Nights of red windmills - Euro Trip 5

For almost two hours now, I thought whether I should put a viewer’s discretion for this post. I mean writing it is no big deal, as our Ramesh has written in his posts it would be something like forward statement =). However I don't think it’s really needed for two reasons. For one, any spoiled kid reading this would be more tempted to read further with that statement (“those” sites with age verification does nothing more than few more clicks, funny!). Plus I am not really going to write something better than what he/she see in Indian movies or Ftv. So with that note here I go.

Canal near De wallen
Writing or talking about sex (from here onwards we address it as the big S as I don't want my site to be listed first in Google :P ) is always a taboo. Specially so in Indian customs, this explains why an Indian witnessing PDA (public display of affection) undergo such a cultural shock when in abroad. However the world looks up to us as pioneer (owing to all the circus acts of the famous book) in big S. Prostitution (hereafter referred as P) is considered to be one of the oldest profession (despite the shame it brought to womanhood) and in Netherlands it’s legal. Anyone can open a P counter by following certain rules.

De wallen is perhaps best known red light districts of all. It’s one of the oldest parts and also the centre of the city. We walked through the alleys which had numerous tiny one room cabins. Most part of the room is visible through big glass window. Some of them had blinds and a busy signal above the door. The girls stood there waving and calling the passerby crowed. The cabins mostly had neon or red lights and it illuminated the little they wore. The alleys are crossed by several canals and it seemed to hold hundreds of cabins.

Invariably all alleys had one or more of a eatery, bar, Big S-Shop, Big S movie theatre. The weird part is it has already become a tourist destination, we saw good amount of crowd, locals and foreigners, friends and families walking by the cabins as if they are garment stores. In weird way people actually window shopped and they looked like Barbie dolls packed in fancy little boxes.

R told me many facts about the place as we walked. Taking photos of cabins is strictly banned it can get you more trouble than you can imagine. Beware of pick–pocketers, I was nearly robbed by a huge drunken guy, thankfully R warned me at the right time. It’s better to go in group or at least in twos to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Some of them might try to sell you drugs, it’s better to avoid talking to strangers. The bars here offer sheesha pipes if you really want to try. More than all don't visit this place first; it may give you wrong impression of beautiful Amsterdam.

To be honest I felt bad for them. I don't think it’s like any other job, I mean how lousy it would feel to be sitting/standing there in most awkward position luring passerby, trying to earn few bucks? Anyone who read “eleven minutes” of Coelho would know how pathetic their life is. Even scholars believe that, without P many chaos based on lust would prevail in the society. I fail to understand why

Looks familiar ?
We went to a restaurant called Kama sutra with elegant paintings. We had red wine and delicious naan and vegetable curry, it was the tastiest Indian food I have eaten during the entire trip. The non-Indian waiters here are polite, friendly and always smiley. If you happen to visit Amsterdam try this place, it’s very close to central station.

Right then I had the most fun the night has to offer; R suggested visiting Big S museum and it sounded so funny. I have seen/heard about museums for history, trains, and even for bones, but never happen to come across one for Big S. The main hall invited us with this statue and few Indian exhibits.

Mata hari was dancing for us in the next section. Mata hari is stage name of an exotic dancer called “Margaretha Geertruida”. She was a contemporary dancer of Isadora Duncan who captivated audience with her special costumes and so called sacred Indian dance. She was highly influential lady during World War 1, was accused of spying Germany and executed by firing squad. Many things about her including the accusations remains unsolved.

Mata hari, the exotic dancer
Some of the sections had photographs while some had robotic exhibits performing various Big S acts. At one point I started laughing at the funny noises and movements they made.

The first floor had Marilyn Monroe but her skirt did not fly.

Thats my friend R
I enjoyed this section,it shed light on history and evolvement of Big S from Adam eve to till date.

I understand P and Big S can create so many arguments with different dimension. So here is my take on this, according to me Big S should be as natural as sunset or waterfall and can only be shared with the person you love. This trip made me realise that my travel isn’t complete without my love by my side.

Blame it on the mood of the night

Comments

Anonymous said…
first!!!
Karthik Lollu said…
Kadasi picture la ungs POSE seri illa.. Aftermath of anda S effecto?? :D

Naice silai.. Naice figure.. naice topic.. Anda Samosa sooper.. G3 akka kita romba naala poraaditu irukken oru samosakkaka.. Atleast neengalaavadhu enakku vaangi thaanga!!
Anonymous said…
//To be honest I felt bad for them. I don't think it’s like any other job, I mean how lousy it would feel to be sitting/standing there in most awkward position luring passerby, trying to earn few bucks?//

This I feel with every girl/man standing at the entrance of pubs and restaurants. Just to earn a few bucks, how much of self-respect they give up, how much ego they shove down? How many intriguing looks and insulting eyes?

