Neigbours

Tomorrow, I will be embarking on a journey to the Netherlands. In my visit, I will be having a reunion with our long lost neighbours which I have last seen when I was 4 years old. Because of the tremendous time lapse, I am pretty sure that we would have some kind of a challenge identifying each other at the airport. So, I sent my picture to them just in case something funny happens at the airport.

I am actually taking my last allotted leave of 2.5 days a month from my work. Counting the number of day offs I took, I kinda reckon that I have spent most of them recuperating during my flu spells last February - March. This will I think be the second time I'll be using the 'vacation leave allowance' for real 'vacation' and 'sightseeing.'

I am looking forward for the visit. My flight tomorrow leaves at about 6.00 in the morning which is a logistical challenge in itself. There is no bus that will take me to the airport at 5.00 as I need to be there before the gate closes at about 5.40. With that, I need to practise and compose some lines tonight in French to call a cab tomorrow morning when cab drivers would probably be moody in the latter part of their night shift. Plus, I do expect to pay CHF 40 for the cab.

As a preparation for the journey, I prepared all the documents I submitted to the embassy - bank account statements to prove to them that you will be somewhat a 'milking cow' to their economy and invitation letters. I am quite sad to see that the fruits of my intense labour - that is my single entry Netherlands visa will be invalidated tomorrow as I will use it for entry.


And of course money matters... Since we are moving into another country, that means another set of paper monies and another set of of of..... prices! As you may had read from my past entries, I like comparing (and most of the time lambasting) prices between places I visit and this one would be another funny experience I think. For now though, I need to have a calculator as there is a conversion factor involved :P

As I have read and been told by various people, there should not be that much of a linguistic barrier as English is widely spoken in the Netherlands.... So need to switch to English mode and say adieu for the meantime to francais!

I'm looking forward to seeing the tulips and windmills of Holland as well as have an immersion on the so-called liberal thinking of Dutch people and also have a tour of the so-called rowdy red light district of Amsterdam:)

See you around!