I used to make decisions ...

[blamebrampton]

But then an article on the internet convinced me of the benefit of cloud decision making ;-)[Poll #1473195]I have convinced myself that two and a bit weeks is more than enough time for a quick Sydney/London/Paris holiday given that I want to see only about 15 people, 10 museums and 13 shops. This involves me talking myself out of running away to Oxford. Totally doable. I need to lose weight anyway, and so steamed veg can be consumed for a few months in order to pay for such frivolity! It will be FINE![Poll #1473195]

Comments

[emerald-dragon8.livejournal.com]

Oh, you're going to have so much fun! I am so jealous, I miss England. And for me Hong Kong was a great stopover point because it was so central (Sydney - Hong Kong should be about 11 hours, and then Hong Kong to London should be about 12). I don't know about the others, though! And Hong Kong airport was really easy for me to navigate, too.

What airline are you thinking of going with? I flew with Air NZ and they were fab, friends have done Thai airways and liked it, and I did Qantas to San Fran and it was AWFUL.

I still have to wait over a year before I can go back. :(

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes, I do like Hong Kong! Calm and clean and with loads of power points and free wifi!

Still debating the airline. Qantas is good for points, Emirates is spectacular for luggage allowance (and Halal or Kosher food: no pig! (I'm allergic)) and Singapore and Air NZ are both in the running, too. This is why I turned to the internet in hopes of narrowing too many decisions!

I did Qantas to San Fran years ago and it WAS awful! At least they're consistent ;-)

[aella_irene]

I have done Bruges to Cologne in an afternoon, and Lille to Bruges takes about an hour and a half, and I think, from reading the train timetable, that Lille to Antwerp isn't that much longer. Totally doable!

[aella_irene]

Have talked to my mother. Paris-Brussels,Brussels-Antwerp would be doable. And you can look at bahn.de for train timetables!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Hee! Yes, I checked out the train schedules and it is completely able to be done; I am just wondering if four hours of train travel for three hours of museum-ing is a rational use of time. I suspect not, though I may well change my mind! Thanks for the tip!

[aella_irene]

Antwerp does repay a longer visit, if you get the chance. Plantijn-Moretus house! And we found a shop called Kitschshop.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

AHAHAHAHAH! Oh I really want to go there! There are a bunch of Aertsen and Bueckelaer paintings there that I want to see, but I will be back for a longer trip next year. I can save my early Dutch painting fetish till then ;-)

[aella_irene]

If you get the chance next year, go to the Plantijn-Moretus house. 16th century printers! 16th century printing presses!

Antwerp

[ewen]

Paris-Brussels is a nice train (TGV). I've not been on Brussels-Antwerp train, but the train network in Belgium is reasonable so I'd expect it to be okay. If you leave early enough in the morning, you can be in Antwerp by museum opening time, and then leave Antwerp again around museum closing time and still be back in Paris in time for a relaxing European dinner. It's practically a commuter route. (Both Paris-Brussels and Brussels-Antwerp individually are commuter routes, and I'd imagine some people do both back to back regularly.) That'd give you about 6-8 hours in Antwerp, depending on how early you're willing to get up and how European your dining schedule is.

From memory the central train station in Antwerp is near the central city, which presumably makes it convenient to the museums you have in mind. The Paris-Brussels train leaves Paris from Gare du Nord ("North Station"), which is in the North East of the central city. (Convenient if you are staying in that part of the city, otherwise you also need to use the metro too. The metro in Paris is very efficient, but if you want a full day in Antwerp you'll be doing it along with rush hour commuters.)

Given the choice I'd stay overnight in Antwerp. It's a nice city, significantly different from Paris. Bruges is worth a visit too, but mostly a tourist trap.

Ewen

[pushdragon.livejournal.com]

Changi has free internet, a Guylian cafe (slightly better service), little machines you can put your feet in for a massage, and a butterfly garden, and you have to ask????

From my recent experience in London, only do a one-day international trip if the rewards are incontrovertibly unsurpassable. In my case, they SO were. But Antwerp??

