Hello, I´m Mr Ed

Waiting 5 hours for a plane involved many trips up and down the
travellators with Beth often remarking "You´re such a child"! For just
a moment panic struck. Walking through customs the guard motions me
towards the room with a curtain.... Luckily, the gloves stayed away
and I was whisked through after debelting and shoeing, Dignity intact.

Last day in Eijsden was hard to say goodbye after a fantastic week.
Although the suspect Dutch weather rearing it´s ugly head made the
depature to sunny Spain all the more easier. We rode to Maastricht for
some Deflt and consumed an utter soaking on the ride home. Beth
looking like Mrs Buckets in a terry towling and rain jacket.

We had good night catching up with our friend Ellen from Belgium.
After a few beers and a quick worry about the car park being closed
with headed home for difficult goodbyes, hoping our Dutch and Belgian
friends visit soon. The story often told about Stella artois being a wife beater in belgium was confirmed..... Apparently, the locals consider Heineken a 16 year old girls drink?

After two hours of incompetence from the airport and train staff, who
treat tourists like the plague, rucksacks en tow we make our way
through the warm Spanish streets to find our hostel. The locals, about
eight during the hike, gladly assisted these two bumbling travellers
and on arrival are greeted by a grand old mansion standing proudly
over Barcelona, minus the trimmings of it´s glorious past. All in all,
not bad digs.

First stop, "Dos cervaza´s por favor" at our new local, run by a young
Antonio Banderras from "Interview with a Vampire".

We have a lovely old English roomy, who thoughtfully snored like Mr Ed
on coke. I was half surprised she didn´t get up and lay a ripper fart
on someones head. Gladly, she´s staying an extra three nights in our
room.

Starting to remember my Spanish, even if it is butchered, the locals
seem to understand.

Today, hiking, sites, and I´m sure the odd market.

Getting arrested.... Dutch Style

We've witnessed two arrests since arriving the the nederlands and both suspects have gone out in style. Yesterday's installment, mid afternoon near the centre of town. Reasonable looking fellow, screaming, yelling whilst two of Maastricht's finest are trying to pin him down over about five minutes. The whole street stops as about 100 people all walk over for a captain cook, some capturing the precious moment on the mobile.

A trip to Utrecht to see the and the river of my name was in vain, the combination of rain and our lack of orienteering skills were the culprits. The day was saved by a traditional Dutch meal at Floor and Rene's, serving red cabbage and sauerkraut based meals with a traditional sausage, French wine, and a premium hoegaarden.

On a tangent, the beer I have tasted in sensational. Largers, witte (white / wheat), cheery, cloudy (pale), local beers, beers brewed by monks, local beers, special hoegaarden. Fantastic. Oddly, you could not find a Heinekin in Maastricht to save yourself. The locals all consider Stella Artois to be a bit of a wife beater.

Last couple of days have been spent cycling through the Dutch countryside where the closest thing to a hill is a speed bump; walking through the Castel of Eijsden; strolling through the markets; and having dinner with friends and family. Roske, Paul, and Lika have kindly given us several old photo's of my Mum, Dad, Oma and Opa, and the great grand parents.

It'll be a sad day heading to Spain tomorrow leaving friends and family who have thoroughly spoiled us. We have even basked in the untypical Dutch sunishine :)

Jules was right

Of course we have seen big differences in the few countries we have visited, but it's also the little ones. The variances in social norms, the regional specific "aussie burger" (not that we've tried), taboos, even the toiliets are little different.

We spent a day in the francaphone city of Liege in northern belgium. Lika and Beth tourned the local wares at the shopping mall, whilst Paul, Jerome, and I toured the citadel, churches, and a magnificent view of the city, which is nicely encapsulated within a valley. I must try and attain some photo's from Paul.

Afterwards another sensational dinner, we had tea, coffee, and apricot pie with my tante rosa (Dad's autie), who had visited australia three times in the 80's and 90's and we stayed with for 3 weeks 15 years ago.

Another day at the shop in Den Bosch for Beth and Floor was enjoyed by her partner and I touring the local sites. A 1930's and 40's defensive fort against the Germans. Undescribable huge. Litterally built over several square kilometers 30 - 50m under a mountain. A crude description of it's size states that it takes 20 minutes to run from one end to the other. 800 Belgians holding the fort against a WWI style attack wered defeated by an German troupe of 80 landing with glyders using WWII weapons.

I'm butchering the Dutch language trying to speak to those with little English, but I seem to get the point accross.

We have taken the odd ride Dutch style through very pretty country side, barely using the road.

