Excerpt:
"Birthplace of Vermeer...Immerse yourself in cosy and historical Delft, one of the best-preserved towns in the Netherlands and birthplace of 17th-century Dutch painter Jan Vermeer. A gem of a town known as the city of the princes, Delft is set within an intricate tapestry of canals, cobbled streets and charming pedestrian bridges. Famous for its blue pottery, the town is a truly enchanting place where you can spend a relaxing and rewarding time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Start off your exploration of this engaging town by strolling along the canals and narrow winding alleyways, stopping off to sample the fare of local street traders or browsing in some excellent antique shops and emporiums. Listen to the unique sound of the barrel organ, bringing a smile to the faces of old and young alike with its infectious melodies filling the streets in the early evening. Pay a visit to the atmospheric New Church, which features within its lofty space the mausoleum of William of Orange and whose impressive 100-metre-high spire affords a spectacular view of the town below, or make the trip to the Porcelyne Fles factory, a factory specialising in the production of traditional Delft hand-painted pottery. After making your selection at the factory, why not pay a visit to the Museum Lambert van Meerten, a museum presenting Delft’s finest collection of Delftware. Amble down the flower-lined Wijnhaven, one of the prettiest streets in Delft and make your way to the Oude Kerk, the finest building in the town that boasts a quirky leaning tower and some breathtaking modern stained glass dating from the Second World War. Take a horse-drawn tram around the old city centre and admire the gabled red-roofed houses and medieval buildings above you. Sample the unique atmosphere of a floating café on the canal or enjoy a drink at one of the many cosy and welcoming old-fashioned pubs.
Enjoy a picnic on the banks of the canals, stop and watch the barges cruise past from your vantage point on a bridge or spoil yourself with a coffee in a sleepy outdoor café or one Delft’s renowned grand cafes. Sample the tranquil atmosphere during an evening stroll before dining in a smart restaurant by the canal bank or tucked away down a quaint cobbled street. Listen to some live jazz or blues in a suave nightspot or simply take in the sights and sounds of Delft, a laid-back town with a warm welcome."
The prospect of spending a year in a foreign country with my newborn baby in tow (God willing) has not fully dawned on me yet. As for my husband, I do not know if he shares my sentiment but he is the type who likes to take one day at time. In other words, he will only want to tackle the problem when the time is imminent to do so. Maybe I should not underestimate the innerworkings of my husband's mind - he would probably have some inkling as to where and how we are going to live in Holland. At least, he holds a 'blueprint' of what is to be expected. Someone has to.
May be it is not yet a time to ruminate on the prospect of spending a year in Delft.
After all, the impending arrival of our new baby is more pressing and more profound than having to think of the logistics of our lives in the near future.
Or do we have to think of both CONCURRENTLY? That sounds like a daunting feat to me.
The Internet covers innumerate details on the living conditions, activities and places of interest to visit in Delft.And while they all sound interesting to say the least, I could not help but to tread on the matter rather meekly. The sky in the pictures looks grey, dreary and cloudy to me. There goes all my negative adjectives.
However, that's what you expect when you stay in a place where the sun rarely shines brightly. Europe (and England) is more often than not, overcast. And so I found myself automatically comparing Holland to the ever cherrful and sunny place of Malaysia upon viewing those photos.
Delft is located in between The Hague and Rotterdam. Is The Hague the HQ of NATO? Or is it the place where the tribunals of war criminals are held? I am not so well versed in the geography of Holland but I think Rotterdam is the capital. Or will anyone beg to differ on that?
Delft is also near the seaside, according to its location in the Atlas. And this was reinforced by one Website commentary which states that Delft is one tram ride away to a foreign-name beach. Hurray! At least a beach respite a tram ride away. That would be a nice change of scenery from the canal-ridden and heavily bicycle-populated town of Delft. Or perhaps, the beach will also be a bicycle fest to be reckoned with!
I was also informed by my friend, Rizal that Delft is the town where Dutch famous painter, Vermeer used to resides and becomes the inspiration to one of my favourite novels, A Girl with A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier.
I've almost forgot about that. In actuality, I didn't have any recollection of that at all. It is either that my grey cells have been decimated by age and the hitherto 'pregnancy effect' or the book wasn't something to shout about in the first place. Or both.
Some books have touted forgetfulness during pregnancy as the norm. I think I am most susceptible to this consensus, judging from my series of mishaps and incidences. These include parking my automatic car on 'N' or Neutral overnight which resulted in a panic-stricken episode where I wrongly deduced as my car running out of battery. I once forgot to switch off my dashboard light for many days (while on holiday) which rendered the car battery kaput.
Back to my future overseas venture with my husband (and baby), I attribute this feeling of apprehension to my slow adapting nature. I have that problem whenever I move to a new place or if you like, embark on a new station in life, for instance going to the States for studies, moving house and getting married.
I think moving to my family's new house in Kota Damansara from Shah Alam was the least troublesome task to undertake.
The others took a while to adjust.I will be grouchy (or some would say 'baitchee' but I would say 'hormonal'), tearful or moody or the combination of the three. However, due to my wilful nature, unavoidable circumstances or my loved ones' passive or active intervention, I will gradually come to my senses and buck up. My sense of adventure and willingness to try new things override the initial feelings of trepidation.
To make matters more difficult (to my mind at least), I am wary of stories of nationalistic-driven Dutch (is there such a word Dutches?) persecuting Muslim settlers and dwellers in Holland by burning their houses. The killing part? I am not so sure. I dare not check. This 'Dutch United front' was precipitated by the killing of Van Gogh's kin by a Muslim fanatic.
On other matters, my concern over the dearth of halal meat was gladly laid to rest by another friend, Khalina, who reassured me of its sizeable availability in Clogs Land. I did manage to find a host of Indonesian and Thai restaurants listed in one of the Delft-centric Websites I visited. Oh well, I can always order seafood there.
This process of laying the pros and cons (and making excuses) of living in a foreign land finally gave way to one or two conclusions. I am just an inveterate worrywart. On a more serious note, however, I'm wondering my own ability to care and fend after my first baby in her early months away from the tutelage of my relatives and 'other support system.' My husband's supportive presence is godsend to my new motherhood stage, that I have no doubt.
I have just to take care of my baby one day a time and learn from trials and errors. This time will be a great opportunity for me to bond with my child and be, as hackneyed as it sounds, more independent. Of course, help is just a (albeit expensive) phone call away. Perhaps I should now really look into learning to use those cheap Internet-based phone services.
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