Goedenacht Amsterdam

On my last nite in Amsterdam, i took one last wandelen on the straats of this interesting city. I walked the Dam Square, Damrak & the Red Light District once again just to take it all in with the cool night breeze caressing my face. It has been a wonderful and enjoyable trip. A gehzellig experience...as the Dutch would say.

Just as it has been difficult for me to move on to other stuff other than amsterdam on the blog. I need to leave it, move on and seek new topics and materials. My awakening came after watching The Motorcycle Diaries ...when Ernesto "Che" Guevara wrote to his mother telling her how it saddened him to leave Argentina and cross the border into Peru; sad to leave ones' beloved country yet excited stepping into a new country.

I leave "amsterdam" with a heavy heart but the time to move on is come. Armed with this in mind i close this chapter on Amsterdam with some parting shots taken the night before i left.

Goedenacht Amsterdam..

Boathouse

Boathouses...they fascinate me. Truth be told everything fascinates me about this city but i love their boathouses. They all have their individual characters. I was fortunate to peek into a couple of them and found cosy little dwellings within...of course that's nothing strange, after all most Amsterdam houses are rather small but cosy. There was a boathouse that was walled with books as in a library. All i could see through it's windows were books. i was more expecting some gorgeous undressed babe walkin about but no such luck.

I am not a weirdo that peeps into peoples houses but i was curious as to what it looked like inside. I have always harboured the dream of one day living in a boathouse. Well this was and is to happen if I do not get married or if i happen to marry at Rosa's. WW...Don't you even go there!

There were so many interesting boathouses when i was on de gracht cruise. Some are for rent. They are all legally docked by the embankments of the canal. Once it was illegal for them to do so but after much lobbying the government relented and we get this beautiful sight. You can find them lining the embankments of the canal looking pretty in their very own way. Rather romantic...

Middlesbrough

Boro fans looking lost smack in the middle of Dam Square. A couple hours later their team lost the UEFA Cup Finals to Sevilla in a 4 nil drubbing at the nearby PSV Eindhoven Stadium. Nice to be able to see all these ardent fans in the city. There were Sevilla fans in town too. Noisy and colorful lot. Quite a sight and they do make a hell of a lot of noise...before the match and more so after winning a match but when they are on the losing end they are quiet as a mouse. Kinda reminds me of my cousin...when he looses at PS.

Pedal Power.

In this land of dykes, there are lots of bikes. I have not seen so many bikes in one place. Bikes are parked all over the place and they are chained to almost anything, lampost, railings, trees, hydrants and even hung over bridge railings. And if you look closer you will find them chained with huge, thick chains unlike the bicycle locks we get here. Apparently they get stolen a lot.

They also come in many modifications of which i was not able to capture due to my Olympus camera's world class battery that dies on me whenever something interesting comes up. In this instance, my so called "kodak" moments of men in suits on bikes, mothers carrying kids on their bike carriers in the front and back. Ladies dress up for work cycling to the office. Unheard off in KL.
Then they have this variation of Thailands tuk tuk. Rather cool. Not as noisy and not so crazy. Very nice. These things ferry people round the city for tours. I don't know what they are called. Forgot to ask.

The bicycles here are pretty much like the infamous motorcycles of Penang...they rule the straats.

Bloemenkiosk

Amsterdam is not just sex, drugs, breads and buns, Dutch babes and loud Ajax fans. They have beautiful flowers too. Their tulips are known the world over. I was not fortunate enough to experience the vastness and beauty of Kuekenhof also known as the greatest flower show on earth. It must be true...especially when one can actually see it from the window of the plane.

Since i did not get to see Kuekenhof i decided to experience their flowers from wherever i could. The planters at the airport, the canal docks, the Rai exhibition centre and just about anywhere.

And when one chooses to see that which is before us, one can be pleasantly surprised at what one may find. I found a couple of sweet little Bloemenkiosk. Very unlike the florist we have here. The Bloemenkiosk exudes a rustic charm that is rather romantic. They are just so pleasing and cosy.

Takes you back in time.

...and then there's Rosa's Cantina.

Rosa's Cantina...aiyaiyai. An unforgetable place.

On the main street you would not even begin to imagine how it would look like. It only hit's you after you enter the main door of the cantina and walk towards the back where you exit into a cosy little garden shaded by a wonderful horse chestnut tree...or so our host from australia tells us. I did not offer any arguments after all i am familiar only with the ang mo tan tree and the lulian tree and our local kayu balak.

The food...very Mexican of course. The waitress...very Dutch and very mooi. She caught my eye the moment i stepped into the cantina. Her eyes, her smile and her being... i can't seem to erase from my mind. It is like it has been etched into my mind. I just couldn't take my eyes off her...but of course i occasionally tried to avert my attention lest she thinks i am undressing her with my eyes. That thought didn't even occur to me.

