Jeju Island is located south of the main Korean peninsula. It has a 6,400 foot shield volcano, a subtropical rainforest, several beautiful waterfalls and a distinctive culture that evolved separately from their mainland cousins. Parts of the island are designated World Heritage Sites. It’s also home to a bizarre theme park illustrating the pleasures of the flesh.
Amsterdam is mostly known for its laissez-faire attitude regarding drugs and prostitution, but the city has much more to offer than the opportunity to do things you’d be severely punished for at home. Here are some of the less-publicized appeals of ‘The Venice of the North.
Obviously you can’t miss the canals, no matter how much space cake you eat, but if you want a new perspective you should do as the locals do and see the city from the water. Hop on a private tour if you can afford it, and if you’re on a budget those cheesy tourist boats are actually a lot of fun.
The Culture:
Pick a day for culture; Amsterdam is rich with it. The Anne Frank House is extremely affecting, and well worth the wait (the lines can be insanely long because space inside is limited). If you’re not in the mood to feel sad, though, maybe hit up one of the many art museums instead– my favorite is the Amsterdam Rijksmuseum, with its fabulous collection of paintings by Dutch masters such as Vermeer and Rembrandt. The churches are also well worth a look. The Oude Kerk– which is admittedly within the Red Light District– is architecturally stunning and frequently houses art exhibits, and the Amstelkring Museum is a fascinating 17th-century private home with a secret Catholic Church in the top floors, a hold-over from the days of the Reformation, when Catholicism was forbidden in Amsterdam.
The Cuisine:
Amsterdam has hundreds of great restaurants, many of them tucked away down quiet canal streets. Any cuisine you crave, you’ll find it here, but my favorites are the local specialties. For a hot and hearty dinner, head to ‘t Zwaantje, a traditional pub-like restaurant on Berenstraat in the Jordaan, and order the deliciously simple Kip in t’Pannetje (chicken in the pot). Start your day with a scrumptious smoked salmon scramble at De Vrije Vork (on a little side street off Egalantiersgracht), a lovely little café run by a laid-back couple. And for a snack, stop by Pancake Bakery, on Prinsengracht 191, to sample their famous Dutch pancakes– my vote goes for the Poffertjes: tiny, tasty pancakes dusted with powdered sugar– or pause at a vendor and grab a cup of fresh fruit covered in indulgent heavy cream.
Of course the best thing about Amsterdam is sitting at an outdoor table at a little canal-side café, drinking a beer or a foamy cappuccino, and just soaking up the city. Chat with a local, or just watch the people go by. Amsterdam has some of the best people-watching in the world: the older ladies on bicycles with wheelbarrow attachments holding six yipping Jack Russel Terriers; the young men in suits cruising by and looking extremely dapper balanced on their bicycles with their briefcases in one hand; the tourists wobbling along on rented bikes as the locals whiz past them gracefully. The structure, architecture, and beauty of Amsterdam will draw you in as a tourist, but it’s the people and the way of life that will make you want to stay.
For more information on what to do in Amsterdam, check out the Offbeat Guide to Amsterdam here.
