2014 - Backpacking to Amsterdam day 03

Backpacking to Amsterdam, Netherlands and to Stranraer, Scotland
21 May to 26 June 2014 (37days)

Val Allan and Ching Neng Bin outside Flying Pig Downtown Youth Hostel on Nieuwendijk Street, Amsterdam.

Day 3 (23.05.2014) – Day trip to Amsterdam Zaanse Schans Village (21km)

In the early morning we went for a walk along the deserted Nieuwendijk Street just outside the hostel's front door before returning back for breakfast. And after breakfast we walked to Central Station to catch the bus to Zaanse Schans Village. We took the 10am bus No.391 from Amsterdam Central station; it stops right outside and costs 7 euro return journey. The buses leave every 30 minutes and the trip takes 50 minutes. The bus link at Central Station is at the bus station at the east side of the main station entrance, at the bridge. To come back the bus leaves from the same bus stop – right outside Zaanse Schans.

Sleeping: The Flying Pig Downtown Youth Hostel, Amsterdam.
A cold but sunny day - Temp: min.9 – max.18 °C


Catherine and Pauline Toh admiring the buildings along the deserted Nieuwendijk Street.


The Beurs van Berlage is a building on the Damrak, in the centre of Amsterdam. It was designed as a commodity exchange by architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage and constructed between 1896 and 1903.


The Damrak is an avenue and partially filled in canal at the centre of Amsterdam, running between Amsterdam Centraal in the north and Dam Square in the south.


The Damrak is the main street where people arriving at the station enter the centre of Amsterdam.


The Damrak is the main street where people arriving at the station enter the centre of Amsterdam.


We had good 8.30am breakfast at Flying Pig Downtown Youth Hostel.


After breakfast we walked to Central Station to catch the bus to Zaanse Schans Village.


Zaanse Schans is a small village on the banks of the Zaan River, where all the attractions like several type of real working windmills, cheese farm and clog factory (wooden shoes), complete with tidy green houses. Visiting the village is free of charge, but entering the windmills, museums and other attractions costs a few euros (3.50 for a windmill).


The main entrance to the Zaanse Schans village.


Zaanse Schans village on the banks of the Zaan River.


Clogs & wooden shoes making demonstration @ Zaanse Schans! The wooden shoe workshop is located in ‘De Vreede’ warehouse (1750), which was previously used to store grain and snuff.


Betty Ching and Catherine Oon at ‘De Vreede’ warehouse (1750) Zaanse Schans village.


Ching Neng Bin and Catherine Oon at ‘De Vreede’ warehouse (1750) Zaanse Schans village.


Clogs & wooden shoe workshop located in ‘De Vreede’ warehouse (1750) Zaanse Schans village.

Ching Neng Bin and Catherine Oon at ‘De Vreede’ warehouse (1750) Zaanse Schans village.


Betty Ching and Lim Kee Moon at ‘De Vreede’ warehouse (1750) Zaanse Schans village.

Val Allan and Pauline Toh at ‘De Vreede’ warehouse (1750) Zaanse Schans village.


Clogs & wooden shoes making demonstration @ Zaanse Schans! See how an expert makes clogs here.


Clogs & wooden shoes making demonstration @ Zaanse Schans! It takes less time than you might think!


All the beautiful shoes: painted, carved, ice clogs, horse clogs, arty clogs and clogs from around the world.


Authentic Oostzaan farm is fully equipped for cheese making at Catharina Hoeve cheese farm.


Demonstrations all day long at Catharina Hoeve cheese farm and you can learn the different stages of cheese production and tasting delicious cheese.


In Catharina Hoeve cheese farm, the staff, who wear traditional clothing, make a variety of different types of cheese. These include Gouda, goat’s cheese and herb cheeses.


Catharina Hoeve cheese farm in Zaanse Schans village.


De Catharina Hoeve farm was relocated to Zaanse Schans Village in the late 1980s.


What could be more Dutch than cheese at Catharina Hoeve cheese farm.


What could be more Dutch than cheese at Catharina Hoeve cheese farm.


Traditional windmills at Zaanse Schan Village on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Zaanse Schans a lovely village on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland, famous for a collection of well-preserved historic windmills and houses dating back to 18th and 19th century.


Windmill Het Jonge Schaap at Zaanse Schan Village on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


The mills in Zaanse Schans - Het Jonge Schaap, De Zoeker, De Kat, De Gekroonde Poelenburg, De Huisman.


Windmill De Os is between the saw mills Het Jonge Schaap and Het Klaverblad. The mill was built in 1663 and is one of the oldest industrial windmills in the Zaan. Until 1916 the mill was operating on wind power. In that year, hood, and wings were removed; the Os was converted a warehouse.


Traditional windmills at Zaanse Schan Village on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Oil mill De Bonte Hen is situated at the northernmost end of Zaanse Schans. Built around 1693, this mill is an octagonal smock windmill with a gallery and a revolving cap.


Oil mill De Bonte Hen is situated at the northernmost end of Zaanse Schans.


Lovely Zaanse Schans village houses on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.

Lovely Zaanse Schans village houses on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Lovely Zaanse Schans village houses on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Antique and souvenir shop at Zaanse Schans village on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Antique and souvenir shop at Zaanse Schans village on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Val Allan said that it looked like the bell used in Outward Bound School, Lumut.


Antique and souvenir shop at Zaanse Schans village on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Antique and souvenir shops at Zaanse Schans village on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.

