Prague

On 24th April morning, after taken my breakfast, while waiting for my wife to come back from her visit to the University Palacky Pathology Department, I prepared to check out from the hotel.

10:23 AM we pushed off from Olomouc to Praha in a very nice and comfortable Pendolino train ride. We reached Praha 2 hours later, with only 2 stops in between. Our hotel was just in front of the main train station (Hlavni Nadrazi), but as agreed with Hamimmi and Nadia, we waited for them and together we walked to the hotel. It was Chopin Hotel. We paid 70 Euros cheaper online than those walking in. What a great saving.

As the train journey wasn't a tiring one, we were ready to explore Praha after performing jamak qasar Zohor and Asar. But of course, we need to taste the famous halal Lamb Briyani not far away from the hotel. The Restaurant wasn't too big but clean and no alcohol was served. The taste was marvellous. I strongly recommend this to you.

Hamimmi and Nadia had some work to do, so Nabihah took their place to show us around. We really appreciated their help, as for only 1 day in Prague, time was gold. As many other old cities in Europe, Prague city was walkable. But we still need the trams on some occassions. This was the time when tour guides were very crucial and priceless. Thank you very much dear sisters. May Allah bless you all and make your life there easy and unstressable. Please pray for their exams end of this month.

So we managed to see what we have to see in 1 day. At the end we stopped at Hamimmi and friends' house near Charles University. It was bigger than any students house in Birmingham, I tell you. Nice and clean with huge rooms. Hamimmi stayed with 5 other friends.

We also met Wan Fadhilah from Hradec, 1 hour away from Prague, who we contacted when we were in Czech Rep before we met Suhaila and Atiqah in Olomouc. We met many more Malaysian medical students in Hamimmi's house as they were having a small gathering on the next day.

Before we went back to the hotel, Hamimmi and Nabihah showed us Wenceslas Square. All the info you need to know about Phara are here

There are a few photos in a slide at the bottom of the blog.

Nadia, my wife and Hamimmi

Having lunch at a Pakistani restaurant in Prague, just 3 min walk from Chopin Hotel.

At the market in New Town.

Royal Garden near Prague Castle

Waiting for the No . 20 bus to go up to Prague Castle

Prague Castle in the background

Diny and Nabihah at Prague Castle entrance

From left back : Rusna, Lah, Mimmi, Syifa
Front left : Nabihah, Diny, Firyal, Siti Nadia at Al Insyirah

Diny and our dear tour guide, Sis Nabihah, yr 3 Med Student

Charles Bridge, packed with tourists, view from Prague Castle

Olomouc

It was Friday, 23rd April 2010. I woke up early, and was ready for breakfast at the ground floor at 7 AM. I found the ransack (Lowepro CompuPrimus) I bought earlier before coming to Czech Rep was really satisfying. Not only I’ve got it cheap, good quality, but also the laptop sleeve provided with the bag was really useful and it was not a shame to walk around with.

I looked around the hotel restaurant (Sigma Hotel, Olomouc) to find an electrical socket for my laptop and started to search for the wi-fi. Alhamdulillah, I’ve got it done and started to surf the internet.

9 AM, I had a job, as a photographer to snap a few photos for my wife’s poster presentation. It was still quite early when I reached back to the hotel. I looked at the clock at the bottom right of my laptop, it was 9:30 AM. So I decided to surf the internet and made a few calls provided by http://www.nonoh.net/. It was free. I was addicted to internet, and during that period, I managed to watch Malay Film, Muallaf, directed by the late Yasmin Ahmad.

It was 11 am and I was ready to tour Olomouc city, when I realized that I haven’t changed the time zone in my laptop. Ya Allah, it’s 11 AM UK time, means 12 PM local time. So I made the move. Hopped in the tram and hopped out whenever I like. Pedulik haper khanz. I didn’t have any specific program, but I knew that there was a FLORA festival this month somewhere near the botanical garden. I heard other tourists said FLORA in their conversation among themselves, and amazingly, I was at that FLORA. I paid Kr 80, (almost £3) for a student ticket. I thought it was like Keukenhof, but I was wrong. It was just like a normal flower exhibition with Sunday market booth.

