Remembering the Past

Last Friday, hubby took the day off to take me to the Efteling, Holland's answer to Disneyland. Our friends P&P joined us, and so the three dutchies enjoyed swapping stories of their Efteling memories. The theme park has been existing for more than fifty years and has been updated from time to time. What I like about the Efteling is its location amidst the forest which adds to the "magical" atmosphere. Although I wasn't really expecting anything like the Disney World, the Efteling offers a mix of attractions that one can experience in Disneyland or the Epcot Center: the Fairy Tale Land where kids can see and interact with their favourite fairy tale characters; The Fata Morgana (life in Morocco), a boat ride reminded me of the Pirates of the Carribean; Droomlucht (Dream Flight) is almost like the Peter Pan's flight; Villa Volta is the equivalent to Disney's Haunted House and the 3-D adventure of the Panda Droom (Panda Dream) is somewhat like Honey I Shrunk the Kids. We also enjoyed the performance of the "Wonderful Efteling Show" held at the new Efteling Theatre. Entrance...the Sleeping Giant and Tom Thumb Part of the Fairy Tale Land Efteling Theatre For more photos, click here. I felt like a kid again after spending a day at the Efteling. The theme park has a lot to offer to families with kids (as well to grown-ups like us), without traveling too far. However, there is not much to be desired about the roller coaster rides, and such you have to go to the Six Flags for this kind of thrill. --------------------------------------- On Saturday, hubby and I went to Rotterdam to meet up with some of his work colleagues (and partners) for dinner. Interestingly, the night was full of discussion about how the Netherlands seem to be going down the drain. M, the oldest in the group in his mid forties, couldn't help reminisce about life prior to the EU. He teased me that while people like me are coming to Holland, a lot of Dutch (including him) are thinking of moving out. We discussed about how the immigration/integration policy of the Dutch government is getting to be more absurd. I realized during dinner that hubby is getting more frustrated because he immediately blurted that if the government makes it more difficult for his wife (that's me!), he is ready to pull the plug and join the exodus as well. Eeoow... ---------------------------------------- On Sunday, hubby and I visited Kamp Vught, a concentration camp used by the Nazis as a transit point for Jews to be deported to Poland. Although I have been to the National Holocaust Museum in Washington and was totally moved by the accounts, being in an actual camp was a totally different experience. The museum is small but the remains of KampVught speaks a lot about the horrifying experiences of the Jews during the Second World War. It was disturbing. It was distressing to see the cramped bunk beds, the empty wash area, and the very well preserved crematorium. If only the walls could talk... The camp was surrounded by a forest, and approximately 300 people were executed by the Nazis in the wooded area. The experience was very eerie, but what was more strange for me to see was a high-fenced wall that separates Kamp Vught from a prison complex that is now being used for today's hardened crimminals in the Netherlands. Camp 13 The Crematorium. Kamp Vught (left side) and a prison (right)