Photo Friday: Under the Light of the Holland Sun

It's a black and white photo, but looking at this, I felt almost as though I could see the golden sunlight streaming through, what an encouraging and inspirational feeling!

Lately, my photos were (unfairly) criticised for being "over-processed" which got me down to thinking. Of course, other film enthusiasts will recognized that they are unedited, the grainy or over-vignette effect; or tints and depths created by cross-processing are natural, unedited effects. But I do agree on one point: That they are non-commercial, for sure. I'm not taking photos to impress other photographers. I'm taking photos that you will like and feel happy, inspired, or in a holiday mood after seeing them. That, to me, is one of the real happiness of this photography hobby. Meanwhile, I hope to showcase snapshots of hidden places in the countries I visit,  and make other people fall in love with the places that enraptured me.

Photo taken with Ilford 400 BW film, at Clingendael Park in The Hague, The Netherlands.
PS: The Ilford website has an impressive list of helpful books on photography
http://www.ilfordphoto.com/photostudy/publications.asp

Photo Friday: Crossing 2719 km!

Greetings from the other side of the world :) I am a little afraid of large farmhorses like these, but I do like horses! Here at the Lake Bouillouses (Lac Des Bouillouses) near Font Romeux, France.

After journeying through 3 countries in Europe: The Netherlands, Spain and now in France, I have crossed 2719.87 km on foot, bus, plane, car... that's really a milestone for me.

I didn't really set out to be such a traveler, but my country is so small and dare I say, not too exciting that one has to get out at times to feel alive. This trip enabled me to meet some of my friends I've never thought I would see in my life again, mainly because they are so far away and not likely that either of us will travel to the same areas to meet each other again. It's nice to keep in touch with ones like these, maybe I surprise myself by keeping in touch too, as I am quite unreliable on this aspect - and I enjoy being in hermitage mode at times, going far away from technology!  

Some place I went to were planned, some I have never heard of before until my feet landed in that place, it's a departure from the norm, for me, as I usually schedule daily activities (even while not on holiday!) that it was terrifying at first to have nothing planned and to silence the inner voice that likes to ask 'what am I going to do today'. Lately I also like to explore the unknown places of the city, that's where you get friendly people, unexpected moments, quiet corners to watch the city go by, and just wander by myself to find new places, that's really a bonus from traveling! But perhaps in this trip I have wandered off the beaten path a little too much; the Spanish village I have stayed in for 9 days, even my Valencia city dwellers have not heard of it, despite it being not too far (a two and a half hour) journey away! In other places; I was the only non-Spanish or non-local, places like the beach, even!

Here is where I went so far:

Started my journey at Schipol Amsterdam airport to Delft.

Stayed in Delft; visited The Hague and Scheveningen beach, stayed in The Hague. Went there by train.

From Schipol to Valencia airport by flight, took the metro and changed to renfe train to Xativa.

From Xativa; host drove me to Aielo de Malferit, stayed there for 9 days. Took a bus out to Valencia City and back, also visited by car: Gandia, Ontinyent; Beniarres; finally left Aielo by the same bus to Valencia City; navigated by taxi to the train station Valencia Nord, took the train to Barcelona Sants. Stayed in a place, walking distance from Sants for 2 nights.

From Barcelona Sants took the bus to Perpignan, France.

By car, visited Prades; Vernet les Bains and Villefranche; hiked a waterfall - Cascades des Anglais; went to Fort Romeux and the Lake Bouillouses, onward to Colombieres-sur-Orb, then to Marseille.

My journey is almost over, apart from going to one last destination in France I don't have any other plan! =)

From Windmills, To The Hague (Den Haag) and Scheveningen beach

The interesting Dutch architecture as viewed from the town square in The Hague.  

A very precise One Day's Itinerary in The Hague/Other near and not-so-near parts of The Netherlands.

As The Netherlands has very precise public transport timings, it's easy to do many things in one day if you have a good plan. If the trains were more than a few minutes late, the timings to subsequent stations were updated in real time and flashed on the small screens in every commuter cabin! I was mesmerized. Initially when I reached the trains I asked the nearest stranger if this was the train to my destination, four stops away. He checked the board and double-checked on his smartphone app the exact time I was to reach my station, incredible!

Here was how my VERY packed one day went; here I was visiting a friend who resides in The Hague!

