16 Friday Nov 2012
Posted in Amsterdam, architecture, photography, photowalking, random, Travel, urban
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Amstertam, architecture, Netherlands, photography, photowalk, random, Travel, urban
From my trip to Amsterdam a couple of months ago. Still seems as if I was just there!
08 Thursday Nov 2012
Posted in Amsterdam, fun, London, montreal, New York, photography, photowalking, random, San Francisco, Travel, urban
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Amsterdam, London, montreal, New York, photography, photowalk, random, san francisco, Travel, urban
Here are some letter/postal related photos I’ve collected over the years.
Amsterdam (September 2012)
London (October 2012)
San Francisco (March 2010)
New York (February 2011)
Montreal (March 2009)
02 Friday Nov 2012
Posted in Amsterdam, photography, photowalking, random, Travel, urban
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Amsterdam, Netherlands, photography, photowalk, random, Travel, urban
A common sight in Amsterdam.
30 Tuesday Oct 2012
Posted in Amsterdam, photography, photowalking, random, Travel, urban
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Amsterdam, dusk, Netherlands, night, photography, photowalk, random, silhouette, sunset, Travel, urban
A beautiful evening in Amsterdam, just about a month ago.
26 Friday Oct 2012
Posted in Amsterdam, iPhone, photography, photowalking, random, Travel, urban
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Amsterdam, iPhoneography, Netherlands, night, photography, photowalk, random, Travel, urban
No better way to end the day than with a giant game of chess. Max Euweplein, Amsterdam.
14 Sunday Oct 2012
Posted in Amsterdam, photography, photowalking, random, urban
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Amsterdam, Netherlands, photography, photowalk, random, Travel, urban
A lovely fall morning on the Museumplein with the Concertgebouw beyond it, Amsterdam.
26 Wednesday Sep 2012
Posted in Amsterdam, fun, photography, photowalking, random, Travel, urban
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Amsterdam, Netherlands, photography, photos, photowalk, random, Travel, urban
How odd that the Dutch, on average deemed some of the tallest people on Earth, choose to drive the world’s smallest vehicles.
23 Sunday Sep 2012
Posted in Amsterdam, photography, photowalking, Travel, video
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Amsterdam, Netherlands, photography, photowalk, skyline, Travel, urban
It’s been raining a lot in Amsterdam since I got here, so it’s made it difficult to get loads and loads of good outside shots as I usually like to do. Here’s one taken from Westerkerk, between showers.
22 Saturday Sep 2012
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Eating while watching your wallet isn’t the easiest thing to do on vacation. (A stranger I ran into today warned me I’d best brace myself for Paris, lest I think Amsterdam was actually bad.)
So imagine how happy I was to have eaten a three-course meal of sorts on the fly and spending only €8.20.
Amsterdam’s version of street meat
Albert Cuypstraat in the De Pijp district is home to “Amsterdam’s famous street market.” At least that’s how it’s cheerfully announced inside the tram as you pull up to the neighbourhood.
What you find is three long blocks of stalls selling all sorts of stuff — including food. (Check out parallel and cross streets for even more shops, restaurants, bars and cafés.)
Starter
I was hungry for a light meal so I headed right to a chip stand selling Flemish fries topped with mayonnaise.
Perfect, thick cuts of potato, deep fried and lightly seasoned. A small portion is €1.65, plus 35 cents for mayo.
Main
Next, the main course: Chicken balls.
The meatballs are seasoned with salt, rosemary and thyme, from what I could taste.
These are richer than they look. They’re not very dense but from the taste (and the drippings oozing through the paper container) there is chicken skin mixed in.
I was full after five of them. The sixth one was just greed.
They’re sold in portions of eight chicken balls for £2.50.
Dessert
How do you top off a meal like that? With little pancakes, of course!
They’re called poffertjes. And that dollop of stuff at the bottom? That’s butter. Use as little or as much as you like.
A small portion consists of 10 pancakes about 3 to 5 cm across. It’ll cost you £2. Toppings (including honey, syrup and Nutella) are extra.
Feeling guilty?
After that delicious meal, I felt guilty about not having eaten any fruits or veggies. Not to worry; there are fruit stands here, everywhere.
I bought a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice (£1) and an apple (70 cents) to try and ease my conscience.
I’m not sure it worked, though. What did I have for dinner that day? A gigantic salad from the café at the Concertgebouw.
20 Thursday Sep 2012
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If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam shortly, you may want to note the following about museum exhibits, to supplement whatever you’ve learned from your preparatory reading. (Also, to moderate your expectations, perhaps!)
The Rijksmuseum is undergoing substantial renovations. Most of its collection is currently inaccessible, with only a select portion on display in the Philips Wing.
The Van Gogh Museum is about to close for renovations. Even now, only the permanent collection is on display on two floors.
However don’t despair: Many of the pieces usually available at the Van Gogh Museum will be shown at the Hermitage Amsterdam instead, starting next week.
Also, the Stedelijk Museum, currently closed, will re-open this weekend.
Ricky Leong 