Can one imagining reading the 2 page of handwritten notes... written like almost a decade ago.
The knotted heart to throw or not throw away these handwritten notes.
In the end I came to a conclusion to type it into this blogger which I have not logged in since COVID pandemic period either.
I gave up a lot since COVID came into the world. My freedom, my travels, my life... I admit it had been a pandemic fatigue for me.
And with the new wave of Omicron, it just feels like a prolonged nightmare for me.
Anyway so about my handwritten notes...
Reach airport
This time I follow someone to the customs at another area and was spared the long Q (unlike the previous Frankfurt airport which was a terrible 1.5hours of waiting. Even the luggage had been removed from the conveyor belt. That was a business trip to SAP to study BRIM with a colleague. A topic that I studied but never put into any project... Many years later, I ended up in another topic - CPQ which I studied for the certification even and after which, was never put into any project again. Such is life.)
Found the Holland Tourist Info and realised they don't accept the 500 and 200 EURO bills. In the end Dad changed the 500 bill for a service charge of 5 euro (Useful experience as years later when I was based in Amsterdam for 2 years for a client project, I learnt never to bring such big EURO bills and always made the money changer give me in 50s only.)
Then check-in. Had to pay extra 30 for early check-in. (I remembered it was an AirBNB though so cannot recall why had to pay extra hmm. Oh well)
Took the train and walk a long way before finally reaching the apartment. Then nuah a long time. I nuah. Mummy as usual was busy cleaning the whole apartment.
Then walk back to Amsterdam Centraal and take the boat behind to go over the Eye. Nice place but Dad and Mum cannot appreciate the films. So did not spend much time. Walk one round, ate some bread and frites then walk back. (Many years later when I ended up my 2 years stint in Amsterdam, I would take this boat occasionally to the other side for fun.. those travel memories :S )
Almost had an accident while walking to the bus stop. Think the motorcyclist is cursing me...Sigh.
Then walk to the library before finding a supermarket.
Finally rest.
Tomorrow a long day.
Day 2 - 2nd Oct
Visited a flower auction. Was very early due to the miscalculation in travel. The FloraHolland has amazing traffic though. But I don't grasp the Auction process. (Funny I never went back here years later though even though I kind of find this place amazing. Maybe I was too lazy to wake up early to catch the auction partly because I never stayed in Amsterdam Central.. was either in Almere or Amsterdam West or hmm, what was that hotel near Ikea?? Hmm... I really cannot believe those hotels I stayed previously...)
Then back to Amsterdam and check the AH (Albert Heijin) supermarket. (This was my go-to supermarket in that 2 years stint... but everything changed when I hated a gamer with this IGN. Funny though, lately, I no longer care about his existence either.. like I let go a lot of things in the gaming community...)
Then check the train ticket station. Before heading to the Library to eat and enjoy the city view @ 7th floor. (The library is always my favourite hangout . be it Melbourne library, Amsterdam Library... I miss going libraries)
Before spending 3 hours at Nemo museum. They even had a sex station.
Then came home to change to warmer clothes for the night.
Took a walk in Zeedjik (Chinatown) before going on a cruise. And then the Red Light district tour. I quite like it the previous time with CL so decided to bring my parents to one as well. Is an interesting night to spent with my parents in the Red Light district afterall.
I stop writing after this. Probably got lazy. I remember I did bring them to a couple more places.. maybe the zoo? And I remembered I tried a canabis lollipop which has no effect at all. Compared to the space cake I had previously with CL.
And years later when I tried the mushroom with my husband, I couldn't remember any effects either, no pretty hallucinations. Sadly. I once thought of trying it again before I leave but I never got around doing it ... time once lost can never be gained.
Is really surreal to recall all these memories of my parents while they are sleeping in the other room. This trip back, I realised they really sleep very early (imagine 8pm they are already tired). But that's because he wakes up 3am to prepare for work. Asking him to quit but somehow he is always worried what else can he do if he's not working I guess. A bit like me. I'm on leave until Jan 10th but I can't seem to enjoy my leave in peace either. But I'm not really a workaholic either cos I know I no longer give my 100% in work unlike pre-covid periods. A lot has change, in me, in my family... Just feeling this way...
