[Europe] A Cold Summer in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the first city that i was visited during my Europe trip. We arrived at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the morning. Without took a long time, we were going to train station, and bought the tickets to go to Amsterdam Centraal Station. It costs around €5 pp (half price for child ticket).

Albert Heijn at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport 

At the train, i saw all the local peoples wearing a jacket. But i didn't think about it because i was busy to keep our luggages. I realized the weather was cold, when we walked out from the train station. The wind blew and it really froze us. We wore the wrong outfit!!! Luckily Aurelia wore a sweater.

In Amsterdam, we stayed at Ibis Amsterdam Centre, which located exactly next to the Amsterdam Centraal Station. After we arrived at Amsterdam Centraal Station, we went to the hotel for check in.

Hotel Ibis Amsterdam Centre has a very strategic location. You can reach this hotel only a few steps from Amsterdam Centraal Station. The room rates also not too expensive. It's around  €120 / night, including breakfast (their breakfast menu is so delicious). You also can get a great view from this hotel. I took these pictures below from the hotel.

Stroopwafels from the vending machine at Hotel Ibis Amsterdam Centre 

After that, we went to Amsterdam Tourist Office which located in front of the Amsterdam Centraal Station. We bought "Amsterdam & Region Day Ticket". We can use this card to all the tram ride in Ansterdam, and the bus to another city such as Volendam for 24 hours. The price will be cheaper than a single ticket. It costs €13,5 pp (same price for the child). So for my daughter, i only bought an OV card for tram ride at Amsterdam. The sales said that it would be cheaper if we bought a different ticket to go to Volendam at the bus for Aurelia.

I didn't have a lot of time at Amsterdam. I started by go to "I Amsterdam" sign. Its located in front of Rijksmuseum. To go to Rijksmuseum, you can take tram 2 or 5 from Amsterdam Centraal Station Tram Westzijde. Rijksmuseum is at the 8th stop.

Mr. Kaws at I Amsterdam 

In Front Of Rijksmuseum 

I arrived at Rijksmuseum around at 5 pm. I started to enjoy the weather. It's not as cold as in the morning. Very nice weather to walked around.

The next stop is a Dam Square. Dam Square is a must place to go when you're in Amsterdam. There's a lot of stores that you can visit. However, they only open until 8pm. Make sure you go there before 8pm.

Royal Palace Amsterdam at Dam Square 

Beside the shopping places, you also can go to Madame Tussauds. It also located at Dam Square. If you stay near Amsterdam Centraal Station, you don't need to take a tram to go to Dam Square. You can go to Dam Square by walking through Damrak (about 1 km).

Amsterdam Centraal Station from Damrak

At the nice weather, you will enjoy to walk at Damrak. Many things to see, and also many peoples walk at that place. One thing that you have to try at Damrak is "Manneken Pis" Holland's fries. That is the most famous Holland's fries in Amsterdam. It's not hard to find this place. They always have a long queue, but don't worry, it only take 5- 10 minutes until your turn.

I bought a small size with the mayonnaise for the dipping sauce. They have another sauce as well, but they said that mayonnaise is the best seller. An they're right!!! The mayonnaise was really yumm. But, the fries was just so so. Nothing special with the fries. It's really thick. Be careful, they have a very big portion. I only bought the small size, and i still couldn't finish it. Although, i shared it with all my family.

It was at 7 pm, we're all felt tired. So we went back to our hotel, took a rest for a moment. For a dinner, we took away some foods from "Wok To Walk". They're selling asian food in box such as fried rice, fried noodle. You can choose the topping and the sauce, and they will cook it with your noodle / rice.

Fried Rice Noodle with Soy Sauce

After had a dinner, we're going to Red Light District. Of course my daughter didn't follow us. It's a prostitution place. She stayed at hotel with her uncle.

Red Light District is located not far from our hotel. It's located behind the Damrak. Just across the street in front of "Manneken Pis" fries. And then walk through the small street. You'll find many sex shops at that place.

