Maria went to "The Netherlands"

The blog-title is named after the legendary Maria Clara, who remains a symbol of the virtues and nobility of the Filipina woman.The all-time known character story of Maria-went-to-town is just a little reflection of an ordinary Maria who went not to the town but to the metropolitan of The Netherlands. This unleashes the impressions and depressions of the writer in many aspects of living in totally different states thinking back of the native home Philippines.

Monday, June 18, 2007

From Maastricht to Antwerpen

It took me long time now to blog about our weekend trip few weeks ago. It was a nice trip and too good to forget in which I can't help not to share it here. So better document it, till it's in my head.

We went to the province of Limburg, the southeast end of the Netherlands. A friend couple invited us to come over to their place in Bungalowpark in the small town of Simpelveld.

It was really an impression to me when we started driving through the province. It's somewhat different. It has a high distinct character. Limburg has its own language, called Limburgish . I read about it's topography but right there I was still amazed. I already saw the neigboring mountains of Belgium, Louxembourg and Germany, that I can imagine how Limburg would be like which is closed to its borders. Well, it's not a typical landscape as what we always know and see in the Netherlands.

The south of the province is remarkable when compared to the rest of the country, as it is one of the few regions that has hills. We went to the highest point of the Netherlands, the Vaalserberg with a height of 322.5meters. Don't smile...this is almost 7 times high of the Philippines Mt. Apo. Here, we stand at the Drielandenpunt, the border point of Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

All is green and even hilly :-) it's something remarkable. No wonder that this place is a haven of bikers and numerous biking races are organized. This contributes to the wide uniqueness of landscape type in the Netherlands, rendering Limburg ideal for tourism and leisure activities.

Not wasting our time, we explored Maastricht. Limburg's Provincial Government is located along the river Maas in Maastricht, the oldest city in the Netherlands. Maastricht was equally significant as a fortified city.

Many churches in Maastricht are of Romanesque or Gothic origin, often with an astounding array of treasures such as sculpture, and vestments. The city and its villages showcase a balance attraction.

We strolled around and even crossing to the west bank of the serene river Maas. We walked through the Saint Servatius bridge, the oldest bridge of the Netherlands and the new bridge where we had a peaceful stroll not minding other walkers and tourists. I took a nice view over an open landscape through which the river Maas quietly meanders after a plunging steps going up to the new bridge.

We bumped into the big shopping streets and tucked along with the bustle of the busy shoppers. We landed at the edge of the main square, the Vrijthof, where many shops and sample of varied bars standing aligned and icecream parlors as delighting attraction of that warm-sunny afternoon.

Shopping is an excellent reason for a day trip to Maastricht, I guess. The city boasts a particularly large number of fashion stores, patisseries, and antique shops - and the fashions displayed in the windows of the stores in any quarters will be almost irresistible. It's ideal place for shoppers by virtue of the large number of shops and department stores in the city-centre region. A day’s shopping maybe both an appealing and a very special experience, since the majority of the city’s stores are located in historical streets. A large number of convivial (pavement) cafes and restaurants alternating between exclusive and specialized stores, inclusive of famous fashion houses, interior stores with home accessories and furniture, jewellers, antique shops, and galleries are there to lure locals and tourists.

This is what I guess...sigh :-( I did'nt had the time to do it.

We took time to walk along the ruins of the old wall and arrived at the main gate, the Helpoort. It is the only city gate which is left standing in Maastricht and is also the oldest of its kind in the Netherlands dating back 1229.

The counties of the province offers bronze-green oak woods in the meadows and fields. An orchard full of blossoming fruit trees where you can smell it. Both hill and flat land, varying from forested slopes to vast asparagus fields. With a touch of green from the Maas valley, a dash of purple from the heather and a warm brown-reddish glow from the Peel. I enjoyed our drive with a scenic sights of bikers somewhere in a hidden bikepads.

After a long walk in Maastricht, we drove back to Simpelveld before the sun hides through the clouds. Cows and sheep are still grazing in the midst of the vast grass fields. In the beginning of the evening, we were graced by a hearty dinner. Later of the night and till early morning, we had the perfect place not forgetting to play Kolonisten. Yeah, we were under spell of the game until there. It was a tough night after perusing and exploring the historical landmarks of Holland's oldest city.

Do you think we already ended up there? We just rushed our breakfast and packed things up and get ready going to Antwerp (Antwerpen), the biggest city of Belgium. This is only a border city of the Netherlands and Belgium, a good driving diversion road to stop over :-) from Maastricht. Why not give a try :-)

This is the world diamond center, a city of fashion designers and fashion trendsetters, a world port, a bustling Burgundian city, a real shoppers’ paradise, a gallery of protected monuments and cityscapes, a welcoming and multicultural metropolis with a convivial atmosphere, only blind person who will not be interested to dig up in this area. It was long over due idea to visit Antwerp, and now we had by chance to experience it.

Our day in Antwerp started in a loopway driving. :-) We had no map of the city center. We had finally parked our cars before we got dizzy-heads. From there, we got our feet ready and try to open our eyes wide awake (we're sleepy). To stroll through Antwerp's historical city centre is to enjoy eight centuries of history though the city is a little bit look crumpled with visible old-dumped things cluttering in some areas.

Our walk journey leads through a maze of alleyways, squares and streets :-) not to miss the shopping streets again. Luckily (according to my honey), shops are closed on sunday :-(

Shopping and fashion galore. Antwerp is homed by world-trend fashion designers. A lot of features like an eclectic mix of posh boutiques and street wear stores for a hip, trendy and young audience. Some collections and designs can be found in the shop windows of the more prestigious fashion and design stores dotted around the neighbourhood where we walked.

Many town squares are taken over by enthusiastic organisers, a stage and delightful music. You can enjoy the best 'homegrown' talent in a cosy setting in the open. No need to make reservations and admission is completely free. Street Noise or entertainment is just right in the public place like outside of the old churches and monuments.

We took a break in a cafe seated in a strategic corner of the square where the Cathedral of Our Lady located while watching a street performer. After 169 years of building [1352-1521] the Cathedral raised up, like lace-work in stone, 123 metres high above. It became the largest Gothic construction of the time Belgium was still a part of the kingdom of Netherlands. The Cathedral is a vast treasure chamber, preserving masterpieces by Rubens, the world-known artist that the Flemish (Vlaams) proud of.

Along the way we came across majestic classics such as the Brabo statue and the town hall in the Grote Markt (Great Square). We ended up our walk until the Scheldt boulevard where cruise port is just at the other end. There, we reached our satisfaction to decide of going home....

Can you imagine how far we walked away from the parking ground? I even do'nt know but approximately we walked the same distance back to the car. :-( It was kind of a marathon for me. I enjoyed it, in the middle of fighting back against tiredness.

What a Roman and a Gothic experience! Inside the cities of Maastricht and Antwerpen (Antwerp) are the ancient architectures but going out backwardly, are the green ranges. A contrast side to pay a difference.

Well, it was only a weekend trip. We drove back home. It seemed that I feel like, there's no place like home :-) as we drove back through A16 highway. From the time we entered the highway, feels a distinct feeling, that is the way how smoothly we drove. Netherlands' good road system shows people's taxes. Off or within the border...always pay a difference, subtle might be, but still gives impact on preference.

Now, I'm just away from the border point. :-), however, I would still like to cross borders sometime again. See you in there then...wherever ;-9.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Yiamas! ( Cheers! ): A Greek Treat

We just came back from our spring vacation, but summer was just on the air in Greek island :-)

We flew to Greece, not to the Parthenon in Athens but to the Minoan island of Crete. Crete or Kreta is a big island in which we went to its western part, Agios Nikolaos. It took 1 hour and half from Heraklion. Agios Nikolaos is a coastal town on the Greek island of Crete. It is east of the island's capital Heraklion, north of the town of Ierapetra and west of the town of Sitia.

The clock tower located at the center of our resort. This rings every hour that gives a feeling of being in an ancient city.

Our resort, Candia park, is located in between of Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. Both towns are busy with tourists including the surrounding villages.

Just along the beachfront of the resort.

We actually had a nice time in this resort, Candia Park Village. A complete "holiday village" located on the exquisite gulf of Mirabello, only 3 kms from Agios Nikolaos, 5 kms from Elounda and 70 kms from the airport and town of Heraklion.

Normally, the local population of the town only counted about 25,000 inhabitants but during it's peak season (summer) become double due to influx of tourists.

Sitting under the sun :-( hehehe! I mean under the shade of umbrella :-)

Along the sea shore of the resort.

