Getting There

We landed in Florence around 2:30 in the afternoon, and things felt easy right away. The airport is small, and just outside there’s the Tram T2. It’s maybe a minute’s walk. We bought tickets, got on, and about half an hour later we were already in the city.

I remember thinking how nice it was not having to figure things out while half tired from flying. For a city that’s been around forever, Florence is surprisingly good at making the first impression calm.

We dropped our luggage at the hotel and went straight back out. No resting. That felt important.

First Food, First Cold Breeze

It was cold, but in a good way. Bright sun, clear sky, a bit windy. The kind of December weather where you’re glad you brought a jacket, but also glad you’re outside. Somewhere between two and fifteen degrees, depending on whether you were standing in the sun or not.

We went straight to All’Antico Vinaio. The sandwich was about ten euros, not cheap, but really good. Right out of the oven bread, generous fillings, everything tasting fresh.

There’s nowhere to sit, so we just stood on the street eating it like everyone else. Slightly awkward, slightly messy, but somehow that made it feel even more right. That was probably the moment it really hit me that we were in Florence.

Sunset Above the City

After that, we took a bus up to Piazzale Michelangelo. It was crowded, but once you see the view, you forget about that. Florence just opens up in front of you. The river, the rooftops, the Duomo, all slowly changing color as the sun goes down.

I only found out later that the viewpoint itself isn’t ancient. It was designed in the nineteenth century, when Florence briefly became the capital of Italy. Even the statues are replicas. But standing there in that light, none of that mattered. It felt timeless anyway.

Instead of heading back the same way, we walked down the hill. Mostly because we still had energy, and we wanted to see more of the city while the light was nice.

Gelato, Then the Bridge

We walked along the river without much of a plan and stopped for gelato at Gelateria Artigianale La Sorbettiera. This turned out to be one of my favorite stops of the whole trip.

The gelato was incredibly smooth. Not too sweet, not heavy. Chestnut tasted warm and nutty, pistachio was deep and earthy. Everything felt clean and intentional, like the flavors didn’t need to compete with each other.

Only after that did we walk over to Ponte Vecchio. The bridge was lively, but not overwhelming. The jewelry shops were glowing, the sky was getting darker, and people were just slowly moving across.

Knowing that it’s the only bridge in Florence that survived World War II makes it feel different when you walk over it. Not dramatic, just quietly heavy in the background.

Dinner and an Early Night

We wandered around for a bit, looked into a few shops, and slowly got tired. Dinner felt inevitable.

We had an eight o’clock reservation at Trattoria Zà Zà, but we went early because we were already hungry. We ordered wild boar spaghetti and beef strips with truffle. The famous Florentine steak wasn’t really an option for us, since we have very different opinions on how beef should be cooked and the portion is too big for one person.

The food was good. The place was busy. But if I’m honest, it wasn’t my favorite meal of the trip. Still, it did its job. We were warm, full, and ready to sleep.

The Duomo and Changing Expectations

The next morning, we started at the Florence Cathedral complex. We skipped climbing anything and focused on the crypt, baptistry, and museum. Our crypt reservation was at 10:30.

From the outside, the cathedral is dramatic and detailed. Inside, it feels surprisingly simple. Almost empty at first. I remember feeling a bit confused by that.

But the more time we spent there, the more it made sense. Florence was shaped by Renaissance ideas that valued proportion, balance, and clarity. The space isn’t meant to overwhelm you with decoration. It’s meant to make you feel small, quiet, and reflective. Other churches go all in on gold and ornamentation. Florence Cathedral didn’t need to.

The Baptistry

The baptistry was completely different. Smaller, darker, and instantly more intense.

The ceiling mosaics are covered in gold and deep colors, telling stories of heaven, hell, judgment, and salvation. They were made for people who couldn’t read, so everything had to be shown, not explained. Standing there, you naturally keep looking up, following one scene to the next.

Even with parts under restoration, it was stunning. The contrast between the calm, restrained cathedral and the richness of the baptistry made both feel stronger.

Leather, Finally

Florence’s leather reputation runs deeper than shopping streets. The Florence Leather School, near Santa Croce, teaches traditional leather craftsmanship and reminds you that this is a real skill here, not just something made for tourists.

I really wanted to buy a leather bag in Florence, so I had a few shops in mind. One was Vale Leather Goods, which sells branded pieces and is priced a bit higher but still reasonable.

The shop that really clicked for me was Roberta Firenze. The Japanese saleslady was incredibly kind and patient. I bought a small black handbag, a little scarf for it, and a leather passport case. Nothing flashy. Just things I know I’ll actually use.