Morning
Started the day at around 9:30 am, commuted to Rotterdam to take a watertaxi (10:30 am) and changed to another smaller boat to visit the Kinderdijk Windmills.
(I find this boat info accurate: http://wikitravel.org/en/Kinderdijk)

Oh yes, don't forget to take a look at the interesting architecture of Rotterdam along the port, the almost unbelievable cubic houses! http://www.holland.com/us/tourism/article/rotterdam-cube-houses.htm

Reached Kinderdijk (11:05 am), walked for 10 minutes to reach the windmills. I just followed the other windmill tourists who looked more sure of the route, teehee.

Having read about the windmills of Holland since I was a child, seeing them now I can say that I really feel blessed to be part of this experience. They are really quite magical when you view them in reality.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinderdijk

Took a bus leaving the place at 1:07 pm (in the direction of Zuidplein), to the train station Rotterdam Lombardijen where the train leaves every :44 and :14 on the hour.














Afternoon
Reached The Hague station at 2.35 pm.

Walked around for street photography at the town square, had a coffee (for 1 Euro!!!)

Wanted to see a museum exhibition and decided on Escher, there were plenty of top exhibitions within walking distance in the area!! Escher was very very good, apart from seeing his famous works there were others that were equally intriguing. I wasn't aware of him being Dutch so it turned out to be a splendid surprise for me! http://www.escherinhetpaleis.nl/

Evening
Left to go to Scheveningen beach around 5 pm, back to my friend's house for dinner and we even had time to catch a midnight movie at the iMAX theatre that was walking distance as well!
http://www.denhaag.nl/en/residents/to/Pathe-opens-IMAX-theatre.htm

The beach was great, full of life; there was a carousel that I really liked, lots of interesting sculpture art scattered around the area, including one of the story of the dutch boy who put his finger in a leaking dyke to save the village - immediately remembered this story from my childhood days when I saw that sculpture! http://www.pantheon.org/articles/l/little_dutch_boy.html

I found the Dutch to be friendly, despite their cool demeanour, many 'Uncles' greeted me as I walked past, both in the small towns and in the beach area, we found a young Dutch who chatted with us as we walked along the stretch of beach with him and his dog, another couple of guys were having a stag party and shyly asked me to sign on his t-shirt; I was sweetly given a rose in return, awwww!

Many locals were just out walking, having grills, skateboarding and bicycling at the long stretch of the beach grounds. It was too cold to bathe at the end of July, but just a week later the suntanning crowd came out in full force as it got warmer.


We saw many well-designed functional bicycle acccessories, here is a crate box! Behind, people having grilled meats for their dinner on the sunny beach of Scheveningen.





I did see many (not so young) Dutch relishing raw herring exactly like this sculpture! (mostly without the fishheads or tails, though.) And the Kerhaus, a grand architectural piece, now a hotel.

Sheepishly, I have to admit that each time I see a carousel I get enchanted and have to take a picture with it!!!

 I signed my name on his shirt!


On the Next Day...

Wandered around the interesting streets and (randomly) chose a place for morning coffee; later found out that it was rated as one of the best places in Holland to have a cuppa, wow! It's moments like these that I like best about travel, and unplanned travel!
http://www.lolabikesandcoffee.nl/lola/Welkom.html

While having coffee decided to visit the Gardens that was a tram ride away to Clingendael. It was beautiful and I can think of no better way to spend a relaxed sunday afternoon. Also, the friendly patrons of the cool coffee place gave us specific directions on how to get there!
http://www.denhaag.nl/home/bewoners/to/Japanese-Garden-in-Clingendael-Park.htm

I had to leave for Delft at 4 pm, so we were back to The Hague and had a small lunch; and visited a flea market, looking like it was mostly elderly people selling off their keepsakes and some for profit. Many old maps and posters, vases; tin boxes, vintage household items, musical instruments, typerwriters. I bought two nice neckscarves for 1 Euro each, a great find!

(The flea market was on a Sunday and located near these Russian sculptures  http://www.thehaguephotojournal.com/russia-xxi-hague-sculpture-2013/)

A Dutch blossom at Clingendael Botanic Gardens, I liked the place very much!

Useful information:

We found the supermarkets were open on sundays until 6 pm!

Taking a direct tram leads to Scheveningen from The Hague's tram stops, it is also possible to walk there if you wish. All trams information and timings are listed on their sheltered stop areas. Strictly no eating allowed on trams...

It is really very convenient to purchase the Dutch public transport pass that is used on all trains; as well as buses, and trams. For one day's multiple trip, budget between 10 - 20 Euros. Alternatively, pay by coins and as the machines usually do not accept cash, you will need to have plenty of coins handy.

Did you know that the tallest people in the world are the Dutch? I have to agree, after seeing the streets of graceful, long necked, poised, tall, and fair ones!

All photos taken in 35mm film, lomography 800