I Amsterdam

               I met "Vanno" during our job training in Mysore and it had been like instant chemistry. Since then she is a dear friend whom I can rely on. She was on her onsite assignment at neighboring country Amsterdam. It was a 4 hour drive to Amsterdam by train.
              I was travelling with some guy friends. It had been strictly decided that after visiting Madam Tussaud  I would go my way and they would go theirs. The legalized prostitution capital of Europe and the city where you get the much talked about hash muffins and weed. For me it was a weekend break from the alone time much needed girls talk.
           We split after lunch and I went off with Vanno. We took a boat ride along the famous canals. I remember Vanno dozing off half way through the ride. It was the third time she was taking the ride since her stay there and it was a little too much for her to handle. We took a walk along the city markets and went shop hopping for mementos and local stuff.
           Every shop that you stopped at had a separate section. It took us a few minutes to realize that it was the section with all the kinky stuff. If you have watched Queen movie recently you would exactly know what I mean.Coming from a country where sex word is still a taboo in public it was a cultural shocker for us. What I still remember was that we had many good laughs.
        Holland is also a cyclists paradise. The separate cycle lanes are something some countries can't dream of having. There are these thousands of cycles parked along the canal ways.

The hat looks akward but check out the wooden shoes !

            The next day we  planned a visit to the countryside. A bus ride to "Vollendam" a fishing village and "Zaanse Schans" the wind mill village. Both the places are a pictorial delight. Enjoyed the sun and the lazing around the water in Vollendam. Also managed to dress up in the local Hollandish costume and get some pictures taken. I think the short hair and the costume just were a misfit ! Sharing some pictures.

Vollendam - Fishing village

The water was amazingly calm

Group picture taken at Vollendam

Zaanse Schans

           Some amazing moments and some heart to heart talk made this trip memorable.This was just the first of many more trips to Amsterdam. I would be shutting between these two towns for company and discover a new aspect about the place each time. I would later visit the much talked about tulip gardens and fulfill my dream of cycling in Holland.
       

Home away from home - 81 Rue Beckerstraat, Brussels

             My journey of self discovery began when I moved to Brussels in the year 2007. I was this youngest sibling always protected at home, papa's girl. Even when I moved out from my parents place to join working in an IT firm I thankfully had lots of friends to take care. Had lived in a 2 BHK with 6 to 7 friends for company in Pune. Actually I had never known what it felt to be away from home !!

            As was the trend then everyone asked for an onsite after a few months. Following the trend I too had requested my then manager for an onsite and surprisingly he came back to me one day saying that there was a position available and whether I would like to travel ?

            For other people onsite mean't more foreign currency, exposure to client team etc. For me it then just meant a way to escape marriage which is the primary focus of any Indian girl in her late twenties. I had this enormous desire to travel and discover as many places before I was tied down to a stranger who probably didn't share my interests. I had no clue what these upcoming years would actually hold for me !

           The first place which I made home in Brussels was this studio apartment on 81 Rue Beckerstraat. It was a last minute decision since the previous arrangement made by colleagues got cancelled. It was a small place, pretty ok for a single soul. My belonging's summed up to a TV, single bed, shelf, fridge, induction plate and a dining table. The best part of the house was the little balcony facing the road. That's the best part of apartments in Brussels. They can arrange for a breathing place even in a studio apartment.

Unused place - Kitchen area

         The owner, his wife and 2 kids stayed upstairs and the kids were adorable (curly hair, rosy lips, pink cheeks type). They often came to my place with dad for fixing the room heater or the tap. I wanted to talk with them but if you are in Brussels French, Dutch or German are your official languages. Hardly few people know how to communicate in English, at least back then.

Soul Company -- Pengu Gifted by Stan :)

         In short I was living alone in this place with no one to talk. It was very overwhelming for a person who never had any shortage of company. If you have shared a similar experience then you would know how the silent walls start haunting you. I had colleagues staying some distance apart and would  very often end up having dinner at their places. They seemed to be very tolerant indeed even though they would have preferred some alone time.Cooking for myself has never been encouraging for me. Even today if I am left alone I will survive on packaged food or ready to eat stuff.

       So the journey had just begun: Killing time at home with Bollywood dvds you get at an Indian/ Pakistani store. Intruding on colleagues who would later become life long friend's and staring at the wall were my only pastimes. In short a lonely girl had started her journey in Brussels trying to fight the silence. Far far away from home. Hoping things would change soon for the better !