Euro Vacay Day 10-13: New Year’s Eve in Paris!

Posted on January 2, 2021 | Leave a comment

Okay, so I’ve been posting these throwback blogs I’ve been meaning to share pre-pandemic, and I know that we’ve just welcomed the new year, but let me still share with you my very short Paris adventure when I welcomed 2020! I know, who knew that it would be such an eventful year!

After returning from my visit to the Auschwitz–Birkenau camp, I immediately took a hot shower at my hostel and booked an Uber to take me to Krakow Glowny, from where I would head back to the Czech Republic for my flight to Paris. The FlixBus trip back to Prague took around six hours, and from Prague Zličín, I had to take another Uber to get to Václav Havel Airport for my flight via Czech Airlines to France

I arrived at Charles De Gaulle Airport around nine in the morning on the 31st of December, so I really had all the time in the world to make it to my hostel before the celebrations began in the evening. I was expecting a lot of people to be at the airport, but surprisingly, there were just about the usual number of people I see in some of the busiest airports I’ve been to, considering it’s a holiday. It was very easy for me to navigate, and you can also ask for assistance, particularly regarding which train is heading to Paris!

Ah, Paris! I’ve been dreaming of visiting this place for so long, and I was just very anxious and excited to explore the city since I’ll be spending four days here! Too short, I know, but I’m pretty sure there’ll be a next time. I booked my accommodation at the Perfect Hotel & Hostel located on Rue Rodier. Making sure I wouldn’t get lost, I opted to walk there from the Gare du Nord station. It wasn’t that far, and I was able to easily navigate the streets of that part of Paris using Google Maps. You see, I really do prefer walking when traveling overseas! Hah!

The hostel was very quaint and clean, and the room wasn’t so bad. After spending days with other people at night, I was already used to sharing space. After lying down for a bit, I decided to walk around the neighborhood while the sun was still out. It was still very cold, mind you, but the day was just beautiful!

That night, I introduced myself to one of my roommates, a guy from Spain who teaches English in Colombia and was spending the holiday in Paris. I asked him if he’d like to go out together. He and I decided to head to the area near the Eiffel Tower to celebrate New Year’s Eve, but unfortunately, the traffic was terrible, and it would have taken us forever to get there. So, we decided to celebrate at the Arc de Triomphe instead. It was a very exciting and unforgettable experience, to say the least. I had a blast waiting with everyone for the clock to strike midnight, marking the dawn of the year 2020.

In my next post, I’ll be sharing my little walking tour in Paris. I didn’t get to see everything because it was cloudy, wet, and cold, but it’s still an experience that I’ll treasure forever.

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My Unforgettable Auschwitz-Birkenau Day Tour

Posted on December 31, 2020 | Leave a comment

I never learned about the Holocaust in school. History lessons were very compressed at my public elementary and high schools. My first exposure to the Nazi genocide against the Jews in Europe was through the film Schindler’s List, which I accidentally watched around 1997-1998. I’m not certain about the exact date, but during that time, I was at the cusp of puberty. I was a sensitive and emotional child, and that film touched something in me that stayed with me into adulthood.

I attempted to learn more about it in high school, but the ineffective teaching and inadequate resources left me thirsty for more until I attended university, where I finally grasped the scope of this terrible part of our history. I read books, articles, newsreels, and film archives, trying to absorb as much information as possible. There were so many unanswered questions that I wanted to address, but to this day, some of them remain unanswered, or rather, unanswerable. The ‘whys’ and the ‘hows’ are just too much and unfathomable.

That’s why this trip was especially meaningful for me. Having the opportunity to visit Auschwitz and Birkenau, among the thousands of Nazi concentration camps, felt like a blessing somehow. It felt like it would answer some of the questions I’ve had since I was a teenager, and I felt that I would somehow connect with the victims of this horrifying human tragedy, and most importantly, pay my respects by never forgetting about them.

For the record, I do not personally know a single Jewish individual, but I do believe that as human beings, we must acknowledge what transpired here and in the rest of the concentration camps around Europe. I believe that we owe it to the victims to keep their memories alive, to be reminded of what is at stake, and to understand what should be done to prevent such a colossal tragedy in human history from ever happening again.

The tour started very early in the morning. It was freezing that day. I thought I was already accustomed to the cold, but the weather that day made me feel lethargic for some reason.

