Travelogue - Amsterdam! (7th - 8th Sept 2009)

Next destination on the list was AMSTERDAM! :D After seeing Muiden for around 2 hrs, we drove another 30 mins into Amsterdam and got checked into our Botel (yup... the Amstel Botel = Boat + Hotel). We had a little trouble finding the place as the boat sailed off and relocated elsewhere! But all in all, we managed to get checked in and settled down by 3pm...

We stayed 2 nights at the Botel and spent 1.5 days exploring the sights and smells of Amsterdam. Here's the summary of our stay:

Breakfast on the Amstel Botel consisted mainly of bread, ham/bacon and cheese...

This is how the Amstel Botel looked like in the day time

And this is how the Amstel Botel looked like at night...

To get to Amsterdam, we had to wait at the port for the ferry to arrive. There's a 15-minute ferry ride to Central Station in Amsterdam.

A common sight in Holland - the parting of the roads to make way for boats passing on the canals

Waiting to board the supposed "Best Boat Ride" in Amsterdam to see the city while cruising the canals

Several takes on the beautiful city from the boat ride

The I amsterdam Guide and Card - we bought this for 38euros (? can't remember!) and got the boat ride FOC as well as free or discounted entries into some of the museums and places of interests.

In the Garden of Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum Entrance

I'm not much of an art fan - but this museum is truly breathtaking! You'll get to appreciate art in an angle you've never looked from before. Chin Aun also downloaded the museum guides into his mobile phone so we had a guided tour of some of the rooms in the museum :)

And I'll always remember "The Dollhouses" and "The Night Watch"...

After visiting the Rijksmuseum, we walked 10mins down the road to visit Van Gogh Museum... I'm sad to say I'm rather disappointed with that particular museum as I was really hyped up to see "Starry Night", my favourite piece of Van Gogh's work, to find out that this particular piece is only on display in the New York Museum of Modern Art *bah!*

Wanted to get some authentic "Starry Night" souvenirs from the souvenir shop in the museum and there was none too!! *bang head on wall* Left the museum feeling disgruntled...

My spirits picked up as soon as I saw a small souvenir shop selling Van Gogh art copies beside the museum and I managed to buy a ripoff of the ripoff of "Starry Night"!! Managed to convince Chin Aun to let me frame that in our house next year too! Haha...

Sorry, no photos of the museums as cameras were not allowed :(

Can you spot us from the hollows of the M in Amsterdam??

In front of Magna Plaza proudly holding my Van Gogh ripoff

In Dam Square - the heart of Amsterdam

Chin Aun in front of The Niewe Kerk

On the foyer overlooking the interior of The Niewe Kerk

The beauty that is The Niewe Kerk

Typical touristy shot of Amsterdam (against the canal)

Sitting in the Klompen (Dutch Clog!)

In front of a mural of the 70's (saw this being featured in one of the Visit Amsterdam videos that Chin Aun found online!)

Chin Aun taking a leak?? Hehehe... Nah, just posing!
This is a free to use 'toilet' for men found all around Amsterdam

The rainbow flag flying proud and high


In conjuction with the Netherlands Theater Festival - a truly eyecatching attempt. Talk about theatrics huh?

Consulting the I amsterdam Book Guide on where to go next!

Heineken - the City

Bottles of beer with Dutch inspired designs


Heineken souvenirs

No trip would be complete without a visit to....

Hard Rock Cafe!


The Jumbo Combo - a combo of all the best starters at Hard Rock Cafe - Santa Fe Spring Rolls, Hickory Smoked Chicken Wings, Potato Skins and Tupelo Chicken Tenders
Tropical Rock in Hurricane Glass - Stoli Radzberi Vodka, creme de banana, pina colada mix, pineapple juice and a Midori Lemon Liqueur float (garnished with maraschino cherry)


Vondel Park in Amsterdam


Walking the streets of Amsterdam - heading back to the center square

And but of course... Amsterdam would not be Amsterdam without a night stroll down the famed Red Light District...

I've seen more things here than I have in my last 26 years of life! And some are too freakish to ever be erased from my memories *shudder*

Sex Shop Window Display - NOT A TOY! Plush rabbits with enlarged members

Also a Sex Shop Window Display - dildo's in all shapes, sizes with multiple functions

Truth be told... the Red Light District is not as seedy or shady as the reputation that precedes it. It is more of a tourist attraction of brothels on display rather than a notorious place for notorious people with even more notorious intentions. Of course, we also saw tourists who were interested to sample a piece of the delectable Red Light District (in the form of some middle aged Japanese man vehemently discussing who to take on a scantily clad young, beautiful and voluptuous woman behind the glass).Amsterdam was GREAT :D I loved every second that we were there (even when my legs were killing me) and throughout my stay in Europe, we did go there again, even if it was just for a few hours (a day trip - from Leeuwarden to Amsterdam) to check out some stores on PC Hooftstraat (helping some friends look for handbags...) and to visit the Amsterdam Diamond Center. However, I forgot to bring my camera so I didn't manage to take any photos...

So after Amsterdam, the road trip continues...
Next stop : Antwerp, Belgium :D

Will post more when I can but I am really slow in doing this!