Arabian Nights in the Netherlands

Food, Entertainment and Arab Chic: Nomads Restaurant

Nomads is an exclusive and modern restaurant located in Central Amsterdam which is sure to give you a taste of Arabian opulence and luxury. The restaurant is located on the main road but cleverly hidden behind innocuous silver doors, once opened and up the darkened stairs you enter a totally different world and can be forgiven if you forget your in the Netherlands...

The interior is sublime, the dim-lighting enhances the rich colours and traditional features (which I'm told were specially designed for Nomads and hand made). As you recline on original Egyptian Kelim (sofas) listening to Arab music, a waitress comes with a gold pouring pot filled with rose water to wash your hands....it was precisely that moment I realised I should have been a Princess by birth (or marriage) because I could really get used to this.

The menu is put together and made by Lebanese Chef Ali Balout, it consists of a selection of Middle-Eastern mezzes (hot and cold) served with Lebanese and Iraqi bread. The portions are ridiculously small when you compare it to traditional Arab portions so i advise you don't go hungry!

As for the entertainment...a belly dancer comes in every half hour for a small session from 8pm onwards. Its a novelty that i found quite charming but perhaps not advisable to go with your conservative dad.

However despite all their efforts for Arab orginality its such a shame the belly dancer looked Polish, but hey its a recession she's probably cheaper.

Heres a picture judge for yourself!

Unlikely Clientele for Fast Food...

Posts have been few and far between since the start of Ramadan, as you can imagine observing a fast from sunrise to sunset = running on low battery which naturally translates into no blogging.

But just for a laugh i thought I'd put up a recent snap of pigeons calmly grabbing a bite at Dutch Fast food chain FEBO...their food is really goooooood so im not surprised it attracted our feathered friends (or enemies depending on how you see it).

For Your Visual Pleasure III :- Ramadan Kareem

                

Mosque in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Typically opulent and wonderfully serene...As the holy month of Ramadan has begun where Muslims observe fasting from sunrise to sunset i would like to wish you all a Happy Ramadan.

Bigger is Better: Tropen Museum (Amsterdam)

For the first time in a long time I had to concede that bigger is sometimes better...the more intimate experiences afforded with smaller museums and galleries are usually non-existent with the bigger ones. I remember going to the Rijksmuseum was quite irritating due to the huge crowds it attracts however i was plesently surprised with the Tropenmuseum (Museum of the Tropics to us English speaking folk).

The Tropen museum iss one of Europes leading ethnographic museums with an impressive and internationally acclaimed collections (both permanent and temporary) documents the history and heritage of many countries including Africa, Latin America, South East Asia and Oceania. Its highly interactive and utilizes film, artefacts, and photography.

Located next to Artis Zoo, the beautiful red-bricked building imposes itself upon you and is the first indication that its content is just as awe inspiring...

Advised to start with the 3rd floor and work my wat down to the "Red Exhibition"' and armed with a map i entered the world of the Carribean and Latin-America. I was plesantly surprised with sounds and models documenting the period of slavery and its impact on the people, their indegionas faiths and artifacts. There was also an interesting film titled "Roots"' that showed Dutch nationals of the aforementined region going back to their roots which was quite touching.

Moving on, it was the turn of South East Asia, India and New Guinea (with a section on the Netherlands East Indies). It was interesting to see how the influence of Bhuddism spread from India and its remaining influences. The temple altars  were beautiful with videos and audio for further explanation.

Then and most importantky was the Red Exhbition, which had a special booklet detailing each exhibit. The point of this exhibition was to explore the colour red and how people all around the worls use and view the colour red.

 

It is a powerful and emotive colur and we are presented with exhbits that show an array of emotions from joy, love, violience, to status, prohibition and martyrdom all shown through one colour. I loved juxtoposition of demons and devils with revered religious images of the Virgin Mary and the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (the grandson of Islams propeht Muhammed) all unified by the symbolic use of red.

A color means different things to different people in different contexts and your left pondering why is little red riding hoods coat red? what does ir mean? what effect does the color have on you?

An excellent exhibtion and a crying shame i forgot my camera but it runs out this week so you only have a few days left! However thanks to the thoughtfullness of the Tropenmuseum you can see the pictures on flicker !!!

A Love for All Things Equine: (More Pics)

 

 

A Love for All Things Equine: Horses in the Netherlands

Today at the Kemphaan (located in the Almere province) was a special program titled "Horse & Outdoor Demonstrations and activities with horses"...and its totaly FREE (dosent get any better huh?) the only downside to this is that theres probably going to be a whole load of children between 5-10years old with their parents but thats not going to stop me.

So as a lover for all things equine i was most certainly looking forward to attending, unfortunately the weather was rainy and overcast not the greatest forecast for a day outdoors. Armed with my unbrella i went to Kemphaan and was quite please to see the rain had put off a great many people from attending so a good view was avaibale :)

Took a few pics which will be placed on a seperate post and also a video clip (that wont upload darn).

Lazy Post: For Your Visual Pleasure II

The works and thoughts of Saudi contemporary artist Yousef Alsheikh - this photo is called "'Omnipotence By Choice'' look, ponder and soak in the genius...