Jul 24, 2017

5 Things to do at Heineken Experience Amsterdam


If you think that the Heineken Experience is just another beer factory, you are entirely wrong. The Heineken factory is located elsewhere and the Heineken Experience (as the name suggested) is a hub where you learn everything about the internationally famous beer brand.

Some quick info if you would like to visit the Heineken Experience:

  • Is children below 18 allow? Yes. Provided accompanied by adult and the child is not given drink coupons and not allowed to drink alcohol beverage in the premise. 
  • How much is the ticket? It's 16euro for one adult and children from 12-17 years old pay 12.50euros.
  • Do you need to show ID prior to entering the place? Yes. You can use your passport or national ID to prove you are 18 above.  

I was thinking that the Heineken Experience would be a boring place, mainly because I don't drink. I am not interested in beer nor alcohol, but I didn't mind accompanying the mister because the Heineken Experience was one of his bucket list for Amsterdam. The trip exceeded my expectation. This is why I am going to show you what are the five things you can do at Heineken Experience.


#1 - Bird's eye view of Amsterdam



Amsterdam do not have a lot of high rise buildings, therefore there are only a few places where you can have a bird's eye view of the city. The Heineken Experience rooftop bar has a fairly good view of the town and it is probably the best place to enjoy your cold beer while watching people busy about their daily lives. 


#2 - Beer tour



You can't say that you've visited the Heineken Experience without participating in the beer tour. You will learn about how the beer is made. Surprisingly, there are only four main ingredients in every Heineken beer, they are water, barley, hops and yeast. You will also get to go through every processes and partake in the mock process. I did help out a little in grinding the barley. 


#3 - Play games


There are many high technology games which keeps the visit really fun. I bet this would be the best place to bring your kids. Since Heineken is the main sponsor of many sporting events, you can also find mini sports such as football, rugby or snooker game at the game room. I think I enjoyed myself the most at the games section on top of the veranda view at the rooftop bar. 


#4 - Enjoy freshly brewed beer



Like I said I'm not a fan of beer and alcohol. But I do agree that the beer at the Heineken Experience completely blew my mind (not literally). They're freshly served and you can taste the smooth quality of the beer. Unlike any other Heineken beer that has been bottled or canned. You can see the bubbles floating from the bottom of the glass and it continues to float until the last drop of your beer. 


#5 - Bring back a souvenir



Like any typical places of interest, at the end of the tour there's always a souvenir shop. I got myself two bottles of Heineken with my personalized name and a beer glass personalized with my name as well. Instant regret happened when I had to pack my bags. Seriously, skip the bottles and the beer glass. They're heavy and not practical to carry in your suitcase. Lucky enough, nothing happen to the glasses, it just added extra weight in my luggage which could have spared for other stuff. I also had digital souvenir to take back with me. At the games section, you can film some videos and take photos and have them send to your email directly. I wanted to show you guys my funny video unfortunately the file is only active for a month. Be sure to download it and save it in your own hardware, or else you will risk missing it like me... 


The Heineken Experience is really easy to access to. I walked from the Rijksmuseum (where the I love Amsterdam sign is) which is only 5 minutes away. Alternatively you can take tram or buses that stop directly in front of the Heineken Experience. I do suggest you to go there. The ticket is not expensive and it is definitely going to be one of the major highlight of your trip. 
SHARE:

Jul 23, 2017

Pancake Amsterdam Review


I'm giving it a thumbs up for this one
Location: 
Berenstraat 38, 1016 GH AmsterdamOpen:  daily from 9:00 to 18:00


Prins Hendrikkade 48, 1012 AC AmsterdamOpen: daily from 8:00 to 20:00.


Prinsengracht 277, 1016 GW, AmsterdamOpen: daily from 8:00 tot 20:00


Pancake is the national food of Netherlands. While we can't live without nasi lemak, the Dutch can't live without their pancakes. Being first time in Amsterdam, I have no idea where I can get a good pancake. Pancake Amsterdam keeps popping up on every print leaflet and magazines that I got my hands on since I reach Amsterdam. There are two sides of review on the place - some said it's overrated but some praise the food. On the first morning, I decided to have an original Dutch breakfast there to try it myself.


On a cold winter morning, I settle for a cup of comforting ginger tea. It's my first beverage since I first set foot on Amsterdam, the change of weather got my nose running and the ginger tea is absolutely a savior!


The pancake is huge! You can have one for a full meal! From the menu, the smoked salmon with creme fraiche, guacamole and chive seems like a good choice. And the bacon and cheese is too hard to resist. The smokes salmon pancake was savory and I got addicted with the combination of creme fraiche and guacamole. It tasted so good that it inspired me to make a smoke salmon guacamole and creme fraiche pizza when I came home. The bacon and cheese is to die for. It is crispy on the side, the cheese literally melted in my mouth. It isn't exaggerating if I say it is the best thing I've tried in my life. #longlivebacon



On the next day, I craved for more pancakes. The bacon and cheese pancake really got me so addicted. It's amazing that I even passed by another Pancake Amsterdam shop opposite the Centraal. I feel like God answered my prayer. I wanted to get a different flavour, so I ordered the ham and cheese. On the first bite, it was a great regret. It's not like it's bad or anything. But I've tasted the bacon and cheese and it was so much better than the ham.