This is part of the Aqua Park of the resort, covering a total area of 2,000 square meters, which adds to the beautiful landscape.

The name Agios Nikolaos means Saint Nicholas. This city is a common place in Greece and Cyprus since Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors and of all of Greece.

The cobbled path going to our apartment.

We glanced around and saw wild olive trees, narcissi, chrysanthemum, cuclaminus, and wild orchids. The most common flowers are bogainvilleas, orleanders and geraniums.

Agios Nikolaos is probably best known as a tourist town that serves as a hub to the twenty or so small villages and farms that make up that part of the province Lassithi. Tourist attractions include the small lake Lake Voulismeni.

Right picture is the Lake Voulismeni. It's quite dark image, took from my mobilefon camera. (Obviously, we left our camera in the car which was parked pretty far).

The lake is its most charming feature. Legend suggests that Athena and Armetis bathed in its waters. This lake is connected to the sea by a straight channel, while its natural surroundings of red rock and trees attract the visitor magnetically. At a small open-air theatre by the lake, locals and visitors alike can enjoy interesting artistic and cultural presentations.

Agios Nikolaos was also became a chic hideaway of Walt Disney in early 1960's. So, I tried to check every edges of this picturesque lake, drawing out vibrant impressions with pleasant panoramic ambience.

Lots of small beaches in the town, tiny islands , archaeological museums, local musical concerts and numerous fairs. The lake features a small park with a trail, traditional fishing boats, ducks, pigeons, an amphitheatre and many cafès and restaurants. Bustling cafeterias, charming coffeehouses and taverns serving traditional Cretan delicacies or tidbits of local food.

Agios Nikolaos, with over forty years of experience in the tourism industry, is an international and cosmopolitan resort that welcomes thousands of visitors annually.

I had an enjoyable walk experience around the shops of Agios Nikolaos. In many stores, the visitor can find a wide selection of traditional Cretan artwork, copies of pieces from different archaeological museums, jewelry, and embroidery. There are also many examples of woven goods and Byzantine icons. I still tried to shop around, taking advantage while hubby was web browsing in the internet cafe enjoying some glass of Greek beers.

A panoramic view of Agios Nikolaos while we drove off to Elounda.

Being located in a strategic position on the road network of Crete, it is the ideal starting point for daily excursions in all directions of the island by car, bus or motorcycle. So, we did'nt miss not to rent car. We rented a car and from there, we had a nice road trip of the island.

It was just sad when hubby got a ticket due to overspeeding. We actually like to argue since we are pretty sure that we're just driving under and not above the limits. Well, tourists are targets of any problem like this...so just be nice and enjoy the rest of the ride. Just get ready to spare two digit fine at least.

Actually, it was my surprise when the chaotic traffic ways greeted me right in my nose from the time we arrived at the Heraklion airport. It reminded me of how motorways look in the Philippines. It's really the same. The undisciplined motorists are just on the way. No parking ways, and any minute a car might just be in your shoulder. Oh my gosh! It was really scary. Well, I already have enough of this high kind performances in the highway. Let's put it aside for now ...:-)

We drove to the town of Elounda and to the tip end of Mohlos going the east part of Crete. From east part going down to the southerly major town of Lerapetra.

This was a scary, air-breathing ride going to the village of Krista. A tiny road above the slope mountain ranges.We stopped here, and convinced hubby to go down...We had even difficulty to take the car on our wayback.

My dear was actually in this island part of Mohlos. He's no longer caught by my camera since this island is about 200meters offshore where I stand. Adriaan crossed the waters by showing his swimming expertise :-)

Lerapetra is Europe's most southernly major town where was the major port for the Romans in their conquest of Egypt. We even drove to the most narrow roads going to any villages we can find in our map :-). It was nerve breaking :-(

At the harbor in Lerapetra.

Some of the most memorable trips can be made on foot or by bicycle. A sunhat and sunglasses, the right shoes and some water are all that is needed to enjoy a walk in paradise.

I bought two hats and my dear shopped for four I think :-)

The area appears green even in wintertime because of the olive trees, and in springtime nature bursts through from the mountainsides to the coast filling the area with red poppies, white margaritas and other multi-coloured wild flowers.

This is in the dead point village of Andriaanos. A nice tiny village where olive farms are carefully cultivated.

