Europe Tour : Amsterdam - Day 7

Another day gone and today is the last day I am in Amsterdam. Signed up a Amsterdam City tour in the morning and in the afternoon another tour to North of Holland whereby we will visit a fishing villages of Volendam, Marken adn the Windmills village.

As usual the city tour start at 10 am sharp and I hopped into the coach and basically the coach will drive around Amsterdam. It is a 2 1/2 hours tour and also will bring us to visit a Diamond Factory.

Random pictures of Amsterdam

The Cathedral

Another Beautiful Canal

The Famous RIJKSMUSEUM

Beautiful Park

Didn't get the name for this statue

Windmills

Cute SMART Car

The GASSAN Diamond Factory

This is the most expensive GASSAN 121 diamond with brilliant cuts and also with 57 facets. Cost about EURO70,000. Strike lottery also not enough money to buy la.

Look at this shiny diamond *wink*. The sales girl kept asking us to try and some more say politely " No money to buy nevermind, just try it and give yourself a feel of the expensive diamond ". Imagine if is in Malaysia, once you try, there will be 10 CCTVs shooting straight at you.

No money to buy diamond, but at least a souvenier from GASSAN diamond lah. hihihi.... LOL

While waiting for the rest to get into the coach, I went to the cafeteria at GASSAN Diamond Factory for a free drinks and bought myself a packet of Lay's Potato Chips to munch. Get this from the vending machine at EURO 0.70.

The coach send us back to the agency and the next tour will start at 2 pm and it is only 12.30 pm and I have 1 1/2 hour to walk around. By not wasting my time, I went to Madame Tussaud aka the Wax Musuem. I wanted to go to this musuem so much when I was in London about 9 years go. At that time I only have 400 POUND with me for the entire trip in London and Paris. Due to tight financial end up I didn't go and save the money to buy the EUROTRAIN ticket to Paris Disneyland. At that time I was in my final year in UNI and its a semester break. Instead of staying at home I bought the air ticket to look for LBA in Exeter, UK. S0 I am just another POKAI backpackers travelling alone.

The queue is so long and the ticket to go in is EURO 19.95. At last I make it to go in and it is an experienced for me at least I have been to the wax museum.

Amsterdam City ( taken from the Madame Tussaud )

Amsterdam Central Station

The second partof the tour is to the North of Holland whereby our first stop is at the Windmills near Volendam which we will visit 2 places the wooden shoemaker and the cheese factory.

The Wooden Shoe Workshop

The windmills village

The cheese factory

The next stop is to the fishing villages in Volendam and Marken. It is a beautiful fishing village and the entire town looks so peaceful. Weather is very cold here. We will be on a cruise to another fishing village and while waiting for the boat, I walked around the peaceful town.

Smell something nice from a nearby stall selling fried fish fillets. I get one to try out and didn't bother to ask what fish is it but it sure taste good to me.

The beautiful scenery of the fishing village

The tour ended at about 7 pm and drop us off at the Amsterdam Central Station. I did some last minute shopping in Amsterdam and my last place to visit is the SEX Museum. I have been passing this place for the past 3 days and I am so curious to know what they have inside. Entrance fee is EURO 3.00 and not so expensive ya but no female inside la all also male one. Don't care la, walked straight to the counter, pay EURO 3.00 and started my excursion in the museum. Alamak nothing much to see also, mostly the porno pictures, some sex toys, ......

Very long "DICK" hor

Took a tram back to the hotel at about 10 pm and after taking bath went down to the receptionist to get some hot water for my MAGGI HOT CUP. After so many days I still think the MAGGI HOT CUP is the BEST.

Tomorrow I got to wake up early to catch the 12 noon flight back to KLIA. I am so excited to go back now. I miss Dearie Suki, I miss my kids, I miss the foods in Malaysia.... I WANT TO GO BACK!

Europe Tour : Belgium - Day 6

Slept through the whole night and nearly overslept. Woke up at 8.30 am and quickly get myself ready for breakfast at the hotel cafe before I take a tram out to the Central Station. Today I will be going to Antwerp and Brussels and it is a day tour ( about 12 hours ) starting from 10 am.

