Amsterdam

Since MiMi wanted to experience the tulips season, we went to Amsterdam during her visit... we took a train from Cologne... I think it's so much nicer to go on holidays via trains instead of flying... so much less hassle!!! And not to mention, the trains bring you all the way to the city centre...

Since our hotel was just next to the Heineken Brewery, it was our first stop...

There were lots of things to do and see in the brewery... in terms of architecture, the Guinness storehouse at Dublin is probably more interesting, but this one has a lot more activities and things to do... which makes it more interactive...

There were lots of places for you to pose for photos, a 3-D ride like motion master, demonstrations, replicas for you to tryout the various stages of beer making, foosball tables etc.... and we even made a Dutch music video which we sent to our brother in Australia... hehehe...



And of course, the free pints of Heineken.. hahaha...



After that, we went around the city centre including the museum park...

The canals...

Dam Square... and their version of the London eye...

Hehehe... we were fascinated with the Dutch's idea of fast food... buying croquet from the vending machines!!!

And we also searched high and low for this pancake shop, which was supposed to be quite famous in Amsterdam... (well both Yun and I went to the same place the last time we were in Amsterdam as our friends brought us there...) but we couldn't really remember where it was!!! Just that it's near the Anne Frank's house!!!

We also visited the red-light district at night... but sorry... no pictures... well... you are not allowed to take any pictures and doing so may risk your camera being confiscated...

The next day, we spent the whole day at Keukenhof... I just love this park... it is so so so so beautiful during the tulips season...

There are hundreds type of tulips in every colour that you can think of... the lush of colours everywhere... it really makes you happy!!!

We went photo crazy and snapped I think at least a thousand shots between us (although most of them are my elder sis' photos...:P)

I shall try not to bombard this post with flower photos!!!

More pics from Keukenhof...

After a fun-filled day with the tulips... we went for Indonesian food as Amsterdam is quite famous for its Indonesian restaurants... it was surprisingly quite good...

The last day, we headed off to Zaanse Schans... a small little village with well-preserved historic windmills...

It has several windmills which are still working to date...

And is popular among tourists... they also have good cycling scenic routes around this village...

More windmills....

We also visited the cheese factory here...

Recently, I am quite into cheese (especially those smelly cheese... hehehe) ever since I went to a restaurant with a cheese room with my colleagues... so I bought a big blob of garlic and herbs cheese... hehehe... smelly...

There was also a clog factory in the village which we visited....

How does my clogs look?? hehehe..

And oh... just so happened it was the Queens birthday that weekend and they have this huge celebration and parade around the city centre... so we joined in the parade for a bit before catching our train back to Cologne...

Even though it was my second trip to Amsterdam, I still found it quite enjoyable and there seems to be still lots of things to do... perhaps it's the company then :)