9/11 - Another year goes by..

We were huddled around the table for a post-dinner discussion when our Muscat brought up friend Tina (fondly called muscat-biscuit) received an sms. Her American friend claimed that an airplane had hit the World Trade Center in New York!!

It sounded outrageously unbelievable to us students living in a remote village in Allahabad, India. I suggested that she sms back that Taj Mahal had melted away due to acid rains.

Her friend was getting angry by now because we were not taking him seriously. We turned on the old TV in the dining hall to confirm and yes, news channels were reporting that planes had indeed hit the WTC.

This single incident had shocked the world and made life come to a grinding halt. More terror attacks were to follow like the London bombings, Mumbai hotel attacks etc..

Terror attacks are no more a surprise since it's so frequent despite increased safety measures. It is an unsettling feeling knowing that terror can strike anywhere.

At times, it seems as though we are fighting a hidden enemy...or as some may put it - an enemy within. Every anniversary of 9/11 is a chilling reminder of this axe looming overhead waiting to squash its prey.

Wednesday in Amsterdam!!

Amsterdam is a city that is famous as well as notorious. The city is famed for its varied heritage and lively nature. It is also one of the few places in the world where drugs and prostitution are legal.

Versatile, tolerant and cosmopolitan is how I would describe Amsterdam after my trip.


I remember reading 'The Diary of Anne Frank' during my junior school days. Amsterdam, the setting of the diary, came to life through the eyes of a jewish girl hiding from the German secret police in the attic of a warehouse during World War II.

I am so happy to be able to visit the city I visualized through the memoirs of Anne Frank.

Amsterdam is promoting tourism in a big way. The campaign 'I amsterdam' is directed at the huge influx of tourists to this city. The tourist office has combination passes and maps to all the attractions in Amsterdam.

We were offered 'I amsterdam' passes from the tourist office. This 24 hour pass gives you access to most of the museums, attractions and canal cruises in Amsterdam for a bargain price.

Then, it was a grand chase to savour the flavours of this vibrant city.
















Amsterdam, often referred to as 'the Venice of the North' is a city floating on canals. Concentric rings of canals run through the historic settlement of the city.

Canals offer the most efficient mode of transport around the city. The canal buses, ferries and boats stop at all the major locations including museums and shopping centres.

With a canal bus day pass, visitors can hop in and out of as per convenience.

We took a cruise on the 'Holland International' canal bus to discover this city perched on waterways.

The cruise boat slows down near the attractions offering the visitors a closer look of the main attractions. The tour guide also gives a commentary about the monuments all throughout the cruise.

The architecture of the many monuments and museums lining the canal is remarkable. On the way, you can get a splendid view of the patrician houses that are so characteristic of the the 17th century Holland.

The old, curved bridges of Amsterdam add charm to the architectural marvels of the city.

There are houseboats anchored by the banks of the canals in Amsterdam. I was amazed to find classy houseboats converted into offices, restaurants and homes. The thought of sitting in a floating office amused me but this is so true in Amsterdam.

The old houses of Amsterdam still have a hook on the top of the facade. The stairways inside the building are steep and narrow. Heavy items were lifted to the top floors of the building using a rope on this hook in the olden times.

Like the rest of the European cities, the public transport system is well-integrated. The trams criss-cross the city and run on top of the bridges across the canals. There are buses plying on the road and numerous trains coming in and out of Amsterdam. Besides, the famous canal buses and ferries offer an alternative mode of transport.

There are bicycles everywhere in Amsterdam making it a distinct feature of the city.

Museums

Most of the museums in Amsterdam are located together in a place called Museumplein. The world famous Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh museum attract huge crowds.

The masterpieces of artists such as Remrandt and Van Gogh are exhibited in these museums.

I was happy to take along some prints of the famous art works from the souvenier shop inside the museum.

I also visited the Biblical Museum in Amsterdam located in a canal house (house facing the canal). This museum mainly cantained artifacts, manuscripts etc all related to the Biblical times.

There was an exhibition on the three main faiths - Christianity, Judaism and Islam in the Biblical Museum. Models of the temple in Jerusalem, Jerusalem city and the tabernacle were on display. There was a small garden in the premises of this canal house with plants mentioned in the Bible.

Anne Frank House (picture above) is one of the most visited museums in Amsterdam. There is a long queue in front of this museum all the time.

