On the previous post on my blog, I was updating the stories on Day 1 until Day 11. Then, I would like to continue on Day 12 on 07 December 2019 (Monday). This day not much that I can share because it's about the journey on the flight by Oman Air to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But I would like to continue to share some of the memory from the Zurich Airport until I reach to Kuala Lumpur International Airport.  

On Sunday, we're going straight to the Zurich Airport to check-in our luggage and take the boarding pass. But the counter of Oman Air is not open yet so we take this chance to re-arrange our luggage by using the weighing scale at the airport. As you know, the staff at Europe Airport is pretty strict about the luggage weight so please make sure your luggage is not overweight. If not, you need to open your luggage in front of the counter and re-arrange again in front of them. One passenger is allowed to carry 2 luggage for check-in that not over to 30 kg in total luggage.  

TIP 31 – As you know, the staff at Europe Airport is pretty strict about the luggage weight so please make sure your luggage is not overweight. If not, you need to open your luggage in front of the counter and re-arrange again in front of them. They also will check your cabin bag too so make sure it's weight not over 7kg for 1 bag is allowed to the economy class. 

If I did not mistake our luggage check-in process at Oman Air counter is located at Terminal B, Zurich Airport. After all the process is done, then we have to walk through the Terminal A for Tax Refund process; which is for Tax Refund that purchased within Switzerland only. All the Tax Refund of Switzerland goods have to do before we go through the immigration counter at the airport.  

TIP 32 – Please make sure all your forms and receipt are complete to fill-up before you go to the Tax Refund counter. 

Then, we're going to the Switzerland immigration counter. This process is a short time because we're allowed to check-in by family basis so it's easy for us. But on the checking body and cabin luggage is still have to check one by one. After that, we have to ride the train to go to another terminal of our flight. Once we've arrived at the Airside Center (passenger area) level 1 for our flight, we have to steal our Tax Refund process along this trip at the Tax Refund counter of Global Blue Tax-Free counter or Travelex counter. These two counters are different to claim the Tax Refund, by the look at your form then you will know which counter to go for this Tax Refund process. Some process of Tax Refund is allowed to get cash but some of that is by credit card. 

TIP 33 – If possible, carry your purchased goods in your hand luggage. Proceed through boarding-pass control and security to the customs office airside. Here you need to have your VAT form stamped for the goods you purchased in Switzerland.

TIP 34 – HAVE THE VAT REFUNDED, as below:

Global Blue: Present your stamped Global Blue Tax Free form at the Global Blue Refund Point. You will receive your VAT refund in cash or can have it transferred to your credit card. Info: +41 44 805 60 70; www.globalblue.com

Travelex: Present the stamped Planet Tax Free Cheque at the Travelex currency exchange and VAT refund office. You will receive your VAT refund in cash or can have it transferred to your credit card. Info: +41 43 816 58 38; www.travelexch.com

The process of Tax Refund is taken time if you have to go both counters if my case it's takes around 20 minutes to 30 minutes to steal all of these things. After all, done, we're walking to the waiting room of our flight gate from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Muscat International Airport (MCT). Again, our seating arrangement is mess up and the Oman Air staff can't arrange our group to seat together for the first flight. But I can seat together with my sister in the middle row and my mom is behind us in the middle of 2 rows. Our seating at the last economy class zone at the back in the plane so the arrangement seat that I see is 2 – 4 – 2 of the medium-size plane.

The journey from ZRH to MCT is taken the time around 6 hours 40 minutes. The flight number is WY 154. The departure time is 21:35 (09:35 pm) from ZRH, 08 December 2019 (Sunday) and we arrived at the MCT on 07:05 (07:05 am), 09 December 2019 (Monday). Since it's a long journey from ZRH to MCT, we get the small pillow, blanket, earphone, and small pocket bag (stocking and toothbrush & toothpaste). The entertainment on this plane is quite nice and many choices of the movie but since I'm so tired, then most of the time I'm sleeping on the plane.

On this journey, we're got meals two times; which is the dinner and the continental breakfast. Before they serve the meal to the passenger, they are given the menu but when they arrive at our seating, the menu is not enough. In my opinion, the meals onboard Oman Air is not suited to my tastes, maybe. It's because most of the meals, I can't finish it. To be honest, my sister and I don't get the continental breakfast because we're in deep sleep on the plane. I just wake-up and realize once the plane is preparing to land at the Muscat International Airport. 

The conjunction time of transit is just around 1 hour 50 minutes but for me, it's rushing, since we have to take the airport transit train to go to another terminal. It's quite far and also, it's taken time to walk. It's not included the time that has been taken to search the flight gate of the next flight and also the security check sections. In my experience, it's better to take time more than 2 hours when you decide to book the transit flight like this so you're will have more time to walk and rest before the next flight. 

