Rotterdam, Netherlands

Mum had an early train back to the UK so we woke up early the next day so Papa Jack can show her around Rotterdam. Jack lives 5 stops from Rotterdam Centraal. Rotterdam is kinda like the Canary Wharf of London. It is the Commercial and Port District of Netherlands.

1.  Het Haven Museum 

2.  Rubik Houses.  People actually lived in these houses and is more expensive than the usual flat.  I wonder how it is living in there.  Fantastic architecture!

3.  Rotterdam Bridge.

This statue is officially called the "butt plug".  I know cause I saw it on the paper the next day.  :P

If you wanna go to Rotterdam, please go to this website - http://en.rotterdam.info/visitors/

Den Haag, Scheveningen, Delft

 In Netherlands and Belgium, you can exit a train station without the actual exit barrier unlike here in the UK. So you can hop in and hop off the trains until you reach your final destination. This results to unplanned stops on me and my sister's part. We already paid for the tickets, might as well use it while we still have time to explore. :P

Disclaimer:  I don't know if this is legal.  We hopped in and hopped off without thinking.

DEN HAAG/ The HAGUE

 Javier Marin Sculpture.

Peace Palace

If you want to visit Den Haag, please go to this website - http://en.denhaag.nl/en.htm

 SCHEVENINGEN

Scheveningen is one of the most famous beaches and tourist destination in Netherlands.  There are so much to do in there from bungee jumping, water sports, swimming, dining alfresco, relaxing, shopping.  They have nudist beach at the end of the beach too.  :P  I've never seen anything like it on my European trip.  The shore is super long and the sand is very fine.

 AMAZING seashore!  It is this wide!

Dining alfresco.  At night time, this doubles as clubs and bars.

DELFT

I had an impression that most Unis are in Delft.  I haven't seen so much young  dutch people until I got here.  The canals are so pretty.  It feels like a small Amsterdam.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

 There are two ways to see Amsterdam, one is by cycling

 Although they have bike ways, you can bike everywhere. Biking is difficult though. You have to be aware of the pedestrians, trams and the deadly motorbikes. Oh btw, in Holland, they use foot brakes instead of the usual hand brakes. I learn to use foot brakes. I almost had few biking collisions throughout the 3 hour bike tour.

This is the bicycle parking.  It's massive I tell you.  This was only taken from the outside.

and the other one by boat

 We can't choose so we ended up doing both.  You'll see a different place when you travel by boat.  This is quite popular and finding a tour isn't difficult.  Boat tours are available from across the Amsterdam Train station.

Yup, they actually sell this on the street.  Only in Amsterdam!

That's my sister eating Haring(Herring in English). It is one of Holland's famous food. You have to eat it raw with oninons. It is surprisingly sweet. My sister who isn't as adventurous as me finished her and some of mine. 

I love the roofs!!!

Did you notice the hooks? In Netherlands, they have a very narrow and stiff stairs so they use pulley to bring the furnitures up. That explains the big windows as well.

In Amsterdam, you'll see loads of tilted houses. On the boat ride, we were told that they had 8,000 houses to preserve. It is expensive to maintain old houses but the government shoulders the maintenance. I love the Amsterdam fascades, I love the fact that they are of the same colour and height.

The city got so much surprises, from fantastic fascade to hot blue eyed blonde girls in their bikes to sex shops and coffee shops. I didn't go to the coffeeshops btw. Who would dare to go if you are with your mum? I don't wanna be homeless.  On that day, I also learn how much influence Indonesians got from Dutch. Words like Tante, Om and Tas are dutch. I also saw few Indonesian Restaurants.

Ghent then Antwerp

We made 2 day trips on our way to Rotterdam. First stop was Ghent. It was a small town, an hour away from Brussels Midi by InterCity train. Papa Jack told us that IC is the quickest way to go around Belgium and Netherlands as it only stops on major cities. We got the train ride with our Euro Star ticket for free. :) I had an itinerary of the place but we had a hard time communicating with people so we only went to the Historic City Centre where a major renovation is being done. I had an impression that the whole Belgium is under renovation cause every where we go, construction sites are present. Anyway, we only stayed for 3 hours max for lunch and photos. We couldn't find Citadel. I really really want to see that Park but unfortunately, no signs points to that direction. Yes, no google earth print out. The website said that every where you go, you can see helpful signs. Well in our case, we didn't find those signs! :P

GHENT

 Kiss and Ride means Park and Ride.  I had to ask my friend to explain that to me.

 The Belfort.

 The square.  I love love the fascade!

 Saint Nicholas Church on the background.

Saint Bavo Cathedral.

ANTWERP

Our second stop. It is an hour away from Ghent and one more hour to Rotterdam. I was pleasantly surprised with Antwerp! They are serious about shopping. Hahaha! They have fantastic high street with amazing fascade. I think I had stiff neck from looking up. Very very well preserved. Everyone seems to be into fitness. People are cycling or rollerbladding everywhere. And may I add, hot guys! I have never seen so much blonde, blue eyed, thin and tall guys. Definitely eye candy! This makes Antwerp boys number one on my hot European list. Even mummy agreed with me. *time to roll people!*

Go APE!!!

I've always wanted to try this since the time that I saw the teaser online. I may be scared of heights, health and safety but I won't let my "paranoia" beat me. We left Reading at 11AM yesterday and got on the wrong train. Good thing it stopped at Wokingham and we took the train to Bracknell from there. We arrive at Bracknell at nearly 12noon and took the bus from the station. We had a hard time figuring out which bus to take cause the people doesn't know where the Swinley Forest is. To make the story short, we arrive 1.5 hours prior to our appointment and spent few minutes eating and walking in the Forest Area. It was pleasantly surprised with what Bracknell can offer. So different from Reading, where I live. They have Coral Reef, public pool with pressure water and Sauna for cheap price and a Science Discovery Centre. Plus I heard they are planning to develop the city centre.

Go ape is very similar to tree top adventure in Asia.  They have few options now in the Philippines but since I've tried it and didn't really excite, I didn't dare go again.  Plus I think this activity is better done with a big group.  My friends and I have definitely conquered our fears.  It was very easy when you see more "chicken" going before you.  At least that how it works for me.  :)

If you want to book a go ape adventure, please go to this link - http://goape.co.uk/

Don't forget:


1.  To eat an hour before your tree top adventure.  
2.  Stretch!  My body hurts like hell the next day.
3.  Wear comfortable clothing.  I mean stretchy clothes, T-shirts, trainers with socks.
4.  Go for it and have fun!  :)

Gray's Farm

I like to make myself busy during summer.  As you all know, the UK summer is quite short.  Unlike in the Philippines where it's sunny almost everyday of the year.  

I didn't realise that you can pick your own fruits and vegetables in UK farms.  My boyfriend told me that when he was younger, he used to pick strawberries at Gray's Farm for work.  He lived close by.

If you are thinking about fruit picking, please go to this website - http://www.graysfarm.co.uk/  

It's ripe when you pull and it comes off easily.