after the depressing epi & stat exams end of November (thx god i passed!!!)
we're told that we'd be rewarded with a class outing, yipeeee....
but hell, noooo ... guess where we're goin!!!

Ameland is an island, one of the West Frisian Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands. Yes, the top most north part of Holland!!! Why on earth we're taken to the coldest part of the country in the beginning of winter??? And right after the most depressing exams ever??? Is this a punishment or a cruel joke?? Huhuhuhu ....

Forceful wind with grains of sands welcomed us when arriving in Ameland. It was quite difficult to walk against the wind plus the sand grains in your eyes. So it was quite an entertainment to see friends finding their own ways to fight the wind to get through. We're booked into a youth hostel by the beach. The room was small and we had to share with four or six other people. The beds were looking more like coffins and meals were strange. On top of it, we had additional class session!!!

Indeed, it was a cruel joke ... but we didn't give up and found a way to have a good time, ... that of course, involved a lot of karaoke, salsa and alcohol (",). Being isolated in the middle of nowhere also provided us time to bond closer and to get to know each other better. While for me ... nothing was better that enjoying the view and capturing every single inch of it (not without struggling with the wind and the sands, huh ...).

Ameland is famous for its light house. In fact, it hosts one of the nine remaining traditional light houses in Holland. Though climbing up the light house was quite scary, the view was stunning from the top. The near by village can be reached within a few minutes walk across a forest park. The houses were so picturesque, I could stay forever looking at them (but not living in them, I guess ...). Within walking distance from the hostel is the beach. It's quiet, has plenty of sand dunes around and acres of dry grass field. Interesting view ...

Enjoy!!!

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