Do it like the Dutchies Do

What about the hash bars and the hookers man?

huh? Why all this fixation with the red light area? What abt the style...I remember saying earlier that :
``it reminded me a lot of Ibne Insha`s Awara Gard ki diary...
hmm...a bit too much of inspiration I would say...or can it be called that? `` any comments on that or has no one ever heard of this one, what to say of reading it?

Gives us an interesting twist into the world of ``Going Dutch``.....


Ras

Reminds of my many trips to Amsterdam,

Dutch people are really tall, though there may not appear it, there is racism in Dutch society and people... The red light districts were full of nasty, ageing, sleazy Americans, and the women in the windows were mainly SE Asian, though at least prostitutes are protected by law and pay taxes...

Most of my Dutch friends, are not drug addicts, do not smoke Hash/Weed, and generally are sensible... The drugs attract mainly tourists, Dutch ppl are too busy gettin on with their lives... The Netherlands also has the lowest rate of underage teenage pregnancies from the rest of the EU...

I look at my Dutch friends and think, God they have been so exposed to everything, its just so normal to them, they dont go crazy over it, they are sane, healthy, and successfull people, who seem sexually comfortable and balanced, and then you see other nationalities who are deprived of all of this (esp North Americans) going crazy in Amsterdam, and you think, God you stupid idiots, just dont know how to handle it... they kind of remind of Pakistani people who come to the UK and go for a drink, not a nice sight!!!

by the way KLM is sh*t, cheapo Continental European airline, just as bad as the rest of them, BA or Emirates all the way :)

#14
cool! did u met her (prostitute)

Ok Guys here are some answers,

Yes I didn’t mention Red Light District. But that’s not unique to Netherlands. You can find those in more European Countries (Germany, Scandinavia etc). However the Amsterdam ones are the most well known.

Just for the consumption of curious minds. Yes, their are more then one red light districts in Amsterdam and yes their are other Red light districts in other major cities except Rotterdam. Moulabux, yes the prostitutes stand behind the windows scantly dressed waiting for customers. And finally the red lights really mean red lights. All the prostitutes windows have a red bulb burning outside or inside as a sign of a place for sex.

A very interesting read, though it reminded me a lot of Ibne Insha`s Awara Gard ki diary...
hmm...a bit too much of inspiration I would say...or can it be called that?

Even some Indians have a different way of calling out numbers. Usually villagers or those who find remembering all the unique names for commonly used numbers(aka southindians who are not too comfortable with hindi/urdu). for eg 13 will be 10 par teen, or 54 would by pachas par 4.
Since Indian languages the object noun relationship is usually opposite of that of european languages this would translate similarly for the dutch who find easy way to assign names to larger but commonly used numbers.

Raheel,don`t blame the Dutch for their reaction to your call-the same thing would happen in most countries.If that ever happens again,what you need to do is call a cab and go to the nearest ED.
Codeine is more addictive than marijuana,so I understand that logic.However,MJ does do more harm in the long run.I wonder if more Dutch are recreational users than dependent users?Do you know?Since you don`t write about meeting lots of crazy,spaced out people,it sounds like that might be the case.
Enjoy your stay!

That`s what has me wondering too. How come no mention of hte notorious vicinty? Or is the notoriety not confined to a single area? Someone once told me that in Amsterdam, prostitues are displayed in shops, just like mannequins. How much of that is true?

The article appeared in a magazine for bankers, so we cannot complain about dryness. Otherwise, it was plainly a trial.

Cheers.

How come you didn`t mention the red light area? Don`t tell me you didn`t go there. Prbly took a cab right from the airport :)

Raheel - good piece

Good narrative but lacking drama and spice. It seems that all Duchies are heading straight for the heaven.

What about their high tech management of the daffodils? And reclamation of land from the sea?

Their sexual promiscuity? Broken homes? Don`t they have any enemies in this world? What is their religion and their world view? Their food? Marriage? How are the expatriots spoiling or adding to their culture? Something about their history? Did the vikings originate from here?

Above is healthy criticism - few things I would have wanted to know.

ahh...and all the famous wind mills is the countryside...the very famous red light district..and offcourse Den Haag(The Hague) as its capital!!! and all that `Dutch` courage :) and the biggest port `Rotterdam`..they excel at all sorts of things..

A must see!

informative article...but if no one else will say it, then i will...you didn`t talk nearly enough about legalized marijuana. ahem.

sara

PagalInsaan:

I also ride around on a bike without breaks or bells. However, instead of cursing, I`ve perfected the art of using shoes/sandals to slow the bike down.

Raheel: Intersting write up. I think you forgot humor for which i think they are known in europe: and three out of the four or five dutch people i have worked with had a great sense of humor (the fourth almost, but not quite, made up for her lousy personality by her great figure, posture, looks).