A birthday to remember / forget

So yesterday was my 22nd birthday and I couldn't have been happier than to spend it in beautiful Amsterdam. After some more sleeping fun (I am such a huge fan of sleeping in you can't imagine - aka getting over Jet Leg) Aisling (Carlson's roommate, Sandy's friend from Edmonton) and I went to check out the Anne Frank House. A really nice museum that explores the story of the Frank family and those who helped them hide inside the back of the building. Really memorable and nice to finally actually see the rooms that was depicted in the diary (not that I read it, but you just hear so much).
Anne Frank Huis (I don't know how to rotate pics apparently)

Afterwards we went to the Albert Cuyp Market in search of a king sized stroopwafel (caramel sandwiched between two thin wafels), unfortunately it was to no avail. So we just settled for buying cheap postcards and razors instead. After walking the market (about ummm, ~4 city blocks) we biked home as it looked like the storm clouds were brewing.




Well, today was also my birthday, and according to Carlson I needed to do it in true Amsterdam fashion ... drugs ... prostitutes ... and alcohol. LoL. Yeah right, this is ME, so the most I would participate in is alcohol. Carlson, being as awesome as he is started they day off super awesome with a BAG load of gifts ... me so spoiled, but happy ... including a bunch of Kuyichi clothing (Fair trade clothing from Holland). Fast forward to dinner time to where we had dinner with CY and Gabi again and some other people (Sandy # 2 and her sister) AND Martin! Yes, Martin as in the Talisman intern from summer 2006. So cool to see him ... given the table of Canadians, chinese food and chinese people who spoke cantonese, it was like being back in Canada again!

The food (Taste of Culture) was really good, surprisingly good actually, starting off with my favorite Peking Duck wraps ... mmm! ... and ending off with a Tiramisu cake complete with a mega intense sparkler/firework crazy candle thing (note that the lights have dimmed in the restaurant and "Happy Birthday" playing on the sound system). OMG, quite an experience.

Martin & Hugo (Martin's friend, met him in Calgary b4), not willing to concede that everyone wanted to go home because they had to work tomorrow wanted to get me more drunk than I was (with the beers from the restaurant). I was insistent on not going overboard ... but oh well. We went to another pub and had another round of drinks. I definitely experienced some bitter beer face action. ... after a little time, I was not feeling so good (beer + eldon = issues). I was half passing out ... in other words, time to go home. We leave the pub and Martin decides to do some Dutch spin the birthday around in the air thing .... oh crap ... let's keep in mind that I wasn't exactly feeling so hot in the first place. This was pretty much my stomachs breaking point. So ... yea .... there was some definite vomit action going on. eeeeewwwwww, so gross. Unfortunately there are pictures and video (and some laundry to do) to prove it.


Lesson: Eldon's beer tolerance is waaay low ... wine and highballs are much preferred, thanks.

My love/hate relationship with the Bicycle

Amsterdam is all about the bicycles. Everyone rides one, they get right of way to pedestrians, they are respected by all. Carlson has so graciously rented me a bike for me to use over the weekend, truly, if you want to get around A'dam for cheap, the bike is the way to do it. It allows you to see the city without the strain of walking.

However, the bike and I do not see eye to eye. Overall, I'm a huge fan of the car and Calgary roads and the like, red means stop, green means go, and the C-Train has a designated street. Here, there is a bike lane, obscure signage and pedestrians, cars, bikes, buses and everything in between seem to share the road together (even worse in the tourist areas)

So far, my greatest goal so far is to NOT GET KILLED! (or seriously injured). Trams are the scariest, as they zip along all modern and quiet with only a periodic ring as warning. However, over the period of about 24-26 hours I have almost been hit by (or I have hit):

• (a) a Volkswagon Golf
  
• (b) a Motorbike/Scooter thing
  
• (c) People walking
  
• (d) numerous fixed objects such as poles and sidewalks

...and after lunch (Dim Sum!!!...lol) I got hit by a cyclist. It may or may not have been my fault seeing as I stopped in the middle of the bike lane, but what evs ... the girl who screamed as it happened didn't exactly help the situation. ... So the lesson is ... 1) the person who you are following (Carlson) needs to slow down so the beginner city biker can not concentrate on getting lost and navigating the people 2) Bikes are scary, but efficient

...and I haven't even mentioned the point at 3am when my bike's inner tube broke, so we had to walk 45 minutes home, or when the shoelace got caught in the pedal... or how much my butt really, really hurts right now.

