Managed to find tram no.25 after following a number of confusing road signs, and made our way to the hostel. The place was a real hostel, with bunk beds, shared shower, shared toilet, lockers and internet available for rental. Ours was a private room for 2, it's spacious and clean, with big windows. Bedsheets were provided but we needed to make our own bed. And finally I saw a square pillow, haha.. it did look abnormal, although it still served its purpose.
The weather here was much friendlier compared to London. The city's more colorful too!
We ordered 'soto ajam', 'nasi goreng speciaal' and 'es cendol'. The soto ajam was bursting with flavour, with generous portion of chicken bits and condiments. Their nasi goreng speciaal was equally satisfying, with a right doze of chilli, served with chicken satay, acar, beef rendang and kerupuk. Es cendol didn't look like es cendol to me, it lacked the coconut milk taste, but it was good as well, my only complaint was the small portion. We got 2 free slices of banana fritters, served with icing sugar, nice!
Recharged (didn't have proper lunch due to the rush in Brussels), we strolled along Vondelpark. It's a big garden with rivers, bridges, benches and greenery. Locals wandered around for jogging, cycling and other activities. My favorite part was a gazebo on a lake, surrounded by beautiful, colorful flowers... I just couldn't get enough of the sight!
Strolled along the red district as well, for curiousity sake. It's basically full of girls showing off their assets by posing behind glass doors. There were also shops and show houses, and cafes as well.
On the next day, we had breakfast at the hostel. It was served buffet style - various bread, cheese and ham. Cereal with milk, tea, coffee, juice and multivitamin which tasted weird. Some took the liberty to pack some sandwiches for their lunch. There was this one guy who took a stack of bread and ham and cheese.. I was like.. wow, how's he going to finish that at one go? But the tissue papers explained all.
Took tram no.2 until the end of its route, to visit Molen van Sloten located on the outskirts of Amsterdam. From tram station, we walked for another 15 minutes through the charming Sloten village. Its wonderful streets were filled with pretty houses decorated with small private gardens, benches and it's flowers, flowers and flowers everywhere! My favourites are the dandelions, they're found at the grass field near the tram stop.
Molen van Sloten was one of the remaining 500 operational windmills in Netherlands, of a total of 1000 mills. It was the only windmill that can be used for wedding ceremony, performed in the wedding room in its first attic. There was a wedding when we were in the midst of our tour!
An interesting note: the position of the mill's blades when it stops communicates its mood. At certain position, it means celebratory mood, and another, means sorrowful mood. During the wedding the mill was stopped at the celebratory mood position.
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Once the ceremony's over, it started spinning again. The tour guide brought us to the top attic where they had the brake to stop or start the blades. He brought us there as it was stopped due to the ceremony going on, but when we were inspecting the place, it started spinning again! There was also a mechanism to alert people when the spin is too fast. Interesting.
One day every year, they have a celebration in the mill. They allowed people to be strapped on one of the mill's blade and then spinned it! We saw a video when the attraction took place. haha.. I'd rather ride a roller coaster than being strapped into a mill!
One day every year, they have a celebration in the mill. They allowed people to be strapped on one of the mill's blade and then spinned it! We saw a video when the attraction took place. haha.. I'd rather ride a roller coaster than being strapped into a mill!
Molen van Sloten was actually used to pump water, as the city location is below sea level. Initially there were 3 mills working together to take care of the water level. Even Schipol airport was built on a lake's site, amazing! That's how Netherlands name was given, as Netherlands mean waterland. Nowadays they don't really rely on windmills anymore, they use electric pumps instead.
Molen van Sloten also housed Coopery Museum which showcases coopery crafts, handicrafts and workshop with its tools. It also had 'Rembrandt in the Attic', where an audio visual presentation was given about the life and work of Rembrandt that took place mostly in Amsterdam. It had some life-size sculptures as well, modelled after Rembrandt's paintings.
We stopped by a nearby cafe for snacks: croquette and fries, eaten while basking under Holland's sun :) Here the croquettes were unique. Aside from the standard ragout type filling, they also create other types filled with noodles or rice. The one with noodles was called 'bami', I guess that's why noodle = bakmi in Indonesian :)
I also noticed some proofs of the effect of Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia from the words displayed on some signages: kap salon, post kantoor, handoek katoen.
Molen van Sloten also housed Coopery Museum which showcases coopery crafts, handicrafts and workshop with its tools. It also had 'Rembrandt in the Attic', where an audio visual presentation was given about the life and work of Rembrandt that took place mostly in Amsterdam. It had some life-size sculptures as well, modelled after Rembrandt's paintings.
We stopped by a nearby cafe for snacks: croquette and fries, eaten while basking under Holland's sun :) Here the croquettes were unique. Aside from the standard ragout type filling, they also create other types filled with noodles or rice. The one with noodles was called 'bami', I guess that's why noodle = bakmi in Indonesian :)
I also noticed some proofs of the effect of Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia from the words displayed on some signages: kap salon, post kantoor, handoek katoen.
Next, we visited Albert Cuyp market, Dappermarkt and Waterlooplein flea market. Bought a lavender soap bar, some orange juice, liquid soap and moisturizing lip balm - it's proven to be my savior from the irritating chapped lips during the trip.
I always loved to admire the flower shops at those market, they're all so pretty! They also sell cheese in bulk, so bulky it didn't look like cheese anymore. Bought some tasty roasted macadamia nuts too..
Amsterdam was a nice city with pretty buildings and scenic canals. Traffic was a bit messy, though, with a lot of bicycles and trams fighting for ways with pedestrians. But the atmosphere was a bit relaxed so it's not that big of a problem. Generally they gave ways to others.
Three words for Amsterdam: scenic, lively, tasty (I mean the food)
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