the sentinel amsterdam vol. 6 #8
DESCRIPTION
The Sentinel, Amsterdam tri-weekly e-zine with all that is good and informative on lifestyles with perspectives, opinion and sport from Amsterdam looking out at the rest of the world. We inform, update and entertain from our city just under sea-level.TRANSCRIPT
vol 6 8 ndash 19 March 2013
feature
POLAND WAITING ON SKIERS
The SentinelAmsterdamIntegrity heart humour
perspectives
PERSPECTIVES DAM IN 60 MINUTES
1
2
E-mail sentinelpostgmailcomWebsite wwwthesentineleu
Contributors Sam van Dam Andrei Barburas Dirkje Bakker-Pierre Eve-lina Kvartunaite Ananda Welij and Simon Joseph
EditorsGary Rudland amp Denson PierreDesign realisation and form Andrei Barburas amp No-OfficenlWebmasterwwwsio-bytestumblrcomWebhost Amsterjammincom
The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photosillustrations that are subject to copyright If you consider your copyright to have been infringed please contact us at sentinelpostgmailcom
3in this issue
The Sentinel Amsterdam
feature - p04
trends - p 70
perspectives - p 20 tripping days - p 42 culture - p 46
amsterdam city life - p 61 star beer guide - p 64 sentinel recommended - p 66
film review - p 69
sport - p 80
health amp well-being - p 72spotted - p 68
sport - p 78
Waiting on skiers
Dead famous
Dam in 60 minutes The heights of Trinity Wroclaw
Bring back Debowe Mocne
Room 2C
White Out
CitrineWhere is this in Amsterdam
On the Volley
lsquoNo country in Europe has coloured discussion and opinion as much as
Polandrsquo
lsquoThe Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islandsrsquo
lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal
skinsrsquo
lsquoIt feels like you are in someonersquos living roomrsquo
lsquoInterfaces are pretty much everywherersquo
Barbados
User interface
Veni Mange
The Gold Room
travel - p36
technology - p 74
restaurant review - p 56
sport - p 72
more
PolandWaiting on
skierslsquoOpinions and feelings are not 100 loaded
on any one sidersquo
4feature
By Denson Pierre
No country in Europe has coloured discussion and opinion as much as Poland over the past ten to fifteen years The content of this opinion has been an extraordinary mix of misinformation in the main usually wrapped up in tired pseudo-economic arguments seasoned with hollow socially prejudiced sniping As with most things in life however opinions and feelings are not 100 loaded on any one side On this press trip together with my two Dutch colleagues we were tasked with spreading some of the more positive truths about Poland and more importantly the fun and sport available in the holiday region of Polish Silesia
5feature
feature6
This region with its capital city of Wroclaw also encompasses a wonderful nature park and reserve and numerous picturesque towns and villages It is a long inhabited and cultured region that boasts more castles and palaces than all of the nearby Czech Republic What tends to dominate attention at the tail end of winter however are the well resourced opportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport and recreation The beautiful Karkonoszce Mountains offer various ski and walking routes The morphology and relatively low height of the landforms make for relatively easily manageable slopes in the main Green and blue coded slopes are most popular making this region an exceptional option for beginners up to intermediate skiers Because of the reduced sense of danger common in massive ranges and at greater heights it is an ideal family destination for snowy sport
As to how this entire region relates to and is relevant to visitors from the Netherlands or elsewhere it strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular with tourists The capacity is there the mountain town of Karpazc alone where we stayed for half of our visit can easily accommodate 15000 visitors Should the resources of nearby and utterly affordable bed and breakfasts (at around euro15 per night) be needed a substantial number of extra rooms can be made available For those who desire the higher star-rated and all-inclusive spa-resort feel there is also the humungous 900-room Hotel Golebiewski to consider Driving from the Netherlands takes just 85 hours and flying from Schiphol via Frankfurt is an established route which leaves just a 90-minute drive from the cute Wroclaw international airport to the welcoming heights
So much for the logistics of accessing this region but the real news is that it is extremely good fun to be here Polish people of this region are comfortable in their skin and this makes them more hospitable With employment rates just around the worrying level common to the lsquosecond-tierrsquo Euro countries (14) this region is not as ravaged by economic woe as others such as southern Poland where some black spots record up to 40 unemployment rates Seemingly everyone I met spoke enough English even to joke around as quite a few are typically modern mobile Europeans in as much as they have spent some time in a foreign country at some point in the past fifteen years seeking better employment opportunities Poland remains on
the outside of full economic integration into the EU but of course the tourism sector can only report a so far non-scientific 40 decrease in visits over the current season German French and the other big European populations are naturally the majority of those who usually turn up but with these countries practicing more austerity the more lsquoexoticrsquo holiday trips are the first to suffer Russian visitors on the other hand are increasing in number
Fortunately our trip coincided with the regionrsquos massive international cross-country event (httpwwwbieg-piastowpl) with 6000 participants over two days and my own first attempts to ski The short version of this story is that on my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about 26 metres in distance before realising that if I had already fallen three times there was no way I should consider the six-kilometre course my colleagues were about to embark upon Later that day I was able to negotiate the lsquobabyrsquo learnersrsquo slope without falling using much more realistic and stable downhill skis I would consider further lessons in the future but only within this sort of family setting and not somewhere with a greater emphasis on lsquoshow skiingrsquo In fact this is the crux of my recommendation this area is so ideal for a family break almost every activity on offer is interesting and all the activities are kept to a non-extreme level which really means they are for everyone
To gain a fuller impression of the places at which we stayed and the activities we enjoyed have a look at the movie link below This is accompanied by links to a selection of recommended hostelries and places of interest which may spark your interest in also visiting the fun of Silesia A further handy tip is that the exchange rate to the euro is about 41 and everything yes everything you would need on holiday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than in the Netherlands
Movie watch hereHotel hotel-tumskicomplHotel hotelmagnesplHotel samotniacomplenindexphpHotelpalace palac-lomnicaplActivity wangcomplActivity muzeumkarkonoskieplActivity kpnmabplenActivity sudetyliftcomplenHost polentravelnl
lsquoSpreading some of the more positive truths about Polandrsquo
7feature
lsquoOpportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport
and recreationrsquo
feature8
feature9
featureperspectives10
feature
featureperspectives
lsquoIt strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular
with touristsrsquo
11feature
12feature
13feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
2
E-mail sentinelpostgmailcomWebsite wwwthesentineleu
Contributors Sam van Dam Andrei Barburas Dirkje Bakker-Pierre Eve-lina Kvartunaite Ananda Welij and Simon Joseph
EditorsGary Rudland amp Denson PierreDesign realisation and form Andrei Barburas amp No-OfficenlWebmasterwwwsio-bytestumblrcomWebhost Amsterjammincom
