"I want to make memories all over the world."
AMSTERDAM - ROTTERDAM DIARY
- June 2013 -
I
travelled to EUROPE!! Well, part of it. I managed to travel to Netherlands and
Germany. My greatest achievement! Let’s start off with Netherlands. This happened only last year. I got
to travel there for a business project. I feel so lucky to be one of the few
selected to go! So I spent 4 Days, on an all paid-for expenses trip before
extending another 4 more days to Germany to visit my Aunt. So I went with 2
colleagues via Malaysia Airlines (MAS), landed in Amsterdam and then took a
train to Rotterdam. FYI, the flight we took was the same MH17 which was brought
down over Ukraine middle of this year. OMG. Anyway, we went a day earlier for
preparation of jetlag and tiredness before our project begins the next day. So on
the day we landed, we had the whole day of sightseeing and food venturing. Let’s
see what Rotterdam has to offer! We started out from our hotel in Rotterdam called
Inntel
Hotels Rotterdam Centre @Leuvehaven, Rotterdam. Walked around and did
some sightseeing. A lot of people here walk and cycle more than driving. We went
for brunch at Bagel Bakery & Burgers @Schilderstraat, Rotterdam (aka V.O.F.
Bagel Bakery Food Company Rotterdam). Their bagels are really, really good.
They sell the best bagels with all sort of toppings. I tried the Bagel with goat’s cheese, walnuts &
honey. So freakin’ good! Their Bagel
with avocado & tomato was also good.
Next
I went to the Binnenrotte Market @Binnenrotte, Rotterdam near the metro
station. It is the biggest market square in the Netherlands. Just before the
market, I passed by Rotterdam Cube Houses. A modern set of innovative yellow cubic
houses which really reminds you of a Rubix cube. And now back to the Binnenrotte
Market. The market sells a variety of goods from junky stalls (rugs,
pots, pans etc.) to antique stalls, to toy stalls, to clothes stalls. There are
food stalls too, selling things ready to eat. My favourite stalls to look at
were flower stalls and fruit stalls. Their pretty and bright colours! I have
always dreamed of visiting these kinds of markets as what I usually see in the
movies (I can check this out from my wish list). And finally I have! I was really lucky to be able to see the market
operating as the market usually operates every Tuesdays and Saturdays while on Sundays
from April to December, and since it was a Sunday in June, so Yay! We then took
a metro to Delfshaven, the
oldest part of Rotterdam. Over there was a little harbour with a windmill at
the end of the housing and quayside buildings. I love their architecture over
there. Once you see the pictures below, you’ll understand. We had dinner at a
random restaurant. The one thing different from an Asian country is the food
portion. Their food portion is huge! I guess us Asians are small eaters.
Next
three days was mainly working at the office. The dinner places I went was El
Gaucho @Van Vollenhovenstraat, Rotterdam and Sansan Restaurant Sichuan Cuisine
@Hang, Rotterdam (A Chinese restaurant). I LOVE the El
Gaucho’s Spareribs and Steak (Medium
rare). Those who love meat, this is the place for you! As usual, the portion is
too big for me. Sansan Restaurant is like the typical Chinese restaurants in
the Asian countries. But I guess here is considered special as the residence
here can try the authentic Chinese food. The food is good. A bit pricey though.
I tried the Steamed Scallops with rice
noodles. Overall, most of the dishes are not bad. After dinners I would go
visit the supermarket called Albert Heijn (there are branches all
around Rotterdam) to stock up my food I plan to bring back to Malaysia. Netherland’s
local delicacies are Stroopwafels (a
waffle made from two thin layers of baked dough with a caramel-like syrup
filling in the middle). A MUST to
try! I brought lots of it back home. I did not snap any photos of the
stroopwafels. You can Google it. After
dinner I would take random walks with my colleagues to enjoy the cool breeze.
The sky doesn’t get dark until after 10.00pm. We managed to take a walk to the Erasmus
Bridge @Erasmusbrug, Rotterdam. It was quite near to our hotel. On my
last day of work at Rotterdam, I took a train straight to the Airport and flew
via KLM
Royal Dutch Airlines to Bremen, Germany to visit my Aunt for the next
four days. My journey in Germany to be blogged next!
♥deborahk.
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