Spring 2015 - Negara ke 2: Germany (Pengenalan)

Post sebelum ni yang sepakej untuk trip Spring 2015 
Western Europe 2015-Intro 
Netherlands - Intro
Netherlands - Part1- Keukenhof & Haarlem
Netherlands - Part2 - Amsterdam city  


Dari Amsterdam kitaorang ambik train ke Germany.  Bandar pertama yang di singgah ialah Heildelberg.  Bermalam satu malam di Heildelberg, Kitaorang seterusnya ambik train ke Munich.



1.  Preparation

Preparation dari segi mengumpulkan maklumat penting memandangkan ini kali pertama aku & CK masuk Germany.  Information untuk trip, 60% adalah dari google dan forum, 15% dari blogs, 15% dari kawan orang German dan 10% dari kawan-kawan Malaysia yang pernah pergi ke Germany, contohnya rakan blogger kakiberangan.   Thanks all.  

Based pada apa yang nak di tengok dan saiz bandarnya, kitaorang decide 1 malam di Heildelberg dan lagi 2 malam di Munich. 

Kedudukan geografi Germany. Image credit: www.ramsey.k12.nj.us

  

 Journey map dari Amsterdam - Heidelberg (transit di Dusseldorf) dan Heildelberg - Munchen

2.  Introduction

Based pada carian wikitravel aku nak share info mengenai Heildelberg & Munich
 
Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a city in the region Rhein-Neckar in the state of Baden-Württemberg in the Federal Republic of Germany. Heidelberg lies on the River Neckar in a steep valley in the Odenwald. Over 148,000 people live in the city.

It is no secret that Heidelberg is a jewel among German travel destinations. Heidelberg is in the Neckar river valley right where the legend-rich Odenwald (Forest of Odes or Odin) opens up towards the plains of the Rhine Valley. Heidelberg is home to the oldest university in Germany (est. 1386). With 28,000 students, the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität (or Ruperto Carola, the Latin equivalent of its name) is one of Germany's larger academic institutions and boasts the full spectrum of an ancient academy, from Egyptian Studies to Computer Linguistics. The faculties for Medicine, Law and Natural Sciences are considered to be among the best in Germany. The university fostered the establishment of several other world class research institutions such as the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), the European Molecular Biological Laboratory (EMBL), Centre for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), Max Planck Institutes for Medicine, Astronomy, Nuclear Physics, among others. Generally speaking, Heidelberg is an academic city with a long and rich history and is similar in many ways to cities such as Cambridge or Oxford (Heidelberg and Cambridge, England are twinned).

During WWII, the city was almost completely spared allied bombings which destroyed many of Germany's larger inner cities. As a result, Heidelberg has retained its baroque charm of narrow streets, picturesque houses and of course the world-famous Schloss (castle ruins). After World War II, the US Army built large barracks at the southern end of the city. Heidelberg's 147,000 inhabitants thus include not only 28,000 students at the university but also nearly 30,000 US citizens, almost all of them soldiers and their families. With hundreds of thousands of tourists flocking to the city annually, Heidelberg is truly a culturally diverse and international destination, despite its small size. Over the years, Heidelberg has attracted numerous artists, intellectuals and academics from all over Europe and has sometimes been referred to as Germany's unofficial intellectual capital. People who have lived and worked in the city include the poets Joseph von Eichendorff, Jean Paul, Goethe and Iqbal, scientists such as Bunsen and Kirchhoff, philosophers such as the founder of the "Illuminati" order von-Knigge, atheist Ludwig Feuerbach, existentialist Karl Jaspers, political theorist Hannah Arendt, architect Albert Speer, and many more. 

Mark Twain wrote in A Tramp Abroad:
..."Out of a billowy upheaval of vivid green foliage ...rises the huge ruin of Heidelberg Castle, with empty window arches, ivy-mailed battlements, moldering towers—the Lear of inanimate nature—deserted, discrowned, beaten by the storms, but royal still, and beautiful.

Sumber: wikitravel.org 


Munich@München

Munich is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings — have a look at each of them.

Munich (German: München, Bavarian: Minga) is the capital city of Bavaria. Within the city limits, Munich has a population of more than 1.4 million, making it the third-most populous city in Germany. Greater Munich including its suburbs has a population of 2.6 million. The Munich metropolitan region which extends to cities like Augsburg or Ingolstadt had a population of more than 5.6 million in 2008. 

