Holland – Day 11

This my last blog post of my holiday.

It was last day in Amsterdam. We finished packing bags then we checked out of the hotel and left bags there because we went to around shopping in the city:

Outside of Rijksmuseum’s I Amsterdam: 

 
We would like to visit Van Gogh museum but we don’t have time because we needed to buy some parents for family and friends. We went to a Dutch cheese shop, De Kasskamer: 

 
I know it well when I was with my family went there often in the past. I bought some old quality Dutch cheeses for my parents. After lunch, we returned to the hotel and pick bags up: 

We caught a train from Centraal station to Schiphol airport: 

 
We flew to UK by flight from the airport. Around one hour later, we arrived UK: 

 
Sadly, it was end of my holiday. We are still missing Amsterdam but we might return next year!

Next Berlin this December! I can’t wait!

Enjoy read my blog posts of my holiday each!

 

Holland – Day 10

After breakfast at cafe and bring bikes back to a rent shop, we took subway from Centraal station to Bijlmer Arena Amsterdam. There are a nice view of Ajax FC’s stadium, Amsterdam Arena: 

 
…and let’s tour time! 

 
Sam and I bought tickets cost 12 Euro by 10% discount each. Cheap! 

 
Jack, Javier and Alastair were not going because they were not interesting about football stuff. They went around shopping near the stadium. Sam and I wanted to visit the stadium because we know famous players from Ajax FC well:

. Johan Cruijff

. Frank Rijkaard

. Marco van Basten

. Ronald Koeman

. Clarence Seedorf

. Edgar David

. Edwin van dre Sar

. Dennis Bergkamp

. Frank De Boer (he’s currently Ajax manager)

. Klaas – Jan Huntelaar

. Luis Suarez

. Rafal van der Vaart

. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

. Wesley Sneijder

Inside the stadium, we finished watching a presentation about the history of the football team in the 20th century to present. We saw the stadium’s brilliant architecture design: 

 
Inside the amazing view of the quality stadium: 

 
…and there’s too: 

 
We went into the different rooms each. There’s surveillance camera: 

 
Before I go to seat at the press conference for a picture: 

 
Then I prepared for it: 

 
Photo by Sam.

Almost the end of the tour, here’s Ajax honours on wall: 

 
And Ajax’s different logos from 1900 to present: 

 
Finally Sam took photograph of my hands held Ajax’s new home kit with background the massive logo: 

 
It was an amazing experience at the tour. We went back to the hotel for chilling and packed bags for a flight back to England tomorrow evening. Later, we went around the city nightlife: 

 
We went to an infamous first coffeeshop in Red Light District, The Bulldog coffeeshop. It was founded in 1970. Then we went to Smokey coffeeshop again for our last day of the holiday.

Holland – Day 9

Sunny day.

We rented our bikes from a shop in the city. We rode our bikes from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans. It was long journey by routes includes a ferry. There are screenshot: 

 
We arrived Zaanse Schans. We did it. There are beautiful landscape pictures: 

 
I was with my bike: 

 
At the small town’s cafe, we drank beers for relax after a long ride from the city to there. While two deaf people saw we using sign language. We welcomed them joined us. One deaf half Dutch and half Turkish (I forgot his name. Never mind.), he lives in Holland. His deaf friend, Kosuke Nakamura comes from Yokohama, Japan. He arrived Holland for the first time last night after long journey around 11 hours by a flight. We met the deaf Japanese for the first time. Also he using Japanese sign language. It is very different ever we saw! We had good chat with them around hour. They went around the town. We walked and some took photographs: 

 
And again: 

 
And last selfie with the amazing windmill: 

 
We rode with bikes back to Amsterdam then we arrived at the hotel’s rooms. We exhausted and long nap. My legs were dead. Around evening, we went out to eat a fast food, Febo: 

 
Not bad taste. It was cheap. Later we went to Smokey coffeeshop again.

Next day, Sam and me off to Ajax FC’s stadium, Amsterdam Arena tour soon!

Holland – Day 8

On early morning, around 8am, we went to catch the queue of Anne Frank house: 

 
Almost 2 hours, finally went into the house. I still remember that I went here before when I was ten years old with my father. Same Javier have been here before. Sam, Alastair and Jack never visit there before. We respect them to visit the house for their first time.