Lunch That Was Worth the Effort

Lunch was at Trattoria Sergio Gozzi. They only open from noon to three and don’t take reservations, so we arrived at 11:55.

It was worth it.

We had peposo, tortellacci with truffle cream and mushrooms, ham and cheese beef rolls, and Zuccotto Fiorentino for dessert. Everything was excellent, especially the peposo, the beef stew in pepper wine sauce. The dessert surprised me more than I expected. Rich, comforting, and not overly sweet.

The Walking Tour We Were Waiting For

We quickly visited the Catheral musem after lunch, it was impressive. At 3:30, we joined the walking tour we had booked well in advance and were genuinely looking forward to.

The guide talked a lot about the Medici family, and suddenly Florence felt more readable. The Medici weren’t kings by birth. They were bankers who understood how power worked. Art and architecture weren’t just beautiful, they were tools. Funding artists was a way to shape the city, and also how the city saw them.

One thing the guide pointed out is that Florence has long had strict rules about building height. Private buildings weren’t meant to rise above a certain level, partly for safety, but also to prevent individual families from dominating the skyline. The Medici worked around this by layering materials, rough stone at the bottom, smoother and more refined stone above, so their buildings looked taller and more powerful without technically breaking the rules. Other families eventually copied this.

Civic buildings were a different story. Towers like Palazzo Vecchio were deliberately built taller than everything around them. The message was clear. No matter how wealthy a family became, the authority of the city stood above all.

Wine Windows, Then Bischero

During the same walk, the guide pointed out small windows set low into the walls of old buildings. Wine windows.

Back in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Florentine families who owned vineyards were allowed to sell wine directly from their homes. You would knock, pass over a flask, and get it filled through the window. During times of plague, they became especially useful since you could buy wine without close contact. Some of these windows are still in use today, which makes them feel less like history and more like something quietly ongoing.

As we were walking and listening, a nun suddenly stopped and sang a few lines. Her voice echoed through the street, and everyone went quiet. It wasn’t planned, and it didn’t feel like a performance. Just a moment.

Only later, when she joked with our guide and called him a “bischero,” did the story come up.

The Bischeri family once owned land where the city wanted to expand the cathedral square. They refused to sell, hoping the price would rise. Florence simply built around them instead. Their house ended up isolated and devalued, and their name became shorthand for stubborn foolishness.

So when someone says, “Non sono un bischero,” they mean they’re not stupid enough to make that mistake.

Gloves, Pasta, and One of the Best Meals

After the tour, we went to Madova. It’s been around since 1919. I have small hands, and finding gloves that fit is always difficult, but here I found the perfect pair with cashmere lining.

Dinner was at Osteria Toscanella, in the Oltrarno area. The building dates back to the fourteenth century. The waiter told us that Mona Lisa once lived around this neighborhood, and that there’s a well right next to the restaurant. Local stories say she may have drawn water from it herself. Whether that’s fully true or not, it made sitting there feel strangely personal.

We ordered paccheri with tomato and burrata, and cacio e pepe prepared in a cheese wheel. Both were incredible. Dessert was cheesecake and tiramisu, and by the end, we were very happy.

Christmas Market

We ended the night at the Christmas market near Santa Croce. It was lively and cozy, with lots of food, drinks, and places to sit.

We only had chestnuts and hot drinks since we were still full, but the chestnuts were some of the best we’ve had all year. Much better than the ones back in Germany.

Last Morning

Our flight was around three in the afternoon, so the last morning was relaxed. We debated visiting Galleria dell’Accademia, but decided not to rush it. Instead, we visited a couple of churches. It’s always incredible to see what people managed to build centuries ago.

The first was Santissima Annunziata, a deeply important Marian church for Florence. Calm, balanced, and still very much part of daily life.

The second was Chiesa di San Salvatore in Ognissanti. It’s tied to Florence’s merchant families and the Vespucci family, and to the world Mona Lisa lived in. Elegant, grounded, and quietly impressive.

One Last Meal and Home

Before heading to the airport, we stopped at Mercato Centrale. It’s very well organized and definitely a bit touristy, but the food is genuinely good.

We kept it simple with truffle pasta and carbonara, and a small treat of tiramisu. All were exactly what we wanted before traveling.

We picked up our luggage, took the tram back to the airport, and headed home. The airport was crowded, and there was a slightly awkward moment with the staff at the check in counter, but nothing worth holding onto.

Looking Back

It was a short trip, but it felt full. We didn’t try to see everything, and I’m glad we didn’t. Florence feels like a city that asks you to slow down.

There’s plenty left for next time. The Uffizi, the Accademia, maybe a road trip through Tuscany, or a stop in Siena. But for now, this trip ended exactly how it should have.

