Foie Gras to be taken out of Dutch hotel menu?

I've came across this news article this afternoon - A few of the Dutch hotel chains are taking off foie gras (duck liver) off their menus because this is cruel to the animals. Ducks and geese are been force fed to fatten up their liver.

I am not a big fan of any pate but I would assumed for most people out there who love this cuisine will be not too happy. The funny thing is though the government in the Netherlands has outlawed the process of force feeding these ducks and geese, consumption of foei gras is not illegal in the Netherlands ....hmmm...so isn't this is a bit contradicting??

I know of one person who totally do not agree of banning any consumption of foie gras, Anthony Bourdain , the host for the Travel's Channel: No Reservations. You want to know why he doesn't agree that this process is not cruel? Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABeWlY0KFv8

Proficiency Test for Bankers in 2010?

Interesting huh! Apparently Bank Managers in the Netherlands may have to take the test in 2010 to qualify for a top executive position.

This was proposed by the Dutch Finance Minister, Wouter Bos whom had said "if accountants and lorry drivers have to take a proficiency test to qualify for their jobs, why not the same applies to the bankers".

The Finance Minister hopes to make the examination mandatory before end of the year...well we'll see how it goes...

Apparently Gerrit Zalm, the CEO of ABN Amro (the largest Dutch bank) and the longest serving Finance Minister will also be required to take the test...hmm...definitely interesting...

Pinkpop 30-31 May & 1 June 2009

Pinkpop is the Netherlands most famous open-air festival and Europe longest running uninterrupted outdoor pop festival. Pinkpop this year will be celebrating its 40th time in the city of Landgraaf, south of Limburg province (where my parents-in-law lives). This yearly phenomenal 3-days event is always held on Pentecost ('Pinksteren' in Dutch) and attracts 60,000-70,000 visitors including campers. Yes, there are thousands and thousands of hard core visitors camping in the vicinity for 3D2N throughout the festival (almost like Woodstock).

Some of the main festival puller is Bruce Springsteen who will be performing on Saturday and the tickets for that day itself was sold out within 20 mins after the ticket sales started. For us, though my Hubs likes Bruce Springsteen, our hearts opt for Sunday's program. This year's Sunday 31 May program will feature.... Depeche Mode, Placebo, Keane, White Lies, James Morrison, among others. On Monday, some other big bands performing are Snow Patrol, Amy Macdonald, Anouk.

And yes, we're going to Pinkpop this year!! It will be my first Pinkpop festival :) Can hardly wait! My Hubs is gearing up to see Depeche Mode (one of his favourite band) so we have been watching their Live concerts on DVDs, listening to their musics etc.

However, last few days, we read in the news that Depeche Mode might cancel their performance as the lead singer Dave Gahan was admitted to the hospital for an operation. Whether they're coming or not, we will soon know as the organiser will publish the news once they have a confirmation from the band.

Storm in the Netherlands

We'd a severe storm yesterday night, it was pretty scary. The wind was howling, our windows in the apartment was shaking, lightning flashing, splatters of rain slashing onto our windows. I woke up at 4am last night and still the wind howled and I thought the splatters of rain were a little too loud so I assumed we'd small hailstones instead hitting our windows. Nothing to be alarmed about :P

Of course, like any other major cities, when there is a storm, there comes the massive traffics on the roads, public transportation been delayed. And that's what exactly happened here in the Netherlands this morning.

Over 600km of traffic jams were measured during the rush hour!! Ok, we'd 700km of traffic jams before in the beginning of winter last year :P Some roads were blocked by fallen trees and many broken branches were seen littered all over the roads. According to the news today, some places in the south of the country, hailstones as big as 5cm in diameter were reported.

Knowing my luck, I'd to have an appointment today actually it was a written test that I have to sit for another position that I have applied recently. Braving through the strong wind and steady drizzle, I have to get myself to the train station. Some trains were indeed delayed but thank god I was pretty lucky that in the end I'd arrived at my destination on time.

I'd experienced this weather before in autumn last year and definitely not so close to summer weather. Where did Mr Sun go, huh?

Holidays in the Netherlands vs Malaysia

I'm used to have numerous public holidays in a year and when I came here, I'd realised that the Duthies have ONLY these days of national holiday listed below!!

2009
Date	Holiday	Date	Holiday
1 January	New Year's Day	26 & 27 January	Chinese New Year
12-13 April	Easter Day	9 March	Prophet Muhammad's Birthday
30 April	Queen's Day	1 May	Labour Day
21 May	Ascension Day	9 May	Wesak Day
31 May & 1 June	Whit Sunday	6 June	Agong's Birthday
25 & 26 December	Christmas Day	31 August	National Day
		20-21 September	Hari Raya Puasa
		17 October	Deepavali
		27 November	Hari Raya Haji
		18 December	Awal Muharram
		25 December	Christmas Day

But then again, in the Netherlands, employees are being compensated with a mandatory 20 days annual leave and most companies offer 25 days annual leave to their employees. But still, after 1 June, the next national holiday will be 6 months down the road!! Sob, sob I'll be sooo looking forward to work in the Netherlands.