‘Hungary knows how to fill your belly.’
‘Everyone in Budapest is so grumpy all the time. Maybe it’s because they’re hungary.’
‘Lucky we are going to Turkey next otherwise I reckon I’d die from spending to long in Hungary.’
These were a couple of the many dad jokes made over our duration in Hungary. I was in heaven.

The name ‘Budapest’ sounds like what people once upon a time were doing there. Those who were annoying towards the people who worshipped Buddha were sent there, thus the name of the city.

Neither of the Battlers ever thought of going to Budapest until this trip. It was a place we both knew existed but couldn’t pin the tail on the donkey with our eyes open to tell you where it was on a map.

The train from Zagreb, Croatia to Budapest involved getting off the first train, fighting for a position on the coach which shipped all those fortunate to get a seat to the next train station. A train was waiting there to continue the journey. Not very far into the trip did the train stop for a little longer than momentarily for the Hungarian border security to check our passports. These people who were shadowed by army personnel had guns attached to their hip as they took everybody’s passports and scanned them. A little nervous, I gave over my passport to a man who hadn’t looked like he’d ever smiled in his life. He scanned it multiple times and it didn’t work. At a motion of one notch of nerve increase every five seconds, I was starting to worry. The smile-less man yelled something in Hungarian before giving back my passport and storming off. No idea what his deal was but in only a matter of seconds, a smile-less woman took my passport and went through the same procedure. She checked my face to my passport picture (looks nothing like me), and stamped it. She checked Eddie’s and his was sweet. Couldn’t help but feel lucky to get out of that one as I have absolutely no idea of any Hungarian words.

We stayed in Wombat Hostel that night and the next for dirt cheap. Walked around the sites and saw the palace/castle on the Danube River as well as parliament house and a chapel. The Battlers then got the metro to the Grand Markets as after wondering around among the locals buying meat from the various butchers and fruit and veg from the many sellers, we walked upstairs to try some local food. Eddie had a massive snag as well as some sausage mixed with potatoes. I ate some lasagna shaped rice and lettuce thing with some sort of white sauce. We were both very satisfied with the Hungarian feed.

The following day we checked out of Wombat Hostel and walked towards the Danube River to the Marriott Hotel. It is here that we would be spending two nights. Mum and dad shouted us a couple of nights as a birthday present which was very generous. That day we went to Hero’s Square and the thermal baths, baths that are indoors and older than the hair on your grandfathers chest. They were around forty or so degrees celsius and were real relaxing. Love soaking in other people’s filth. Eddie and I went back to the hotel and enjoyed the luxury of a comfortable bed and some telle.

I woke up on the 7/9, Friday, to an unconventional birthday pressie in bed type morning. Eddie whipped out a plastic bag with a few gifts. As I was opening the plastic bag I was lining up in my head a smartass comment to say to Eddie that he hadn’t wrapped up the presents but he had! He had got me diarrhea pills, inter-digestion pills, moisturiser and bandaids. Perfect pressie’s as we don’t have much monies. It’s the first time I have received presents I hope not to use. Eddie really put in a good effort so that was nice. Both of us went down and had a huge buffet breaky that was included in the birthday present from the family. Went out and had a wonder around the shops as we were now in the middle of the rich and fancy part of Budapest. I ended up buying a jumper that will be good for winter. I’ve never bought myself a birthday present before. Had lunch then went back to the hotel to relax.

Bought a bottle of cheap Hungarian Brut sparkling wine and drank that in the room. We went out for dinner at a Thai place and then went to an ice bar where everything apart from the floor, door, liquor, bartender and patrons was ice. Had a couple of drinks there before packing it in and sleeping in heaven.

It was a different birthday to the ones I’ve had in previous years but it was exactly what I was looking for. It feels a tad surreal that I’m already one fifth of a century old. Thanks again so much for the birthday loving everyone, in particular mum and dad for hooking us up with that hotel room. It was incredible. Can’t tell you how many times we actually forgot we were poor backpackers on a budget and not rich young men who didn’t have to keep an eye on our bank accounts. Again, it was a nice change from some of the stresses backpacking can bring.

As a side note on birthdays, I reckon it should be your parents who get the presents on your birthday. The reason I say this is because they’re the ones who’ve done all the hard work to bring you to the world. All you had to do was turn up. Getting presents for your birthday is like getting a participation award in a competition. All you did was turn up and you get praised. Doesn’t make any sense to me.

The Backpacking Battlers loved Budapest as it was a city different from all the others we’ve seen along the way. Looking forward to the next chapter of our trip !