Tired legs, full stomachs, and memories I really don’t want to forget.

The post Florence in December: A Three-Day Travel Journal first appeared on travel till i drop.

買好機票，開始認真咁plan下冰島點玩好，一早已經有心理準備冰島呢個trip會好貴，但都想盡量慳得幾多得幾多，充分發揮師奶仔性格。因為唔想join團，想自駕多啲彈性，所以租車就一定走唔甩！

冰島有好多租車公司，雖然都有格價網，但始終都唔可以格晒所有所有租車網站，同埋記住要小心睇清楚保險條款，租得平但如果保險貴或者好多嘢都唔包，到時如果架車花咗或者有咩意外就得不償失啦，所以最後都係親自去左以下咁多個網站嚟做呢個大比拼！一般預先係網站預約租車價錢點都會比到步後先租平，所以可以嘅話就記住一早租定啦！

由於我只係同男朋友2個人去，所以唔需要一架太大嘅車，亦都唔想租campervan，因為驚訓得唔好又要成日揸車好危險，所以呢次比較係無包括只租campervan嘅公司。而且冰島真係有好多租車公司，所以真係唔可能列晒所有公司出嚟，但希望呢個評比都可以幫到大家啦！

【租車要求】

• 最平又可以預訂嘅4×4 (始終都唔係諗住淨係喺Reykjavik附近玩下就算，安全起見都係租架穩陣啲嘅4×4。另外，選擇車輛嘅時候記住考慮會帶幾多行李，行李太多嘅話車尾箱放唔晒又人多嘅話可能會坐得耐唔舒服。)
• 手動 (手動慳油，而且一般都平啲)
• 柴油 (盡可能，油價平啲)
• 凱夫拉維克國際機場(Keflavik International Airport)拎車同還車
• 盡可能括所有保險而且無墊底費/自付額(即係萬一有咩事，無需先俾一筆錢。冰島地勢咁大自然，天氣又唔穩定，出事率好高 － 架車會花，碎石整爛玻璃，車門損毀等。)
• 無限里數
• 唔額外要求GPS

【租車日期時間】 2 June 2017 2300 至 9 June 2017 2200 (7日)

【保險簡介】根據個人認知，並非專業意見 #頭盔mode

• CDW – Collision Damage Waiver 碰撞險 (一般租車已包，但墊底費/自付額較高)
• SCDW – Super Collision Damage Waiver 升級碰撞險 (墊底費/自付額較低甚至為零)
• SAAP – Sand and Ash Protection 沙塵險 (冰島有時候會有沙塵暴，如果因為沙塵暴而令車輛造成損壞，保險可以賠償。可能有墊底費/自付額，按不同公司而定。)
• GP/WP – Gravel Protection/Windshield Protection 礫石保險 (因為碎石造成車輛的損壞而賠償，如擋風玻璃。可能有墊底費/自付額，按不同公司而定。)
• TP – Theft Protection Insurance Package 竊盜險
• TPI – Third Party Insurance/Liability 第三方責任保險 (法例規定，租車已包)
• PAI – Personal Accident Insurance 個人險 (法例規定，租車已包)

【評比日期】19 March 2017

*兌換為歐元 (兌換率為1 ISK : 0.0845169 EUR 或 1 EUR : 118.320 ISK)
**價錢後面有括號就係墊底費/自付額

【最後決定】

最後我哋係喺”Lotus Car Rental”租，價錢算係幾平，另一間”Iceland 4×4 Car Rental”都差唔多價錢，好似仲話可以一啲墊底費/自付額都無，但係Trip Advisor好多人話賣晒保險都要賠一推錢，唔係好可信。Lotus雖然啲Review好似有啲係假嘅，但就算無咩劣評，而且有個同事之前去都係租呢間，所以就試下啦。

【事後報告】

雖然我哋租嘅係Suzuki Jimny，去到佢upgrade咗我哋架車做Suziki Grand Vitara，拎車還車嘅過程都順利，唯獨係架車有啲問題。問題一係Hand brake有問題，問題二係有一日個電池壞咗，要拎去車房整，耽誤咗少少行程，但始終我哋安排呢個road trip嘅行程唔係太緊密，所以都無影響我哋enjoy冰島呢趟旅程。

The post 【冰島Iceland】自駕租車介紹及大評比 2017 first appeared on travel till i drop.