I took this picture of the beautiful Krakow morning while waiting for the bus to pick me up.

Auschwitz is located in Oświęcim, which is 66 kilometers west of Krakow, or around 2 hours from Krakow.

The phrase ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ over the Auschwitz gate is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Holocaust. It means ‘Work Sets You Free,’ serving as a disturbing reminder of Nazi cruelty.
These are Zyklon B cans, which contained the gas used as a killing tool in the gas chambers.

The Museum collections include:

  • about 40.000 m3 of shoes;
  • about 3,800 suitcases, 2,100 of which bear the names of their owners;
  • over 12 thousand kitchen utensils;
  • 470 prostheses and orthoses;
  • 397 striped camp garments;
  • 246 tallisim;
  • about 4,100 works of art (including about 2 thousand of which were made by prisoners). Source

Our group tour around Auschwitz took about 2 hours, and we had a short break before heading to its adjacent camp, the Birkenau concentration camp.

I bought a copy of this guidebook and Viktor Frankl’s book about his time in various Nazi concentration camps.
Heading to Birkenau concentration camp.
I was able to go to the quarters and touch what remains of their bunk beds. It was heavy and sad.

It took me a while to share these pictures I took when I visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps last December 2019 because I didn’t think it was proper to post them at all. Instead, I posted pictures of the exterior of the camps on my Instagram page. These images felt too personal at the time. However, I realized that I wanted people to know, especially the young ones who have not heard or read about the Holocaust, to be aware of this tragedy, to understand its history, and to glimpse a dark past in human history that should never happen again and must never be forgotten. We should forever honor their memories, as they serve as a constant reminder for us to always treat each other with dignity, respect each other’s differences, and learn not just to tolerate but to accept and view life as a gift. The victims—those who perished and those still alive to this day—gave their lives to be our social conscience, and may we never forget that.

“For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to bear witness for the dead and for the living. He has no right to deprive future generations of a past that belongs to our collective memory. To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.” – Elie Wiesel

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Euro Vacay Day 8-9: Krakow In My Heart

Posted on December 29, 2020 | Leave a comment

I arrived in Krakow at the crack of dawn, still feeling a bit hazy from the lack of sleep inside the bus. The journey from Vienna to Krakow took more or less nine hours, and despite being very tired from my day tour in Vienna, I was too giddy to sleep right away. Who could sleep comfortably inside a bus, though? Haha!

Upon arriving at Krakow Dworzec Autobusowy MDA, I opted to use Uber to take me to the city center, where I had booked a couple of nights. Before that, I exchanged about 100 euros at the station for some Polish złoty. Just a little FYI—although Poland is a European Union member, they still use their own currency.

As mentioned above, I booked two nights at the Ametyst Hostel, and let me tell you, it’s absolutely my favorite hostel of the whole trip. Firstly, the guy at the reception allowed me to check in right away, thank goodness because I still needed a couple more hours of sleep. I stayed in a six-mixed dorm room, and everything was just perfect! I had my own locker, the bed was warm and comfy, and it didn’t feel cramped at all. Plus, their bathrooms were always clean! The most wonderful thing about it is that it’s just five minutes away from the main square! Seriously, it’s right in the heart of the city! I just know that I’ll definitely go back to Krakow and stay with them again!

I was assigned the top bunk near the window!

After getting a few hours of sleep and feeling refreshed, I embarked on my very first winter experience in Poland! Haha!

The weather was a bit overcast but thankfully, it did not rain. It was just too cold as usual!

Eros Bendato’ (Eros Bound) or ‘The Head’ is the work of Polish artist Igor Mitoraj (1944-2014). Situated in the western corner of the market square, this sculpture serves as a popular meeting place and is one of the most iconic landmarks in the city.

The sculpture at night and up-close.
Adam Mickiewicz Monument in Kraków, is one of the best known bronze monuments in Poland, and a favourite meeting place at the Main Market Square in the Old Town district of Kraków. source
The monument at night.

Mickiewicz is counted as one of Poland’s’s Three Bards (the others being Zygmunt Krasiński and Juliusz Słowacki) and the greatest poet in all Polish literature.

The St. Mary’s Basilica

After Wawel Cathedral, St. Mary’s Basilica is the most important church in Krakow. Its construction began in the late 13th century on the foundations of a former Romanesque church. The new temple was consecrated around the year 1320. Over the centuries, the church underwent numerous reconstructions, both of its exterior and interior.

