Aiden and Ian Takes Europe: Amsterdam Take Two!

Hello peeps.

Warning ahead, this will be a post filled with many many photos of beautiful Amsterdam.

Aiden really really wanted to go on a boat cruise around the Amsterdam canals, but we didn't fancy going in the packed closed top boats that go around every half hour or so. We wanted to experience the smaller, open top boats. Albeit slightly more expensive, it was a small price to pay for a more personalized tour with better views and photo opportunities. Worth to note is that you should aim to be there slightly earlier so that you can choose a great spot on the boat. Unfortunately for us, by the time we parked the stroller and got the kids into the boat, we had to settle with seats in the middle. Hence most of our photos were peppered with pictures of other people on the same boat.

Now this is why you should aim for good seats on the boat. Epic photobomb! *giggles*

Checking out the map of our ride.

Canals after canals after canals. Simply beautiful!

Some of the buildings we went by on the boat.

Crooked charm. Can you see what I'm referring to?

Bicycles lining up beside the canal.

Pirate ship!

Can you see those floating structures on the water? Those are boat houses!

Love this boat house. Pretty flowers everywhere!

Check out the interior of this boat house.

A huge ship, mere meters from us.

Best selfie we could get without people photobombing our shot.

Family photo before we got off the boat.

If you're ever in Amsterdam, you simply must give this open boat tour a try.

Ian, why are you sooooo cute! #gangkacamatahitam

Ian, the Mat Bunga.

By the end of the cruise, it was creeping into late afternoon. Thank god for the long daylight hours! After a quick lunch at the many halal kebab restaurants around town, we then headed to Zaanse Schans, a Dutch village with traditional houses and well preserved historic windmills in the neighbourhood of Zaandam. About 45minutes bus ride (#391 to be exact) from Amsterdam Central. (If you take the train, it's a 15-20mins walk from the station.)

Ian trying to figure out where we should get off the bus (it's the last stop!)

The story of the construction of Zaanse Schans is quite spectacular actually. It is not a historical area that is then well preserved for tourist visits. But rather, the site was constructed from scratch and whole heritage buildings were transported to site using boats and lorries! Some buildings and even a complete windmill body were transported in their entirety. While other buildings were first dismantled, plank by plank or brick by brick. And then reconstructed once at site. Isn't that simply amazing?

Construction of Zaanse Schans. See how they lifted that house onto a barge??

By the time we arrived, everything was closed. There wasn't even a single tour bus in sight. I had read about functional windmills that make everything from cheese to paint, but everything was closed shut! Even the wooden clogs store and chocolate tour were closed. The only thing still open was Albert Heijn, the local grocery shop! But still, we made the most of our time there by taking in the views and posing for amazing photos. Amazing because unlike our earlier canal cruise, there was no one in sight to photobomb our shots! *giggles*

Amazing views.

Posing with one of the many windmills in the area.

I don't know who's backyard we crashed, for this shot.

Tug of war.

Can you see the chickens in this shot?

Aiden took this shot of us.

Clogs and more clogs.

Biggest pair of clogs!

After like five shot, this was the best Aiden could do. Bolehlah!

More windmills!

Love this shot of my two boys.

I don't know where Aiden picked up that yoga pose!

Siblings love.

At the end of the bridge.

Us acting like windmills.

Last shot of us.

And that brings us to the end of our adventures in Amsterdam. The next day, we took the Thalys into Paris and then onward to Disneyland. We were lucky, we bought our train tickets early hence we got a good deal for first class. But... that's a story for a next post. Till next time, thanks for reading!

Aiden and Ian Takes Europe: Amsterdam

This is a continuation of the previous post. So the day we were supposed to move hotels to Amsterdam, we spent the morning doing some last minute shopping in Primark (sempat lagi tuh), had a scrumptious fish and chips lunch at Marks and Spencer, checked out and then finally took the train into Amsterdam.

A meal that I always strive to have whenever I venture into Europe.

Waiting for the tram to Centraal Station, for our connecting train into Amsterdam.

By the time we checked in, it was pretty late in the evening. After some food courtesy of room service, we took advantage of the long daylight hours by walking around town. We didn't venture far, but far enough for us to take a stroll around Red Light District. Don't worry, there was nothing controversial to see in the broad daylight anyway! So I haven't corrupted my kids (yet!) *chuckles*

How we traveled around town... Aiden in the stroller and Ian on the buggy board!

Our first photo with the Amsterdam canals, just a stone's throw away from the Red Light District!

Beautiful buildings.

Excuse our tired faces... this was taken past 8pm. But look at how bright the sun was still shining (into Ian's eyes)!

And yet another pit stop at a cheese shop.