We left Anne Frank house. It was emotional place to explore.

Around midday, we went to see the infamous exhibition at Sex Museum: 

 
The museum is about a sensitive area of human sexuality is located in the busiest spot of Amsterdam. I know it was dirty mind.

We didn’t that the museum are allowing to people take photographs. Same the marijuana museum. Insane!

Later, we returned to the hotel for chilling then we walked to Heineken Experience: 

 
And a ticket: 

 
Almost arrived into the factory: 

 
Inside the factory: 

 
And look up at Silos: 

 
Above you are 15 massive storage silos, some over 20 meters tall. They were used to store malted barley for crafting and brewing Heineken.

Nice old fashioned poster: 

 
There are the huge copper tanks that once served to make the Heineken brew: 

 
It looked like Walter White and Jesse Pinkman cooking meth in a massive laboratory at a hide place in the TV series, Breaking Bad.

Beer tasting so good: 

 
We walked into another room with different comfortable sofas and a different commercial has 360 degree LCD screen all around the walls. There are amazing pictures: 

 
And again: 

 
And again: 

And there’s UEFA Champions League’s sponsors, Heineken:

  
Almost the end, there was a mock up beer bottling facility that probably fooled most people as the real deal, but we noticed small details that proved that it was just for show: 

 
And again: 

 
There was more beers while on the tour. We got a green waistband that removable buttons on it. Two for free Heineken pints. We drank the pints. Also we had an idea, we gave all the pints to Sam because it was his 21st birthday: 

 
Later, Sam finished drinking all the pints. We had an amazing experience at the factory. Also we thanked Javier, who has been there before and highly recommended to us.

Night time, we went to Ice Bar for Sam’s birthday. I didn’t take pictures because my hands were freeze but we drank nice cold beers. Temperature:-9.5 in Ice Bar. Wow!

Later, we drank cocktails, sex on beach. Sam returned to the hotel because he was exhausted. Then we went to Smokey coffeeshop.

At midnight, Alastair returned to the hotel because he was heavy stoned. Javier, Jack and me walked to around the city while we saw a deaf group at outside of a pub next to Downtown restaurant. 

We managed to meet a deaf group: a deaf American, Justin Shaw introduced his deaf German friends are Rony, Luke, Jamal, Marco and Martrich to us. They are from Munich, Germany. I figured them out that they are supporting FC Bayern Munich. It was correcting when I told it to them. I knew. Sometime I can understand they are using German sign language is similar as American Sign Language (ASL).

Justin Shaw is a nice guy. He lives in Virginia and he studied at Gallaudet University in the past. Now he is currently works as chief compliance officer. Also he is a traveller too. We had an amazing chat with them and ordered more pints. It was nice to meet new deaf people from abroad!

Photo by Justin Shaw. 

We went back to the hotel at around 3:30am in morning. Justin Shaw’s group were still going out all night. We hope to see them again. What an amazing day and night!

  

Holland – Day 7

Good morning from Amsterdam! 

 
We went to eat breakfast at an American restaurant, Downtown near between Red Light District and Nieuwmarket. I ordered Dutch breakfast. It was looked a nice: 

 
Then we went around the Dam Square and I saw a massive clog at outside of a souvenir: 

 

Around afternoon, we went to upstair to the top of Oude Kerk. There are pictures: 

Nice view.

 
And selfie with background of the cityscape: 

 
Jack, took photograph of me looking something: 

 
And close up again: 

 
I like it.

We went to the infamous exhibition about the history and use of marijuana around the world at Hash Marihuana and Hemp Museum. We was surprised that a ticket officer say it’s allowing to take photographs of anywhere at the museum. We thought it was illegal. Wow!

There I agreed with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s quote about marijuana: 

 
In fact, the Hollywood legend, smoking marijuana with the original Incredible Hulk, Lou Ferrigno in a bodybuilding documentary, Pumping Iron in the 1970s.

