Wednesday, September 22, 2004
L-R Matt, Kamil, Liv, Amit, Cliff: the strong and healthy people(after the 460 steps hike to the tower)
the top view of the church... the middle part that connects before to this tower being destroyed because of the weak architecture. It was built only after the church and the tower was made, as an expansion of the church but didn't last as long as the other two structures. The winds in Netherlands were indeed that strong that a weak foundation can tore it down that easily
Finally made it on top.... (phew) it was a sign to have started an exercise as the way up was a mix of normal and spiral staircases.
half way through the top of the tower, some of the bells are located in here with these one weighing about 8000kilos... where prisoners used to be placed under these bells for them to hear the bells ringing... quite a tough punishment already just ending up deaf even just for one night of hearing these bells ringing
The Dom bell tower, named before as St. Martins tower and church, which used to be a Catholic church but now a protestant church. Its known to be the highest point in Netherlands, which is 90 meters high and takes 464 steps with a mix of straight and spiral staircase a great exercise thats worth the view on top not only of the great city but of the biggest and heaviest bells there could be in Netherlands.
Mobile Music as they used to say. These kind of instruments used to be carried by people around the streets to entertain in the city centers. It sounds easy and simple earned money but try carrying this and you'll realize it's not an easy job
3 Violins being played automatically... pretty interesting to find out that it was not just piano which had these technology.
The great Music Museum with the oldest juke boxes, organs, violins where you don't need to be a music expert to be able to play the best sounds of Beethoven or Mozart... it was way before the technology of CDs and MP3s where you can appreciate the actual instruments played without you playing it. This one being one of the biggest orchestras that plays on its own in the old times. It used to be a big business with about 80 people producing 40 of these that eventually were used in big "dance places".
Quite interesting architecture.... windows that somehow make the building three dimensional.
Spot the difference with the previous photo? It's just the same building.. this one the front view of the City Hall
inside the Dom church, a really huge organ where a great lady opera singer sang high notes in latin
Dom Church(formerly known as St. Martin's church) now a protestant church. Magnificent architecture with very high ceiling and nice glass paintings
Imagine in the old times when boats would be passing through these canals of Utrecht to trade their major goods
A great view of the Dom tower from the back.... which we shall be climbing to the top the next day
Around the canals you would see old houses, which basements direct you to the side of the canals where most trading happened before through people riding in their boats and buying from the merchants by the canals.
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Utrecht: the latest discovery in Netherlands
Utrecht, a city that is 40 mins by train from Rotterdam, located at the southern part of Netherlands. A great city where 18 people from AIESEC International, welcomed by 3 officers of AIESEC in Utrecht was ready to tour us around and give a brief history of their lovely city. A lot of nice places to see plus a great walk around the city really makes you relaxed with all the nice, old and preserved architectures of old times. It would be hard not to notice our big group going around the city, however it is also one of the main tourist attractions in Netherlands as there were several other groups as well. Our tourist guides were better though since they just didn't show us the main historical attractions, but also brought us to the best cafes for great conversations, the trendiest sportsbar and also to the best disco places to just party all night.
Just as other groups would be when they are touring around the best places, would be a collection of the best photos as well so check out the rest above.
Just as other groups would be when they are touring around the best places, would be a collection of the best photos as well so check out the rest above.
Friday, September 17, 2004
Feeding the pigeons... lots of them around the city
Me & Pixi: enjoying the ride from the beach
Helena and Rajiv at the tram: enjoying the ride after a whole day at the beach
missing the palm trees... they are everywhere in Barcelona
Monday, September 06, 2004
Barcelona at night.... great atmosphere for chilling out and relaxation
Let's drink to that! With Pedro Huerta and his wife, Heather. Along with my travel buddies, Rajiv, Lele & PIxi
with Pixi: turning really red all through out the vacation... but worth the sun!
enjoying the sun with Pixi & Lele... my touring pals around Barcelona
Sunny sunny Barcelona for 4 days!!!
10 days of conference at Hannover, Germany was definitely a great experience…. But what was more amazing was also spending a break from all work to a great sunny place called Barcelona. Arriving from Hannover on Monday, August 30, we definitely knew that Rotterdam is a place we live but not a place we shall be spending our vacation for the next 4 days. There were 4 of us, Rajiv, Pixi, Helena and me, who were still undecided as to how these vacation can be best maximized to a wonderful experience… our choices were not that many, with so little time so it was just either Belgium or France where the distance wont be that far and an easy drive to manage. However, the sun was calling us and that’s definitely not nearby Netherlands as the weather forecast didn’t seem to be showing that much sun…. thanks to cheap flights around Europe that we got a return plane ticket to Barcelona for only 230 euros so the next day at 4 am we were already on our train to Amsterdam to catch the early flight at 6am.