《Cocktail Bar》

先同大家介紹兩間cocktail bar，雖則叫cocktail bar但係其實係有得飲咖啡、朱古力既地方，呢兩間cocktail bar有咩咁特別呢？就係都係rooftop bar，喺Acropolis雅典衛城附近，所以你係兩間bar入面都可以睇到Acropolis，可以一邊嘆咖啡一邊睇靚景。但先旨聲明，呢兩間bar都係好出名，所以都經常好full嘅，不過我哋好好彩去到兩間都搵到位。仲有一樣嘢要注意返，喺希臘好多飲嘢食嘢嘅地方都係可以係室內吸煙！

【360 Cocktail Bar】

第一間要介紹既係「360 Cocktail Bar」，係藍色線地鐵站Monastiraki旁邊，360 Cocktail Bar一共佔3層（無記錯嘅話應該係2-3樓同天台）。雖然我哋去嘅時候係得幾度嘅冬天，佢天台係有好多暖爐，所以我哋揀咗坐喺天台都冇問題，同埋唔鍾意煙味嘅朋友可能坐天台會更加好，起碼有啲新鮮空氣，但天台唔係無時無刻都開。

Opening Hours: MON-FRI: 09:00 – 03:00. SAT & SUN: 09:00 – 04:00
地址: Ifestou 2, Athens
網址: http://www.three-sixty.gr/

天台露台望出去嘅景色

【A for Athens】

第二間係「A for Athens」，其實喺「360 Cocktail Bar」附近，「A for Athens」係一間酒店，所以個bar係酒店嘅rooftop bar，去bar嘅喺同酒店住客嘅分開。「A for Athens」嘅Cocktail Bar得一層，冬天會落咗透明膠所以唔會吹到凍，夏天會係全室外。呢個Bar比「360 Cocktail Bar」仲要高啲啲，但老實講兩間嘅景色其實差唔多。

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 03:30
地址: 2-4, Miaouli Str., Athens
網址: https://www.facebook.com/AforAthensCocktailBar/

右下角就係360 Cocktail Bar

《Cafe》

然後要同大家介紹三間cafe，好遺憾3間都係去到門口但都因為太多人而無機會試，全部都係當地雅典人都話好嘅cafe，所以有耐性等下又或者想碰吓運氣又或者可以朝早去試一試（我哋全部都係下晝先去）。

【Noel】

第一間叫「Noel」，店如其名，係一間全年365日都充滿聖誕裝飾嘅Cafe/Bar，有得飲又有得食，2016年尾去幾時候佢哋話每日下午5-11點可以打電話去訂食嘢嘅枱，如果淨係飲嘢係無得訂嘅，去到亦無得話留枱晏啲再番轉頭，雖然入面嘅裝飾係好靚，但因為可以喺室內吸煙，有少少污煙瘴氣嘅感覺，而且我哋覺得佢哋啲服務態度好差，唔志在做你生意咁，所以我哋決定走人。

Opening Hours: SUN-THU: 10:00 – 02:00. FRI & SAT: 10:00 – 04:00
地址: Kolokotroni 59B, Athens
網址: https://www.facebook.com/theholidaybar/

一年365日充滿聖誕氣氛嘅裝飾

【Little Kook】

第二間叫「Little Kook」，出名要推介嘅原因係Cupcake蛋糕係好好食嘅。由於係聖誕附近，成間鋪都係好靚嘅聖誕裝飾！雖然已經有兩間鋪（係對面），但仍然大排長龍，我諗主要原因係：喺香港食嘢，patpat都未坐暖就會俾人趕走，但喺希臘一般都唔會趕你走，等你慢慢飲啖茶傾下偈。由於希臘男朋友仔係唔鐘意去要排隊嘅餐廳，所以喺門口影咗幾張相就走啦！（睇番網上面嘅相，就算係平時啲裝飾都好靚架！）

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 00:00
地址: Karaiskaki 17, Athens
網址: https://www.facebook.com/littlekookgr/

其實啲裝飾真係幾靚

但天寒地凍仲要大排長龍又真係辛苦咗啲

【Mama Roux】

第三間叫「Mama Roux」，呢間嘅brunch聽聞係好好食嘅，鋪面唔算好大，雖然未有排長龍咁誇張，但下晝想去嘅時候都係無位嘅！間舖出面用咗好多色彩繽紛嘅遮嚟做裝飾，去到見唔到舖頭名就可以認住啲遮啦！

Opening Hours: MON 09:30 – 18:00 TUE – SAT: 09:30 – 00:30 SUN: 12:30 – 18:30
地址: Aiolou 48, Athens
網址: https://www.facebook.com/Mama-Roux-264571513559218/