Another my favourite singer is Bob Dylan’s quote: 

 
And the famous Jamaican reggae singer, Bob Marley’s quote: 

 
I took photograph of the real marijuana’s shiva skunk in a glass box: 

 
Later, I glanced and saw an old fashioned advert in the 1950s. Nice the quote: 

 
And Homer Simpson stoned and David Silverman (animator) wrote in a frame: 

  
Last picture from the photo booth: Javier (left), Alastair (middle) and me were in a medicinal cannabis grow-room from the museum. It was hilarious: 

 

Evening, we walked around the city. I spotted the gold boobs’s small sculpture on path next to Oude Kerk in the Red Light District: 

 
I still remember it when I saw it since 2009. It was six years ago!

Later, we saw a funny condom shop, Condomire. I had an idea to ask Jack fora picture of Sam (left) and me hilariously pointing at many condoms at outside of the shop: 

 
We realised that the shop’s rule that don’t allow to take photograph. Luckly I quickly managed it. YOLO! (Your Only Live Once).

Night time, we went to different coffeeshop again. Tomorrow we have to doing Sam’s 21st birthday!

Belgium/Holland – Day 6

Around midday, we checked out of the hotel. We went to eat breakfast at a cafe in Les Galeries Saint Hubert. Then we visited Chocopolis – Chocolate Factory: 

 
At the factory, we saw a massive dark chocolate of Grand Place, Brussels: 

 
We went to buy stunning Belgian waffles. It was last day in Brussels before we go to Amsterdam soon: 

 
At Brussels Midi station, I got a fast train, Thalys ticket before go to catch the train: 

 
At the train, we realised that we were in the 2nd class and have to pay wifi in one hour only because I needed to catch up this blog posts about my holiday but it was not finish yet. The first class has free wifi only. I know it was ridiculous.

Finally we entered into Holland’s countryside by the train: 

 
When we arrived at Amsterdam Centraal station: 

 
We did it!

Anyway, we walked to a hotel, Monopole, Amstel River near the Dam Square. It is not far. Perfect.

Around evening, we went to around the beautiful city then went to a coffeeshop meanwhile I asked Jack for a picture of me at a bridge near Amstel River: 

 
What an awesome way to start in Amsterdam.

Belgium – Day 5

It was last day before we go to Amsterdam, Netherlands tomorrow afternoon. At the hotel’s room, we were chilling until around midday. We passed European Quarter: 

 And again. 

 We were not going in the quarter because we were not interesting in politics. Just walked around. That it. Now we went to Parc du Cinquantenaire.

When we arrived and I took stunning landscape photographs: 

 There’s little close up: 

 And there’s final: 

 
Then we went to Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History. It’s for the exhibition of weaponry, uniforms, vehicles, warships, paintings and documentation dating from the Middle Ages through to Belgian independence and the mid-20th century. It was free entrance. The museum is a massive space and pently times.

Around early evening, we returned to the hotel for relax and chilling then packed our bags before we go to around the city.

Later, we went to Scott’s bar and I ordered White Russian again. A waitress asked me how sign language, “Thank you”. I teached her. She understood and she signed language “Thank you”. She comes from Holland. 

I finished drinking it and try to buy a classic cocktail, Old Fashioned. I honestly never to try drink it before. In fact, Old Fashioned was popular in the mid-20th century in America. I still remember that I watched the actor John Hamm as Don Draper always drink the cocktail in the TV series, Mad Men (2007 – 2015): 

 

I drank it so strong from a whiskey, Bourbon, bitters and ice cubes. Quality cocktail!

Belgium – Day 4

We visited to the exhibition at the Belgian comic strip museum but we saw a cargo storage’s sculpture. My friends took funny photographs of me: 

 Later, I am becoming the new Arnold Schwarzenegger: 

 Anyway, at the comic strip museum, I still remember that I have been there often when I was young with my family since the 2000s. The museum has never change anything. It looks still same the place: 

 We had a brilliant visit and load funs at the museum. Also there are pictures: 

And again. 

And again. 

 And again. 

 And again. 