Something really surprised me during breakfast. I don't expect for a good breakfast and what I have in mind is this type of cheapo hostel served lousy breakfast as what I had 9 years ago in London. I still remembered the hostel in London only served 2 croissants, butter / jam and coffee for breakfast. The one I am staying in Amsterdam eventually have ham, bacon, cheese and egg for me. Apart from that they also served milk, coffee,tea, apple juice and orange juice. Not too bad huh, only EURO 43.00 per night inclusive of breakfast and each room have a bathroom and toilet and I don't need to share the bathroom and toilet with the rest as what I did in London.

Eve, warned me not to be late when I go for the tour cos she herself experienced it in Frankfurt. She was late 1 min when the coach stop for toilet break and left without her. I am in rush and by the time I reached the agency it is about 9.55 am and the coach left to Belgium exactly 10 am. Wah very punctual hor. The coach is full and only about 4 Asians including me in the tour. From Amsterdam to Antwerp is about 2 1/2 hours drive and from Antwerp to Belgium is another 40 minutes drive.

Here are some random pictures taken in Amsterdam while waiting the coach

Nice scenery during the journey to Antwerp

City of Antwerp

The Cathedral in Antwerp

The statue behind is the Brabo Fontein.This little sailor was a hero who was trying to navigating his ship down to river Scheldt. Then come a big giant stop his ship and demand for money before letting them continue their journey. Brabo fought with the giant and chop off his hand and threw it in the water. Hence this story explained where the name of the city Antwerp comes from.

The City Hall in Antwerp

We are only given about 1 hour to walk around and have lunch in Antwerp Market Square. In order to save up the time, I 'ta pau' the famous Fleming Fries with over 38 types of sauces to choose from and also some fried Chicken Nuggets for lunch. The fries is so nice and the portion is so huge can last me till dinner! The whole thing cost me EURO 5.50, also not so cheap ya after you convert to RM.

We reached Brussels at about 2.30 pm and was given about 2 hours to walk around. Weather in Brussels is sunny but it is so cold. The tour guide recommended the famous handmade chocolate to us and it is a must buy cos Belgium produce the BEST CHOCOLATE in the world.

The Grand Place is the most magnificient square in the world. The buildings is constructed in medieval fashion with decorative gables, gilded facades, and brilliant gold accent. The strcture of the building in Grand Place really amazed me. Besides from buildings surround the area they have a busy shopping street and you can get lots of stuff like chocolates, lace , tapestry, souveniers, waffles, cafe and many more.....

Lace and Tapestry

Yummy, fresh handmade chocolate

The famous statue " Minneke Pis "

Tea time bought this waffles with strawberry toppings. It is so nice, outside is crunchy and inside is soft and fluffy. Guess how much ? EURO 4.00 = RM 20.00 !

The court in Brussels

Busy street in Brussels

The Palace in Brussels

The Brussels University

Atomium

The sky is getting dark by 6 pm and its time to head back to Amsterdam. It is quite a worth while trip to Belgium and for this trip I booked on-line and it is about USD75.00. No regrets going to Belgium indeed it is a beautiful country.

Reach Amsterdam at about 10 pm and took a tram back to the hotel. Again it is a scary walk while walking back to the hotel. It is quite and cold but atlast I reached the hotel and took a hot bath before I go to sleep but the weather outside is real cold and I think it is about 2 DC at night. Cold, cold , cold....

***** Amsterdam - Day 7 coming up soon *****

Europe Tour : Amsterdam - Day 5

Woke up early in the morning and took a cab to the train station. I had breakfast at McDonald's alone and then board the earliest ICE train to Amsterdam at 9.14 am. The journey from Dusseldorf to Amsterdam took about 3 hours and I am expected to arrive Amsterdam Central Station at about 12.00 pm.

