Netherlands, Amsterdam...

Over the last five days, I went on tour with my orchestra to Netherlands. We traveled by coach from Newcastle to Amsterdam via ferry. The ferry turned out to be a great ride, they had loads of activities on board to help pass the time and because I was with loads of friends (essentially), there was never a dull moment on board. 

We listened to a whale talk and went out on the observation deck to watch for whales. The lady told us that just two nights before it was a feeding frenzy out there and she saw whales, and dolphins and birds feeding all at once. We were so incredibly hopeful, but freezing down to our bones. So after a few hours, we decided to head back in to regain some warmth before resuming the watch. Typically, the whales decided to make an appearance while we were inside and refused to come out when we went out again. But at least the skies were beautiful coloured with different shades of pastels that I have never noticed in skies before.

The ferry we took was DFDS Seaways and it was surprisingly comfortable. I had a wonderful sleep and the swaying of the ferry from side to side possibly made me feel like a baby being rocked into slumber. It was good.

We arrived in Amsterdam at 9.30am and explored the city. I was not sure what I was expecting but I was surprised with what I saw. Amsterdam is such a lovely trendy city I felt like I stepped into hipsterville. The cafes and salons were all designed down to the T, even the bookshops were stylish. There were graffiti on walls but they added personality instead of causing vandalism. I loved it. 

Even the supermarket is hip

We had a picnic at Vondelpark with food from the Albert Heijn Supermarket where my friends insisted that I tried Stroopwaffles. I was not disappointed, at all. It was a lovely day to just sit and observe and soak in the sun. Between food, we also visited the Anne Frank House which was enlightening and emotional at the same time. I bought myself a postcard with a picture of Otto Frank on it looking morosely at the emptiness of the house years after he returns. I don't know why but I just needed it (perhaps I shall scan it on sometime later). The last picture is an Argentinian eatery where my friends and I ended our Amsterdam journey desperate for food and warmth. There, I accidentally ate two portions of ribs and only paid for one. Its technical, but I swear I did not mean it. They had such cool decorations such as different currency stuck onto their walls. I really wanted to put mine on but all I had were Euro notes and I am sure that Euros are not exotic in the Netherlands. So I just looked and admire instead.

Of course as part of the trip, the Red Light District had to turn up. However, whether you believe it or not, we sort of wandered into the area without knowing we did. Next thing we knew, there were women standing behind glass doors looking out to potential customers. I'm not sure what to think about it, I was raised in a very conservative environment and to see these practices so out in the open stirred unfamiliarity within me. I just didn't and still don't know what to think about it.

I love Amsterdam. Many times I wished I knew how to speak Dutch so I could live there for some time in the future. It is such a lovely city, the type that you could walk around alone and get lost in its beauty and soak in its personality. I don't think its possible to get bored in such a city. I feel like in a way Amsterdam has been overshadowed by weed and Red Light District. I mean it in a way that Amsterdam has so much more to offer that what its most famous for. It has food, culture, art, and the sun. Yes, the sun. Although it may have been good fortune that the time we had there coincided with perfect weather. 

I definitely hope Amsterdam and I will cross paths again in the future. I certainly would love to have a more in depth exploration of it and perhaps even watch something in their famous concert hall. I may even try something more courageous (you know what I mean), but I know I will only dare to do so with my close friends. But then again, who's to know what happens? Life is temperamental and takes its own twists and turns as it likes. So we shall see, maybe I will never again set foot in Amsterdam. But I certainly hope that will not be the case.