Keukenhof

Trip to Amsterdam during spring, would not be complete without the visit to Keukenhof!

Keukenhof, (keuken = kitchen,  hof = garden) is located near Lisse, South Holland is an area of about 80acres ~ 40soccer fields (I guess). The biggest garden in Europe and second largest in the world after Dubai Miracle Garden.

We did not use the I AMSTERDAM card for this visit because it expired (we bought the 48hrs validity pass). For this visit however, we bought an online ticket including transfer to and from Schipol Airport before our trip to Amsterdam.

off to Schipol, sleepy....

Amsterdam: I AMSTERDAM (Artis Royal Zoo and NEMO Science Centre)

Remember when we were young? In primary school and when singing the birthday song would change the lyric to "you were born in the zoo" or "you live near the zoo". I could say, at least on of the two version is true. I live near the zoo. Honest

I live near the National Zoo in Malaysia. How near? I would be able to hear the sound of my favourite primate, the gibbon. I could imitate them too. Our house is close to the second entrance of the zoo, and on Saturdays and Sundays, it would be busy with visitors. If we wanted to go to the zoo, a short walk less than 5 minutes and we will be at the main entrance. That close.

So, when the children wanted to visit the zoo in Amsterdam I was excited. Excited to see the type of animals they have and it is one of the oldest zoo in the world. Founded in 1838, Artis or Natura Artis Magistra (Latin for Nature is the teacher of Arts and Science) is one of the oldest in Europe!

From the Amsterdam Centraal, we took the no 9 tram and alight at the Artis tram stop. 

The Artis main gate

the entrance

Zaanse Schans: The windmill centre of the Netherlands

Zaanse Schans!!

What a place! What an effort to protect the national heritage of the Dutch people. All I can see, it was done thru love and responsibility  towards educating the next generation about the 'Golden Era' and to showcase the whole world why they are the best in harnessing the power of nature to spur the economy of a nation which is three times SMALLER than Malaysia.

Ptolemy wrote about the The Gold Peninsula (Semenanjung Emas) which is now the West Malaysia and with the creation of VOC (Dutch East Indies) they came to trade and later 'acquire' the land   in not so nicely way (they got rid of the Portuguese in Malacca). Their ruthlessness in conducting business earned them a special place in Malay proverb which is:

"Ibarat Belanda meminta tanah"

Like a Dutch, asking for land

A greedy person is given little, demands for a lot more, and when was given more, would ask for the whole thing

The Dutch must've done something really not nice back then to earn them a place in the Malay proverb. Not to ridicule my Dutch friends in Lagos...Marijke, Jelle, Joyce, Koen, Tamme, Marc and Ramon to name few, but merely stating from a linguistic point of view. 

Medical Mktg Manager in front, followed by National Manager, then Area Manager.. picture taken by sales rep.. hahahahahah 

Zaandam, the walkabout

Province        : North Holland
Municipality : Zaanstad (stad means city)
Main City  : Zaandam (along with several others like Zaandijk, Wormeveer etc)

A river name Zaan, traversing thru the region which emptied into the lake Ij (sound like 'eye'). This region is also famous for its windmills in Zaan Schanse.

A tourist attraction map of Zaanstad, opposite the Stadhuis.
Note the location of Zaandam

Map of the Zaandam area.
Our hotel is at the left most of the map.

The Result

Welcome April!

Another month passes by and a few days..I mean about two  weeks passed without any new topic posted in the blog. What else can we talk about, the election of course!

But the timing couldn't just be more perfect for a holiday since it will be the children's spring break and Easter holidays. We are heading to Amsterdam this time. The capital city of weed and Red Light District!... I mean the Netherlands. Madam has been there a few times as her office's HQ is in Amersfoort.

Heading towards the airport

Danfo (to Ogun state, maybe)