Agios Nikolaos with its exceptional climatic conditions offers a temperate climate with a mild winter. That is why many holidaymakers visit the town for a long period or even make the town their second home. Agios Nikolaos with its natural landscape and mild weather is incomparably one of the most attractive areas of southeast Europe.

At the harbor of Elounda.

The port of Elounda, bask in the glorious sea as it opens up before them offering its beauty and charm.

This is a world renowned touristic area located to the north of Agios Nikolaos, having an indented coastline, shaded beaches, crystal clear seas, and a tranquil and heavenly environment. It is 10km distance from Aghios Nikolaos, and the cutting along the side of the road affords you the opportunity to admire the spectacular view of Mirambello Gulf and Korfos.

At the chapel of St. John or Agios Ioannis in the Acrotiri (the cape or peninsula) where you can have a nice view of the Mirabello gulf and the Elounda bay..

Elounda was used to be the favored place of legendary figures from Minoan Crete and of historical figures of our times. The four villages of Elounda are spread out along the lower slopes of the approach to the Massif. Pano and Kato Elounda, Mavrikiano and the new settlement of Skisma.

The divine creator, in joyous and happy time of inspiration and joviality, did not skimp here with the colors, the lines or the boldness of combinations, giving a magical impression to the landscape. Here, lovers of the art of cinema, of the graphic arts, of music and poetry find an exceptional sight.

Here is a view of the Spinalonga Island in the Elounda bay. The island is a fascinating place to explore by boat tours. It has an aura of both macabre and poignant. Here also lies the fortress of Kalidou.

The Elounda bay, as described by Mr. Anestis Makridakis, glows like a sapphire under the azure light of the sky, rose-hued in summer afternoons, silvered on moonlit nights. This peaceful sea was used as a stop-over and refueling point during the period between both world wars by the UK’s Imperial Hydroplane Service.

From ancient times, the people of the island have based their diet on local produce such as vegetables, greens, meat, fish, honey, cheese and wine, all combined in imaginative ways generating many interesting and unique flavours.

We are sitting in a Cafe in the capital city of Crete, Heraklion.

Speaking of Greek cuisines, it is obvious that I gained weight when I came back from vacation :-) We had a great time savoring and enjoying traditional tastes, the freshness and originality of the Cretan cuisine, absorbing the sweet aroma of local herbs as their gift from the ancient Gods :-)

Traditional Cretan cuisine is lean and easily prepared, and is based on the remarkable variety of local Cretan products. Never missing from the Cretan table is olive oil, the great Greek feta cheese and their local wine. Herbs too, feature distinctly here. Dairy products are given greater importance like cheese, milk and yoghurt. They are very proud of their simple dessert like yoghurt with honey. It was really good that I even brought a pack of Greek yoghurt :-)

We drove to Lasithi Plateau. The plateus were tucked in the Mt. Dikti ranges where Dikteon cave is located. The cave is where the legend that Zeus was born. This is 900m above sea level where we saw vast fields of pear, olives and apple orchards. Lasithi is the easthermost part of Crete.

Greece is a place-name that is easy to pronounce, but difficult to understand given their hard language. I learned few words :-), like efharisto (thanks), parakalo (welcome/please) and jaimas (cheers). But, I did'nt mind to give my attention to it...I even tried to speak few Dutch words where any corner of the world, there are Dutch tourists.

The mixed thoughts of pre-historic years of civilization and the legendary Greek mythology of Mt. Olympus happened here. Maybe, you can't help imagining yourself in your playful mind that you might be the goddess of love, Aphrodite, struck by the arrow of Cupid to fall in love, with your knight and shining armor Achilles :-) (this is not the story huh!) I'm just composing and be like Homer, the Greek epic writer.

However, given with majestic and ancient views like Crete island, it is a place that can only be experienced personally, to live forever thereafter with vast historic memory. It is a piece of land (not flat but mountainous) surrounded with the magical sea where the light and the blue sky infuse you gently but swiftly, having the power to touch you emotionally. To view it from further away is like dreaming with open eyes. Try to experience it by yourself !

Have a nice day!

Monday, April 23, 2007

My one year of blogging...

I am going to be 1-yr old in web-blogging on the 30th of April. Within one year, I got the time to publish this 37th article. Not very much but quite something for me that I had the chance documenting my first year here in the Netherlands. Not all things and feelings I had were shared here. Some was personally censored :-) and decided to keep them and maintain my privacy. Nevertheless, my time spent in blogging is awesome. I met people here and in some ways became an inspiration to others.

