~Aaron~

Day 1
Flight from London to Eidhoven (and then a bus to Amsterdam) was rather adventerous…. my flight was at 7am so I had to leave home to take the bus around 3 am, alone (I was travelling on my own for this trip)!!!! Immediately after I settled down at my accommodation, a hostel (and met my dormmates form England and Italy), I did the normal thing that I like to do in London - random walking! I deliberately got myself lost in Amsterdam to explore the city centre, and of with the aid of maps.

Amsterdam is really a cute city- so many canals in the city and all the buildings are closed-knitted - the sense of community is kinda strong. This city has great views…and it’s very, serene.
One thing that I couldn’t help but to discover is the ubiquity of bicycles in Amsterdam.

Think this is bizarre? Then look at this following pic

They even
have a parking space for bicycles!

Little I realised my hostel is just around the corner of the infamous Red Light District. Hehe. Girls, both young and old, exhibiting (yeah, exhibiting!) and selling themselves behind glass windows.

As much as prostution is legal here, it seems that (certain) drugs are too. The one that seemed to be the favourite is called ’sendi seeds’ (because I just somehow constantly see shops selling them). Coccaine is somewhat in trend too , although illegal (several people dicreetly and secretly aske me if I want some).

Day 2
Today I took a day tour trip to Belgium, namely region of Anthwerp and Brussels (capital city). Nothing much to comment on the former. But as for Brussels, here it goes. Has two distinct areas: the uptown (for residential purpose) and downtown (commercial). The uptown being dodgy; but dowtown is great! Compared to Central London, the city centre of Brussles is more spacious!

I was lucky as there was a festival happening that time at the Central Market Square. Exciting! Loud music and massive dances over the square!

Besides that, I also have a look at the ‘pissing prince’ around the corner.Heh, become famous for pissing - how about that?

And my visit to Belgium will not be without eating Belgian waffles!!!!!!!!!YUMMMMMMMMN!            

Next I want to go again. Day trip not sufficient.
I returned to Amsterdam at about 5pm and reach at 8pm. I walked randomly again (and this time I reeeeally got lost)..and luckily again I had map to get back to hostel.

When I got back to hostel, I learnt that the English lads I met last night had left, and I made new friends with these guys from Spain. It was a very moment when we tried to communicate because they coud barely speak English and I do not know Spanish! Someone rather, we manage to have a …. conversation. After that, I chat with my Italian friend. Wah, this guy is no ordinary guy, man! He’s a professional concert pianist! He had been to several countries in europe to perform and he’s paid extremely well! And naturally, having very rare golden opportunity as this, I told him to give a VVIP treatment when I see his concerts.Hehe

Day 3
Today, I took another tour and this it was to a tour around Holland (although in reality, there’s no such thing as ‘around’). The morning part was to visit the countryside areas in Holland, namely Volendam and Marken. OH MY GOODNESS, I looooooooooooooooooooooove the scenery!

I visited a cheese farm where chesese is made the traditional way. Then see windmills, and also wooden shoes being made.

When I visited Volendam, I met a South Korean and a Japanese. Wahh, so nice, because the South korean belanja me makan (17euro lunch!). We exchanged contacts and hopefully I would met them again in the future

Later of the day after I visited Delft (area where pottery stuff is made), I went to The Hague. And as for my last visit was Madurodam, whe you could see mini-replica of all Holand major cities.

I reached home at 6.40pm and thought it’s gonna be a boring night. My Italian friend has left. But not my Spanish friends! =) Yes, we still had trouble comprehending each other, but a few more Spanish friends(girls) that could speak basic English, made the conversation more bearable. I still enjoyed myself that night very much though. I learnt a bit of Spanish from these very friendly people ( they constantly offered me food although I was already full. I had to resist quite a lot of times after courteously accepted the first few offers). We sang songs and had some good laughs. The atmosphere was fantastic that evening!

And now, I really feel like taking up Spanish language lessons!

Day 4 and 5
I took a city tour and also a canal cruise tour. The highlight was probabbly visiting a diamond-polishing factory.
Then I returned home. My spanish friends have left….and this time it’s really boring. I didn’t make any new friends.
Didn’t do anything significant already after the city tour. Random walked, still. Browsing the shopping malls, but hm…it’s just okay, I guess. Couldn’t be bothered to go museums (not interested in Art Museums), and not even Sex museum.Hehe

I left for Dublin on day 5 . Stayed with Kamal. There, I learnt how to play "Risk". Addicted already!

Day 6 and 7
Went to Galway. Disspointment- it rained when I arrived, and when I left, it still did! Kecewa because I didn’t get to see Cliff of Moher. Looks like I just have to go there again. But, I met Qama (but not Rina), my KMB exclassmate there.

Day 8
Today I went to Belfast myself to meet Izy, another exclassmate. Jalan2 with her. Teman her shopping. And again, disspointed I didn’t get to go Giant Causeway (too far away from the City). Well, I’ll come again.

I returned to Dublin, and it was already dark. I took bus 19 to go to Kamal’s house…. but I took the wrong way! Luckily the worst case scenario (kredit habis, bateri phone habis,malam, middle of nowhere,bitchy busdrivers) didn’t happen. Luckily the bus driver was really kind; he was suppose to go somewhere else after reaching the final stop, but he instead took me back to the city centre,and it’s free! Then Kamal met me at City centre and brought me home.Heh, so much for being adventurous!

Day 9
Met Sarah for breakfast (alas,after all this while, we managed to have our ‘coffee-chat!’) and home to London.