Honeymoon in Europe : Day 3

Route : Amsterdam !!!

Today we are still in Amsterdam, sunny and cheery Amsterdam.

After a good night of sleep, both of us were very much energetic and actually woke up much early than expected. Breakfast was considered sumptous. There's warm and cold food. Lots of hams and bacons, favourites of Alvin. As for me, a cup of nice, hot coffee is much appreciated and a plate of warm food to 'wake' my stomach up. Then, it's my favourite cereal with yoghurt.

As it was still early before the fall in time for the tour, we decided to walk around the surrounding when out hotel is situated. We came to a square and saw many statues. After peering into the map, so did we realised we were at Rembrandt Square. Rembrandt is a very famous Dutch painter in the 17th century. Rembrandt was able to paint landscape in natural drama and painting with shades of the same colour yet bringing out the perspective, etc.

As for the rest of the statues or what this square signify, I really don't know.

After joining the group, we embarked on a half day tour. First, a visit to a diamond factory. We took a little tour in this room with the technicians were grinding the diamond to show the cuts. The more the cuts or the more light can pass through the diamond, the more expensive it will be. It was a short stay as none of us were interested to buy any diamonds.

Next stop is like a little farmhouse located outisde Amsterdam, on the way to Volendam. We were waiting outside the house as there was a group in the house before us.


The first demonstration is cheese making. There is girl who will narrate to us how cheese is made while the man diligently scooped the cheese into the bowls or it to harden and curd.


After the cheese demonstration, we were showed to go through a little door and was stunned to be greeted by rows and rows of clogs surrounding us, left, right and on top of our head too.

Then, this man came along and demonstrates to us how a clog is made. He sliced and hand-drilled, not forgetting to add tits of jokes while he transforms the piece of wood to a clog.

After some souvenir shopping at the little farmhouse, we continued our journey to Volendam and came across a windmill. We stopped for some photo taking while grey clouds looms heavily above our heads.


Another 15 mins drive brought us into a little fishing village called Volendam. It used to be a little town surrounding the harbour but after reclamation, it came a huge lake. You can see many people sit by the lake to relax.


We got into Amsterdam and we are free to explore the city on our own. We decided to walk around the city, admire the Dutch houses and canal, while finding out where are the shopping area.

We came by a small market area which is called the Flower Market. It was lined along a cnal and it was not big. 5 mins is enough for you to stroll the market up and down. These are the bulbs of tulips, lilies and other flowers where you can buy them home and grow the flowers yourself.

And soon, while strolling along the canal, reading the city map and figuring the Dutch street name, we reached the shopping district. It is actually only 10mins away from our hotel. But we anyhow walked around the city and we thought it was far, far away from the hotel !

Dutch are naturally friendly and you will be surprised to learn that they can speak English very well. We did some goggling at the men as well as women and find quite a lot of handsome lot but unfortunately, we suspect they are not straight.

Anyway, we shopped inthese 2 popular district, Leisestraat and Kalverstraat. Soon, we found ourselves landed onto the Dam Square where the Royal Palace is situated.

By then, we were too tired and had to returned to hotel to have a little rest before joining the group for our optional dinner & red light district walkaout excursion. On the way back to hotel, I was caught by surprise by this little building. It is actually a movie theatre. It was the Fantastic 4 movie banner hung outside the building that gave it away. After a closer inspection, it was confirmed a movie theatre.

The dinner was early and starts at 6.30pm. The sun was still hanging high up in the sky and we are still trying adapt that it is for dinner and not lunch. I tried a typical Dutch cuisine and it tasted good. After dinner, we had a stroll around the famous red light district. Our guide brought us around seeing women donning bikini and standing in ,fish-tank' like room waiting for their customers. These rooms lined the streets and we were told many of them are actually non locals. Nothing amazing initially and I thought I was disappointed until our guide led us into this tiny lane where ar any 1 time, only 1 person can walk through the lane.... As you entered the lane, 'fish tanks' lined on both sides of the lanes with almost perfect bodies, barbie doll look women standing by the glass full length windows and/or door. They just look so Ms Universe and if you see them on the street, it will never occur to you of the profession that they are holding. According to our guide, this is a respected profession in Holland and the girls are well protected. They pay taxes, are protected by social rights, receive monthly health checks, etc.

There are actually a lot of other things to do in Amsterdam. I wanted to visit the Heinekien Musuem but unfortunately it was closed on Monday. I also wanted to visit this meusuem which showcase bags and purses but we had no enough time. There is a whole district where fashon musuem is located, much to my delight.

Both of us liked Amsterdam and we fell in love with this city just minutes when it began to unfold in front of us. I loved their house so much that Alvin suggested if I had loads of money in the future, I should just buy a piece of land in Sinagpore and build my little dream house. And be the envy of the neighbours.

Ha ! That's a good suggestion to dream on definitely !