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Antwerp is the Barcelona of the North! Well, in truth, it is the home of a dozen or so paintings I would like to spend some time studying. But I can do that next year. Unless the unthinkable happens and I grow bored of Paris and want to get away for a day. Probability of 2% there.

Changi is splendid, but Dubai has Emirates with a 100 minute layover (long enough to not be rushed, short enough to not be fussed) and a 30kg economy baggage allowance. I CAN BUY BOOKS! Not that that is the deciding factor in any of my adventures. Not at all.

[pushdragon.livejournal.com]

At Changi airport I bought Twilight for cheap.

Nuff said.

Dubai.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh honey ... Though I am half inclined to read it one day, when I am a little drunk, and have people around to share the dramatic readings with.

[pushdragon.livejournal.com]

When you come down to watch Black Sheep with me and Mer we will do readings from Twilight and put on amusing voices.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I want to play Edward! I am pale and inappropriate and I could cover myself in glitter gel!

[pushdragon.livejournal.com]

We will all play Edward.

Shall we play him with a Speedy Gonzales accent and a stutter?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I was thinking Larry Olivier circa 1932, to go with Bella's Vivien Leigh-esque sense of self preservation ...

I vote Speedy for Jacob, and Gomez for the vampire father.

[pushdragon.livejournal.com]

OLIVIER?!?!?

No way. Can not do.

Trust me, the dialogue is so inane that over-the-top British will not cut it. You will not be more than a couple of chapters in before you need the distraction of a challenging accent.

How about bad Russian spy accent with terminal hiccups?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I am totally up for that. Though I take it from your comment that you have never seen Q-Planes, in which is accent is nothing short of astonishing ;-)

[pushdragon.livejournal.com]

Never seen it. What sort of accent does he do?

[thisgirl-is.livejournal.com]

At least they weren't flogging it at Real Book prices. I don't think it's a deal-breaker...

[raitala.livejournal.com]

Bloody cat just deleted my comment, walking across my tablet!

I was just going to say, if you have one thing you want to do in Antwerp, a museum... *looks up and sees reference to museums plural*
Ok, two museums and a quick chocolate shop will be a long and full day out, but doable. If you want to do more you'll need to spend a night I think.

Gatwick is seriously a long way from London, whereas Heathrow is 15 mins on Heathrow Express (when it is running and in practice 30 mins, because you have to wait for a train) or about 45mins-1hour on the Piccadilly line, which has the advantage of only costing the price of a tube ticket.

When ya coming, when ya coming?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes, Heathrow is certainly superior. But it might be worth the bleagh of Gatwick for the joy of an Emirates baggage allowance. And one of my friends who I actually have to visit lives out that way, so I could go straight there and make it look as though I value her more than anyone else, rather than begrudgingly training out her way and resenting a lost afternoon.

Second week of December, leaving just in time to get home for Christmas!

[(Anonymous)]

Arg! Might overlap a bit with when Himself and I are planning to go to Prague, but i will surely catch you before or after, even if I have to come to Antwerp or Paris to hunt you down!

Prague trip is also dependent on Himself actually organizing/being granted leave at any point, so may indeed not actually happen.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am planning to start and end in London so as to match up with you at SOME point! Or lure you to Paris ...

[clovis-t.livejournal.com]

Gatwick has the Gatwick express to Victoria station, which takes about 30 minutes and runs every 15 minutes. There are also local trains (also to Victoria) which take slightly longer (35 to 40), don't run quite as often, but cost about half of what the express does (£10ish vs £18ish).
Luton and Stansted, on the other hand, are a right pain to get to.

[raitala.livejournal.com]

No idea why I ended up signed out there. Poor computer hasn't been the same since his aneurysm a few months ago.

We shall definitely catch up at some point. I would only be away 5 days, max, if at all.