The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photosillustrations that are subject to copyright If you consider your copyright to have been infringed please contact us at sentinelpostgmailcom
3in this issue
The Sentinel Amsterdam
feature - p04
trends - p 70
perspectives - p 20 tripping days - p 42 culture - p 46
amsterdam city life - p 61 star beer guide - p 64 sentinel recommended - p 66
film review - p 69
sport - p 80
health amp well-being - p 72spotted - p 68
sport - p 78
Waiting on skiers
Dead famous
Dam in 60 minutes The heights of Trinity Wroclaw
Bring back Debowe Mocne
Room 2C
White Out
CitrineWhere is this in Amsterdam
On the Volley
lsquoNo country in Europe has coloured discussion and opinion as much as
Polandrsquo
lsquoThe Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islandsrsquo
lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal
skinsrsquo
lsquoIt feels like you are in someonersquos living roomrsquo
lsquoInterfaces are pretty much everywherersquo
Barbados
User interface
Veni Mange
The Gold Room
travel - p36
technology - p 74
restaurant review - p 56
sport - p 72
more
PolandWaiting on
skierslsquoOpinions and feelings are not 100 loaded
on any one sidersquo
4feature
By Denson Pierre
No country in Europe has coloured discussion and opinion as much as Poland over the past ten to fifteen years The content of this opinion has been an extraordinary mix of misinformation in the main usually wrapped up in tired pseudo-economic arguments seasoned with hollow socially prejudiced sniping As with most things in life however opinions and feelings are not 100 loaded on any one side On this press trip together with my two Dutch colleagues we were tasked with spreading some of the more positive truths about Poland and more importantly the fun and sport available in the holiday region of Polish Silesia
5feature
feature6
This region with its capital city of Wroclaw also encompasses a wonderful nature park and reserve and numerous picturesque towns and villages It is a long inhabited and cultured region that boasts more castles and palaces than all of the nearby Czech Republic What tends to dominate attention at the tail end of winter however are the well resourced opportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport and recreation The beautiful Karkonoszce Mountains offer various ski and walking routes The morphology and relatively low height of the landforms make for relatively easily manageable slopes in the main Green and blue coded slopes are most popular making this region an exceptional option for beginners up to intermediate skiers Because of the reduced sense of danger common in massive ranges and at greater heights it is an ideal family destination for snowy sport
As to how this entire region relates to and is relevant to visitors from the Netherlands or elsewhere it strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular with tourists The capacity is there the mountain town of Karpazc alone where we stayed for half of our visit can easily accommodate 15000 visitors Should the resources of nearby and utterly affordable bed and breakfasts (at around euro15 per night) be needed a substantial number of extra rooms can be made available For those who desire the higher star-rated and all-inclusive spa-resort feel there is also the humungous 900-room Hotel Golebiewski to consider Driving from the Netherlands takes just 85 hours and flying from Schiphol via Frankfurt is an established route which leaves just a 90-minute drive from the cute Wroclaw international airport to the welcoming heights
So much for the logistics of accessing this region but the real news is that it is extremely good fun to be here Polish people of this region are comfortable in their skin and this makes them more hospitable With employment rates just around the worrying level common to the lsquosecond-tierrsquo Euro countries (14) this region is not as ravaged by economic woe as others such as southern Poland where some black spots record up to 40 unemployment rates Seemingly everyone I met spoke enough English even to joke around as quite a few are typically modern mobile Europeans in as much as they have spent some time in a foreign country at some point in the past fifteen years seeking better employment opportunities Poland remains on
the outside of full economic integration into the EU but of course the tourism sector can only report a so far non-scientific 40 decrease in visits over the current season German French and the other big European populations are naturally the majority of those who usually turn up but with these countries practicing more austerity the more lsquoexoticrsquo holiday trips are the first to suffer Russian visitors on the other hand are increasing in number
Fortunately our trip coincided with the regionrsquos massive international cross-country event (httpwwwbieg-piastowpl) with 6000 participants over two days and my own first attempts to ski The short version of this story is that on my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about 26 metres in distance before realising that if I had already fallen three times there was no way I should consider the six-kilometre course my colleagues were about to embark upon Later that day I was able to negotiate the lsquobabyrsquo learnersrsquo slope without falling using much more realistic and stable downhill skis I would consider further lessons in the future but only within this sort of family setting and not somewhere with a greater emphasis on lsquoshow skiingrsquo In fact this is the crux of my recommendation this area is so ideal for a family break almost every activity on offer is interesting and all the activities are kept to a non-extreme level which really means they are for everyone
To gain a fuller impression of the places at which we stayed and the activities we enjoyed have a look at the movie link below This is accompanied by links to a selection of recommended hostelries and places of interest which may spark your interest in also visiting the fun of Silesia A further handy tip is that the exchange rate to the euro is about 41 and everything yes everything you would need on holiday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than in the Netherlands
Movie watch hereHotel hotel-tumskicomplHotel hotelmagnesplHotel samotniacomplenindexphpHotelpalace palac-lomnicaplActivity wangcomplActivity muzeumkarkonoskieplActivity kpnmabplenActivity sudetyliftcomplenHost polentravelnl
lsquoSpreading some of the more positive truths about Polandrsquo
7feature
lsquoOpportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport
and recreationrsquo
feature8
feature9
featureperspectives10
feature
featureperspectives
lsquoIt strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular
with touristsrsquo
11feature
12feature
13feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
E-mail sentinelpostgmailcomWebsite wwwthesentineleu
Contributors Sam van Dam Andrei Barburas Dirkje Bakker-Pierre Eve-lina Kvartunaite Ananda Welij and Simon Joseph
EditorsGary Rudland amp Denson PierreDesign realisation and form Andrei Barburas amp No-OfficenlWebmasterwwwsio-bytestumblrcomWebhost Amsterjammincom
The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photosillustrations that are subject to copyright If you consider your copyright to have been infringed please contact us at sentinelpostgmailcom
3in this issue
The Sentinel Amsterdam
feature - p04
trends - p 70
perspectives - p 20 tripping days - p 42 culture - p 46
amsterdam city life - p 61 star beer guide - p 64 sentinel recommended - p 66
film review - p 69
sport - p 80
health amp well-being - p 72spotted - p 68
sport - p 78
Waiting on skiers
Dead famous
Dam in 60 minutes The heights of Trinity Wroclaw
Bring back Debowe Mocne
Room 2C
White Out
CitrineWhere is this in Amsterdam
On the Volley
lsquoNo country in Europe has coloured discussion and opinion as much as
Polandrsquo
lsquoThe Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islandsrsquo
lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal
skinsrsquo
lsquoIt feels like you are in someonersquos living roomrsquo
