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Hello blog! On the very last day of the first month of 2024, I thought I'd pop by and do a little manifesting for the year. I guess it's almost like a resolution, except now I'm hoping and praying for some things instead of well...resolving to want to do it.

And why did I decide to only do this on the very last day of the month? I'm not going to lie - it's because I was waiting on more assurance before I would even dream of some manifestations. ~~Also I was some parts unmotivated and lazy.~~ But now that I know more, I'm equipped with the confidence to say 2024 is going to be really great! With that... I'd like to envision 2024 to be:

THE YEAR I COMPLETE MY DUTCH INTEGRATION

As it's our 5th year in the Netherlands, it's time we took the integration examination a lot more seriously. Sometimes it's crazy to think we decided one evening to up our entire lives and move halfway across the world, while other times it just seems absolutely normal?

But indeed, the time has come that we're in the process of applying and sitting for the 5 exams we need to take to qualify as a PR in the country. In fact, we've already put this in motion as of me typing this and I've gotten the first paper in the bag. Just 4 more to go, so wish me luck!

THE YEAR I RUN

I think this might be a fun one, but I'm really trying to find more motivation to put myself back in shape. Having to catch my breath each time I climb the 2 flights of stairs to my apartment in the Netherlands is no fun and neither am I getting younger.

So this year I'm thinking of picking up running - except it might only be on the treadmill until the weather starts becoming less dreadful. I know I mention exercising each year as a resolution but well... let's see!

THE YEAR I LEARN SOMETHING NEW

If there was anything 2023 has taught me, is that I'm capable of everything I set my heart into. Having been thrown into a new role by my company then learning how to float - albeit not as well as I would love to - I feel like it's totally possible for me to achieve learning something this 2024.

Unfortunately, I've not settled on what I'd like to learn as I've considered a variety of things of interest, but I just know it's going to be good.

Perhaps this year I will also learn to love myself?

AND WITH THAT, LET'S DO 2024!

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Life

How We Did 2023

By Elie - 3:00 PM

And with that, the 2023 season comes to an end! Sometimes it's hard to believe where time has gone and perhaps even harder to remember what I've done through the year. In fact, this may be why I still write in my blog these days - and because I know I still have at least one loyal reader. With that out of the way though, let's go with our usual 2023 wrap up because someday maybe I'd love to revisit the memories of the year that way 2023!

I TRAVELED SO MUCH

From Brussels with my best friend

To London with my childhood buddy

I went to Venice with my better half

Then Copenhagen to see a crazy mate

And finally, Salzburg where I turned 31

In short, I got to truly experience what it would feel like when you're living in Europe and a variety of destinations would just be a bus or train ride away. I'm well aware of course, that this is quite a blessing and I cherish all the memories made from every trip. Granted, Malaysia did not make our list of travels this year but I mean...we did go back last year?

I LEARNED TO DEAL WITH DISCOMFORTS

Like standing in the November snow...and catching a flu right after!

Well no, it's a little more deep than that but essentially 2023 was a tough year for me career wise. There were sudden changes in the role for the I've been working with, and I had to make immediate decisions if I should stay or I should go. Ultimately, it was a really uncomfortable position and it obviously took a toll on me for a bit at the start of the year.

However, the discomfort made me revisit a lot of knowledge I'd long forgotten and in some ways I'm grateful for the opportunity to pick them up again. I could see myself growing through the situation and perhaps I'm even glad that I stayed instead of running away. For that, I do have to thank my employer for not giving up on me.

I LOST MORE LOVED ONES

Unfortunately in 2023, I had to once again bid goodbye to another beloved family member who had long fought with his illness. While there is a part that feels like this could have been the best for him as there is no more pain and suffering, there's still a piece in me that feels such sadness and disappointment to not be able to send him off for the last time. This is, however, how life is set to be and I want to believe that maybe we will meet again someday.

AND I PROBABLY DID NOT DO MY RESOLUTIONS

Guilty

It's funny because I actually made my 2023 resolutions about a month into the year, thinking that it was perhaps way more thought out that way. The verdict though, is that it wasn't. So let's see what went wrong. In 2023...

I vowed to finish my Ringfit Adventures on the Nintendo Switch. I turned the game on for a maximum of 5 times, before I caught a cold because the winter chills are not it for me - then never touched the game again. In fact, I even got more games for the console so no guesses where my time had gone.