The Oude Church at Red Light District 

I don't know whether it's because i walked to early or what, but it's not as crowded as i thought. I only saw a few girls behind the rooms, with a half naked. The reason for me to go to Red Light District is for the show. The famous place to watch the sex show is Casa Rosso. However, when i went to that place, i didn't see even 1 people at that place. I was afraid if that place was a tourist trap. So we decided to not watch that show. We just walked around to see the Red Light District and enjoyed Amsterdam before we're leaving tomorrow..

P.S. : I couldn't take a lot of pictures at Red Light District. Because i heard that if you took a picture there, the guards will take your camera and break it. Even though i didn't see any guard, i still didn't want to take a risk.



I Amsterdam Sign - Rijksmuseum 
Netherlands, Hobbemastraat 19, 1071 Amsterdam, Netherlands

Manneken Pis - Belgian Fries
Damrak 41, 1012 LK Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website : http://www.mannekenpis.nl/

Wok To Walk 
- Leidsestraat 96, 1017 PE Amsterdam, Netherlands
  Sunday - Thursday : 11 am - 3 am
  Friday - Saturday : 11 am - 4 am
- Damstraat 44, 1012 JM Amsterdam, Netherlands
  Sunday - Wednesday : 11 am - 2 am
  Thursday : 11 am - 3 am
  Friday - Saturday : 11 am - 4 am
Website : http://woktowalk.com/

BIG BANG 2015 WORLD TOUR [MADE] IN JAKARTA

We like 2 party... 
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
We like 2 party...
Meori wie hae tteul ttaekkaji

Big Bang - We Like 2 Party

Who knows that song? That's a song from Big Bang's new album "MADE". I like all the song from their new album, such as "BANG BANG BANG", "LOSER", "BAE BAE".

Last month, precisely on Saturday 1st August, Big Bang's world tour MADE held in Jakarta. Its located at ICE BSD (the same place with Disney On Ice 2015 held). When i was knowing about their concert, i found out about the tickets. Sadly, the tickets for VIP class have been sold out. Although, that's the only chance for me to see Big Bang from the nearby  (especially Tae Yang^^).

At the end, i chose "RED" class, which i could sit during the show. However, there's no seating number on that class. So i need to go earlier to get the best seat. The ticket's price for "RED" class is IDR 1.550.000. It has the same price with "YELLOW" class. "YELLOW" class has a better position, but they don't have a seat. You can see from the seating map below.

It was different from the Big Bang concert seating map in other countries such as Hong Kong. Little bit disappointed, but that's fine. They had a great performance.

So, here's some pictures that i took at the concert. (Sorry if it's blur^^ i couldn't take a good picture because my seat is little bit too far from the stage)

Actually i felt satisfied with their performance, until they said that they couldn't sing more songs, because they had to catch a flight. It was very disappointing. However, i still feel happy to watch the live concert BIG BANG.

What's in my makeup bag for summer holiday?

Tonight, i'm going to go to Europe for summer holiday. I have prepared everything i need, including my beauty stuff.

I won't use any "special" make up. I want to make my face looks natural. Just like a daily look. But, that's should be a long lasting and waterproof make up. Since i'm going on summer, i'll be get sweaty easily.

So, what's in my make up bag?? Check it out, girls :)

1. Ettusais BB Mineral White
 BB Cream is the most important thing for me. I only need a few drop of BB Cream, and it will cover all imperfections on my face. This BB cream has a very light texture. Very suitable for daily use.

2. The Face Shop Phytoghenic Infinite Concealer Duo
So far, this is my favorite concealer for traveling. It has 2 types at one place : liquid and stick. Actually i don't really need the "stick" concealer. I need the "liquid" concealer, since i have very serious problem with my dark circles. However, sometimes i also need "stick" concealer to cover my freckles. Therefore, i really like this concealer. It's so simple, so i don't need to bring 2 concealers.

