A thing to keep in mind when in Amsterdam: bicycles have their own lanes, and pedestrians are not meant to walk on them. For the average tourist who is not used to reacting to the high pitched ring-ring of tiny bicycle bells, Amsterdam can be a dangerous place. Had it not been for Ed's quick warnings, I might have ended up with 5 spokes sticking out my chest. Not that the bike riders seemed to care: they laxly sped by with their faces of stone, even after a near death collision. This city was so used to heedless tourists that its annoyed cyclists were out to get us.
Another thing to watch out for, but not in the beware-for-your-life sense, is the food. You'll notice the predominance of two types of restaurants in Amsterdam: Indonesian and Argentinean. One might think how bizarre this combination is but there are simple explanations to tie Holland to these two countries:
The Golden Age of commerce for Amsterdam saw the rise the Dutch East India Company in the 17 th century, which was granted monopoly by the Dutch government in the Asian colonies. These colonies were the Dutch East Indies, a group of islands which are today known as Indonesia. Jakarta was named Batavia in those days and was the cradle of spices so coveted in Europe, particularly clove and nutmeg. Considering I lived in Indonesia for 4 years, seeing so much Indonesian culture around me in this European city made it all the more homely.
In 2002, Maxima Zorreguieta, an Argentine investment banker, married Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir to the Dutch throne and eldest son of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. It was the real life fairy tale every girl dreamed of, and all of Argentina watched as the royal couple tied the knot, under the watchful but approving eye of the Dutch population. Right after their wedding, Princess Maxima surprisingly became the most popular figure in the Dutch royal family. This brought lots of Argentine immigration into Holland which has also been received with open arms.
This is how Argentine steak houses and Indonesian tokos lined the busy streets of central Amsterdam, offering a taste of home away from home. The previous night we had chosen what possibly could've been the best Indonesian restaurant in Amsterdam. Decorated rustically like an authentic Batavian eatery, we were seated instantly by cheery friendly staff on a candle lit table decorated with fresh flowers and a typical batik tablecloth. The meal we had was outstanding: a hearty vegetarian plate with rice and spicy peanut sauce and a bottle of mineral water for less than 12 Euro per person. No desert was needed after an incredible meal like that, with so many exotic and authentic flavours, just like I remembered them. Continue