Just a fasttrack; my first entry here was about Konninginnedag or the Queen's Day in the Netherlands. I wrote about this national holiday which is also tag as an orange day of this flat country, where many people are cammouflaged by orange colors. I actually plan to write again about this upcoming event on the 30th of this month as my anniversary theme. However, I will be on vacation on wednesday and leaving away from Holland for 10 days. Means, that I can't celebrate Queens day with the Oranjes but with the Grecos instead. :-)

I took the above photo of yellow Daffodils in our window.

The basket of mixed flowers on the right, were Valentines gift to us.

I am listing all my entries here as sort of reminiscing the past. Just have time clicking the following tags :-)

These are the contents of my first blogging year. I hope to share more especially to my family and friends in which this web blog is intended. To those who just happened to drop by...you are welcome and be a witness of my life's journey :-) Good day.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Brrrrrrrrrrr....Ik heb geen tijd meer (I have no more time) to BLOG!

It's a pity that I had a long gap not updating my page. I had many things I did in the past that I can't afford to sum up now. This blog will be getting one year old in April circulating in the cyber space. I would like to complete this with fruitful stories as I could but for time reason and physical complains, I can't. However, to have a brief review and to top my reasons why (alibis :-) hehehe, here are the following:

I had my Dutch NT2 exam (profieltoets) last week. Now, I'm busy again for another exam next week for level 3. I hope I will pass to go through level 4.
Learning Dutch as I could and catch time with my in-laws as frequent to exercise the language.
I am now actively working as a volunteer during my free days in which I am donating my blogging time to charity works. Amazing. Is'nt it? Check Access , maybe this organization might help you.
It took time for me to weigh and decide if I am going to take vacation to my land. Now, I'm decided to go. When? It is a surprise to all my 'kapamilya' and 'kapuso' readers.
If the above took me time to think, then, planning myself to study is even harder. It took me time to know if I'll study and what would be my course of study. Finally, I got it. Now, I have to finally check the closest school from me. I don't like to travel far. :-0
So, almost quarter of my time was spent in googling...to search the unsearchable :-0
Visiting friends.
Running personal errands.
Window shopping...and walk in through the door when finally tempted.
Tired, need to read a book to rest.
Every other week, I have my marriage builder meeting...interesting :-)
Managing our home, I'm a homemaker, you know :-)

Well, not to add my biking hours, which is part in my daily routine. This took much of my time not to stick to my desk. The above mentioned things are on top of my agenda. Despite all these , blogging is still a way of relaxing for me. That brought me here again to unleash :-) myself.

For the meantime, I'm looking forward to throw a bridal shower party for a friend. Something to celebrate. Definitely, I need Google here again. Anyone who have creative ideas or themes are welcome to suggest. Just write it in the comment section. (Thanks!).

I'm even excited to prepare for our mid-spring vacation. This will slash my time too or maybe, this will fasten me to blog about this trip. Hmmmmn. Yeah, I think there are lot of things to share about the Greeks. We will see. Have a nice day everyone!

Saturday, February 10, 2007

White Winter at last!

I can't wait long time not to share of what had happened last thursday. Just wednesday night, I already checked what would be the weather for thursday and how it would be like via Buienradar.nl.

Foto, as I walked through the park last thursday.

Here, the Netherlands weather proves it again on how unpredictable the climate is. According to weather's bureau, this winter season is ever the warmest winter for the past 5 years. Just last week, I was blessed by sunrays and I did managed not wearing my winter coat. The temperature was always fluctuating, ranging 5C- 10C.

I went out last tuesday with a piece of cotton sweater since I left home with a managaeble temperature. I was just roaming around inside of the mall. After 2 hours, I was amazed with snowfalls greeted me just right when I came out.

My bike was frozen when I came to the parking place (right foto).

Oh, my goodness! I biked went home with a white cammouflaged. I even biked through the nearest park to catch more of snow :-)

Park nearby. During the first few snowfall last tuesday.

I was happy anyway, but I was freezing. It was only a little bit taste of snow. It was just like a crash-ice of "halo-halo" (soft ice-cream) or just like 'M & M that melts in your hand' drama. Just few hours then, all melted out and turned to gray.

