The Amsterdam Post Pt 3..

Assalamualaikum and Hye..

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I am very fond of Amsterdam right now. I just learned that, it is one of the "happiest" place to live in. Paris? nah... London? nah... When I visit these two places, I really feel unsafe, London you could find Malaysian everywhere. But each people has their own opinion. We are allowed to agree and disagree.

While listening to Scorpions and RBS Six Nation live on telly, it makes my brain to churn more ideas and write while I had the time and pleasure.

A lot of my friends actually don't know where I work, or my core of business. It does not matter to me. Its rare and only a circle of community in Malaysia knows what it is. But once in Europe, our discipline is large and more well known.

Anyway, my official work days start at Amsterdam Arena aka Ajax Amsterdam Stadium. Boon Edam installed revolving doors at the stadium and the company had special relationship as a provider.

Welcome screen

We all in green for coffee. Unfortunately the coffee is not green. Its black..

One of many revolving doors installed in Amsterdam Arena

I alone represent Boon Edam South East Asia (BESEA). I had to make a home made video representing our BESEA and Malaysia itself. It was great. Kinda proud of what i made from scratch and editing it through Sony Vegas Pro. Compared to others....

Then we are invited for a tour of the stadium, IT WAS MARVELOUS!.  Superb stadium, it could only hold around 55000 fans, half the size of Bukit Jalil, but even with out the fans, you could feel how close each fans could be and while I was there, you could here the roar of the fans for miles. It was Ajax vs PSV and the second match was Ajax vs Feyenoord.

Murals drawn by fans.. 

And.. Unexpectedly, I met with Ronald de Boer...!! The Ajax legend himself! And also an autograph from him!! YEAH!!

SMILE!!

Everyone copied what I did.. HAAHHAHA

Changing room, and interview stage post match..

The next day was more formal. We had our sales meeting and sales training.. Learn a few tips, could try it out in the local scene. Mana tahu jadi..

Smile!

After all those babbling, we are treated with the boat cruise and a GREAT dinner.

Pictures taken from the boat..

EAT!!

Our last working day was in Edam. Our headquarters. 45 minutes drive from the city center. This is where also they manufacture all the products and shipped it all around the globe.

Nice office and factory..

I think that wraps up my business trip to Holland. Its a lovely place to go, and I don't mind doing it again.

I ended it with a signage, with love " Paris Gare du Nord"

salam
hmo

The Amsterdam Post Pt 2

Assalamualaikum and Hye..

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The journey from Paris Norg (Gare du Nord) to Amsterdam Central took us 3 hours 45 minutes. The journey was great. The train was stable. The suspension was quiet, hardly any squeaks or sound from the rails and steel tires.

Gard du Nord has the better architectural features compared to Amsterdam Central

Arriving Amsterdam Central at 6pm around 4 degrees Celsius was not bad. You could still handle the weather with a jacket and glove. Its all about mobility when you want to move around with baggage. However, my wife, fare very well with her 6 month tummy and handling two cabin bags. Since we arrived Amsterdam a bit dark, tired and hungry, we skip dinner and pictures and head directly to our hotel. 

Hamptons by Hilton will be our stay for the next 6 days..

Views from the hotel room. ING building, and Ajax Arena (Ajax Amsterdam Stadium)

The next day, I had one day free before my official work day start, so we head to Amsterdam. The train station was near to our hotel, the Amsterdam Bijlmer Arena. Its a five minute walk. The we need a few minutes to understand and decode how to read the time schedule of their local public transport company of Amsterdam GVB (Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf). I did not make up the words okay. It looks gibberish, but I am sure it is pronounceable. 

Nice city huh... 

We steer the streets of Damrak, shopping streets, cheese shops, flowers shop until our knees literally gave up. My shoulders are aching, the weather is getting colder heading towards the evening. But we still soldiered on until we met the infamous "IAMSTERDAM" signage..

Kalau budak dalam perut tu tanya, "bila nak gi Amsterdam??", here's is the proof baby!

Ahhhh... love the weather...

Boon Edam Revolving Door!!

The trams and ahead is Damrak Street.

HRC Amsterdam

Wide view City of Amsterdam

IAMSTERDAM!!

Walking below one meter of sea level..

Heineken Music Hall, Ajax Entrance, Ajax Museum and Vila Arena

Night walks... Feel very very safe compared to other European countries.

Good night Amsterdam.. End of Part 2.

salam

hmo

The Amsterdam Post.. Pt 1

 Assalamualaikum and hye.

Few weeks back I got the chance to visit Holland under the code name "WORK". Most of the days consist of International Sales Meeting (ISM), Sales Training, Company Re-branding and "socializing". Total of four days, but i took the advantage to stretch it to seven days excluding travelling.

Amsterdam is a nice county, gloomy weather, nice people, terrific public transportation, and a constant smell of weed everywhere you go. But before I start babbling about Amsterdam, lets start from the beginning of the journey.

Before the flight we pose. A friend of Sarah's mentioned, "once in a plane, you are considered dead." kahakhakkah!

Sometimes I don't understand why people in Facebook keeps on taking their flight tickets and post it at the internet (facebook). Yes, its true that is your page and its your right to post what you wanna post. But what is the big deal? Just wanna mention that you are going overseas? and setakat "economy class", or "economy upper deck(A380)", or even "business class"?  whats the deal people?? Ada lagi best, setakat domestic flight pun nak ambik gambar flight ticket?? Kenapa takde yang first class or suites yang ambil gambar flight ticket and post it at facebook? Lagi gampang hebat kalau bayar ticket dengan duit pocket sendiri. Baru tak segan. At least I know the ticket is worth RM35000++ return! Kalau setakat company bayar, tak yah laa nak show off. Simpan dalam wallet sudah..

MAS A380

My business trip is in Amsterdam. To make life easier, I could just landed at Schiphol "number one Europe airport". But sebab teringin maw naik A380 kan, I struck a deal with my boss and let me land at Charlles de Gaulle. Saje menyusahkan diri. MAS does not have any A380 to Schiphol, just the crappy B777.

MAS A380 welcome video

Took some selfies of US..

The journey took us approximately 13 hours. The trip was nice. The turbulence was bad. 40% of the ride was nasty. Even the gigantic A380 got a beating. Sarah have a bit bad experience (throwing up), the steward was great and the entertainment was fairly nice. Most of the latest movies is on board, but the most thing I did was sleeping and having bad dreams as usual.

The dinner was okay, but I could eat anything..

The flight to CDG was half full..

LOOOOOONGGGGG way to go..

We landed at CDG around 7 in the morning. CDG as usual, sucks big time. Sometimes i regret landed here. Even my boss called me a traitor because not choosing Heathrow. Me at traitor?? I'm not even a Brit! Heheh. Anyway, its nice of him to let me choose which airport to land. A trip from Paris Nord to Amsterdam Central will only took us 3 hours by Thalys (train), compared to London around 6 hours.

Selfieeee

The lousy travellator..

CDG has been the same since my last visit 7 years ago.. No changes at all!

Had some coffee and croissants, a few pictures before we head to Amsterdam!!

 

From Paris to Amsterdam, we took the train. It was a 3 hours 45 minute journey whereas a few stops along the way such as Antwerp, Brussels, Rotterdam and few more stops. It was a long walk to our cabin, I could estimate it around 600-700 meter. The train WAS thatttt long..

At certain point the train was speeding....

End of part 1.

salam
hmo