I vowed to finish turning our house into a home. To be fair though, I think this was a half and half because we really did set up most of what we needed - like putting in beds for the guest room and building a display cabinet for our LEGOs, but clearly you can never truly finish upgrading and updating your space. IKEA really did get more of our salary through the year because we've ordered more things along the way, but maybe I can say I tried my best on this one?

I vowed to be able to converse in Dutch. Instead, I've re-downloaded Duolingo and even bought the premium subscription because I had it with their ads. Although I probably can't converse in Dutch fully, I must say I probably understand way more than I did previously. Is this a half win? Maybe. But 2024 will mark the 5th year since we've moved to the Netherlands, which also means we can soon try to take on our integration examinations so maybe that's when my Dutch language will truly have to come in play!

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And that was my 2023 in a nutshell! Eventful? Maybe. Memorable? Definitely. Will I still make more resolution in 2024 since I've perpetually been failing them in 2021, 2022, and now 2023? We'll see.

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Singing Salzburg

Singing Salzburg: The Original Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg - Is It Worth It?

By Elie - 3:13 PM

Hello blog space, I'm here to catch-up on my Salzburg adventures! So it's been a month since we visited and came back from the wonderful city, yet all I've talked about is the hostel we stayed at. Which is why I'm here to change history by sharing my experiences from...

The Original Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg.

That's right! If you didn't already know, The Sound of Music movie that was released in 1965 starring the late Christopher Plummer as Captain von Trapp and Julie Andrews as Maria was primarily shot around this Austrian city. It wasn't difficult to see why though, because Salzburg had so much in architecture and natural beauty to offer - and this tour was here to give the movie's fans a taste of what the artists enjoyed back in those years.

And that's me. I'm a fan. Costing €60 per person (price as of October 2023) for a seat on the bus through the 4-hour tour, this experience aims to take the visitors through most of the filming locations along with fun facts sprinkled in along the way. Pick-ups are usually done from the square outside of Mirabell Gardens and would return to the same location after.

But is the tour of the Original Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg worth it or can you simply hunt down the infamous filming locations yourself? Let's break it down to some pros and cons.

THE PROS OF JOINING THE TOUR

Visiting the infamous "Sixteen Going On Seventeen" gazebo

At the top of my pros list is definitely how you can visit most of the filming locations seamlessly. The tour guide would also provide really interesting facts at every stop - and sure, you could Google for these little things but there was just a much more magical feeling knowing these facts as you're staring at the location. For example, the gazebo that we see in "Sixteen Going On Seventeen" was originally located at the Leopoldskron Palace but the rude trespassing of unhinged tourists caused it to be moved to the Schloss Hellbrunn castle where it sits today.

Unfortunately, the gazebo isn't open for visitors to enter but you're always welcome to take pictures from the outside. You could also drop by sans the tour group free of charge, but that does require you to take the public transport about 25 minutes out of the city centre of Salzburg and walk for about 10 to 15 minutes into the castle grounds after alighting. In comparison, the tour takes you right to the doorsteps of the castle and you simply walk 5 minutes from the parking to the gazebo.

A majestic view of the Leopoldskron Palace

Another example is when we visited the pond side of Leopoldskron Palace, albeit only being allowed to watch from afar. Real fans of the movie would recognize this location as the spot where the von Trapp children fell over into the waters while wearing their play clothes made of Maria's old curtains but it was also here that we learned how Julie Andrews' slip-and-fall shot in the movie was accidental. It really added to the scene though, and having an energetic tour guide tell us this as we stared at palace and pond made it so much better.

Our biggest regret was not being able to find the same goat souvenir

The next best thing about joining The Original Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg was definitely the convenience that came with it. Because most filming locations are scattered far and wide, being a part of the tour meant you didn't have to wait on different public commutes or worry about missing connections. All that you need to do is make sure you remember the bus you came on and be back on the bus when you need to.

The ride itself was also rather comfortable - we had visited Salzburg when it was surprisingly warm, and hopping on the air-conditioned coach gave us such relief each time. If there was one complaint however, is that you don't get a lot of leg space and this is coming from someone who's got really short legs so I can't imagine what it would be like for someone tall.

Immaculate vibes!

And finally, the last thing on my pros list is about the vibes on the coach. Given that anyone on the bus would be - to a certain degree - a fan of the movie, it's likely that you'll have lots of fun times singing along to the original Sound of Music soundtrack that they would play through the 4-hour tour. Our tour guide whose name I have unfortunately forgotten (but remember as a tall ginger man) was extremely energetic throughout and was as engaging as could be. The dynamics he had with our driver was also great and you could tell that he really enjoyed doing the tours, rather than treating it as another boring job.