At the airport, we were welcomed by our lovely conference chair and former PAI(President for AIESEC International) Pedro Huerta who became our lovely host in Barcelona, along with his lovely wife(a former PAI as well) Heather. We spent the first day at the beach of Barcelona just having a laid back life under the sun and catching up some sleep that we failed to have all through out the conference in Germany. The following days were spent going around the city, visiting the great touristic places like Sagrada Familia, Gothic place, Olympic stadium and walking around the city that’s still active even at late night. A great walk around the city was simply relaxing with everybody in a good mood and vibrantly strolling around. Our last day was spent just the same way we started our trip, and that was a whole afternoon at the beach, about 40 minutes from Barcelona with more sun and sands surrounding the sea.
At the airport, we were welcomed by our lovely conference chair and former PAI(President for AIESEC International) Pedro Huerta who became our lovely host in Barcelona, along with his lovely wife(a former PAI as well) Heather. We spent the first day at the beach of Barcelona just having a laid back life under the sun and catching up some sleep that we failed to have all through out the conference in Germany. The following days were spent going around the city, visiting the great touristic places like Sagrada Familia, Gothic place, Olympic stadium and walking around the city that’s still active even at late night. A great walk around the city was simply relaxing with everybody in a good mood and vibrantly strolling around. Our last day was spent just the same way we started our trip, and that was a whole afternoon at the beach, about 40 minutes from Barcelona with more sun and sands surrounding the sea.
"Let's get it started in here....... "
So was the first line of the AIESEC International team dance as we first get launched at IC 2004 in Germany. 550 individuals, from over 89 countries gathered under one roof…. Sounds pretty normal but not when the 550 pairs of eyes are all in front of you. It was the first time that up on stage I saw the excitement of these lovely individuals which I exactly know how it felt to be in a room filled with lots of people and to see their set of leaders in real life that sets beyond the names and emails in the organizational website. It was 10 days of amazing conference, challenging each other’s perception of the way the world is revolving outside AIESEC and how each of the AIESEC entities are able to make a relevant impact to the world where we exist. Beyond the diversity and unity that we take part of in the past 10 days, the celebration of our dances and chants, lies a great power of our ability to think ahead of our time. Our partners from the corporate world, government and some foundations have seen it all…. The passion that burns with each of the AIESEC members through our dances and chants overflows in the ideas we create for a better future. They say we are indeed the future leaders of tomorrow, but what most see is that we are indeed the leaders of today that really makes things happen in our local committees, countries and even outside the boundaries of our home… truly making a difference, right now.
Jean Choplin and his wife... an honor to have one of the first Presidents for AIESEC International back in the 1950s attend this great event and honoured to be asked for a photo when he found out I am from the Philippines.
someone who's been truly integrated to the asian culture... now working for the Indonesian Member Committee, last year working with Singapore.... my great French buddy, Fabien...
My lovely Member Committe Presidents from Japan(Yuichi), China(Chris), and New Zealand(Aditi)
"Aussie Aussie Aussie!!!! Oi oi oi!!!" Just one of the loudest chants you'll ever hear from AP. My lovely Aussies Zoe, Dave and Marty
with the Thai and Malaysian ladies... truly Asian beauties
AP twins... my babies from Japan and HK... can you spot the difference?
The Philippine delegation with the conference chair, Pedro Huerta... PAI(President of AIESEC International in 1997-98)
The Philippine delegation at IC 2004... Cristina, Melissa(export from Canada), Dennise, Jaja & Javi
With the original AP Mama, Zoe.... indeed I am following her footsteps on setting a different horizon for the AP Tigers!!!!
As I am fondly called as the "AP Mama", this just happens to be my AP Family during a family portrait at IC 2004 in Germany
Year 2000-2001 back in my local committee, we received a CEEDer from Germany and its just so great that 4 years from then I got to meet Henning once again, back in his home country where the International Congress was held, and definitely AIESECers from all times get together once again.
August 8: Refreshing day at Tropicana resort
It’s a week before the biggest conference of our lives…. It has definitely been a busy month at the office with almost everyday leaving the office around 9pm to finish our work. We definitely needed some time to unwind and relax with all these stress and more to come for the longest 10 days of our lives, yet the most meaningful. So for us to have regained that energy before the conference, a visit to the beach or the sunny countries seem to be impossible with such hectic schedule but it’s always great to find out cool places like Tropicana, one of the biggest water park in Rotterdam with about 4-5 big pools and amazing slides…. It really energized us after long hours of work that makes us really ready to face the battle ahead of us.
a refreshing time at tropicana with gee, brodie, and luis
luis, me, gee and vaibhav after a great swim at Tropicana resort
