petite on board
|First lesson to learn: Trust your host over your hostel
Travelling from Sarajevo to Belgrade, bus tend to be the best way for the journey (though it takes 7hrs+). Silly me. I cancelled the bus booking from my Belgrade host. Apparently, locals know pretty well how the industry work. The bus journey with the hostel was indeed much longer than expected and the driver didn't even drop me at the door.
At the east of Europe, at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, there you'll find the 'White City'.
Coming to the 2nd last destination of my Balkans journey, I would like to introduce the couchsurfing idea to my fellows. Thanks to my host - Ivan, I had the best local experience in these 2.5 days.
Belgrade, Serbia | Jun 2015
(Not only) In Beograd,
Sharing is Caring
What is Couchsurfing?
A hospitality exchange, social networking website and a platform for members to "surf" on couches by staying as a guest at a host's home, host travelers, or join an event.
Wouldn't it be more authentic when you are literally staying and spending days with a local?
And got a free couch?
(p.s. female travellers are reminded to be more alert when confirming with your host,
as there are always some bad ass taking adventages on the whole free-couch-idea)
Explore Serbia in 6 WAYS
My first impression, or maybe I should say when I fist came across to this word, I was being taught about all the world histroic events that related to Serbs. Yes, history shaped part of the culture of a place, but at the same time, there are more interesting life scene to experience in Belgrade. Well, at least my days in Belgrade was absolute an opposite with what I learnt from history books.
1. Free Walking Tour
If you have never heard of free walking tour, I felt so sorry for you. This is an amazing idea for backpacker to learn about the city and to meet new friends.
Experience something that a €100 private tour couldn't give you - a truehearted and lively presentation. Basically, people who joined the tour tip the tour guide at the end. It's entirely up to you to determine how much the tour is worth paying for as well as how enjoyable it is.
2. RAkija
Wanna know how this strong distilled alcoholic beverage was said to be the inspiration for the many poets and drunkards who wander the Balkans?
3. Serbian Barbecue
Pursued by Ivan to stay an extra day and to catch an overnight train to Sofia instead, we went to a CS barbecue event on the Saturday.
All we bought for bbq are cevapi, cevapi, cevapi and buns.
**Cevapi is a type of skinless sausages / minced meat mainly served in the Balkans region.
4. City Cycling / SpinNing
Rushing back to return our bike was an epic adventure for me. After Cambodia and Valencia, this would probably be my 3rd time to cycle along with the traffic on the road.
If I didn't keep up my speed, I knew I would have no idea the way home.
If I were a second slower, I would probably be squashed by a tram on my left and buses on my right at the crossroad.
He was surprised how speedy I was, but then I was like "eh......You can probably be my spinning coach".
5. Overnight Train
Seriously, I don't have the courage to take on an overnight train solo until I turned 24th. Ages doesn't really affect my decision and to be honest, I was 100% unwilling to spend my birthday on a train either.
Yea, it does save a lot of travelling time and I did have a great time in Belgrade, so why not? I guess I should probably start getting used to nomad's life and caring my birthday less.
I shared the soft-beds carriage with an Australian girl, which indeed, did make me feel a lot more secure. The only hideous part would be us changing into a substitution bus at OMG-3am because part of the track was under construction.
Afterall, I still gain my time right?
6. Foodies
Cevapi Burger
Eis
(Handmade Ice cream)