minus 46 days: the case for the eurail pass

The verdict is out. I now have in my hands a Eurail Global Pass for Jerrain and I!

For those of you who have been following my planning, I can hear you say "finally!" I went back and forth on this one, but ultimately, the scale tipped in favour of the pass for these reasons:

• You pay up front for the bulk of your transport cost so you do not have to carry so much cash
  
• You have clarity on how much you are spending on transport now
  
• You get the train schedule which makes planning a breeze
• You do not need to buy individual tickets online early which gives you more flexibility during the trip
  
• Giving you access to 21 countries, it is greater incentive to cover more grounds!
  

And that is why Jerrain and I parted with $991 Singapore dollars each for this golden ticket.

minus 50 days: i'm coming!

Eight countries in 37 days is a lot to manage. New places to check out, new friends to make, new food to savour. Sometimes, it helps to have some familiar faces along the way to ease all the excitement.

So, with less than two months to go, I sent a shout out to my friends, saying "I'm coming!". These are the poor souls who are going to give up their bed, bathroom, and couch for the few days Jerrain and I are over.

Friend #1: Serene
Country: Britain

Where did we meet: Singapore Management University
How did we meet: Christian Fellowship
Friends since: Sept 2001

She went to Coventry to do her Masters last October, and I have been dying to go visit her. Now that she has started dating someone there, my girlies have entrusted me with the mission to check out who this lucky guy is. I heard he is a good cook, but I promise I will not be bought over with just some fancy home-cooked food.

Friend #2: Norie
Country: France

Where did we meet: Singapore Airlines
How did we meet: Worked together in the HR dept
Friends since: August 2005

A French man swept her off her feet and stole her from us in 2006. Having visited her in Paris three years ago, I can see why she left her friends behind. Joel, her hubby, is the most charming and caring guy. He showed us around and even whipped up an authentic four course French meal! I promised Norie I will go back to visit her, so it is about time.

Friend #3 (and #4): Chris and Øyvind
Country: Norway

Where did we meet: New York
How did we meet: Along the corridor of Jazz Hostel
Friends since: July 2009

My first taste of Norway and I am hooked. These crazy dudes made me fall in love with New York over and over again. Met them the first night I arrived, and we hung out every night till they had to leave. If Norwegians are all like these two, I am sure it is going to be a blast. They are the reason why I am spending almost a third of my time up North!

minus 60 days: my not-to-do list

I love lists. I now have lists of places to go, stuff to see, friends to meet and many more. While these lists will be released in good time (patience people!), here is one to keep you busy for now.

Over freshly cut haystack fries with parmesan and rosemary, and (too many) plates of all-day-breakfast at Overeasy, my girlies laid down some ground rules to make sure I behave:

• Don't have too much fun until you don't want to come back.
• Don't flirt excessively.
• Don't go out alone after 11pm.
• Don't come back married, pregnant, or a lesbian.
• Don't turn down a horse shit ball.
• Don't get (too) wasted.
• Don't trust anyone.
• Don't stop talking to God and reading the bible.
• Don't pretend to be busy with your iphone when you are just shy.
• Don't forget to buy presents for your girlies.

Do not be fooled by their smiles. I do not want to imagine what they will do to me should I not obey any of the ten commandments above. Cross those fingers for me, won't you?

Can you think of any other 'not-to-do's?

minus 62 days: eight reasons why you need an iphone in europe

After spending two hours at M1 and 608 Singapore dollars this morning, I walked home a happy girl.

Not that you ever need more reasons to get an iPhone. But going to Europe for 37 days is certainly a good one to drive it up your priority list.

Here are eight reasons why the iPhone is as crucial as your passport. Carry your iPhone around because:

1. It is always good to have something in common to start a conversation - 42.5 million people worldwide use the iPhone.
2. Travel applications make sure you know where you are going.
3. You can check if your hair is in place using its reflective surface if you spot anyone cute.
4. Or you can use that reflective surface to spy on that cutie.
5. Take advantage of the free wifi at your hostel without having to drag your laptop around.
6. Unparalleled 32gb of storage means you can snap or record away carelessly.
7. Show off your mobilised blog (buzzcity.mobi/europein37days) to anyone and everyone.
8. Tweet excessively about where you are and what you are having for lunch until people start unfollowing you.
   

minus 65 days: face to face with eurail

The research continues. Should I get a rail pass or buy individual train tickets?

From the last planning session, many questions stand unanswered:

- Is it cheaper to buy a rail pass?
- If I do get one, do I go for the Global or Select pass?
- Should I buy it from a Singapore tour agent or direct from Eurail.com?

I decided to stop mucking around. I printed my itinerary and headed straight to STA Travel, a local authorised agent for Eurail.

Travel Advisor Ian Sin spent half an hour going through the various options and recommended the Global Pass.

The Eurail Pass will cost close to my air ticket to Europe. So I need time to consider my options.

Look out for my next post to find out if I do buy a rail pass!

minus 67 days: get your friends involved

Planning for a month long trip can be tiring. When things get overwhelming, I outsource parts of it.

Gek Kia, my ex-colleague from Singapore Airlines, has been wanting to show me a cool digital luggage scale which I could easily carry to Europe. So I told him that we should meet up for coffee!

He was all ready for a laid-back afternoon at The Coffee Connoisseur in Changi Airport Terminal Three. Little did he know that I had something else in mind. *evil chuckle*

Once the Latte and potato wedges arrived, I knew I got him captive. So it was time to rope him in to help out with some research!

Question we needed to answer: Should I get a Eurail pass?

minus 68 days: say (swiss) cheese

I have learnt quite a bit about the Swiss culture from Martin since last August. I made Swiss cheese fondue infused with white wine, picked up a few lines of Swiss-German, and ate more Lindt and Toblerone than ever before.

Last evening, we met up for Botak Jones' ribeye steak and chicken wings, then got down to discuss some places he would classify as 'must-see's.

One of the most exciting places was in Norway. Kjeragbolten is a 5m³ boulder wedged in a mountain crevasse by the edge of the Kjerag mountain. Martin was standing on the rock without any safety equipment. If he had missed a step, it would have been a 1000m drop! It is great for base jumping. Perhaps Jerrain would be game.

minus 69 days: no turning back

Another major step forward today. I booked my air tickets for Singapore-London and Oslo-London-Singapore. That cost me 1380 Singapore dollars. I think it is a steal. Thanks to Zane, Becky's friend who runs a travel agency. There is no turning back now.

minus 2 months 17 days: better be insured than sorry

Travel insurance was going at 40 per cent off at the NATAS travel fair! Paid 121.20 Singapore dollars for a 37 day coverage which otherwise would have cost me 202.00 Singapore dollars!

Alex and I had to pay 4 Singapore dollars each to enter the fair but checking out the massage chairs on luxury coaches, gathering ideas for future trips, hearing the Bavarian band, etc made it a worthwhile investment.