The flight ticket was purchased 9 months ago in December 2014 from Skyscanner.com at a price of RM2,394.24. This includes all the administrative fees and conversion rate. I was surprised to get it at such an affordable price. The details of the flight is:
300815 : Kuala Lumpur --> Singapore (via Malaysia Airlines) transit 5 hours --> Zurich (via Swiss Airlines) transit 45 minutes --> Stockholm (via Swiss Airlines) arrive 310815
250915 : Stockholm --> Zurich (via Swiss Airlines) transit 45 minutes --> Singapore (via Swiss Airlines) transit 2 hours --> Kuala Lumpur (via Jetstar) arrive 260915
If you noticed the transit time of 45 minutes in Zurich, do not panic. It is very NORMAL for the transit time to be 45 minutes within Swiss Airlines. In Kuala Lumpur, I checked in for the flight to Singapore. When I arrived in Singapore, and checked in for the flight to Zurich, I received my boarding pass for Zurich to Stockholm too. So, since I have checked in for the next flight, they have my details and the flight will wait for me. And they sure did wait for me. The same goes during my return flight. There was a delay at Stockholm for 15 minutes. But at Zurich, the flight waited for me too and the flight departed about 20 minutes later because they have to collect my luggage too. But don't delay too long because of course the flight cannot be waiting 1 hour for you.
300815 - The date of my trip arrives. Here I am, with my hand carry of 7kg from Malaysia to Sweden. The flight officer at the counter was a bit surprised when I mentioned I don't have any check-in luggage to Sweden. I was very afraid of my luggage being missing as I cannot afford any delay for my road trip to Pyrenees.
The food on board Swiss Airlines - dinner and the next photo is breakfast! It is filling. But the bread was a bit hard for me. I see my neighbour easily cutting through the bread and I can't even tear mine apart..
310815 : I reached Zurich at 6.10am and rushed to my connecting flight to Stockholm that departed at 650am. I managed to get a window seat for my flight from Zurich to Stockholm. So, I get to take some photos of Sweden as we flew. And because it was a short flight of 2 hours, I get another round of breakfast. Muesli with yogurt. Very healthy. Before the end of the flight, we get a piece of Swiss chocolate! Nice.
At 910am, I finally touched land. Sweden - one of the most beautiful country in the world. Excited. Tired. Upon my arrival in Sweden, my penpal was there to pick me up. Meet Prof Sweet Tooth (that is what he wants to be known as), my penpal since I was 16 years old. It is nice to finally meet up with him, and it is our first travel together! He parked his car in the airport parking lot and he has to pay SEK40 (RM21) for 30 minutes. For currency exchange purposes as today, SEK1 = RM0.53 / EUR0.11. Everything is expensive in Sweden.
Flower landscape in the airport as we walked out. Those are the first of many amazing blooming flowers I encountered in Stockholm.
Prof Sweet Tooth showed me his place and the architecture of the building is very simple. Minimal. Basic. I would like to say dull and boring too. It is very different from building designs in Malaysia. He mentioned the history about the basic design being originated from Soviet Union. We walked from his place to the town which is about a 20 minute walk. We walked because there are more things to see. As I was walking, I said to him - I read that Sweden is one of the most beautiful country in the world. But ... or maybe it is the nature. Or somewhere else in Sweden. I was looking everywhere for a hint of 'one of the most beautiful country in the world'.
Here, we are approaching the Town. Can you see the camera on top? That is a camera that will snap photos of your car plate and send you a bill at your door step - charges for driving into town. Hence, driving is very much discouraged.
Why drive when you can take buses, trams, and trains? Their public transportation is excellent and punctual.
This is Gamla Stan (Old Town). I explored it further upon my return from Pyrenees. This is one of the must-go places in Stockholm. In fact, this part of Stockholm is on almost every fridge magnet.
One of the famous delicacies of Sweden - Chocolate Balls! There is no chocolate filling. It is filled with cream. Sweet stuff.
Tour on the first day ended pretty early because I was having jetlag and I was tired by 5pm. That is about 11pm in Malaysia. Tomorrow, off we go to Pyrenees!
5 comments:
CHOCOLATE BALLS!! ♥
I almost thought the person with the harp was fake... Σ░(꒪◊꒪ ))))
Haha.. people look fake but not the food?
He he, do you remember how I leaned backwards against the wall with your rucksack on my back, and you had to pull me to start going...? Pretty good density of that rucksack. ;-)
The rucksack you carried that pulled you back is much heavier compared to the one I brought.. haha
You wouldn't be so cruel to play with my feelings... would you.. ? (꒪⌓꒪)
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