
Casa Fraquelli
Rondplein 16, 2400 Mol, Belgium

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Want to eat like a local? Don't miss out on these top Mol dishes and foodie spots.

Many people spend a fortune flying to Alaska, only to be disappointed when they fail to catch the Northern Lights, and then they paint a horrible picture of the place: incredibly boring during the day, forced to stay cooped up in the hotel. I really want to say: It's not that Alaska isn't fun, it's that you're too lazy. We went last Thanksgiving. The temperature was -10 to -20 degrees Celsius, extremely cold and sunny. Although the sunshine only lasted a few hours, when it shone on the snow, the whole city looked like a fairytale. [Image 1 | The church on the left] The small church in downtown Fairbanks, with its spires, white snow, warm sunshine, and wisps of smoke, is both serene and dreamlike; one look and you're captivated. [Image 3 | The neighborhood building on the right] The sunlight shines on the building, clean and beautifully serene; This is the true, secluded, and serene feeling of Alaska. Don't just wait until dark to chase the Northern Lights; exploring during the day makes the trip truly worthwhile: ✅ Visit the Arctic Museum ✅ Explore fascinating secondhand shops in the university area ✅ Dog sledding, ice cave fishing—you won't want to leave the hotel! And the food is even more amazing! Who says Alaska doesn't have good food? Although Alaskan cuisine leans towards Soviet and Eastern European influences, we still managed to find some great food in Fairbanks, the city known for its stunning nightlife: 🍣 Authentic Japanese cuisine, Fuji Japan Restaurant, a small, family-run restaurant right across from the Polar Museum. 🍜 Thai restaurant, Thai House Restaurant, a mother-and-son business offering authentic Thai flavors (pictures 11-12). The pineapple fried rice and Tom Yum soup are must-try dishes, you won't be disappointed. 🍽️ Moldovan cuisine, called Soba in the downtown market. Delicious, comforting, and anything but monotonous. (Photos 7-10) 🍽️ Must-try dishes at the famous Pike restaurant near the airport: buffalo wings, Fairbanks classic venison, and Alaskan snow crab (Photos 13-16). Finally, don't forget to grab an Alaskan beer 🍻! The aurora borealis is a rare sight, but the daytime beauty and vibrant life of Alaska always welcome those who dare to venture out. It's never boring here, as long as you don't confine yourself to your hotel.

Day 6 Arrived in Murmansk and departed for Teriberka 🌧️ After getting off the train, bought bus tickets for bus 241 to Teriberka at the train station (directly to the right of the train station 👉 location shown in picture 2). Ticket + luggage cost 749 kyats per person 🦌 (Murmansk to Teriberka: departs at 6 PM every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday 🚌; Novodevichy back to Murmansk: departs at 7 AM every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday). Lunch: A restaurant next to the train station, named Gastrobar Lovi Kraba 8450 🦌. The ingredients were quite fresh! A great meal! (Picture 3) After lunch, you can wait for the bus in the train station waiting hall. Come out and board around 5:50 PM. The ride to Novodevichy takes about 2.5 hours. We were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights from the bus!!! It's about a 10-minute walk to the hotel after getting off the bus. Hotel: Xinjieli 45 Hotel (3 nights 850.28 RMB). I stayed two nights in a lower bunk and one night in a twin room. All rooms had shared bathrooms; there were about three shower rooms and three toilets per floor, so it wasn't crowded at all. Both the rooms and bathrooms were very clean. No toiletries or hairdryers were provided, but towels and bath towels were available. The shared kitchen was fully equipped. Highly recommended! You can see the aurora borealis (visible green) just by opening the window/downstairs! I saw the aurora every single day I stayed here!! And it was always a spectacular display!!! Super lucky!!! Day 7: Old Jeli Day Trip (Instagrammable Swing, Whale Skeleton, Throne) ☀️ New Jeli is 5 kilometers from Old Jeli. You can choose to hike or take a taxi (the hotel reception can help with 1000 baht 🦌, or you can share a taxi with other hotel guests). The taxi ride takes about 10 minutes. ⬆️ Several popular photo spots are in one place! Jeli was so beautiful on a sunny day! It fulfilled all my fantasies about the Arctic Circle 💭 The blue and pink sky, the sea, and the snow made for great photos! Old Jeli was the only place on the entire trip where I felt a bit cold, even though it was sunny ☀️ Maybe it was because of the wind! My hands turned red instantly when I took them out, so remember to wear gloves 🧤. Back in New Jeli, I asked the restaurant to help me call a taxi for 1200 baht 🦌. In the evening, I strolled around New Jeli with my friends! I found a local convenience store with reasonable prices (next to a lakeside bridge on the way to Old Jeli on Highway 45). I bought a box of dumplings for 219 baht and Fanta for 85 baht. There was a restaurant along the way that everyone recommended, but I forgot the name. The ingredients weren't fresh ❌ and the staff were very impatient. It cost around 600 baht per person. Regarding the Aurora: We didn't use any apps to chase the aurora. We stayed for three nights, mostly between 7:30-8:00 PM, 11:30-12:00 AM, and around 2:00 AM. You can see it during these times!!! You can see it from your room/hotel entrance!!! It's visible to the naked eye! Food: We mainly ate the fast food we brought.

