Short Trip to Holland (Day 5)

9 February, our last day in Arnhem...we left the hotel early in the morning after breakfast...there was a limousine picked us up (including Azmi & Jamri) at the hotel around 8a..there were a lot of luggages in the trunk of the Mercedes..the driver (hired by Fico) help us to place our luggage in the trunk as it was so heavy...The journey from Arhnem to Amsterdam Schipol airport will took 1.5 hrs...

the Mercedes that took us to the airport...

the driver,lupa tanye nama..badan mcm wrestler..hehe..next to him; Jamri

We enjoyed a nice view along our journey on the road...we had seen a lot of nice places and not forgetting the windmill..the trademark of Holland...we had not had the chance to see the windmill closer..I heard only a few left as they have switched to the modern windmill..

I did search some info on the windmills on the net.

History of Windmills:

Picture of Windmill, Kinderdijk - Kinderdyke, Holland

The Dutch built windmills for many centuries (and to some extent, the windmills built the country itself,since without them much of the land drainage could not have occured). In that time the mills were developed for corn milling,land drainage,saw milling,and in fact all manner of industrial purposes.Despite this widespread use,Dutch mills are in many ways quite primitive - using canvas sails,and turned to wind by hand (as distinct from the automated mechanisms that were developed for English windmills,including the faintail,and shuttered sails).

There are a very pleasing number of remaining windmills in the Netherlands - the number is about 1150 and rising.There are 8 windmills in Amsterdam.

Ikea..

Upon arrival at the Schipol airport, we headed to the counter to re-issue ticket..it cost us EURO 25...later, we walked around the terminal and snapped few photos...ard 11a, we entered the waiting terminal to wait for our flight scheduled at 12p...while waited for our flight,we had a chit chat wif Azmi & Jamri,seated behind us...our flight was MH 0017.I was really sad because I had to leave The Netherlands... such a short trip but all I can say I had a nice experience there..I learned a lot abt their culture and lifestyle..I shall come again to The Netherlands....

Schipol airport..sempat posing sementara tunggu flight

In the airport

outside the airport..

TOT ZIENS HOLLAND...till we meet again..

*tot ziens = goodbye in dutch

After 13 hrs of tiring journey, we arrived in KLIA at 8a...my dad-in-law fetched us up at the airport...Then, we stopped by somewhere to have our breakfast and lunch..I was having a jet lag...Once arrived at home me & hubby grabbed the pillow and continue our journey in a dreamland....hehe

That's all folks.Our journey to The Netherlands/Holland...

Short Trip to Holland (Day 4)

On 8 February, we went to Amsterdam Central as my hubby did not had the chance yet to go for a sight seeing.Besides,we need to get some souvenirs for family & friends..We left the hotel around 10a..we wanted to leave earlier,but hubby need to put some final touch on his report...We bought return ticket (Dagretour) that cost us EURO 16,00/person..Our tren scheduled at 10:28a..

Welkom to Amsterdam Centraal..

It took approximately 1 hr 12 mins to Amsterdam Centraal. Upon arrival in AC around 11:40a,we went for a tour around the city..unlike in Arnhem, Amsterdam more congested wif people. We walked around to see some of the nice places in Amsterdam.

my dearest hubby...

We walked around the city and snapped some photos of the buildings, scenery and not forget our own photos..hehe...syok sendiri je...we brought some snacks from the hotel during our breakfast that morning...biscuits & some bread..bkn per, nak isi perut sepanjang perjalanan di Amsterdam.We were thinking that we had not much time to go for lunch...nak bergambar lg, nak beli souvenirs for friends & families lg...mcm2 nak buat in one day..mane spot yang sesuai kami snapped jer...actually, during our visit in Amsterdam, there was a major construction in the city..so, byk tmpt jd x menarik..tau tau je la kan..with the tractors la,itu la ini la...

teruja dengan kuda kat belakang tu sbnrnyer...hehe..ada macam kuda kepang tak?..

