Belgium - the north was once part of Holland - the official languages are french (in the south) and flem (in the north) - Antwerp means to throw a hand, so their "mascot" is a hand - Brussels mascot is Manneken Pis, a naked boy who is pissing. If you go to Brussels, look out for this young boy, they put him in different places everytime,so you have to look! - There is a large dutch community in Belgium due to tax regulations in Holland
Went there with Aliff, stayed at Uncle Rudy's house. Wasnt there for too long, but it was really fun!! i think, at least.. But we only went to Antwerp.. Well, technically, i did go to Brussels, but only for the airport, so.. :P
The day we wanted to go to Brussels, the trains were on a strike, so amid the confusion of all the trains (assuming there were any - which we didnt see any of), we decided to just go around Antwerp once more.. ;)
The weather in Belgium wasnt half bad - apart from the rain that greeted our arrival and our 2nd evening in Belgium.. It wasnt as cold as in Wales, thank god for that.
During our stay there, Uncle Rudy had his birthday party. It was his 65th, and in Belgium, people celebrate their 65th "like there's no tomorrow", so to speak.. It was quite ackward, because 1)most of the people there were his generation. 2)I wasnt prepared for it,and went only in jeans and long t-shirt when everyone was in suits and stuff. 3)They were speaking dutch! But Fleur and Pim (Unc Rudy's daughter and son-in-law) kept on pulling me into the crowd and asking me to "mingle" (mingle mingle mingle!), that I found myself talking to some quite interesting people.
There was this couple who's lives practically everywhere - Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, States, Europe, bla bla bla... There was also this couple whos wife was half Indonesian half dutch. They kept on telling me how Malaysia was the best - oriental food, italian food, western food, in Malaysia are even better than the places of origin! according to them, at least. personally, i think so too.. Malaysia Boleh!! ;) Owh, and best of all, there was this coupld who lived in Miri a few years ago.. Guess where? Luak Bay! O la la~
So anyways.. I didnt really take a lot of photos in Belgium.. Don't ask me why.. >.< But here are some of them worth showing..
Antwerp.. I told you antwer means throw a hand. This is statue of the hero that threw a hand into the Schilde.. Long story,and Im not quite sure about it myself. If you notice, hes holding a severed hand..
This is the old castle - the oldest edifice in antwerp. Its now the marine museum..We went in for free,because entrance is FOC for those below 19.. If i were a few months late, i would have had to pay! lol.
This..um.. im not sure.. we found it when we were wondering around antwerp.. it was in quite a deserted area (we werent lost! we were just in the process of looking for the way..)
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is antwerp.. That in the back in the cathedral.. Its such a nice city, coz its "medieval", as Pim put it.. And there he got it right..
Eh.. whos this?? chomelnyer!! :P
This is Uncle Rudy's house,from the back in his Garden.. Can you find the hidden Amin?lol.
I couldn't resist taking this picture.. Quite a nice view from the pond.. Pity he's selling the place though.. Oh well, hes building a new one, so...
Anyways, im afraid thats all folks! Sorry for the minimal photos.. Don't worry, I'll taking loads of photos in Istanbul.. Oh! did i tell you? Im off to istanbul from belgium.. *chuckle* But the problem is, i only have one adapter,and both my phone and camera needs to be charged.. so little time, so much to charge!!!
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