They give out a little stroopwafel as appertizer. The stroopwafel is a national snack in Netherlands, I think it is nice for them because I get to taste some stroopwafels. And they also present you a small wooden clog keychain when you leave as a souvenir.


I don't know about those comments saying this place is overrated. I did enjoyed my food and I love the ambiance which is a small and warm cafe style. I think I would go back there again if I'm going back to Amsterdam. The food is very good, especially the bacon and cheese one. And I also find that the outlet at Berenstraat cooked better pancakes than the one opposite Centraal. 
SHARE:

Jul 17, 2017

Legend of the Bali Curse

This is fun to know and not to be taken seriously. If you have not heard of the Bali curse, it is about time for you to learn the legend. 



Back in history, there was a princess living in Bali. She had a lover which the couple was due to be married. He was a prince, a royalty as well. The marriage did not take place and he broke off the engagement and she was left alone. Later the princess learn that the prince fell in love with another woman.

In the extreme heartbreak situation, she put the island on a curse. A curse that every couple who have had pre-marital sex when living on the island will eventually break up within 6 weeks to 6 months. 




On the other hand, there are some explanation saying the curse does not cover the entire Bali island, but more specifically on Tanah Lot. That means, couples that go to Tanah Lot are not to engage in pre-marital sex while on the island.

This curse was proven wrong by a few friends who have been there. However, it is something interesting which I ought to share with you. Every land has its own legendary folklore. Have you heard of any folklore from your own hometown? Comment below, I would love to discover stories like that.
SHARE:

Best Place to View Sunset in Bali

If watching sunset is on your bucket list when traveling to Bali, do not miss out the beautiful scene at Tanah Lot. Tanah Lot is a huge rock formation on the beach that sits a Hindu temple. The temple is believed to be guarded by a giant sea snake.



The temple is one of the seven sea temples on Bali island. Many visitors visit the temple and pray for good luck and wealth. At about 6pm, the high tide of the sea rise above the rock and separates the temple from the beach. 

To get a first class view of the sunset, we advise you to climb up to the cliff on the beach. There are a few cafes on the cliff that allows you to pick your front row seat for the sunset. Order a chilled drink, sit back, relax and wait for the sun to set as your day slowly unwind. 

Take note on how the blue painted sky slowly changed to blood orange. And then it slowly turned into purple and the dark takes over.



The silhouette of the temple creates a beautiful backdrop for your viewing pleasure. 


As you walk out to the main street, stroll through the night market. There are snack stalls lining up on the street. And we highly recommend the roasted corn with cheese.


Visitor's tips: The best time to visit Tanah Lot is around 5pm. Take an hour to explore the temple on  the rock island. When you notice any sign of high tide, return to the beach and make your way to the cafe. The sun set around 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm, depending on the period of time of your visit.
SHARE:

Jul 9, 2017

HerTravelogue's First Timer's Guide to Nude Beach


The thoughts of going to a nude beach can be exciting and adventurous at the same time. But the reality can be the opposite of what your wild imagination would be. Here's a simple guide on nude beaches to get yourself to realign with the actual experience.
  • Every nude beach has its own rules and regulations to regulate visitor's behaviour. Any breaches to the rules will result to removal from the beach or for serious crimes, you may be arrested and prosecuted according to the local laws. Normally there will be a lifeguard or officer at the beach to monitor the activities and making sure visitors adhere to the beach rule. On a bigger beach, you may find more lifeguards.
  • "Naughty" actions are strictly prohibited. So don't get yourself too wild. And if the guys get a moment of "excitement", your only way out is to get into the water until your excitement calms down, or cover yourself behind a parasol.
  • Most of the beaches prohibit alcoholic drinks and consumption of drugs at the beach. So ditch the plan to organize wild party here. Also, people hardly socialize here. They tend to stick with the bunch of their own company. Being too friendly here may cause misinterpretation of your gestures. So, it is safe to just mind your own business.
  • Getting yourself nude is a sign of appreciation towards the nature and keeping yourself tuned into what the mother nature has to offer. Visitors are highly encouraged to strip off your clothing and enjoy yourself amongst your own company. Most people prefer to have a quiet moment here. Unnecessary loud noises will get you unwanted attention. Be sure so keep your noises low.
  • Some beaches only allow full nudity. And some are okay with half nude. Make sure you know the rules and blend in with the crowd. 

Those are some of the do's and dont's. Be sure to manage your expectation. You won't get a Baywatch scene here for sure. Never ever take photographs of the beach with the nudist in the background. Or even worse, upload it on social media. You may be sued for infringing people's privacy. Remember to pack lots of SPF.

Have you been to any nude beach before? Share your experience with me in the comment. I always love to hear experiences on nude beaches because they're so entertaining and fun. 
SHARE: