Iamsterdam

Despite all the snow in Detroit, KLM got me to Amsterdam early. My friend Zhou Jian who is studied at the U of M with me for several months and his girlfriend and another Chinese friend picked me up from the airport.

We drove into the Amsterdam city center and walked, and walked, and walked, but we saw so much in short amount of time. The amount of bikes is unbelievable, the people need it though, their food is pretty fattening. For example, mayonnaise on french fries, enough said.

We went to lunch at a Cantonese style Chinese restaurant in the Chinatown area, my friends ordered something in Chinese and I just waited. I learned 2 things from this experience:

1.) I don't like chicken feet

2.) I don't like intestine

Other than that the food was really good.

After lunch we made our way around all the hemp bars, and the Red Light District. All I can say is, "WOW!" It was funny seeing these conservative Chinese girls asking me if I wanted to go smoke and walking with Jian and I by windows with ladies trying to lure us inside.

After that we walked by the Iamsterdam statue in front of the Rijksmuseum, as well we saw the royal palace in Dam Square and Anne Frank's house. Following this we wondered along the canals back to the spot where we parked. It was great to see so many people on bikes but they scarier than all the cars.

We then drove to Delft which is 40 minutes from Amsterdam near Der Haag and Rotterdam. It is an amazingly beautiful city! I wish I had more time to explore here. I think it is in the 1000 places to see before you die, if I am wrong it should be.

We we looked at the old leaning cathedral and the new 500 year old church in the main square. Dinner was at a chain here called Billy Beer. Its "Dutch Style Rib" restaurant. The food was good, having Heineken so close from the source was even better!

Tomorrow...Uganda!