Hope the blue arrows are visible, but the route is basically it, with a strong base in Brussels
Solo trips are not easy, yet they are also enjoyable in their own way. Previously wrote up an entry on this over here
And so after a rushed exam and packing, caught my flight out from East Midlands Airport to Amsterdam Schipol Airport, which I must say is rather neat and huge too, with a plaza complex for shopping. The complex is also linked to the railways, where I easily caught a train into Amsterdam Central station for 3.80 euros in 20 min. Tip: It's cheaper to buy from the self-ticketing machines than from the counters. Counter ppl are only good for asking for directions! But at least the Dutch are not too bad with their English :p
And so after a rushed exam and packing, caught my flight out from East Midlands Airport to Amsterdam Schipol Airport, which I must say is rather neat and huge too, with a plaza complex for shopping. The complex is also linked to the railways, where I easily caught a train into Amsterdam Central station for 3.80 euros in 20 min. Tip: It's cheaper to buy from the self-ticketing machines than from the counters. Counter ppl are only good for asking for directions! But at least the Dutch are not too bad with their English :p
A metro trip down to my hostel, Stayokay Amsterdam Stadsdoelen. In Europe, although there is a tendency to siam paying for metro or subway tickets cos there's nobody checking, but over here in Amsterdam, security's pretty tight. There's always a ticketmaster at each gantry entrance. Oh well...
The Metro train
And this is where I hor lan a bit...thanks to the instructions on Hostelworld which supposedly says "Take the metro from the station. Get off at the Nieuwmarkt stop and take the Nieuwe Hoogstraat exit. Head left and at the first side street take another left. Go 200m and the hostel is on your left." Should sound simple right? But unfortunately due to the number of lefts lefts lefts, ended up staring right into a canal....in a back alley. Moral of the story? Print a map and mark out your hostel location next time!!! No joke lugging stuff around tryng to figure out where to go, not when it's getting dark soon too..
Stayok!! Finally managed to reach after a bit of walking around. Hostel has pretty good security with lockers and all...only prob...absolutely no power point in the rooms at all, so anything that has to be charged has to be handed to the staff. Security taken a bit far...not so ok...
The neighbourhood about my hostel, Kloveniersburgwal. Sights of canals, bicycles and a very laid-back attitude. A bit like Venice with the canals, but also not totally it, because of the bicycles (there's even a separate lane for bicycles which makes me vote the Netherlands the most bike-friendly place after Germany), the wider canals, the roads with vehicles and of course the houses and architecture (most notably the merchant houses). All these that gives Amsterdam its own flavour.
Just chilling...
Met a very nice old Dutch couple who helped me take this photo
Walked southwards to the Muntplein with the sight of the Munttoren (Mint Tower)
A tranquil residential district. Note the houses, doors and windows.
Arrived at Rembrandt Plein with a bit of statues, and history
The 22 bronze figures here represent the figures from one of Holland's famous painters, Rembrandt, in his painting the Night Watch.
Before and after photos...boards like these are placed around Amsterdam to show the Nazi occupation, and comparing the scene of yesteryear and today.
Other interesting sights of Rembrandt Plein, which is also a gr8 place for outdoor eating terraces
...and the first symbol of XXX!
Coffeeshops here don't mean like that in Singapore....Amsterdam's the weed capital...go figure...
And of course....more XXX
The Nieuwemarkt, a very huge open area with this prominent building De Waag, originally a gate in the Medieval city walls but now a restaurant
The square also used to be a collection point for Jews to be sent off to the concentration camps during the Nazi occupation
More XXX...
...coming from a mere bench. Lol
Damrak, a very choked canal with lots of boats. This area is also like the main street for people leaving the Central Station and into the heart of Amsterdam
The XXX flag
Stopped for fries, hmm....voted Holland's No.1 popular fries! Popular joint. For the record, Manneken Pis is a symbol of Belgium and not of Holland, and Belgium fries / frites are one of the food to try...but the Americans and McDonalds murdered fries anw so it won't seem special to most of us globalised folk....oh well..
Huge, juicy and loads of mayonaise is all I can say!
After the snack, time to move into one of the biggest draws of Amsterdam, the Red Light District (RLD). Very narrow streets in what is known as De Wallens district. It's really crazy to see sex shops after sex shops and coffeeshops and eateries lined up around this area.
Just chilling...
Met a very nice old Dutch couple who helped me take this photo
Walked southwards to the Muntplein with the sight of the Munttoren (Mint Tower)
A tranquil residential district. Note the houses, doors and windows.