//in Netherlands it’s legal//
Many countries have legalized it.
Even if it is not legal, it is still practised,even in India, where the word is considered something abominable. Recently, a indian CSW has written a book.

Though the post was part of your travellogue, it has become a thoughtful post, now! :D
sri said…
@ Savitha

You rightly pointed out, that way i feel bad for the people who do foot massages. I mentally bless them for doing that.

//it is still practised,even in India, where the word is considered something abominable.//

Guess what, its one of the oldest tradition in india :)

//Though the post was part of your travellogue, it has become a thoughtful post, now! :D
//

Thanks! I was just worried whether it has turned out be like memmories of geisha.
sri said…
@ Karthik

//Kadasi picture la ungs POSE seri illa.. Aftermath of anda S effecto?? :D //

aaama blame it on the moood of the night :)

Samosa is sappa matter, vidu kanna kandiappa vangitharen, naan enna g3 maari kanjoooosnnu nenacheengala :)

Do u like the small samosa, u get in tea shops or in beach, absolutely unhealthy yet delicious :)
Prats said…
Now that's the post I would say has done justice to the name and reputation of Amsterdam.

I really like the way the post is done actually talking of a tabooed topic and a scandalous place with simplicity and elegance. Nice pics and a very appropriate post
Swaram said…
Savi, fixing is it :P
G.Ragavan said…
well done. Justice made to Amsterdam by this post. :-)
Swaram said…
'can only be shared with the person you love'

Hw I wish this realization dawns upon every one! We wud nt be cing such things :(

N in India, ppl resort to rape and such acts! And to top it, most of them r nt even punished! Isn't it more ridiculous than legalizing P :(
sri said…
@ Prats

Hey man thanks! I am flattered! :) Amsterdam has many faces you would witness it in next few posts.

@ Ragavan
I am trying my best to make justice to amsterdam :P

@ Swaram
//Isn't it more ridiculous than legalizing P :(
//

Yeah in wierd way it makes sense!
Aarti said…
:) Interesting indeed...

as you said i keep thinking abt people in P profession and then just brush it off figuring they know what they are doing!!! i feel the same abt waiters, security guards[esp old ppl], sewer cleaners, maids.. gosh,list is never ending!!

Cool pics!! :)
btw, how many days was ur trip?
Charissism said…
I know that Amsterdam is really - literally speaking - the land of the FREE. Everything you want to do, good/bad can be done there. One article I read before said that the two important things you have to bring in Amsterdam are, 1. Camera and 2. An open mind. =)

What an exciting experience for you my friend! Oh by the way, the last pic is hilarious! hahaha
G3 said…
//G3 akka kita romba naala poraaditu irukken oru samosakkaka.. //

@Karthik, Dei.. indha week gils meetla vaangi tharennu sonnen illae :(((

//naan enna g3 maari kanjoooosnnu nenacheengala :)//

@Sri, Grrrrrrrrr... pona postla ungala damage panna koodadhunnu deal pottutu enna neenga damage pandreengala.. KD :(((
G3 said…
BTW, Last photola pole dance try pandreengalo :P
Ramesh said…
Elegant post Sri. A "not so easy" topic, brilliantly handled. And again lovely photos. I won't ask you about your more naughty escapades !!

I presume more of Amsterdam is coming, as you say, this is not the first thing to see in this wonderful city.

And since you are so completely smitten with your love, may I ask the lady to stand up and proclaim to the world in filmy shtyle - no doubt she is the most avid reader of your blog :)
bittersweet said…
You shouldn't feel awkward writing about Amsterdam. I think everyone's well aware of what goes in there. ^^

Lovely photos, the Big S museum reminds me of Madam Tussaud's.

Is the last photo a picture of their subway?
dank je wel, for taking us there! :)
Dag Amsterdam! Tot Ziens! :)

btw,
There is one great legal flower in Netherlands called Marijuana. How did you miss it? :))
// More than all don't visit this place first; it may give you wrong impression of beautiful Amsterdam.//

and dont visit this place last too! that way you can carry much more impressive impressions of beautiful Amsterdam! :)
@ramesh= sri is most secretive about his lady love, try as we might, Savi and me couldnt get him to speak about her at our meet, im sure she shares this streak of him as well..
@sri- this is so straightforward and honest Sri.. must stand up and applaud u for this write up...like ramesh says- its brilliantly handled
gils said…
//There is one great legal flower in Netherlands called Marijuana. How did you miss it? :))
//

enga..erkanavay ivan podra aatam thaangala..ithula neenga vera en usupi udreenga...
R-ambam said…
hmm.. attendance .
Anonymous said…
Very sensitive post. Isnt it ironic that when P is out in the open almost to be treated as just another business, it brings out a more humane reaction.
Vidya said…
I think it is important to have the right company for travel and when I don't get any, then I travel by myself.