But this time, snowfalls is forecasted. Means, ready, here I come! Real winter is just few minutes away that buckets of ice will be poured throughout the flatlands. :-) At last here it is, for the second time around, I will be surrounded by white creatures :-)

The first time, I arrived here in Holland, it was also winter time, and I had even a little white Christmas. However, I had no much time to get well acquainted with the snowman :-) since I had a terrible cold hands and feet. I was just came from a broiler...then came in to a fridge. Can you imagine that? In short, I was not yet acclimatized. So here I'm now, hoping for a second encounter of the snowman. I will see to it, that I won't miss this once in a bluemoon appearance of Mr. white.

Thanks that I was free and will be having more time enticing with the ice again. The temperature dropped below 1C. So, I got ready for a white treat. I was not alone çoz I was with my mother-in-law. We went together to Delftse Hout, a 5.5 hectare nature park here in Delft.

We walked throughout the woods. It was really beautiful. Pile of ice in the subways. We walked alongside of the lake which is situated at the heart of the park.

I was here in this park last summer. I remembered walking in a greenland before swarmed with many people resting under the sun. This time, was really special, with a rural peace and quite.

It was a nice afternoon walk with a nice talk with mom W. Mom took the photographs of me. I was really like a snow-bump :-) I can't help not to play with them by hitting them in my feet while walking.

We stopped in a resto-cafe at Het Rieten Dak to warm ourselves.

It is a petite restaurant ideal dateplace for family and close-tie friends. It's even called as a wintercafe, 'coz of it's cosy atmosphere and picturesque view during the cold season.

With the help of our umbrellas, we made to stand against the icedroplets. The ice is thicker and not just as soft ice as the other day. I really took my time to enjoy the weather's most promising mood. It only lasted for a day and a night. So, what more can you ask for a day?

I won't also wait for the time that my feet will get frozen :-) This time, I got enough :-) I had a long walk for almost three hours, merging my feet in an icy ground...Grrrrhhh. Then I love it :-)

I had a hard walk exercise I think. Walking during freezing point is quite a tough job. Leg exercise was not the only thing I gained. Three hours of walking means 3-hours of Dutch speaking (with mom).

So, do I have enough? I think so. I had much fun. Thanks mom W for the day :-)

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

SALES! Consumerism? or Consumer's Paronia?

Winter sales! Discounts is everywhere. Aanbieding and Opruiming!(Sale!). Alles moet weg! (Everything must be sold!) Executive uitverkoop! 50% - 70 % Korting! All these phrases are in the promotional papers and display windows of stores. From householdwares, clothes & accessories, computer and electronics, mattress, meat and veggies, dog food, toilettres and cosmetics, kid's paraphernalias,...aaah...name it and you will pay it!

Pretty much everything in the store is on sale. Don’t you just love January???

Everywhere you go, signs beckon you to come to big sales. Walk through the streets and the word “Sale” is displayed prominently in dozens of stores. With so many stores holding sales, is the shopping field rife with bargains?

What is it that makes people crazy about? SALES. What is it? It is buying an item less than the present fair market value. A deduction from difference between the sales price and the original selling price.

Savvy shopper is now back from holidays, shopping out with a vengeance. It seems to suggest that people treated the weekdays, as shopping days, and Saturdays as their even bankbreaking days.

Whenever koopzondag (Sunday sales) is, shoppers prompting early morning queues across the centers as consumers hunted for bargains.

From hitting the mall with your friends on a Saturday afternoon, to unplanned holiday spending on gifts, shopping could be called one of girl's favorite pastimes. For most people, it means some new clothes for work or a small trinket for a friend. For others, however, shopping is much more than an enjoyable pastime, and in some cases, it is a real and destructive addiction that can turn into a financial disaster. But that's only when you do it as an unseasonal habit. In this time of year, let's go check, what is it in a sale.

Naturally, you can earn more value of your money by exchange of goods or commodities in lesser amount. Winter sales is consider as an inventory sale. Here you can buy stuff that were not sold during their specific sale time. That is another thing different from a one-type of weather season country just like the Philippines. In a four-season country just like the Netherlands, here you can find different things good for every season. When new season comes, all things especially in fashion or home decors and accessories also vary. So if you are a shop owner, you have to sale things out of business necessity, to start over a new inventory.

