It was a perfect winter day. The day started beautifully with a blue sky and the sun kept me warm. I love this winter weather. Winter had relaxed its grasp on the Amsterdam city a little. There was a lack of snow in December last year, and wispy clouds raced along a blue sky. It was a fine day to go exploring. There’s nothing finer than a walk around an European city on a crispy, windy morning; things were quieter than the morning before, but the sun streamed in between the narrow houses, reflecting off calm canal waters. The Dutch sky is well known for its beautiful clouds. The Dutch love their skies. Many famous and lesser known painters illustrated the spectacular views of the Dutch sky in their work. Personally I think that the real Dutch sky is to be seen on the fields, in the countryside (and with the obligatory windmill in the background, of course). But in the few winter days the Amsterdam sky can also be spectacular, not only for its clouds but also for its deep blue colour. These are a series of cityscape view of the canal of Amsterdam in winter with a blue sky, house boats and traditional old houses. 荷兰之旅首站,阿姆斯特丹,这里的蓝天白云给人印象深刻。这么多年我走过了很多地方,也看了许多地方的蓝天,但阿姆斯特丹的天是最蓝的,像是一块湛蓝色的绸缎布接在了地平线边。单看蓝天白云作为背景的这些照片就可知当时的天气有多好。冷冷的,却不失暖和的阳光。当我一进入荷兰阿姆斯特丹境内,蓝天白云真是美不胜收。我喜欢在这样的冬节看天空,看那蓝蓝的天,看悠闲的白云点缀天空。 It’s nice, isn’t it, how the color of a blue sky, a vivid, almost artificial blue, can really only be described by the sky itself. Using the word to describe the word - sky blue – is a violation, a disordering of the ineffable dicta of language. Underneath the blue sky, the cloudless blue sky, as a touring boat passed through the brackish waters of the canal, was exactly what I needed. 小时候我总会想天空的蓝色怎么那么好看?是谁调的色呢?小时候的想法虽然很幼稚,但那是对蓝天白云的真实感受。还好30多年过去了,我还能看到如此湛蓝的天空,如此洁白的云朵,应该是我的幸运。 Although windy breeze, the canal ring was quite magical with changing color of the trees that line the water. The red, orange and yellow colors against a clear blue sky is stunning and from a boat they constantly move past you. There is a popular life quote: "The sky isn’t always blue. The sun doesn’t always shine. So it is okay to fall apart sometimes, but always remember to get back up again." It's okay to fall. That's life. As long as you pick yourself back up again. It’s okay to fall, it’s okay not to be perfect all the time and it’s okay to make mistakes because at the end of the day we are all still learning and growing. It doesn’t mean that you have stepped backwards, it is just giving you the opportunity to take a step forward with a brand new perspective on life. 在阳光下跳跃,色彩斑斓的世界映衬着蓝天确实让人身心愉快。 运河倒映天空的蓝天白云,怎么走着逛着都是轻松惬意又超好拍照的。 The low angle of the sun with the white, puffy clouds created a beautiful contrast of light and dark as the boats move under the trees and under the bridges. I can see how these clouds were the inspiration for many Dutch painters in the past. 阿姆斯特丹的蓝天白云美如画。 Suddenly I noticed that there were so many different types of clouds; the low lying, flat clouds, the fluffy, cauliflower look-a-like clouds, the high, wispy clouds, and of course the dark stormy clouds that promised rain. Due to the gusty coastal winds, the amazing storm clouds disappeared just as quickly as they arrived. This forever changing backdrop seems to make the already stunning Dutch landscape that much more interesting. 阿姆斯特丹的蓝天白云很像是从画里走出来一般。 The Dutch language has many names for different types of clouds. They are generally named after the objects they resemble. Cauliflower clouds, sheep clouds, anvil clouds or stacked clouds – it is easily seen why we call them the way we do. What actually makes the light in Holland so special for it to attract generations of artists? Some say it is due to the fact that Holland has so much water to reflect light back up at the clouds. They claim that the light has changed because much of the marshy areas in Holland have been impoldered and the reflections have changed. Others say that it is the water-rich grey skies that make for a fading of hard contrast. And if the sun breaks through it seems as if the landscape is lifted up in that one place. Whatever the reason may be, the Dutch skies make for an impressive view. 在蓝天白云和绿草碧水的映衬下,显得悠然典雅。 如果每天都能在这条小路上散步,该是多美啊。 天空从蓝色变成紫色。 I have to say I liked it when it was freezing cold as I had the most beautiful blue sky. I am just very much in love with how natural places can be so different, there are so many different landscapes. But also the colors of nature is something I get attracted to, I get really inspired by that. When I see a perfect green tree under a beautiful blue sky, it fascinates me.
I wouldn't mind if Singapore had this kind of cool weather and blue, blue sky. Living in Singapore is definitely very different to living in Amsterdam. The daily routine may be easier in Singapore, but the quality of life is not. What I like is that I have a nice way to celebrate and enjoy life in Amsterdam. I am able to just grab a coffee, sit down and stare at the blue sky. So next time you are out and about discovering the Netherlands and all it has to offer, don’t forget to look up and admire the view, for it is constantly changing and always interesting. 谈及欧洲,有人可能沉迷于法国的浪漫与艺术感,有人可能偏爱德国的专注与严谨感,但欧洲走过一遭我却被一座安逸不张扬的城市吸引,我爱这里的花花草草,我爱这里的蓝天白云,我爱这里错综交杂的运河,我爱这里每个人的笑脸。我爱你,美丽的阿姆斯特丹。
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