Munich, located at the river Isar in the south of Bavaria, is famous for its beautiful architecture, fine culture, and the annual Oktoberfest beer celebration. Munich's cultural scene is second to none in Germany, with the museums even considered by some to outrank Berlin in quality. Many travelers to Munich are absolutely stunned by the quality of the architecture. Although it was heavily damaged by allied bombing during World War II, many of its historic buildings have been rebuilt and the city center appears mostly as it did in the late 1800s including its largest church, the Frauenkirche, and the famous city hall (Neues Rathaus). 

Munich is a major international center of business, engineering, research and medicine exemplified by the presence of two research universities, a multitude of smaller colleges, headquarters of several multinational companies and worldclass technology and science museums like the Deutsches Museum and BMW Museum. It is Germany's most prosperous city and makes it repeatedly into the top 10 of global quality-of-life rankings. Munich's ability to stay at the forefront of technological developments and maintain its cultural heritage is often summarized in the chracterization as a city of "laptop and lederhosen". 

Sumber; wikitravel.org
 


3. Matawang

Mata wang yang di guna di Germany adalah Euros (€).  Nilai yang aku tengok untuk hari ni adalah RM €1 = RM 4.02.  Aku tukar € kat Malaysia siap-siap sebab tak nak pening.  Ada orang bawak ATM card dan keluarkan kat sana.  Ikut masing-masing punya keselesaan.  Apapun jangan lupa bagitau bank kalau nak travel oversea untuk mengelakkan kesulitan nak keluarkan duit. 

Aku cuba elak guna credit card bila travel.  Kes tak nak terkujat bila balik esok-esok.  Setakat ni alhamdullillah, berjaya medisiplinkan diri.  Credit card cuma untuk bayar accomodation dan bila betul-betul emergency.
  


4. Transporations

Heildelberg

Aku beli tiket dari Amsterdam ke Heildelberg melalui www.thetrainline-europe.com, Aku beli dalam 2 bulan dari tarikh journey sebab nak kejar harga tiket murah.  Berjaya dapat dengan harga €39 seorang dan baby SJ free (umur Baby SJ pada masa travel 4 tahun 4 bulan).   Harga biasa boleh mencecah €99 seorang.

 Train intercity,  Dari Amsterdam, kitaorang transit di Dusseldorf (bandar di utara Germany) 
untuk ke Heidelberg

*** Untuk kanak-kanak bawah 6 tahun, free ride di negara Germany & Switzerland.  Di Netherlands dan France, free ride hanya untuk kanak-kanak bawah 4 tahun.

Information untuk pengangkutan awam intracity, aku nak share info yang kitaorang dapat sebelum ke Heidelberg

With the HeidelbergBeWelcomeCARD, the Heidelberg Convention and Visitors Bureau offers visitors a chance to see all of Heidelberg’s most loved attractions for a fraction of the cost. The perfect starting place for discovering the city of Heidelberg, the HeidelbergBeWelcomeCARD is your source for seeing many attractions and events, either free of charge or at a discounted rate. It also includes free bus and tram transportation, a city guide and magazine, a Combiticket (multi pass) for the funicular to the Castle and free admission to Castle, and discounts at many shops and restaurants.
Thie HeidelbergBeWelcomeCARD can be purchased at:

• Tourist-Information Center at the main train station (Hauptbahnhof)
• Touristservice, Neckarmünzplatz
• Town Hall (Rathaus) at the market square (Marktplatz)
• Käthe Wohlfahrt, Hauptstraße 124
• Museum of the Palatinate (Kurpfälzisches Museum), Hauptstraße 97
• Designshop heidelArt in the Hauptstrasse 163
• as well as in many hotels in Heidelberg

1 Day Pass (Valid until midnight of the day of issue) - €11.00 

2 Day Pass (Valid on the day of issue and until midnight of the following day) - €13.00

4 Day Pass (Valid from the day of issue until midnight of the fourth day)- €16.00

Family Pass (Valid on the day of issue and until midnight of the following day for a family of 2 adults and 3 children up to 16 years of age or 1 adult and 4 children up to 16 years of age) -€26.00

Kitaorang decide just nak ambik point to point ticket je sebab rugi rasanya nak ambik Day Pass tiket memandangkan kitaorang sampai Heildelberg pun dah petang dan day tiket expired tengah malamnya. Ini satu benda yang korang kena study sikit tentang day pass di Europe.  Ada tempat seperti Amsterdam Day Ticket valid untuk 24 jam, ada tempat seperti di Heildelberg yang Day tiket cuma valid sehingga tengah malam hari yang kita beli.

