If you ask me which city I liked most, here is my personal ranking. Of course, this is based on my own experience, and the length of stay may have influenced my preference.
Let’s start with Number 4
Brussels
If I could redo my trip, I would have skipped the one-night stay here and spent more time elsewhere. With its hilly terrain, walking around Brussels was the most exhausting part of the trip. Yes, the city is famous for its chocolate and waffles, but honestly, I found them overrated. I tried a few halal options and I still prefer the ones sold at Aeon or even the waffle from the Petronas station near my house! Finding halal food was also more difficult here compared to the other cities.
Sorry Brussels, I’m giving you a 4 out of 10.
Paris
You might not agree with me, but again, this is purely my personal view. Paris was the most visited city in the world last year. Perhaps thanks to the Olympics. I visited the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre Museum. These landmarks were just okay for me. At least now I can say, “This is the Eiffel Tower I have heard about since I was a kid”. Halal food was everywhere, which was great. But Uber fares were ridiculously expensive. I had no choice due to limited time. The roads were super busy, and even sitting in the back seat of an Uber, I felt like pressing the brake myself! People weren’t very friendly either.
I’d give Paris a 5 out of 10. Sorry!
Amsterdam
I really liked this city. The locals were friendly, and the canals were beautiful. I loved the classic trams and the cycling culture. The flat landscape made walking around so much easier. Halal food was also easy to find. Definitely a city I enjoyed!
So, 7 out of 10 for Amsterdam.
London
Okay, I might be a bit biased as I spent more nights here, and I stayed in a prime location with lots of delicious halal food around. Primark was heaven (just don’t convert the prices to ringgit). I went a bit crazy buying t-shirts for my daughters. Avoid the Tube during peak hours. Otherwise, you will feel like a sardine in a can. Besides attending an amazing conference, I had a little time to visit Buckingham Palace and London Bridge. I also took a short half-hour cruise, which was totally worth it. The Tube system was easy and convenient. Definitely my favourite city of the trip.
I’d give London a 8 out of 10.
All in all, it was a great experience travelling solo through these cities. I took a train from Amsterdam to Brussels, then to Paris, and finally to London. It might be once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, but who knows, kalau ada rezeki, I might explore more countries next time, insya-Allah.