There is also a branch of Madame Tussaud's with its collection of wax statues in Amsterdam.

Eat Out!!

Amsterdam is home to so many nationalities and cultures making it a melting pot of cuisines. The streets and canals are lined with eateries and restaurants serving cuisines such as Chinese, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Indian.

We enjoyed some delicious Vietnamese food from a restaurant overlooking a canal. I loved having the special, home made, Australian fruit ice-creams that are available in different flavours (mango, litchi, passion fruit, raspberry, strawberry) from a shop in a street alley.

There is a very famous Chinese floating restaurant (picture above) that is a copy of a similar restaurant in Hong Kong.

Drinking!!

Amsterdam is known for drinks, drugs and women.

Heineken brewery is based in Amsterdam and brews famous beer. The company museum has exhibits relating to the history of the brewery, the brewery house and also film exhibitions.

Churches

One of the oldest churches of the city has a dome in the shape of the Austrian crown.

St. Nicholas church is located right outside the Central station. The dome and interiors are highly ornate with decorated pillars and statues.

Yet Another Side of Amsterdam!!

Amsterdam is a notoriously tolerant city. Drugs and prostitution are legal in this city. Not only is it legal, there is even a Cannabis Museum dedicated to the many uses of this plant complete with a hemp garden in display.

It is hard to miss the casual attitude of the people towards sex and nudity in Amsterdam. There are streets lined with sex shops and film shows in and around Amsterdam. There is even a 'Sex Museum' in Amsterdam in the Red Light district (De Wallen) of Amsterdam.

The picture above is part of a giant hoarding mounted above a bridge on the canal. The other side of the hoarding had details of an exhibition to be held in the city (no prizes for guessing what the theme of the exhibition would be).

There is a lot to Amsterdam than that meets the eye. There is something for everyone in Amsterdam - be it the eateries, cruises, museums, science centre or even the architecture.

Visiting Amsterdam was such a rich and moving experience for me. There was so much to see in Amsterdam and so little time.

I was a little unhappy to leave behind such a colourful location but the memories of the time I spent in Amsterdam will remain with me for a lifetime.

Highs and Lows of Expatriate Life in Brussels, Belgium

Expatriate life is full of ups and downs. It is like a pendulum of emotions oscillating between towering mountains and abysmal pits.

I am desperate to find a middle ground. I am yearning for a place of comfort. At times, I find it for a short moment but that solace never lasts very long.

Here is a list of the highs and lows of living among strangers in a very curious place:

What I like the most about Life in Brussels...

• Living with my husband - I like the small joys and pains of family life. I delight in our companionship. I despair at our slight disagreements. After all, life is this mixture of experiences.
• Quiet Surroundings - Belgium is a very quiet country where people value silence. It is quality living at its best.
• Random Wanderings - I like moving around in Belgium. It can be just a walk around the neighbourhood or trip to a friend's house. It can be visits to a shopping mall. It may even be hopping to tourist destinations. I enjoy all the outings just the same.
• Cleanliness - There is greenery all around. The roads are neat. The neighbourhoods are well planned and carefully laid out. Best of all, the country is littered with parks loaded with fresh air.
• Environmentally Conscious - Garbage is meticulously sorted to ensure recycling and reusing. Shops generally do not give out plastic or paper bags. Customers are expected to bring their own carts and bags. No where else have I seen such a level of concern for the environment.
• Integrated Transport System - The buses, trams, metros, trains, flights all operate in a coordinated manner within Belgium and also with respect to the rest of Europe. You will never get stranded in Belgium without any mode of transport. The credit goes to the efficient public transport system of this country.
• Everything is Online - You can chart your journey on the public transport system websites, check your flight status, book your tickets and even do your shopping online in Belgium. Most of the forms and notices can be downloaded from the internet. The list is endless. Technology is exploited very well in Belgium.
• Healthcare - Public health infrastructure is excellant and dependable. That itself is a major relief for those living abroad.
• The Royal Touch - The Belgian royal family plays an important part in the country's history. There are palaces, churches, gardens, pavilions, parks and other monuments all around the country dedicated to the family that still rules the Kingdom of Belgium (Le Royaume de Belgique).

What I Dislike about Belgium...

