Amsterdam Trip - Part 1

I am back. Touched down during the wee hours in the morning and hubby was there to pick me. Thank you, I know it's not easy for you to wake up so early in the morning by your own.

Holland? Netherlands?

What is the difference? There is often confusion about the name Holland. Some people call the Netherlands Holland, but it is not the same. Holland is only a small part of the Netherlands.

Arrived in Amsterdam early in the morning and we headed straight for the hotel and managed to get an early check-in for one of the rooms, so we dumped our lugguages in the room and proceeded to breakfast and a half day city tour.

First stop was of course to a wooden shoe workshop. These wooden shoes were worn by the Dutch a long time ago especially by the fishermen and farmers. These wooden shoes were water proof and thus kept their feet warm and dry.

Next up, windmills. Another must see in Holland.




Ahhh.... the famous flowers of Holland. I tell you, Holland doesn't just have beautiful tulips, they have all sorts of beautiful flowers EVERYWHERE!!! Outside shops, outside houses, inside houses and even outside toilets lor. The colours are so vibrant and just seeing these flowers will lift your mood immediately.

Next we visited a cheese farm. Cheese is a huge part of the Dutch diet. I have had so much more cheese, ham, more cheese and more ham in the past few days than I usually would in a year!! But the cheese there is delicicious, I love it!!

After the cheese farm, we visited the worldfamous fishing villages of Volendam and Marken on the borders of the former Zuiderzee - with it's wooden houses.

The people living here used to make a living out of fishing. But due to the risk of floods, a dike (or dam) was built and thus a lake was formed instead. Because of this, the fishermen couldn't continue to fish and now mostly rely on tourism for their source of income.

Time for lunch. I had fish & (alot of) chips at one of the small eateries at the fishing village. One of the best fish & chips I ever had. Yummy!!




After lumch, we took a boat across the lake and the picture show a little harbour where the poeple have their boats and yachts parked there. Just right infront of their houses. It was awesome, the view and the whole countryside together with the water, absolutely breathtaking. The pictures are not doing justice to what I actually saw.

Greetings From Amsterdam!!!

Hey guys!!!

The flight here was LONG. Couldn't really sleep on the plane and almost finished all the shows I wanna watch on the way here. What am I gonna do on the way back?!?!?

Anyway, Holland is awesome. It's cold but I am well covered so no worries. The place is beautiful and the people are warm and friendly. Time difference sucks, it's just 7.49am here now.

Will take loads of pictures to share with you all when I am back on Friday. Till then. Love ya!!

Flying........ Flying

Am flying off to Amsterdam tonight, back on Friday. Will be missing all of you guys!! Going to Causeway Point later to grab lip balm and bring the kids for lunch.

Pictures.............

Yong Ye ferrying his sister on his ride.

Taken on Sunday at Marina Square while waiting for daddy to get Killiney roti for them. Oh, I am going to miss the kids while I am away.

Day 10

Yes, today marks day ten of me being smoke free.

I made a promise to myself and declared to all my friends that I am gonna quit smoking starting from the day after I turn 27. And I have not had a single puff since 10 days ago.

Not easy at all, especially in the morning and after every meal. But I am sure I can do it. I look forward to the day when I get to tick non-smoker when I am filling up health forms in the spas. Hee hee.

Oh and I just found out that my mama reads my blog. I am so freaked out.

Results

Yun Yi got her report book back today. Excellent results once again and she came in 5th in class. But she's so sad. Not in the top 3 position = no puppy.

Anyway, my promise to her is based on her final year result, so she still has a good chance. Work hard my girl, we are so proud of you!!!

First Time

First time to Dempsey Hill on Saturday. Been wanting to go since the place started to be happening. Finally went there with hubby, Lena, Kerry, Joyce and Anthony for Ben & Jerry's!!!

The brownie with ice cream was GOOD. Company was great and we had fun just hanging out and talking.

Next we went bowling!!! First time I am going bowling with hubby, so exciting. Enjoyed ourselves so much, we went again on Monday. Hahaha.......

Finally after bowling, went to Jln Kayu for prata!!! Yes, another first time to that place with hubby. Been bugging him to go since years ago but we somehow never had the chance to go there for supper.

