Notes from the Road: Amsterdam

02/29/2012

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Trip in a Nutshell

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Length of stay: 1.5 day
Language: Dutch

LIKE: The lively atmosphere with pubs & bars everywhere!!! Eye Opener at Red Light District!
DISLIKE: Too many choices!!!
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Artsy & Lively eh? :)
TOP SIGHTS:
1) Getting lost @ Canals; canals and more canals!!
2) Red Light District at nightfall! (more about this later :P)
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This picture sums Amsterdam up? Bike & Canal :)

MUST TRY FOOD:
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1) Gouda Cheese! ie the iconic wheel-shaped cheese! :)
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2) Erwtensoep! ie pea soup with onion, carrots, sausage & bacon. Tummy warmer :)
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3) Kroketten aka Croquettes! @ Van Dobben ie fried dough balls with various fillings! Usually consumed with Milk (or Melk in Dutch!)
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4) Poffertjes, a Dutch batter treat! Like Pancake! :)
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5) Oliebollen aka Oil Balls, Or simply Dutch Doughnuts :))) nom nom nom. usually with powdered sugar

Itinerary: 26 Dec 2011 (Mon)

Morning 618am: Brussels --> Amsterdam Central train station

Morning 914am: Arrived at Amsterdam Central, Check In Accommodation - Durty Nellys Inn.

Morning 10am: Explore Around Amsterdam on foot! No particularly systematic route!!!! :P 

- Dam Square!
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Start off from the center of the city - Dam Square, where National Monument stands
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Browsing through the numerous barssss & pubssss in town. And this pub claims itself to be the smallest pub in town :D
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CANALSSS :)
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Dutch thongs ROFL :)
TRY TO TRY: Waterlooplein Flea Market. Miss that!!! :(

- Remembrandt Square, one of the night party area!
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Xmas Market @ Remembrandt Square. With the making of Poffertjes :)
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Sausages overload :O
- Flower Market
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Dutch windows??? :OOO
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Tulips... Fake tulips >.< apparently it is winter.
- Anna Frank Huis
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One of top attractions in Amsterdam, the home of the famous writer Anne Frank. Go early in the morning to avoid queue, according to our hostel manager :)
- Jordaan Area, across the canal
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West of the city, with adorable houses squashed in a grid of tiny lanes
- Snacking on frites!!! Fries! It tasted awesome!!!

- Red Light District aka De Wallen
Spread across 6500 square meters with 300 cabins! And as its name implies, just look for the Red Lights at night!
No photography is allowed :( But to give you a feel, here is what I found from Google. Judge yourself?
LOOK OUT FOR:
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1) Waterlooplein Flea Market! Missed this :(
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2) Skinny Bridge!!!
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3) Begijnhof

Itinerary: 27 Dec 2011 (Tue)

Morning: Walk to Albert Cuyp Market, Amsterdam's largest & busiest market!!! Why not have a bowl of warm pea soup?

- Walk to Vondelpark & Concertgelow
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Concertgelow :) Concert Hall? :)
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A Stroll along Vondelpark? :)
Morning: If you fancy museums & arts, probably these are worth trying!
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VAn Goh Museum :)
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The famous I Amsterdam near the museums area :)
EARLY AFTERNOON: Brunch @ Pankcakes!
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Gosh Dutch Pancakes are huge!!!!

Costs $$$ (I spent):

FOOD: 28.13 euros
TRANSPORTATION: All attractions is within walking distance if you are not too tired :) OR you could bike!!
ACCOMMODATION: 20 euros

Total: 48.13 euros

Maps for the Organized Minds

To Be Continued: BEEEEEEEEER @ Munich&Berlin, Germany (15 MAR)

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Notes from the Road: Belgium

02/11/2012

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Trip in a Nutshell

Bruges & Brussels, Belgium

Length of stay: 1 day
Language: Dutch; French; German 

LIKE: The peacefulness & Serendipity with tonnes of gothic buildings!!! AND CHOCOLATE of course!
DISLIKE: Yet to be discovered :)

TOP SIGHTS: Grand Place (Brussels)
MUST TRY FOOD: 
1) Mussels in a pot (They are everywhere!); 
2) Belgian Chocolates! 
3) Belgian Waffle nom nom nom**

Itinerary: 25 Dec 2011 (Sun)

First Stop: Bruges! 