Dam Square...similar to Trafalgar Square in Central London..ade feeding pigeons, pelawak & performer jalanan...

ni la performer kat street tu..garang!!..I snapped jer..pedulik per...dah ler x paham dia ckp per...hehe

feeding pigeon...

jejaka terhangat Malaya...

street cat..mak aihhh!!gemuknyer..mcm kucing bela..cantik jer...ni kalau kat m'sia,street cat mmg sopak sana sopak sini....

Then, we dropped by at the DamSquare Souvenir and bought some souvenirs. Nice souvenirs and gifts sold here at the reasonable price. We bought wooden tulips, some magnets ,mugs,t-shirts, and many more...the shops assistants were very nice and friendly..they helped us a lot with the wrapping...kena plak dgn customer yang cerewet cam I nih..just to make sure everything were packed properly..sbd ade items yang fragile... I really love shooping there, so many shops and a lot of choices..but you need to survey all the shops to get the affordable/cheap prices...

sempat lagi posing lepas dah shopping tu..banyak betul basikal,dutch mmg suke pakai bicycle

hubby with the background of dutch canal..near the Dutch 'Golden Age'...

nice background...I love this pic so much!

cruise...along Amsterdam Canal

Later, we continued our journey around the city...every inch of the road was occupied with people...keadaan mula sesak bila menjelang petang...after we have done with some photos and shopping, we headed back to Arnhem around 4p...dah letih dah rasanye..tp seronok giler..the weather was sunny but windy...sejuk la cuma ade sinaran matahari...tp x panas pun..unlike the day on my arrival in Amsterdam, the weather was cloudy...one incident happened to us...kami terlepas station...hehe..and guess what, the train was going back to Amsterdam Centraal..we only realized after we felt that it took some time to reach Arnhem station...rs cam jauh..I asked one of the guy in the train and he suggested that we should stop anywhere between the station...we stopped at the Utrecht Central and asked the tren assistant which tren were going to Arnhem...he then told us that we should take the tren at spoor 2, the tren will be heading to Arnhem...me & hubby were very tired...sampai terlepas tren...hehe..we arrived in Arnhem around 6p..lmbt skit sampai sbb missed station td...kalau tak sure dh sampai awal...

termenung panjang..tu yang sampai termissed station tu...very tiring..

sms sape tu sayang...???

upon arrival in Arnhem station, we headed back to hotel to take a break..rehat sekejap sbb penat berjalan..then, later around 7p, we went out to buy some chocs & candies for our family & friends...final shopping la kiranya ni...banyak jugak le kami borong..we had to rush as most of the shops were closed at 6/7 p...business hours dorang mmg x mcm kita..our KL is very LIVE...town dorang kol 7 onwards dah mula start sunyi..once arrived, most of the supermarkets were already closed...terpaksa la search yg belum tutup...and hubby knew where it is...the only supermarket opened until 10p..still many people do the shopping...sempat la rembat ape je yg ade..the price was quite cheap...The Netherlands mmg terkenal dengan coklat..so,chocs kat sini mmg murah...sbb dia manufacture sendiri...mmg susah la nak import dari luar..tgk kat wrapping paper tu mmg Made in The Netherlands...penuh gak le bakul kami...hehe...tp my hubby dah rembat awal2 lagi...hehe..last minute shopping ni mmg selalu nak rush jer..sebaik Q x panjang...

then, we went for a walk again...around town,final photo shooting..huhu...hard to snap a photo when it was already dark..we took a dinner and packed our stuff coz we were leaving the next day..tido pon lambat..banyak benda nak buat...we had to leave the hotel early as we need to re-issue the ticket at the aiport..

last pose in Arnhem..hehe

Short Trip to Holland (Day 3)

The next day (7th February) after breakfast, I headed to Arnhem town near the hotel area. I visited the church,ancient buildings,shops...not many people...weekdays maybe. I walked around and snapped some photos of the unique buildings and shops.I had to walk alone again as my hubby was at the supplier's office and only be back after office hours. The town were not as bz as in Kuala Lumpur.There was no traffic.The dutch prefer to use bus,motorcycle,bicycle and even walk.