Needless to say, I think I shall be taking the Tram more often and/or walking. The bike is fun, but for the sake of returning home in one piece I will follow CYs advice (Carlson's friend)

Day 1/2 Update: AlbertHeijn grovery store to buy food - Carlson cooks (mmm!); 1 hour siesta (much needed); Drinks at Barca for a Gabrielle's going away party; House warming party at Eric's (ABN Amro Alum) ... best Rum & Cokes I've ever had ...; flat tire; walk home; sleep; sleep; Dim Sum; Shopping; near death; coffee on a canal-side cafe; me blogging right now (This goes out to you Layial/Mess!)

Whirlwind Day + 8 hours

Wowsa, it has been craaazy this past uh, "day". ...

Friday, 6:45am ... Josh picks me up to go to the PwC Audit golf tournament at Lakeside in Chestermere. Needless to say, company golf tournaments are ALWAYS a good day out. Sure, I could have been better (this was the first time that I've been on a golf course this entire season .. all considering I wasn't all that bad!). I had the opportunity to golf with some awesome audit peeps (Chris, Brian, & Jeff) - all of whom were much better than I. Well, after some beer and highballs during the day, needless to say I got a little "tipsy" and ended up passing out on the bus ride back to the office (5pm). This was pretty much the last time I will see most of the Summers which is super sad, but I'm sue I'll see most of them later.. or in Edmonton... After going to Malcom's for an hour for Coach Rob's good-bye party (Best Coach ever!), took the taxi home to pack for Europe. (6pm)

6:30pm. Caren stops by with BeeBee Kyan ... still cute as ever ... Happy pre-Birthday monkey!! ... Jacob, in his over excitement is a little over friendly and kisses Kyan to the point of crying ... awww ...

Friday, 12midnight, I catch my Air Transat flight to Europe. I think I was the only Asian person on the plane .. on well ..and Although I set myself up for discomfort, and Aaron totally warned me ... it really makes you appreciate Westjet and even Air Canada, if only for the fact that you get LEGROOM! (I am sooo jealous right now that Mess got to fly first class!). Surprisingly , I was fed, twice ... not good, but fed! I think I was still feeling the leftover effects of alcohol from golf day. What really was horrible was sitting next to this 10 year old girl (apart of a family with 3 young kids). First off, she did not understand the concept of a "personal comfort zone" in which you do not cross over onto the person next to yours seat. Mainly, her elbow and feet were always invading my space bubble - annoying. As she was equipped with a giant stick of sugar (lollipop sticks), chips, doritos (which the smell made me want to vomit), and cookies I don't think that so much sugar and crap made the situation better. So, the flight continues ... the guy in front of me reclines his chair .. and my legs are totally lacking space ... sigh ... suck it up. I get sleep in bursts for couple hours at a time. The fact that they feed you at 1 and 4 AM really mess with your mind. The best part of the flight was that it was early on arrival. The worst part was that damn 10 year old girl ultimately felt the effects of junk food and motion sickness and vomitted on the decent down (eeewwwww). ...can't wait until the trip home - not.

Saturday, 4:30pm (Amsterdam Time), so yes I arrive 45 minutes early (the best part of the flight). Carlson is there at the arrivals area to welcome me to Europe (yeah!) ... and so it begins...

http://ucalgary.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2050953&l=9a02c&id=120601860

12 Kinds of Ads

Taken from Iris' Blog ... It's pretty neat, especially for those who are interested in marketing or media.

http://www.slate.com/id/2170872/?GT1=10238

It's Over

I confess, this long weekend may or may not have consisted of me starting (Saturday) and finishing (Monday) the 7th and final Harry Potter book. I am definitely not as hardcore as some people (as described by Kent) but I do appreciate the story and what the series has done in terms of the creation of hype, reading among children and marketing genius.

The book was good, not great, but did it's job of rounding out the series and leaves readers with a satisfying end (in my opinion). People died, yes, but the emotional connection is not as great anymore. I actually do feel that it was time to end ... as the years have passed my interest was slowly decreasing. Considering that I started reading these books nearly a DECADE ago (I was 12) is amazing. I would definitely classify Harry Potter as my favorite (if not only) series of books to which I was actually committed to.

So, I'm a little sleepy right now from a couple late nights, but I just wanted to acknowledge the end of era ...