TRAVEL | April 2016 Part III | Amsterdam

Amsterdam has been on my wanderlust list for many years - canals, markets, architecture, museums and so much more - and it took me a few moments after stepping out of Station Amsterdam Centraal to accept the fact that I was finally here.

The city is pretty much exactly how I imagined it would be - beautiful and alluring, with blue skies and the sun reflecting off the tree-lined canals, and big intersections crisscrossed with narrow alleyways, dominated by the bustling bicycle culture that proves why Amsterdam is the "bicycle capital of the world". The city is mapped out in the shape of a fan, with canals and bridges forming concentric segments outwards from the city centre. Everywhere we went was so wonderfully picturesque that it was tough to say goodbye after our four day visit. The city is also unique in the sense that it's a melting pot of religions, culture, sex and drugs - where else in the world can you visit the Biblical Museum, the Anne Frank House, the Sex Museum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Jewish Historical Museum, and the Erotic Museum all in the same city? 

(And trust me, watch where you are going because it is so unbelievably easy to be navigating the streets and alleys looking for Chinatown, and find yourself instead in the heart of Amsterdam's Red Light District. With your dad. And his friends. And they're starting to ask questions. Awesome.)

Strolling down Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal on the first morning

Damrak Avenue, the main street leading from Amsterdam Centraal into the city center

Hopping on a canal cruise (such a tourist, I know)

View of Church of Saint Nicholas from the cruise

The corner of Reguliersgracht and Herengracht canal, where you can catch a view of 15 of the city's bridges all at once

Visiting the Van Gogh Museum 

Trying out Holland's #1 Fries (pretttty tasty, I'd say)

Lovely dinner at De Goudvis Club

De Goudvis Club again the night after - my dad couldn't get enough!

Possibly the creamist, fluffiest, most amazing whipped milk ice cream I've ever had in my life from Banketbakkerij van der Linde (my dad and I had this twice a day, no joke)

Shopping, shopping, shopping

The famous Dam Square

Incredible steak from Haesje Claes, one of the oldest Dutch restaurants in Amsterdam that's been open since 1520

Sunrise on our last morning

See you again, Amsterdam. You were incredible. 

Another one checked off my bucket list!