***** Butterflygal's Trip Update *****
The journey to Amsterdam began rather uneventfully maybe because I did not render my help to someone thus it became a guilt trip and I had to be punished to be caught in a storm. But I guess if one see it in another light particularly as I am now writing this entry in the comfort of my home then it is an adventure not to be missed as how often could one be caught in a snowstorm where your train was disrupted and you were really just following blindly amidst the foreign tongues (Dutch and German) to be transported from one city to another. (While digressing, I did have a couple of adventures though e.g. Car skidded in an icy mountain and seeing kangaroo's greenish blood... All in NZ haha! Should I go back NZ btw hmm... It is the only country I can get a work holiday visa now...)
But one good thing is we were actually waiting at the hotel warmly instead of out in the cold air. And Bahn even sponsored the food. Though I did not eat much because I thought the bus might come fast and probably I did not have much appetite either. I did not even take note of the hotel name.. Hotel Stadt Emmerich. Hmm but I do remember they broke quite a number of plates that day haha. Think they might have been shocked to see vast number of people in their hotel suddenly.
Anyway after lots of ups and downs and aimless waiting of which I learnt wheelies on luggage are useless on snow strewn road (and my iHate mode starts to increase), finally arrived Amsterdam. And I have to admit it is a good thing to pay that hostel in full (the only one I did which makes me wonder if everything happens for a reason as even the tourist pass I had chosen a 2 day pass though I had planned to be in Amsterdam for 3 days.)
After a long day spent stuck in the snow, we woke up early to made up for lost time. And I caught the Amsterdam's sunrise. Even with the sun, it still feels freezing cold.
First stop - Amsterdam Central Station.Well blame it on my love for railway stations...
And yupz I went to take the same photo.. well similar photo haha..
Isn't CL kawaii "p
To keep warm and to use the ladies, we kept visiting museums haha... But of course no photography allowed in certain museums especially the famous ones like Rijksmuseum..
and Van Gogh Museum and Amsterdams Historisch Museum.
Actually Historisch Musuem is very interesting but we went in quite late and had to speed visit in 30 minutes. Sigh can only blame winter for making days shorter and thus everything closes earlier...
Verzetsmuseum is another very interesting museum. And photography is allowed here.
More about the 'National festival skirt' made by resistance member A. Boissevain-van Lennep.
Mrs. Boissevain introduced the skirt being member of a committee in charge of laying down guidelines for the celebration of the liberation. The skirt, made out of pieces of old clothing that recalled events in the life of the family, was to become the symbol of reconstruction and national solidarity. At commemorations held in 1946, 1947 and 1948, several thousand women wore festival skirts.
Actually it is known that Dutch were not badly affected (in comparision with other countries) during Hitler's reign but there is definitely signs of resistance. Afterall like what Remco Campert says, if you starts to question, that is the sign of resistance. And when you posed the question to another person.. that is how revolution begins? But ... but.. why is it not happening here? Sigh I'm so disheartened by state affairs lately...
Tulip Museum is another place that allows photography. But this is a really small place, one can almost mistake it as a florist in fact.
Tulips is Netherlands favourite flower and probably many travel to Holland to visit tulips. But tulips did not originate from Netherlands. Instead its true roots are in Asia and the Mediterranean. Thus there was a period of Tulipomania where everybody was crazily growing tulips causing a burst. Guess that is the law of economics.. like bubble tea.. coffee bread... and the likes.
I like the architecture of Amsterdam with their long canals and flowing rivers with beautiful buildings. And the best way to do an orientation is to be on a canal cruise...
Even their botanical garden (Hortus Botanicus) looks so serene with their snow-caps.
I like the creativity found in this playground...
Amsterdam main transport is bicycles. The cyclists will never give way to the pedestrians. I wonder if this cyclist will give way to me though??
Oh ya as snow in Amsterdam was rather thick, and we had travelled out of the city to a nearby town to catch the windmill - Molen Van Stolen (well a visit to the Dutch without a windmill photo would be a serious faux to make).....
I decided it is the best time and spot for CL to build her first snowman. And she had made great sacrifices to decorate it ...
As compared to my Swiss-made snowman which really pales in comparision...
On the way back I caught sight of this little bird.
Somehow I just have this feeling that it died due to the cold. Seriously this town was even pelting icy rain droplets just an hour ago. While I feel sad it had departed, I hope it can find warmth in Heaven soon. And I envy it for being able to go back...
The night life of Amsterdam is just as pretty..
Even the snowy effect looks so pretty on the photos. But seriously Amsterdam is so much colder than Heidelberg...
Oh ya Amsterdam is a city of vices ...
Known for its Red Life District which is near the Chinatown (Zeedijk)...
(Here's a peek of it. Well a night tour is highly recommended to see the district at work but photography is prohibited. Till now, it is still mind boggling to see these ladies 'offices' are like... You can try to visualise via the keychain I have posted. Try Randy Roys Red Light Tours .. highly recommended!)
And liquor and casino.. As usual camera not allowed in casinos. Actually I'm not sure if I visited the casino too early but there were not many people as compared to Genting. Hmm I have not tried SG's IR crowd either haha.
Amsterdam is known for their fries.. and Febo.. and waffles.. and space cake... (The space cake did not have the intended effect though, not sure if it is because we shared or we were doing it wrongly. I wonder if I should try it another time?)
Although the snow fell the heaviest in Amsterdam where I even felt icy rain drops pelting on me, I kind of miss Amsterdam and hope to be back again during its summer instead to do the walks I had initially planned. I almost hoped to visit these few musuems that I missed due to the short winter days and earlier hiccups.
- NEMO,
- Anne Frank House whose Q is forever long and CL was not impressed by it. There were others who recommend Verzetsmuseum as a better musuem too.. but I guess I am still curious about Anne Frank.
- Houseboat Museum
- Artis Zoo which I did not plan to visit during winter because I scared the animals are hibernating too hahaha..
Related Posts:
Part 0: Off to find my White Xmas
Part 1: Frankfurt-Heidelberg
Part 3: Brussels
Part 4: Luxembourg
Part 5: London
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