48 Hours in Amsterdam: A Quick Trip, Big Memories

As part of our wedding trip, my husband and I spent two nights in Amsterdam. Why? Well, because my Schengen visa entry is through Holland, and I had never been before – so why not. Flying directly in from Scotland, the temperature felt a lot warmer. It was cool enough to keep us comfortable while walking around, but not cold enough to need a thick jacket (it was the end of October by the way).

It was my first time in Amsterdam, yet it already felt like home. For those who don’t know, Indonesia was colonised by the Dutch for a long time – long enough for their influence to shape our culture and daily life, from language to food and so much more. So many things I came across like home decorations, familiar snacks, chocolate sprinkles for breakfast brought back memories of my childhood at grandpa and grandma’s house. Anyway, during the 48 hours I spent there, of course I did all the tourist things – and here they are.

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Rijksmuseum

It’s one of the most iconic museums in Amsterdam, home to a collection of Dutch art by renowned artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh. When I was there, they were running a collaboration with Disney, exploring the intersection of Disney’s iconic Donald Duck and the traditional art world. There were workshops and activities, like this one I did, sketching King William I from the 1800s… as Donald Duck. Quack!

Left – Donald Duck drawing activity at Rijksmuseum. Middle and right – Moco Museum.

Moco Museum

Why not Van Gogh? Well, I didn’t have time for both, and I was drawn in by the artists they featured on the poster, like Banksy and Andy Warhol. They didn’t have an extensive collection though, but it was nice to feel like an art student again, when I used to visit galleries all the time.

Left – Canal walk near the hotel. Middle and right – Bitterballen and Sate Ayam from the food hallen.

Food Hallen

We love food, but we’re not exactly the Michelin-starred-restaurant type of couple. Plus, I can only manage itty bitty portions, but I still want to try a little bit of everything. So, what’s a better spot than a food court? I sampled all sorts of snacks, but two highlights stood out: the Bitterballens and Sate Ayam. Now, you might be wondering, why would I eat Indonesian satay in the Netherlands? Well, I was curious – and I was pleasantly surprised that it was so delicious! Not very authentic, but it was pretty good.

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Amsterdam Canals

I am now officially one of those people who take photos in front of a canal, and I have absolutely no shame about being a typical tourist, haha! There’s something undeniably charming about the Amsterdam canals. I loved watching boats drift by, listening to the soft ripple of the water, and doing nothing.

Day trip to Volendam – first time seeing a windmill!

Volendam

On our last day, my aunt, who lives there, took me to this charming fishing village, Volendam. It reminded me of Fife in Scotland – so nice. The highlight was a visit to a cheese and wooden clog studio, Henri Willig. I still don’t know how cheese and clogs are connected – and why I didn’t ask, lol.

P.S. It was dangerous that they had cheese samples because, whoahh they were so good! I ended up going home with three different cheeses.

Amsterdam left me with such a warm and fuzzy feeling – I’d happily return to again and again. In just 48 hours, I got a little taste of everything; the history, the art, the food, and all the charm. Two days wasn’t nearly enough, but it definitely left me wanting more.

Until next time, Amsterdam!

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05 Apr 2026 by Bella in Asia