Lovely Zaanse Schans village houses on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Lovely Zaanse Schans village houses on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Lovely Zaanse Schans village houses on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Lovely Zaanse Schans village shops on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Lovely Zaanse Schans village houses on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


A wedding photo shoot beside the restaurant at Zaanse Schans village.


Lovely ducks at Zaanse Schans village on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Lovely ducks at Zaanse Schans village on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


De Hoop op d’Swarte Walvis is one of the best-known and most attractive restaurants in the Netherlands. What’s more, it’s located in a beautiful, historic setting! The restaurant is situated directly on the River Zaan and has a jetty for boating guests and a large terrace. The front of the building, on the main route through Zaanse Schans, also features a charming terrace.

Beautiful garden at Zaanse Schans village on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Lovely Zaanse Schans village houses on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Lovely Zaanse Schans village houses on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Lovely Zaanse Schans village houses on the banks of the Zaan River in North Holland.


Sleeping: The Flying Pig Downtown Youth Hostel, Amsterdam.


The Flying Pigs on the ceiling of The Flying Pig Downtown Youth Hostel, Amsterdam.


The bar at the Flying Pig Downtown Hostel is as spacious as it gets and it sells the cheapest beer!


The bar at the Flying Pig Downtown Hostel is as spacious as it gets and it sells the cheapest beer!


On this night at Flying Pig Downtown Hostel we had 2 bottles of wine before going to bed at 1am.

Val Allan with two bottles of red wine for the last night in Amsterdam.

Sleeping: The Flying Pig Downtown Youth Hostel
A queen-size bed for two in 32 Bed Queen Size Dorm (Double Beds)
Day1: EU23.90pp
Day2: EU31.90pp
Total:  EU334.80 for 2 nights.

22 May, 2014  @ 32 Bed QS Dorm for 6pax = 143.40 EUR
23 May, 2014  @ 32 Bed QS Dorm for 6pax = 191.40 EUR
Total:  EU334.80 for 2 nights.

Click below to view daily adventures:
Day 01 (21.05.2014 Wed) – MH16 KUL/AMS 2355hr – 0655hr on 22May
Day 02 (22.05.2014 Thr) – Amsterdam City, Holland
Day 03 (23.05.2014 Fri) – Amsterdam Zaanse Schans Village (21km)
Day 04 (24.05.2014 Sat) – KL.1477R AMS/GLA 1535hr - 1605hr Glasgow Airport
Day 05 (25.05.2014 Sun) – Stranraer, Scotland

Day 06 (26.05.2014 Mon) – Fishing station at Lady Bay (15km) Loch Ryan
Day 07 (27.05.2014 Tue) – Portpatrick and Mull of Galloway Lighthouse (58km)
Day 08 (28.05.2014 Wed) – Lide supermarket (2.8km) and Museum
Day 09 (29.05.2014 Thu) – Exploring Galloway Forest Park (56km)
Day 10 (30.05.2014 Fri) – Kirkland Fishery Farm in Leswalt (4.6km)

Day 11 (31.05.2014 Sat) – Exploring Galloway Forest Park (60km)
Day 12 (01.06.2014 Sun) – Trekking 20.8km Loch Ryan Coastal Path
Day 13 (02.06.2014 Mon) – A free and easy rest day
Day 14 (03.06.2014 Tue) – To Robert Burns Cottage at Alloway (78km)
Day 15 (04.06.2014 Wed) – Fishing station at Lady Bay (15km) Loch Ryan

Day 16 (05.06.2014 Thu) – A trip to the Giant Causeway (153km) by coach
Day 17 (06.06.2014 Fri) – Trekking 4km Ardwell Pond, Ardwell Bay (18km)
Day 18 (07.06.2014 Sat) – Our ladies went shopping in Ayr (72km)
Day 19 (08.06.2014 Sun) – Visiting Isabelle/Robert in Newton Steward (50km)
Day 20 (09.06.2014 Mon) – Overnight stay at Fishing Station, Lady Bay Loch Ryan

Day 21 (10.06.2014 Tue) – Visited a farm using automated milking
Day 22 (11.06.2014 Wed) – Day 1 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland
Day 23 (12.06.2014 Thu) – Day 2 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland
Day 24 (13.06.2014 Fri) – Day 3 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland
Day 25 (14.06.2014 Sat) – Day 4 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland

Day 26 (15.06.2014 Sun) – Day 5 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland
Day 27 (16.06.2014 Mon) – Allan and Pauline 50th wedding anniversary
Day 28 (17.06.2014 Tue) – Mysterious beach walk at Loch Larbrax, Scotland
Day 29 (18.06.2014 Wed) – Lake Loweswater, Lake District, UK (day1)
Day 30 (19.06.2014 Thu) – Outward Bound Ullswater, Lake Ullswater (day2)

Day 31 (20.06.2014 Fri) – Return from Lake District (day3)
Day 32 (21.06.2014 Sat) – Our last visit to the bothy at Lady Bay
Day 33 (22.06.2014 Sun) – A farewell dinner hosted by Margaret Modrate
Day 34 (23.06.2014 Mon) – A farewell tea hosted by Vera Little
Day 35 (24.06.2014 Tue) – To Glasgow for a night stay for next day flight
Day 36 (25.6.2014Wed) Glasgow 6am to Amsterdam 8.40//MH17 12noon to KLIA
Day 37 (26.06.2014 Thu) – MH17 touched down at KLIA at 6.20am.

 

37day expenses per person was RM6,139.05 

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