AmsterDAMN and BRUSHels

Over the one week Easter Break, Marina and I went to Amsterdam and Brussels.. The result: Im in love with a new city! AMSTERDAM rocks!

So, DAY ONE started when we arrived in Amsterdam (tired as hell, no thanks to the time change and my automatic DST setting alarm) early in the morning on Sunday (30 Mar 2008)..We went to our hostel's sister hostel to leave our stuff before going around tourin the city.. What did we visit?

• The Anne Frank House Museum (VERY moving, i bought the book too! its so far a good read)
• The Sex Museum- very interesting, a must visit!
• The Bulldog CoffeeShop (where we met Scott and Woody as agreed- I DID NOT SMOKE)
• The very amusing Red Light District
• Noordwijk, where our Hostel is- 50 mins from Amsterdam
• The Flying Pig Beach Hostel is fine, just a little shabby and is in need of a major facelift.. People were friendly but not as much as those in the other hostels- the wine tasted off as well

• We bumped into Jaime as well!
  

DAY TWO started early as well.. We got up, had breakfast and toured the small town, of course i HAD to see the beach and taste the salt water..its so refreshing since Switzerland is just mountains with no sea.. We then decided to take local transport (bus and train) to Liedsplain and then to Amsterdam where we checked in the Flyig Pig Uptown (A MUST STAY!). I also had my FIRST KFC in Europe! (tastes better in Malaysia)... We also met two US exchange students from Cyprus..Monique and Veronica- awesome fun! Oh, and some guy named Bruno from Portugal.. the Four of us went to the Red light district AGAIN (this time at night) and it was an experience i wont forget. SO MANY UGLIES! the hot ones werent that hot either, just really really "showy"...a must visit too are the MANY sex shops- theyre amazingly stocked with all things you can possibly relate to sex.. Veronica, Monique (who left early) and I went clubbing andi was great fun- the locals cant party so we took the centre stage! Oh, forgot to mention, we snacked at an indonesian restaurant called "aneka rasa", very poor service- no smiles, crude language and the food did not even taste authentic. Not to mention, seriously overpriced! BUT i managed to grab a photo of their toilet (which is pretty much the same elsewhere), and its weird because the flush flows forward! check the pic- weird huh? It isnt my piss btw..!

DAY THREE started with the Canal Cruise which was really insightful..I didnt know sooo many bicycles (and cars) are actually in the canals! the rest of the day was spent walking around the streets, SHOPPING...the fashion is amazing and alot cheaper than in Switzerland! Jacket prices start at Euro 12, ties at Euro 7, Scarfs at Euro 4 and these are BRANDED! We also passed the flower market which have more seeds for sell than flowers! at Night, we went back early to start packing for our trip to Brussels. I had a FEBO burger today! Its an awesome concept, its something like a vending machine for warm fast food which they have everywhere. A good meal with a burger and milkshake costs Euro 4!

DAY FOUR started REALLY early as we had to catch a train to Belgium. The train ride was nice as we passed (and i could see quite alot from the train itself) Antwerp! In Brussels, we checked in the 2GO4 quality hostel- real nice and modern, clean but not as fun as the flying pigs. We mt Marina's best friend and toured various spots:

• Grand Place


• The Royal Palace


• The Manneken Pis


• Cinquantere (spelling)


• A beautiful Baroque style church (dunno the name)


• Had a Belgian Waffle with Chocolate and bananas


• Had Moules et Frites (mussels and belgian fries)


• Had a Jupiler Beer- VERY Belgian apparently

DAY FIVE or the last day was spent in Waterloo, the site of the battles of waterloo between Wellington and Napolean in 1815- the war that changed the face of europe. we visited the several monuments and a tip for all- if u do plan to visit it, its really worthwhile, you learn alot. You can get a pass for 10 Euros, and it gives you a entrances to The Wellington Museum (must visit), the Butte Lion (the lion monument- which apparently faces France to "scare off" any potential French invaders- was also built on the site here Prince William of Orange was injured in battle), the wax museum and the Panorama. After all that, it was back to the hostel to grab our stuff and off back to Switzerland :)

Travelling tips:

For Amsterdam

• Go with someone- not alone. Its good if u intend to try smoke weed (which i can PROUDLY say i did not try)
• Apparently, a new law will be passed in July banning weed..That was wrong, a Dutch friend told me they are banning CIGGIES, NOT weed..
• Flying Pig Uptown seems much more fun than the downtown and beach- but its a good 30minute walk from the city centre
• GOOD SEASONED SHOES! i was fortunate to have my handy travelling shoes for all the walking
• Have a water bottle
• FEBO is awesome- food is not bad but unhealthy (cheap tho, burgers are Euro 2)
• Bicycles is probably fun but seems dangerous. When on foot, keep an eye out for passing Trams, Bicycles, Cars, Running Pedastrians, Drug Addicts, Beggars (though not as many as in Brussels), "free help" by broke addicts and pickpockets! Avoid the shopping streets too, especially if you enjoy retail therapy!
• LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION is not important, its nice to walk in Amsterdam!
• Orientation: three landmarks are vital- the Dam Square, Amsterdam Centraal station and Damrak Street. Everything else falls into place!
• Chinese Take aways are great- about Euro 5 for noodles or rice, and you pay extra Euro 0.50- 2.00 for other toppings and a free sauce of choice. I recommend Wok to Walk
• Buy an umbrella there, you can get a nice umbrella souvenir for Euro 4, and its quite wet in Amsterdam!
• Trams are only worth it if you have ALOT to carry
• You pay by "per trip" on the city transport, about Euro 1.60- or get the Stripenkaart which is a strip the conductor stamps at entry
• Asian food isnt really as authentic as claimed! Instead, eat the Pizzas, Take Aways, Febo food or just buy off the supermarket- cheap, tasty and fills you up!

For Brussels

• DO NOT visit after visiting a great city like Amterdam. Primacy-Recency effect takes its toll on your Belgian Trip.
• Beware of the many gypsies and beggars
• TRY all things Belgian: Chocolate, mussels, Fries, Waffles, Beer, Glace Dame-Blanches
• There are three stations for orientation, Gare du Midi, Gare Central et Gare du Nord. They check for tickets strictly- so HAVE A TICKET! Other orientating landmarks include the Grand Place and the junction before Boulevard Emille Jacqmain
• Eat at the Tourist trap street. You can tell because there are lots of fancy restaurants with waiters trying to reel in tourists. Go late afternoon around 5pm to eat dinner, Prices change with the times, no obvious to the tourists
• There isnt much to see, so dont spend too long in Brussels. I suggest planning/research and lots of it!
  

HAPPY TRAVELLING!