We went to Amsterdam. Ah… Amsterdam?
So did you visit any museum? err… no,
Did you sit on the tram? Nope,
Any tourist sites? Err.. if you consider the red light district and eating Asian food touristy, ok..we did then. The red light district was an eye opener for someone like me, who came from a rather conservative country and up bringing. My tour guide explained that the “girls”, yes I would rather call them that as to me prostitutes sounds rather degrading although I do respect them to a certain extend for their service to our society. Back to the explanation from my tour guide which happens to be Philippe. The girls in Amsterdam are considered to be lucky as they don’t have to stand in the streets during the cold winter months. They “do their business” and “negotiations” behind glass door, which is somewhat safer as they are able to ignore unwelcome customers. The whole atmosphere feels like buying a pet in a pet shop, in full view for the customers who wished to purchase them, like fishes swimming in an aquarium. I felt somewhat sad for them, as some of them were very pretty and attractive and could perhaps do better in their life. In Amsterdam, prostitution is taken as an occupation and tax is paid on their income. As Philippe explained, my mind wondered “hmm….. how does the tax officers calculate their income? Do they have someone sit and count the number of customers? Or they go, ah..fat girl ok, maybe less income, or oh…that ones has got pretty breast, ah…must tax her more?…” I remember driving around Geylang (Singapore’s red light district) with some friends and feeling unsafe even being in the car. You can hardly see anything as the “shops’ are covered with a big wall in front of the front entrance. Surprisingly in Amsterdam, where drugs are legalized the city is rather calm. Very calm, unlike Paris where you can often find people drunk and behaving unsightly, Amsterdam is the total opposite.
Hmm.. I better write about something else, or it will sound as if we spent our entire time in the Red light district. In fact we had to walk pass it every day as most of the Asian shops were situated there. It seems that the Chinese community is blooming in Amsterdam. If ever I feel home sick, I know where to go to search for Asian food – there was even a Malaysian restaurant. We passed it on the first day and spend two hours the second day searching for the restaurant. When we finally found it, we were so happy until I carefully studied the menu. A plate of “Nasi Lemak” which will cost no more than RM3 in Malaysia was Euro 13.50. For Philippe it may seem like normal prices for a main meal, but for me. I will not be able to sallow knowing that I could eat 10 plates back home. Yes. Yes.. I know it does not hold the same value, but old habits are hard to change.
Aiks,, just saw the time, French classes this afternoon – gotta go prepare.