Well, you think sellers are charity? They can also gain out of their sales. Business is business. Items are sold in depreciating value, however, businessmen incur gain on the difference between the sales price and the cost basis allocated to the sale element. (this is what i remembered in my economics...correct me whatever...) They are taxed on sale proceeds (capital gains). So, tax deduction is based on value of property and sales prices and from there they can avoid of capital gains tax. Well, I'm just saying this, just to remind shoppers, that we are not the one who are actually gainers, but shop owners are the one who profit most. Sometimes, shoppers may think that they bought something out of charity, and they grab the chance till the supply last.

Shopping business and retailers have had a brisk start to their winter sales and will be repeated even during summer sales, çoz of some shopping "madness" in their busiest trading day of the year.

Another thing that attract window shoppers, just like me, is the fractional prices suggest to consumers that goods are marked at the lowest possible price. Now that consumers are used to psychological prices, other prices look odd. Do you think it's one way of consumerism? Well, this is a broad subject that till now, numbers of issues raised above debates and even protests. I'll keep my mouth shut here!

Here we go...I can't resist. Let's observe the word consumerism. As I see, we, the consumers are created through extensive advertising and media influence, rather than arising from our own natural ideas regarding the kinds of things we need. (I am not an anti-consumerist per see). In other words, consumerism is an artificial creation sustained by artificial social pressures. When it comes to sale bargaining...indirectly, a way of redirecting consumers to a so called market pressure value.

In many contexts, consumerism is used to describe the tendency of people to identify strongly with products or services they consume. Especially those with commercial top brand names and obvious status-enhancing appeal, e.g. an expensive automobile, rich jewelry, so on and so forth. Back to consumerism, many luxuries and unnecessary consumer products are social signals that allow people to identify like-minded individuals through consumption and display of similar products. Some believe that relationships with a product or brand name are substitutes for the healthy human relationships lacking in dysfunctional modern societies and along with consumerism itself are part of the general process of social control and cultural hegemony in modern society. A culture that is permeated by consumerism can be referred to as a consumer culture. I think I am not. I am not collecting items, that just for the goodness sake for 'social appeals'. I am mentioning this, since the idea of bargaining is also giving an implication of attracting consumers in an unhealthy propaganda.

In other words, Sales is a marketing strategy that makes consumers paranoid. (Excuse me of my term but this will apply for irrational buyers huh!).

Impulse buyers who cannot resist spending money are commonly termed shopaholics. Yes, you can see these people walking around the corners. Actually, I'm one of those 'windowholics'.

Ok. I think I am now turning your heads out there trying to understand what I am trying to say. Let's not be too critical here and let's go through how we observe during Big Sales! When a dollar or euro store has a .70 cent bonanza blowout sale, can it really be called a bonanza blowout sale? A savings of 30 cents on a euro/dollar or peso etc., is hardly what I call a sale, let along a blowout sale. The crazy thing was, the store was packed. People were bumping into each other nearly fighting over the stuff. I had to ask myself in the middle of a frenzy of mad shoppers, is any of this crap worth a euro let alone a 70 cents?

Well, for many people, shopping is just a pleasure and for some is luxury and some is necessity. Whatever it is, for me it is fun. It's like unwinding, seeing people around in busy corners. I may spend or not, I feel like I earned something. Walking along the cobbelstreets is just like picking up a single coin of integration. It's nice to feel and assimilated with the locals. I feel attached in some way and give me comfort due to familiarity. Every once in a while you find a good deal, too good to turn down and there are times when you need to build a shoe wardrobe without breaking the bank. That is if you are even careful and be a wise buyer.

I’m sure that there are lots of little ways to stretch your euros to make shopping even more fun. Just don't forget, that what you also try to save might compromise the quality of the goods and commodities you like to buy.

I already had fun in the busy shopping galore of Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rijswijk and of course in Delft. Luckily, I'm not yet broke. :-) ( 'coz I'm just busy adding items in my list...beware for the giver :-) hehehe!

This photo was in Kalveerstraat, Amsterdam.

At this moment, sales is nearly extended in February. It's happy Hearts Day, which means, arising of price.

So, what are you waiting for? Run, and start sighting for gifts. BRING your list with you to avoid unnecessary shoppings. Avoid panic buying. And try not to be tempted with those ambiguous sale tactics. Always remember, that bargain sales items are goods not being sold at their specific time of demand. Meaning, you have to think if the item has still a purpose fo you and not just because it is ON Sale!

Happy shopping :-)