Albert Cuyp Market

Albert Cuyp Market; it is the market I went to two days in row last weekend, and both times, it was closed. I am smarter this time. I went there on Saturday. Because of the World Cup, everything is orange in the Netherlands, and of course, at this market, everything is orange including wigs and lingerie. I think most of clothes here are junkies, but they have great seafood, flowers and such. Of course, my targets are those, but I always end up getting something extra. This time, my “extras” are plants and shampoos.

This is one of the two I bought. I haven’t seen something like this before, and with one glance, I decided to go for it. It is very small and cute. It’s about the size of my palm, probably about 8cm (3inches) in diameter. It was 1.25EUR (about 1.50USD).

The small one on the right is the shampoo I bought at the market. The one on the left is from the states. I’m pretty impressed by the size difference. I think their list prices are about the same, but I bought it (the small one) for 5EUR for three bottles. If you look at it closely, there is some so-I-think Indian words on it. It could be imported from India. To me, if the inside is the same, I have no problem with it. The reason I bought this (even though I still have a few bottles left from the states) is because of its size. It will be very convenient when I travel. When I went to India last month, my full-filled shampoo bottle exploded in my bag during the trip. It was such a mess as you can imagine. My guess is that if the bottle is small, the damage would be small as well.

Updates:
It’s been a month since I moved to Amsterdam. When I think about when I arrived here, I feel like it’s been longer than a month. I’ve been very busy and lots of things have happened. My work is going well (or not enough time to catch up with everything). Also, I started being able to guess lots of Dutch words in supermarket, no speaking or listening though.

My new thoughts:
I started a new temporary life in the Netherlands a month ago, “temporary” meaning “not-forever”. That means, when buying some living stuff, I usually tell myself “I should buy it when I'm married and have my own house,” and I end up buying some cheap stuff or not buy it at all. It was the same in New York.
But lately, I started thinking that if I never get married or if I don't get married for another 10 or 20 years, then I probably would feel like I did not fully enjoy my life. Then, when I compare myself to someone who got married in a young age or someone who has a house, does that mean I’m losing something out of my life? … that’s what I started thinking about. If it is true, then I should enjoy my current life regardless of my future one. I should get a benefit of my single life or at least get what I want now, not later.
Having said that, before I didn’t buy flowers that often because in the back of my head, I used to think that they last only for a few days and I’ll be on the road soon. But now, I enjoy flowers in my apartment. I buy plants when I think they are cute or beautiful, of course, after talking to my wallet. Maybe you’ve experienced this before, too, but when I am to buy knives and forks, I usually get a cheap set of 4. But now, I can think of getting them individually as long as I like them.
Did I start thinking like this because I hit 30? Is that because I've lived almost a half of my life? Anyways, my point is, even though I am living in Amsterdam temporarily, I’d like to make my living environment as something I would feel comfortable to be in. Of course, I do not mean I am proudly announcing that I’ll be spending lots of money from now on. I still have a common sense of what’s right and what’s wrong. Do not worry.