lsquoInterfaces are pretty much everywherersquo
Barbados
User interface
Veni Mange
The Gold Room
travel - p36
technology - p 74
restaurant review - p 56
sport - p 72
more
PolandWaiting on
skierslsquoOpinions and feelings are not 100 loaded
on any one sidersquo
4feature
By Denson Pierre
No country in Europe has coloured discussion and opinion as much as Poland over the past ten to fifteen years The content of this opinion has been an extraordinary mix of misinformation in the main usually wrapped up in tired pseudo-economic arguments seasoned with hollow socially prejudiced sniping As with most things in life however opinions and feelings are not 100 loaded on any one side On this press trip together with my two Dutch colleagues we were tasked with spreading some of the more positive truths about Poland and more importantly the fun and sport available in the holiday region of Polish Silesia
5feature
feature6
This region with its capital city of Wroclaw also encompasses a wonderful nature park and reserve and numerous picturesque towns and villages It is a long inhabited and cultured region that boasts more castles and palaces than all of the nearby Czech Republic What tends to dominate attention at the tail end of winter however are the well resourced opportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport and recreation The beautiful Karkonoszce Mountains offer various ski and walking routes The morphology and relatively low height of the landforms make for relatively easily manageable slopes in the main Green and blue coded slopes are most popular making this region an exceptional option for beginners up to intermediate skiers Because of the reduced sense of danger common in massive ranges and at greater heights it is an ideal family destination for snowy sport
As to how this entire region relates to and is relevant to visitors from the Netherlands or elsewhere it strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular with tourists The capacity is there the mountain town of Karpazc alone where we stayed for half of our visit can easily accommodate 15000 visitors Should the resources of nearby and utterly affordable bed and breakfasts (at around euro15 per night) be needed a substantial number of extra rooms can be made available For those who desire the higher star-rated and all-inclusive spa-resort feel there is also the humungous 900-room Hotel Golebiewski to consider Driving from the Netherlands takes just 85 hours and flying from Schiphol via Frankfurt is an established route which leaves just a 90-minute drive from the cute Wroclaw international airport to the welcoming heights
So much for the logistics of accessing this region but the real news is that it is extremely good fun to be here Polish people of this region are comfortable in their skin and this makes them more hospitable With employment rates just around the worrying level common to the lsquosecond-tierrsquo Euro countries (14) this region is not as ravaged by economic woe as others such as southern Poland where some black spots record up to 40 unemployment rates Seemingly everyone I met spoke enough English even to joke around as quite a few are typically modern mobile Europeans in as much as they have spent some time in a foreign country at some point in the past fifteen years seeking better employment opportunities Poland remains on
the outside of full economic integration into the EU but of course the tourism sector can only report a so far non-scientific 40 decrease in visits over the current season German French and the other big European populations are naturally the majority of those who usually turn up but with these countries practicing more austerity the more lsquoexoticrsquo holiday trips are the first to suffer Russian visitors on the other hand are increasing in number
Fortunately our trip coincided with the regionrsquos massive international cross-country event (httpwwwbieg-piastowpl) with 6000 participants over two days and my own first attempts to ski The short version of this story is that on my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about 26 metres in distance before realising that if I had already fallen three times there was no way I should consider the six-kilometre course my colleagues were about to embark upon Later that day I was able to negotiate the lsquobabyrsquo learnersrsquo slope without falling using much more realistic and stable downhill skis I would consider further lessons in the future but only within this sort of family setting and not somewhere with a greater emphasis on lsquoshow skiingrsquo In fact this is the crux of my recommendation this area is so ideal for a family break almost every activity on offer is interesting and all the activities are kept to a non-extreme level which really means they are for everyone
To gain a fuller impression of the places at which we stayed and the activities we enjoyed have a look at the movie link below This is accompanied by links to a selection of recommended hostelries and places of interest which may spark your interest in also visiting the fun of Silesia A further handy tip is that the exchange rate to the euro is about 41 and everything yes everything you would need on holiday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than in the Netherlands
Movie watch hereHotel hotel-tumskicomplHotel hotelmagnesplHotel samotniacomplenindexphpHotelpalace palac-lomnicaplActivity wangcomplActivity muzeumkarkonoskieplActivity kpnmabplenActivity sudetyliftcomplenHost polentravelnl
lsquoSpreading some of the more positive truths about Polandrsquo
7feature
lsquoOpportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport
and recreationrsquo
feature8
feature9
featureperspectives10
feature
featureperspectives
lsquoIt strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular
with touristsrsquo
11feature
12feature
13feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
PolandWaiting on
skierslsquoOpinions and feelings are not 100 loaded
on any one sidersquo
4feature
By Denson Pierre
No country in Europe has coloured discussion and opinion as much as Poland over the past ten to fifteen years The content of this opinion has been an extraordinary mix of misinformation in the main usually wrapped up in tired pseudo-economic arguments seasoned with hollow socially prejudiced sniping As with most things in life however opinions and feelings are not 100 loaded on any one side On this press trip together with my two Dutch colleagues we were tasked with spreading some of the more positive truths about Poland and more importantly the fun and sport available in the holiday region of Polish Silesia
5feature
feature6
This region with its capital city of Wroclaw also encompasses a wonderful nature park and reserve and numerous picturesque towns and villages It is a long inhabited and cultured region that boasts more castles and palaces than all of the nearby Czech Republic What tends to dominate attention at the tail end of winter however are the well resourced opportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport and recreation The beautiful Karkonoszce Mountains offer various ski and walking routes The morphology and relatively low height of the landforms make for relatively easily manageable slopes in the main Green and blue coded slopes are most popular making this region an exceptional option for beginners up to intermediate skiers Because of the reduced sense of danger common in massive ranges and at greater heights it is an ideal family destination for snowy sport
As to how this entire region relates to and is relevant to visitors from the Netherlands or elsewhere it strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular with tourists The capacity is there the mountain town of Karpazc alone where we stayed for half of our visit can easily accommodate 15000 visitors Should the resources of nearby and utterly affordable bed and breakfasts (at around euro15 per night) be needed a substantial number of extra rooms can be made available For those who desire the higher star-rated and all-inclusive spa-resort feel there is also the humungous 900-room Hotel Golebiewski to consider Driving from the Netherlands takes just 85 hours and flying from Schiphol via Frankfurt is an established route which leaves just a 90-minute drive from the cute Wroclaw international airport to the welcoming heights
