8 Dec 2007

P’ Louis [“friend” of P’ Noon, who studies about public sector at Erasmus] is going back to Thailand on 11 Dec. Therefore, we set a trip to Brussels on this day. It is very fortunate for me because, at first I wanted to go to Belgium before I go back on Christmas Holiday but N’N’ said that they are very poor at this moment. I thought I would have to postpone the Belgium trip to after New Year or even in Block 3. So, the P’ Louis situation is very fortunate for me.

We met at Rotterdam Centraal Station at 9 am. We departed at 9.25 am and we arrived Brussels Centraal at 11.25 am. The station is not in a good condition; it is under construction or renovation, I think.

We then find the City Tour. N’ Imron is very good at in negotiation. We had got € 3 discount from his buffing … ha ha ha !!! we took city tour operated by Golden city tour, or something.

The tour is very similar to what I took in Italy. The city of Brussels is also very similar; the architecture, the building and so on. The coach we took is not in the good condition, the sound of engine was so loud and the audio guide did not work promptly.

After 1 hour tour, we got off at somewhere look like city center. There was a grand building and there were shopping booths surrounding it. I had tried Belgium waffle, original Belgium chocolate truffle …. They are really delicious!!! After a while, we had realized that there was ‘Winter Festival’ [something like that] from 3 Nov 07 – 1 Jan 08. we were lucky!!! Then, we walked through the festival, looking around and have launch [Hotdog!!! … well, it tasted like one in Holland … no different, except the size is bigger].

In the festival, I saw for the first time ‘THIS’ carousel. It is not a simple one like in Thailand. For instead, it consisted of many kinds of animal including insects, there are balloons, train, plane and everything, which have some mechanism inside themselves to move. For example, the Chameleon can move its head and its eyes. It amazed me!!

I tried “warm wine” and I had to tell you that its taste is really bad for me!!! Very hard to drink … stronger than normal wine. Wine, drink cool is the best.

Unfortunately, it was raining all day starting from around 1.30 pm. That is why we cannot take another city tour in order to get off at some interesting points. Very pity!!

Partly because of raining, we decided to go back to Rotterdam at 4.30 pm. unfortunately (AGAIN), we just missed the train!!! So we have to wait 1 hour for another train.

When I asked about the schedule of the train, the officer said “well, MAYBE at 5.39” … and it was, it really was!!! The train was late for almost half an hour!!!

Well, in conclusion, the trip is OK … we just get upset by rain and delayed train. However, the chocolate and waffle is really, really delicious!!

Oh! Almost forgot!!! I have to note that the weather is so cold. In Brussels, it was 2 -3 degree lower than Rotterdam [it was 6 degree c.]. Moreover, as it was raining, the temperature dropped to 4 degree!!! 

13 Dec 2007

We, IPD student, had a party at Mr Asselbergs’ house today. Amanda and Simon arrange the party [Again, THANX mates!!!]. Every one was supposed to do something; prepare the place, cleaning up or prepare food.  Of cause, since I am a good [skilful!?!?] chef, I prepared some food.

I buy 10 pieces of chicken hip the day before [12 Dec 2007], seasoning them with Thai favour and Thai spicy. I had to adjust the recipe making it not too hot otherwise any body [DUTCH!!!] would eat my stuff. Ha ha ha. Anyway, then I left them for 1 night. [One night only, one night only … !?!?!?] [it is a song, please laugh … ha ha ha]

Well then, I had to cook them since 2.30 pm.

Since I didn’t know the place, I call Ploy and Ram. So, I went with Ram, Gaston [and his wife], and Herre together. We go by Metro to Masshaven, then by tram number 2.

The party was really, really fun. We ate a lot of food and also drank beer and wine. Ernest and another Chinese guy [sorry, I don’t remember your name] played guitar for us. Jason also played piano for us. And I also had a nice discussion with Ferdinand.  At the end, there were 2 small pieces [out of 40] of my grill chicken left. That was great!!!

I took pictures that you can see in the photo album. I tried to ask Mr Asselbergs taking photo with me, but he refuse [not directly, he just changed the topic and let me take his picture with girls instead!!! T_T]

All in all, it was really good party. Thanks a lot for Amanda and Simon.