WATCH: Amsterdam, Netherlands


Here is the video of my short trip to Amsterdam.


For more blogposts on Amsterdam, click the links below:

Amsterdam Part 1
Amsterdam Part 2

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular This Week

14000 Days In: Finding Balance, Meaning, and Inner Peace

Image
The 21st of January 2026 marks the end of the 14th chapter of my life, which also means that another 1,000 days have passed 😂. This chapter was not only about time moving forward, but also about personal reflection, adjustment, and maturity. During this period, I searched for meaning in life, questioned my values, and learned more about the importance of human connections. It was a phase that helped me better understand who I am and how I relate to others and the world around me. Learning from Past Challenges The 13th chapter of my life left a lasting impact on me and strongly shaped the one that followed. The pandemic changed daily life, work routines, and social relationships in ways I had never experienced before. During this time, I also chose to let go of unhealthy habits and distanced myself from certain people. The sudden death of my father was the most difficult experience, forcing me to confront loss, grief, and uncertainty. These events made the 14th chapter a pe...
Read more

2025: Progress Sans Perfect Results

Image
When I look back on the year, I understand that it was not about perfect numbers or completing every goal. It was a year of adjustment, balance, and quiet growth. Some changes were planned, others were forced by life and work. A few goals were achieved, many were not, but almost all of them taught me something important. This reflection is not about success or failure, but about learning; learning my limits, my priorities, and how personal growth often happens slowly. Reading Less, Learning More Reading was one area where this became clear. I wanted to read 21 books in 2025, but I finished only 12. At first, this felt disappointing. Over time, I realized that the quality of what I read mattered more than the number. Books like Sapiens, Think Again, Factfulness, and Stolen Focus were not easy or fast reads. They required focus and patience, and they stayed with me long after I finished them. Instead of reading many light books, I chose fewer books with deeper ideas about his...
Read more

No One is Responsible For You Except Yourself

Image
Having lived outside the Philippines for two years, I got to realize a lot of things from my own and other's experiences. Most have been tough and challenging, such that even friends and family members can not do something but watch and observe as the events unfold. However, on top of all these things, I could definitely pinpoint that for us, whose threat of being sent to the Philippines is present due to strict European immigration laws, the greatest learning perhaps lies on taking responsibility. Taking responsibility may sound like a cliché, but I will expound what does that really mean in the light of our unique experiences being OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) in Europe. This is the focus of this blogpost. Taking responsibility means making difficult decisions alone. This step is primarily the most difficult given that my Filipino culture dictates to do the opposite of trying to hear and follow advices given by others, especially my family. In this case, no matter how well...
Read more

Are You Healthy?

Image
Health is that elusive state of being that we all strive for, yet never quite seem to reach. We all have our own definition of what it means to be healthy, whether it's the absence of illness or the ability to run a marathon without breaking a sweat. But the truth is, defining health is no easy feat. It's like trying to catch a greased pig - you can chase after it, but it always seems to slip away. So, let's take a lighthearted look at the complex nature of health and how we can try to define it. I have come to understand that determining who is healthy is not as simple as it may seem. The connection between norms and health is intricate, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. In my experience, health is not just about the absence of disease but also about meeting societal norms. For instance, a patient who presents with symptoms of depression and anxiety may be considered unhealthy, even though there is no physical ailment. This ...
Read more

Vigelandsparken, Oslo Norway: Celebrating Human Spirit

Image
The world's largest collection of sculptures in a park is attracting one million people every year. The art pieces, which were made from bronze, granite and iron features the appreciation of the human spirit of Norway's most renowned sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Click the link below: http://vimeo.com/65900073 Visiting Vigelandsparken makes one realize things in life, inspired from the different sections of the park: the Main Gate, the Bridge, the Fountain, the Monolith and the Wheel of life. The main gate is very simple but elegant. It features a long pathway towards the main section of the park. It gives the visitor the feeling that life requires a pathway and direction where one should follow through. That direction is the person's purpose in his or her life, that will guide all his or her actions, no matter what situations the person will be experiencing and whoever the person will be meeting. The bridge is one of the most dramatic part of the park, which...
Read more

