It has always been a dream to go to a paradise land where everyone is in a state of bliss and is at peace with everything around. But does such a place exist?
Amsterdam is one such place which comes close to my definition of paradise. The dream land is the official sex and drugs capital of the world. I have craved for this trip for a very long time and my opportunity had arrived in the form of an invitation from The University of Nyenrode in Netherlands to attend a Management weekend workshop in Feb'2012.
The Lufthansa flight from Delhi was fairly comfortable with a stop over in Munich. I had reached Skipol airport, Amsterdam by around 5 in the evening after a 12 hour long flight. The airport offers plenty of options for passengers to commute. A train station below the airport is the most convenient (faster and cheaper) way to travel. Tickets for the trains can either be bought at the counters available at the airport or passengers can buy a card and tap it at the card readers on the train to buy tickets. The same card can also be used to buy tickets at Trams, Buses and Metros within the city. In case you are more adventurous and like to explore the city on your own, hiring a cycle for a day would be a good idea. Amsterdam provides a wide range of options for people to commute and hence makes it easy for tourists to get around.
I had to go to the University in Brueklen and I decided to rely on Google maps and for some reason didnt ask anyone for directions. The smart ass in me bought the ticket to Rotterdam Central which is far away from Brueklen. Having reached Rotterdam I realized that I am at the wrong station and then figured out my way to Brueklen. After 3 hours of adventure I finally reached the University and was greeted with a dark and completely deserted campus. I had already lost my way once in the day and was in no mood to do so again. Thankfully, an Indian, whom i had met at the bus station helped me find my way in the campus. The campus looked beautiful and was colder than I had presumed it to be. Being new to the European culture, I was in for a shock when I started looking out for a place to eat dinner only to find out that dinner is served at 6 in the evening.
I woke up next morning, a little jet lagged and having slept on an empty stomach, feeling a little sick. Breakfast at the University canteen was not filling but was enough to keep me awake for the day ahead. We all gathered for the introductions. I got to meet participants from 20 different nationalities and was excited to share new ideas with them and learn about their culture. The management and leadership lectures during the day were a little boring but the group activity and interaction kept me alive. The outdoor team building exercise was a fun event and it really tested our physical fitness to the core. The day ended with a lavish dinner at the castle in the campus followed by drinks at the local bar. By now I was getting used to the time difference and had made a few friends. The next day turned out to be great as well and having experienced life at the campus in Nyenrode I finally bid goodbye to the beautiful campus and headed towards Amsterdam city.
I had realized that Amsterdam is an expensive city as soon as I had stepped into the city. Train travel to the University had cost me more than Euro 20. A bottle of water would normally cost around Euro 2 and the cheapest metro/tram ticket would cost you Euro 2.7. Having incurred these expenses, I realised that I am going to run out of cash soon. I had booked a twin sharing room at Westcord City Centre Hotel for Euro 60 per day. Looking at the current expenses this turned out to be a very good deal. The Hotel is just a few minutes away from the Central Station and Tram stations just outside the hotel can take you to all the nearby tourist destinations.
I got hold of a city map and decided to walk around the city. Soon, I came to know that a coffee shop in Amsterdam sells eveything but coffee. Coffee shops have special menus which list the different types of drugs which can be legally bought over the counter. Euro 10 for 4 pre-rolled joints sounded like a good deal. Law in Amsterdam allows a person to carry upto 5gms of weed (which is a hell lot of weed!!) on the streets. The craving to hog on food and drink lots of water after smoking dragged me around the city to a local restaurant. A chicken meal for Euro 5 was enough to satisfy me for a while. The city is best enjoyed by just walking around or hiring a cycle. Seperate cycling tracks on the main road, traffic signals for cyclists, provision for cyclists to carry cycles in the local trains makes it convenient for locals to commute on cycles.
I wanted to travel by trams and hence boarded one to head towards the museum sqaure. A minimum ticket for Euro 2.7 which is valid for an hour is probably a little on the higher side.
I got down at Leidsplein and walked around a bit. Leidsplein is a very busy sqaure with restaurants and cafes all around the place. Groups of dancers and singers come along with their instruments and perform with people gathering all around them. The relaxed and calm atmosphere filled with this sudden rush of energy makes this place worth roaming around. A few meters down the road, Ryksmuseum and Van Goug Museum are considered to be the Mecca for artists around the world. The works of Rembrandt and other Dutch painters are exhibited at the museum. The entry for each museum is Euro 16 or a special museum card can also be bought at Euro 50 which grants access to all the nearby museums. I decided to skip the museum tour and just enjoyed myself relaxing near the Vondelpark. The famous letters 'I Am Sterdam' find space in this crowded tourist place. A walk down the road beside Ryksmuseum leads to the Heineken Brewery. A must visit for all beer fans, this place sells all Heinekin merchandize and also gives a peek into the history of beer in the country. A beer mug for Euro 3.5 for my brother looked like a good souvenier..:)
The daylights were fading away and the city was just coming to life. A walk back from the brewery to the Leidsplein made me really thirsty. A chilled beer at the Sports Bar surrounded by football fans is not a bad idea. The lights and live music played out in the sqaure makes a perfect setting for a relaxed evening. Walking back from Leidsplein towards the City center, the Holland Casino along the river looks magnificent and very enticing.
