Amsterdaam!

People's reactions to Amsterdam vary. Some people (like me and some of my friends) love it, others (like my mom) absolutely hate it. It is a place where bicycles replace cars,

and where they like to use 2 As instead of 1 ('a' instead of 'aa'):


Of course, Amsterdam is most notorius for its 'coffee shops,' which legally sell soft drugs (you can smell Marijuana everywhere, and I mean everywhere), and its red light area, where things are, to put it simply, shocking:


I spent 5 mins explaining to Mav what "Bondage," "SM," and "Animal" meant. If you don't know what these things mean, don't look them up - I don't want to pollute your mind (I already polluted Mav's by explaining). In fact, they invented the term "red light area." A red light at a window meant that you can get girls there:



The curtains are down on this one, meaning the girls are "busy," hehehe.

It really is a modern version of those 2 biblical cities, Sodom and Gomorra.

If you're an upright, religious guy (like I am hehehe), how can you possibly like this place? Well, I personally think it is unfair to judge Amsterdam based on drugs and sleazy red light bars alone. It would be like judging my hometown, Angeles City, based on our infamous red light area - Field's Ave.

The city is amazingly beautiful. We took a canal cruise (I know - its touristy, but what the heck - it's Valentines), and I was absolutely blown away. Here are some pictures:

View from the boat

Seven Bridges

Houseboats along the Canals
More canal pictures

Dutch people are also very warm and friendly. The food, though, is nothing to get excited about. The best Dutch food I had were the Von Dobben Croquets at Cafe Amsterdam in the Schipol Airport (no Visa needed - its in the non-Schengen section of the Airport). Dutch cheese, of course, is amazing, and is exempted from this observation.

If you have a couple of hours to kill in the Schiphol Airport, I suggest that you take the train to Amsterdam Centraal and have a look around the city. The canal cruise takes only 1 hour - and it is the best (and fastest) way to see the city. There are also free walking tours, operated by English speaking locals who rely on tips - these start at 11am and 3pm daily, the meeting point is right outside the train station. Skip those city tours they are selling from the airport - there are cheaper and better options.

Just remember, in this city, when the sign says "No Smoking," they are not usually talking about cigarettes.