Thursday 11 January 2018

#random_thoughts....... Amsterdam

So I have decided to include this "#random_thoughts" section to follow at the end of the diary posts for each destination to just note down some of the random thoughts that I had while on that particular trip :)

Do add on in the comment section below if you have had any other random thoughts while touring the mentioned city... would love to hear a collection of #random_thoughts from everyone!  :)


  • We have been to Amsterdam twice and both were just a short weekend trip (i.e. Friday - Sun or Sat - Mon) and we felt that Amsterdam is an excellent place to spend the weekends! :) 


  • There is a certain charm to the canal houses in Amsterdam, but I have always wondered why do some of them looked slanted and skewed...hmmm...

  • With an abundance of yummy food (all the mouthwatering pastries, cheese, stroopwafel, dutch pancakes etc), how do the locals stay slim....I would really love to know their secret! 

  • It is really windy in Amsterdam! 
  • Amsterdam Schiphol airport is actually below sea level o_O
  • Wooden shoes may seem like a peculiar idea but I absolute admire the ingenuity of the person who came up with this idea in Holland when I heard of its many functions: (a) protection against any falling objects or the treading of animals' hoofs, (b) keeping the feet warm in winter and cool in summer and (c) providing good support to the feet and hence a healthy posture and many more...

  • There are bicycles everywhere! :)

  • I have always wondered how does a cannabis ice cream taste like.....


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30 comments:

  1. I recently found out that the houses in Amsterdam are slightly slanted forward, and have a hook at the top so that in the past, the could hoist things such as furniture up into the top floors- due to the stair wells being so thin and small- hence why the windows are all large!

    ON another note, I love love this post! The concept is awesome!

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    1. Hi mayacuthbert,

      Thanks for reading and thanks for providing a very valid explanation for the way the houses are in Amsterdam. I would never know there was such a reason if you had not pointed it out! haha

      and aww, thanks for liking this post. I am trying to add some spice to my travel blog and hence decided to do something different. I will be posting more entries in such formats in time to come for the other places that I had visited. Do drop by then for more #random_thoughts!

      Cheers!

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  2. This is an amazing (an funny) random thoughts post about Amsterdam. I've never been but I've heard a lot of interesting stories about it. Seems like a great place for a get away!

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    1. Hi,

      Not sure if this reply will get to you but thanks for reading this post!!
      Stay tune for more #random_thoughts :)

      Cheers!

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  3. I love the concept of #random_thoughts. I always find myself with the most random thoughts about things. Though I haven't personally been to Amsterdam, I do hope to make it there one day. It is very curious about the slanted houses. I think the Europeans have a much different lifestyle than North America and the Western world. They have delicious treats and are so healthy. I think much has to do about the way they Eat and the culture around food. I'm taking a food and nutrition course that is starting to talk about the differences around the world. I remember being in France and seeing all the gorgeous pastries and seeing the people and wondering how they did it. I think all the stairs and walking definitely helps them.

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    1. Hi Mommy Dearest, thanks for reading and for making me feel better for not being the only one who always have random thoughts about things haha! The food and nutrition course sounds interesting and It must be quite fascinating to see how culture plays a role in the food choices and habits all around the world :) Hope you will gain more valuable insights in your course!
      Stay tune to more #random_thoughts :D

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  4. i too wonder what cannibas ice cream tastes like now that you mention it. Great photos!

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    1. Hi Ashley! Thanks for reading and glad that you liked the photos :)
      Well, hopefully we can get some insights from someone who has actually tasted the cannibas ice cream before..hehe :)
      Cheers!

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  5. I would love to travel here someday! You posted some great photos, I especially love the pastries, they look yummy!

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    1. Hi, thanks for stopping by and am glad that you enjoyed this post!
      Cheers!

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  6. I have seen Amsterdam only in movies, travel shows and documentaries. The canal houses look so cool! I would love to sample the local cuisine. Do you think it is easy to find vegan and vegetarian food in Amsterdam? Never tasted cannabis ice cream before!

