Patung Kencing, Manneken Pis

Hey,
Today we meet in another Saturday. What a day.. LOL
Last week, I was involved in a chat with one of my reader.
I couldn't mention his name but in my opinion,he is a humble famous man.
He ask me that maybe I should write in Bahasa Indonesia. And today here is it!

Halo teman- teman semua!
Lega rasanya bisa ngomong bahasa Indonesia apalagi dengan sedikit aksen Suroboyoan.
Haha. Jadi hari ini kita bakal ngomong-ngomong santai, bercanda juga boleh banget.

Pada dasarnya Menneken Pis adalah patung pada sebuah air mancur yang terbuat dari perunggu. Digambarkan bahwa ada seorang anak kecil yang sedang buang air kecil.

The Manneken Pis Fountain, Brussels,Belgium

Jadi apa spesialnya?!

Eits, tunggu dulu. Manneken Pis sebenarnya adalah sebuah patung kecil seperti yang dapat kalian temui pada umumnya tetapi patung yang satu ini berhasil menjadi populer seperti halnya BigBang di Inggris bahkan menara Eiffel di Paris.Spesial banget kan ? Hahaha

Selain itu Manneken Pis ini akan memakai kostum-kostum unik di event" tertentu.
Memang kalian akan menemukan Manneken" pis lainnya di berbagai tempat lainnya seperti di Jepang, dan lain". Tapi memang melihat Menneken Pis yang asli dari dekat memang membawa sensasi yang berbeda. Jadi ini dia Manneken Pis yang kita bicara-bicarakan sejak tadi.

Manneken Pis, Brussels, Belgium

Jadi sebenarnya ada beberapa legenda yang melatar belakangi ke "spesial"an patung Manneken Pis ini. Salah satunya yang paling populer adalah yang terjadi pada tahun 1142. Pada saat ada seorang raja yang masih bayi. Tapi disaat itu mereka terpaksa berperang dengan tentara Berthouts. Para prajurit menaruh si baginda kecil di salah satu ranting pohon dan pergi berperang. Peperangan itu dimenangkan oleh prajurit raja kecil ini. Dan tiba- tiba si raja kecil ini mengencingi pasukan Berthouts yang telah kelah berperang. Karena itu menurut legenda ini, diabadikanlah momen tersebut dalam sosok patung yang sedang buang air kecil ini.

Tetapi pada saat mengunjungi patung ini saya sarankan agar segera mengambil foto dan segera pergi karena area disekitar patung ini tidak cukup besar untuk menampung semua turis sehingga kita perlu berdesak-desakan. Bahkan pada waktu saya akan mengambil foto patung ini, saya disikut secara tidak sengaja oleh turis lain. Pokoknya padat banget deh tempat ini. Tempat yang ramai ini juga sering dimanfaatkan oleh para pencopet untuk mencopet barang-barang berharga para turis. Jadi hat-hati ya readers! Happy Travelling!

Rating :

Fair

Free attraction for tourists, and will give you an experience of observing the genuine Manneken Pis. However, this place is so crowded where conflicts could be happen between tourists if an accident happen. Crowd also has become a conducive atmosphere for the pickpockets to steal your belongings. So be aware !

*For those who want this article in English could use the Google Translate or you can contact me and I'll help you translating it out.

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Belgian Brewers

General Information :

So, Belgian Brewers. I was totally unfamiliar with that word. When I looked up on the dictionary, brewers means a process which is held to make a beer. Moreover, I found that The Belgian Brewers is the oldest professional brewers in Belgium. Actually, Belgian Brewers is a brewery museum which was built around 17th century. Nowadays, this building show the tourists how the beer is made. 

My story :

I didn't know at all if there was a beer museum in the Grand Palace at that time. When I was editing these photos, I was curious about what were those buildings that surround the town hall. So I zoomed it to take a look. I found that several of them are restaurants and cafes in usual. But I found something different with this building. It didn't look much different than the others, but it has a gold horse statue up there. When I looked more carefully I found an inscription reads "Maison Des Brasseurs". I didn't understood what did it means as maybe it was written in Dutch language. So I copied it on a search engine and found its website. But I found that its website wasn't too helpful. I am not offending any party but I am just write what I feel right now. I also read some people reviews about this museum. I've read hundreds of visitors review, and most of them wasn't felt satisfied after came in to this museum. It cost several euros, exact 5 euros. And most of them said that it isn't worth to spend your money and time to visit this place because this museum is small and doesn't give you enough entertainment as their trip is so short. Instead, they will give you a glass of beer so that you won't feel aggrieved. After look after the photos of the visitors, I quite became convinced with their reviews about this place as it looks small and not interesting. I believe that the view that being offered outside this museum is more attractive. But there is nothing wrong to taste the Belgium beer. As most countries has their own beer taste. 

