I arrived via bus from Bratislava at the central station in Budapest. It was a bright morning and I was tired from a long trip. Left Bratislava early in the morning and had slept in the bus for a long time but all in all the trip was smooth and uneventful. It was a relief that finally I had arrived at Budapest.
Don't know what to expect but whew my surprising wanderlust had brought and gave me a lot of things to learn and I am glad I did this travel. The bus terminal in Budapest was huge..... as in massive and it took me sometime to muster that I am already there. Hahaha. Still culture shocked. I felt that I am the only Asian there and people are staring at me like a prized doll. I felt delusional at that moment and I have to pinch myself to go back to reality that I am not dreaming.
I went out of the edifice and look for a waiting area for the taxi. I was pulling my luggage for a long time and kept roaming around the facility but I couldn't find any taxi station. I am also scared to asked around because of getting embarrass if nobody can understand me.
After several minutes of looking for the taxi station I finally found it at the mouth of the bridge nearby. I took one and gave to the driver the address for my hotel in the city center. The center was not that far from the bus terminal but it was a maze to look for my hotel for some of the streets were closed and if not some were only one-way, that's why the driver have to circle many times until he finally arrived at my hotel.
I alighted from the taxi and went into the hotel to check-in. After I checked-in, hurriedly went into my room take a much needed shower and took a quick nap. When I woke up at 1400H I changed then went downstairs at the reception, asked for the map and some good recommendations where to go. The guy at the reception was kind enough to give me some good advice. It was heartwarming that there are still good people in this planet.
I went out of the hotel trying not to imagine I have a compass, so for now I don't have any direction at all. I ambled to the other parallel street and walked through the alley until I saw a very busy main street at a distance. I was thinking of looking for for an adapter for my camera charger because apparently I left mine at the hotel in Vienna.
When I got out of the alley, I was surprised by the ornate building in front of me with a wide tarpaulin banner of the "Don Quixote" ballet show hanging just in front of the facade. The building was beautiful and stunning. I kept walking towards north still looking for the camera adaptor.
Along the way I also realized that I needed to change my dollars for the local currency to prevent any further problems later on. I found a money changer nearby so I went in to have my money changed. After changing money I was still on a mission to find the charger. At last, I found one after walking for several hours but it's worth it.
So, I'm all set to explore the city after fulfilling some of my few simple goals. The city was huge and I cannot wait to explore it. Walking on the cobbled stone pavements I can sense that the city was old and ancient but the ambiance was very happy and vibrant. The cool almost coming autumn winds was very intoxicating and I cannot deny the fact that the city was glazed with the holiday cheer and atmosphere. It was so imbibing.
The food stalls was very inviting, the christmas souvenir stores were full of holiday cheers, and the beautiful alleys adorned with flickering lights was just too festive and the city was very welcoming of the coming holiday season. I was so fascinated of the whole scenario and was just enjoying the atmosphere and ambiance around me.
I bought and tried some of the food, watched the whole surrounding, window shop but not buying, walk slowly to feel the whole place, keep everything into me to feel the way eastern europian feel the autmn season. I am just so happy that I was there. It was surreal.
The architecture, the smiling people, the food, the festivities, the tourists, and everything were all good. I just can't complain about it. Budapest had a mark in my heart and I can just imagine that I will come back again here in the future. I wish it would happen because I felt that I have not fully explored it yet to the fullest. Hopefully next time I can also explore the outskirts and make a side trip to another town. Crossing my fingers for it to happen, yeah.
Friday, June 21, 2019
Trip To Washington DC
Today, I left LA for a quick vacation to Washington DC. Been burned out at work so I decided to book a ticket to DC and browse the city. This will be my first time in the city. I have no qualms about traveling but it was just unfortunate for me to be in the city because when I arrived it was raining hard. I cannot go out, walk, and enjoy the beautiful and awesome scenery so I decided to go indoors and enjoy some of the museums in the city.
The rain was quite finicky but in order for me to enjoy the city, I have to go out there and see what I can do. I decided to go to the Smithsonian Museum or Natural History and had hired an Uber car drop me off there. The rain was pouring hard so it's just apt for me to go indoors and see what the museum can offer me.
As I alighted in front of the museum I saw that line in front of the museum was quite few so I was so happy that I don't have to fall in line under a pouring rain, but alas, when I get inside the ground floor was almost full of people and revelers alike. It was a pandemonium there. I just saw a museum full of people lining up for tickets and lining up going to every room exhibits.