去到附近一見到啲五顏六色嘅遮做裝飾，好易見到

【IT】

最後想介紹俾大家嘅係一間食嘢嘅餐廳叫「IT」，由於餐廳喺有錢人區附近，價錢係偏貴咗少少，食嘅嘢係新潮嘅Fusion意大利菜，會利用傳統嘅希臘食材煮嘅Fusion菜式。餐廳嘅裝飾好Chill，其實好有cafe嘅感覺，應該去飲咖啡都唔錯嘅。仲有一個加分位，初初佢哋淨係俾希臘文menu我哋，店員見希臘男朋友仔逐行翻譯俾我聽，就主動拎咗個英文menu俾我。

小故事：啲同行嘅希臘人話做乜間餐廳好改唔改，改埋啲咁奇怪嘅名。但老老實實，香港買衫間IT不知幾出名，個名做得響，奇怪又有乜所謂。

Opening Hours: MON – FRI 08:30 – 01:00 SAT: 10:00 – 01:00 SUN: 12:00 – 18:00
地址: Skoufa str. 29, Kolonaki, Athens
網址: http://www.itrestaurant.gr/en/

男朋友至愛 － 漢堡包

雖則話係意粉，但佢話係希臘家鄉意粉

今次介紹係咁多先，下次見！

The post 【希臘雅典 Athens】飲飲食食吃喝推介 first appeared on travel till i drop.

最近唔知係咪因為多咗國泰有直航機飛嚟呢度, 硬係覺得呢度多咗好多亞洲面孔嘅人。其實Düsseldorf係一個幾適合亞洲人住嘅歐洲城市, 遲下再詳細介紹多啲呢個城市, 不過如來您食唔慣德國嘢, 呢個城市都有好多好味嘅亞洲嘢食! (係好味嘅, 唔係嗰啲歐洲人口味嘅”亞洲食物”!)

Düsseldorf機場小貼士

言歸正傳, 如果大家係喺香港直接飛嚟, 應該都會係Düsseldorf International Airport落機, 呢個機場都算係光猛乾淨安全, 唯一唔係好嘅地方係一般落機入境行去行李區, 勁快就搞掂, 因為一般都唔係特別多Schengen以外嘅機係度, 所以入境都唔會好多人排隊同搞好耐, 而咁快去到行李區唔係咩? 快啲拎完快啲去酒店, 就係唔好…因為佢啲行李次次都要等十世先出嚟!! 次次去完個靚廁, 再咪咪摸摸行去行李區都係要有排等… 另外一樣大家都應該好關心嘅嘢就係有無免費wifi, 有, 但係得30分鐘, 如果您有幾部上到網嘅機可以輪住嚟用, 如果唔係就記住要用得strategic啲啦!

Düsseldorf機場出市區小貼士

好啦, 終於辛辛苦苦等到個行李, 咁而家點樣可以出去市區呢? Düsseldorf個機場都算係咁啦, 其實好近市區, 唔駛話特別買好貴嘅車飛。有機場去市區有2個方法, 1係坐巴士, 1係坐S-bahn, 2樣都會去到火車站, 然後喺個度可以轉車去市內其他地方。

坐巴士

拎完行李跟指示出去搵巴士, 我一般有得揀都係坐721, 可以直接去到火車站。 出咗機場向右手邊行, 盡頭就會見到個巴士站, 巴士每20分鐘嚟一次 (無記錯無變就係逢01, 21, 41分就會走), 大約25分鐘就會由機場到達火車站, 車上一般都有顯示牌, 話您知下個站係邊, 單程飛同日票都可以係車上買, 司機一般都有錢找, 但如果紙幣面額太大就好難講啦。除咗721仲有其他巴士, 但好似都唔係去啲好市中心嘅地方, 有需要就可以再check下。

坐S-bahn/火車

如果唔好彩無得搭巴士或者S-bahn站近啲, 就可以考慮搭S-bahn, 有S1同S11揀, 2架都會去到火車站同會停沿途嘅站。先講S11, S11總站係機場, 跟住指示應該都好易搵到個站, S11一個鐘先有一班, 所以時間夾得啱就先會考慮下, 但上咗車12分鐘就會出到去火車站。S1就麻煩少少, 要先去坐Sky Train, 去到一個火車站, 嗰度除咗S1仲有其他RE同ICE搭 (去其他城市嘅火車), 所以記得搵下自己要去邊個月台上車, RE同ICE應該會再快d, 但啲飛都係貴啲, 所以最抵嘅選擇都係等S1, 每半個鐘就有一班, 都ok啦。S1係開通宵嘅, 如果有事要早去機場而無巴士坐, S1都係個好選擇。搭S-bahn或者Sky Train之前都會有賣飛嘅機同打飛嘅機, 唔打飛俾人捉到就要罰40歐, 扮無辜係未必幫到您嘅, 所以最好就唔好慳呢少少錢啦!