One of the unique bulding..written in...???

unique music shop...

Since it was so difficult to find a restaurant that can fit my appetite and halal, I have brought some snacks before I went out. I brought some biscuits,chocolates and a mineral water..just to fill an empty stomach..bknnyer ada nasi campur kt sini..bayangkan,nak alas perut sampai petang.. eralier on,I planned to eat at Subway but I was curious with the food..takut termakan pork lak...then, I went to some of the clothing shops, Arnhem was having a mega sale during my stay there..so most shops offers up to 70% sale...Everybody were crazy about the sale but nothing much interest me except for some of accessories items.The shops were not congested as in Kuala Lumpur. ..You have more time & peace to shop...hehe..best kalau KL camnie.

Mega sale in Arnhem, they put the banner on all the roads to shops

After done with the window shopping (just bought some souvenirs), I walked around the town again..kira round2 town la nie....as usual snapped some photos of some of the nice view...I was really amazed with the town....amazed with the scenery,the people..pegi mana2 xyah nak pk selamat ke tak..sumer org buat hal sendiri..jalan kat lorong2 kecik pon takde mat pit nak usha..if in KL, I rasa dah selamat dah bag & duit i sumer...

Then,around 5:30 p, I headed back to hotel...rs penat & lapar tahap dewa dah... my hubby was not back yet..I took a shower and watch tv while waiting for my hubby to come back...I was having trouble watching the TV programme as I did not understand a single word they said..subtitle takde...all in dutch..yg I tau Welkom jer...hehe...conclusionnyer,tgk aje la,paham ke tak perkara no.2..

Welkom...Welkom...Welkom!

My hubby came back around 7p..he said he had finish his assignment at the suppliers' office...we had planned earlier to go to Amsterdam for sight seeing and shop.That was the reason he had to stay back a while and completed his work.Before we went out for dinner, he had to prepare a daily & final report to update his superior in Malaysia on the progress of the buy off machine...later around 8:30 p, we went out for a walk..jalan lagi around the town..penat mmg penat,tp sbb cuaca sejuk,selesa utk berjalan...tak sweat...then,masing2 perut lapar,I suggested to hubby that we go to SalaThai restaurant..but he refused,nak tukar angin kata my hubby...then I suggested to him we just order Domino's Pizza..but he's not a pizza type,finally we decided to go to Indonesian Restaurant called Batavia.We ordered satay,rice,sambal sotong and few malaysian alike dishes...but sorry to say,the taste was *%$^@!!.. mmg tak sama mcm malaysian dishes yang lazat...that time, I missed Malaysia so much!!

Short Trip to Holland (Day 2)

On the next day (6 February 2008), after breakfast, my hubby told me to go for a tour around Arnhem City. I went to the reception counter at the lobby to get some info on some of the nice places I can go for a tour & the public transportation available to get there. The guy gave me some brochures of the places, city map and printed out the bus schedule for me.bukan takat provide info jer, siap kasik tips lagi...best betul..senang nak travel because I have a bus schedule with me...unlike in Malaysia, susahnya nak tgk bas tu ikut schedule...Then,I went to room to dress up and get all the my stuff before I went out for a tour...boringnya terpaksa jalan sorang..but am already get used to it...so no big deal for me. cuma yang x bestnyer tang nak bergambar...terpaksa la amik bergambar sensorang...Based on the info & map the guy at the hotel gave me, I decided to go to Burger Zoo..I thot I wanted to go to National Park but since that guy said it will took me 1 hour/approx.40 km and 2 buses, I cancelled the intention to go there that..The guy told me it'd be better to spend time at the national park the whole day...whole day?alone?might be fun but boring...according to the brochure,from November to March the opening hours for the park will be from 9 am to 6 pm...lain season lain operating hours..admission fee for adults is euro 7 (including museum)...my plan that time was to go with hubby after he completed his assignment...

my breakfast..cereals,bread,raisins croissant, milk, pure orange juice,coffee

my favorite yogurt with fruits...