Suggested Itinerary: Day 1: Moore City → Cabin Day 2: Old Ha → Aurora Borealis Day 3: Whale Watching → Jeli Day Trip Day 4: Ice Floating → Snowmobile 1️⃣ Aurora Watching (pp. 4-6): Highly Recommended ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, 💰450 RMB, minibus tour (around 15 people). We chased the aurora in the outskirts of Moore, about a 1.5-hour drive, and the aurora burst lasted 2 hours. The aurora color depends on cloud thickness; thicker clouds result in a grayer color, but the dynamic effect is visible to the naked eye. 📸Photos can be taken with a camera, preferably a DJI. Photos from Android and Apple phones will vary depending on the model. 2️⃣ Old Ha Ha Strange Park (pp. 1-3): Recommended ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, 💰1280 RMB. Note⚠️: 1. Reservations need to be made 1-2 months in advance. The visit lasts 3-4 hours. 2. You don't have to wear the protective suit, but the dogs smell very strong. After petting them, the odor will stain your clothes. Those with a strong aversion to germs should consider this carefully! 3. It's extremely far from the city center. If you're in a hurry, it's best to skip it. It takes 2.5 hours one way. Content includes: explanation of historical stories and precautions → dog sledding → snowmobile ride → playing with the dogs → Sami cultural experience → reindeer feeding → lunch → souvenir shop (not mandatory, but hand cream and lip balm are recommended). The staff are all super nice! 👍🏻 3️⃣ Whale watching, 💰400 RMB, highly recommended ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Regardless of whether you catch any whales, just go out to sea first! We didn't go because of bad weather! 4️⃣ Jeli day trip (pp. 8-11), highly recommended ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, 💰500 RMB. It takes about 2 hours one way from Moore. Combine it with whale watching in one day; you have enough time. ⚠️1. If you're traveling independently, prioritize your Jeli itinerary if the weather is good! The Arctic Circle weather changes rapidly, and there's only one road from Moor to Jeli. If the road is closed, you won't be able to get there. Generally, it takes at least 1-2 days for the road to reopen, and forcing your way back will cost around 1800 RMB per person in an ATV or helicopter 🚁 2. If you're short on time, skip the Dinosaur Egg Beach area; the snow training is exhausting. The swing area is a good spot for taking photos. 5️⃣ Ice Float (pp. 12-14), highly recommended ⭐⭐⭐⭐, 💰500 RMB, 1.5-2 hours total, 15-20 minutes from the city. Next to the ice floe we visited, there's a mini Jeli photo spot where you wear a lobster costume and float in shallow water near the shore, like a waterbed – very relaxing. If you drift too far, the safety officer will pull you back. ⚠️The crayfish-themed clothing is reusable; those with a germaphobia should avoid it. It also has a strong rubber smell, making you feel unwell, causing fogging, stuffiness, and potential makeup smudging. 6️⃣Snowmobile (pp. 15-16), Recommended ⭐⭐⭐⭐, two people per vehicle, 💰580/vehicle, 1-2 hours, three fixed departure times daily. Several large flat areas for high-speed riding; requires some stamina, but my friend said it wasn't as exciting as riding an electric scooter 😓. The initial experience is so-so, but it gets fun once you get the hang of it. ⚠️1. Snowmobiles are not insured; you'll have to pay for any damage if they flip. 2. Women with less strength should be cautious; the handlebars are quite heavy. 7️⃣Cabins (pp. 17-18), 💰1k+, Recommended ⭐⭐⭐, expensive and inconvenient to get to, but good for taking photos. 8️⃣Ice Fishing, requires at least 2 hours. Ice Floating
The standard currency in Mol is EUR
Current exchange rate approx.: MYR ≈0.2EUR (actual exchange rates depend on the bank). Currency exchange tips:
1. Exchange currency at your local bank before departure, as rates are usually better than at the destination.
2. You can also withdraw cash from local ATMs.
3. Avoid exchanging currency at airports or hotels, as they offer the worst rates.
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