I was there already, so I cannot back out anymore because out side is still raining. So I patiently fell in line and bought a ticket to get in. It took me 20-minutes to get the tickets but I was not complaining. I have my own time and I'm not in a hurry. My only enemy is the closing time and the rain outside. I have to enjoy my time there so I have to browse all the floors and exhibit rooms.
The one that really fascinates me was the humongous elephant at the lobby. It looks like a mammoth elephant with an elongated ivory tusk. I took a lot of pictures of it for my own safe keeping. I took the stairs and went to all levels, saw some precious stones and also rocks from space, saw some skeletons of ocean and sea creatures, saw the history of evolution, watched some interesting and educational videos, etc.
There were a lot of children and families there enjoying the museum despite of the gloomy weather. The atmosphere inside was very intoxicating and I was in awe of the chaos and noise inside. I was watching all the chaos on the third floor and it was really funny and amusing at the same time. I was literally, in awe and exasperated. Quite accustomed to it eventually and it was fun.
I left at closing time and felt so fortunate that the rain had temporarily abated so I called for an Uber ride to drop me off at the Filipino Restaurant in another part of the city. The place opens at 5:00PM so it was just 10-minutes to opening time when I arrived there and it was raining on that part of DC. I alighted from the car and run to the restaurant and waited for few minutes until it opened.
I was the first in line and was so surprised that nobody was there yet. Literally, on a normal day the wait is long and last for 1-hour they say but today since it was raining there were nobody there. Now I realized that the rain was a blessing depending on the circumstances. I was lucky indeed. My decision to come there was not in vain. I was even thinking that maybe I can eat inside at 8:00PM because of the long line but I was wrong. God's wonders really works in many mysterious ways. I'm a very fateful (fatalistic) person, they say.
The restaurant was quaint and small but the food was so good. I ordered a five course taster's meal and enjoyed it while sipping some good cocktails. I was reminded of my childhood comfort foods and was very thankful that I decided to went there.
It was a very productive day (first day) in Washington DC. Not bad for my arrival. I couldn't forget it and it was memorable.
The rain was quite finicky but in order for me to enjoy the city, I have to go out there and see what I can do. I decided to go to the Smithsonian Museum or Natural History and had hired an Uber car drop me off there. The rain was pouring hard so it's just apt for me to go indoors and see what the museum can offer me.
As I alighted in front of the museum I saw that line in front of the museum was quite few so I was so happy that I don't have to fall in line under a pouring rain, but alas, when I get inside the ground floor was almost full of people and revelers alike. It was a pandemonium there. I just saw a museum full of people lining up for tickets and lining up going to every room exhibits.
I was there already, so I cannot back out anymore because out side is still raining. So I patiently fell in line and bought a ticket to get in. It took me 20-minutes to get the tickets but I was not complaining. I have my own time and I'm not in a hurry. My only enemy is the closing time and the rain outside. I have to enjoy my time there so I have to browse all the floors and exhibit rooms.
The one that really fascinates me was the humongous elephant at the lobby. It looks like a mammoth elephant with an elongated ivory tusk. I took a lot of pictures of it for my own safe keeping. I took the stairs and went to all levels, saw some precious stones and also rocks from space, saw some skeletons of ocean and sea creatures, saw the history of evolution, watched some interesting and educational videos, etc.
There were a lot of children and families there enjoying the museum despite of the gloomy weather. The atmosphere inside was very intoxicating and I was in awe of the chaos and noise inside. I was watching all the chaos on the third floor and it was really funny and amusing at the same time. I was literally, in awe and exasperated. Quite accustomed to it eventually and it was fun.
I left at closing time and felt so fortunate that the rain had temporarily abated so I called for an Uber ride to drop me off at the Filipino Restaurant in another part of the city. The place opens at 5:00PM so it was just 10-minutes to opening time when I arrived there and it was raining on that part of DC. I alighted from the car and run to the restaurant and waited for few minutes until it opened.
I was the first in line and was so surprised that nobody was there yet. Literally, on a normal day the wait is long and last for 1-hour they say but today since it was raining there were nobody there. Now I realized that the rain was a blessing depending on the circumstances. I was lucky indeed. My decision to come there was not in vain. I was even thinking that maybe I can eat inside at 8:00PM because of the long line but I was wrong. God's wonders really works in many mysterious ways. I'm a very fateful (fatalistic) person, they say.
The restaurant was quaint and small but the food was so good. I ordered a five course taster's meal and enjoyed it while sipping some good cocktails. I was reminded of my childhood comfort foods and was very thankful that I decided to went there.
It was a very productive day (first day) in Washington DC. Not bad for my arrival. I couldn't forget it and it was memorable.
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