Without wasting more time, I took a bus to Burger Zoo. To go to the zoo you can either take bus no.3/13...In Malaysia the famos bus run by RapidKL but in The Netherlands it runs by Connexxion. The bus fare is euro 1. That's the only bus you can see on the road and using electricity to generate the bus. Most people in Netherlands use bicycle, motorcycle and some of them just love to walk. So the journey from Arnhem to Burger Zoo is approx. less than 30 mins. I took the bus no. 3 and it took me directly to Burger Zoo. The admission fee to the zoo is euro 16,50 = RM 79.20 (1 euro = RM 4.8, based on the exhange rate that time). Ni kalau zoo kat Malaysia harga mcm tu...mmg x masuk zoo sampai bila bila la jawabnya..hehe.Guess what, the zoo is so big they have divided into few parks.gabungan 6 jenis wildlife dalam tu...haa,konsep park dalam zoo la...konsep zoo tu pon "a trip around the world in just one day"..meaning,takyah le nak gi desert semata2 nak tgk desert animals,xyah nak gi safari africa nak tgk haiwan safari..all in the zoo..you can visit all types of animals in the world in a day...sempat la snapped few photos of the animals.one of them,as shown below..hehe

Skinny Safari Lion...

I was in the zoo for 5 hours...I travelled each park in the zoo; Burger's Zoo,Burgers' Safari,Burgers' Bush,Burgers' Desert,Burgers' Ocean and Burgers' Mangrove...but I had a lot of fun looking at those animals.

signage to Burgers' Ocean

Burgers' Zoo's toilet..very unique!!

Formation of rock at Burgers' Zoo...nice architecture

Around 3p I headed back to the hotel...I was worried that my hubby would call me.I took the same bus,bus no. 3 to the hotel. When I reached my room, I saw there were 2 messages on the bedside table next to the phone. Both were from supplier's office Besi (known as Fico).

First message: From Mr Hakim. You will be picked up between 15.oohrs - 16.00hrs

Second message: Please call Mr Ronald from Fico

My hubby called twice but I was not in the room. I tried to call him and Mr Ronald was on the line. He then passed to hubby. My hubby asked me to dress up and wait at the hotel lobby in 20 minutes because Mr Ronald would like to bring all of us (including engineers Azmi & Jamri from Phillips for the same purpose as hubby; to buy off machine)to Germany.25 km from Arnhem (Dutch/Germany border via the E35)...He wanted to show us German castle.We arrived there a bit late as it was already dark..the castle was surrounded by water.It was nice even though I could not see it clearly...We walked thru the path where it was muddy...because of the rain earlier in the morning.The weather, it was so cold. I can't believe that I was in Germany. We snapped some photos ..unfortunately my camera was running out of battery.So,I had ask Azmi to snap few photos of me & hubby around the town...Azmi,jika anda membaca blog ni,mana gambar kitaorg?..

Later at nite, Mr Ronald brought us for dinner at Wok Masters (Oriental Restaurant) in Zevenaar...approx. 1 hr from Arnhem. It owned by a chinese..The interior of the retaurant was outstanding.....the food was great...very fresh..all you got to do is to choose the dish that you want and they will fry for you in the wok..then you can choose the sauce to be taken with your dish..Azmi & Jamri did not eat those dish..was was kata diaorang..so..me,hubby & Ronald je yang bedal...hehe..anyway,Ronald was the one who bought us the dinner.So,to show our appreciation we had to pleasure him at least...