大概分享住咁多先, 有其他問題就係下面留言啦!

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1. Mom is like a secretary
There are many things to handle when you live abroad alone, you have to remember to pay the rent, bills for electricity, water, internet, phone…Do everything by yourself, in case you forget one little thing…Ohlalaaaa!

2. Mommy is like “Hercules”
Wanna drink milk? Eat some oranges? If there’s no toilet paper at home, no shampoo…Then go to the supermarket and buy them yourself, and things can be heavy! The worst is I don’t have an elevator in my building…

3. Mommy is like a chef
Whatever yummy dishes I want to eat when I was living with my parents, probably I just need to tell my mom and I will get it soon! But living abroad means unless you know how to cook the dish and can get all the ingredients, you ain’t having that delicious food that you like! Some people may say, then just go to the restaurant! But if I go to a Chinese restaurant, maybe the food I cook tastes more genuine and tasty!

4. Mommy is like a doctor
When I was sick back at home, my mom would take care of me. She would prepare food and drinks that would help me to recover faster! Now?! It’s time to take care of myself!

5. Mommy is like a cleaning lady
Germany is less polluted than Hong Kong. Theoretically, my home in Germany should be less dusty, but it’s not true…I still have to clean all the time! Sometimes it feels too tired after going back home, but still have to do laundry, if not, I have no clean clothes to wear!

6. Mommy is like a financial planner
Buying food, paying for rent and bills…everything costs and everything is important! I didn’t realize these things can add up to cost so much until I have to buy them myself! In the past, feel like collecting supermarket stamps or points or buy discounted items are something that only housewives will do! But now living alone, I started doing these too!

7. Mommy is like an encyclopedia
Not sure how to cook rice without a rice cooker? The pot is burnt accidentally and doesn’t know how to clean it? Other than Google, guess only mommy can tell you the answer right away!

Long story short, mom is great and amazing! It’s not easy to treasure it when we take her for granted, but she has been doing so much for the family and deserves all our love and respect whenever we can.

The post 7 reasons why mom is really amazing first appeared on travel till i drop.

1. 媽咪係屋企嘅秘書
自己係外國生活就乜都要自己做，要記得定時定候交租，甚至水費，電費，上網費，電話費…總之全部都要自己嚟，是但唔記得一樣，都真係OMG！

2. 媽咪係屋企嘅大力士
想飲牛奶，想食番個橙，屋企無晒廁紙，洗頭水…全部都要自己去買！呢度少少，果度少少…拎住哂返屋企都咪話唔重！仲要住喺無升降機嘅地方…/.\

3. 媽咪係屋企嘅廚師
今日想食蒸水蛋，聽日想食豉椒排骨…喺屋企，同媽咪講聲就可能有得食！係外國生活，想食就真係想下先！除非自己識煮仲要買到晒需要嘅材料，煮完啲味道都仲可能爭咁啲！有人會話去中國餐館囉，老實講，自己煮可能仲好味！

4. 媽咪係屋企嘅醫師
「嘩！呢排熱氣，煲啲涼茶你飲啦！」個排捱夜多，仲要食埋晒啲薯條pizza，生晒暗瘡就只可以戒下口！諗住搵番個羅漢果煲下羅漢果水飲咩，點知喺亞洲超級市場買啲羅漢果全部都奇奇怪怪咁…

5. 媽咪係屋企嘅清潔姐姐
明明前日先吸完塵，做乜今日咁快有咁多塵！明明諗住外國空氣好啲，應該少啲塵，點知都係要成日清潔！有時夜晚返到屋企攰到傻下傻下，都仲要即刻洗衫，如果唔係之後無衫著！

6. 媽咪係屋企嘅理財策劃師
買下食物，買下油，買下洗衣液…樣樣都係錢，仲要樣樣都係好緊要，自己唔去買都唔知加加埋埋啲嘢都好多錢！以前覺得儲印花儲積分，睇住超市百貨公司有咩減價就去買定啲必需品好師奶，好多時都係啲媽媽級先會做嘅嘢！但自己生活耐咗，漸漸都變得精打細算咗！

7. 媽咪係屋企嘅百科全書
冇電飯煲點煮飯？煮燶嘢點算好？件衫有漬添！除咗Google，相信只有阿媽先可以及時幫到你！

The post 7個媽咪真係好偉大嘅原因 first appeared on travel till i drop.