Bandar Heidelberg kecik sahaja dan ada 3 jenis pengangkutan awam di sini; bas, tram & train.  Kitaorang cuma ada pengalaman naik bas dan berdasarkan pengalaman aku, seperti mana pengangkutan awam di tempat-tempat lain di Europe, service dia awesome. Pengalaman kitaorang dengan ticket intracity di Heidelberg agak pelik sikit.  First time nak naik bas, kitaorang beli tiket siap-siap dari Heidelberg Tourism Centre.  Tiket satu hala €1.20 seorang.  Nasib baik dah terfikir dah beli tiket balik.  Kemudiannya kitaorang tersalah ambik bas dan terpaksa beli tiket dari driver bas sendiri.  Kali ni kena bayar €2.40 seorang.  Aku seriously tak faham.  Makanya di hari kedua, kitaorangdecide beli tiket dari Tourism centre aje untuk murah. 




Munich

Tiket dari Heildelberg ke Munich jugak di beli 2 bulan sebelum tarikh perjalanan melalui www.thetrainline-europe.com, Untuk Heildelberg-Munich juga berjaya dapat dengan harga €24.50 seorang dan free untuk baby SJ.

Untuk Munich, kena study mendalam sikit pasal ticketing system dia dan kalau tak betul-betul study boleh pening. Sebab utamanya ada terlalu banyak pilihan.  Study betul-betul dan fit kan dengan iternary korang.  

Aku share information untuk pengangkutan awam di Munich yang aku dapat

- There are different types of tickets: Single Tickets (called "Einzelfahrkarte"), Stripe Tickets (called "Streifenkarte") and Day Tickets (called "Tageskarte")

- The same ticket is valid for all these forms of public transportation. You don't need different tickets, if you move from train to tram to bus.

- Tickets can be purchased at the blue vending machines, found at U- and S-Bahn-stations, at many tram and bus stops and newspaper kiosks.   
***Note: Before first embarking, the ticket must be validated - insert the ticket into the small stamping machines posted at the entrances to U- and S-Bahn tracks or on trams and buses. It's a €40 fine if you are caught riding without a valid ticket.

- Staying as a tourist in Munich Day Tickets are the best option. They are uncomplicated and mostly cheaper than Single or Stripe Tickets. These tickets allow for unlimited travel on all U-Bahn, S-Bahn trains, trams and buses from the time validated until 6:00 am the next day, 3 Day Tickets from the time validated until 6:00 am the fourth day.

- You only need to choose between different types of Day Tickets.
Simply said: When travelling alone, choose the type Single Day Ticket. When travelling with at least one another person (friend, wife), choose the type Partner DayTicket. When you want to go by public transportation means only in Munich, choose the type Day Ticket inner zone or in case of a longer stay the type 3 Day Ticket inner zone. When you plan visiting places like Dachau memorial camp, Schleissheim Castle or Starnberg at Lake Starnberg choose the type Day Ticket XXL area. When you have to transfer from airport to the city centre or vice versa, choose the type Day Ticket entire network. Detailed information see below.

Single Day Ticket inner zone (Single Tageskarte Innenraum) 6,20 EUR
Partner Day Ticket inner zone (Partner Tageskarte Innenraum) 11,70 EUR

Partner Day Ticket XXL area (Partner Tageskarte XXL) 14,80 EUR
Partner Day Ticket entire network (Partner Tageskarte Gesamtnetz) 22,30 EUR

Berita baiknya, turun dari keretapi di Munich Main Train Station (Haupbanhorf) ada Munich Tourism Centre yang orang-orangnya sangat helpful.  Kitaorang decide nak ambik tiket Partner 3 Days ticket yang berharga €23.00.  Bagi aku tu dah cukup jimat dan berita baik lagi, bagi yang travel dalam satu group, Partner tiket ni bleh di gunakan untuk maximum 5 adult. Memang jimat gila. Di sebabkan kitaorang tak guna betul-betul 3 hari, aku dah lupa tiket dia valid sehingga tengah malam atau pun betul-betul 72 hours dari tarikh kita mula validate, so untuk yang berhajat nak ke Munich, masa beli card tu boleh check dengan kounter.

Card validation pun memang cukup mudah.  Sekali aje perlu validate dan selepas tu cuma guna aje public transport.  Memang simple gila.  Nak masuk ke setiap station pun tak payah lalu gate apa-apa.  Tak sekalipun masa aku di sana, tiket kitaorang di check kecuali untuk perjalanan jauh. Aku cukup salute atas kepercayaan diaorang terhadap orang awam sangat tinggi.  Maybe sebab orang-orangnya sangat jujur.  Aku wish satu hari Malaysia akan sampai tahap itu. 

