The Flying Pig Hostels Amsterdam Pig Multmedia

Travelling is a funny thing. I always wonder what that vibe is that makes you restless in your own environment. I look at many of my friends quite happy in their jobs, careers and prospects of baby’s, marriage and a house in their hometown. I have to admit, sometimes I’m jealous of the people who have never felt suffocated by these thoughts.

Don’t get me wrong, I ‘m not against it -and will no doubt end up very married with six kids of my own one day, but that’s a different story- . What I’m talking about here is that occasional fatigue of the drive to find what else is out there. That feeling that there’s something new and exciting around every country corner. The need for adventure in the unknown; toilet water swirling in a different direction and speaking another language while struggling to tell that joke you knów is funny in your mother tongue. Or the desire to meet people from all over the world, to explore completely different cultures that make you criticize and respect your own, the living and swimming amongst deadly animals just to get that glimpse at the circle of life, hiking through breathtaking sceneries, eating unidentified dishes of which the ingredients are better left unsaid all mixed together with that proud feeling of needing next to nothing besides that what you can carry on your back. I’m talking about that backpack fever, the travel bug that no antibiotics can get rid off. I guess this virus has always been lingering in my bodily system, but I’m sure I caught the more severe type somewhere during my working life at the Flying Pig. Working in a hostel in your own country almost makes you live a double life. As soon as you get to work you get sucked in by the delusion of leading the backpackers life while in your free time you realize you haven’t actually gone anywhere. Trust me, I’ve seen all my Dutch colleagues -including myself- come to a point where you no longer want to be the one waving off those newly made foreign friends, lovers or flings. Ultimately resulting in one day finding yourself packing your bags to get on that plane that is actually going somewhere - hopefully!-. Crazy enough that’s when you find out your initial feeling is right! Wherever my travels have taken me, there was something new waiting at my doorstep every time. The unexpected turns and unknown paths I’ve taken have given me a feeling of really being alive. I still feel great realizing I’m able to built a life and work in different places around the world even though not knowing where to start when I first arrive. I’ve seen places, done things and have met people I would have never wanted to have missed! True, I’ve also found out things about myself and the world I’m not too proud of but hey, the bad times are only there to make you enjoy the good times even more! So why then this critical reflection on that restless feeling you might wonder. Well, obviously I’ve just arrived home in my old apartment back in my own environment last week. And while I’m still feeling out of place, out of job and most importantly out of money, I’m also still catching up with all my friends who have not left. As my long-time friend Bas once said to me; ‘you know Lin, I’m so glad you always go out on some adventure and travel as much as you do, because every time you get back I can love and laugh about your stories, knowing I don’t have to do it myself’. These nonleaving friends all seem to be completely in control of their life, knowing -and having- exactly what they want while I have no clue what tomorrow will bring me. On the other hand, thinking about it I have to admit my long-time friend has a point and it might just work both ways. I can feel that tiny bit of envy when holding my friends beautiful daughter while she tells me about her man’s new promotion, but at the same time I also know we’re both in the position we want to be in. Because although I’ve just arrived back home where I have to start again from scratch, I can enjoy the stories of the friends who haven’t left knowing I don’t have to choose the same path. I guess, what I’m trying to say here is that the irony of it all is that the toughest country to get yourself on your feet always seems to be that exact place; home sweet home. - But while typing this I can’t help smiling at the words thinking; ‘Lin it’s about time to start planning that next adventure’. And you never know, it could even turn out to be a Dutch one this time… then again… -

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How to get around in Amsterdam and the Netherlands
Trains www.ns.nl
The Dutch Railways -the NS- provide a good way to travel within the Netherlands. On www.ns.nl you can find all the information on travel times and prices in English. The easiest way into Amsterdam from Schiphol Airport is also by train. They leave from Schiphol every 10 minutes between 6am and 1am and once every hour between 1am and 6am. A one way ticket will cost you € 3.20. You buy your train ticket from a vending machine so keep some coins with you! Trains to Amsterdam Central station usually depart from platform 1 or 2.