How do i describe it...It's like walking in the forest and you chance upon a butterfly. Just pure beauty flitting about from leaf to leaf with never a care in the world. And she was like that, never stopping, moving from one table to another, making sure everyone was well taken care of. "Is the food enough. Would you like another drink?" Always asking, always checking if everything is all right.

There was but one thing she could not do. When my boss mentioned that the table look messy with the flowers...that dropped off the horse chestnut tree, she retorted by saying.." I am sorry, but there is nothing i can do. This is nature." At that moment i fell deep into the canal and i wanted to stay there. Don't safe me ...pleaseee....

Had I more days in amsterdam...I would love to traverse to canal with her, walk the straats, sit by the canal banks and watch the sunset and canal cruisers and sip vino at the Night Cafe.

Fantasies, dreams, canals, tulips, daffodils...and croissants and my butterfly.

Ain't life beautiful?

Dutch babes

I would not be a hot blooded male if i did not check out the Dutch Babes. They are just beautiful. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder...so says the Bard, but Dutch Babes are mooi. If you must know..i was rather busy taking in the sights of Amsterdam and then some. My head...the one above my neck was kept extremely busy. Turning left, right and then left again and all around. Busy busy busy. They are not jaw dropping dead gorgeous...just beautiful.

I could live, eat and love in this country.

Pastry

Pastry...my favourite. The breads here are just fantastic. Differing in shapes and sizes with one thing in common...heerlijk ...that's delicious.

I fell in love with their roti, the sex and drugs did't get me...their breads did. That french thing we call a cafe here doesn't even come close. I could eat bread the whole day.

The croissants are heavenly. Unlike the ones we get here...you wouldn't even feed them to your dog with after tasting croissants in amsterdam.

My daily breakfast...

Pussies...

What were you thinking? I literally meant pussies. They are big in Amsterdam. Just look at the size of em. There aren't many of them around, it's a doggie world over here. Every now and then you see someone with a dog. Sometimes little ones sometimes BIG ones. With dogs you will have dog poo all over the place. A word of caution...if you are checking out the gals or guys just be sure to check where you put your foot down. This place ain't call the Dogshit capital of the World for no reason.

Red light District & Sex Shops.

Red light districts and sex shops, what a nite! It wouldn't be Amsterdam if there were none of these. A trip through these streets would make anybody curious and in awe. I was. Coming from a country where stuff like these are taboo...almost, Amsterdams in sex haven. Not that i had any sex in the city but just the pure experience of seeing and being in a different environment adverse from ours is rather cool. I can just imagine Ah Fook, Chewbacca and the rest would be absolutely thrilled at the amounts of DVD's on sale in the sex shops. Imagine my sisters and sis-in-law's expressions when they see the dildo's and other sex memorabilia...it might make their lips quiver. Even my muse would be amused and may request for more.

Window shopping in Amsterdam is a whole new experience. The displays on display are not extremely shocking but their luminous bras and panties and colorful under-nothings are a treat. Would i have gone in for a treat...i think not. Some of the women there look more likely to beat me up than give me ecstatic sex. They are not un-pretty...just look vicious to me. Of course the men that come out smiling may disagree with me. Taking their pix is a no no, the will pull the curtains on you and give you the finger. Sex yes but no pictures please.

I spent the rest of the nite just walking the streets and taking in a whole new world.

Celebrations...

I arrived in Amsterdam in time to witness the Ajax fans celebrate their teams victory over PSV in the Gatorade Cup Final. That's me with a bunch of really cool Ajax fans with beers in their hands and an ice-cream in mine as we marched to Leidseplein on foot to witness the celebration. They streets leading to the square was packed with Ajax fans screaming their victory cries and sing their team songs.

Being my first time here and to be a part of this is just way cool. The colors and the passion of the city just came to life right before my eyes. The flares, the fans, young and old, the weird and the mooi, all in front of me. I was standing right in the midst of history and I loved it!

Amsterdam hier ik komen..

After much mms over which luggage, suitcase or bag to carry i am almost done with the packing. Finally decided on the clothes and jackets...which i had many to choose from courtesy of whirlwind wendy and my pops.

That's all the euros i could muster together. With the guide and phrase book and map from WW i'm set for my work cum holiday. The rest are for safety.

Safety first y'all.

Red Head

Saw this red head last friday in Janda Baik. This is the first time i have seen a woodpecker in the wilds. Before this i have only heard them pecking away but never seen them.

Who would have believed i finally meet my first red head.

Woody Woodpecker...eat your heart out.

Paths in Life

In life, sometimes the paths we seek may not look as clear as we would like them to be.

It remains right in front of us but we are sometimes overwhelmed by our surroundings hence we see not what we seek. Too many too much confuses and obscures our vision and the path is lost to us.

