We drove for about an hour and passed through the vicinity of the second largest city in the Netherlands, Rotterdam which was completely flattened by the Germans during their carpet bombing in WWII. Driving further, we crossed into Belgium with no customs or control whatsover as it was inside the Schengen space.
We drove through the off-the-beaten track routes to see smaller border crossings and crossed back and forth into the Netherlands and Belgium.
At this point, I could say that I have stepped onto the Netherlands and Belgium... feels like being free to cross the borders but it took a lot of sweat and effort to get this far. Crossing the border just feels soo sweet!
There was not actually a lot of difference between the Dutch and Belgian side of the border except that my host had some hard time finding and managing directions. The scenery looked more like suburban small town North America actually with tatched houses and brick buildings.
In the Belgian border town of Wuustwesel, we tried one of the Flemish specialty equivalent to Quebec's poutine.
Crossing back into the Netherlands, I noticed that this country is a leader indeed in harnessing non-renewal energy sources. The country being seaside, experiences a lot of gale-force wind that the Dutch decided to harness as an energy source.
And along the way, I was able to see one of Netherland's famous symbols.
Driving further, we passed through a town which was able to preserve buildings dating back from the 1700s. You get to see an ambiance of how life was like during that time!
And here is me with the town in the background.
Arriving back after the drive, my Dutch host family feted me again for a very special meal in a restaurant occupying a special place in the Dutch society - Indonesian restaurant. Indonesia, or Dutch East Indies during the colonial days, was a colony of the Netherlands until the 1950s. After independence, Indonesians moved into the Netherlands and influenced the cultural fabric of their colonial masters through their sumptuous culinary tradition.
And mind you, this Dutch treat is really exceptional as it ended up not to be a true Dutch treat!:)
Mmm, typing this entry on a Saturday night while seeing this picture makes my mouth water!
Alas, it was the end of the night and we all ended up full and exceptionally satisfied with the meal!
2 comments:
Wow, 12 days of being tired...that's gotta be a record! lol
Where's my elaboration? :P
Dan
There, that's better!
Hmm, how many calories in that mound of fried onions and french fries? :P
The Netherlands seems like a great place. You seemed to have enjoyed yourself. :)
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