So much for the logistics of accessing this region but the real news is that it is extremely good fun to be here Polish people of this region are comfortable in their skin and this makes them more hospitable With employment rates just around the worrying level common to the lsquosecond-tierrsquo Euro countries (14) this region is not as ravaged by economic woe as others such as southern Poland where some black spots record up to 40 unemployment rates Seemingly everyone I met spoke enough English even to joke around as quite a few are typically modern mobile Europeans in as much as they have spent some time in a foreign country at some point in the past fifteen years seeking better employment opportunities Poland remains on
the outside of full economic integration into the EU but of course the tourism sector can only report a so far non-scientific 40 decrease in visits over the current season German French and the other big European populations are naturally the majority of those who usually turn up but with these countries practicing more austerity the more lsquoexoticrsquo holiday trips are the first to suffer Russian visitors on the other hand are increasing in number
Fortunately our trip coincided with the regionrsquos massive international cross-country event (httpwwwbieg-piastowpl) with 6000 participants over two days and my own first attempts to ski The short version of this story is that on my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about 26 metres in distance before realising that if I had already fallen three times there was no way I should consider the six-kilometre course my colleagues were about to embark upon Later that day I was able to negotiate the lsquobabyrsquo learnersrsquo slope without falling using much more realistic and stable downhill skis I would consider further lessons in the future but only within this sort of family setting and not somewhere with a greater emphasis on lsquoshow skiingrsquo In fact this is the crux of my recommendation this area is so ideal for a family break almost every activity on offer is interesting and all the activities are kept to a non-extreme level which really means they are for everyone
To gain a fuller impression of the places at which we stayed and the activities we enjoyed have a look at the movie link below This is accompanied by links to a selection of recommended hostelries and places of interest which may spark your interest in also visiting the fun of Silesia A further handy tip is that the exchange rate to the euro is about 41 and everything yes everything you would need on holiday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than in the Netherlands
Movie watch hereHotel hotel-tumskicomplHotel hotelmagnesplHotel samotniacomplenindexphpHotelpalace palac-lomnicaplActivity wangcomplActivity muzeumkarkonoskieplActivity kpnmabplenActivity sudetyliftcomplenHost polentravelnl
lsquoSpreading some of the more positive truths about Polandrsquo
7feature
lsquoOpportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport
and recreationrsquo
feature8
feature9
featureperspectives10
feature
featureperspectives
lsquoIt strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular
with touristsrsquo
11feature
12feature
13feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
By Denson Pierre
No country in Europe has coloured discussion and opinion as much as Poland over the past ten to fifteen years The content of this opinion has been an extraordinary mix of misinformation in the main usually wrapped up in tired pseudo-economic arguments seasoned with hollow socially prejudiced sniping As with most things in life however opinions and feelings are not 100 loaded on any one side On this press trip together with my two Dutch colleagues we were tasked with spreading some of the more positive truths about Poland and more importantly the fun and sport available in the holiday region of Polish Silesia
5feature
feature6
This region with its capital city of Wroclaw also encompasses a wonderful nature park and reserve and numerous picturesque towns and villages It is a long inhabited and cultured region that boasts more castles and palaces than all of the nearby Czech Republic What tends to dominate attention at the tail end of winter however are the well resourced opportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport and recreation The beautiful Karkonoszce Mountains offer various ski and walking routes The morphology and relatively low height of the landforms make for relatively easily manageable slopes in the main Green and blue coded slopes are most popular making this region an exceptional option for beginners up to intermediate skiers Because of the reduced sense of danger common in massive ranges and at greater heights it is an ideal family destination for snowy sport
As to how this entire region relates to and is relevant to visitors from the Netherlands or elsewhere it strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular with tourists The capacity is there the mountain town of Karpazc alone where we stayed for half of our visit can easily accommodate 15000 visitors Should the resources of nearby and utterly affordable bed and breakfasts (at around euro15 per night) be needed a substantial number of extra rooms can be made available For those who desire the higher star-rated and all-inclusive spa-resort feel there is also the humungous 900-room Hotel Golebiewski to consider Driving from the Netherlands takes just 85 hours and flying from Schiphol via Frankfurt is an established route which leaves just a 90-minute drive from the cute Wroclaw international airport to the welcoming heights
So much for the logistics of accessing this region but the real news is that it is extremely good fun to be here Polish people of this region are comfortable in their skin and this makes them more hospitable With employment rates just around the worrying level common to the lsquosecond-tierrsquo Euro countries (14) this region is not as ravaged by economic woe as others such as southern Poland where some black spots record up to 40 unemployment rates Seemingly everyone I met spoke enough English even to joke around as quite a few are typically modern mobile Europeans in as much as they have spent some time in a foreign country at some point in the past fifteen years seeking better employment opportunities Poland remains on
the outside of full economic integration into the EU but of course the tourism sector can only report a so far non-scientific 40 decrease in visits over the current season German French and the other big European populations are naturally the majority of those who usually turn up but with these countries practicing more austerity the more lsquoexoticrsquo holiday trips are the first to suffer Russian visitors on the other hand are increasing in number
Fortunately our trip coincided with the regionrsquos massive international cross-country event (httpwwwbieg-piastowpl) with 6000 participants over two days and my own first attempts to ski The short version of this story is that on my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about 26 metres in distance before realising that if I had already fallen three times there was no way I should consider the six-kilometre course my colleagues were about to embark upon Later that day I was able to negotiate the lsquobabyrsquo learnersrsquo slope without falling using much more realistic and stable downhill skis I would consider further lessons in the future but only within this sort of family setting and not somewhere with a greater emphasis on lsquoshow skiingrsquo In fact this is the crux of my recommendation this area is so ideal for a family break almost every activity on offer is interesting and all the activities are kept to a non-extreme level which really means they are for everyone