Tips :

If I could be back to Belgium, I won't go in this museum as it is quite unworthy. But if I have some extra money I will use it to go inside,to add some experiences. So I can write more accurately. However, this place will be more interesting if it become a free attraction. So the tourist will be get more attracted.Because price has been an important factor which make the tourist feel not interested.

Rating :

No Comment

I felt sorry to give this attraction only one star. As this attraction isn't too attractive. This is worsened by enactment of a paid admission. But you will be presented with Belgian-style beer which won't you get anywhere else. Because the taste of a beer is typical, it won't taste the same in anywhere else.

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Town Hall, Brussels, Belgium

General Information :

Town Hall,Brussels,Belgium

The town hall is a Gothic building that was build in 15th century and located in the Royal Palace,Brussels,Belgium. This building is one of the most luxurious city hall in the country. Inside there, it possess important artistic and historic heritages such as paintings,sculptures, and tapestries.

Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that thrive during the high and late medieval period. You can recognize this style of architecture by observe the detail of the building. Gothic architecture use the pointed arc, they also have a large windows that often grouped, and have some traceries on it. 

My Story :

I was so excited and happy when I visited this place. The air was cool, beat the heat of the sun. I got my sunglasses on my eyes and started to capturing these buildings. These buildings is enormous with thousands of Gothic ornaments on it.I rather never find this kind of building in my own country before.  I took these view in parts to take it as a souvenir for me and you guys to see and feel. First of all, I saw the town hall which is famous around the world as one of several icon in Belgium. It was on the first sight of mine when I was right up there. And it was totally fascinating. 

Town Hall, Brussels, Belgium

The sun was just above our heads after I took several picture of this buildings. My stomach started to make a sounds. Lol. It's time for lunch then. We found a lot of restaurant and cafe around here. But it was so crowded and looks expensive. It is so usual in Europe, that the restaurant which have outdoor seats with a great view offer you a great value of price. As they are not simply focusing on selling their food&beverage but they sell their place for the people especially the tourists to sit and enjoy the scenery. Actually,we decided to look for food while we were walking. But my friend and I were quite extracted with those landscapes and tried to look for some souvenir in the souvenir shop which is also located near the town hall. You just need to go behind this town hall and you will see many stores and some of the are souvenir shop. Inadvertently, I forgot my hunger and start to look for souvenir. After that we continue our trip and felt hungry during the trip. Luckily, we found a bus stop and buy a cheese cake to prop our hunger.

Tips :

The Crowd of the Town Hall, Brussels, Belgium

If you are looking for souvenir in Brussels. You could find one behind the town hall. When you find hundreds of stores in front of you, I suggested you to pick a medium-large size souvenir store as the goods they sell looks more convincing. Moreover, as I observed that a small stores aren't offer cheaper price for souvenir. Souvenirs are sold approximately in the same price and quality, no matter who sell it. So do not waste your time, simply to save several cents. It will be more worth if you spend your time enjoy the scenery than saving several cents.

Rating :

Good

This building is fascinating. The Gothic architecture style will amaze you. The atmosphere is really great. You can find many things to explore right here. The most important part is that you can recognize the difference between Belgian building and another building in the another nation as they have their own characteristic.

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Bonus Images : Atomium

Atomium Impression

Lower Part of Atomium, Brussels, Belgium

As you can see on the second photo, in the lowest part of this building there were several people who went upstairs using the escalator. I've just realized that there was a escalator inside the building as soon as I edited this photo. What a fool x_x. That escalator was attached in purpose to delivered the tourists to the topmost part of this building. As I had stated before that this site offer the tourist to come up and see the view up there which is wonderful. 

Today, I'm just wanna share you some picture that I hope gonna boost your mood. I will post some pictures in a sudden without any schedule. So keep follow my blog's update ! Have a nice day guys !

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Atomium

General Information :

Atomium is a tourist attraction in Brussels, Belgium. Actually, it was built for the World Fair in Brussels 1958 that designed by the engineer André Waterkeyn and architects André and Jean Polak. However, Atomium has become the symbol of Europe's Capital. This structure height is 102 meters tall. And as you can see, Atomium is divided into nine clad spheres. You are able to go up and see various view from the topmost sphere of the building. You will get a view when look to the north and another view if you look to another point. Unfortunately, many people told me that the price doesn't justify what we will get to see.