The atmosphere at the main square was heartwarming! After all, it’s still the holiday season.
The view from the Wawel Royal Castle.
Wawel Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church and cathedral of the Archdiocese of Kraków, located on Wawel Hill in Kraków, Poland.
Saints Peter and Paul Church.
Of course, I had to take a picture with one of Pope John Paul II’s statues in Krakow. This life-sized monument of the former local lad turned Pope turned Saint John Paul II stands across from Wawel Cathedral, near the entrance of the Cathedral Museum. Interestingly, the museum was opened by the man himself, then Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, back in 1978. Source
A clearer image in the morning. Source
Inside the Wawel Royal Castle
This looks unreal IRL.
Christmas has just ended, and 2020 is fast approaching. How I wish I could go back to those days when we were all still unaware of Covid-19.
Food! Food! Food!
My dinner! Ugh! This was actually more than it looks here!
Dessert!!!
Souvenirs options!
Candies! Candies! Candies!
I’ve almost forgot about this but it’s good!
The artistry!
Heading back to the hostel here!
This was just a couple of blocks away from the hostel! Ugh! Seeing this made me miss Krakow even more!

I think I returned to the hostel after 11 PM. I still need to wake up early the following day for the Auschwitz-Birkenau tour I booked via Klook!

Krakow will always hold a special place in my heart. Ugh. Writing about this part of the trip made me emotional for some reason. I hope to come back here real soon.

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Euro Vacay Day 7: My POV of Vienna, Before Sunrise Style

Posted on December 29, 2020 | Leave a comment

Let me tell you that for most of this trip, I’ve relied on FlixBus to take me from point A to point B and vice versa. Now, here’s a little glimpse of my day trip in Vienna before heading to Krakow, Poland.

Similar to Prague, Vienna wasn’t on my original itinerary. But since it’s relatively close by, I thought I might as well take a look at this beautiful and historical city. It also happens to be the main setting of one of my all-time favorite films—Before Sunrise.

This was technically the first snow I’ve seen during this whole trip, and I was inside the bus heading to Vienna. According to my iPhone, we were in Ruda at that time.

I had to leave my luggage at Vienna West Station and only took a string bag and some granola bars. I also bought a one-day transportation ticket to explore Vienna for the whole day (which, by the way, I was not able to use extensively!)

Noticed this first inside the mall at the train station.
I walked my way to the Zollamssteg Bridge—this is where the protagonists Jesse and Celine from ‘Before Sunrise’ meet the guys promoting their play. It’s located alongside a railway station, as evidenced by the shot of the rail lines passing diagonally beneath the bridge. Since I was the only person there that day, I took the chance to do a bit of a photoshoot, with the help of my ever-reliable tripod, of course! 😅
The art tho.
I mean, I don’t really need to go inside a museum here.
Next stop: The Wiener Riesenrad, a giant ferris wheel at the western end of Prater Park. This is where Jesse and Celine shared their first kiss.
I decided to walk all over the city because I felt like I might get lost if I used the tram. It was definitely worth it, though, because I got to experience the city’s vibe much more.
In front of the magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which serves as the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and stands as one of the most significant landmarks in Austria.
Albertina Palais Museum.
This is where Jesse recites part of W.H. Auden’s ‘As I Walked Out One Evening’ to Celine on the balcony of the museum: ‘O let not Time deceive you, You cannot conquer Time.
Ugh. I felt so kilig remembering the scene at this location!
By this point, it was getting late, and I was getting kind of tired. Since there was a line to get in, I decided to just take this quick selfie. This is where that iconic telephone game happened! I wanted to try it if only I had someone with me. Haha!
My final stop was at the 15th-century Gothic church of Maria am Gestade, located at Salvatorgasse 12.
I don’t pray often, but I found myself praying here. There’s just something about this church, being alone at the time, that allowed me to truly connect.
While it wasn’t a complete Before Sunrise tour, I realized that I may have to return next time. A day tour here isn’t enough to fully savor what the city has to offer.
So, for the record, this was the shortest stay I’ve ever had in any country. I cannot wait to visit again!

 

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Euro Vacay Day 4-6: Praha In My Mind.

