Amsterdam Day1
I am really excited to be here in Amsterdam. After a long 13 hour flight, I finally reached Holland to meet Chee Su and Christina at the airport. The 4 of us including Choon Ean had a brief coffee moment together for me to get to know them a little better. Then we parted ways, with me lugging my heavy backpack into the train station away from Schiphol towards Amsterdam. I think I’m getting a bit too old to lug heavy backpacks on my back.
For 2 days, I’ll be in Amsterdam on my own. This is my first overseas trip traveling solo as a female traveller. It felt pretty intimidating at first, I didn’t really want to move beyond the walls of my comfortable hostel - The Shelter. But after I started walking around, I became mesmerized by this fascinating city. A lot of people say that it is pretty safe in Amsterdam. Well, the hostel I am in is practically behind the Red Light District. Since I didn’t really want to be wandering the streets at night on my own, it felt pretty alright in terms of safety wise.
Having said that, 2 guys tried to pick me up today. One while I was accessing free wifi at the Coffee Company, and another more blatant one at the supermarket. “Hi, I just want to say hi since I see such a pretty girl walking around…I won’t bite” Geez.
Amsterdam is filled with bicycles. There were more tourists on bicycles than locals in cars driving around. I am thinking of renting a bicycle of my own tomorrow to get to the further sights of Amsterdam and also to Vondelpark.
I spent about 7 hours walking the streets from sight to sight. The first stop I made was the Waterlooplein market. You can buy almost anything from this market, from food to Reggae style clothing… to naked Barbie dolls…
I don’t know why they don’t come with clothes. Must be the influence of the red light district. Other items are stress balls… yeah give me one of those to cure the financial crisis! Anyone want to order one?
Face mask, anyone?
And also, the Chuppa Chups version of Cannabis.
Well just in case you’re wondering, I saved my money and didn’t get high on anything. It’s been a long day. Fighting jet lag now. Hopefully can update more tomorrow.
hey nice to meet you today… nice amsterdam photos… did you try the spacecakes there?
Bella Grace!
Beautiful…inspiring and honest! I loved taking part in your journey and to know someone else who is going through the travelling by themself experience is comforting..I also felt like I wanted to stay inside the walls of the familiar Firenze apartment I was staying in, but its amazing when you branch out and the strength you find inside!
Keep sharing! x
reminds me of my amsterdam trip last year, it was really a nice one! the cruise, the clog factory, windmill….oh my!!lovely…not to mention our trip to redlight district, eye opening!!
Very inspiring blog Alex/Grace, I’m lucky I stumble across this one while twitter stalking, I’m adding this to my feed.
Oh and by the way, I didn’t know you were in shangri-la until I saw those marijuana sticks :).
I particularly like that piece and the one with a bike and graffiti setting, very photoshopped looking, -> my thang. Keep it up!
Gorgeous pics, Grace! Will pray for your safety. Should carry along some pepper spray. Heheh… Or maybe your heavy duty cams are enough to shoo them away!