Sexmuseum Amsterdam

When I came first to Holland, I was stunned about how they regard sex as a part of a normal life. For example: there are late night sex advertisements on TV, classified ads on the newspaper, and paid channel for porn. There are red-light districts in the big cities like Amsterdam. It is here possible! Because prostitution is a legal job in Holland. A Kamasutra Fair is held once a year and there is a Dutch program shown every week called "Spuiten en Slikken", which is about sexuality and drugs. Public nudity is also ok, as long as you are in the right place and yes, they have sex museum in Amsterdam!

We visited yesterday the Sex Museum in Amsterdam. It is funny, because I have been living here in Holland for about six years and I have only been to Amsterdam three times (except Schiphol). That three times was when we watched twice classical concerts in the Royal Concertgebouw and when we visited the Rijk Museum two years ago.

The Sex Museum is a few meters away from the Amsterdam Central Station. This is the first museum to see along the way, if you take the Damrak street going to the famous Dam Square. The entrance is only 4 euro.

The Sex Museum in Amsterdam is said to be the oldest one in Europe and one of the tourist attractions in Amsterdam. The museum is a three-storey building. The price is reasonable, because this museum is small and compact. Expositions inside are erotic pictures, recordings, objects from different eras inside and outside Europe, old photographs, and some funny attractions. These are all collected by the owners.

When I first saw this museum, I became curious and always wanted to visit it. And now I did it. I don't think that the exposition was vulgar, but of course it was bold. For me, it was a nice experience to visit it. The attractions are funny and some of the expositions are unusual. I am   amazed how people in the past dared to express their ideas about eroticism. It changes from generation to generation, though until now it is still one of the topics that is very uncomfortable to talk about. Our generation today is becoming more and more liberated, I am curious what would be the changes over 50 years. Would sex still be taboo?

DIY Stamps and Me

It has been almost four months since the last time I wrote a blog post. Many things have happened and I can say that life is a roller-coaster ride. Now, I'm happy that everything is alright. I'm back!

So today, on my comeback, I want to show you my new hobby that I am hooked on. - The DIY Stamps!

It is a tradition in Holland to send a birth announcement card when a baby is born. They also decorate the house, especially the front window with colorful festoon to welcome a new member of the family. The baby's parents or grandparents also offer biscuits with butter and pink or blue colored "hagelslag" (sugar sprinkles) when friends, colleagues and other family members visit the house to see the new born baby.

I was thinking of a unique idea for a birth announcement card and with all that I have seen on the internet, the stamp idea was so far the best. I gathered some websites, where I could order it once I give birth to a baby. But a bright light bulb over my head turned on and I said, "Hey, why not? I can do it myself, too!". So there came the idea to try the DIY Stamps.


If you want to try it also, these are the materials you needed for making your own stamps.

1. Linoleum curving tools.
2. A block of gum eraser
3. Pencil
4. Stamp pad

How to do it:

1. Simply draw a picture on a block of gum eraser. Think about flowers, alphabet, animals or anything easy to draw as your first stamp project or just copy an image from a magazine or books.
2. Then you can start carving the image. But don't forget to work safely. Always curve the image away from yourself.
3. When it is done, try to stamp your masterpiece on a piece of paper using ink from the stamp pad.

A dolphin image stamp on the left picture is my very first DIY stamp!

I am sharing this hobby, because this has a significant place in my heart. It has something to do with what I have experienced this past two months. I know that I have to set aside for the meantime the idea of making a unique birth announcement card for my baby, because of my unsuccessful pregnancy. But my hope is overflowing and I know sooner I would be the happiest mom in the world!