Netherlands – Three Images

The San Francisco of Europe
Two Malay girls donning a hot pink tudung, spotting short mini skirts, audacious patterned stockings, and wearing their bras on the outside. It transported me back to one of those typical San Francisco love parades. A self-selecting crowd descends on this city where they can finally be understood. Add in the familiar smell of weed for full flavor.

World cup mania
Hup Holland Hup! The city decks itself in orange banners and streamers. An old man sits in his orange wheelchair with a beer in his hand. I noticed him a mile away because of the bright orange hat on his head shaped like a soccer ball. He spreads the world cup cheer to passerbys, mostly tourists who probably don’t understand a word.. but his smile and energy speak a universal language. To top it off, visit the airport restrooms and find orange toilet paper. Nuff said! It was enough to make me root for Netherlands this season.

Countryside
The countryside begins as soon as the city ends, what a breath of fresh air, literally. The tranquility of vast grasslands weighed down by fog, with an accompanying light drizzle. Grey shades of barns and windmills that are better appreciated from the distance. When you get close enough, you realize these have been preserved and manicured for all the tourist who get lost milling around in the souvenir shops.

Full Netherlands album here.