Then,around 11p, Ronald sent us back to hotel. Me & hubby headed to our room and went to bed.It was so tiring..but we had a lot of fun.. ;)

Wok Masters - Orientaals Wok Grill Restaurant. website: http://www.wokmasterszevenaar.nl/

Short Trip to Holland (Day 1)

Am back again!!!!, this time with frequent update...betapa susah skang ni nak adakan masa even to type a blog..ok,this time nak update skit trip masa bln February aritu...bkn nak show off ke ape just want to share some of the nice places and experiences masa kat Holland for a week.It was a short trip but I had a great time there..On 4th February 2008 yang lepas, I flew to The Netherlands. Actually, it was a short trip for me and a business trip for my hubby.He was assigned there for a week for buy-off machine with the vendor called BE Semiconductor Industries N.V.("BESI" formerly known as FICO). What I can say was, I had a nice experience and something to remember since it was a first experience overseas...the flight to The Netherlands took me 13 hours (non-stop) to reach destination..My flight was scheduled at 11:45 pm, but was delayed for 1 hr 35 mins due to error in calculation...hehe...can't imagine if we fly on the wrong altitude & magnitude...I scheduled to arrive Amsterdam Schipol airport at 5:45 am but turned to be at 7:10 am due to the delayed earlier.As for my hubby, he flew to Holland on Saturday night (2nd Feb 2008) . He called me from Holland a day before to remind me on the email that he sent containing a direction of the Schipol Airport and how to get to the train station to Arnhem.Very detail rupanya my hubby ni...as for me, I dont mind to travel alone as I enjoy travelling so much...takut?not really as I already get used to do everything alone and on my own...

In the flight, my seat was supposed to be at the window (3 seater) but a dutch couple occupied my seat and I had to seat at the end of the row..It bothered me a lot as there were always people passed by the walk way, but the advantage, easy for me to move out.13 hrs of travelling?erm,never imagine that...I travelled by road all the time and the longest travelling hours in my life, to Kelantan by road which took me more or less 8 hrs...I cant have a decent & comfort sleep during my travelling hrs...what I did was watching movies, listen to music & playing games..the rest I did some readings..actually I could not really focus on the readings..to many distraction, back pain, noise,etc...

At 7:15 am, upon arrival in Schipol, Amsterdam, the pilot announced that the weather outside is 6 degree celcius..OMG!!I not used with that kind of weather...sejuk giler!...I was born in a country that lowest the weather can go is 20 degree. (more or less la)...6 degree?grrrr...grrrr....

Once arrived at the Schipol airport, I took the Sprinter train to Arnhem...the distance of Amsterdam Central to Arnhem is around 1.5 hrs..The station is similar to others, there were many platforms...In The Netherlands they called it Spoor..My train sheduled to be at 9:15 am but it arrived at 9:13 am....2 minutes earlier..I was amazed with the train system...so punctual,unlike Malaysian train...In Holland, and I believe other progress countries in Europe as well, are very systematic in regards to their transportation system...In Malaysia, if you are late to work, you can have a strong reason of being late..but if you working in Holland, you can't give such excuses as they have a very sistematic transportation..maybe need to figure out other reason to tell the boss..hehe..

Schipol Airport, Amsterdam

In the train, I met someone by the name Ella..she's from Poland...very sweet & friendly...She was assigned by her Superior to Holland for 3 days but I did not exactly know her job, from the conversation it got something to do with the procurement kind of stuff...She told me that she did not have enough sleep, she travelled from US (Washington) to Holland on 8 hrs non-stop flight...and all she can think of was sleeping..we share our travelling experience, life,etc...while enjoying the view of the scenery including the PwC Amsterdam building from the train...we had a chit chat before she stepped down at Utrecht Central...before she left, we exchanged email address...I think that was the best medium for us to keep in touch...

PwC Amsterdam (view from tren, not that clear coz the tren were so fast)

In the tren

Then, I continued my journey alone to Arnhem...along the way, the scenery were so beautiful, I had seen a farm with the sheep, the windmill, the hydrochannel (used for agriculture)-it's mini water channel but quite long (cam parit la!tp dorang called it channel),but they made it purposely for agriculture and to generate clean hydro supplies..this country really make use of the nature resources....everything so clean, beautiful and fresh...