To gain a fuller impression of the places at which we stayed and the activities we enjoyed have a look at the movie link below This is accompanied by links to a selection of recommended hostelries and places of interest which may spark your interest in also visiting the fun of Silesia A further handy tip is that the exchange rate to the euro is about 41 and everything yes everything you would need on holiday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than in the Netherlands
Movie watch hereHotel hotel-tumskicomplHotel hotelmagnesplHotel samotniacomplenindexphpHotelpalace palac-lomnicaplActivity wangcomplActivity muzeumkarkonoskieplActivity kpnmabplenActivity sudetyliftcomplenHost polentravelnl
lsquoSpreading some of the more positive truths about Polandrsquo
7feature
lsquoOpportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport
and recreationrsquo
feature8
feature9
featureperspectives10
feature
featureperspectives
lsquoIt strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular
with touristsrsquo
11feature
12feature
13feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
feature6
This region with its capital city of Wroclaw also encompasses a wonderful nature park and reserve and numerous picturesque towns and villages It is a long inhabited and cultured region that boasts more castles and palaces than all of the nearby Czech Republic What tends to dominate attention at the tail end of winter however are the well resourced opportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport and recreation The beautiful Karkonoszce Mountains offer various ski and walking routes The morphology and relatively low height of the landforms make for relatively easily manageable slopes in the main Green and blue coded slopes are most popular making this region an exceptional option for beginners up to intermediate skiers Because of the reduced sense of danger common in massive ranges and at greater heights it is an ideal family destination for snowy sport
As to how this entire region relates to and is relevant to visitors from the Netherlands or elsewhere it strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular with tourists The capacity is there the mountain town of Karpazc alone where we stayed for half of our visit can easily accommodate 15000 visitors Should the resources of nearby and utterly affordable bed and breakfasts (at around euro15 per night) be needed a substantial number of extra rooms can be made available For those who desire the higher star-rated and all-inclusive spa-resort feel there is also the humungous 900-room Hotel Golebiewski to consider Driving from the Netherlands takes just 85 hours and flying from Schiphol via Frankfurt is an established route which leaves just a 90-minute drive from the cute Wroclaw international airport to the welcoming heights
So much for the logistics of accessing this region but the real news is that it is extremely good fun to be here Polish people of this region are comfortable in their skin and this makes them more hospitable With employment rates just around the worrying level common to the lsquosecond-tierrsquo Euro countries (14) this region is not as ravaged by economic woe as others such as southern Poland where some black spots record up to 40 unemployment rates Seemingly everyone I met spoke enough English even to joke around as quite a few are typically modern mobile Europeans in as much as they have spent some time in a foreign country at some point in the past fifteen years seeking better employment opportunities Poland remains on
the outside of full economic integration into the EU but of course the tourism sector can only report a so far non-scientific 40 decrease in visits over the current season German French and the other big European populations are naturally the majority of those who usually turn up but with these countries practicing more austerity the more lsquoexoticrsquo holiday trips are the first to suffer Russian visitors on the other hand are increasing in number
Fortunately our trip coincided with the regionrsquos massive international cross-country event (httpwwwbieg-piastowpl) with 6000 participants over two days and my own first attempts to ski The short version of this story is that on my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about 26 metres in distance before realising that if I had already fallen three times there was no way I should consider the six-kilometre course my colleagues were about to embark upon Later that day I was able to negotiate the lsquobabyrsquo learnersrsquo slope without falling using much more realistic and stable downhill skis I would consider further lessons in the future but only within this sort of family setting and not somewhere with a greater emphasis on lsquoshow skiingrsquo In fact this is the crux of my recommendation this area is so ideal for a family break almost every activity on offer is interesting and all the activities are kept to a non-extreme level which really means they are for everyone
To gain a fuller impression of the places at which we stayed and the activities we enjoyed have a look at the movie link below This is accompanied by links to a selection of recommended hostelries and places of interest which may spark your interest in also visiting the fun of Silesia A further handy tip is that the exchange rate to the euro is about 41 and everything yes everything you would need on holiday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than in the Netherlands
Movie watch hereHotel hotel-tumskicomplHotel hotelmagnesplHotel samotniacomplenindexphpHotelpalace palac-lomnicaplActivity wangcomplActivity muzeumkarkonoskieplActivity kpnmabplenActivity sudetyliftcomplenHost polentravelnl
lsquoSpreading some of the more positive truths about Polandrsquo
7feature
lsquoOpportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport
and recreationrsquo
feature8
feature9
featureperspectives10
feature
featureperspectives
lsquoIt strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular
with touristsrsquo
11feature
12feature
13feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
This region with its capital city of Wroclaw also encompasses a wonderful nature park and reserve and numerous picturesque towns and villages It is a long inhabited and cultured region that boasts more castles and palaces than all of the nearby Czech Republic What tends to dominate attention at the tail end of winter however are the well resourced opportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport and recreation The beautiful Karkonoszce Mountains offer various ski and walking routes The morphology and relatively low height of the landforms make for relatively easily manageable slopes in the main Green and blue coded slopes are most popular making this region an exceptional option for beginners up to intermediate skiers Because of the reduced sense of danger common in massive ranges and at greater heights it is an ideal family destination for snowy sport
As to how this entire region relates to and is relevant to visitors from the Netherlands or elsewhere it strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular with tourists The capacity is there the mountain town of Karpazc alone where we stayed for half of our visit can easily accommodate 15000 visitors Should the resources of nearby and utterly affordable bed and breakfasts (at around euro15 per night) be needed a substantial number of extra rooms can be made available For those who desire the higher star-rated and all-inclusive spa-resort feel there is also the humungous 900-room Hotel Golebiewski to consider Driving from the Netherlands takes just 85 hours and flying from Schiphol via Frankfurt is an established route which leaves just a 90-minute drive from the cute Wroclaw international airport to the welcoming heights