A Day Trip to Chiang Rai: 5 Beautiful Destinations to See

Chiang Rai is a city in northern Thailand, near the borders of Laos and Myanmar, about a few hours’ drive from Chiang Mai. It’s home to several beautiful temples and tourist spots you’ve probably seen advertised by tour agencies. While my parents were visiting Chiang Mai, I decided to take them on a little road trip to Chiang Rai. We wanted something chill, so instead of joining a tour, we booked a private car with a driver and set off early in the morning to spend the day without feeling rushed. These were the places we managed to visit. Long Neck VillageWhite TempleBlue TempleBig BuddhaSingha Park You may also like this article: How to Stay in Thailand Visa-Free for 90 Days Long Neck Village We left Chiang Mai around 7am, and about an hour later we had already arrived at the Long Neck Village. By the way, this isn’t their original indigenous village - it’s a tourist site created to introduce visitors to the Kayan tribe. If you’re interested in learning more deeply about the tribe and their way of life, it’s also possible to visit their actual village with a local guide. The Kayan Long Neck tribe is an ethnic group originally from Myanmar - so they’re not native to Thailand, if I understand correctly. Many migrated across the border seeking safety as refugees, and unfortunately, many still don’t have full legal status in Thailand, which can mean limited access to education and healthcare. I can see why some people might view this tourist village as controversial. Personally, I felt that visiting, paying the entrance fee and supporting them by buying the handmade crafts and souvenirs they sell - was a small way to contribute directly to their community. I genuinely hope their culture continues to exist and be preserved. White Temple This temple is just as beautiful as it looks on the internet - maybe even more. The entire complex is pure white, covered in incredibly detailed mirror ornaments that sparkle under the sun. I read that it was designed and built by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. The white colour represents the purity of Buddha, while the mirror fragments reflecting the sunlight symbolise Buddha’s wisdom. To enter the temple, you walk across a bridge with a lake of tormented hand statues reaching up from below, along with eerie figures symbolising human desire, greed, and suffering. A voice announcement asks visitors to keep moving and not stop on the bridge, representing the idea of leaving darkness behind. At the centre is the main hall, where photography isn’t allowed. Inside, a large Buddha sits surrounded by murals featuring pop-culture characters like Superman, Spider-Man, and Pokémon - not random at all, it is a portrayal of the modern world and the things people become obsessed with today; technology, consumerism, power, and fame. You could easily spend hours exploring this temple - it’s huge! But I’d recommend going in the morning. Not only does it get very hot by midday, it also becomes extremely busy with visitors. P.S. They have one of the most beautiful toilets I’ve ever seen. You may also like this article: A Guide to Doi Suthep Temple, Chiang Mai - 4 Things to Know Blue Temple Located only about 10 minutes from the White Temple, is the Blue Temple. It was designed by Phutta Kabkaew, a student of Chalermchai Kositpipat - the artist behind the White Temple. Dominated by vibrant blue with a touch of gold, the temple carries a similar artistic style, but here the colour blue represents Buddha’s infinite wisdom. The temple is also known as the “Temple of the Dancing Tiger.” Legend says that villagers once saw tigers roaming and leaping around the temple grounds many years ago. Visitors are allowed to enter and take photos inside the prayer hall, where a giant white porcelain Buddha sits beautifully at the centre, making it a striking space to admire. Big Buddha One last stop before heading back to Chiang Mai was the Big Buddha. Sitting atop a hill surrounded by greenery is a giant statue of Guan Yin - or Indonesians may know her better as Dewi Kuam Im, the Goddess of mercy and compassion. You can spot the statue from far away, but the closer you get, the more impressive (and of course, the bigger) it becomes. Unlike the White and Blue Temples, the Big Buddha feels much calmer and less crowded. It’s believed that praying here brings good health and fortune. Personally, I’ve always seen Dewi Kuam Im as a powerful symbol of compassion and I do believe in kindness and positive energy. Singha Park We originally planned to stop by Singha Park because there was a hot air balloon festival happening that very day. Since the park is on the way back to Chiang Mai anyway, we thought - why not? We arrived around 6pm, which I assumed would be the perfect time to catch the show, but unfortunately it turned out the balloons were scheduled to launch much later. We also had to take a shared songthaew ride to reach the lake where the festival was taking place. Because we hadn’t planned to stay overnight in Chiang Rai and didn’t have any accommodation booked, we eventually decided to head back home instead. The park itself was lovely, though and definitely worth adding to your list. It would’ve been nice to see the hot air balloon festival, which is apparently a big annual event with participants from all over the world. Oh well - next time 🙂 Image credit: Chiang Rai Balloon Fiesta Even though it was just a day trip, Chiang Rai felt quite different from Chiang Mai - quieter and full of little surprises (literally, like when we stopped for lunch and the restaurant owner realised we were Indonesian and told us he had visited Medan 20 years ago, haha!). We managed to see a lot in one day, but there are still plenty of places left on the list, like the Black House Museum (Baan Dam) and other lesser-known temples and viewpoints scattered around the region. Maybe that’s a good reason to come back. Chiang Rai feels like a place best explored slowly, and next time, I’d probably stay a night or two to really experience it properly (and hopefully watch the hot air balloon festival!).

10 Dec 2024 by Bella in South America

Brazil and Indonesia: Fun Finds in Similarities

Brazil has won my heart twice. I first went there to train Jiu Jitsu because, well... Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Plus, my former coach lives there, on a charming little island called Florianopolis, just an hour’s flight from São Paulo. So, yes, imagine the journey from Bali! But it was totally worth it. Anyway, Kata Bella not here to write about my Jiu Jitsu trip, but what really fascinated me was how similar Brazil is to Indonesia. Here are a few interesting things I noticed. Can’t wait to go back soon! The Language I know it’s obvious - because Brazilians speak Portuguese, and Indonesia was colonised by the Portuguese (among others). So, when I first landed at the airport, many words already felt familiar to me. I could pretty much guess their meanings. As I started learning Portuguese, I found it surprisingly easy to memorise the vocabulary because of the similarities. Some words are even the same in Indonesian, just pronounced differently. Here are a few for fun: Mesa (Indonesian: Meja) - Table Manteiga (Indonesian: Mentega) - Butter Festa (Indonesian: Pesta) - Party Janela (Indonesian: Jendela) - Window Sapato (Indonesian: Sepatu) - Shoes Igreja (Indonesian: Gereja) - Church Escola (Indonesian: Sekolah) - School The Snacks I have this habit of exploring supermarkets when I travel overseas because I love discovering products we don’t have back home. And there was one aisle in Hyperbom that instantly took me back to my childhood days in Java - basically, it was filled with traditional snacks from Java, but in Brazilian versions. Paçoca vs Enting Enting (Caramelised peanuts pressed into bite-sized bars) Flocos de Arroz vs Jipang (Puffed rice coated in sweet syrup) Pé de Moleque vs Ampyang (Roasted peanuts in caramelised sugar) Cocada com Açúcar Mascavo vs Kembang Gula Kelapa (Candied shredded coconut) Geladinho vs Es Lilin (Ice lollies) Speaking of childhood snacks, I also found Trakinas, those chocolate sandwich snacks I haven’t seen in Indonesia since the 90s! That was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. Alright, that’s all for now about Brazil! I’ve got more to share from another trip, but I’ll save it maybe for Part 2. Tchau tchau!