Although the weather at Eijsden has been 20 - 24 since arrival, today we are in Utrecht with fog, rain, and wind :(

Southern Hospitality

After a three hour train ride through the scenic countryside from Den Haag to Maastricht after a slight miscalculation on my part. After ringing up our hosts daughter, who I've not seen in 15 years, parks directly accross the street. Courage was eventually plucked and we asked if it was her and we were on our way to Eijsden.

We will not find the hospitality we have recieved from family friends, Paul and Lika and their family. We feel as if we are around family and mostly I have consumed authentic Dutch food. Both their childeren, Jerome, Floor and her partner Rene have also treated us fantastically.

Paul, the official photographer of Maastricht, personally took us on a tour of arguably, the oldest city in the Netherlands. Sitting in firstly the room where I believe the treaty of Maastricht was signed, with a frame poster containing the signatures of all european presidents (see facebook) and secondly the room of the Duke of Limburg. I started to get the feeling that the citizens were a touch spoiled for culture when we walked into a book store which was the old church of the city, circa 1500, tastfully maintaining it's historical walls paintings.

Today we have seen the historically and beutiful Belgian Wallon city of Liege and just ridden into Maastricht. You know a country has a lot of bike riders when 80,000 bikes are stolen a year.

We look forward to seeing my tante Rosa tonight over dinner and the rest of the week in Eijsden and hopefully Hasselt. Then off to Spain, where I think Beth is hoping we staying in a small hotel room instead of a hostel :)

A boat cruise through the scenic canals in Amsterdam was followed by a scenic hour train ride, literally 1/4 of the country, to Den Haag. Very green in constrast to the golden country side of the mid north or the malley scrub.

After being royally screwed $A50 p.p.p.n for a pair of bunk beds, we caught up for a good night of beers and conversation with Beth's friend Zoe and Willehm. The walk home through a dimly lit city after midnight was conceded to a taxi driver after an hours walk, who promptly drove in a circle before pulling into the hostel.

Euroshock (n) - Realisation that your well planed budget accounts for bugger all in when paying in euros.

Will probably cut our time in Spain by a week to take advantage of the peso.

Culinary speaking, it's remeniscent of spending summers at Oma's. Averaging a croquet per day (below right), hagel for breakfast this morning, and lots of sandwichers. And today the killer, heading to Maastricht, home of the Reijnders (Oma's) clan and a stop at the local markets to sample fresh rollmops and some olle bollen (below left). Then friends and family in Eijsden.

Can't you make an exception, we're only five minutes late?

Just navigated to the Heineken tour.... 5 minutes late.

In awe of the way the Dutch present their history and arts so professionally and proudly after visits to the rijskmuseum, van gough, Amsterdam history, among other. Maybe I should get off the couch at home and see what we have to offer at home?

Not ever being confused for an art conusor, but, it was a privilege viewing the van Gough's, Rembrandt's, and Vermeer's. Although this might sound obvious or corny, the difference between good art and the masterpieces is perfection .

The Gaul of McDonald's making croqett's ?!?!?

Having a couple of extra cold Heineken's down the road (same temp as what you get in Oz) and after ten minutes was having a reasonable conversation in broken Spanish..... That is, until I've managed to offend them talking about cuban cigars?

We've found the Dutch totally uninterested in helping tourists. Although, if I didn't just come from HK, I wouldn't be so shocked. Charging 2 euro's for a map is a bit over the top don't you think? Everything else is double or triple the price than back home.... except for tulips

Lodgings are ok. Aviengo in spuistraat. 18 others in the room, lot's of pretty red lights and cafe's in the neighborhood. Well, I guess that's what you get in Amsterdam for $A35.

zài jiàn Hong Kong. Wij zijn Amsterdam

Seated with Paul and June, a retired ex aussie terrorism officer and teacher over dinner last night with a few interesting travel stories that would put the old man to shame ;) Both just came back from multiple safari's through Africa, staying tin the odd guest house and hostel.

Rolled in at Amsterdam after 12 hours at 6:30. Watched Blades of Glory twice and they were several poses that may even put Petey and I to shame.

Anyway, we both left HK with the firm intention of revisiting. Highly, recommended and the people are fantastic, friendly, forgiving, open and honest.

Yesterday was 30 with 75% humidity, today bordering on sleet in grey old Amsterdam. Will hit the showers then off to the rijksmuseum and perhaps a canal ride.

Cheers,

Hamish and Beth

I thought I heard him say fish head?