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    1. Hi Abhinav Singh,
      Thanks for reading! Yes, the canal houses were very mesmerizing and we couldn't stop looking at them during our trip..haha
      As for vegan and vegetarian food...I am not so sure about it but we did noticed that there were several cafes that offered the vegetarian option. If you are heading to Amsterdam and require the vegetarian food options, one way is to search for some restaurants via google and most of them would have a link to the restaurant website. From there, you can either take a look at their menu (if it is posted on their website) or email them to enquire about it. Hope this helps! :)

      Cheers!

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  7. I love the concept of this post! It's like you're giving us an inside look to a travel diary or journal. And I bet the locals all stay so thin because of all those bicycles!! Sounds like a dream trip!

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    1. Hi Maria, thanks for reading! Yup, I am trying to do a little something different to my travel blog by making it seem like a personal diary and hopefully can connect with my readers on a more personal level.. glad that you liked this format :)
      And, I guess you are right about how people stay slim in Amsterdam.. they are cycling everywhere! Great way and great place to exercise I would say :)

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  8. I would've loved to see the Hermitage Museum in the East end, alas, the last time I was in Amsterdam, I ran out of time. Thanks for bringing me back to those happy memories!

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    1. Hi Milosz, thanks for reading and am glad that my post can evoke some of the wonderful memories you had in Amsterdam :) hopefully you will get a chance to head to Amsterdam again and get to visit the places that you had missed the first time :)

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  9. We went to Amsterdam for couple of days last year. The guide had told the houses were made like slanted to save tax since you pay tax based on the size of the plot. And the furnitures were carried via a hook to the upper floors because the doors were made narrow..since the government at some point had started levying tax based on the size of the doors also :)

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    1. Hi Neha, thanks for reading and for sharing some light on they way the houses are in Amsterdam! It is certainly interesting to note how a particular outcome can be affected by many factors (in this case, the slanted outlook of the Amsterdam houses as a result of tax and convenience of transportation of stuff up the building) :)

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  10. It is precisely this that makes me love Amsterdam - cycles everywhere, the quaint colorful houses, the clogs and cheese around, Tulips during the seasons...sigh! I want to head here again!

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    1. Hi Ami Bhat, thanks for reading and it seems like you really had a great time in Amsterdam!! Oh the tulips..they are lovely!! Hope you had the chance to visit Keukenhof - it is literally a tulip wonderland :)

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  11. Amsterdam immediately evokes images of canals, bicycles, and museums apart from Tulips. Random thoughts do flit across the mind and many of them capture thoughts subconsciously which on later reflection turn out to be profound truths. I think we should include this on our posts too !

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    1. Hi Voyager Diaries, thanks for reading!! yes, sometimes thoughts that may seem random at first may turn out to be the most interesting ones :)

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  12. The idea of penning down random thoughts is great. Every city, town, village or a new country provokes random musings. It was interesting to learn a couple of things about Amsterdam. I wanna go there for the canal houses. They look lovely. I did not know that Amsterdam Schiphol airport is below sea level. Really?

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    1. Hi Pendown, thanks for reading and I am glad that you enjoyed this #random_thought post :)
      The canals and the houses lining them certainly gives Amsterdam its distinct outlook...they are really lovely :) And yup, a portion of the Netherlands is actually below sea level and they used to have problems with flooding in the past. Thankfully, the situation is under control at the moment! Hope you will get the chance to visit and experience first hand on all that the Netherlands can offer :)
      Cheers!

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  13. I love visiting Amsterdam, its an amazing place...but I have to be real with you...I never had any of those yummy baked goods :P

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    1. Hi Kimmie, thanks for reading :) And maybe you can consider trying some of the yummy baked food the next time you are there ;P

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  14. haha! Nice post showing all the peculiarities. Cannabis ice cream, wooden shoes and leaning buildings, those are a few things I take away. I plan on visiting Amsterdam later this year. Hope to observe some of these then

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    1. Hihi, thanks for reading and I am glad that this post is of some help to you :) Enjoy your trip to Amsterdam!! :)
      Cheers!

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  15. Loved your post on Amsterdam and your random thoughts on this beautiful city. Slanting and skewed roofs of canal houses from Amsterdam is somewhat unique feature of this city. Love this city.

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    1. Hi Amit, thanks for reading and I am glad that you enjoyed this post! Stay tune to more #random_thoughts :)

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