Posted on December 28, 2020 | Leave a comment

After spending Christmas in Berlin, I headed straight to Prague, taking the Flixbus from Berlin Central Bus Station to Prague (ÚAN Florenc Bus Station), which took about four and a half hours. I arrived in the Czech Republic’s capital city while it was still midday. I always tell everyone that Prague was the highlight of my trip in Europe. It’s unforgettable for me, especially because as I was about to board the train to my hostel, I suddenly got a very upset stomach. It felt like full-blown diarrhea, to be honest, and I was almost beside myself during that several-minute train ride. When I reached the station, I couldn’t find a restroom anywhere! I felt sweat dripping all over my body despite the cold and had goosebumps—do you know that feeling? Ugh, it was horrible. I even considered paying a hundred euros to any establishment that would allow me to use their restroom, haha! I kept checking Google Maps and realized it would take me another 20 minutes of walking to reach the hostel (I never considered taking the tram because I wasn’t confident there wouldn’t be an accident). It was really horrifying, but looking back, it’s actually something that made my trip even more exciting! Lol.

So, I managed to reach my beautiful hostel, the Czech Inn. I absolutely adored this hostel! It was very cozy, affordable, and the staff were amazing! After calming down from my rushed check-in, I realized that it was only a minute’s walk to Krymska Station (a tram station) which could practically take you anywhere in Prague. They also offered a buffet breakfast for 6 euros (though I’m not sure if they offer lunch and dinner too), and I’d say it’s definitely worth it. I wouldn’t mind staying with them again next time

This is my hostel, Czech Inn—I can’t wait to stay with them again the next time I visit Prague!
I was the first one there that day! This setup works fine for me. As a budget traveler, I enjoy meeting people, and their beds are just so comfy!
St. Vitus Cathedral

I never really planned much for my trip to this beautiful city. I mean, I had read a few things about it online, and since it’s only a few hours from Berlin, I figured why not visit, right? Little did I know, I would fall in love with the fairy tale vibe of the city, with its cobblestone streets, palaces, cathedral, and its beautiful people! Walking across the Charles Bridge, taking in the grandeur of Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, admiring the John Lennon Wall, exploring the Jewish Museum, and enjoying a lively concert in the Old Town Square—each moment was a treasure. I’m so grateful I didn’t miss the chance to visit this city. Strolling around felt like unwrapping a holiday gift. It was undeniably a worthwhile stop and a must-see city when you visit Europe.

I just loved my ever reliable tripod!
Charles Bridge from afar.
The Jewish Museum – Ceremonial Hall
Charles Bridge
The view from Charles Bridge
At the Lesser Town
Checking out the John Lennon Wall. I should’ve brought a sharpie!
Stopping by this beautiful scenery on my way back to my hostel!
The Old Town!
Christmas is still in the air!
Ugh. The food!
Had a bit of these for dinner.
I even bought a jacket a the Palladium because they were on sale!

 

Taking a last look at this wonderful city!
Wearing the jacket I bought on sale at the Palladium! Haha!
Going to the bus station for FlixBus to take me to a quick stop to Vienna in the morning!

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Euro Vacay Day 1-4: Berlin, Berlin…

Posted on December 23, 2020 | Leave a comment

I was very excited to finally set foot in Europe, and with Berlin being one of the must-visit cities on my bucket list, I’m really beyond thrilled! The immigration officials weren’t as stern as I expected them to be, based on the horror stories I’ve read and heard about some people’s experiences. They simply asked about the purpose of my trip and the countries I’ll be visiting. It took less than a minute, I think, and I was permitted entry to Germany!

After planning this trip for almost a year, you would think that I had covered all the bases already, but no—my Qatar Airways flight landed at Berlin Tegel Airport around 10 o’clock in the evening. Most, if not all, of the stores at the airport were already closed! And, stupid me, I was expecting the stores to be open 24 hours where I could buy an international SIM card for my data! So my only option was to ask the airport staff how to get to my hostel for my four days in the city! There were buses that could take you anywhere in the city, and a tram too. I mean, this is Germany after all, but I was still totally clueless since I had no internet to Google where I was, so I just checked my accommodation booking and prayed to the gods that I’d get off at the right station. Bad news, I did not. Haha. I was literally lost and walking aimlessly in the cold night of Berlin. And there were only a few people out and about. Remember, this was winter time, and I think it was already past eleven in the evening.