At 3 PM I felt nauseated due to gastritis, I was hungry. I remembered my wife’s friend said that there is a halal kebab house at the end of the Main Train Station. I ordered noodle with kebab (Kr75) and a coke (Kr25). It was halal, but they sold beer as well at £0.04 per large glass. Ergh ! ! ! I was hungry and nearly felt like fainting, so I just ate the noodle. I was eating when my wife entered the kebab house, not noticing my presence there, and ordered a kebab for herself. She said, her Czech friends told her, that the hotel that we stayed was an old building in a communist era, and the train that we took from Praha was the normal old fashion train. We should have bought an express train called Pendolino which took only 2 hours journey and was much more comfortable.

So we bought Pendolino train ticket for our journey back to Prague. The price was of course much more expensive ie double the normal train. As for the hotel, we felt it was comfortable and convenient, only 2 minutes walk to the main train station and to the Regional Conference Centre. I went back to the room to pray, and my wife continued with her conference in RCC.

Yesterday Atikah and Suhaila showed us around. They stopped over at our hotel room for maghrib prayer. Before they went back that night, we made a plan for tomorrow which was today, to go to FLORA and another shopping place which was about the same as Alamanda Putrajaya. Actually not the same but easier to imagine for you folks.

We were supposed to go at 3 PM, but cancelled because my wife had a very interesting talk by her supervisor, Paul at 4:30 PM. So we postponed it to 5PM. It seemed that we were too late to visit Flora, so we cancelled the first itinerary. It was ok for me, as I have been there earlier.

I was tired and needed a short nap. When my wife came back from the conference, I told her that we postponed our visit to Olympia to 6 PM, she decided to take a short walk but ended up taking a tram which was en route to FLORA. She got off the tram in front of the FLORA and with Allah's will, fortunately met Suhaila at FLORA with 4 other Malaysian students, Zaharah, Farhana, Nadia and Seri (hopefully I wrote the right names)

After sholat Asar at the hotel, we took a free bus specially catered for Olympia customers. We spent about 2 and a half hours there. I was very tired, but really enjoyed the time there.

All Malaysian students here were studying Medicine. All their lecturers who my wife met were very impressed with Malaysian Medical students here. I was not surprised, because all of them were brilliant students, who scored all A's in their SPM.

In front of RCC attending the 6th Molecular Pathology Symposium

With her Czech friend, Dana in front of her poster

Olomouc City Centre

If you wanna to know more about Olomouc, just type it in Google search. One of it is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olomouc

Town Hall on your right and Holy Trinity Column on your left

One of many flowers at the exhibition

Botanical garden. I was tired. Just snapped a few pictures and rushed to Halal Kebab House

A morning view from the hotel's 8th floor. RCC on your right and the main train station on your left

We bought 24 hours tickets here, cost Kr40 per person(GBP1.20)

Register the ticket at the yellow box once. And we can hop in and hop out in any of the transportation services, busses and trams. Very easy

The tram

This is Olympia. I snapped it from my iPhone camera. I actually brought along my camera, but too bad, left my SD card at the hotel.

Czech Rep

Rabu, 21 April, wa balik keje awal, atas ihsan abg Wahab. Dia tau wa akan memandu ke Egham malam ini. Di rumah semua dah sedia. Lepas sholat Maghrib, kami berangkat. Perlu wa nyatakan di sini bahawa, Thule roof rack was brilliant ! ! !

Menginap semalam di rumah ipo wa, esok seawal jam 6 pagi wa dan wife dihantar oleh abg Ipo dan kakak ipo wa ke Heathrow, Terminal 5. Bagusnya British Airways ini mereka ada online check-in. Masukkan booking code, terus wa print boarding pass sebelum ke airport. Kalau nak lagi bagus, jadi member British Airways executive club, free je.