Arrived Amsterdam at about 12.15 pm and the weather is real cold as compared to Germany. The next thing I should do is to look for the hotel I booked online and with the heavy luggage and a map, I hop into the tram hopefully I get into the right tram to get to my destination. Hop off at Leidseplen and ask around how to get to the hotel. Thank god, within 15 minutes, finally I found the hotel. Check into the hotel but the room is not ready and the receptionist asked me to go for a walk and have my lunch first cos the room will not be ready after 2 pm.

2 more hours to wait so I walked out again to the street and walk around and look for food to munch cos I am really hungry. The weather is so gloomy and it is raining. It is real cold with the wind blowing. The second thing is that I am going to freeze to death.

With the map I am referring to, I managed to find the Flower Floating Market. Not too bad yeah, walk alone like crazy woman also can find the place. Here are some random pictures around Leidseplen.

In Amsterdam itself, there are more than 120 canals.

Flower Floating Market

I loves the flowers so much

Flower bulbs for sale and I am so tempted to get the tulip bulbs back here

Clock Tower

It is almost 2 pm and it rains again. Waited for almost 1/2 hour outside a shop hoping that the rain will stop but it is too cold for me. End up got to go and buy a stupid umbrella which cost me EURO 5.00 to get myself back to the hotel as soon as possible.

Once I get into my room, I need some rest cos my 'kepala pening '. At that moment my Dearie Suki called to check whether I am OK or not. The next thing I told him is that I want to go back cos the weather is so gloomy and makes me don't have the mood to extend this trip. Tears almost dropping out cos I miss him so much plus the kids. It seems every night the kids have fun with him at McDonalds. I just feel like going back.

Slept for 2 hours and woke up around 5 pm and the sun is out again. Hooray..... I get myself ready to take the tram to the city and to check it out with the local tours agency where can I go tonight without wasting my time in the hotel room sleeping.

Around Amsterdam city, the first thing I did is to look for the tour agency which I have booked my 2 days tour through internet. Finally found the office and asked the receptionist any place to recommend. She recommended on the Cruise Excursion around Amsterdam city and another one is the walking tour at night to the Red Light District. Finally I choose the walking tour to the Red Light District and it is a 2 hours walking tour with a realiable tour guide accompanying me to the place and also guarantee me the safetly back to the agency. Total I paid EURO 20.00 for this walking tour.

The tour start at 8 pm and I still have 2 1/2 hours to go. Walk around Amsterdam city and took some pictures and dinner , I had KFC. ( so crazy hor.... go there eat KFC )

Random pictures of Amsterdam City

Shopping Mall

Walk into the ROLEX shop with a group of Chinese from China. I just followed them into the shop as though I am on of the tourist with the tour. hihihihi....smart ya. The ROLEX watch is so nice especially the one with diamond studs and it is not cheap too.

A view from Amsterdam Central Square. Its a school holiday in Amsterdam and they have this fun fair for the kids.

Amsterdam Central Square

At 8 pm the tour started and there are about 15 persons who signed up for this tour. The tour guide brought us to the Prostitute Information Centre, where we are offered some drinks and a former prostitute explained to us the prostitution system in Amsterdam and showed us the girls ( kok kok ) standing behind the windows and the rooms in different sexy clubs.

After this, the tour guide brought us to Wallen, where by it is the Red Light District where all the ' kok kok' standing behind the windows trying to lure the man walking past them. Wah.. it could be quite dangerous walking alone there and I wouldn't dare to do that alone. The tour continues passing through a monuments and some old buildings and some Dutch pubs whereby you can see people in there looked stoned cos they taken drugs. Well in Amsterdam, PROSTITUTION and DRUGS is a ILLEGAL LEGAL JOB. ( Thanks ya Joe, typo error la )

The Coffeeshop and Sex Shop

The Red Light District

The tour ended at about 10 pm and hop into the tram to get back to the hotel. Walking back to the hotel is scary because the street is quite quiet. I walked so fast and finally reached the hotel. Took a hot bath and go to sleep at about 11 pm cos the next day I will be in Belgium.

***** Belgium - Day 6 coming up soon *****