So much for the logistics of accessing this region but the real news is that it is extremely good fun to be here Polish people of this region are comfortable in their skin and this makes them more hospitable With employment rates just around the worrying level common to the lsquosecond-tierrsquo Euro countries (14) this region is not as ravaged by economic woe as others such as southern Poland where some black spots record up to 40 unemployment rates Seemingly everyone I met spoke enough English even to joke around as quite a few are typically modern mobile Europeans in as much as they have spent some time in a foreign country at some point in the past fifteen years seeking better employment opportunities Poland remains on
the outside of full economic integration into the EU but of course the tourism sector can only report a so far non-scientific 40 decrease in visits over the current season German French and the other big European populations are naturally the majority of those who usually turn up but with these countries practicing more austerity the more lsquoexoticrsquo holiday trips are the first to suffer Russian visitors on the other hand are increasing in number
Fortunately our trip coincided with the regionrsquos massive international cross-country event (httpwwwbieg-piastowpl) with 6000 participants over two days and my own first attempts to ski The short version of this story is that on my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about 26 metres in distance before realising that if I had already fallen three times there was no way I should consider the six-kilometre course my colleagues were about to embark upon Later that day I was able to negotiate the lsquobabyrsquo learnersrsquo slope without falling using much more realistic and stable downhill skis I would consider further lessons in the future but only within this sort of family setting and not somewhere with a greater emphasis on lsquoshow skiingrsquo In fact this is the crux of my recommendation this area is so ideal for a family break almost every activity on offer is interesting and all the activities are kept to a non-extreme level which really means they are for everyone
To gain a fuller impression of the places at which we stayed and the activities we enjoyed have a look at the movie link below This is accompanied by links to a selection of recommended hostelries and places of interest which may spark your interest in also visiting the fun of Silesia A further handy tip is that the exchange rate to the euro is about 41 and everything yes everything you would need on holiday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than in the Netherlands
Movie watch hereHotel hotel-tumskicomplHotel hotelmagnesplHotel samotniacomplenindexphpHotelpalace palac-lomnicaplActivity wangcomplActivity muzeumkarkonoskieplActivity kpnmabplenActivity sudetyliftcomplenHost polentravelnl
lsquoSpreading some of the more positive truths about Polandrsquo
7feature
lsquoOpportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport
and recreationrsquo
feature8
feature9
featureperspectives10
feature
featureperspectives
lsquoIt strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular
with touristsrsquo
11feature
12feature
13feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
lsquoOpportunities to indulge most forms of alpine sport
and recreationrsquo
feature8
feature9
featureperspectives10
feature
featureperspectives
lsquoIt strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular
with touristsrsquo
11feature
12feature
13feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
feature9
featureperspectives10
feature
featureperspectives
lsquoIt strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular
with touristsrsquo
11feature
12feature
13feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
featureperspectives10
feature
featureperspectives
lsquoIt strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular
with touristsrsquo
11feature
12feature
13feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
featureperspectives
lsquoIt strikes me as peculiar that it is not even more popular
with touristsrsquo
11feature
12feature
13feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
12feature
13feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
13feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
14feature
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
feature
lsquoOn my narrow bits of dried spaghetti (cross-country skis) I managed about
26 metresrsquo
feature15
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
16feature
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
lsquoHoliday is priced at what feels like at least 40 cheaper than
in the Netherlandsrsquo
feature17
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
18classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
19classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
Dam in 60 minutes
By Sam van Dam
perspectives
lsquoThis time we pay a visit to Amsterdam Northrsquo
20
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
perspectives
Amsterdam North Last month I visited Amstelveen for the first part of a series in which I hope to show you the less famous parts of Amsterdam This time we pay a visit to Amsterdam North To get to this under-appreciated part of town I had to take the ferry (free) so I lined up with my bike together with the other patient commuters behind Central Station in the bitingly cold wind Once we were able to board I placed myself at the helm of the boat not too unlike Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic humming the title song in my head Sadly I did not find a rich pretty girl to hold in my arms The trip took only a few minutes but once I disembarked the steel hull of the ferry I felt like I had entered a different country the style of the buildings and the look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo are very distinctive and different from elsewhere in Amsterdam Something that was very typically Amsterdam though was the rush of those waiting to get on the boat barely giving us newly arrived travellers a chance to make it off the ramp and on to safe dry land You regularly see the same behaviour on trains and the metro and it seems we just canrsquot wait to get somewhere even if it means trampling over those who are trying to get off The first thing I noticed once I set out on my bike is that the north is well served by graffiti not the simple and sometimes tear-inducing tags that you find on so many buildings in Amsterdam but actual pieces of art that add coloured accents to the overall scene This is enhanced further by the many sculptures and other artworks displayed in public spaces creating the quite charming impression that yoursquove entered an open-air museum Amsterdam North also boasts a growing set of entertainment locations such as EYE the new film museum and former Shell tower that has recently gained permission from the city to operate its business (hospitality offices and viewing platform) 247 These
new approaches are designed to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alike Throw into the mix some newly built luxury apartment towers and the overall impression is attractive and neat The other thing that clearly dominates thinking in the north once you move away from the immediate vicinity of the ferry docks is the feeling of an Industrial wasteland Some areas look like a neutron bomb has exploded eradicating all life and leaving in its wake only empty spaces with the occasional wrecked factory Of course this would not be Amsterdam if we didnrsquot make the best of every situation Take the NDSM Werf (wharf) for example which went from being isolated and desolate to become a new centre of culture and coolness in just a few years It now has a huge hall for graffiti artists and Sk8er kids and even MTV has moved its European headquarters there adding a much-needed hipness factors It also doesnrsquot hurt to have an actual Russian submarine floating in the water right next to the ferry stop Irsquom not sure what itrsquos doing there but it does look impressive and naturally itrsquos covered with artsy graffiti The NDSM area is also the home to the giant Botel a floating budget hotel that for many years was moored in front of Central Station but was moved here some time ago ensuring that at least some of our visitors get to see a different part of town without having to travel long distances to the heart of the city for their share of Amsterdamness This mix of old decommissioned buildings and new hip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and highly recommendable Do take a look if you have a couple of hours to spare Donrsquot forget to have a coffee andor a snack in one of the cafeacutes or at the Pllek beach preferably when the sun is shining as there isnrsquot much to stop the ever-present wind from blowing you back into the water Warm clothing is a must in this part of town Head north