Thank goodness, though, because I bumped into Norah—a local from Berlin who helped me find my hostel. She was truly a godsend because I was just getting really cold by the time I ran into her. I told her the whole story about not being able to get a new SIM card at the airport, and I just showed her my booking printout. She took me to my hostel right then and there.

My accommodation in Berlin was at the St. Christopher Inn Berlin-Mitte. They were very gracious, and the hostel was actually quite nice for a solo traveler like myself. One of the staff members at the reception asked me where I was from, and when I told him that I’m from the Philippines, he smiled and mentioned that his mom is Filipino! It was an instant connection! I absolutely loved the location of the hostel—it was perfect because everything was within walking distance to all the tourist attractions! I swear, I didn’t have to use any transportation system during my 4 days in Berlin.

The following day wasn’t as eventful as I would have liked it to be because I was still adjusting to the cold weather! I simply went out first to familiarize myself—I visited the Berlin Cathedral, where I attended a mass on Day 3, the Altes Museum, Humboldt University, Alexanderplatz, and more. It was all so fascinating to me, and I still can’t believe that I made it here! While for some people, this might seem insignificant, for someone like me who grew up in the countryside, this is undoubtedly a whole new world!

Here are some of the pictures I took on my first foray into Berlin.

This was December 25th of last year! It marked my first time spending Christmas outside of the country, and alone, for that matter. While for some, this might seem like a sad setup since I’m usually with my family during this season, I was actually having the time of my life, so all’s good!

I joined a free tour of the Reichstag glass dome on top of the rebuilt Reichstag building! It was exhilarating!
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

The Reichstag Building
The Berlin Cathedral
I actually got inside the night before, but I wasn’t able to take pictures inside for two reasons: firstly, it would have been disrespectful, and secondly, I believe it wasn’t allowed. However, I still saw some people trying to sneak a picture or two…
The Urania World Clock is a large turret-style world clock located in the public square of Alexanderplatz in Mitte, Berlin.
Yep, it really isn’t Christmas without this big ‘old Christmas tree!
Of course, I ordered Currywurst!
8 euro ain’t so bad.
The beautiful Postdamer Platz
Humboldt University
The Lustgarten
The view on my way back to my hostel

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A Quick Day Trip in Doha via Discover Qatar!

Posted on December 23, 2020 | Leave a comment

Before heading to my first stop in Europe which is Berlin, I decided to check out the city of Doha which is where I had a 12-hour layover. I decided to avail the service of Discover Qatar in partnership with the Qatar Airways. Since I had to leave the airport, I do need to apply for a transit visa but Qatar Airways took care of it for me. I just had to pay a minimal QAR 75 which is more or less P1,000.00 only.

I’ve to admit, I was actually a bit tired when I landed in Doha in the wee hours of the morning – I loved the airport by the way. There’s not a lot of people then and it’s humongous. I had to wait for 4 more hours, though, before I was contacted by the staff of Discover Qatar. The whole tour was about 2.45 hours and it was just very quick if I’m being honest. I remembered seeing the famous “Pigeon Towers” in front of “Katara Mosque” or the blue Mosque. It’s very fascinating!

The Pigeon Towers

We also went to The Pearl-Qatar which is a man-made island that houses luxury residential estates and commercial attractions. It got its name from being one of Qatar’s previous major pearl diving sites. The tour guides allowed us an hour to stroll along Souq Waqif  and Souq Al Wakrah. It was very interesting but unfortunately for me, I was just so tired and sleepy but I don’t want to stay in the busy so I just checked out some of the stores but I felt like I’m just about to crash then. My favorite would have to be the Dhow Harbour where you can actually see the skyscrapers from afar.

Part of The Pearl

The face of the current Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Qatar National Bank.

Dhow Harbour

It was nevertheless a very fascinating quick tour. I wished I had more time to actually see more of Doha because I was really impressed with its infrastructures left and right. It’s so modern but you can see how they’re able to preserved their culture and their history. I’d really love to take a longer trip here, or perhaps a vacation someday.

P.S.

This was supposed to be posted right about a week after my last day in Europe to share my trip but when I got home in the Philippines, there was the Taal Volcano eruption and the Covid19 was already starting to spread all around. If only I could turn back time.

