08 August 2008

amsterdam

sneaking a picture in the souvenir shop, forced GW to take for me




Amsterdam is always raining, so you may want to open a umbrella retail shop at the tourist shopping areas. Sure earn money one. We were stuck in a shop because of rain, and bought a small umbrella for 15euros (we chose the cheapest ok)



Amsterdam is a environment friendly country, there is a multistorey bicycle parking lots which I didn't managed to snap it cuz I was too slow in the coach






more bicycle lots... the bikers there are very hardcore one they will run over you if u are walking on the bicycle path...



Sweet in Pink!


The houses there all look like this





cute!


the retarded boy
We went to check out their red light district... very happening.
You can see alot of tourist doing window shopping. Yes... Girls dressed in bra and panties, dancing behind the glass window... Being a prostitute in amsterdam is like being a civil servant, they enjoy privileges like medical benefits, tax free and pensions etc. No photography is allowed in the red light district, because they want to the protect the identity of the girls working there. And also their brownies contains marijuana (duno how to spell, it's some drug) and is totally legal to sell them in coffeshops.
We didn't try the brownie or go to the sex show with the rest of the tourmates, we just explored the area and we found... CHINESE RESTAURANT!!! Although we already had dinner, but we totally can't resist the temptation.



char kway teow!!! i want to go back singapore!




dumpling soup!!! i want to go back singapore!





char siew rice!!! I want to go back singapore!




rooster teaset!!! reminds me of my bimbo sister who is so into this rooster series... She will buy food from whatever stall serving with the rooster bowl because she thinks it taste better.






we went for the canal cruise, around 28 euros per person inclusive of free flow beer & red wine









Giving out vodka shots to everyone, and we all took the first shot together






close up



The canal cruise is a nice way to explore amsterdam because the place is connected by canals, and the people there are very friendly and they love to wave at the tourists in the boat.. HAHA, one even undid his pants and show us his butt.








View from the canal boat of 7 bridges all aligned








Early next morning we went to visit Anne Frank's house. The place opens at 9am, and this is the queue at 8.30am... For those who read the book "Diaries of Anne Frank", this is the place where the family hid for 2 years during the WW2. (Diaries of Anne Frank was No. 1 best seller before Harry Potter overtake her). I learnt about this little girl from a movie I watched few months back called "The freedom writers" and really wanna check out her house in Amsterdam. It's pretty cool, there is a secret passage way behind a bookshelf which leds to the attic.
No photography allowed inside.
Took this picture while in the queue... love the sky

Statue of Anne Frank outside her house. I bought a copy of her book at the Anne frank bookstore, can't wait to read it!

06 August 2008

Update on paris: my first ever Louis Vuitton




paris

it was 30 degrees in paris that day. Freaking hot and i got sunburnt on both my shoulders.


When we talk paris, it will always be the eiffel tower.... Any ideas what does these yellow stars represent???


Typical tourist picture part I






Typical tourist picture part II

Typical tourist picture part III


the ticketing queue to get to the top... Long queue but moving very fast, not so bad



Check out the queue while climbing the stairs


This is only the first storey of the eiffel tower, and I'm already half dead. U need to climb (i think 698 steps) to the 2nd storey to take a elevator to the top. Seriously, I won't go up the eiffel tower again. Once is enough.

Our saviour - the elevator. I was doing the superman pose with my right arm stretched up. And GW said i looked more like air pork instead. TMD.
Random



View from top of tower










View from top of tower





View from top of tower



View from top of tower





I thought this is kinda cool


This is an expensive restaurant, and normally big shots celebrities will dine there (overheard michael jackson is one of them). The windows are bullet proof.





Arc of Triomphe Etoile, known as the crazy roundabout. Our tour manager said accident rate is 1 every 30 minutes


Sainte Chapelle, near to Notre Dame



Yeah, we went to check out Notre Dame...


A headless guy at the entrance
Inside Notre Dame, there is a service going on






love the stained glass

It was the le tour de france on that day. SO SUAY! The street is packed with people, people and more people. And road blocks here and there, which makes it difficult to walk to the places we want to visit.



People waiting for the bikers





The Lourve!!! It's made up of 666 pieces of glasses


The place when the king and queen lives back in Louie the 13th or 14th era... can't really remember. The peasants came to protest, and the king & queen fled away without informing anyone. And thousands of loyal Swiss army were killed while trying to protect the king & queen who were not inside. Sad.


The 4 horses from Venice
Gypsy selling souvenirs, u can bargain anything to half of its quoted price.


Souvenir stores by the streets. But is cheaper to buy from gypsies.






Very big (3 storeys) Louis Vuitton outlet! GW bought me a clutch, my first LV in my whole life!






So hot and still wear until like that.



Saw this when making our way to Moulin Rouge... Beautiful


Very ugly hairstyle


The ah ma who fed the pigeons



Moulin Rouge! There is a roundabout where wind blows upwards from the ground, and you see girls holding down their skirts. Cool!