Pagi tu kami tertinggal poster untuk presentation wife wa. Kalau tak bawa rugi lah dah penat sediakan. Ia perlu untuk perkenalkan Unibesti Putra, seterusnya ia perlu untuk kerjasama wife wa dengan universiti antarabangsa. Nasib baik abg ipo dan kakak ipo wa sporting giler, kalau tak giler pasti mereka tak akan hantar punya mende tu ke airport.

Kebetulan pula flight ada sedikit tergendala. Maklumlah tuan tuan dan puan puan, airport baru sehari dibuka setelah hampir seminggu ditutup gara gara letusan gunung berapi di Iceland yang menghasilkan debu yang boleh merosakkan enjin kapal terbang

Rencana terbang jam 7:55 pagi, tertunda ke 8:15 pagi. BA ni agak selesa dan yakin. Namun seperti biasa wa akan baca Al Fatihah, 3 x Al Ikhlas dan Ayat Kursi. Perjalanan lancar dan kami mendarat seperti diramalkan sebelum penerbangan tertunda, maknanya laju lah tu

Akhirnya, kalau sebelum ini wa hanya melihat di skrin info kapalterbang, sekarang ini wa mendarat di PRAHA atau PRAGUE di Czech Republic. Bekas tanah komunis, yang kini ramai dihuni yahudi.

Namun tuan tuan dan puan puan, Prague bukanlah tujuan utama kami. Kami mesti ke Olomouc, negeri kelima terbesar dalam Czech Rep, negeri kedua terbanyak peninggalan tugu seni ukiran bersejarah dalam Czech Rep ini. Unibesti kedua tertua (Palacky University) di Czech pon terletak di sini. Dari airport ambil bas, AE (Airport Express) Kr 100 untuk 2 orang ke main train station. Kali pertama sampai sini maka ambil sahaja apa keretapi yang ada.

3 jam 14 minit. Kereta api buruk. As expected, jadi tak kisah. Namun sesuatu yang mengkagumkan, baik bas mahupon keretapi, adalah ketepatan waktunya. Tak ada lebih kurang. Sampai waktu, pintu tutup terus jalan. Inilah agaknya impian PM kita nak hapuskan kata lebih kurang tu agaknya

Sampai Olomouc, nginap di hotel, harganya (wife wa nak yang paling murah) maka dapatlah yang paling murah. GBP25 semalam. Depan stesen keretapi dan 2 minit jalan kaki ke tempat konferen.

Pertama wa lihat anak tangganya, maka dalam kepala wa terlintas, aku akan balik ke tahun 70-an. Anak tangganya berkarat. Bilik besar, ada living room dan bilik tido, bilik air besar, ada tv, hu hu hu ada tv you, thak sangka I. Cuma yang sungguh I thak sangka, thak ada esbok, malah kettle phon tak ado. Nasib baik wa lihat ramai gak la orang yang nginap di situ dengan pakaian dan gaya yang agak bertamadun. Lega sikit hati.

Sarapan agak mewah, seperti biasalah hotel 3 bintang. Asal kenyang, wa no hal. Yang penting bagi wa, ada internet, walaupon hanya di lobby. OK lah. GBP25 je yeop. Lu nak harap apa. Itu pon wa kira lebih bagus dari kebanyakan hotel di Malaya tu. La ni, wi-fi patutnya satu kemestian dan patutnya juga kena FREE

Petang tu, lepas letak beg, mandi dah sholat, kami berjalan. Maka dengan itu dapatlah gambo wa dipukul, walaupon dari belakang. Kota Olomouc ini agak sepi dengan populasi 100k. Ia bersih dan nyaman. Cara mereka renung orang yang pakai tudung pon semacam je.

