Video Leids Ontzet

It rained in Shanghai (08-04-2007)

CHINA - pics

The most expensive brand name world-wide, also well-known in China - ENJOY!

Another very famous product from another famous brand - unlucky us, this product cannot be ENJOYed as often as we might wish to. (Porsche in Shanghai)

和谐号 - Harmony a very important goal for the Chinese government to reach for the Chinese society. With this train they are on a good way. 330 km/h from Shanghai to Suzhou! Worthwile being ENJOYed!

From the mud underneath the water, through the root, grown to be the most beautiful flower of the Chinese perception. The famous and most ENJOYable lotus flower. Is the lotus also a symbol for the development of mankind?

外国人！ A foreigner in Shanghai. A great sight, at least for me, as he is ENJOYing his bread while riding a bike.

ENJOYing a cigarette? Neighbourhood watchers in Shanghai. What a great life...

'Which one safes on gas?' A taff question for the growing Chinese economy and the new wealthy class. Why should they safe on resources, while others used to and still spoil a lot of resources? Don't we all just want to ENJOY life!

Metro in Shanghai, the best way to ENJOY modern city life's traffic.

Another shot of the Metro in Shanghai. High-speed for a better future.

Thinking about a lot of things going on around him? A man standing besides the road in Shenzhen.

Anyone ever seen that font type? I don't think so, and even if any Western company has a patent on that font type, didn't your forebears colonize China and steal a lot of wisdom through the force of violence?

China is moving fast. Not everyone is moving at the same pace, but the direction is set: Straight ahead into a better future for the next generation.

ENJOYing the sun in Zhuhai. But why do you protect your skin from these UV-rays? So uncool! Don't all of you want to be nice and tanned as your Western idols are? Stop caring about things like health...

Here we are, some stars, but no stripes! Does China make a difference?

More from the 'Leids Ontzet'

3rd of October is 'Hutspot' time! A real Dutch experience in Leiden

Tasting a real Dutch dish

Video in 'driver' perspective of the bumper car in Leiden



No Limit

Harm's birthday party!

Leids Ontzet

Today is the famous festival 'Leids Ontzet', the historical anniversary of the end of Leiden's siege by the Spaniards in 1575.
The 'onzet' is the greatest party in town and the 3rd of October is even a holiday only celebrated in Leiden. That means that most stores and all public institutions stay closed during the 3rd of October, no matter what day of the week it is. The celebrations started yesterday and the whole city got transformed into an amusement park, with a lot of stalls selling food, sweets and other things, whether needed or not by human kind.
As you can expect it from a festival in Europe, also a lot of alcohol is being consumed all around and, as you can expect from a Dutch festival, the smell of wheat is also noticeable wherever you go.
I tried the most challenging fairground ride with three other friends, as you can see further down in one of the videos. For the ridiculous price of 8 Euro per ride you actually do get a quite exciting ride, going 360 degrees and a massive speed.
Check out below for pics and videos:

Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

I haven't watched the whole video yet myself. But the part I've watched so far were really interesting. Especially the part of 'enable dreams for others' really caught my attention. The person speaking is a professor in America, he is holding 'his last lecture' and this is actually true, as he will pass away a few months from now due to cancer.
Let's enjoy his passion for life till the last moment and reflect on our own attitudes....

Some impressions from a sunny day in Leiden

Zijlpoort in Leiden, former city gate

Grachten in Leiden, the famous Dutch channels

A restaurant close to the Zijlpoort

View in downtown Leiden

The Besteenmarkt in Leiden, getting ready for the 'Leids Ontzet' festival

Open bridge, seen from the Zijlpoort

Shopping street in Leiden, the Haarlemmererstraat

A boat manoevering on the channel

Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag Antje!

Vandaag is Antje's 21ste verjaardag! In de fusie van haar studentenhuis hebben we samen met haar gewacht tot de klok 12 uur slaagt en met haar gevierd.
Van harte gefeliciteerd....

Tara Superstar

The newest face in our Sinology society in Leiden is only a few weeks old and just starting to realize how the world around her works. The proud and happy parents are Ayleen and Tobias, they are proud to be the parents of Tara superstar: