a great trip! Yes please tell us more about your trip. I love your photos (especially the food ones!) Definitely a city to go to one day!
Paris B says
Thank you Tammy 🙂 I will definitely share more about the trip and the beautiful city! You should visit! 😀
Kristine says
What a coincidence, I’ve also always wanted to go to Prague. One day!
Paris B says
And i’m sure you will Kristine 😀
xin says
I wanna go thereeee!!! but now prague has to wait for me 🙁 but i guess that’s fine because all the architecture will still be well preserved when i visit i believe 🙂
Paris B says
Haha they’ve survived from the 15th century, through 2 World Wars and revoltions. I think they’ll wait for you 😉
Angela says
Oh dear, I’m glad you are fine. That’s what is the most important. And Prague looks beautiful. I would love to visit one day.
Paris B says
Thank you for your kind words, Angela 😀 Prague is even more beautiful in real life – absolutely worth a visit 🙂
Victoria says
I am really sorry about your damaged car. It really looks like a big tree fell on it. Hope you could demand compensation from whoever was responsible for such a misfortune. But just thank God that nothing happened to you.
I love Prague and a friend of mine went there last year and really loved it as well. Prague and basically Europe is on my wish-list of places to visit in the future. But I guess it will remain in a distant future as it is just too expensive. My sister visited Poland last year and I would highly recommend it as a place to visit as it is such a beautiful place with lovely people.
Paris B says
Thank you Victoria 🙂 It wasn’t a tree but close >.< I am working on kicking butt. Lets hope this nightmare is over soon! 🙂 Visiting Europe is a pricey affair I will concede. However, I found that Prague is one of the more affordable cities to visit once you get there. You can rent apartments (which I did) which were cheaper than hotels and food, getting around etc is so much more affordable than any other European city I've been to! I haven't thought about visiting Poland but I'll look into it! Central/Eastern Europe is so different from Western Europe, I want to see them all! 😀
AnT says
Omigosh. So sorry to hear about the freak accident. Glad you are alright and that you had such a great trip~!
Nope, never been to Prague. The Pork Knuckle looks yummy!! 😀 Waaaaaaaaa, what’s inside that huge soup mug?
Trdelnik looks yummy too! LOL 😀
Paris B says
Thank you AnT 😀 The soup was garlic soup! It was clear with loads of garlicky croutons in it. I could have easily defeated a vampire 😀
Hane Hassan says
I went to Prague in 2010. At first, I thought it was dull…but the more I really looked around, instead of thinking where to shop…and finally enjoying the city..Prague turned out to be truly mesmerizing and beautiful. The food was really cheap too. Compared to Amsterdam and London that I went afterwards.
Paris B says
Hi Hane, I do agree with the shopping bit. Excellent if you wanted to buy lots of crystal stuff but not much otherwise so I left all my shopping till the last day when I blitz through the city like a whirlwind! LOL 😀 Glad you had a chance to visit Prague too and you’re right too. I found it relatively affordable compared to many other cities in Europe. Perhaps not a city many people think of visiting, but one that is worth visiting nonetheless 😀
Amanda says
You sure had a great time, Paris! 🙂 You make me crave for Trdelník now. I haven’t had one for almost a year. They used to be 45CZK only! LOL @ the pork knuckle.
Paris B says
Oh I had a FAB time, Amanda! 😉 As I told you, if I lived in Prague, I’d be fat from all the Trdelnik HAHA! I saw many stalls selling them for 50CZK but I tried one and didn’t like how thick and floury it was. The one from Krust was really good! 😉
lisa says
i’m so glad you are alright. Safety first, car and other hassles second. Whatever you might be dealing with, hope that it will be smooth going and over with asap.
I love Prague . Even the name is so wonderful sounding. Please do share more about your travel. For some of us who can’t make the trip yet, this is the next best thing! 🙂
Paris B says
Thank you Lisa 🙂 I am hoping the same or some butt will get kicked! I will be sure to share more travel tales on Prague. Perhaps have a little weekly or fortnightly travel section – hopefully that doesn’t put people off haha! 😀
Ting says
I hope nobody was in that car when the accident happened! Glad that you are safe and able to come back to blogging! =)
You know, crossing off an item in To-Do list is the greatest feeling ever. It makes room for other items in the list… HA HA HA
Thanks for sharing your travelogs. Love to see your photos and food photos. 🙂 Never been to Prague myself. Should I put that in my list then? :p
Paris B says
No there wasn’t, thank goodness, Ting 🙂 You definitely have to put Prague into your list of “Must Visit” cities. Its beautiful, and surprisingly affordable! 😀
BunBunMakeupTips says
How beautiful! I wanna visit Europe some day too. But Greece seems like such a gorgeous place too; that\’ll be first, then Europe, maybe. Heehee
Paris B says
Ah Greece, I have that on my list too! 😀 I want to go there mostly for the history but everyone tells me its so hot when they’re there that I’m actually put off by the thought! I love the cold, and I don’t play as well in the hot sun 🙁 Ah well, maybe the beauty of the place will change my mind. I hope you get to your dream country soon!
Hsu Jen says
Sorry to read about your car. Hope you’re alright!
Prague looks absolutely dreamy! It’s always been on my bucket list and sounds like one of those fairytale places that can’t possibly be true 😀
Paris B says
I’m alright Hsu Jen, thank you for your concern. Just a big dent to the wallet that I want others to be responsible for 🙂 Prague is most certainly very fairytale especially when you see all the little towns, cobblestone streets and the spires. Its as if Disney cartoons were inspired by the city 😀
SharonC says
Sorry to hear about the car but hope the repairs will be going well and you’ll get the car back soon (or maybe you’ve gotten it back already).
On the side note. OMG Prague! It’s one of my must go list but I kept visiting other places in Europe once a year (or twice if I don’t visit Japan again). I hope to go there during CNY, with the snow and what not, it’s going to be sooooo magical! Was thinking of stopping by during my Swiss leg this november but nah….. there’s just too many things that interests me in Switzerland!
Paris B says
Thank you SharonC, the car isn’t back yet – there’s a lot to be done and until someone agrees to pay for it, nothing can be done so its highly frustrating 🙁 But I’ll get there and someone’s butt will be kicked 🙂 I had a hankering to visit Prague for years too but like you, other cities just seem to must easier to visit. Its not easy getting to Prague from Malaysia so it does take some planning. But its worth it so don’t give up planning your trip! I do want to visit Switzerland too but the cost is really putting me off 🙁
Samantha says
I never knew why but I always wanted to visit Czech Rep..seeing the pictures alone is enough to convinced me as 1 of the must visit country on my list more so than UK or Paris (can u believe it)…still saving up on funds to make this trip a dream come true…did u visited other parts of Europe as well? glad u get a good trip & thank God no 1 was hurt from the accident
Paris B says
On the bright side, Samantha I found that once you get to Prague, the city is much more affordable than London or Paris. A LOT more affordable! I was very surprised because I didn’t know anything when I went – went blind as it were 😀 I only went to the Czech Republic for about a week – I don’t usually do multiple countries when I travel, preferring to take things slow 🙂 Its an expensive way to travel but one that I find ultimately most fulfilling 🙂 Thank you for your kind words, I thank God too that it was just the car 🙂
plue says
lovely place! and you look like you had lotsa fun! sorry to hear about your car though, but luckily you weren’t injured 🙂
Paris B says
Yes, its a beautiful city and thank you Plue. No one was injured 🙂