Markets, markets, markerts. Ladies, western, food, clothes, electronics among others. All nice and enclosed to trap the sapping heat and smells. One shock was flicking through a few canvases finding the same painting, painted twice, noticeable differences included. I picture some poor aspiring painter hunched over an easel paiting the same picture over and over again. Still, it'll be sent in mail this afternoon. There was even one of Van Gough's sunflower.

Whilst at Danny Mung's, we'd noticed feasting over a single split hot pot, centered in the table, droping, cooking, and fishing out various morsoles of meats and vegies. On advice, we'd gone trecking for a restaurant about ten k's from the hotel, accompanied by an address in Chinese. Waiting in line to try the newly discovered fare, we observe the filleting, preparing, and serving of a live fish still mildy thrashing in shock of losing half it's body.

Seated, the well meaning supervisor tries to explain, but more successfully demonstrates , how and what to eat and bravely agree to his recommendations.

A variety of side dishes arrives, proscuitto thin steak, meat balls, and something we decided was the skin of a former animal? We prepared our own mixture of soy, chilly, spring onions, garlic / ginger / onion mix, and something else that was crunchy to use as a dipping sauce. Then, the main event, the hot pot, one side boiling with a beef style soup, the other white, with corn, tofu, a few unknown vegies, fish skin, and I think pig knuckle. Oh, and a big ole fish head. Although both a touch squeamish on the fish head, consumed and enjoyed. The meat balls especially tasty, with a garlicy buttered centre.

Hmmm, You'd think with all this talk of eating, all we've done is sample the local tucker?

Tonight, shopping, washing packing, then off to the peak for a night time view of HK and flying to Amsterdam and five past midnight.

Now, dim sum for breakfast :)

Organised Chaos

Fast, dynamic, massive, but unbelievably in sync. Everyone seems to have a purpose, no matter that be dull, boring, difficult, or complex, the job get done and done well. Whether in a museum, park, restaurant or eating some slush called black sesame everyone is eager to help a giant white boy and his tall, by local standards, wife, with buffuddled looks on their chevy chase hovering over a map.

It may just be lust, but I have fallen for HK!!

The food is sublime, eating dim sum last night, similiar to yum cha, the restaurant supervisor proudly shows his aussie 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, and $2 slamming it down on the table. After a brief chat, I gave him (Beth's) 5c and $5. All of a sudden, we are Danny Mung's new best friends :) Free deserts, drinks, peanuts (not for Beth), choclates, and half priced box set of moon cakes. btw They have a aquarium full of the biggest baby killing (alaskan) crabs I've seen.

Especially proud and shocked, yesterday, after long walk around hong kong island, meandering around the edges of town found this ram shakle of an eatery on a dodgy side street. No guessing the missus wasn't keen until bam, of the five words the owner knew, one was dumplings. Next thing you know, Beth and I are sitting on a stool in a tin shed and she is all in for desert too, a bowl of blackish sludge; Consumed and enjoyed. 20 of your best backpacker points to Beth please.

Runs on the board:
Kowloon bay light show - I was a touch skeptical rocking up to the nightly version of safm's skyshow, but I kid you not, literally 80+ skyscrapers synchronised with music, lasers and lights across the harbour, awesome.

Habana express (photo's to come in facebook)
Me - "Are these all cubans?"
Staff - "Yes sir, they are"
Me - "Oh yeah....."

Walking and riding through Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific
- Reasonable food and your personally video / gaming system. All of sudden it's 1988 as Hamish is playing arconoid for about an hour.

Danny Mung 35 - 37 Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Room 31 - 22
Best view of the harbour. "It's all downhill from here"

Lost wickets:
Picked out by the local monks for a donation.

Siting in an english bar listening to your best 80's rock. Cat's in the craddle and a Silverspoon, little boy blue and a man on the moon (I know it's a cover song)!

Lost after a visit to the botanic gardens.

Leaving tomorrow

Leaving tomorrow, hooray although I've been a bit grumpy. Beth has been understanding :)

Hopefully, we'll have a few interesting comments in the coming days in honkers

Done.

Rather surreal spending my first night at home with my wife :) Who would have thought?

Wedding was fantastic, but unbelievable hectic and fast paced. Beth looked sublime, groomsman and bridesmaid's were a treat, and all our family and friends made the day really special. With thanks to all those who helped. Of the top of my head, DJ Rob, Julie the Celebrant, the guys at Sebel, Gary for video taping, Keith for MCing, the photographer, and everyone I've forgotten - sorry. Oh, and many thanks for all the presents!

We greatly appreciate everyone rolling and helping make it a special day :)

Now for two days of anticipation. First stop, honkers.

Last day @ work

Woohoo, it's my last day at work :)

I might try and actually put in some serious and hopefully, half interesting blogs