Sepanjang 2 1/2 hari di Munich, kitaorang banyak guna train.  Train system sangat cekap dan station dia sangat bersih.  Everything smooth dan proses menangkat beg yang berat tak ada masalah sebab semua station ada escalator.  Yang bestnya lagi, jarak train station cuma 50m dari rumah yang kitaorang tinggal

Marienplatz station

Station yang dekat dengan BMW stadium

  Milbertshofen station (U2 line) - station yang dekat dengan tempat kitaorang duduk

Candid 

Info lanjut yang aku pernah share pasal transportation boleh baca SINI

5. Accomodations

Di Heidelberg, kitaorang pilih untuk stay hotel. Kitaorang pilih Ibis Heidelberg Haupbahnhorf (Ibis) yang letak dia 50m dari main train station.  Hotelnya ok, bersih dan standard hotel Europe.  Aku booking guna www.booking.com dan charge untuk satu malam €65. Untuk yang nak Heidelberg, kalau korang malas nak angkat beg berat jauh-jauh dan pengangkutan utama korang samada bas atau train, aku recomend kalau korang nak stay di sini.  Letak dia bukanlah di prime area (bukan di main attraction area) tapi tak susah nak survive.  Sebelah hotel, ada Mc Donald dan since susah nak dapat makanan halal berdekatan, kitaorang makan Filet-O-Fish di sini.  Untuk breakfast, sebab malas nak pening kepala, kitaorang tambah €10 sorang untuk breakfast.  Aku lupa nak ambik sebarang gambar tapi korang boleh klik link Ibis Heidelberg Haupbahnhorf.  

Di  Munich, kitaorang ambik private room di Milbertshofen area dari airbnb.com.  Kitaorang cuma bayar €99 termasuk service charge untuk 2 malam sebab ini first time CK guna airbnb dan dia dapat diskaun selepas aku introduce dia.  Harga asal termasuk service charge €119 untuk 2 malam. Highly recommend bagi yang tak kisah duduk di private room.  Biliknya sangat besar dan boleh guna amenities dalam rumah.  Seperkara lagi, kitaorang dapat extra bonus sebab tuan rumah ada kucing tapi sayang kucing dia extra pemalu pulak.

private room di Munich

** Bagi yang first time nak guna airbnb.com, kalau nak aku introduce dan dapat sedikit diskaun bila guna untuk kali pertama, boleh klik SINI.



6.  Makanan halal


Makanan halal di Germany tak susah mana nak dapat.  Pengalaman aku nak cari kedai yang ada tanda halal tu tak lah senang sangat tapi banyak alternative yang kita boleh pilih. **Terpulang pada masing-masing, aku tahu ada orang lebih perticular dari orang lain.  Aku ada cari guna zabihah.com dan jumpa banyak kedai arab sekitar city centre.  

Masa di Heidelberg aku makan Filet o Fish dari MC Donalds dan fish and chip di restoran Nordsee.  

Di Munich aku jumpa kedai kebab Turki dan juga makan Fish and Chip dari Nordsee lagi.  Pendapat personal aku tentang rasa makanan di Germany, makanan-makanan kat sini antara yang tersedap di Europe.

 Nordsee di Hauptstrabe street, Heidelberg. Damaged antara €4-12 

Kedai kebab Turki, Oliva.  Ada 2 cawangan yang kitaorang jumpa sepanjang 

di Munich;Main train station (Haupbanhorf) dan Munich bus station 

(Munchen ZOB).  Damaged antara €6-10

Harga makanan dan juga barang di Germany jauh lebih murah compare dengan negara-negara lain yang aku jejak.  Purata damaged untuk satu meal cuma antara €6-8.  1L pure fruit juice cuma €2.  Memang best beli grocery di Germany.  Kata owner rumah yang kitaorang tinggal, harga barang di Munich dah kira mahal berbanding bandar-bandar lain.  So bayangkan kalau kita pergi ke bandar-bandar yang lebih kecik.



7.  Lain-lain

Selain dari pengalaman yang tak berapa selesa naik train dari Dusseldorf ke Heidelberg (train buruk dan aku dapat seat opposite direction dengan hala train) dan hospitality yang agak suam-suam kuku di hotel dan kaunter tiket train di Munich, aku rasa Germany offered best experience.  Satu hari insyallah aku plan nak pergi lagi ke Germany sebab masih banyak tempat yang aku teringin nak redah.