2014 Amsterdam Trip Day 4-6

Continuing from my earlier post, day 4 was going in to office around 9am and work as usual till around 4pm! I told boss I'm not joining him dinner as I'm going shopping for snacks which Mum requested and Longchamp bags which the gfs requested too. It was quite cold that night and I met a guy who was high on drugs, I guess. It gives me the shiver! I make my way to Debijenkorf and got the longchamp planetes bag at 101 euro. I walked to Damstraat after that to help mum's colleagues look for Leonidas chocolates which is very nice. I found myself walking into red light district/chinatown unknowingly so I decided to walk back to my hotel area.

I went to the HEMA store to get the cocktail nuts which Mum wanted - 20 packets! It was heavy for me! :(

Most of the chips are in Paprika flavour

I decided to go to Grand Cafe Mynt for dinner again and I had cappuccino and steak for dinner this time round. As usual, their food are good! 

Ribeye steak 17.50 euro

Address of the cafe

Day 4 OOTD: Hat - Tokyo Fashion Taiwan, Top - Uniqlo, Bottom - Tokyo Fashion Taiwan, Boots - Korea

DAY 5 - My last day in Amsterdam, I was looking forward to be back in SG soon! I had so many cravings such as Wanton Mee, Dimsum, Yong Tau Foo etc.

I went to the office at 9am too and knocked off at 4pm! It was back to the hotel and had a round of drinking session with the boss, it was a nice catch-up with boss! We proceed to the Asian Bistro across the road from the hotel and we had Chinese set menu which is not cheap (25.50 euro per pax). 

It was then goodbye with the boss after dinner as I proceeded to the Albert Heijn Supermarket to buy last minute goodies. While on the way to the supermarket, There's a guy trying to talk to me but I ignored him and proceeded my way. After buying the goodies, I walked back to the hotel along the main street, and I saw this black guy coming towards me when he see me. He started following me and talked to me, I tried to ignore but he keep following me and I got scared that he might rob me as he asked me to go see coffeeshop (where drugs are legal). I had many thoughts on my mind suddenly, what if I'm robbed by him and what if I will die, I have many things haven't do and haven't say out (my family, friends etc), that instance was really frightening. But it was lucky that 2 police officers passed by! When he saw the police officer, he stand a distance and said bye bye to me and walked back to the direction where we came from. I run back to my hotel room and feeling so terrified and trembling! 

I immediately packed my luggage and went to bed, but I did not manage to sleep at all. I'm not sure if it is related to jetlag. I haven't sleep for quite long time already. :(

Day 5 OOTD: Top - Tokyo Fashion Taiwan, Bottom - Levi's, Boots - Korea

I woke up at 3am and could not sleep anymore. I was ready to go the airport in the early morning. I had breakfast and set off to the airport at 7.45am, saw boss in the lobby and he send me off as he would be staying for another week in Amsterdam! My SQ flight was at 10.30am so I shopped around buying Leonidas chocolates and getting my tax refund back for the longchamp bags. Finally boarded the plane and it was not a smooth flight as there were turbulence many times! I did not sleep throughout the journey. :( I arrived Changi airport at 5.15am on Sunday morning, went to get the perfume from the DFS store in the transit area. I'm surprised and touched and happy to see him despite my flight being so early. Thank you and I appreciate it! :) We went for breakfast and I had laksa - craving for all the yummy local food. It was home sweet home after that! I needed more time to adjust my jetlag and my sleep! :) That's it for Amsterdam! :)

2014 Amsterdam Trip Day 2 & 3

Continuing from Day 1 , I woke up around 6am on Day 2. Showered and went down to the cafe for buffet breakfast as my boss doesn't arrive till around noon. I love the mushrooms alot as I had it before during my last trip.

After breakfast, it was back to the hotel room to work on my laptop. Got a buzz message from the boss to meet for lunch at the cafe downstairs as the weather doesn't look very nice to go out. I had no idea what to have for lunch as there's still not much appetite yet so I ordered a ham & cheese omelette which was quite nice with the thick creamy cheese! :)

Ham & Cheese Omelette with Brown Breads

After lunch, i headed back to my room to continue my work. I was kind of sleepy but lucky to have someone to chat with me through whatsapp. Thanks and I appreciate that. :) It was around 5pm when boss buzz a message to me to meet for a drink at the bar downstairs and to go for dinner today. The weather was kind of cold that I really do not wish to go out much too. :(

Drinking session

One is enough for me as I do not wish to get drunk. After the drinks, we headed to the Istanbul restaurant across from our hotel. From the restaurant name, you can guess it is kind of middle eastern food. I had chicken skewers with rice (yeah finally some rice, but I took a bit of the rice only as I wanna be on a diet). This trip with all the heavy food is making me put on weight, i think!

Chicken skewers with rice

Interior of Istanbul Restaurant

After dinner, is back to the hotel to rest! My usual routine would be showered and lying on bed to watch Hong Kong Drama and I usually fall asleep at 9pm (4am SG time). I would wake up every 30minutes to 1 hour though because I'm really not used to the time. :( 

Day 2 OOTD: Top - Tokyo Fashion Taiwan, Bottom - Levi's, Boots - Korea

Continued to day 3, the boss and me only went to office around 2pm as there were some hiccups with his luggage which only arrived after lunch! We worked on our laptops during breakfast & after breakfast and went back to our respective rooms to continue working. 