Arrived at Rembrandt Plein with a bit of statues, and history
The 22 bronze figures here represent the figures from one of Holland's famous painters, Rembrandt, in his painting the Night Watch.
Before and after photos...boards like these are placed around Amsterdam to show the Nazi occupation, and comparing the scene of yesteryear and today.
Other interesting sights of Rembrandt Plein, which is also a gr8 place for outdoor eating terraces
...and the first symbol of XXX!
Coffeeshops here don't mean like that in Singapore....Amsterdam's the weed capital...go figure...
And of course....more XXX
The Nieuwemarkt, a very huge open area with this prominent building De Waag, originally a gate in the Medieval city walls but now a restaurant
The square also used to be a collection point for Jews to be sent off to the concentration camps during the Nazi occupation
More XXX...
...coming from a mere bench. Lol
Damrak, a very choked canal with lots of boats. This area is also like the main street for people leaving the Central Station and into the heart of Amsterdam
The XXX flag
Stopped for fries, hmm....voted Holland's No.1 popular fries! Popular joint. For the record, Manneken Pis is a symbol of Belgium and not of Holland, and Belgium fries / frites are one of the food to try...but the Americans and McDonalds murdered fries anw so it won't seem special to most of us globalised folk....oh well..
Huge, juicy and loads of mayonaise is all I can say!
After the snack, time to move into one of the biggest draws of Amsterdam, the Red Light District (RLD). Very narrow streets in what is known as De Wallens district. It's really crazy to see sex shops after sex shops and coffeeshops and eateries lined up around this area.
As it was crowded and was a mess of alleyways and narrow streets, I followed this huge group of tourists with a guide closely behind to the RLD. Hey free guide to take me around and everybody here all headed to the RLD. Sure won't get lost so why not? :p An incredibly happening place come night fall.
The main Casa Rosso area, the largest sex club operating in the area where there are live performances of sex shows. And of course the famous neon-lighted windows or kamers where prostitutes ply their trade openly and legally.
Main thoughts: first of all, not alot of pictures taken because it's a strict no-no over here in the RLD. And especially that of taking photos of the prostitutes in the windows. Do heed this advice carefully, cos there's really a huge security presence, and I don't mean just cops, but also big burly men / bouncers / security hired by the clubs that will not hesitate to toss your camera right into the canal, maybe even you. And as a solo male traveller, I thought it wise to play safe instead.
Secondly, it's incredibly different to see prostitutes plying their trade so openly behind their windows, and as what our guide describes: window shopping. The girls are honestly of all shapes and sizes and colour, but there are mostly some, as what my friend would love to put it, VS (Victoria's Secret) model standards. Quoting from our guide's exact words: "Your prick of desire will cost you 50 euros for 20min. Negotiable."
As I walked with the group and of course taking all the sights in with an open mind (it's Amsterdam and it's a place of tolerance and liberal minds!), couldn't help but notice the reactions of all the tourists or everyone who's in the RLD. Basically, you get giggling groups of travellers / backpackers in front of some sex shop, couples who stroll together yet take the time to stare at the girls behind the windows (dun think the guy can auto-roam his eyes too much though with the gf around...hahaha), old aunties and uncles in large tour groups who gawk and stare at the girls and make loud comments and of course groups of horny men checking out the gals and erm scratching their crotches.
Secondly, it's incredibly different to see prostitutes plying their trade so openly behind their windows, and as what our guide describes: window shopping. The girls are honestly of all shapes and sizes and colour, but there are mostly some, as what my friend would love to put it, VS (Victoria's Secret) model standards. Quoting from our guide's exact words: "Your prick of desire will cost you 50 euros for 20min. Negotiable."
As I walked with the group and of course taking all the sights in with an open mind (it's Amsterdam and it's a place of tolerance and liberal minds!), couldn't help but notice the reactions of all the tourists or everyone who's in the RLD. Basically, you get giggling groups of travellers / backpackers in front of some sex shop, couples who stroll together yet take the time to stare at the girls behind the windows (dun think the guy can auto-roam his eyes too much though with the gf around...hahaha), old aunties and uncles in large tour groups who gawk and stare at the girls and make loud comments and of course groups of horny men checking out the gals and erm scratching their crotches.
If you readers are interested in knowing what the RLD is like...here it is...a video taken. Viewer's discretion :p
After the whirlwind of XXX in the RLD, left to find a bit of peace and tranquility and to take some night shots at the Magere Brug, also known as the "Skinny Bridge" running over the River Amstel.
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