En Dag om Gangen: Babysteps in Norway

Image
Moving to a new country can be both exhilarating and challenging. When I arrived in Norway, I faced the daunting task of adapting to a new culture, a foreign language, and building a life from the ground up. In those early days, the mantra "en dag om gangen," which translates to "one day at a time," became my guiding light. The Arrival: A World of Uncertainty Stepping off the plane in Norway, I was immediately struck by the unfamiliar surroundings and the realization that I was far from home. The Norwegian language, with its melodic but mystifying sounds, posed a formidable barrier. I had no work lined up, and I didn't know a soul I could trust to help me navigate this new chapter of my life. It was a daunting prospect, to say the least. Learning the Language: Babysteps to Communication One of the first and most crucial challenges was the language barrier. Learning Norwegian was essential not only for daily communication but also for securing...
Read more

Jobs Mismatch

Image
Sometimes, jobs are available but most people do not easily fit to it. There a lot factors this happens, but bottomline, the person, who loses on this situation is the person seeking for jobs. It makes the person frustrated and worse, making the person lose his or her self-confidence. In the long run, they simply stop trying and stay unemployed for significant period of time. People tend to go for what others want. When people tend to choose the most popular course before going to college, the tendency is that students will not be passionate about the chosen field, resulting for him or her to compete with many more graduates, who are more eager to get the job. By nature of the competition, the less prepared and dedicated will lag behind and will settle for less. This contributes to job mismatch. Futhermore, parents sometimes force their children to choose their preferred education. This is also not good, especially if the parents make a seemingly "safe" and popular cho...
Read more

Exploiting Another's Generosity

Image
All of us are encouraged to share. This is a virtue that was taught to us since we were younger. However, sometimes culture determines how generous one should be to family and friends. When can one say generosity becomes excessive and gearing towards abusive nature? As a Filipino, I was taught to be hospitable, although I do not completely adhere with it. My family raised me to be patient and accommodating enough to anyone who needs favor or help. The best thing my parents encouraged me to do indirectly is give favors for free and ask nothing in return. When one could say another is exploiting one's generosity? Unnecessary When one asks for a favor or help from another, which one does not lack or need. For example, a friend, who is perfectly capable and has the time and resources asks help from another even though the latter is unable to do so or will experience difficulty and undue discomfort in doing so. Hence, before one asks for help, he or she must be sensitive also of the...
Read more

3 Advantages of Corruption and Nepotism

Image
I have quite accepted since I was younger that life would never be fair, given what I see in the Philippine society. Corruption, which is a broad term to describe illegitimate use of power for private gain is rampant in all levels of the society. One would not have to go far or exert too much effort in finding some examples. My first experience of corruption has been in school. I myself became a victim of favoritism, and perhaps in one way or another learned to benefit from it as well. I thought it was just a natural mechanism to deal with competition and life in general. However, did I reap some advantages from this experience? This is the focus of this blogpost. My experience did not stop there. When I finished school, I was at disadvantageous stance when I realized corruption has another side, nepotism. Nepotism is simply the unfair practice of bestowing favoritism to family members or perhaps close family friends. I saw how one family to another attempted to secure job and positio...
Read more

Skagen, Denmark: Sun, Sand and Snow

Image
Being the Danish nation’s northernmost town, Skagen is known for the Skagen Odde peninsula located in the North Jutland Island. The town also houses the world largest fish oil factory. The sand and fish port factors make vacations to Skagen peninsula a very unique experience. This has been made more special during my visit in the winter season in February when spring pauses occur. Thus, my short trip became a combination of sun, snow and sand in Skagen. Skagen Fyr The Skagen Lighthouse was a reconstruction of the White Lighthouse, which is primarily used for exhibitions nowadays. This lighthouse has been useful in preventing invasion of the Danish capital Copenhagen by Western countries like the Great Britain. Grenen   This is Denmark’s northernmost tip where the North Sea and the Baltic Sea meet. Grenen literally means the branch, showcases a very beautiful landscape and sea horizon. Sandormen It is a wagon pulled by a tractor carrying ...
Read more