Last night in Amsterdam

For the past 5 days that I stayed in Amsterdam, I have met wonderful and very interesting people from different continents, I was able to participate and discuss best practices of different chapters not realizing that we have a language barrier. It was truly a global discussion, a world without borders.

Anyway, I don't want to bore you with my adventures and misadventures in Amsterdam, I will just summarize my experience using bullet points:

Discovered that Starbucks in Amsterdam is about 150% more expensive compared to MNL.
Trains and Tram rides FTW! cars are too expensive here.
Its raining everyday but still, they don't use umbrellas
Go to enclosed public spaces for free heating. Yes, the heater is the most important invention of all time.
NL is flat, no mountains, no hills, millions of piles under AMS to keep it afloat.
Visited the famous Grasshopper bar. (still, i did NOT smoke weed.)
They have museums for almost everything. from wax, to sex, to vodka, beer, weed, etc. name it, and they have an exhibit for it.
Visited the Rijks Museum ( I saw a painting worth 500++ Million Euros!!) and the Amsterdam Museum (which used to be an orphanage by the way.)

On our last night, we decided to go out in small groups, most of them decided to go to this dutch comedy bar, but we decided to grab a pizza and check out the AMS nightlife.Abbas from Kenya, Osmar from Chile, Miguel from Spain Laura from Australia and Emmanuel from the Philippines, biked under the Amsterdam night sky ( COLD, Amsterdam night sky, lol). We went to a local restaurant and had pizza. We walked around AMS and decided to checkout one of the bars. It was fun, but I realized that the party scene in MNL is way better.We decided to call it a night around 12 MN, too bad, I have to wake up really early and be at the centraal station before 6AM for my train to Paris.

Amsterdam, Here I come!

I've had some sleepless nights thinking on what to do when I get to Europe. I will arrive right before winter and I was told that the temperature is between 0-8 degrees celcius all day.

I am glad that Debenhams was on sale prior to my flight and I was able to buy cheaper (than Marks & Spencer) winterwear. I bought thermal underwear, thermal socks, thermal bonnet,thermal gloves and everything with the word "Thermal" on it lol.

I was supposed to leave for Amsterdam on November 30, but Cathay Pacific called and asked me to rebook it to an earlier flight because of the Airport strike in London.

I asked my boss to grant me a last minute half day so I can catch my 5PM flight.

I arrived 45 minutes before my flight and I was able to take advantage of Citibank Premiermiles Platinum's lounge access.

My plane left before 6PM and arrived past 7PM. I have a lay over of 5 hours in HKG.

My plane left 12:35 AM the next day and took a 13 Hours or so flight from HKG to AMS. Cathay Pacific's cabin crew are excellent and never gets tired.

After 2 airplane meals, 3 movies and a few hours of sleep, i finally reached Amsterdam Schipol Airport.

Immediately after stepping off the plane, Immigration officers asked to see the passports of everyone arriving. I think this is their way of checking for illegal immigrants.

Then I went through the Immigration area, the officer asked me "what's the purpose of your visit?" then I said "i'll be attending a conference." He asked me, "can i see your invitation letter?" Then i told him " here is the letter that was sent to the Dutch Embassy in Manila" then he told me, " wow you speak english well" then he stamped my passport eventually.

Goedendag Amsterdam for me!

Pinoy in Europe

Unlike most Pinoys who wants to travel to the US, I have always wanted to go to Europe. Europe for me is where it all started. The amazing architecture, the history, the people and some of the modern wonders are in Europe.

I have traveled extensively within South East Asia but not Europe, and I used to consider it as an ongoing project.

I told myself that by the time I turned 40, should have enough money to fly to Europe. I was able to do that by 28 thanks to an organization who sponsored me to travel to Europe for free. I still can't believe it and I felt like crying.