Based on my experience, the transit at Muscat, Oman is taken time especially during the security check section of the general security check section, once you walk to the transit. We've to run to our flight gate and no time for us to going to the toilet at the airport, but lucky I get manage to go to the toilet before check-in in the boarding gate room. 

TIP 35 – Try to get ready before you process the security checking section at the transit terminal airport if you have a short time of the conjunction time, like me. For example, you need to the take-off of your jacket, shoes, empty your pocket, standby the key of your hand-carry bag if you lock (if they ask you to open, then its will short your time), and follow the standard rule of the security check procedure for saving your time at the security check section. 

The journey from Muscat International Airport (MCT) to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) takes time around 7 hours 5 minutes. The flight number is WY 823. The departure time is 08:55 (08:55 am) from MCT, 09 December 2019 (Monday). The plane looks like a small plane and the seat arrangement of economy class 3 – 3. On this journey, we're got seating together in 1 row (3 seating) beside the window. We also get the small pillow, blanket, earphone, and small pocket bag (stocking and toothbrush & toothpaste) – same as the journey from Zurich, Switzerland to Muscat, Oman. The entertainment on this plane is just nice but since I'm so tired, then most of the time I'm sleeping on the plane. 

On this journey, we're got meals two times; which is the breakfast and the continental lunch. Before they serve the meal to the passenger, they are given the menu to us. In my opinion, the meals onboard Oman Air is not suited to my tastes, maybe. It's because most of the meals, I can't finish it. 

After the 7 hours 5 minutes journey from Muscat, Oman to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – finally we're safely arriving at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 19:40 on 09 December 2019 (Monday). Just early a few minutes from the originally scheduled time of arrived flight. Once, I arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, I do not feel any of jetlag symptoms and I feel so relieved about that since it's a long journey to me – almost 16 hours journey if include with transit. I just miss Malaysian foods and my home. I petty is excited about going back home as soon as possible. 

The general conclusion of this trip by travel agent of SelamatBercuti.com as below;

First – SelamatBercuti.com Staffs'

In this part, I disappointed with a few of SelamatBercuti.com's staff. From this trip process, I was dealing with 3 different staff from beginning to end of this tour. It's quite disappointed a bit because of the second staffs not helpful when I asking a few questions about updating of this tour by email and she/he make me wait – until I decide to go to their HQ Office at Taman Connaught, KL and then, I was meet another staff that in charges to this tour. I not sure how the working style of them working on but as the customer, it's felt not secure to join this tour if the few staff working like that. Another part of this point, before 10 days of our departure date, one of the SelamatBercuti.com staff was creating the WhatsApp group of this tour for updating the information regarding this tour, but she updated the final information and itinerary, just 9 days before our departure date to Western Europe. The funny part, the final information, and itinerary in this WhatsApp group are not final until we're received it on the day that we're going to fly to London. I hope their working style will be improved in the future, even at some point in it I can be expected that will happen. 

Second – Tour Leader

I just knew the tour leader of this tour is Ms. Rozana just before 9 days of our departure and she is the freelancer of the tour leader. The way, she manages us for the check-in process at the airport is not helpful for me, especially for senior citizens. The process of check-in by Oman Air is taken a long time and we have to wait there like forever. Maybe it's will be nice if some of the SelamatBercuti.com staff can help the customers during the check-in process at the KLIA. Once, she becomes the Tour Guide during the trip in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands – it's will be nice if she can tell us about the information of the destination we're visited, not just tell us the name of the destination only before the free time to take some photos or shopping. 

Third – Meals

I not sure how this travel agent manages the meals of this tour. Overall, the meals are not varied and also look like they try to cut the cost of meals. Maybe the cost of the meals in Europe is expensive but please not show how they want to cut the cost if look at the dish they serve to us. If you read my previous post on this trip, you can see some of the dinner menus I do not take the photo because it looks bad. So, I hope in the future they can upgrade in this part. 

Forth – Tour and Itinerary

So far, the itinerary is not bad for me. Maybe because we're going to Western Europe during the wintertime so the day-time is short so in this part, it has the rushing time on the few places.

Fifth – Hotel

Generally, I knew some of the hotels in Europe have a small room especially for Triple Room and most of the hotels not provided the kettle. So be prepared for it. Most of our hotel on this tour is nearby the airport, but only the hotel in Germany is in the city. The process of check-in room takes time around 30 minutes to 40 minutes so it's will be nice if they can stand-by early of the key-room before we arrive there. 