It is fun and different but I also know what you mean by "travel isn’t complete without my love by my side"
Annam said…
last fotola athuku antha kambiya pidichi thongureenga:)
Annam said…
ADVANCE HAPPY DIWALI WISHES VATSU:)
Annam said…
mediala oor suthalama vaanga pgm neenga pannalam:) ungala minja aalu irukaathu:)
Annam said…
ennama yosikeraa vatsu:)
Annam said…
oaky me kilambings for pattasu vediching
Annam said…
Trip 6 la engala ellam enga kootitu poga poreenga:P
Annam said…
30 30 30 30 30 30 30

diwali sweet senju anupidunga:)
sri said…
@ Aarti

It was 9 day trip, most part of which is spent in Amsterdam :)

@ Chariss

Well said, camera and open mind LOL

@ G3
Ungala naan damage panradhum neenga ennnai damage panradhu namakku jagajam dhaaney :)

Naan andha photola dance aadinennu sonna nambuveengalo ?

@ Ramesh
Thats so motivating, Thanks!
haha there wasnt much naughty escapades LOL, yes loads of amsterdam is coming along the way, and you would know why i keep saying beautiful amsterdam
sri said…
@ Mybittersweetkoreanlife

haha yes everyone is aware of it, but I was bit concerned in writing it in my blog :)

yes it looks a little like madam tussaud, except some of the exhibits are very nasty :)

Yes thats the picture of thier subway.

@KRS
legal flower of netherlands aa! hehe nope I didnot try it :)

///dont visit this place last too! that way you can carry much more impressive impressions of beautiful Amsterdam! :)
//

enna kurumbu thanam, only u can thing of such things simply KRSY!
sri said…
@ AJCL

I guess I gave away few information on that day hehe :) ys my love reads my posts from time to time.

Thanks Aparna I am humbled by your words :)

@ Gills
Hoi ennada aatam potten :)

@R-ambam
attendance potta mattum poradhu class olunga kavinkkanum

@ Vidya
yes Vidya travelling all alone is good way to go about it yet travelling with love is the best :)
sri said…
@ Anonymous
Yea its how it is the more you supress it the more problem it creates, all human emotions are such more so big P.

Thanks for writing back :)

@ Annam

//mediala oor suthalama vaanga pgm neenga pannalam:) ungala minja aalu irukaathu:)

//

Unga vaaikku cadburys, Lindt poda, apdiye nadakattum :) Very happy to read this thanks so much Annam
//enga..erkanavay ivan podra aatam thaangala..ithula neenga vera en usupi udreenga...//

he he...gils, avan enga da aattam poduraan? hez so quiet and sivane-nu poyi vanthirukkan, to all "those" places...and almost got close to mugging...sri-yai poyi ippdi ellam chollatheenga :)
//To be honest I felt bad for them. I don't think it’s like any other job, I mean how lousy it would feel to be sitting/standing there in most awkward position luring passerby, trying to earn few bucks?//

There goes a saying in tamil "akkarai-kku ikkarai pachai"...meaning this shore is more greener to that shore! :)

To us it may be a "lousy" job. For them, their life is in it.
Konowingly or unknowingly - no reasons asked - zero holds barred - It is their life and they "live" it, with their own definition of dignity and honor! Let the Lord bless those souls!

Luring passers-by is done by almost everyone in the world...
Folks giving religious discourses lure people!
Cricketers lures people!
We lure in our own jobs!
The intensity & context is only different.

I was about to ask you sri, when you entered the RLD (district), Were u reminded of Our Maria, the heroine of the novel "Eleven Minutes"? I was only having her in mind, when I read thro your whole post!

New York's Christopher Village has much more attractions and "lures" like this...
Some times u will be amazed when a girl, stops luring, takes out a flute and plays so melodiously...and on one occasion, she played the 1st 2 lines of "jana gana mana" on seeing my face :)))

Blessings come in different forms for different people!
jehan said…
hi Sri! when you get the time to visit Korea, don't miss on the chance to see Jeju Loveland. i just saw this from a blog i accidentally stumbled upon. i guess they finally put up this park in the island because (aside from the known fact that Korea wants to beat Japan in all aspects) Jeju island has become a popular destination for honeymooners...
sri said…
@ Jehan

Thats a official invitation , so here I come and U got to be my host cum guide :)

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