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Published: September 3rd 2005
In the last week of April I was driving listening to the radio in Ireland. A garden expert was talking about some strange garden in Amsterdam, Netherlands called Guekenhof (Keukenhof). He extolled it dearly.
It was May bank holliday weekend, I had not other plans. So I packed up my bags and went to visit Keukenhof. Flew by Rayan airways to Eindovan airport. Unfortunately 31st of april is Queens day and the whole of Netherland goes crazy, celebrating their queen. That means 3 hours extra wait in the bus stand for the Amsterdam connection !
while in the airport met this wonderful Korean girl Mira. Such a pleasant and lovely girl who really captured my goodness. She was a backpacer and just like any other backpacker - she was travelling on shoe string budget. During the long wait for the bus, we got introduced and became familiar. Little did I know she was going to be with me even the next day !
When the bus finally arrived 3 hours latter and took us to Amsterdam it was 5 PM and the city looked like as if it was bombed by an aircraft with paper bomb !!!. Yes
Orange costued youths
Queens day and so everyone is cheerful and merry with 'orangey' things on them.just small papers - news paper cuttings everywhere. Turns out they were the hotdog left overs ! Belive it or not the very next day the city was cleaned up.
The celebration had settled down and Amsterdam was full of young students in all sort of orange costumes, little bit drunk and cheerful. I rather cursed the delay - I think I missed a great day of celebration. The young Dutche's were so pleasant and orderly. No hanky pankies of drunken brawl or skirmish anywhere.
Then Mira told me that she doesn't have a place to stay. Tried couple of youth hostels and they were full to the brim. Couldn't let her stand on the street so called my hotel in Zanvoort Zee and asked tho owner if he could help. Fortunately he had a double room but he offered for a single room fee as Mira is a student. So she came along and I was very relieved.
We went about walking arround in Amsterdam for an hour or so. It was truely a great atmosphere of merry and joy and friendliness. Then took the train to Harem from there to Zanvoort Zee. Took a shower
and Mira and myslef went for a walk in the beech. It was a wonderful beech with pleasant and selubrious breeze. Summer was definetly just on the cornor. Mira is a wonderful photographer indeed. She took some great shots in beech. Then we went for a pizza and called it a day.
I kind of felt sorry for the girl as she had come all the way and spending her time just walking arround in the street due to budget travelling. so offered to come with me to Keukenhof and I would pay the expense. But to unfortunately she declined inspite of my insistence. So had to say good bye.
I joined a tour company which took us by coach to the garden in LIsse, about one hour from Amsterdam. When I entered the garden I couldn't believe my eyes - such abundant beauty in a small place tucked away in the country side. Tulip bulbs were everywhere and such a pastiche of vibrant colors - Red, yellow, violet, white, pink and just about every other shades there is.
This garden is manintained by the majour tulip exporters of Netherlands. They have their own pavilions to show
A Dutch young fellow in orange
I noticed him. He a confident stride about him just like the man in the statue. off their other flowers as well. This garden gets 2 million visitor - YES, 2 MILLION in two months. Amazing. Its only open in April and May. Closes on 20th May every year.
While I was in the garden I couldn't miss to notice that the place was full of South Korean tourists - literraly they had taken over the place !. So many of them. World is small indeed. Thought about Mira, she would have loved the place and her country folks - she missed a great place. Such a sumptuous and refreshing garden.
Just take a look at the images. You will appreciate what I am going on yapping about. Next year book a flight to Netherlands and visit this amazing garden. You will enjoy it.
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Cheli
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Hey, man...great photos. I'd love to visit the Nederlands sometime, myself. Keep takin the pics!!