Di salah satu dari banyak sungai dalam kota

Wa ske lihat anak sungai yang jernih ni. Boleh lihat kilasan ikan di dalamnya. Jauh sungguh sungguh, dari kebersihan sungai Klang yang mengalir membelah bandaraya indah Kuala Lumpur. Atau keindahan Kuala Lumpur telah dicemari dengan sungai Klangnya

Beginilah kebanyakan banggunan di sini

The holy trinity coloumn ini adalah tugu setinggi 35 m. Dalam 2000 ia diiktiraf sebagai salah satu dari senarai Peninggalan Kebudayaan Dunia oleh UNESCO. Terletak di dataran Town Hall

Town Hall dengan Astronomical Clock

Pertama dicatat pembinaannya adalah dalam tahun 1378, berstruktur Gothic dengan adaptasi Renaissance, sementara astronomical clock dibina dalam kurun ke 15

Astronomical clock

Ia merupakan jam dengan kelengkapan peralatan bagi memberikan infomasi astronomik seperti kedudukan relatif mentari, bulan, zodiak dan terkadang kedudukan planet planet yang besar


Dalam bulan April setiap tahun, terdapat pesta bunga, FLORA di taman botani di Olomouc. Belon udara ini menjadi tanda ianya telah dan sedang berlangsung.

Olomous city, macam ASDA tempat kami beli kettle, GBP6. Bersama Atikah dan Suhaila

Kunjungan kami di Czech Rep ini relatif singkat. Tapi Alhamdulillah dengan bantuan adik adik mahasiswa di sini, perjalanan kami yang singkat menjadi bermakna kerana bantuan mereka. Untuk itu setinggi penghargaan kepada mereka kerana sudi menyediakan masa untuk kami. Kami dapat menghubungi mereka dari Cikgu Jue. Ada antara mereka pernah datang ke UK untuk menghadiri program siswa

Dengan mereka, langkah kami menjadi bertambah panjang. Dalam tram

Disneyland Paris

Pada 24 Mac lalu kami ke Egham. Tido semalam. Keesokan harinya meluncurlah kami ke France. Tujuan nya adalah menuju Disneyland Paris. Menginap di Adagio Aparthotel. Dalam kawasan Disneyland. Senang duduk di sini, sebab dekat, ada shuttle bus selang 15 minit dari hotel ke Disneyland. Tak dapat book yang lagi dekat sebab kat sini depa kira per kepala. Maka kami terpaksa mencari bilik hotel yang muat untuk 7 orang, sorang satu katil.

Wa sangat rekomen duduk di sini bagi keluarga besar. Ia lengkap semua peralatan asas rumah, termasuk free wifi broadband internet. Apartment yang wa nginap ni 2 tingkat. 2 biilik, 2 bilik air, dining and living, semua peralatan dapur pinggan dan mangkok segala macam termasuk Cold breakfast untuk 7 orang. Makanan yang wa bawa dari UK pon tak habis. Parking free, ni yang penting ni. Segalanya wa booking di Disneyland Paris. Pakej ini termasuk tambang melintas English Channel menggunakan keretapi bawah laut, penginapan 4 hari 3 malam dan tiket Disney Park untuk 3 hari

Nasihat wa,

jika ada shuttle bus, naik je shuttle bus tu, sebabnya parking di Disneyland tu jauh (20 minit jalan kaki), kalau bas berhenti depan pintu masuk utama

Masuk park seawal jam 10 pagi, cari ride yang ada fast track dulu, book semua ride yang ada fast track. Ia free. Pepandailah manage masa nak pukul berapa. Lepas tu pegilah naik ride yang tak ada fast track. Jimat masa ... banyak you.

Ini depan pintu masuk utama. Terbahagi dua, Disney Studio dan Disney park

Parade dimulakan jam 10 pagi, setiap 2 atau 3 jam sekali. Tak banyak sangat lah. Tapi happening.

Lepas parade, carektor Disney ini akan mencari sudut tertentu untuk sign otograf dan sesi berfoto

Kena beratur beb. Tapi wa malas nak beratur, masuk je kat celah.

Bukan hanya manusia sahaja patuh pada aturan berbaris, stroler pon berbaris juga. Hi hi hi kelako gak bila kerajaan Inggeris ada kursus bagaimana beratur khusus kepada rakyat asing yang nak bermastautin di UK. Sebenonya, UK ni memang agak gentleman. Kalau negara eropah lain, terutama belah timur, tak ado budaya beratur ni, Yang ado, budayo cilok.