21
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
lsquoThe look of the people on the lsquoother side of the waterrsquo
are very distinctiversquo
22perspectives
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
23perspectives
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
24perspectives
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
lsquoDesigned to make Amsterdam even more attractive to locals and visitors alikersquo
25perspectives
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
lsquoHip elements creates an overall vibe that is unique and
highly recommendablersquo
26perspectives
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
27perspectives
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
28perspectives
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
29perspectives
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
30perspectives
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
31perspectives
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
32perspectives
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
33perspectives
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
34classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
35classifieds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
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89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
By Denson Pierre
At long last we arrived at the Mecca of Caribbean holiday resort islands Given the options governing our trip to Trinidad amp Tobago connecting with Amsterdam we opted to travel via Bridgetown with British Airways We allowed ourselves an overnight stop on the way and a few hours to while away in tropical splendour as a final act on the way back A splendid choice as Barbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned countries and this means a lsquothings to dorsquo list is readily at hand This is super handy especially when you are suddenly sporting shorts and slippers having just left a sub-zero Europe behind you across the wide Atlantic Ocean
Barbados two faces one love
lsquoBarbados is one of the worldrsquos most tourism conditioned
countriesrsquo
36travel
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
37travel
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
featureperspectives
lsquoThe climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was
favourablersquo
38travel
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
In the near future The Sentinel will focus heavily on the entire Caribbean region when a lot more time will be set aside to study the real wealth of the Bajan offer But one night in Barbadosrsquo south-western coastal hotel complex region showed that we may have miscalculated slightly Even though the climate aided our thawing and the exchange rate was favourable the scene was very silver This should not be taken as a statement on the second-rate quality of anything in particular but simply that the vast majority of the tourist throng appeared to be of post-retirement age This observation goes some way towards explaining the fact that the nearby and large beach bar while still full of patrons started busily closing its shutters so as not to be seen serving after the closing time for normal bars which appears to be 1100pm even on a Friday night in the high season This left a single option with an extended licence within easy walking distance a sports bar open to visitors likely to be wallowing in various stages of jetlag The rush of contentment on finding a place to have another cooling beverage was punctured when it became clear that with ice hockey being the big event across the TV screens it would likely be just older Canadians and Americans propping up the bar and occupying a few of the tables The night turned out to be a very short one
Three weeks is a long time on an island as small as Barbados it seems By the time we returned it followed a rather convoluted and exhausting day at Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) spent having to deal with a particularly obnoxious and stubbornly unhelpful senior British Airways desk supervisor There was a mess-up with our return flight times which could have been easily ameliorated if not directly solved due to the heavy weight of traffic out of Trinidad after the carnival season had peaked and expired It could have been so much more pleasant The mature woman in question was of little to no help whatsoever and a discredit to the airline her country and mine If she could have seen a recording of the three occasions we sought her help to clarify matters she would and
should have been ashamed Instead we had to face three hours of a New Delhi customer service desk (British Airways) and it ended up costing us TampT$ 300 to arrange a regional connection to Barbados in order to find a seat on the jumbo jet heading back to Europe the following evening So a full extra night and day in Bim
This time around we arrived later and by the time we approached the same entertainment area it was clear it was closing down for the night This left just the sports bar and lo and behold it was more ice hockey and silver Working there was a most pleasant young man who did his smiling best to chat entertain and update us on cultural news I would return there just to have a beer while he was working On leaving the sports bar we gambled on walking past the assembled youngsters pining for the roads to clear so they could burn petrol and rubber to entertain their illegal drag racing lust
Having cleared the posers we eyed a cosy looking hospitality address with lights burning and animated conversations going on inside We entered this little gem of a place called The Good Life an internationally inspired vegan cafeacute offering fresh and creative goodies meals and alcoholic cocktails making sure that in one fell swoop the entire Barbados experience was uplifted The place is run by the slam poetry and rapper set so the vibe is very conversational and the company pretty sharp on the academic way of viewing history and the world while carousing Late the following morning we made our way to the airport to make sure we caught the flight out that evening Our punctuality was rewarded and we were then able to head off to the famous Crane Residential Resort to take lunch and absorb a spectacular farewell to the Caribbean for now
All that is left now is to thank the super professional Tracy Goddard (British Airways Desk Supervisor) and her fantastic Passenger Agent Ms Suzette Adams for their help in easing our way back to Amsterdam albeit one day later than planned
lsquoA full extra night and day in Bimrsquo
39travel
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
featureperspectives
lsquoWe entered this little gem of a place called The Good Lifersquo
40
travel
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
41travel
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
we had here was two years ago Everyone is busier living lsquocommon lawrsquo and starting families that way