• Confusion - The country is slightly schizophrenic. The roads signs are confusing and in different languages (mainly French and Dutch). All the landmarks, buildings and streets have names in the two official languages. The people speak either of these languages or a combination. English is not very widely used. Public notices, bills, offices etc. use either of the languages. It is all very confusing to an outsider.
• Bureaucracy - There is a huge amount of paper work and procedures for anything and everything. Foreigners are subjected to this systematic torture due to the elaborate functioning of bureaucracy. It feels like the commune (town administrative unit) keeps a tab on all your movements.
• Weather - The climate is a major dampner. The days are cold and morose. The skies are grey and depressing on most days. It rains sporadically every now and then. The weather makes one want to stay indoors all the time.

What I Miss about India...

• I miss the feeling of being home. I search my mind for memories of the colourful imagery and variety of people of India.
• I miss my family. I wish I could spend time with them more often especially for family occasions. Everyone just about becomes a voice at the other end of the telephone when you are living overseas.
• I always wish I could have continued working. I know this would have been possible if I was home.
• I would have heard from my friends more often if I was in India. It is easy to maintain contacts over the internet...but I am sure I would have been part of a closer-knit community in India.

Expat life is not challenging without these hurdles. Neither is it amusing without the many simple pleasures. That is why I say it is a blend of highs and lows.

Through Mine Eyes..

I am mighty pleased by the glorious sunshine we are getting in Belgium this week. I adore the occasional bursts of sunshine breaking the monotony of the usual dark, grey Belgian skies. Around here, the skies always seem to chant frightening tones warning those venturing outside to be wary of impending rain showers. So, a sunny weekend definitely means visiting some of the popular Brussels attractions without getting drenched and being blown away by the chilling breeze.

I wanted to see the St. Michael's and St. Gudula Cathedral ever since I came here. I have always glazed at it with admiration from the windows of the yellow public buses. I finally got to see the grand gothic structure this saturday. This cathedral is dedicated to the two patrons of Brussels, St. Michael's and St. Gudula and was built around the thirteenth century. The architecture is magnificent as expected. The twelve pillars of the cathedral are decorated with statues of early christian saints such as St. Paul, St. Mathew and St. Philip.

The Cathedral also has smaller chapels attached dedicated to patron saints. The stained glass windows are richly decorated with work alluding to biblical themes. There are portraits of the Belgian royals who contributed to the construction of the cathedral on the massive walls.

The remains of the original church present in this location are preserved in a crypt below the cathedral. This monument has been renovated many times and is preserved in all its beauty. This is the place where the royal family comes to worship. There is a photo gallery near the entrance of the cathedral with pictures of the weddings and other sacraments of the royals that took place in the cathedral. This marks the significance of this cathedral in the country's history.

The cathedral was full of activity with people moving about viewing the statues, stained-glass paintings and relics. There were others offering prayers, lighting candles and sitting silently on the pews. I noticed an aura of sanctity inside the cathedral despite the constant flow of people. The atmosphere of strength in the cathedral was remarkable. It was as though the well-chiselled statuettes held some powerful energy.

The 'Palais Royal' or the Royal Palace was the next place of visit. I was impressed by the enormity of the buildings and I couldn't believe that such opulence was possible even in the days of royalty. This is unlike any hi-rise buildings of our time. The buildings are huge, interconnected and spans quite a lot of territory. This bulding is mainly used as the office of the King and also as Government offices. The palace is open to the public only for a few days in June. Visitors can see only the outside of the palace now but the view is worth the effort.

Brussels also has a Palace of Justice believed to be the biggest building built in the nineteenth century in the world. This gigantic edifice is a treat for the eyes. The tomb of the unknown soldier of Belgium is situated next to this structure. The Palace of Justice is currently the seat of the Supreme Court of Belgium.

Brussels also has many interesting restaurants for those who enjoy eating-out. Brussels Grill is one such joint situated on Avenue Louise, a famous street in Brussels. The inside of the restaurant is dimly lighted with ornate chandeliers. There are mirrors strategically placed all around the restaurant to accentuate the effect of the chandeliers.

This is where we decided to have lunch after the long walk through the city. This place mainly serves grilled chicken, meat, barbecued ribs and salmon roast. There were also many drinks on the menu with highly-imaginative names. The food was generally good, mildly-flavoured and a little heavy. The lunch was the fitting finale to the trip and we hurried back home to enjoy the rest of the weekend.