The Sin City of Europe - Amesterdam

I was really excited when I knew that I will be flying to Amsterdam! Amsterdam is one of my favorite destinations and I know everywhere is like my favorite destination right… I want to be everywhere, Sometime I love being away Because it means getting away from everything, taking a short break to enjoy life from stressful day to day life. I love spending time away from email & phone calls, simply because it is peaceful.

When you come to this city, the first thing your eyes notice: Amsterdam is an area of trams and bicycles. The whole historical center of the city is crossed by railways. A tram is practically the only type of ground transportation which survived an unequal battle of double-wheel monsters.

Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands and it is also known as the “Venice of the North” for its canals which divide the city into 90 small islands linked together by 1500 bridges.

Charming canals but I got lost a couple of times because of the confusing canals network and layout of the city.

The weather in Amsterdam was awesome! I took a walk down the picturesque canal streets , immersing myself in the gorgeous weather Wow! And it is easy to know why because Amsterdam is in one of the top 10 cities with the world’s best-looking men and women. The Dutch are amongst the tallest in the world and they are notorious for their light features usually blonde and blues eyes. The Netherlands is also ranked as one of the top 10 “happiest” country. My first impression of the Dutch is they are very friendly and smiley. They speak fluent English so communication isn’t a problem here.

One of the things that I will always do when I am in Amsterdam is to eat raw herring. This is one of the Dutch food you MUST TRY when you are in the Netherlands. This raw herring dish is served with chopped onions and pickles. It tastes and smells fresh and salty, practically melts in your mouth. YUMS! I am obsessed with raw fish and all sorts of seafood.

I strolled down the Bloemenmarkt flower market which is the only floating market in the world. There are 15 stalls in this block-long flower market and you can shop for flower bulbs, seeds, accessories, souvenir, and everything else that is related to the flower trade. One of the places you must go in the Netherlands during spring 0is Keukenhof, the world’s largest flower garden to see the tulip bloom season. The garden was opened from March to May  every year and unfortunately, I missed seeing this annual tulip festival by just one week. Aaahhhh

Anyway.. After the wonderful dinner, a few of us went to the Red Light District. I was glad that I had company to walk around.

The red light district De Wallen is a major tourist attraction in Amsterdam and you won’t be surprised to see a thick crowds of tourists. , the Red Light District takes on a hedonistic atmosphere unlike any other part of the city. One thing that officials are less tolerant of though is anyone taking pictures of those who sell their wares by dancing in windows, this is strictly illegal and can lead to you losing your camera for the rest of your trip. So wander into the Red Light District to make some memories but be sure to be careful where you point your camera. Ask me how to fool the officials :P Pimping is illegal in the Netherlands, and therefore each prostitute is the sole proprietor of her own business.  Prostitutes are frequently tested for diseases, subject to protective labor laws, and also join local unions.

De Wallen is so heavily touristed that it feels like a Disneyland version of a Red Light District.  The majority of the people there are tourists walking around gawking at the sites of scantily-clad women posing in windows, as opposed to people actually looking for a “good time.”  (In case you’re wondering, I fell into the first category).

This is the ultimate form of window shopping which women sell and men shop for sex. These women are barely dressed and their figures are so great that you will wonder if is even real. You get to watch potential customers negotiating with the women and when the red curtains are closed, it means a deal reached. What goes on behind those closed curtains is up to your own imagination.

Adjacent to De Wallen is Amsterdam’s Chinatown. Yes they are everywhere.. but here you wont get iphone for US$100.

Like Amsterdam itself, Chinatown is small and compact, consisting of only two or three streets and the requisite restaurants and tourist shops.  From those I talked to, it seems like the majority of the Amsterdam Chinese community comes from Wenzhou.

The main tourist attraction is the Buddhist Temple.

Fo Guang Shan He Hua Temple

There is a number of sex shops, sex theaters, peep shows, a sex museum, a cannabis museum, and a number of coffee shops that sell marijuana. In the Netherlands, coffee shop is not a place for you to have a nice expresso or cuppuccino , it is a weed cafe to buy and try drugs. You will be handed a “menu of drugs” selling items such as space cakes, space brownies, space cookies, space muffins, space tea and etc that contain a dose of cannabis. Oh yes, doing all these are legal in Amsterdam. Smoking marijuana is common in Amsterdam and you will know when someone is smoking it because the smell is very pungent and has a recognizable odor. I think I might have unknowingly tried the brownies when I went to one of the coffee shops. So naive! I really thought it was just a brownie, I have seen real life examples of people becoming stoned and hallucinated after trying small quantity of weed. So…My best advice is don’t try it! These drugs will also stay in your system and I think you might get yourself in trouble when you come back to your residing county and that might be illegal as far as GCC states concern you may get life long sentence, it doesn't matter where you tried it.