 We finished around the exhibition then we went to a famous Belgian chocolate cafe and shop, Neuhaus in Les Galeries Saint Hubert for chilling. I ordered a stunning frappuccino with biscuits and lemon and caramel macarons: 

  

Around afternoon, we went to Atomium by subway. I bought a ticket: 

 In subway, Sam took photograph and way to Atomium. It looked like New York City’s subway: 

 We arrived at Laeken station then we walked to Atomium: 

 Almost arrive there. Last minutes, I took an awesome selfie with Atomium: 

 We went to buy tickets but we were very lucky because it was free: 

We lifted up to the top of Atomium and it was an amazing view of the city: 

Around evening, we returned to the hotel. Also we exhausted. At night time, I took a stunning photograph of Les Galeries Saint Hubert: 

At Scott’s bar, I found out my favourite cocktail, White Russian cost seven Euro. It was cheap: 

I recognised the cocktail when I watched Jeff Bridge’s funny character, ‘The Dude’, who always order the cocktail in the Coen Brothers’s film, The Big Lebowski (1998).

Later, we went to a Belgian pub in the city and we drank a Belgian beer, Mongozo’ mango. It was a nice taste. Also it is same the company beer as coconut beer: 

 Next day, we are currently doing something for our last day in Brussels.

Enjoy my new blog post!

Belgium – Day 3

We tripped to Antwerp by the train from Brussels Centre station. Antwerp here I come for the first time: 

 We strolled around the modern town’s shopping. Then we visited Cathedral of Our Lady: 

 And perfectly selfie with it: 

 

Also I took a beautiful cityscape of Grote Markt: 

 I tried to find where is UK flag at outside of Stadhuis. Finally I found it. I am proud that I am half British with the flag: 

 And there’s City Hall: 

 

We walked to a boat terminal. The place made me remind of New York City’s next to Hudson River opposite New Jersey: 

 Then we returned to the town for a dinner but we saw a shop, Winderkammer’s funny board: 

 Later, we returned to Brussels by a train then we walked to the waffle factory. I ate Belgian waffle so delicious! 

 Carey Marvin (my mum) likes my picture and she commented on my Instagram: 

 I don’t remmber that I have been Antwerp before. Maybe I guess it was long time ago.

Anyway, next day, we have lot to do something in Brussels soon.

Belgium – Day 2

On morning, we went to Brussels Centre station with my friends. I got a ticket: 

 Waiting until a train, Bienvenue & Bord de Votre arrived then we catch it and departed to Bruges (Brugge) – it’s a Dutch town in Flanders in the north of Belguim. Also Belgian people speaks Dutch language in Flanders too. Same as Antwerp. At the train, we discussed our plan to do something in the town. Sam and I were reading Lonely Planet travel books: 

We arrived at the station then walked to a market. It was very busy. There’s picture: 

 We strolled around the famous church, Belfry of Bruges:

 And the beautiful market square: 

 Also I was with Sam, Jack and Alastair took photograph by Javier: 

 And a beautiful view of the town’s river: 

Then we walked to St Ann Windmill from the town around 20 minutes. There’s picture of me by Jack: 

 We went to another the Windmill museum. I bought a ticket cost two Euro: 

Then I took photographs of an amazing view of Bruges’s landscape with St Ann Windmill:  

We returned to the market square and strolled around load of the decent restaurants. Later we choose one of a restaurant, I ate deliciously mussels and chips with my beer, Leffe: 

 

Later, we went to 2be The Beerwall. It’s famous all different favour Belgian beers. Check there: 

At the Beerwall, Sam and I never heard Mongozo’s Coconut beer before in our life. We tempted to buy and drink it. It was cost three Euro. There are photographs:

Mongozo’s coconut beers.

 I was with Sam (right) had it for the first time! We tired to drink it so delicious ever we tasted! 

 We drank it too much. Also we tried to drink Paix Dieu’s 10%. It is very strong Belguian beer: 

 We were currently drinking the Belguian beers too much but we had a brilliant time in the Beerwall. Later, the Beerwall’s bar closed, I acted to ride a classic motorbike: 

 
It was an end of day at Bruges. We returned to Brussels by the train. We were exhausted. Now next Antwerp (Antwerpen) tomorrow. I will write my new blog post about Antwerp on Belguim – Day 3 soon.