Flora Holland flower market @ Aalsmeer, Netherlands

Flora Holland Flower Auction is a flower auction, located in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands. It is the largest flower auction in the world. The auction building of the flower auction in Aalsmeer. Flowers from all over the world are traded on a daily basis at the Aalsmeer facilities. Around 20 million flowers are sold daily with an increase around special days such as Valentine's Day and Mothers day.

Auction weekday morning from 6.30am but can only enter at 7.30am. Largest flower auction in the world. Catch a bus in front of Centraal Station, near the Victoria Hotel. You'll want bus 172, which will take you straight to the flower auction's door. Head to the catwalk. High above the main flower market floor is a walkway for visitors, which gives you a bird's-eye view of the floral goings-on. Below are thousands of carts loaded with buckets of every flower imaginable.

Flora Holland provides the needed logistics. From all parts of the world, large batches, with hundreds of thousands of units of one variety are brought to auction. Exporters then take these flowers and plants, divided into smaller batches and combined with countless other varieties , from the Netherlands to anywhere in the world. Every retailer, exporter or wholesaler acquires exactly the flowers and plants they want.


Bird's eye view of flowers.

As you can see, its huge.



Variety of flowers.

The flower view from near. Many varieties of flowers. Some are same variety but different quality.

Computerize system for flower auction.

I was late on that day and the auction already ended. No chance to see the flower auction in action. Please be here latest by 9.30am to view the auction.

The floor walk way to view the flower transport action from top.

Flower in the room to determine the quality and grade.

Entrance fee: EUR5.00.
Address: Legmeerdijk 313, 1430 BA Aalsmeer, The Netherlands.
Transport: Bus 172 from Amsterdam Centraal. Around 30 minutes ride. Bus fee at EUR4.50.
Coordinate/GPS: 52.260278,4.78446

Keukenhof @ Lisse, Holland

Let me post this blog entry first as Keukenhof for 2012 season is going to end on 21st May 2012. Each year, this park only open for two months which starts from 21st March to 20th May. This is also one of my backpack tour highlights to Europe. Keukenhof is currently the world largest flower garden with almost 7 million flower bulbs. Initially I thought I just need 2-3 hours for the flower garden but it turns out that I spent almost 6 hours there. I am quite lucky as the weather on that day is sunny and good. For the previous few days, it was raining in Amsterdam.

The park is huge and besides flower, there is a small interesting farm in there. The farm act like a children playground to learn about animals. Every year, the flower arrangement is based on a country' theme. And this year Poland was chosen.

Keukenhof is not in Amsterdam. You will need to take bus number 58 from Schiphol airport. The journey by bus takes around 45 minutes. In order to save cost and time, I would recommend that you buy the combo ticket online at 21 Euro per person. The combo ticket includes the entrance fee and return bus to Keukenhof and back to Schiphol airport.


Keukenhof farm shot from bus.

Main entrance to Keukenhof.

Greeted by tulips at the entrance.

Yellow, orange & red.

My timing was good. The flower was blooming.

This is known as Marconi.

Its impressive.

So many tulips and all different colours.

Red and purple.

Nice arrangement.

The flower towards the white horse rider statue.

Smell good.

Many old folk visitors.

Another angle.

So much flowers.

The bottom purple is lavender. The smell is so good.

Directly on top the flowers.

Signboard at the main intersection.

Tulip exhibition.

White tulips.

Windmill of Keukenhof.

Another impressive display.

So pretty.

Lovely path.

Nicely arranged trees.

Look familiar? Maybe its on your computer desktop.

Newly wed couple should just walk here.

Kids here just like the piglet.

Don't come near. This is not your food :-)

My best angle shot :-)

Endless discovery of flower arrangement.

Another nice view.

Can't leave this place without my picture in :-) Me with the tulips.

How to go: Keukenhof is easily accessible from Schiphol airport by bus number 58. There is a bus every 15 minutes. Do reach there early in the morning as the line queue for the bus can get quite long by afternoon.

Orchid Garden & Orchard Road @ Singapore

My day 4 of Singapore trip is the most colourful of all. A visit to Botanical garden & National Orchid Garden is worth the nature experience. The garden is well maintained, clean & almost perfect. Botanical garden entrance is free while the orchid garden needs SGD5. Getting here is a bit hassle. You will need to take MRT to Orchard Road then take a taxi from there. From Orchard it cost around SGD5 by cab. With the new MRT extension which is currently under construction, visitors & tourists will be more convenient of coming to this place.

National Orchid Garden


Orchid garden main signboard.

Ticket.

Welcoming pond at the entrance.




Flower show. Starter show.









More valuable stuff.











Flowers in Tan Hoon Siang mist house.

Bronze figure. A boy with the flower.


VIP orchid.


Romantic flower tunnel.

Water fountain.


Beautiful path way.

On the way to Cool house.

This is the cool house.

Just like walking into fridge.


Flowers inside cool house.

Visitors like me busy taking photos.

Another beautiful path way.

Orchard Road - Shopping Day

After done our tour in the gardens, we went back to Orchard for shopping. I didn't buy anything as the price here is not cheap. The only thing I like here is great choices and they have more brands compared to in Malaysia. One more thing that I like is the food here. Quite lucky to be able to choose a restaurant which serve good braised duck. More story below...


Ion Orchard - colourful figures.

Ngee Ann City. It also house the largest Kinokuniya book store.

Lucky plaza. Place to get cheaper stuff & electronics especially camera. Do know your stuff before you go in though. This mall mostly visited by Filipino who works in Singapore.

Another sex toy shop here. House of condom.



Latest addition of shopping mall in Orchard road - Paragon.

Famous Singapore Tangs.

Tangs decoration.

Chinatown - Heritage street
We come back to Chinatown (niu che sui) to buy our favorite bakkwa (sliced barbecue pork). This item is famous in Singapore and it is quite different compared to in Malaysia.


This is called cheap stuff.

Eu Tong Sen street.

Chinatown MRT station.


Orde Cuban restaurant.

Hindu temple.


Buddha tooth relic temple.


Leung Sang pastries.

Many people buy their egg tarts.

Going back home - Singapore Changi Budget Terminal

Budget terminal. Home to Tiger Airways.

Singapore Firefly check-in counters.

Waiting for flight to Subang Airport (Skypark terminal).

Finally this wrapped up my travelogue on Singapore & see you on my other trip & food...