Once I arrived at Arnhem, I already feel the cold and put on my winter jacket with a fur at the collar..hehe...baru comel skit kan ada bulu2 tu!..once I stepped down from the train, OMG!!I can feel the cold..when I looked at the screen, the weather at Arnhem is 5 degree celcius..betapa sejuknya sampai berwap mulut..selama ni tgk kat TV mulut org berwap, skang ni I experienced it myself,mmg sejuk sangat!

In the email that my hubby sent to me a day before I departed,he will wait for me at the Arnhem station at 7 am..but unfortunately, because of the flight delay I arrived there at later time...around 10:30 am... nak buat mcm maner kan?not my fault...it was the pilot!...hehe..dah nak jadi delay kan...what to do....my hubby need to go to the supplier's office at 8 am....If I were late, I had to check in on my own...I still remember my hubby told me that the Haarhuis Hotel is just opposite Arnhem train station...Then,I walked a bit to the lift..I can't use neither staircase nor the escalator coz I was carrying my luggage...soo heavy...11 kilos...normal la kan,all girls stuff...

Haarhuis Hotel, Arnhem (opposite the Arnhem tren station)

Once I arrived at the hotel, I checked in and the lady at the reception told me to have breakfast at the cafe'.All have been prepared for me. At the time, I was the only one in the cafe' as the breakfast time was already over...it was almost 11-ish that time and the breakfast period was at 7 am-10 am..I had bread, some cereals and yogurt with fruits...a quick one...just to fill my empty stomach until evening..after that, I headed to my room at 102..the lift was sooo unique for 4 star hotel..hehe...tak canggih as in Malaysia's hotel la...once I entered the room, I threw my luggage and jumped on the bed..tak boleh tahan dah...soooo tired & sooo sleepy..I had a good sleep until I heard a door opened and surprised...my hubby was standing at the door and greeted me...It was almost 7 pm...he just came back from supplier's office ("BESI") in Duiven..I went to him and hugged...I missed him sooo much...2 days without him in Malaysia,I felt such a great loss..hehe...mcm org hilang arah though but that's the fact..a man that I shared my life with for 4 years this coming July..I was so happy to see him again... we had chit chat and later, I had my shower and we went for a dinner outside..together with supplier's Mr Geert Sommers (Senior Project Manager) and Mr Frank Boerma.The weather was getting colder at nite..it was 3 degree celcius..something normal la kan...like in the freezer....mmg TERAMAT sejuk!!I can't imagine if it's snowy..I would prefer to stay in the hotel rather than going out..but I had a great time...At nite,around 7p,Mr Geert and Mr Frank brought us for bowling.I striked once..hehe...I was the only female there ok..then,we had dinner at the SalaThai restaurant nearby. We ordered Tom Yam and other dishes.The food was great..Later, we went for a walk around the port,streets and hotel area....I was amazed with the ancient buildings...the buildings were old and unique but have hidden stories lies with them..I wish I could flash back the era when they built the buildings..hehe...at least I can learn the rite way to build a building...so that tak lah jambatan retak (cam MRR2 tu), rumah retak hehe..something that I always think of,why in today's world,with all the advanced technology yet we can still hear condo collapsed la, dam pecah la,bangunan collapsed?unlike before our era,as we learned from history in school that ancient people do not have a proper technology yet they managed to build a strong and proper buildings..for example,pyramid in Egypt,great wall in China...can stand for thousands of years..I wonder maybe the ancient people had more advanced technology that we would never know of...that's something question me until now...I believe all written in Quran..

our room - room no. 102

Actually it was fun to spend time together with hubby...bkn senang nak adakan masa dengan hubby, he's a workaholic person...all about keje...tp,dengan adanya masa mcm ni, rasa seronok sangat...hopefully after this we can go to other places just for vacation..no business/work involved.