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My Schengen Visa Experience at the VFS Netherlands (Philippines)

Posted on December 22, 2020 | Leave a comment

After reading several blogs and forums to get tips on having a successful Schengen visa application, I thought I should also give back by posting my very own Schengen visa application experience. For us in the Philippines, getting a visa is always a tedious process since we need to spend time and money on collating several documents, paying fees, and actually submitting the application and /or attending the actual interview. (Most of the embassy does not require interviews anymore, though.)

At the beginning of 2019, I decided to spend my Christmas break overseas. I thought that a South American trip would be easier because I won’t have to get any visas to enter a few countries. Still, upon realizing that the flights are way more expensive there and with last year’s tragic Amazon fire and the economic turmoil in the region, I opted to just push through with a European getaway.

I will also be sharing some stories on my month-long mini-Euro vacation but before that, para sa mga Pinoy who are also looking for some tips, I will list down what I’ve submitted for my Schengen visa application.

First off, What is a Schengen visa?

A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any members of the Schengen Area. It is valid for 26 Schengen member states and is for short stay for a maximum period of ninety days within a six months period. A Schengen visa allows the holder to travel freely across the Schengen member states.

The following 26 countries have implemented the Schengen Agreement: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The Schengen visa application goes through VFS Global –

VFS Global, also known as “Visa Facilitation Services Global,” is an outsourcing and technology services company that serves governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages visa and passport issuance-related administrative and non-discretionary tasks for its client governments.

I applied for a short-term Schengen visa mainly for tourism so this post is only applicable for those who will be traveling for leisure in and around the Schengen states.

The general requirements I’ve submitted are the following:

1. Valid Passport

2. Round-trip flight reservation.

(Remember, you just need a reservation. Please don’t buy your tickets without an approved visa yet.)

3. Travel insurance policy with a with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros (I got mine from Malayan)

4. Proof of Accommodation (I booked all of my accommodations via booking.com which are all cancellable – again, do not pay in advance if you’re not sure that you’d actually be getting a visa.)

5. Proof of Financial Means

I’ve submitted a bank certificate indicating my account number, its daily balance and account balance.

I’ve also submitted the following:

Employment contract.

Bank statement from the last 6 months.

Leave permission from the employer. (The one that my employer provided includes the start date of my leave and the date I was expected to return.)

My latest income Tax Return (ITR) form or the 2316 form.

6. My Trip Itinerary (I included the places that are on my bucket list of course, but I also did a lot of research on what I should see in each respective places – I think it helps that you personalized your itinerary as much as possible.)

7. A cover letter which really helped, I think.

The submission of application is by schedule through the VFS Global website, just register, log in and select a date and time of your submission. The Netherlands Embassy does not require any interview, at least as far as I know. You will be evaluated by its consul based on all the documents you’ve submitted.

I had my schedule on November 15, 2019 – about a month before my intended trip, and I chose the earliest time available – around 07:00 AM. It was very straight to the point. You will be instructed on where to line up and just follow the procedure and give out the documents and pay. There was no interview, although the lady who collected my documents asked about the purpose of my application (tourism was my answer) and the date of my intended departure from the country and the date of my planned return and that’s it!

I’ve paid around P4,876.00 which includes

Logistic – 901

Courier – 400 because I cannot afford to pick it up myself due to work but you can choose to personally claim your passport or have a representative pick it up for you.

SMS – 150, I thought this was a good idea at first but it turns out it’s just a waste of money. I’ve only received one message saying: Visa Application MAKA/********01 has been forwarded to the Netherlands Regional Support Office in Asia on 11/15/2019 and never got an update. I even had to call the office because I cannot seem to track my visa status online regularly because it’s not working all the time.

So the whole two weeks, I was paranoid because I was second-guessing my chance of getting approved since I’ve read horror stories of some Pinoys who are well-traveled and well-funded still getting rejected for some reason. I’ve only been to eight countries before this application with two visa-requiring territories, so I’m kind of hoping that would give me a bit of an advantage, but yeah – it was a nerve-wracking two weeks for me.

But the odds are definitely in my favor as I’ve received my passport with an approved visa! It took 14 freaking calendar days! I was thrilled because I was given a multiple entry visa, with 45 days validity and 30 days duration of stay!!!
I thought it’d be challenging, but it’s really just straightforward. You just have to ensure that you have the resources, the right intention, and the correct documents.
Hit me up privately or through the comments, if you have any concerns or questions that I may help you with!!!
When this pandemic dies down, I would definitely apply again because I really had a blast visiting parts of Europe for the first time, and I wanted to see more!!!