1. 啤酒節有幾耐歷史？

啤酒節源自1810年，最初只係慶祝Bavarian國王Ludwig I.同佢妻子Theresie嘅結婚紀念活動之一。本來係賽馬活動，但因太受歡迎，而逐漸變成每年舉行嘅活動，繼而進發成今日嘅啤酒節！

2. 啲啤酒有啲咩特色架？

啤酒節嘅啤酒全部都係係德國慕尼黑釀造，而自16世紀，德國Bavaria（啤酒節所屬嘅州）已經對釀造啤酒有嚴格嘅規條，為咗釀造最純嘅啤酒，喺1516年，Duke William IV訂下只可以用水, 大麥（Barley）,同啤酒花（Hop），所以德國嘅啤酒被譽為世上最好味嘅啤酒！

3. 去到啤酒節有咩牌子嘅啤酒飲呢？

啤酒節嘅啤酒都係喺Bavaria釀製，有以下幾個品牌：Augustiner, Paulaner, Spaten-Franziskaner, Löwenbräu, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu

4. 1杯啤酒有幾大杯？幾多錢？又有幾多卡路里？

啤酒節一杯啤酒一般都係1公升1杯，一個人飲唔晒嘅話，就記得同朋友仔share嗌一杯好啦！1杯啤酒通常都係大概10euro以下，而1杯啤酒嘅卡路里就有500kcal啦！！！好肥呀！！！

5. 啤酒節有啲咩德國傳統嘢食要食呢？

有幾樣嘢食嚟到啤酒節唔可以唔試嘅！德國咸豬手啦，腸仔啦，德國麵包啦…！呢啲都聽得多，但原來德國人仲鍾意係啤酒節食燒雞，隻雞醃到好入味，啲皮再燒到脆卜卜！

6. 啤酒節有咩玩架？

啤酒節其實就好似一個大型嘉年華會，有機動遊戲，有賣嘢食既攤位,當然唔少得飲啤酒嘅帳幕！啤酒節係無入場費嘅，機動遊戲都係玩先要俾錢，所以假如你唔食唔飲唔玩，基本上係可以唔洗錢嘅！

7. 去啤酒節要準備啲乜？

話晒係全球最大嘅啤酒節，每年都好多人慕名而來！所以每逢啤酒節期間，去慕尼黑嘅機票火車飛酒店都會好full同好貴，所以要預早book定同計劃行程，如果唔係就要「出外靠朋友」，如果有係慕尼黑住嘅朋友就唔使咁擔心啦！去啤酒節仲要預咗book定張檯，如果唔係入到去都無位坐，無位坐就無得嗌啤酒啦！想全情投入仲可以著埋Bavaria嘅傳統服裝Dirndl(女)或者Lederhosen(男)，去到啤酒節大把人著，唔使驚得自己一個著！

 (Source of picture: wikipedia)

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1. What’s the history of Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest originates in 1810. At first, it was a horse race and was part of the celebration of Bavarian King Ludwig I. and his wife Theresie. As the horse race was very popular, it was held as an annual event afterward, and eventually becomes the Oktoberfest nowadays.

2. What’s so special about the beer?
The beer we drink in Oktoberfest is all brewed in Munich. Since the 16th century, Bavaria in Germany already has set strict rules for brewing the best beer. In order to brew the purest beer, in 1516, Duke William IV ordered only water, barley and hop can be used for brewing!

3. What brands of beer are you expecting to see in Oktoberfest?
All the beer in Oktoberfest are brewed in Munich in Bavaria, include the following brands: Augustiner, Paulaner, Spaten-Franziskaner, Löwenbräu, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu

4. How big and how much is a glass of beer? How many calories does a glass of beer contain?
During Oktoberfest, a glass of beer is usually 1L. It costs around 10euro and it has around 500kcal for each glass of beer! Maybe sharing a glass of beer with a friend is not a bad idea, thinking about how much fat you are gaining!

5. What are some typical German food to eat in Oktoberfest?
There are a few foods you should try when you go to Oktoberfest! The common ones are pork knuckle, bratwurst, pretzels…! But maybe it never draws your attention that Germans also like to eat roast chicken in Oktoberfest, season the chicken, and roast the skin until it’s super crispy! Ohlalalaaaaaa. Nom!

6. What am I expecting to have fun at Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest is like a big carnival, there are rides, stalls for food, and a beer tent! There’s no entrance fee for Oktoberfest, and you only have to pay if you are playing the rides, eating, or drinking! So if you don’t want to spend any money in Oktoberfest, you can simply walk around and feel what it’s like!

