Frankfurt & Amsterdam

I'll start from the beginning. Day 1

Short flight to Bangkok followed by waiting at Bangkok airport KFC and waiting area playing asshole taidi. Followed by an absolutely boring 11hr flight to Frankfurt. If I''m not going back home, it's coz I can't stand another 10+hrs sitting in a tiny seat, blocked from the screen by a big head of hair. At least the company made it bearable.

Reached frankfurt at 8pm, but it's still bright here until abt 9-10pm, and sun rises really early. it's bright at 6am, although i hvn't woken up at dawn yet. Took train to Frankfurt city from the airport, where a really nice lady working in a pastry shop showed us all the way to the ticket counter. Vunderbar (wonderful in german). Made arrangements to go Amsterdam the next morning, then checked in at the budget hotel 50m from train station. Actually the place is rather quiet and safe. Ate a pizza for supper with Zo, at a place run by indians. turned in as early as possible, after catching a bit of South Park in German.

Day 2.

We ate a hurried buffet breakfast and caught the morning train to Amsterdam. Played taidi but soon the weak coffee wore off and had to sleep. stoned for most of the 4 hr train ride. after some failed attempts, decided not to get frustrated in trying to take photos of scenery. Reached Amsterdam but forgot to book tickets to Paris at the train station, too busy getting to our budget hotel by tram. Again, in a quiet and safe part of the city.

Quite an enjoyable day in amsterdam. Went to the flower market, where i bought a present for mum, and some *ahem* magic mushrooms. Then went to the largest park here, Vondel Park. Then went to the market area to buy dinner, then went back to hotel, ate mushrooms (Jo didn't like the taste, so I ate most) and ate pasta for dinner.

As dinner was finishing the walls started to move a little. I lost appetite. I don't really remember exactly the sequence of events after that, but I felt cold, sat in bed, scribbled in my journal abt wat i was experiencing and sent out a number of inane SMSes. Laughed a lot, behaved stupidly, while Jo laughed and Zo sighed. Didn't help that i have low tolerance for anything unhealthy, guess i lost points with them liao. oh well. It's all about the experience, that's y i'm here. After numerous attempts at falling asleep and not thinking too much abt it, i finally did.

But one main thing that kept my mind going was: should I be so concerned about control? when should I start loosening up a little? but if i make myself loosen up, isn't that still a form of control? If i keep to my natural controlling self, I'm not controlling myself too much, am i?

yup. magic mushrooms make you think like that. Go try.

Day 3.

woke up with slight hangover. slept some more and woke up 10am. went to train station after a bread brunch and forgot to bring train tickets to book tml's train to Paris. once again, lack of coffee made things worse. Pissed with myself, and too stoned to make things better. Heng the counter lady was understanding enuff to go thru with the reservation.

Went to countryside to see windmills, canals, marshes, ducks, sheep, cows, chicken, ate free cheese samples, drank not-bad coffee, ate nice apple pie, took lots of photos. cheered me up a little, cheered up even more with coffee.

Then on the way back Zo & Jo mentioned they wanted to go clubbing in Paris, maybe with their fren and her bf who were already there. that got me kinda worried, and my dad's words of warning (which i brushed off) went thru my mind: "you going there with 2 girls ah? liddat you got a lot of responsibility u know." I thot it wldn't be a problem coz they seemed well travelled.

So i'm worried, not that they can't control themselves, they seem sensible. but i'm worried that these blardy ang mohs can't. esp when asian girls can be considered exotic, while asian guys can be considered outcasts. somemore they so big and fat, I don't hv a v good chance against anyone aggressive. My main tactic wld be to grab their balls HARD. So i'm worried because, in spite of what they say, i DO have a responsibility towards them and if they go clubbing, I HAVE to follow, if only to protect them against unwanted advances, and getting hospitalised in the process.

Oh well. I do hope they understand my concerns and not go, but from what they said to me i doubt it. So i can only hope we don't attract too much attention. If this blog isn't updated in the next 3 days, do send me an SMS to check if I'm still ok. if not, you can look up the singapore embassy in France at www.mfa.gov.sg.

Anyway the rest of the day was spent wandering into an old church to see world news photo exhibition, the red light district (in the day) and wandering thru the confusing streets and canals of amsterdam. sat down and enjoyed the quiet, then watched inane MTV in the lounge.

signing off now, take care guys. tomorrow morning, Paris via Belgium.

remember, 3 days.