Swoop!
An evening break from exam prep turns into a rare close encounter – a Eurasian sparrowhawk lands metres away to eat its kill in my Amsterdam garden. A hawk, a dove, and goosebumps.
Read MoreExperiences
Van Gogh Museum Visit
Like a true Dutchie, B wants to ensure full "paisa-vasool" (loosely translated as best value for money) of his museum year card. So we plan a few museum visits …
Read MoreFall 2023
Read MoreHelikonia??
A weekend away, a timeout within a timeout. Magical and golden despite the grey skies and rain.
Read MoreThe Notre Dame is gone. 16 Apr 2019
Shocked and saddened that the Notre Dame has burned down...
Read More2018 Nov: Winter
On this cold snowy day I am sitting comfortably on my couch, consolidating my different older blogs. Love the quiet after it has just finished snowing, …
Read MoreLight Festival, Amsterdam
The theme this year was Disrupt – here you can see the official exhibition info online: https://amsterdamlightfestival.com/en/edition-8
Read MorePhantom in the raft
The ocean dreams come back after months away, and for the first time you are in one – a rubber raft, a pier, a low canal bridge, and no destination at all.
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Secret race
Racing a big bad bus on my bicycle for 500 metres to the next red light. The driver never knew – but I won.
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Green Schipol Story
Waiting for a flight to Oslo in Schipol's green-themed eco-lounge – bean bags, green carpets and benches shaped like tree logs. A bit fake in an airport, but a pleasant place to wait.
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Dragon Breath
The dragon breathes… his breath comes out in a white mist that spreads low across Kasterleepark… and makes a criss-cross pattern of icy rime on the glass …
Read Morenovember rain
A poem from a slow bike ride through Amsterdam's November rain – soggy brown leaves, a red poncho, and thoughts of other rains and a far-away warmth.
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The here and now
Photographing my Amsterdam bike route on a sunny afternoon – an old lady pointing me to a path of mooi bloemen, two grinning city workers posing, and why I love this city for its small things.
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A Spanish siesta
 A relaxed lunch in an old Spanish restaurant with lovely ambience. A glass of red …
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Sheep with Guns
Found showcased in Weesperplein (a Metro station) in Amsterdam: A sheepish answer to Tom Lehrer's "Cows with guns" (animated you-tube video)
Read MoreSswish, sswash
a cat in controlled fury: cold green eyes, unblinking tail in precise motion, she bides her time waiting, watching – swish swash.
Read MoreCompleting the Suit
Was listening to "Shape of my heart" - Sting, and looked up its lyrics, part of which goes thus: "I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier I know …
Read MoreThe Pink and Purple Parade
 The gay parade in Amsterdam is, like football, a public …
Read MoreThe Oranje Crowd
World Cup final Sunday 2010 at Museumplein – 100,000 people in orange, five hours of doodling on the grass, and a city gone berserk as the Dutch play for the title.
Read MoreThe oranje graffiti cupboard
Can't get away from corny love quotes where ever I go. They are follofink meeee! Eet's a conspiraceee... The cupboard in my furnished room, which I had no hand …
Read MoreGracias a la Viva!
The ocean dream returns – a barefoot walk along a crowded beach, the familiar cove turned deep Prussian blue, and a wave looming over the sand bank.
Read MoreMind Game or Footwork?
Beating the best badminton player in our group 26–24 – and the moment at 15 points when I stopped assuming I would lose.
Read MoreMurphy's Day
No water in the house, gym bag left at the office, the road barricaded for Navratri – a Pune morning where everything goes sideways and the streets charm anyway.
Read MoreCopper Sulphate Blue
Another ocean dream – stepping off pale bleached sand straight into copper sulphate blue without meaning to, then walking dripping along the shore towards a hotel at the water's edge.
Read MoreDreams of Rock
It is one more recurring theme in my dreams – where I climb down rock faces, dangerous rock formations natural or man-made, gripping the rock with my finger …
Read MoreBittersweet
I had written this a looong time ago.. seems like a different lifetime now. Finally got around to posting it here. --------- You touched my life in a unique …
Read MoreThe mark of indelible ink
This election year somehow it has become a personal milestone for me to vote. Several weeks before the election date, R finds our names registered to vote in …
Read MoreThe glassy greens and angry whites
I dream of the waves again. I had almost forgotten that place in my dream, it had stopped for a long time. But yesterday I went to the same place in my dream. …
Read MoreDo I know you?
Do I know you? I seem to know how your thoughts flow, how your eyes look for mine among a bunch of others. Making that connection with you seems so natural. It …
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