Josenthiana Manggie: From England to Holland -1

Our Tour de Europe last month (5th-29th September 2008) was really an interesting and challenging journey (among those were our GPS was technically malfunctioned) but - to cut the story short - we managed to find the way out. Gosh...thanks God! The day before we cross the English Channel, we spent a night in Dover and get ourselves ready for the trip which we had technically planned for the past 6 months!- car rental, accommodation, places of interest, culture, languages, etc.

On the 5th @ 0800, we departed from our hotel and drove to Dover Ferry Terminal where we dropped off our rented car. We decided to get another car in France as in Europe , they drive on right hand side and we thought its best to get their car instead of driving a car from UK. From Dover, we catched the ferry to Calais, France. It took us about 1.5 hours to cross the English Channel.

P&O Ferry used to cross the English Channel

Seb and Gab on the ferry (background view-the White Cliff of Dover)

Once we reached Calais, we got our pre-booked rented car from AVIS. After loading our luggage into the car, Seb get himself ready for his first main task...to operate the car in a different setting. After just five minutes driving, suddenly Seb headed on to the road divider....OMG...everyone just keep quite...can he really make it?can he really adapt himself with the right handed driving system, turn right when it comes to the roundabout, etc. Despite all the "obstacles" we managed to make it through to Holland and the first assignment took us 10 hours to reach our destination (plus visits to WC).

We spent 3 days in Holland and came to learn that most of Holland is below sea level where barriers were built along Holland to hold back sea water - no wonder you can find canals anywhere in Amsterdam. We visited the cheese farm and a "Klompenhius", where wooden clogs are made.

The Clog

Demonstration on the processes of making cheese

Photo taken with "The Dutch Lady- susu Dutch Lady liao..."

Typical Amsterdam identity - The traditional windmill

The following day, we spent the rest of the day in Amsterdam City, places such as Von Gough Musuem, Hard Rock Cafe, etc and of course the famous Red Light District (RED) where legal prostitution activities take place. The interesting part of RED is that one can find prostitutes displaying themselves, wearing arousing bikinis in the "aquarium" ready for business. However, we could not take the snapshot in the RED as we have been warned not do so or else you will find yourself and your camera in the canal, thrown by the bonzer. This experience is a good exposure for Gab...I would think so :) She was giggling all the way through and keep on saying "Mummy...... look at the sexy lady." Being a liberal country, canabis can also be found in the night market and they do sell coffee mixed with marijuana upon request. Dont you think its cool?