Birthday Celebrations Pictures

Having fun @ dbl O on Friday.

Chalet @ East Coast on Saturday........................






Ok, there were alot more pictures, but not very nice lah. Hahaha....... Anyway, one group shot was enough to capture all of us. These are the best mates I could ever have, love ya all!!!

Happy 8th Birthday

Happy 8th birthday to you my little girl.

May you stay pretty and happy always. Love you.

Happy 27th Birthday To Me

I turn 27 today. Depressed.

Yes, I am slowly approaching the big 30. But I still have a few more years to go, so stop reminding me.

It was a flurry of activities since Friday and I was drunk/high half the time over the weekend. Went for drinks with my buddies and I was gone in 2 hours. Trust me, I am a pretty good female drinker, but we had 9 jugs of different concoctions from gin tonic to vodka lime to whisky dry to "I am not sure what else liao" between the 3 of us. Throw in a shot of sex on the beach and a jug of beer, I was the toilet bowls' best friend soon after.

Had a celebration for Yun Yi and my birthday with all of my great friends at East Coast chalet. Yun Yi was really happy, she got so many pressies. I haven't even gotten over my hangover from Friday and I was drinking again. But just a little high, not drunk, which was good!

Thank you all for the presents, wishes, SMS, company and friendship. We both love all the pressies we received, like I said, it's the thought that counts. It was great just getting hanging out together.

Photos to follow soon once I get the others from Joy Joy's camera. Send the pictures to me babe.

So Good To Be Home

Yes, I am finally home.

There was a flood along the main road to the airport, so no choice had to take an alternative route which was really narrow and off the main road. Traffic was bad and the whole journey took us 3.5 hours. And yes, we missed our flight, so no choice we had to take the next flight back.

See the picture above? It was taken from my hotel room and those long train of lights you see are those of cars stuck in the traffic jam. Yes, I have experienced first hand the infamous traffic jam in Jakarta. Morning, afternoon, evening and night all the same.

No I did not take a ship to Jakarta. This was the ship I went on Sunday. First time and it was just for the experience. Fun and stakes lower too. Better than taking the coach to Genting.

Greetings From Jakarta

Finally back in the hotel room for some well needed rest. I am so worn out from all that travelling since Monday. Who said travelling for work was fun?

Miss the kids, miss hubby and miss MJ.

And my damn hotel toilet bowl in choked. Thank god I am leaving for home tomorrow.

Etc.

Went KTV yesterday to celebrate Joyce's birthday and we had a great time. Managed to meet up with a friend whom I haven't met in almost 15 years!! OMG. Cannot believe it's been so long already. Will post pictures as soon as I get it.

Going somewhere interesting today!! So exciting. Will see if I can take any pictures to share.

Flying off to Jakarta tomorrow morning for work. Will be back on Thursday afternoon and just in time for me to prepare for Saturday's birthday celebration!! It will be the first time I am celebrating Yun Yi's birthday together with mine. It would be awesome for her. Have already told all my friends that no present for me never mind, MUST have present for my little girl. You know how kids like presents all wrapped up, the excitement and happiness. And no, ang pao and vouchers don't qualify as presents.

I Don't Get It

I have been grappling with the issue of how we should spend time with people who matter to us the past few days.

The fact is not all of us enjoy spending time doing some things as much as others. Would this translate to us only spending time with our friends, family and loved ones only when we're doing something which we all/both enjoy?

Sometimes, it is essential to a relationship (whatever kind) that we actually make an effort or exception to spend time with the other person doing something they like instead of just what you like. I am not saying all the time, but sometimes.

While your friend, boyfriend or partner is spending time shopping with you, he or she may not be actually enjoying it that much. But when the other person wants to watch soccer or F1 or even go to the beach, you just turn them down flatly saying "I don't like it, you go ahead."

Spending time doing stuff together which only we enjoy makes us feel that the other person is actually interested in what we like and enjoy. And not forever only about you and what you like. Give and take sometimes and not just take all the time. On the same note, while you're at it, please let go and try to have fun and not be resentful about it and make it known by showing a black face all the time.