Tram The easiest and most entertaining way to get around Amsterdam is by tram. You can buy a ticket with the tram conductor but it’s cheaper to buy a ‘strippenkaart’ before you get on the tram. You can buy a strippenkaart from € 6,50 at supermarkets, bookshops or the train station. When you get on the tram you can stamp it yourself at a yellow ticket box or the tram conductor will do it for you. Keep in mind that the trams usually only run till midnight.

Bus Public busses run all through Amsterdam as well as through the rest of the Netherlands. Again, you can purchase a ticket from the bus driver or you can use that cheaper ‘strippenkaart’ option. Day busses generally run till about midnight; nightbusses run less frequently but will go all night. A night-bus ticket is €3,- -No ‘strippenkaart’ option with this one-

Metro Amsterdam’s subway is one of the fastest but the least sight-seeing way to cross the city! Yet again for the subway you will need a ‘strippenkaart’ which you have to stamp before entering the metro platform.

Bicycles Bikes are an exciting way of transport to explore Amsterdam. Great fun, providing you mind the traffic! You can rent a bike from € 7,- a day.

Mac Bike www.macbike.nl
Phone: 020 620 09 85

Mikes Bike www.mikesbikeamsterdam.com
Phone: 020 622 79 70

Bike City www.bikecity.nl
Phone: 020 626 37 21

Yellow Bike www.yellowbike.nl

Taxi It’s custom in the Netherlands to get your cab at one of the taxi stands in the city or you can call to order one. Taxis charge according to the meter: around €1.50 per km. Taxis in Amsterdam are generally safe and in good mechanical condition!

TCA - Taxi Centrale Amsterdam Phone: 020 677 77 77

Taxi Tulip Phone: 020 636 30 00


How to get out of Amsterdam and the Netherlands
Airplane There are some good, low budget airlines operating in Europe. Prices are lowest when you can only book online yourself. With these airlines you’ll receive an e-ticket without flight-meals or extras on board. If you’re lucky -and you book ahead- you can get some ridiculously cheap ticket prices!

Easyjet www.easyjet.nl Easyjet is a low budget airline which offers flights to 61 destinations in Europe. From Amsterdam they provide direct connections to several airports in the United Kingdom and Geneva.

Transavia www.transavia.com Transavia.com is a cooperation between Transavia and the former low budget airline Basiqair. Most European destinations can be reached from Amsterdam but some of the flights will depart from Rotterdam.

Ryanair www.ryanair.com Ryanair offers cheap flights in Europe but note that flights arrive and depart in Eindhoven and sometimes Rotterdam or Groningen. There’s an express bus service from Eindhoven airport to Amsterdam with travel times tailored to the Ryanair flights. A return bus ticket Eindhoven-Amsterdam is €30,- and a one way ticket €17,50. The bus will take you to Amsterdam Central station in about 90 minutes. To find out more info on the bus service surf to www.eindhovenairport.com.

Bus www.eurolines.com Eurolines busses travel daily between 500 destinations in 26 countries in Europe. You can hop on the Eurolines bus at about 10 different locations in the Netherlands. Tickets can be bought online.

Train Nederlandse Spoorwegen www.ns.nl On the website of the Dutch Railways -www.ns.nl- you can find information and schedules on all international trains departing from Amsterdam Central station. The NS website provides an English version of their site. Tickets can be booked online or you can call the Teleservice NS for reservations: +31 -0-900 92 96 -€ 0.35 p.m.-.

Inter Rail www.interrail.com The Inter Rail train pass will give you unlimited train transport in the countries of your travel zones. -You will have to choose these zones when purchasing the pass-. The Inter Rail network includes 30 countries in Europe as well as in North Africa and prices start at € 195 for 16 days of unlimited travel in 1 zone.

Boats Stena Line www.stenaline.com Stena Line sails out of the Netherlands to -and from- the United Kingdom, Ireland and Scandinavia. Stena Line boats leave from the port at Hoek van Holland, about 80km from Amsterdam. You can take a NS train to get to the port.