After taking the minibus from Hua Hin at 19.00 hours, we arrived 22.00 at the airport (half hour taxi from Victory Monument). A little early for our 02.25 flight. So we went to one of the restaurants for some diner and beers. Time goes quickly, so after checking in, we arrived after a good flight at 09.00 20th of July in Amsterdam.
First needed a new SIM card, as the old one seems not to be working again. Added an extra E 20 (doubled by the company), so I can make some telephone calls en messages.
Then tried to rent a car. We went to Herz and were offered different cars. I tried to pay with Euro's and a copy of my passport as security, but NO, we needed a credit card. I cancalled mine, as it was skimmed last year. So, after calling Jacob, we took the train to Utrecht Central where Jacob was waiting for us. Nice detail, in the train they apologized for being 2 minutes late... In thailand they come 2 DAYS later and that seems to be normal ;-). Of course we went to the shopping mall for my first fresh "haring" en "broodje frikandel". Mmmmmmmmm.
Together we arranged a brand new Renault Twingo and went first to Jacobs house. Nice appartment and installed the TOMTOM in the car to find my way in Holland. Its a very nice > 20 degrees now, waiting for a storm coming days...
Then up to mama!!! After a short half hour trip (thanks tomtom) we arrived at St. Elizabeth care centre in the Lage Vuursche in the middle of Holland. A very nice and big "klooster" (Monastary). Mama Hedde was sitting in the nice garden outside, and then...surprise !!! Valerie and Wouter. Extremely nice to see eachother again and everybody very emotional. That took 10 minutes and then we enjoyed some coffee and tea. We installed ourselves in our small room on the second floor. My mother is sharing a room downstairs.
Valerie helped people eating, feading the sheep outside and helping her grandmother with everything. Unbeleavable to see so quickly and being social. And my mother is doing fine!
In the evening we had our bread meal, which was oke as we had already 2 times hot meal in the plain. Hedde was going to bed at 20.00 and we talked untill 21.00. Nice!
After that Valerie and I tried to hit the "town", but everything closed at 21.00... TIH This is Holland haha.
Oke, then going to bed and enjoyed our meal in the morning. Mama awake at 10.30 hours (...) and going to the hairdresser. Next days a surpride what to do..
See the pictues of the story above:
After the hairdresser some music was plaid on an "accordion" and all the old folks seems to enjoy it. In the afternoon again some activity, now eating "poffertjes". Everybody outside (approx 25 people) and enjoying this typical Dutch food.
Mama Hedde and I went for a "walk" (my mother in a wheelchair, and I needed to push) for half an hour in the unbelievable nice and beautiful neighbourhood!
Nice detail, Valerie was playing at the computer most of the time at Barbie.nl and she is amazingly good at it for the first time!
At 17.00 hours, it was time for valerie and me to go to Jacob, as we supposed to see Marco also at his house. Nice catching up with the 3 of us and after some small beers went to eat "shoarma", another nice food which is not easy to get in Thailand. Perfect again, except for the prices...(compared to Thailand haha)
In the morning we had breakfast and heading to Bussum for picking up my old stuff, the Bank and may be seeing some friends in the neighbourhood.
In the "klooster".
Bussum and Naarden was nice, of course a sandwich of haring again. We meet Anja there, Valerie directly in her arms, nice to see. In the afternoon to my mother and later to Marco in Den Haag. Good to have TomTom haha. YY prepared a nice (Thai) meal and Marco and I had some nice talks in the night with our Amstel beers. Valerie and Ice (their son) played untill late, good to see that they are good friends.
Before going to Marco, we had one hour left, which we spend in the "Vondelpark" in Amsterdam. See the pictures:
Next day nice breakfast en good senseo coffee. But needed to go to arrange visum. Long story, I make it short. First to Embassy Amsterdam, but my passport needed to be renewed as it was "only" valid 9 months. So, up to Naarden, city where I lived last. Buuuttt, after also 1 hours computer breakdown, they told me that I needed to get it in Den Haag as they had no data from me in the computer. Back to Amsterdam, discussed the possibilities (tourist visum etc) and decided to try again on Monday for a year visum. Then to mama in Lage Vuursche with cigarettes from Cris. Then to Den Haag to Marco, YY and their son Ice again for Valerie to play. My first traffic jam again, 9 km... So, 2 hours later, arrived in Den Haag...Freshened up and went for diner at a very modern "hotpot" place, only with Dutch prices haha. Good food, very full and a small wine before going to sleep.
Pfft long day, > 300 km drive with no result (but more knowledge!)Now enjoy weekend!
On Saturday Jacob and Martin joined us at Marco's house. After a few beers we went out in The Hague, the same place we went 2 yeras ago. Not busy, so we went to Huppel-The-Pub, nice name for our Dutchies. More busy and at 01.00 o'clock home.
Nice sleeping and next morning I cleaned the garden and stones from Marco with the "hogedrukspuit". White sand after, and result: NEW!!!
See the pictures:
Next days every day at my mothers place, diner with Danny, eat drink with Marco's family, visit Sebastiaan, visit my last house and playing ground in Naarden (picture of the school which is gone...) helped Marco a little to clean the gardens, Valerie making PUZZLES at mama's place., last day at Jacobs house and had nice Greek food. Now last minute packing and heading to mama to say goodbye and fly to Thailand.
PS Drove more then 1.100 kilometers in Holland, for passport and visum...
I think the photo's under explain themselves...
Indeed just in time for checking in, 15 minutes before the plain leeft...
A lot of driving for passport and visum, but also had some time to visit friends. I missed a few due to lack of time, next time I need a better planning and a steady place to stay.
Now back again in Hua Hin, Thailand and recovering from a cold and thick foot.
C u next year!