We had lunch in the hotel again as the weather is too chilly! This time round I had the chicken skewers with peanut sauce and prawn crackers, it's very nice! 

We headed to the office and worked till around 5pm before we head back to the hotel to go out for dinner. I suggested the Grand Cafe Mynt which we had meals there before during our last trip! I ordered a grilled salmon which was nice too and a hot cup of cappuccino. 

After dinner, it's back to the hotel to rest for the day. Again, I had interrupted sleep. :(

OOTD Day 3: Top - Bangkok, Bottom - Levi's, Boots - Korea

2014 Amsterdam Trip Day 1

Greetings from Amsterdam! Today is finally my 2nd last day in Amsterdam and I'm kind of falling sick already due to the super cold winter season. I heard that this winter is the warmest winter instead in hundreds years! OH MY! Because I already find it very cold already. But it is a pity there's no snow this time round. When I am typing this, my lips are dry and cracked (thou I have put lip balm), I'm tired due to not sleeping well every night cos of jetlag, the cold wind made my face very dry and skin are peeling and it hurts so much! :( Boohoo~~~ AND I miss SG food! I'm kind of tired with western food already (bread, chicken, steak etc). :p This morning I had craving for wanton mee, dimsum liu sha bao, yong tau foo, steamboat etc. :) My flight is tomorrow morning! YAY!

I took SQ flight on Sunday night and my flight was at 11.55pm so I reached airport near to 8pm and had Dian Xiao Er for dinner! Yummy chinese food before my trip, it was a satisfying meal! Thanks for the dinner and sending me to airport. 

The 十全鸭 is so nice!

Dian Xiao Er

Changi Airport T3

#03-42/43

Tel: 6542 3789

Operating Hours: 10.30am - 11pm (Last order at 10.15pm)

I went into the departure level around 10pm and shop around the dutyfree shops before proceeding to the gate for boarding. The gate was located quite far end of the terminal! It was a 13 hours journey and the flight was quite smooth as there's no turbulence! But I was sitting around some babies so it was kind of noisy but I'm ok with that. I had 2 meals on board the plane but it was not very nice and I had not much appetite.

I arrived at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport around 6.45am and it was so dark as if it was night time. :x I shopped around their transit area checking out longchamp bags before clearing immigration. Their immigrations officers are quite strict checking if you are here for business or holidays and where your office are located at etc. Anyway, I collected my luggage and proceed to take the taxi to the hotel. I'm staying at Crowne Plaza Amsterdam City Centre this time too and taxi cost 48 euro (S$83.62). Taxi is not cheap in Europe. 

It was only 8.30am and I'm able to check in early too. I was given a room on the 5th level (hotel was 6 levels tall). I unpacked and rest a little before making my way out. I wanted to check out the windmills at this attraction - Zaanse Schans. I understand that I need to take the metro to Koog-Zaandijk station from Amsterdam Centraal (17 minutes) and walk 15 minutes to this attraction. BUT I GOT LOST! I boarded a metro which I'm not sure of it's direction but after 20 minutes, I realised I could be on the wrong metro. I asked around the people and 1 young kind lady showed me the exact metro to take. The metro system here can be quite complicated! :( When I told my boss I took the metro, and he said I'm very daring to try taking their metro. Haha.

I arrived at  Koog-Zaandijk station and followed the direction to walk to Zaanse Schans. The weather was cold, wind was chilly and I needed to wear my leather gloves and use a heat pack. :( But the scenery was worth going to and getting lost. :p

 

I spent around an hour there before taking the metro back to Amsterdam Centraal. For info, Amsterdam Centraal is a very lively place and my hotel is located here. 

Amsterdam Centraal

I decided to buy lunch back to hotel as it was raining. I got myself the famous fries with joppiesaus and it was so yummy (but it stained my favorite scarf!). It costs 3.75 euro (S$6.53) for a small size, not very cheap right but it is super nice!

I bought a McChicken burger meal from the Mcdonald located near my hotel and it costs 6.85 euro (S$11.93), it is expensive too right? The chicken is nice and is in heart shape form. 

I know the picture doesn't looks very nice here

I stayed in Hotel for 2 hours before making my way to the nearby supermarket - Albert Heijn to buy snacks and water. My sister had requested for the White Chocolate Oreo which is not available in Singapore. I also bought a Winnie the Pooh Caramel Biscuits which is amazingly good because it is fragrant and not sweet. :)

After getting the snacks, I walked over to the dutch department store - DeBijenkorf to help the gfs get their longchamps bags. It is definitely cheaper here than Singapore. I paid 148 euros for 2 longchamp bags and there was a refund of 16 euro for their VAT (tax). I'm tempted to get a longchamp planetes bag but indecisive because I just got a Kate Spade working bag months ago and a Coach Sling bag too. But the longchamp is really cheap here compared to Singapore. :( 

After shopping, I went back to the hotel. I did not have much appetite for dinner because I was tired. But at 7pm, I decided to call for their in-room dining - spaghetti bolognese. It was so-so only, as it tastes quite bland. 

In-room dining

I fall asleep near to 8pm and slept till midnight and woke up every hour in the wee morning. :( Jetlag which I hated it. 

Day 1 OOTD: Top - www.hollyhoque.com , Bottom - Betwo Taiwan, Winter Coat - qoo10 Singapore, Scarf - Taiwan, Boots - Korea

Till my next post on Day 2 of Amsterdam!