7. What should I prepare to go to Oktoberfest?
As Oktoberfest is the biggest beer festival in the world, there are people from all around the world to go to Oktoberfest every year! During that period, hotels and transportation like flights and trains tickets soared! So plan ahead, if not, maybe it’s good to have a good friend who lives in Munich! Also, remember to book a table in the tent earlier. If you don’t have a seat, they won’t serve you a beer! If you would like to get in the atmosphere, you can also wear the traditional Bavarian costume! Don’t feel shy! There will be many people wearing Dirndl and Lederhosen there, and I’m sure you will enjoy yourself even more!

To get to know more: http://www.oktoberfest.de/

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1. Person with alarm clock keeps ringing
Once I lived in a hostel, someone in the room had her alarm clock starts ringing at 6.30am! I understand sometimes people may have to wake up early to catch their schedule, it’s okay if someone is waking up early! But the annoying thing is, this girl actually wakes up at 8.30am in the end. So she just keeps her alarm clock ringing at 6.30am,7am, 7.30am, 8am, 8.15am, 8.25am…etc.

2. Person who chats/speaks loudly at the midnight
I once fell asleep at around 11pm. Then I thought I could sleep till the next morning. But at around 12am, my dorm-mates came back. They started chatting, tidying up their things, walking around the room to get stuff…They were too noisy that they actually woke me up. What is worse was there was a group of 12 Spanish living in the room right next. As the hostel is quite old, you can hear people speaking next room quite clearly. In the end, there was no way but I had to go to the reception and tell them the situation and got it solved.

3. Person who is drunk
When it’s the middle of the night, and your dorm-mate came back drunk and talking to someone else, that’s actually quite horrible. I personally think drunk people are one of the hardest people to deal with. Because even when you talk to them, they can’t really control themselves and the next morning, they won’t even remember what happened last night. I feel that’s not much I can do under this circumstance.

4. People who do 18+ things in the room (not smoking or drinking)
When you live in a mixed form, with people of all ages and both male and female in the room, sometimes I don’t really understand how people can do something like that, and making noise that makes people feel uncomfortable. Perhaps they think it’s exciting to do such things, but seriously, it’s just so awkward to hear something like that.

5. Person who said he’s interested in you
After chatting for a while, the person told you you are so cute, so pretty, and he’s interested in you, and you are living in the same dorm with him! Ohlalalaaaaa Once I traveled with my friend and she’s the victim, just to play safe, my friend and I slept in the same bed together that night even though we paid for our own bed!

Have you met someone in the hostel that you would not like to stay in the same room with? Share your experience below!

The post 5 types of people you don’t want to share a Hostel room with first appeared on travel till i drop.

1. 鬧鐘響不停嘅人

有一次住hostel，由其中一個同房嘅朋友（唔識嘅），鬧鐘係朝早6點幾就開始響，如果佢真係要咁早起身，我都唔介意，咁各有所需嘛！但弊就弊在佢又唔醒，個鬧鐘由6點幾響到8點半先起身！慘在我地呢啲無辜嘅人俾佢嘈醒晒…陰功！

2. 深夜講嘢大大聲嘅人

試過十一點幾瞓覺，已經訓著咗架啦，跟住有班人十二點幾返房，開始講嘢，係間房行嚟行去大大聲，結果嘈醒咗！但一山還有一山高，話說個Hostel都有少少舊，房同房之間嘅隔音麻麻哋，一點幾隔離房講西班牙文嘅朋友仲係度高談闊論緊，忍唔住都係要去同reception投訴下！

3. 飲醉酒嘅人

飲酒飲到醉醺醺，成身酒味仲要深宵嘈嘈閉嘅人。本人最怕就係遇到飲醉酒嘅人，佢都飲醉酒，你講乜佢都聽唔入耳，話佢佢都會繼續嘈，仲要第二日乜都唔記得晒自己做咗啲咩！真係有時都唔知點對付呢啲人！

4. 做兒童不宜嘢嘅人（唔係吸煙同飲酒）

即係住係一個mixed dorm，明明就係有好多陌生人，有男有女，但就偏偏要係咁多人嘅地方做一啲兒童不宜嘅嘢，發出一啲「奇怪」嘅聲音！可能佢哋覺得好刺激，但聽到啲咁嘅聲音嘅人就真係瞓得有啲唔係好安樂！

5. 話對你有興趣嘅人

傾咗一陣計，跟住就開始話覺得你好靚，對你好有興趣嘅人，如果佢仲要同你同一間房，都咪話唔驚。試過同個朋友一齊去旅行，佢就係個受害者，最後明明一人俾咗一張牀嘅錢都要嗰晚一齊孖鋪！

你又有冇喺hostel遇過啲唔想遇到嘅人呢？歡迎分享！

The post 5種住hostel唔想遇到嘅房友 first appeared on travel till i drop.