The path will appear to those that seek it.

Seek and ye shall find...

Kedai Runcit

When was the last time you went to one of these? The Kedai Runcit, the neighbourhood tiam ma, teem chye or chap for poh. Almost wiped out to the brink of extinction by the 7-elevens, the mini markets, the supermarkets and then the hypermarkets and all the new markets coming into the picture.

I am doing some work with some really cool people i just got to know and they are involved somewhat with Kedai Runcits which got me to write about this. Remember the good old days of running into them and get just about anything you wanted? Sweets, chocolates, biscuits, flour, sugar, tekam tekam, cards and even sanitary pads. I remember the pads. I had to go get them for my mum once...when i was abt 9 or 10. Those days them pads came in huge boxes. Sanita it was...the guy behind the counter would get it and quickly wrap it in a well read sheet of the Straits Times and hand it over the counter. Then i would run like hell back home. I didn't know what it was then, i guessed it must be something embarrasing since the guy wrapped it so super fast and handed it over rather discreetly. I later found out what it was a couple of years later. It was good for wiping tables after the rain. Sure absorbed the water real quick. Quick pick up for a bad spill.

I miss those tiam ma days.

Cups of Colmar

These species are from near Colmar in Bukit Tinggi. Slim, long and greenish.

Monkey Cups

Monkey cups...that's what we call them. This particular species is found on the slopes of Penang Hill. Scientifically known as nephentheses i believe. This is just one specie. Fascinating plant. It collects dew drops and rain in the cups. I do wonder if monkeys really drink from them or use them as contraception. We could drink from them too i guess, especially if in dire need to hydrate oneself. Such as in a Hydrate or Die situation.

I have always been fascinated by them and i always keep a look out for them when i trek. Not to remove them and bring them home but to capture their beauty in their natural habitat. They remain treasures of the forest and not in somebody's flower pot.

They are much sought after especially after some wanker claimed that it is good for feng shui and bring prosperity. People can be selfish and greedy and think only of themselves. They don't give a fuck what dies so long as they prosper. When you remove these plants from the highlands they die! The weather in the lowlands is not conducive for their survival. Wise up people!

Respect life!

Penang Hill

april 29th, 2006...5 of us decided to trek up Penang Hill. Adrian, Alice & Weni who just came off the awlp eco challenge about 2 weeks ago. William & I, were just off taking some wonderful people on their outdoor weekend to FRIM a week ago. So i guess we were rather gung ho about the whole thing.

We had a good serving of yee thau mai fun before being dropped off at Moon Gate. Packed with only water and some M&M's my crew (those grinning crazy buggers on the left) and I began our trek. The weather was good and most importantly the company was good too. We didn't know the trail but we went on like we did. Only crazy people do shit like that. We asked the regular trekkers for directions as we got higher. Very helpful uncles on the trail. For them it was like kacang puteh only. We were not too bad either just not as fit as them. Weather was good. It was humid. Not too hot but still we were dehydrated about 1/3 of the way up. See what happens when you have no water...you beg for it! On your knees girl! I had to feed her thus only b'cos she didn't want to contaminate my water as she has a cold. I am not a sadist if that's what you think.

M&M's came in handy when we got drained. Gave me my much needed energy. My picnic bar was a great help too. Never trek without them. Since we were greenhorns in the area, the uncles gave us directions to follow. "Follow trek 84" he says, and we trusted our lifes to him. He wouldn't lie we reckon. Trekkers are always helpful in that way. They also give you choices...the hard way up or the harder way up.

So trek 84 we took and we being adventurous that day...took the scenic way up. Normally the scenic route for a trekker means the tougher way but always worth the trek. We have always...so far, taken the scenic route. That's why we bought them cameras right? That's why we trek right? The air got cooler and we were refreshed. We stopped almost every step to take pictures of everything. Fungi, ferns, pitcher plant, tree trunks, trees and feathers. Now this is no chicken feather i tell you. This i know. What feather it is...i don't know. You gotta ask the khua chiau people. I think it's an eagles'. Very careless bird, loosing his feather like that.

Finally we came to checkpoint 84 where there was a hut for trekkers to re-hydrate themselves. We asked the apek where best to go and he told us to follow the tar road as there are many kaos on the jungle trail so we stoopidly listened to him lor. Walking the tar road is a painful experience. I would rather have faced the kaos. Hut 84 where we listened to apek's hao siao. That's what we thought while walking the final 3km up anyway. Finally we arrived at the peak at 1333hrs.

April 29th, we peaked Bukit Bendera 720m above sea level. A wonderful way to celebrate a weekend and also to stand on top of Penang and wish... Happy Birthday Whirlwind Wendy! Lotsa love and sunshine kisses to you!