Ian insisted on this photo... and then wanted to climb into the red carrier! So this is how the locals cycle around with their kids in Amsterdam!

The next day, I took the ferry to the office. Yes, to get to our office in Amsterdam, you have to take a ferry! Meanwhile, Hubby and the kids explored the city even further. I believe they went to the Floating Flower Market, where Hubby was tempted with some cannabis seeds. *facepalm*

Ferry to the office, and an invite to play on the piano at the office lobby.

Plenty of seeds and flowers for sale in a myriad of colours.

Market stalls selling flowers, seeds, spices, herbs, plants... and even cannabis!

Aiden posing beside a popular sight in Holland - bicycles!

After work, I joined them and we met in front of Anne Frank's house. The queue was absolutely ridiculous!!! At least 3 hours to get to the front door. Although Aiden had so many questions about Anne Frank and how they hid from the Nazis, I made the executive decision to cancel our visit. And since I read the diary and even visited the house back in 2007 (I did not remember a queue this long), I tried my level best to answer his questions, as far as my memory could serve me of course.

Instead, we tried raw herrings at one of the many haringhandels (herring carts) we saw around town. Apparently the best time to try raw herring is between May and July when the herring is said to be at its sweetest.

Aiden posing with his share of raw herring. 

Mustering my courage to try it out.

How they're sold.

To our surprise, Aiden loved it! He had at least one platter for himself. I am so impressed with the fact that he is adventurous with food. As for me, I think I prefer sashimi. The idea of eating raw fish with pickles and onions just didn't appeal to me. I preferred the Kibbeling instead; bartered and deep fried morsels of white fish, usually cod. Served with a mayonaisey herb sauce and lemon. Yum!!

Another on the list for us to try was thick Dutch fries. Served piping hot in a paper cone, slathered with any manner of tasty toppings. We asked for mayonnaise and some zesty spicy sauce. But the famous toppings are 'patatje oorlog' - a dollop of peanut satay sauce, mayo and onions; or 'patat speciaal' - a mix of curry ketchup, mayonnaise and onions. To end the night, we had dinner at one of the restaurants by the canal and then headed to Hard Rock Cafe.

Number 1 Holland fries???

Hubby stealing posing beside a row of bicycles, lined up prettily just by the canals.

Ian - always loyal to his cookies.

Photo taken by Aiden.

Hard Rock Amsterdam.

The next day officially marked the start of our holidays. First stop... the famous IAMSTERDAM sign. Located at the back of the Rijksmuseum on Museumplein, it is a city icon and a much sought after photo opportunity. It is more than 2 meters tall and 23.5 meters wide. It is a wonder how Hubby managed to climb on top of the slogan for a photo op!

Catching the tram to the IAMSTERDAM sign.

Unlike the trams in The Hague, these ones had an actual counter for tickets in every tram!

Best photo we could get with the entire sign.

It was either that, or this - a photo with just one of the many letters in the sign.

The many many people crowding the sign.

Can you spot the Rijksmuseum in the background? Aiden begged for us to bring him in, but we declined. Don't think he's old enough to appreciate museums.

We then walked over to the shopping strip. Stepped into Chanel in search of a silver handbag or a black wallet on chain. Just my luck, they had three different black WOCs - the black Chanel boy, the black classic in caviar, and the dark grey classic in caviar with rusted hardware. I was torn between the Boy or the rusted hardware, hence I took some time to decide between the two (calculated currency exchange, price difference etc.) I was not impressed with the SA as she started acting pushy. She immediately kept the more expensive WOCs and pestered me to get the cheapest one of the three. It just didn't feel genuine, you know? In the end, I walked out... And brought my business to Dior instead!

The Dior SAs were such a godsend! We were the only customers in the shop, so we were treated like kings and queens! They showed me bag after bag after bag, and yet no one pushed me to choose quickly. After I had made my choice (a lovely metallic Diorama in silver) they offered us coffee and tea, and even tempted me with a beautiful rose pink Lady Dior that had just arrived that morning. Since I couldn't muster up the courage to spend on two bags in one day, they even offered to keep it for me until the end of they day - just in case I change my mind! Love love love Dior.

Trying to make up my mind between the various silver handbags.

Torn between the two, but in the end I decided to be practical. Silver is easier to match!

Sooooo beautiful. Le sigh.

Thank you Dior Amsterdam, for the wonderful hospitality.

Satisfied with my purchase, we headed back to the hotel to drop my shopping bags and then headed for our next adventure; an open boat cruise around the Amsterdam canal ring.

But that... will be the subject of my next blog post. Stay tuned for Part 2 of Amsterdam! But before I officially sign off, here's a photo that needs no explanation:

Space cake, anyone?