The city has much more to offer as the night sets in. The Red Light District in Amsterdam is famous and draws attention from all over the world. The brothel is not very conventional and has become a tourist attraction even for women. Glass doors with the room lit in red in the background and women standing at the entrance, enticing every passerby, is definitely worth a visit. Photography is strictly prohibited in the area and unlike other brothels in the world this place is very safe. A knock at the window and negotiation on the price sets the ball rolling. Euro 50 is the charge for 20 minutes of indulgence.
After a tough day of roaming around in the cold, the next day was relatively more relaxed. The Hash Museum, which I had spotted last night during my sojourn in the Red light district took me back there on the second day. The museum was shut for renovation and didnt seem too attractive to me. Lunch at an Indonesian restaurant in the Red Light area turned out to be very fulfilling. A stroll after a heavy meal took me towards Dam Square which is a very busy and extremely important place to visit for any tourist. The palace and the church besides it look magnificent. A brief tour inside the church can give you a glimpse into the history of the place. A street towards the left of the palace leads to a shopping street. Looking at the huge crowd and over enthusiasm of the shoppers I decided to turn back.
Amsterdam has a lot of canals and the best way to experience the city is through a canal cruise. Euro 10 for a hour long ride with audio details of the history of the city is a must for tourists. The cruise covers major attractions like Anne Frank's house, Ship museum etc along its way. A visit to the coffee shops and the Red Light district later in the evening brought about an end to an eventful 2 day stay in Amsterdam.
Places which I could not visit include the Windmills, Jordan Street and Kokenhoff park. As the trip comes to an end it feels like slowly waking up from a dream and coming back to my senses. An extended trip to the paradise city and other parts of Europe during summers is something I aspire for..
Amsterdam is one such place which comes close to my definition of paradise. The dream land is the official sex and drugs capital of the world. I have craved for this trip for a very long time and my opportunity had arrived in the form of an invitation from The University of Nyenrode in Netherlands to attend a Management weekend workshop in Feb'2012.
I had to go to the University in Brueklen and I decided to rely on Google maps and for some reason didnt ask anyone for directions. The smart ass in me bought the ticket to Rotterdam Central which is far away from Brueklen. Having reached Rotterdam I realized that I am at the wrong station and then figured out my way to Brueklen. After 3 hours of adventure I finally reached the University and was greeted with a dark and completely deserted campus. I had already lost my way once in the day and was in no mood to do so again. Thankfully, an Indian, whom i had met at the bus station helped me find my way in the campus. The campus looked beautiful and was colder than I had presumed it to be. Being new to the European culture, I was in for a shock when I started looking out for a place to eat dinner only to find out that dinner is served at 6 in the evening.
I had realized that Amsterdam is an expensive city as soon as I had stepped into the city. Train travel to the University had cost me more than Euro 20. A bottle of water would normally cost around Euro 2 and the cheapest metro/tram ticket would cost you Euro 2.7. Having incurred these expenses, I realised that I am going to run out of cash soon. I had booked a twin sharing room at Westcord City Centre Hotel for Euro 60 per day. Looking at the current expenses this turned out to be a very good deal. The Hotel is just a few minutes away from the Central Station and Tram stations just outside the hotel can take you to all the nearby tourist destinations.
I wanted to travel by trams and hence boarded one to head towards the museum sqaure. A minimum ticket for Euro 2.7 which is valid for an hour is probably a little on the higher side.
I got down at Leidsplein and walked around a bit. Leidsplein is a very busy sqaure with restaurants and cafes all around the place. Groups of dancers and singers come along with their instruments and perform with people gathering all around them. The relaxed and calm atmosphere filled with this sudden rush of energy makes this place worth roaming around. A few meters down the road, Ryksmuseum and Van Goug Museum are considered to be the Mecca for artists around the world. The works of Rembrandt and other Dutch painters are exhibited at the museum. The entry for each museum is Euro 16 or a special museum card can also be bought at Euro 50 which grants access to all the nearby museums. I decided to skip the museum tour and just enjoyed myself relaxing near the Vondelpark. The famous letters 'I Am Sterdam' find space in this crowded tourist place. A walk down the road beside Ryksmuseum leads to the Heineken Brewery. A must visit for all beer fans, this place sells all Heinekin merchandize and also gives a peek into the history of beer in the country. A beer mug for Euro 3.5 for my brother looked like a good souvenier..:)
The city has much more to offer as the night sets in. The Red Light District in Amsterdam is famous and draws attention from all over the world. The brothel is not very conventional and has become a tourist attraction even for women. Glass doors with the room lit in red in the background and women standing at the entrance, enticing every passerby, is definitely worth a visit. Photography is strictly prohibited in the area and unlike other brothels in the world this place is very safe. A knock at the window and negotiation on the price sets the ball rolling. Euro 50 is the charge for 20 minutes of indulgence.
Amsterdam has a lot of canals and the best way to experience the city is through a canal cruise. Euro 10 for a hour long ride with audio details of the history of the city is a must for tourists. The cruise covers major attractions like Anne Frank's house, Ship museum etc along its way. A visit to the coffee shops and the Red Light district later in the evening brought about an end to an eventful 2 day stay in Amsterdam.
Places which I could not visit include the Windmills, Jordan Street and Kokenhoff park. As the trip comes to an end it feels like slowly waking up from a dream and coming back to my senses. An extended trip to the paradise city and other parts of Europe during summers is something I aspire for..
No comments:
Post a Comment