http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Netherlands , South Holland en-us Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:06:51 +0000 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:06:51 +0000 I was up early on Wednesday to pack and make sure I was ready to leave. Dad and Wanda dropped me off at the Dordrecht train station. After spending every day for two weeks with them I felt very sad to say goodbye. The next day they were flying to Poland to spend 5 weeks there visiting Luiza and Bartek and doing some travelling around the country. I am very thankful to my Dad for taking me a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/Dordrecht/blog-460230.html The title quote is from The Dutch I Presume a great book about Holland and the quirky things Dutch people do. A gift from Judith thanks so muchWell Irsquom down to my last week here in Holland. The trip went by so quickly On Thursday we took the day off from shopping and exploration to relax and play some cards. It rained most of the day so good timing. In the afternoon we went to http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/Rotterdam/blog-459151.html Phew Wow therersquos so much to catch up on. Letrsquos see if I can remember everything thatrsquos happened in the past 2 weeks.On Monday Dad Wanda and I took the train to Leeuwarden a city in the northern part of The Netherlands. Dad had gotten us cheap allday tickets from Tante Rite and this was a great way to see more of the country. Irsquod never been up north before. It was http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/Dordrecht/blog-458247.html Fact All Hollanders are from the Netherlands but not all people in the Netherlands are from Holland. Holland is just 2 provinces of the Netherlands. It might be a little confusing since many people refer to the Netherlands as Holland.I've been in the Netherlands since last Wednesday. It's now Sunday afternoon and I'm at my Tante Rite's house taking advantage of her internet since we don't hav http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/Dordrecht/blog-455074.html So apparently I believe it is a European thing people put butter on sandwichesregardless of what is on it. Sure I've heard of a grilled cheesenot even grilled or toasted but just cheese and butter that makes sense. NO not here no matter what is on the sandwich there is always a base layer of butter. Not that any of you are interested but today I had a sandwich with you guessed it butter http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/blog-451023.html Is alweer tijdje geleden ondertussen maar dan ook veel te drukke periode achter de rug... zou niet eens meer weten wat we psies gedaan hebben voordat we naar NL vertrokken... dus laat maar gewoon beginnen bij de reis Die begon al niet al te goed. Na instappen op Melbourne begon de ellende al... bijna anderhalf uur vertraging omdat er bepaalde passagiers door de douane waren aangehouden en niet http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/Rotterdam/blog-448374.html Yesterday we went to Leiden. We rode our bikes to central station and caught a double decker train. It was a fair way to Leiden but as it was an express it only took half an hour. When we got to Leiden we went straight to the tourist info where we got a map and decided to go on the Leiden Loop. The Leiden Loop is a two hour walk which takes you past the best spots in Leide http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/Leiden/blog-439643.html Well I finally made it to the Netherlands. I must admit I've been keen to get here since leaving Australia nearly eight months ago. I'm not quite sure what was driving me to visit this country so much but i gotta tell you... Dutch woman riding bikes in gorgeous little summer dress's is as good a reason as any to stayAfter leaving Antwerp I headed north about one hour into the Netherlands and en http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/Rotterdam/blog-434178.html testing 123 http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/blog-431102.html The next day its Sunday the 19 of April and me and dad and Liz get us some bikes. We go riding in around the tulip fields of the Keukenhof For those that donrsquot know the Keukenhof is the largest tulip sculpture garden in the Netherlands. We did not go into the gardens. Instead we cycled around the area of the Keukenhof. We cycled about 10km the whole day. I was so proud of dad. He went stro http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/-Lisse/blog-428996.html For a little time out we have decided to catch up with a friend we made on our Kumuka tour and a chance to have a break and turns out to enjoy some home comforts.We have about 5 days here to just chill. Jay's got a bit of a cold so a slow and easy stay is ahead of us.We did headed out Saturday to grab some tickets to the local soccer match for Sunday and Jay Breezy kicked the footy around for a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/The-Hague/blog-425822.html I finally took the plunge.Three years in the making and nine years of anticipation finally lead me to complete my open water diver license on Sunday 24 of July. Oostvoorne was the destination about 40 km west of Rotterdam. Itrsquos a nice lake not only for scuba diving but also for kite surfing and wind surfing. On Sunday as the weather improved and the sunshine danced playfully on the water http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/Rotterdam/blog-425292.html Before the partyEvery party requires a wish This is the start My plan is going to Thailand travel alone and have fun Here starts the process of FUN before the journey. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/blog-417734.html Welcome to my travelblogDuring my travels in Asia 20072008 I met my girlfriend Anna from Finland in Cambodia in the city of Battambang. When I returned in Europe and after a year of traveling to and from Berlin and Finland because she was studying and living there we decided to take on another epic journey. This time we are going together Meanwhile Anna got a 4 month internship for the Finnis http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/The-Hague/blog-416401.html Today I went to the embassy of the People's Republic of China. I was told to be early so I was. I arrived 35 minutes before it opened but I was number 8 in line. Of course getting a visa is not really exiting although I thought at first... The province of Heilongjiang the place I will be studying has stamped my visa application which ensures me a visa. However the visa the lady wanted to http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/The-Hague/blog-415747.html Well hello there Ok so i have been really slack with this whole blogging thing but while i have free internet i thought i'd give you all a quick update on what we have been up to and some pictures toSo as we speak we are sitting in our hostel in Rotterdam. This has been the second best hostel we have stayed at everyone is really nice and we have meet some great people in fact we plan to meet ba http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/Rotterdam/blog-415172.html Here we are back home after a fantastic trip to the MG Car Club European Event of the Year in Norway. It was at Geiranger wich is a ENESCO heritage site of beauty. And so it is. We went by ferry from Kiel to Oslo but on the way back we drove the whole way through Norway Sweden Denmark Germany then back to the Netherlands. Elton John's massive yacht arrived in front of our hotel as well during http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/Dordrecht/blog-414143.html Money is earned in Rotterdam divided in The Hague and spent in AmsterdamHi EveryoneI have spent the last three days in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. I forget why I decided to come here other than I found a cheap hostel. Amsterdam is going to be very expensive so I needed a break from that. Rotterdam is an interesting place it is very Urban. It was bombed to the ground in 1940 during WWI http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/Rotterdam/blog-413397.html Beck in HollandOh and England Germany and Belgium tooBecause therersquos more to life than just travelling the world and marvelling at its varied peoples and cultures. In the end I could no longer ignore the desperate cry of Europersquos 500 million people frenziedly clamouring for my return. So here I am back in the Old World. And hey itrsquos nice to be back after all that time meeti http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/The-Hague/blog-412253.html Off to Rotterdam we went to go to an event called Distorted Hardcore. The only reason we were going to this out of the way event was to see Hellfish. He was pretty much of our last DJ to cross off our wish list. One of the UK's biggest industrial producers he makes music like you would NEVER have heard before I promise you. He creates such a unique mash up of tracks influenced mainly by industri http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/South-Holland/Rotterdam/blog-408425.html