On My Way to Netherlands

Hello world,

I just came back from Amsterdam! I decided to write again because I know that in the future, this post will remind me about my experience. 

On Wednesday evening I flew from Milan Malpensa Airport at 9.44 PM. During the flight, I was so lucky because I got chance to see sunset. It was really beautiful, I cannot even describe how beautiful it was. One hour flight was not enough for me because I spent my time mostly looking through the plane window. Watching the sunset and the cloud. I love watching cloud as well. 

I flew with EasyJet, the cheapest airline in Europe (I think). When the airplane landed, everyone (except me) clapped their hand as an appreciation to the pilot who brought us safe and sound to Amsterdam. I did not know that Europeans have this kind of culture clapping hands as a "thank you" gesture until today. The EasyJet team who brought us to Amsterdam deserve appreciation because our flight arrived 20 minutes earlier, and the landing was very smooth. I had never had smooth landing like today. 

I had never been to Amsterdam before, but I made sure to prepare everything before I came, including Airbnb (the accommodation). I planned to stay in Utrecht instead of Amsterdam because I could not find cheaper accommodation in Amsterdam (students need to save money LOL). I also have checked the train I need to take from Schiphol Airport to Utrecht Central. 

I walked directly to the train station at the airport (took me 10 mins to reach there by foot). Bought the ticket and checked the platform of the train (Mostly, people use train here to go to big cities, they also have metro). 

I got in to the train and sat there. I had not got dinner, luckily I brought something from Switzerland because I knew I would get starving on my way to Utrecht. 

After ten minutes, a woman conductor came to check ticket. I gave mine, and this is a time when I laughed at myself. LOL

"Miss, where are you going?"

I answered her "I am going to Utrecht Centraal"

She looked at me and smiled " I am sorry to let you know, but you are on the wrong train Miss.,  you should have taken the other train on the same platform at the airport". 

I was so shocked and embarrassed, but I managed to smile. 

"Thank you very much ma`m, but would you please tell me if it is possible for me to take the train that goes to Utrecht Central on the next stop?" 

she answered me with a smile "Yes, you should get off on the next stop, wait for 34 minutes there, then take the train that leaves to Utrecht Centraal, it is on the same platform where you will get off in few minutes". 

I smiled and thanked her for her kindness. 

On the next station, I got off, together with a couple (they also took a wrong train even though they are European - from Paris, they get confused just like me). 

I tried to talk to them while waiting for our train (we took different trains). The reason why I like to talk people when I travel because I think if we talk to people while we travel, we get chance to make friends, get to know other people and the culture of their countries. 

After waiting around 34 minutes, my train finally arrived. I said goodbye to the couple and took my train Utrecht Central. It took me about one hour to arrive Utrecht central. 

I was very surprised when I saw the train station at Utrecht Central. It was huge. Since it was so huge, I was confused where to go to catch the bus which would take me to the Airbnb house which I rent for four days. I asked a woman if she knew platform D4. She told me to get out of the train station and enter a door right after I am out of the station building and go down with escalator, then I will be able to see the busses there. 

I followed her instruction, got out of the train station, and get in another building but I could not see escalator. I went downstairs and all I saw was bicycles. Thousands of bicycles. I said to myself "I bet this is not the right place for bus stop". But I kept walking and reached the ground floor. I saw two security guards there and asked if they know platform D4. They told me that I should get inside of the train station again and look on my left, walk for few minutes and I would be able to see the sign. I said thanks to them and leave them. 

I laughed and talked to myself "lesson learned, Nur; when you ask direction, make sure you know what they meant. You need to ask more than one people about direction so you do not get lost!" 

I did what the security guards told me. And bought a ticket from a machine which was near the escalator. It costed me about € 2.75 or about Rp.43,350. 

I waited the bus for almost 45 minutes. It was very cold and I did not wear Jacket. It was on my suitcase. I was just too lazy to take it. 

When the bus arrived, I got into it and showed my ticket to the driver. 

"I am sorry Miss., unfortunately, the ticket that you have is for another bus" 

Oh lord, Nur! I said to myself and laughed at myself (I love to laugh at myself when I do something silly or stupid). 

"Oh, I am so sorry, can I buy the ticket from you then?"

she said yes I could buy from her. So I bought the ticket with the same price as previous ticket which I could not use. 

It took me about 35 minutes to arrive at Amsterdam street in Utrecht. 

I got off at the bus station and walked with my suitcase. I tried to looked for the house  number which was written on my Airbnb reservation. I walked for 2 minutes them suddenly I heard like somebody was calling my name "Nur? Nur?" I was shocked, someone knows my name and called my name at almost 2 AM. Very scary! I walked faster then I saw a door was opened and a woman came out of her house and said " Are you Nur, Nurdahlia?" 

I said yes it is me, then she said that she was Layla, the house owner. She waited for me until 2 AM because she was worried since I came alone. 

She helped me with my suitcase and showed me my beautiful and cleaned room. She gave a little tour on her house and finally we said good night to each other. 

I took shower before I went to bed because I need to be fresh before going to bed.  

Now I am in my bed, ready to hit the sack. 

I will share about my experience in Amsterdam as soon as I get chance to write again. 

See you soon on my next post!