The view that you will get to see in the topmost sphere :

• North :  The whole of the Exhibition Park (Brussels Expo)
• North East : If the weather is great, you can see Antwerp's port as well as its cathedral.
• East : The Royal estate, Stuyvenberg castle and Brussels National airport (Zaventem).
• From the South to west : the city of Brussels, from the high-rise buildings of the Northern Quarter (also known as Manhattan) to the imposing Koekelberg Basilica, Grand Place and the Law Courts. On the horizon, you can make out Charleroi and Neigem hill (Neigembos - altitude 100m).

My Story :

We continued our trip from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Brussels, Belgium. It took quite long to be delivered to Brussels. I was really bored in the bus craving to walk around. As time goes by my bus finally parked up and we got several minutes to examine around and have a short rest. 

It was a good day to examine around. It is sunny day but wasn't too hot. I took out my sunglasses and my camera and started to take some pictures. My family went to the toilet. But I got something else to do that was more important. I went to walk around and take some picture. I got some information that this building was built in purpose for the world fair. When I was walked around In the building I found a coin souvenir which was cost around around 1 until 1.5 euros. I took out some coins from my wallet and also made one as a souvenir. Finally after made it up I went out and tried to took its picture. I found that this building is enormous! I should walk several feet to take this building picture as a whole. But my effort was totally worth it. I got something for you guys that won't you get anywhere else except in Brussels, Belgium. As I got home I found that Atomium provide the "Panorama". As I have told you before that panorama is an attraction that you can visit in Atomium. Unfortunately, I have got no time to get to the topmost of this building as we have to continue our trip. I found that many people capture wonderful pictures up there. But they also told me that the price quite expensive as well.

Coin Souvenir

Tips :

For those who wanna take this building photos. I suggest you to take it as a whole because it is quite meaningless if you take it part by part. Excepting, If you want to expose the detail part of this building. If you visit Atomium just go walk to the field that is located near the Atomium. I guarantee that you'll get its picture in a whole if you go far enough. By the way the field is quite crowded. So you should place your camera creatively to avoid too many tourist come into your photos. Haha. The way you place your camera also help you to create a unique angle. You might also should try to place your camera on your overhead so that your camera will get high enough to dodge these people's head. Hahaha

Atomium, Brussels, Belgium

Rating :

Fair

This building should be visit for you guys as it is an icon of Brussels. Moreover, this building also provide you a great view of Brussels from its topmost sphere. Yet, based on the Atomium website, adults should pay 11 euros to go up and 8 euros for students. Unfortunately, the price has the potential to discourage tourists to go up.

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Belgian Painter

Today, I gonna give you some tips that I hope will be useful for you guys to take a candid photo especially when you are traveling around. So here it is :

• Handheld your camera as a moment is come and disappear in a second. You won't have time to unpack your camera for your case as the moment will past as soon as you ready with your camera.
• Turn off your flash so that your object won't feel awkward. 
• I recommend you to use your telephoto lens because the telephoto lens can take someone's photo unconsciously. As there is some people who doesn't want their face being in your photo. Using telephoto lens also helps to capture your object more naturally.
• As the moment come and go quickly I recommend you to use the continuous / burst mode to increase the chances of success.
• It always nice to capture the person with their activities as well to make the photo looks more alive.
• If your object looks aware, do not put your viewfinder to your eyes as it will make the crazy.
• Ask their permission before take their picture if it is possible. Sometimes there are some people who don't mind if you take their picture. However, it will be more polite if you ask their permission before take some picture.

In Belgium, I saw a painter in a crowd. I took a picture of him and it looks great !The painter cheerful smile and the enthusiastic little boy in front of the exotic buildings in Belgium is a great composition. I really grateful to met him as a fellow artist. In my country many painters didn't receive much attention from the government especially the amateur artists. I hope that in the future, the artist will get more attention from the government and society.

Artists Life, Brussels, Belgium

Rating :

Fair

As not every tourist love art. I can't give too much to this kind of attraction as it is too subjective for me. But I really love it this photo above. It capture the activity and the mood at that time and be able to tell what was going on. Furthermore, I don't suggest you to buy one as it will be hard to carry as you will take a long flight and I believe that it will burden you during your flight time. 

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