P.S.

Because we have this on-going pandemic and we’re now living the new normal, I am not sure about the changes when it comes to the visa application but I reckon it will still be the same, but with more precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Covid19.

I wrote this article a few months after the Pandemic hit the Philippines and I didn’t think that it would be so catastrophic that even now that the year’s about to end, the cases are still getting worse particularly in Europe. I hope the vaccines that were approved recently will give us hope to move forward from this darkest year of our generation.

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Review: Ordering Anime Figures from AmiAmi

Posted on March 15, 2020 | 1 comment

I’ve ordered Anime figures from AmiAmi three times now, and I thought I’d let you know about my experience ordering from their website. First, you should know that AmiAmi actually has a physical store located in Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan.

Address: Akihabara Radio Kaikan F4, 1−15−16, Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan (source)

I’ve only been to Japan once and I never got to visit Tokyo so I really missed out visiting Akihabara in general but I found out about the store from friends who are fans of anime figures and have been ordering from amiami.com for a while now.

Being one of the  largest shops in Akihabara, they offer a lot of figures – brand new, on bargain sale, pre-owned, as well as pre-order items! Take note that their shop is separate from their online shop which may offer different rates!

My first online order with them was May of last year. I thought I’d try ordering four Nendoroid first. I’m a fan of Bungo Stray Dogs and I just couldn’t resist ordering the Osamu Dazai and Chuya Nakahara Nendoroid figures! I was so glad that the Good Smile Company decided to rerelease them and I got them with discounts from AmiAmi! Such a sweet deal!

The ordering process is easy. First, you go to their website: https://www.amiami.com/eng/ – this is the English version, and it’s also in Chinese. I didn’t create an account first, but once your check out – it’ll prompt you to create an account which is easy peasy too!

The website is very easy to navigate and is very straightforward. There is a category list which includes: Figures, Toys Categories, Scale Models, Character Goods, Book & Games and a lot more. And there is a ranking for New Products, Sale Items, w/AmiAmi bonus, Pre-Owned Items and Bishounen Items. I regularly check the Sale and Pre-Owned items haha!

I haven’t tried pre-ordering from them but they have an FAQ in case you’d like to try it yourself. Of the three instances (so far) I’ve order from them, I chose to combine the shipping of each order since they’re “In-stock.”

In ordering, all you need to do is add your chosen items to your cart and once you’re ready to check out, fill out the necessary information that includes your mode of payment, shipping method and contact information.

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My Blogging Resolutions for 2020!

Posted on January 15, 2020 | Leave a comment

Looking back, 2019 was a very eventful year for me. I went through some changes and had some unforgettable trips where I met new friends. Professionally, I couldn’t ask for more from my current job! With all of this happening, I feel like I’ve also missed doing some things that I used to do. Most notably, I wasn’t able to read enough books. I think I’ve only read fewer than 20 titles compared to the last five years, during which I always read at least 50 titles a year. This means fewer book reviews from me. I guess I just didn’t have enough time to do it, or I really need to manage my time wisely! Hah!

My trips overseas were the highlights of last year, and I forgot to share those with you. I may find the time in the coming days to do that, since I’ve just finished my month-long trip to Europe where I spent Christmas and New Year’s Eve! Oh, I’m dying to share the pictures with you too.

I guess my top blogging resolution this year is simply to write more and share more. I know that I’m not obligated in any way to do that, but I just love being able to practice my writing and share all of these experiences with the world—the new books I’ve discovered, places, TV shows, and basically everything in my life now. I’m also considering actually consolidating all of my “blogs” into this blog, where I can share everything under the sun.

Another resolution is to be more active on the forums I used to visit regularly. I know that we’re in an age where everything is in pictures, videos, and social media, but I believe that blogging is still a valuable way to remember the past in a more detailed manner! For me, even if nobody reads my blog, I’d love to have something to look back on in the future and see the changes I’ve made or what I did or wrote at a particular time in my life.

I wish everyone a happy new year, and I hope to meet more people who blog about their pets, favorite films, TV shows, Hillary and Donald, climate change, their latest thrift store hunts, and just about everything in the world and beyond!

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Posted in Personal