Sixth – Flight by Oman Air

To be honest, I hope that in the future I not flight again with Oman Air. Generally, if I can avoid it, I will. It's because the staff takes time during the check-in process luggage and they can't manage will the seating part. I don't know why, but I feel that I don't have great memory during using this flight. 

All of these comments are based on my experience with another travel agent that I have been try before this, plus I also working at the travel agent so I can relate it all with that. If you ask me that I will join again the next trip by using this travel agent, maybe I will if they can provide a great offer and itinerary in the future. 

That is all my stories on day 12 of this trip. Just for your information, I have been writing the extra note tip about Dream Trip to Western Europe in November 2019 based on my experience during this trip. Feel free to read it. Here, the link to the continued stories about the Dream Trip to Western Europe in November 2019 – Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, and Day 11.

On the previous post on my blog, I was updating the stories on Day 1 until Day 10. Then, I would like to continue on Day 11 on 06 December 2019 (Sunday). This day we started our day after breakfast at the hotel around 07:00 am. This day we've to check-out from the hotel around 08:30 am but we've to standby at the lobby hotel area, around 08:00 am. On Day 11, we have a half-day tour around Zurich, Switzerland before we go back to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by night's flight. It's sad to say 'goodbye' because I feel not enough to tour around Switzerland yet. Maybe next time, I'll back to travel again around Europe once I get the chance to do so. 

All of our luggage is kept on the bus until we're reach at Zurich Airport. So, we're free to enjoy our last tour in Switzerland before officially say 'Goodbye' to Europe Trip. Our first destination on this day is Quai Bridge. Quaibrücke (English: Quay Bridge) is a road, tramway, pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the river Limmat, at the outflow of Lake Zürich in the city of Zürich, Switzerland. It was built simultaneously with the construction of Zürich's new quays between 1881 and 1887.

Quaibrücke is situated at the outflow of Lake Zürich and connects the Bürkliplatz with the Bellevueplatz, and hence the lake's left (or western) shore with the right (or eastern) shore. It is a nodal point of the Tramlines 2, 5, 8, 9 and 11, as well as the road traffic between General-Guisan-Quai, and Utoquai.

Then, our second destination on this day is the Zurich Opera House. The Zürich Opera House (German: Opernhaus Zürich) is an opera house in the Swiss city of Zürich. Located at the Sechseläutenplatz, it has been the home of the Zürich Opera since 1891 and also houses the Bernhard-Theater Zürich. It is also home to the Zürich Ballet.

These two locations are close to each another and it's can reach there by walking. We just have a few minutes to take photos around this area. 

After that, we're more to Zürich Hauptbahnhof. Zürich Hauptbahnhof (often shortened to Zürich HB) (Zürich Main Station or Zürich Central Station) is the largest railway station in Switzerland. Zürich is a major railway hub, with services to and from across Switzerland and neighboring countries such as Germany, Italy, Austria, and France. The station was originally constructed as the terminus of the Spanisch Brötli Bahn, the first railway built completely within Switzerland. Serving up to 2,915 trains per day, Zürich HB is one of the busiest railway stations in the world.

The station can be found at the northern end of the Altstadt, or old town, in central Zürich, near the confluence of the rivers Limmat and Sihl. The station is on several levels, with platforms both at the ground and below ground level, and tied together by underground passages and the ShopVille shopping mall. The Sihl passes through the station in a tunnel with railway tracks both above and below. The station's railway yards extend about 4 km (2.5 mi) to the west.

The station is included in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National Significance. On 1 October 1970, construction of the Bahnhofplatz, as well as the pedestrian and shopping arcade ShopVille was completed. Upon its opening, the Bahnhofplatz became a pedestrian-free zone, and the underground ShopVille the only access to the station. Contrary to expectations, ShopVille did not capture the support of the people, who, in 1973, voted even more emphatically to reject a subway system.

In the 1980s, ShopVille became a drug-dealing hub, due to its proximity to the Autonomen Jugendzentrum Zürich ("Autonomous Youth Center Zürich"). Its low point was reached at the end of the decade when travelers avoided all parts of it other than the concourse and the tram stop. Consequently, there were several night-time closures by mesh fences. However, the solution to this problem was foreseeable, as the people had agreed on 29 November 1981 to the construction of the Zürich S-Bahn and the extension of the Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn to the Hauptbahnhof.

The 2.1 km (1.3 mi) long Hirschengraben Tunnel was built for the S-Bahn from the Hauptbahnhof to Zürich Stadelhofen. This new line continued through the Zürichberg Tunnel to Stettbach, with connections to the existing lines to Dietlikon and Dübendorf.[4] In the Hauptbahnhof, two underground stations were constructed. For the S-Bahn, a four-track station with the working title Museumstrasse was built, and the Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn was extended to the SZU station, which had once been intended for the never-realized U-Bahn.