Morning 800am: Paris du Nord station -->  Belgium (Bruges)

TIPS: Paris to Belgium's Capital City Brussels train reservation could be expensive; so instead, why not catch a regional train to Bruges (a beautiful suburb) and from there take a train to Brussels?

Morning 1030am: Arrive at Brugges. Store luggage & Explore canalside scenes on foot! :) Target: To Bruges' Central - Markt back and forth!
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Beautiful canalside scene right! :))
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Cobblestone pathway; Horse-drawn carts; Winter trees; Great buildings and horse pee smell completes the picture :)
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Inside the "Begjinhof" - a group of houses around a little garden covered with large poplar trees :)
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Cute shops; Chocolate shops hopping! On your way to Markt, there is plenty to see plenty to explore!! :)))
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Great art & craft! :)
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It makes a good paintings on the wall?? :))
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BURG square: Bruges Town Hall - Stadhuis.
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Belgian Hot Chocolate & Waffle at MARKT Xmas Market :)
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Bruges' nerve center - MARKT :) a large open square :)
TRY TO TRY: Mokafe Waffle. Best waffle in town? 

Second Stop: Brussels!

Late Afternoon 2pm: Train back to Brussels Midi (1 hour journey)
- Check in Accommodation Hotel Van Belle (Spacious & Cosy! :))

4pm: Off exploring Brussels!
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First Stop: St Michel & Gudule Cathedral; No kidding, this cathedral is HUMUNGOUUUUUSSSSS :O
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On the way to Musuemssss from Cathedral. Monts des arts, beautiful garden & lights! :)
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Archives Générales du Royaume - One of the MANYYYYYYYYY MUSUEMSSSSSSSSSSSSSS in Brussels. If you have got the time, worth paying a visit inside? Or can just appreciate them from outside, like we did haha.
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Church of Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg. We have no ideas what this building is then hahaha.
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Of course, pay a visit to Belgium's Royal Palace!!!! everything is within walking distance :)
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Notre Dame du Sablon :) Just realised how many spectacular buildings are in Brussels :)
AND JENG JENG JENG! The Top Attraction at Brussel: The Grand Place!!
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Spectacular Light Shows!!! :))
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Stars :)
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DINNERRRRRRRRRRRRRR: Belgian Beers RAWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR - [Primus; Blanche; Tongerlo Brune; Tongerlo blonde; Kriek! :))))]
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JENG JENG JENG, you will see this dish being served EVERYWHERE in Belgium!!!! It is called Mosselen/moules :) A steaming cauldrons of mussels!!! :) with fries or they call it "frites"
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And a last visit to the peeing kid - Manneken Pis statue :)
TRY TO TRY: Atonium - the infamous nine gigantic iron balls 5km north of the city :)
TRY TO TRY: Nearby suburbs like Antwerps & Ghent; which many people say are very scenic :)

Costs $$$  (I SPENT:) 

FOOD: 28.25 euros
TRANSPORTATION: 4.50 euros
ACCOMMODATION: 26 euros
MISC (Locker/Washroom): 2.50 euros
SOUVENIRS: 13 euros

Total: 74.25 euros

Maps for the Organized minds

1) Bruges City Maps with Attractions drawn : although a map is not really needed
2) Brussels' USE IT maps: brilliant insights & tips from locals; although could get a lil overwhelmed by the amount of information

To Be Continued: Amsterdam, Netherlands [1 Mar]

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Clogs; Tulips; Canals and the renowned Red Light District!
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