Why is Prague Popular? (Places you'll see if you visit Prague)

When I was still researching on the cities that I must see when I go to Europe, Prague always comes up. A lot of people love it so much that I just had to see it.  Because I had very high expectations of the place, I was not as awed as I should have been. However, as I was browsing through my pictures, I realized it's really gorgeous... it's exactly how I've always imagined Europe before I got there... cobblestoned streets, horsedrawn carriages, medieval structures... plus a whole lot more of awesome surprises! This place really rocks... literally!

Warning: This entry contains a lot of pictures but please be patient and wait to see all of the pictures. I promise it will be worth it.

• Tyn Church - notable for its 200-year stint as the leading church of the Hussite movement

 

• Old Town - Prague's focal point

 

 

Astronomical Clock

Art Nouveau Architecture (open the image in a new window to appreciate in full size)

•  Church of St. Nicholas (Baroque Architecture in Old Town)

• New Town

Municipal House

Powder Tower - Gothic gate of the town wall, built to house the city's gunpowder

 

• Dancing House - designed by Frank Gehry (Designer of Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum and Seattle's Experience Music Project)

• Castle Quarter/Prague Castle - If you want to avoid a hike from the Old Town, take tram nos. 22 or 23 and get off at Kralovsky Letohradek, Prazsky Hrad or Pohorolec.  

 

 

Old Royal Palace 

 

St. Vitus Cathedral - Roman Catholic Cathedral that symbolizes the Czech spirit - contains the tombs and relics of the most important local saint and kings, including the first three Hapsburg kings

Basilica and Convent of St. George - Prague's best reserved Romanesque church

 

Golden Lane - street of old buildings which originally housed goldsmiths (get ready to bend if you're tall)

Toy Museum and Barbie Museum

Castle Square

• Little Quarter - charming neighborhood huddled under the Prague Castle (suggested if you're looking for a good ambiance)

 

• Pissing statues outside the Franz Kafka Museum (Video attached)

The statues pee into their oddly-shaped enclosure. However they are not just peeing, with the stream of water they write quotes from famous Prague residents. 

These statues became so popular among visitors that now you can send SMS message from mobile phone to a number, displayed next to the sculptures and the living statue then ‘writes’ the text of the message.

• Charles Bridge - famous historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river (connects Prague castle and Old Town)

• Infant Jesus of Prague - A "wallet prayer" (in the spirit of wallet calendar) is available in various languages... I was surprised to see a Tagalog version.

 

• Everything else which is also gorgeous and regal... and sometimes surprising

This is how crazy drivers can get (drivers drive along tram tracks and crosses the track even if a tram is approaching)

Narrow Pedestrian lane which requires a stoplight so people can pass (it's that narrow!)


 

Surprisingly modern train station

Lennon Wall

Inside a tram

Would you believe that everything I featured was all in a day only? Definite reason to come back.

Marina Bay Walk (What you'll see if you walk around the Marina Bay)

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- Singapore Airlines A380... A Travel Experience in Itself -

- Singafood I (Filipino Food in Singapore) -

- Singafood II (What to Eat in Singapore?) -

I was fortunate enough to stay near the Marina Bay area so there were nights when I just walk around the bay. This walk is very photo-friendly and will let you see the beauty of some of Singapore's most notable landmarks at night.

I will be sharing my personal route. This route is what I highly suggest because taking the second option might make you miss the opportunity to take a photo of the Marina Bay Sands with full light effects. Do note that finding my starting point may be tricky if you want to use the MRT (alighting at Raffles Place MRT). If you really want to follow this route, you may take a cab until Customs House or The Fullerton Bay Hotel. The second option is by using the MRT and alighting at City Hall MRT or Esplanade MRT and begin from the Esplanade.

Please also note that the Merlion was under construction (to be a hotel with the Merlion inside the room) when I took this walk. 

From Customs House or Fullerton Bay Hotel, just follow the water path to your left (if you face the bay). Take advantage of viewing decks along the way to take pictures of the Marina Bay Sands and Esplanade. These are what you may expect to see in chronological order.

Fullerton Hotel

Photo of Bridge and Esplanade taken from a viewing deck

Marina Bay Sands

Esplanade

Marina Bay Sands, Helix Bridge and ArtScience Museum

Inside "The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands"

View from Marina Bay Boardwalk

Marina Bay Boardwalk

Although the entire distance may be intimidating, the walk can be leisurely because you can take several stops along the way. 

Don't forget to bring extra camera batteries because you'll end up taking lots of picturesque night shots. Enjoy the walk!

Singafood I (Filipino Food in Singapore)

Related posts:

- Singafood II (What to Eat in Singapore?) -

- What to do in Changi Airport? -

- Marina Bay Walk (What you'll see if you walk around the Marina Bay) -

- Singapore Airlines A380... A Travel Experience in Itself -


Although I am a foodie who wants to try the variety of food available in Singapore, there were times that I just wanted Filipino food. Good thing, the place where I stayed was very near Lau Pa Sat and Marina Bay Sands so it was easy for me to satisfy my craving.

If you're a Filipino tourist who is not a foodie and prefers to eat Filipino food while travelling, a Filipino who will be transferring to Singapore, or simply someone of a different nationality who wants to eat Filipino food (I felt good whenever I see other nationalities opting to order Filipino food despite the variety of food in Lau Pa Sat), you may want to check the following Filipino food stores in Singapore:

1. Gerry's Grill (Marina Bay Sands Foodcourt) - for some reason, I find the food in Gerry's Grill Singapore more delicious than its local counterpart in the Philippines. You may choose from the following Set Meal options (comes with plain rice, soup, and choice of noodles; with option to upgrade plain rice to adobo rice for only SGD1): Inihaw na Liempo (Grilled Pork Belly), Chicken Kebab, Pork Barbeque, Inihaw na Manok (Grilled Chicken), Inihaw na Pusit (Grilled Squid), Lumpiang Shanghai (Pork Spring Rolls), Chicken and Pork Adobo, Tinomok, Beef Kaldereta, Beef Kare Kare, Pinaputok na Cream Dory or Pork Sisig. Ala Carte menus are also available.

2. Mang Kiko's Lechon (Lau Pa Sat) - Their Inihaw na Liempo (SGD6; Roasted Pork Belly) was surprisingly good and it became my comfort Filipino food in Singapore. I tried to have Inihaw na Manok (SGD6; Roasted Chicken) but it was always sold out. Warning: They're almost always sold out so try to reserve your food in advance. 

 

3. Tapa King (Lau Pa Sat) - Although it is more expensive (SGD6.5) in Singapore, the service size is also bigger. Don't worry, they have Spicy Vinegar to match your Tapa, and varieties such Tapa Prince, Tapa Queen, etc. are also available.

4. Happy V (Lau Pa Sat; formerly Jolly V for obvious reasons) - Although I didn't try it, I was informed that their Chicken, Palabok, and Spaghetti tastes like Jollibee.

5. Hapag Kainan (Lau Pa Sat) - I wasn't able to try this also. But if you want to have Chicken Inasal (SGD6) or Lechon Kawali (SGD6) while in Singapore, give it a try.

There's another Filipino stall in Lau Pa Sat, Panyeros. However, I wasn't able to take a picture and take details about it. 

Since most of the stores I featured are in Lau Pa Sat, those who intend to go may use the MRT, alight at Raffles Place station, and use Exit F. From there, it may be better to ask around but you don't have to worry because you don't have to make any turn. Happy eating!