That said, I do recommend you brush up on your Sound of Music knowledge before heading for the tour because it can really get you extra immersed in the experience, making The Original Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg quite worth it.

THE CONS OF JOINING THE TOUR

The Nonnberg Abbey where Maria was supposedly studying to be a nun

Of course, not everything is sunshine and daffodils when it comes to being on a tour so let's discuss some of the cons with the first thing being that you won't be seeing "everything". Given that the tour has a stipulated timeframe, it's highly understandable that you'll be giving certain things a miss. The Nonnberg Abbey was one of the locations that we did not visit, but that could also be the fact that the abbey is still in fact still an existing monastery and not just a tourist location.

Some locations may just be a drive-by spot, so you always have to be aware and ready to look out the window in a split second or you'll miss it. One such location was the The Baroque Frohnburg Palace that was used as the facade of the von Trapp family villa where you'll see Maria (Julie Andrews) singing "I Have Confidence" before walking into her new life as a governess. A friendly tip: I would say the left side of the coach is the better spot to sit on if you get to pick, because that's where you'll get most of the drive-by views!

The beautiful Mondsee Abbey

Still on the topic of time, it can sometimes feel like you're being herded like sheep because there's a lot to cover in not a lot of time. As we were nearing the end of the tour, we were taken to the town of Mondsee which was about 30 minutes outside of Salzburg. The reason for this visit was to look at the Mondsee Abbey where the marriage of Captain Georg (pronounced Gail) von Trapp and Maria supposedly took place in the movie, because the Nonnberg Abbey did not allow for filming.

Despite being driven all the way out here, we were only given approximately 20 minutes to look around the town and if you couple that with walking, waiting, and washroom break times, it's just very little to work with. Other stops such visiting the gazebo at the Schloss Hellbrunn had about 10 minutes allocated as well, so you really had to make full use of every second. We ended up not entering the Mondsee Abbey because we were quite hungry at this point and just quickly grabbed a strudel from the nearby cafe then ran right back to the bus to avoid being tardy. There were 2 girls who were in fact late to return and it was quite annoying.

Mirabell Gardens, where the iconic "Do, Re, Mi" song was filmed

Lastly, if there was a con to joining the tour is how it can be quite disorganised at pick-up. The tour offered two sessions a day: Once at 9AM and the other at 2PM. We had booked our tickets ahead of time online and were told to exchange our reservations for a physical ticket at the pick-up area, but when we tried to do that, another man told us we didn't need to. Instead, he just gave us a pass to indicate that we were in group A and told us to wait by the coach.

At the time of boarding, however, the driver really didn't bother which group we belonged in and simply allowed anyone up the bus. It came to a point where we also didn't make the first bus (which perhaps was a blessing since our tour guide was amazing!) because it was too full and they only had one seat left when there were two of us. The coach also refused to leave until that 1 seat was filled, so there was just a lot of waiting going on in case there was a single traveler somehow.

The same thing happened when the second coach came for us, so this time I made a conscious effort to tell them that there were TWO of us and we've waited since 1:45PM as stipulated on our reservations. In the end, my other half and I got lucky as we got to sit together for the duration of the tour, but there were two girls traveling together who had to be split up on the coach because there were just single seats left. So if you're thinking of going on the tour, be sure to be there early and make sure to tell the driver you're in a group!

THE ORIGINAL SOUND OF MUSIC TOUR IN SALZBURG - IS IT WORTH IT?

A surprise stop at Lake Wolfgangsee

Lake Wolfgangsee

Now that we've gotten the pros and cons out of the way, do I actually think The Original Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg is worth it? To be honest, it definitely is worth it and I'll even sprinkle in some extra points if you're a fan.

Despite the €60 price tag, it's good to remember that these filming locations can be set sprawling across different areas of the city - and at one point even out to a different city! You'll be surrounded by the good vibes of everyone who's just as excited to see the locations as you are, and the fun facts that you get from the tour guide does make it an exciting experience overall.

Granted, I do think this is more of a one-time thing since you probably wouldn't do the tour again if you've already heard the lowdown to everything. But if you haven't already, I do recommend taking on the tour at least once...and be sure to brush up on your Sound of Music soundtrack knowledge cause you'll definitely need it!

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2024: A Year in Paragraphs

2024: A Manifestation

How We Did 2023

Singing Salzburg: The Original Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg - Is It Worth It?

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