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Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Hi From Delft, Nederlands

Been wanting to post but everyday is so packed, full from morning to evening! We've never walked SO MUCH. My legs hurt so bad sometimes I can't even walk normally, shuffling by the end of the day. 

The Dutch are the nicest & friendliest people, apart from also looking great, with glass-blue eyes and tall, perfect physiques! From the Schiphol airport to Delft, we took the train and bought tickets from one of the tickets machine. We didn't know what 40% discount tickets were but bought them anyway, about 11 euros for two of us, and halfway to Delft, the train inspector checked our tickets and told us that we have to pay a fine of 40 euros each plus the difference in the fares because the discount tickets are only for people with the discount card. We pleaded innocent, he paused, and then told us he'll let us off. Imagine our relief.

Off the train, I sneezed (it was cold, about 4 or 5 C and I hate it) and three pretty young things blessed me. The second day, I was walking and stopped to rest, staring at my shoe because it hurt, a lady came up and asked if my feet was hurting. How nice can they  get! They are so warm, they greet each other with three kisses--left, right and left again. When the guys give your change, they'll wink at you. So cute.

I've so many things to share about my trip but there's no time to blog! We are leaving for Paris tomorrow on a 2-week tour, a change from our original plan of travelling alone. We wanted at first to take the Eurorail but the tickets could only be bought at Schiphol or Amsterdam, and because Heathrow is closed today due to the ash cloud, Schnipol is in confusion while lines in Amsterdam for the tickets usually take 4 hours! We were in Rotterdam (lots of modern buildings, different from Den Haag/The Hague and Amsterdam) today, sorting out the tour and tickets. The tour that leaves on Wed is full so we have to buy a HiSpeed ticket ourselves to Paris where we'll join up with the tour. Everything is so last minute and prices have gone up a lot but the euros' down, from RM4.2 to 1 euro when we started out on the trip to RM3.95 to 1 euro today. Hooray!

We start out early tomorrow. Goodnight!

19 comments:

  1. Terri, going to the Hague.(Holland) on 18th to 21st.June.Will you be around? Stay at the Novotel Den Haag.It is closest to the North sea by the seaside. email me.Enjoy yourself in Europe. Yol.

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  2. now is the best time to visit Europe as the Ringgit is so strong, I'm sure you will have a wonderful trip, have fun!

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  3. Enjoy your trip and bring back lots of photos ;))

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  4. when marijuana is legal and people are always high, everyone's nice to everyone :D

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  5. Have a wonderful trip there. I wish you have twitter and keep us all update of where you visit and what you eating there, show us pics etc. Then you would't say no time to blog! Muahahaha! ;P

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  6. :) enjoy your trip

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  7. Hi Terri, trust me when I say you will lose weight after the whole trip. We did. ;-)

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  8. Hay dear blogger!
    How are you? I'm glad that I've visited this blog! She's lovely.

    Please, check mine too & maybe we can follow eachother!
    Love, Cindy.

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  9. Hi, I was a silent reader of your food blog for some times already. Didn't know that you were in Delft as me and my family are here for 3 years! Our house is just opposite the Delft train station. Welcome to Delft! Enjoy your Europe trip and last but not least, I love your cooking!

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  10. Delft is a very nice town. I was unlucky that all my photos of Keukenhoff, Delft, Den Haag and Rotterdam were all gone due to virus infection on my Dutch friend's computer. I managed to revisit Keukenhoff and Rotterdam but not Delft and Den Haag. Please show more photos of these places when you are back, ya? I really need to see the photos to recall my memories of these places.

    Do enjoy the rest of your trip. :)

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  11. terri: have fun, don't worry about calories, who knows when you'll go back.

    red | hongyi:

    really?

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  12. Have a great time in Paris!

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  13. Couldn’t help but chuckled when reading your train adventure.
    We had similar mis-understanding with trains in Switzerland. Got on the train & there was only one other person beside us. Great, we had the whole train to ourselves, plus we even got prompt coffee & snack service as soon as the journey got underway. What a country! Then the conductor came; he politely asked if we wish to upgrade our tickets to 1st class. Imagine that! We knew there are 1st class coaches but they were inconspicuously displayed on the train & in a haste to get on the train we completely overlooked it. So we pleaded innocent & politely declined the upgrade offer and moved to where we belonged. Good thing the only other person was not paying us any attention so, we were spared the embarrassment. But to our delight, the economy class is almost as pleasing albeit a little more crowded & noisy. Oh, they also have quiet coaches, I supposed loud passengers; especially those with young kids would not be appreciated there.
    Is Switzerland on your itinerary? Do visit the Alps.

    Mike C.

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  14. Hi Terri
    I was in Holland a few months ago and but maybe the people were colder because it was winter and so darn cold. I met a few VERY nice people and it wasn't because they were on legal dope. The majority of the Dutch I came into contact with, however, aren't as friendly, not all had nice physiques and according to a Dutch man friend I know, the Dutch women are the worst dressers in the world. I smiled and said hi on trains but everyone was pre-occupied with their phones, their papers or their own thoughts.

    Perhaps the cold has an effect on Dutch's moods making them cold to the touch and sight.

    Paris and the whole of France is romance, Italy is flirtatious and Portugal is divine! But Holland - once is enough.

    Enjoy!

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  15. Enjoy your trip Terri. Looking forward to the photos of all that good food!

    Shan

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  16. Was thinking of you the other day. The Icelandic volcano is driving everyone mad over here! Glad you're having fun.

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  17. Hope you are enjoying yourself. Have sent you an award. You can pick it up at http://peranakanandmore.blogspot.com/

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  18. What a train adventure ....and it sounds like more to come. You two enjoy Paris. Looking forward to you writing about it in your next posting. :O)

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  19. Hi Terri,

    I'm a silent reader of your blog. Great to read about your good comments on the Dutch people over here. I'm a M'sian married to a Dutchman and have been residing in north Holland for nearly 9 years.

    Have a nice Europe holiday!

    Lannie Loke

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