Europe in 2011 - Copenhagen

Arriving in Copenhagen, I had this feeling that the airport was too small. Everywhere was crowded and people were washing out of the terminal, and washing in the check in. Luckily I do not have to worry too much about getting to the hotel for there is a shuttle there. Copenhagen is one of the few places in the Eastern part of Europe well known for Danish biscuits. And yes, it is true. I bought some of them and it was gorgeous!

If you are one of those who loved beer, this is also a place to be because as you might know, Calsberg initiated from this town and you can have some great beers in the origin. Even someone who hated beer had a sip of beer and found it quite refreshing.

Dining is also a great one for my trip. I went to two of the most famous restaurants in town and the food was breathtaking! The combination of French food with that of the Danes were an absolute spleandor! Besides, it is really not that far - situated right opposite the Copenhagen Main Train station. We initially wanted to head for Tivoli, the oldest theme park in Europe, for a roller coaster ride but we ran out of time. The shows at night were splendid too! It gives you a taste of China a la European. Imagine indulging yourself into the Chinese towers but overlooking the splendid European views, you will think again and ask where you were. Nonetheless, do be careful of the weather for a summer temperature difference can be as high as 28C but as low as 15C! A polyester coat (not just wind breaker) is highly recommended!

One thing to note about the tourist attraction is that they are actually quite inter-connected. If you do not mind the walk and explore the great surroundings of the city in summer, it is actually better to do so, rather than diving into the underground and figuring out which line to go and change trains. Take the distance between the Royal Copenhagen Palace and the Little Mermaid as an example. It can actually be drawn into a vertical line but if you have a look at it from the map, it always seemed to be far apart. It is also a good thing to hop away from the tour-guided tourist when you are walking down the road for they are usually linked up to Tour buses, which goes from point to point.

The magic of travelling on your own is exploring the wonders between places. It may mean nothing to you but I recall having a tasty 70DKK sandwich in a beautiful little shop, show casing toys and antiques from the old days. Gelatos were also sold there and it is a great place to get away the heat for 15 to 20 minutes.

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Travelling to Copenhagen from Hong Kong using One World connection services from Helsinki (via Finnair) or London (via CX/BA) and connecting on any of them to CPH Airport is the best way to get to Copenhagen. If you really fancy a Danish tour, you may also seek for a stopover in France, Germany, Finnland, or England before getting to Denmark.

Europe in 2011 - Helsinki

As I kick off with my series of European review, I will go backwards, starting from the place I have hit very last, to the very beginning. This trip was a tough one for I have to go to 5 places in 9 days but given Hong Kong people have less holidays then anyone else in the go, that's our life.

So, here we are - Helsinki, the place chanting the Scandinavian culture as well as a place of experiencing Europe in the late 80s. The place is beautiful in the summer for its weather and almost non-fainting nights. I was there during the commencement of the weekend and people holding cars from the 50s and 60s drove their cars our for a car show right at the pier. Everyone is having a good time and I recall it was almost midnight and my cousin and myself were still looking at all the great cars our there. The magic of this brilliant time of travelling is that the only thing you have to worry about is the closing hours of the attractions, not the time where the places get too dark and you don't get to see it. It's day the whole day (and night!).

What impresses me most of this wonderful country is simplicity. A church can be very decorative, but if you come to Helsinki, simplicity is the clear. From the airport to the city, the Finns keep it simple, nice and clean. Be it a very simply Sibelius monument to the beautiful church on the Rock, everything is simple and beautiful. Even if you head to the Suomelinna castle, a world's heritage, you will observe that they keep their lives very simple. Speaking of which, the museums in Suomelinna stores some of the best history stories for those of us who has minimal knowledge of Finnland. You will get to know the story of Finnland in just half an hour. Of course, if you like to dig more, the museums are always there for you.

Food is not the best thing in town but obviously salmon that interests you. For people in Hong Kong, with the price of buying a Norwegian salmon in supermarket, you will be able to feast here in Helsinki already! Imagine that!

Travelling in Helsinki is not much of a big hazzle. The trams takes you everywhere. But as my cousin says, stick with line 3T and you will win the horses. It is true! Make your life easier by simply travelling on 3T. It is, afterall, the tourust line that takes you to almost every spot in town.

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Travelling to Finnland from Hong Kong

- Cathay Pacific's One World partner Finnair flies directly from Hong Kong to Helsinki daily

- Chepaer flights can be made by flying to London by CX and then connecting with a BA flight to Helsinki (note: Helsinki flights depart from Terminal 3 of Heathrow)