3. Mac Studio Perfect Compact SPF 15
I never stay with 1 powder. I always try the new powder, when the "old" powder has finished. The last compact powder that i tried, was come from MAC. Do i like it?? Of course i do!! It gives a perfect look for my face. I just need to use it little bit, and my face become very smooth.

4. Wet n Wild Trio Eyeshadow - E380B Walking On Eggshells
Nude color for eye make up is my favorite. For my daily use, i always use Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette Eyeshadow. However, i can't bring it. The size is too big for traveling. Then, i found this "small" palette at the drugstore. I never use this eyeshadow before. But I think it will be good for natural daily look.

5. Etude House Color My Brows No 4
Since i have a bright hair color, i need to match my eyebrows with my hair. With this product, i make my "black" eyebrows turns into "light brown"

6. Etude House Drawing Show Brush Liner
Eyeliner is very important for eye make up. Without eyeliner, my eyes will be look so "plain". This eyeliner very easy to use. And it also waterproof and oilproof.

7. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly
Since i have a very serious problem with my dry lips, i always bring this everywhere. About once in 3 hours, i need  to reuse this on my lips. It helps me a lot.

8. Dior Addict Fluid Stick - 479 Magique
This is summer baby!!! I need to put the bright lip color on my lips. And i choose my lip color from Dior. It has a very bright color. And the most important, it doesn't make my lips become dry.

Feelin' Blue

If you ask me what my favorite color, PINK is the answer!! But, i don't have a lot of pink outfit. It looks tacky for me. So, what's my favorite color for my outfit? It's BLUE!!

I always like to wear blue outfit. It looks great on me. Especially when i combine with white color.

Just like today, i'm wearing White Crop Top from MDS . It fits very well with my Blue Skirt from Topshop

> Bag : Chanel denim flap bag
> Shoes : Spur

Ombre Hair for Summer

This summer, become the most exciting summer for me. First, i'll go to Europe at this holiday. Second, i have an ombre hair!!! Finally, i was brave enough to bleach my hair, and get a bright color.

I really like to dye my hair, make it looks more beautiful. However, i never choose the bright color for my hair. Because i know, to get a bright color, i need to bleach my hair. Which means, my "dry" hair, will get drier and maybe it will be totally damaged.

But now, i feel bore with the "dark" color that i always use on my hair. I need something different. I was searching on Google about the new trend of hair color on 2015. And it's ombre!!

It looks so pretty. I like it so much. Therefore, i went to salon, and asked the hair stylist about this ombre hair. He helped me to choose the color that matches with my skin tone.

He started with a dark color (Orange 8 from Shiseido) as the base color on my hair. He started from the top, until the middle of the hair. And then, he bleached my hair, from the middle to the bottom of my hair. After 15 minutes, he looked at my hair, and said it was done. He asked the helper to washed my hair. According to my guess, my hair became very dry after bleaching. The hair stylist told me, I couldn't put another color on my hair that has been bleached. I need to do a hair treatment for 1-2 weeks, and after that i can color my hair again. I agree with him. 

Well, these are the pictures of my hair after bleaching. I didn't use any filter at these pictures. If the color looks different, it because of the light.

If you look at me from the front, it will not looks like an ombre hair. That's because I was also asked to bleach the front part of my hair, left side, and right side.

A week after bleaching day, i did "Kerastase" hair treatment. I also use Kerastase Elixir Ultimate Oléo-complexe every day, as a leave-in treatment. It really help to repair my damaged hair. 

After 2 weeks, i decided to go back to salon, and get a new color for my bleached hair. I don't like the color before, it looks so "yellow". I choose color Beige 13 from Shiseido.

Sorry for the bad quality pictures. It was taken by my 5 years old daughter :P

And here's the result..

The color didn't turn out, well, as i expected before. I expected the color was brighter. My hair stylist told me that i need to bleach my hair one more time, if I want to make my hair become totally "white". But the risk is, my hair will be more damage than before. I didn't want to take that risk. And,, however, i feel this color is also looks good on me. What do you think?