We went to watch the live sex show at Theatre Casa Roso. The entrance fee is expensive and it costs EUR45 per entry. Don’t hold your expectations too high because the acts are really dull and boring. It’s totally not worth it unless you are a man and lucky one because you might be the “lucky one” selected to participate in the show. Example like eat banana from ahem-you-know-where. The live sex was just some boring shows by very average couples going through the motions. The performers looked so bored and I can understand why. They had repeated the whole process umpteen times. There is no passion, no expression and I think we would appreciate the show better if there was some “sound effect”. :P my suggestion lolz….

One funny thing about Amsterdam are the public restrooms. Metal structures are peppered around town, and guys can just go in and pee--even though passersby can see their feet and faces. It was a secret thrill to use on.

One should definitely take a ride in the river cruiser. Maybe you will be lucky and the sun will shine, tulips will bloom at every window, and you will see the most beautiful side of the city.

The guide entertained us with a local proverb of Amsterdam: “The depth of the river Amstel is three meters. The first meter is water, the second – a layer of silt, and the third – a layer of bicycles.” It sounds much like the truth.

Amsterdam is full of history and activities! Whether you prefer museums or high tea!

 Canal Cruise: Get a feel for the history and layout of Amsterdam by boat. Take a full tour or hop-on-hop-off tour and travel through the canals of the city.

 Van Gogh Museum: The Van Gogh Museum is fantastic. There is an incredible collection of Van Gogh’s work from the beginning of his endeavors as an artist.

 House of Bols: House of Bols is one of the best tours I’ve ever been on. Learn about the history of traditional Genever and experience a one-of-a-kind cocktail experience

Dam Square, one of the shopping areas in Amsterdam.

The National Monument in Dam Square to honor all the Dutch individuals who perished in World War II.

Visit De Drie Fleschjes: Visit the oldest tasting room in Amsterdam, “Three Little Bottles,” opened in 1650. Enjoy a drink and take in the ambiance of antique barrel-lined walls and burning candelabras.

Coffee Houses & The Red Light District: While this side of Amsterdam tourism isn’t exactly my thing, that’s not to say you shouldn’t at least peak your head in to see what the hype is all about. Rumor has it, for tourists, getting high in Amsterdam won’t be legal for long.

Heineken Experience: Despite the touristy nature of this tour, I really enjoyed it and think it’s a great bang for your buck. The tour lasts nearly 2 hours with tons of activities, two free beers, plus a free souvenir

Pack a Picnic in Vondalpark: If you find yourself in Amsterdam during good weather, chances are, Vondalpark will be packed with people. Take a walk through the park, picnic and people watch.

Albert Cuyp market: Don’t miss this market! It’s the largest in all of The Netherlands. Come hungry and try some local cheeses and dutch Stroopwafels. You can also score some great souvenirs here. (Open from 9:30 am to about 5 pm, Monday to Saturday)

Zaanse Schans

On the banks of the River Zaan, the little village of Zaanse Schans is a glimpse of traditional Dutch life as it was. Windmills, wooden houses and barns make you feel like you’re stepping back in time. There’s cheese-making, coffee-grinding, clog-carving and jenever (Dutch gin) tasting just for starters – all linked by a towpath that is suitable for walking or cycling. Or see it from the water on board one of many ferry scenic ferry rides.

Next we went Volendam, a harbour town near the North Sea

If you are keen, you can dress up like a Dutch here…

Fresh seafood yum yum!

First time seeing this kind of warning banner in Europe. Unlike the other Europeans, the Dutch are so honest: Beware of Pickpockets!

I have to emphasize this. The city of Amsterdam is not just about sex and drugs and there is so much more to this beautiful city. It is a beautiful city filled with historic buildings and an abundance of culture. I have great impression of Dutch hospitality and I am greeted with smiles everywhere I go. I would say Amsterdam is an interesting city you will fall in love with.