[gossymer.livejournal.com]

Dubai's duty free shopping in the airport is awesome and there's a lot of new stuff going on there (the air train thingies started up just last month!) And fall/winter is the best time to be there really :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! Thanks for the heads-up, I've never come through Dubai, but the 30kg economy allowance may well be enough to convince me the squishy Emirates economy class seats are worthwhile. I am pretty short, after all ...

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

If you fly via Frankfurt and have time between flights, there is no chance that you will escape me. Unless you fly on a day when I definitely have to work.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

HEE! That was my secret tricksy reason for putting Frankfurt in as an option! Alas, it is looking as though Dubai might be the winning option, however, next October, we have a few days put aside for travelling through Germany and we will be stealing you!

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

next October, we have a few days put aside for travelling through Germany and we will be stealing you!

Yay! *happy dance*

*twirls you*

[shu-shu-sleeps.livejournal.com]

I say blah blah fishcakes to a measley 30k luggage allowance - that's why they invited the Royal Mail :)

Have a FABULOUS time - and don't forget to send me a postcard......

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Alas, the Royal Mail is now expensive! That extra 10kg is worth at least $400 each way ;-) I will and I won't, but you will be back before I go.

[i-autumnheart.livejournal.com]

Sydney-Singapore (or Hong-Kong) should be about 8 hours, and Asia-London just over 12; if you can get a Dubai stop, instead, that should be a bit more in the middle.

I'd be very surprised if anything stopping at Frankfurt didn't *also* stop at Singapore: you'll need a refuel long before then.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Qantas was alleging this was the case, which led me to believe that they were either lying, or flying A380s in a very odd fashion!

[jadzialove.livejournal.com]

I chose Dubai because I know it's beautiful there. It all sounds so very exotic to me! Someday, Canada will not be the only other country I've ventured into, I swear. I do wish you were coming this way, I have to say, though maybe my someday will take me your way...

[clovis-t.livejournal.com]

If you're planning on running around Europe by train, definitely have a look at Eurail passes, or purchase your tickets at least a month or two in advance. Train tickets in Europe vary wildly in price, mostly depending on how far in advance you book.

Four hours on a train isn't bad; all the European trains I've been on have been roomy, comfortable, and very easy to sleep on. Therefore a 4 hour train trip for 3 hours of museum tripping is probably worth it, especially as you'll get to see lots of good scenery on the way (even if it is a bit flat, there'll still be European villages).

I flew with Korean air via Seoul-Incheon, and it was actually very good (apart from the planes being rather late, but no big deal). No idea what their luggage policy is though, I was limiting myself to what Ryanair will not charge insane amounts for (i.e. not much).

[glorafin.livejournal.com]

You can totally do Paris/Antwerp/Paris in one day, of course you can... but then you'll stay in Antwerp for like 3 hours (if trains are on time). Can't you afford to spend a night there?

(That said, I live less than two hours away from Antwerp and I never went so what do I know? :)

[lyras.livejournal.com]

Only stop in Dubai if you get a really good deal with Emirates. Wandering around their huge and useless airport after a long flight, while waiting to get on another long flight, is no fun at all!

Also, as someone who is still recovering from pneumonia contracted ENTIRELY through spending three weeks dashing around Europe trying to catch up with lots of people, I shall wag my finger at you and say, "Be careful!"

[kareina.livejournal.com]

I vote for the European options, because then there is a chance that we can meet up somewhere whilst you are here. But then, I'm biased in that I happen to really enjoy your company. Perhaps even as much as I enjoy reading your writing...

[deensey.livejournal.com]

What part of the word Summer goes with the words Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore?

[thisgirl-is.livejournal.com]

"...I want to see only about 15 16 people..."

Fixed that for you!

Unless you're heading for the South East of England, Gatwick is an almighty pain in the arse to get to/from. If that's where you're going, it should be fine. I figure airports are pretty much as bad as each other anyway.

I got a cheap as chips flight with Royal Brunei, but it's a puddle jumper: London-Dubai-Brunei-Brisbane-Auckland. I'm pretty sure we won't even be getting off the plane at Dubai and Brisbane, but at around £700 who's complaining?