The opening of the S-Bahn was on 27 May 1990, and since then, the ShopVille arcades have connected the two underground stations with the main hall. Black and white striped marble walls and granite floors are the main design features of what is one of the largest shopping centers in Switzerland. In 1996, the main hall was cleared of its temporary installations. In 1997, the train shed was fitted on both sides with pitched roofs on sloping concrete supports, designed by local architects Marcel Meili and Markus Peter.

The Zürich Hauptbahnhof is beside Bahnhofstrasse but I not walking along this street. Bahnhofstrasse is Zürich's main downtown street and one of the world's most expensive and exclusive shopping avenues. In 2011, a study named the Bahnhofstrasse the most expensive street for retail property in Europe and the third most expensive worldwide. In 2016 ranked ninth. Fröschengraben at Rennwegtor, the Rennweg gate of the former fortifications of Zürich.

It came into existence when the city fortifications were demolished in 1864 and the ditch in front of the walls was filled in. Until that time, the name of the location had been Fröschengraben ("Ditch of The Frogs"), which then was changed to Bahnhofstrasse ("Railway Station Street").

Bahnhofstrasse starts at Bahnhofplatz ("Station Square") in front of the Zürich Hauptbahnhof (47°22′40″N 8°32′25″E), passing Rennweg, Augustinergasse and Paradeplatz before it ends after 1.4 km at Bürkliplatz (47.3671°N 8.5409°E) on Lake Zürich (National Bank), (Hotel Baur au Lac).

The street is largely pedestrianized but is also an important link in the Zürich tram network. North of Paradeplatz the street carries routes 6, 7, 11 and 13, whilst to the south, it carries 2, 8, 9 and 11. Stops are served at Hauptbahnhof, Rennweg, Paradeplatz, Börsenstrasse, and Bürkliplatz.

We take our lunch at the Nordsee Restaurant. This restaurant has sold a variety of seafood and we just try a few of the menu. Among the menu we're has been trying are Black Tiger Box XL (Fried Prawn), CHF 15.90 (RM 72.19); Blackfish Sandwich, CHF 6.40 (RM 29.06); Gourmet Salat, CHF 17.50 (RM 79.45); and Mineral Water (2), CHF 9.20 (RM 41.77) so in total, we're spending for our lunch is CHF 49.00 (RM 222.46). It's delicious even the price is expensive. 

TIP 30 – If you plan to eat at the Nordsee Restaurant, you can ask the staff the coins for you going to the toilet, once you buy something in this restaurant. It's free for their customers to go toilet, if not you need to pay if you want to go to the toilet. 

We just walking around the shopping area at the Zürich Hauptbahnhof for a few hours. I also get chance to buy a few lip balms of Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer Cherry & Rhubarb, CHF 10.90 each [CHF 10.90 x 4 = CHF 43.90 (RM 197.95); Burt's Bees Lip Balm Pink Grapefruits, CHF 5.50 (RM 24.97) and Lip Scrubs DRagonfruits of Sephora, CHF 4.00 each [CHF 4.00 x 2 = CHF 8.00 (RM 36.32).  

We're pass-over the Swiss Muslim Society Madni Masjid for prayer. The Muslim community in this place is so friendly and kind. They are offering us the bread before we leave the mosque. My mom gets the chance to take the photo with one of the Muslim children in this mosque. She looks so beautiful. 

Then, we're going straight to the Zurich Airport to check-in our luggage and take the boarding pass. But the counter of Oman Air is not open yet so we take this chance to re-arrange our luggage by using the weighing scale at the airport. As you know, the staff at Europe Airport is pretty strict about the luggage weight so please make sure your luggage is not overweight. If not, you need to open your luggage in front of the counter and re-arrange again in front of them. One passenger is allowed to carry 2 luggage for check-in that not over to 30 kg in total luggage.  

TIP 31 – As you know, the staff at Europe Airport is pretty strict about the luggage weight so please make sure your luggage is not overweight. If not, you need to open your luggage in front of the counter and re-arrange again in front of them. They also will check your cabin bag too so make sure it's weight not over 7kg for 1 bag is allowed to the economy class. 

That is all my stories on day 11 of this trip. Just for your information, I have been writing the extra note tip about Dream Trip to Western Europe in November 2019 based on my experience during this trip. Feel free to read it. Here, the link to the continued stories about the Dream Trip to Western Europe in November 2019 – Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, and Day 12.