Excuse me, do you speak Danish? (Part 1 of 2)

Short Note:

Looks like Singapore is off to a roaring start with many highly anticipated events to come:

• 2008: First F1 Night Street Circuit.
• 2010: Opening of two Integrated Resorts.
• 2010: Host Nation of the first Youth Olympic Games.

I am proud to be a true blue Singaporean =).

Although Europe is regarded as one of the costliest places to visit, it is nontheless one of the most enjoyable regions to explore.

The tantalizing weather was the first thing that captivated me when I exited the airport.

A temperature indicator outside a convenience store.

The continent gets to experience the four seasons as they are situated away from the equator, something many asian countries can only look on with envy.

Plants, trees and vegetation hardly grow in such meteorological conditions.

Due to the climate, the Danish community are always fully clothed when they are out on the streets. You will seldom (or almost never) get the chance to see Danish girls dressed in spaghetti straps and short skirts.

Danish blondes & brunettes caught on camera.

Apart from The Little Mermaid, Denmark is also famous for what is internationally known to be “Probably the best beer in the world”.

Tuborg (DKK$7.15/S$2.00 a bottle) is a sister company of Carlsberg.

Their beer is so cheap affordable, I find myself consuming more booze than drinking mineral water (DKK$13/S$3.64 a bottle) or soft drinks (DKK$15/S$4.20 a can).

We wanted to drop by the Carlsberg brewery but the centre was unfortunately closed on our day of visit.

When it comes to getting around, Denmark has a efficient bus, train and metro system. Regardless of that, the Danish prefer bicycles as their primary mode of transport.

The men could be seen pedaling.

Look ma, no hands!

The women riding.

Even mums are spotted cycling with their kids.

And they bring their rides wherever they go!

A Danish lady with her bicycle on the metro.

Denmark is a bicycle friendly country and the government has put together a system to make the use of the two-wheeler convenient and safe. Paths running parallel to roads are built exclusively for cyclists and they are required to obey traffic rules at all times.

For cycling only.

However, they do have to pay a small fee for bringing their bicycles (and even dogs) onto the metro.

On our first day in Copenhagen, both my boss and I tried to save money on food.

Mineral water + bread + cream cheese = DKK$87.55 (S$24.50).

It was a wrong move, seriously.

Our determination was short lived. The hunger pangs in us soon gave in and we were off in search of authentic Danish snacks.

The first item we tried was Danish bakery and pastry.

Copenhagen has bakery stores situated in every corner of the street and you will be instantly lured into the shop by the smell of fresh bakes and beautiful pastries.

Mouthwatering pastries that make you go weak on the knees.

I was hooked onto Dannish croissant for their rich aroma and divine taste. It became my staple breakfast must-haves for the next 4 days.

Yummy!

You wouldn’t believe it when I tell you that “Chrispy” is a word and spelt with a “h” but that was what we saw.

My very own brand of burgers!

MrChrispy burgers going at DKK$15 (S$4.19) each.

We weren’t keen on fast food as we didn’t want to waste the calories. We went on to try some sausages instead.

A mobile sausage kiosk.

Like their bakery counterparts, these pushcart style snacks are a favorite among the Danish community.

While I ordered a gigantic bratwurst, my boss ordered their signature dish which I call it “THE VIBRATOR”.

The baguette has a hole in the middle and meat sauce is poured in before the sausage is inserted to make a complete wholesome meal.

Honey roasted almonds were next on the eat list.

These little nuts are freshly roasted together with honey and caramel. At DKK$25 (S$6.99) for a small packet, it doesn’t come cheap but it is definitely worth a try.

One thing we didn’t enjoy was this Hungarian snack called “Langos”.

The crust is supposedly made of potato, then deep fried and garnished with various toppings. We ordered ours with a mix of caviar, sour cream and onion for DKK$35 (S$9.79).

Initially it tasted unique. But after a few mouthfuls we found ourselves forcing the food down our throats as it was too salty to ingest.

As our stomaches were filled up with satisfaction, it was time to stroll down the shopping paradise of Copenhagen.

*To be continued…*