Spaco Mountain ni adalah ride pertama yang wa naik, itupon sebab nak temankan Aiman. Aspek keselamatan memang sangat dijaga, hingga wa yang sakit belakang ni pon tak terasa sangat masa naik ride ini. Perjalanannya sungguh mengamcam, tapi kurang trill sebab gelap. Kalau open air, pasti lagi mengkagumkan.

Ride kanak kanak bawah umur (Madeehah) ni tak ado fast track. Jadi menunggu punyo lah lamo.

Dalam Disney Park ada 6 tema. Kat belakang tu, Fantasyland. Menarik

Inilah istana yang jadi lambang setiap movie keluaran Disney Production

Tarik Amir pedang tu, jangan tak tarik.

Patutnya kena diusulkan surau dalam park ni. Memandangkan beso gak jumlah pengunjung Muslim. Kalau datang masa mentari panjang tak apo la, kalau musim winter, waktu pendek, terkejo kejo lah kita. Untuk masa wa datang siang panjang, maka boleh sholat di hotel. Sholat di mano mano memang lah boleh, tapi wa tak selesalah kalau sebelum sholat nak ke tandas dulu.

Banyak gak ride yang ada had ketinggian. Wa juga lihat pelbagai mimik raut wajah kanak kanak yang lepas had tinggi mahupon yang tak lepas. Kesian gak bagi yang tak lepas tu. Masalahnya, kalau dia tak lepas, ibubapanya pon tak akan naik gak.

Ni kawasan lanun.

Sebahagian parade

Mickey Mouse Studio

She discovered her own shadow

She was very well behaved.

Hotel Holywood. Naik lift, turun zero gravity

Penyapu sampah dan timba air.

Melihat wajah di cermin lengkung

Salah satu kedai jual cenderahati. Wa betul betul terlupa nak beli cenderahati

USA Main Street

Bila lapo. Tempat melepak banyak. Nak beli makanan dalam ni pon boleh juga. Sedia je lah duit. Cuma mahalnya ... Nasehat wa, bawak makanan dari luar. Kecuali kalau lu all wang yang banyak

Last minute shopping

Tempat menunggu shuttle bus. Pon bersih tak ada sampah. Anak anak wa ketika ini sedang mengejar beberapa ekor arnab yang berlari bebas.

Suasana kat sini waktu ini sangat mempersonakan. Wa kira setelah kunjungan wa yang keempat kali ini barulah wa rasa wa suka Bandaraya Paris ini. Next time wa rasa nak duduk lama sikit di Kota Paris.

Motour Motion. Kalau lu all nak masuk sini, pastikan jam berapa pertunjukkannya. Ia tak ada sepanjang hari. Oleh kerana ia pertunjukkan, maka ramailah penontonnya. Jadi tak payah beratur. Penuhkan ruang tempat duduk sahaja.

Walaupon begitu, kena cepat gak la, sebab orang ramai. Kami kebetulan waktu sampai pintu studio dah terbuka, maka dapatlah duduk depan.

Tempat penggambarannya kecik aje, tapi special effect dan penggambaran dalam filem nampak real sangat

Satu lagi tempat dalam dunia telah kami jejaki.

Madeehah dan Minnie Mouse nya. She behaved very well and always happy

Hi hi hi, peace

Walt Disney Studio. All in all, puas hati la, sebab kami duduk sini 4 hari. Apa yang nak naik dah dapat naik.

Restoren

Jam menunjukkan 1:30 tgh. Kami mesti berangkat pulang, kerana nak mengejar Eurotunnel jam 5:20 petang. Check in 4:50. Ini pon wa dah bagi extra time pada anak anak wa. Patutnya ikut jadual asal jam 12:30 kena keluar. Perjalanan dari Paris ke Calais memakan masa 2 jam 44 minit (ikut toll, Euro 20.20). Kalau lu all nak jimat boleh juga, lalu jalan tanpa toll, ambil masa 5 jam. Seperti biasa, wa akan beli masa.