16 Feb 2026 by Bella in Australia

Where to Eat in Sydney: 5 Spots I’ll Always Go Back to

Where to eat in Sydney - Every time I’m back in this beautiful city, one thing is guaranteed: I plan my days around food (other than hanging out with my family and friends, of course! hehe). From local restaurants, global chains, to comforting desserts, these are some of my personal favourites - the ones I genuinely crave, talk about, and immediately recommend to friends. The Grounds Coffee FactoryNando’s Peri Peri ChickenIsland RadioTenacious BakehouseYogurberry The Grounds Coffee Factory I know The Grounds of Alexandria is on pretty much everyone’s must-visit list when in Sydney. And yes, their art installations (which change every few months) are always impressive. But did you know there are other The Grounds locations too? And they’re just as special, with genuinely good food. My cousins took me to the one in Eveleigh, an area that was once a major locomotive and railway hub back in the late 19th century. This branch is an actual coffee factory, so while you’re eating, you can see (and smell!) the coffee being crafted through the glass windows. If you want to enjoy The Grounds’ great food without the long queues, this one’s definitely worth a visit. Image credit: The Grounds Coffee Factory Instagram You may also like this article: A Playful Stay in Copenhagen: My 25hours Hotel Experience Nando’s Peri Peri Chicken For those who have been touched by the deliciousness of Nando’s peri-peri chicken, let’s hug and agree it’s one of the best things to eat in the world. And if you’ve never tried it before, imagine this: tender, charred, flame-grilled chicken marinated in a spicy, tangy peri-peri sauce. Depending on the heat level, the spice builds into a warm, zesty kick rather than a burn-your-mouth moment. The flavour goes all the way to the bone. Pair it with peri-peri-sprinkled chips or corn on the cob and boom - you’ve got the kind of meal you find yourself craving again and again. Nando’s is a global chain and I’ve tried it in a few other countries, but in my personal experience, Nando’s in Oz is the best. Image credit: Nando's Australia website Island Radio “You can take a girl out of Asia, but you can’t take Asia out of a girl” - I guess that saying is true. As much as I love international cuisine, Asian food wins every time. No competition needed. This trendy spot in Redfern serves up a South-East Asian–inspired menu. They change their menu every now and then, by the way, which keeps things exciting - but this is what we had: sate Padang (Padang beef satay), grilled chicken, quinoa salad, their take on mie ayam (chicken noodles), and a Balinese pie susu (milk pie) for dessert. Nothing disappointed. The Indonesian dishes still had spot-on flavours, even with a modern twist - and I have to admit, their pie susu was actually better than the OG, whoops! Bonus points: they have a disco toilet. Because no night out is complete without a bathroom rave! What we had at Island Radio - sate padang, mie ayam, and pie susu Tenacious Bakehouse As a dessert person and a lifelong lover of Asian flavours like matcha, taro, and ube - I have to say this, and I’m really not exaggerating: their Taro Cream Croissant is one of the best pastries I’ve ever had. They claim to use natural sweetness with 60% reduced sugar, and I believe it, because it’s not overly sweet like most pastries. The cream somehow tastes rich and light at the same time (how is that even possible??). It’s best eaten cold, which makes the taro cream taste almost like ice cream. That purple dusting on top is sweet potato powder, and it ties everything together perfectly. I’m sure their other pastries are amazing too… but I’ll save those for next time. The star - Taro Cream Croissant and other interesting pastries at Tenacious Bakehouse You may also like this article: Pastries, Passion, and a Little Bit of Magic at Theo’s Wife Lois Yogurberry And another dessert spot...I know you can get frozen yoghurt pretty much anywhere, but going back to my love for Asian flavours, yogurberry has taro froyo! Woot woot! And that alone is why, even with all the newer and trendier frozen yoghurt spots around, Yogurberry is still my favourite. It’s pay-by-weight, so you can customise it exactly how you like. I usually go for taro froyo topped with their unsweetened mochi, coconut jelly, and almond flakes. Simple, not overly sweet, and deeply comforting. I was so happy to see that even after years of not being back in Sydney, this place still exists. I wish them all the success so they stay open foreverrrr!!! Image credit: Yogurberry Australia Instagram Sydney’s food scene is massive, but these places hit that sweet spot between comfort, flavour, and personal nostalgia for me. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or coming back like I was, I hope this list gives you a few delicious reasons to eat your way through the city.