Q What do you think of visiting tourists and the interest they show in your historic village and yourselves Do you understand itA Well the hospitality you experience is simply a typical village welcome and when we are pushed I think we can make about 150 beds available in villagersrsquo houses as bed and breakfasts or just really affordable sleepovers We understand that it is really nice here Are you going to come and see us again
Q Do you think you will ever leave the village to seek the bright lights of the city or a foreign countryA Well the truth is I [older sister] always leave but always come back too It is hard to explain how nice it is to be somewhere like here where you have hill farmers heading out to their plots every morning and you can just call out to your neighbour and have fresh provisions dropped off for you on their way back at dusk It is free but you really cannot pay for that kind of spirit I also think it is important to stay in touch with the Parang tradition of the village
This conversation was held at the real focal point of the village the Riviera Social Club A prestigious name for what in reality is an old converted cocoa storage area with a very airy lsquosaloonrsquo area and a pool table The well-stocked bar and lsquoloungersquo area are consistent with the best of non-glitzy Trinbagonian rum shops and a reasonable length of time spent there guarantees that you are greeted by a considerable portion of the village population either passing by popping in for a rum runner or arriving to shoot some pool and flirt within the tiny humble local scene
The bar turned out to be the property of the village mayor who turned out to be the father of my cutey subjects I could have been less formal and had a few more White Oaks
On finding the tranquillity of the mountain village of Brasso Seco in Trinidad I decided to briefly interview two beautiful young local women on what it is like to live in such a remote (as if that is truly possible on a mere island) place while the world powers ahead at speed just ninety minutes down the single forever landslide-threatened pockmarked asphalt road hemmed in by dense jungle and sky Smiles were continuous and the responses quite frank and humorous as is the way in Trinidad amp Tobago The two women are sisters
Q What does someone aged of 16 to 30 do around here on a typical Wednesday eveningA Well we donrsquot yet have high-speed internet here so there is a lot of staying indoors reading and a lot of sleep involved I think you have seen where they are building the new masts (mobile internet) so all that might change soon
Q And on a Saturday afternoonA Buss rel lime (extra hanging-out seeing friends and partaking in community activities)
Q How often would someone from here go into town (mainly Arima or Port-of-Spain) if not for school or workA Once a week as there is always shopping to do and then there are the clubs
Q Population that church marriage How many how much how oftenA Ha ha ha ha I think there are about 400 people in the village There used to be many more as recently as when we were children It is not the only church believe it or not There is also a Pentecostal church at the end of the village to go with that Catholic one up there Marriage Let me see I think the last wedding
The heights of Trinity
By Denson Pierre
42tripping days
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
43
tripping days
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
44
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself Mechelen
Authentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself
photography copy Layla Aerts
45
classifieds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
46
culture
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
By Denson Pierre
The challenge develop an impression of this surprisingly fine and historical city in just a single Thursday evening and night
Our party left our bags in the well laid-out and conveniently located Hotel Tumski and headed off on the guided tour of the city which seems to be fairly sprawling and has a lot of airiness due to the wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heart We walked along its banks and through various quarters all eased by topography not too unlike most of Amsterdam flat The variety of architecture found throughout the central district is particularly interesting this despite the huge amount of restoration that undoubtedly took place after the Red Army levelled the place to force out the Nazis who felt they had long historical ties with the area and saw it as a city to defend at all costs
PolandWroclaw
lsquoThe wide river Oder with its strong current running through its heartrsquo
47culture
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
48
culture
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
Sweeping back toward the central square where we would be dining it was a pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurants along with a good selection of cafeacutes and bars of a more rustic nature Dinner was another highlight for me personally as I was able to have a starter bowl of traditional low-calorie beetroot soup This particular example was of a consistency much less like purple water than the other times I have tried this vegetarian soup in Poland Restaurant Lwowska comes highly recommended as it not only serves very good food with a hint of international sensibilities involved in its preparation but the ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo list for Wroclaw
With dinner and wine consumed my Dutch colleagues are starting to show signs of fatigue after a day spent travelling here from different starting points in the Netherlands Our host and yours truly on the other hand were only too happy to learn that a friend of our lsquototal localrsquo host had just called and invited us to join him at a club to further celebrate his city My colleagues decline the offer but I remain seated in the taxi when we drop them back at the hotel The club we were headed to was called Szanty (Shanty) Now last time I checked Poland and Wroclaw were as deeply set in Central Europe as any other country you could name How then could there be a late-night club as popular as this one clearly was totally themed around folk and sea-faring music Excellent fun
Wroclaw certainly deserves a second lengthier visit since Irsquom sure it has even more appealing surprises in store
Along the way we managed not only to reach the Love (Tumski) Bridge but just as we were crossing it a couple walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction called out to our guide to say that the lighter of the gas-powered street lanterns was making his way toward us from the courtyard of the nearby church I had never seen this before and so with the light fading over the city and an eager impromptu audience in swept the man of sparks flowing black cape and all to ignite the yellow glowing burners and begin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darkness This quaint and charming piece of theatre will only become increasingly rare A single person remains on lighting duties here and no successors are lined up With gas lanterns being phased out everywhere in urban Europe perhaps we witnessed something others will only appreciate through archive footage in the near future
Even if Wroclaw is said to be one of the warmer cities in Poland due to its location on the Silesian plains it was still winter and a temperature somewhere close to zero meant it was also nice to duck into the enclosed central market hall to be slightly taken aback by the design size and colourful nature of the goods and vegetables on offer Further along we also managed to grab a sneak peek at the modern opera that was in progress by the time we arrived at the opera house Whatever they were singing in Italian (with Polish subtitles rolling across a display above the stage) it seemed to have the full house transfixed This was not a planned visit and was only possible because our Polish Tourism host was a local A quiet word with the floor manager allowed us on to the upper balcony for a short eye and earful
lsquoBegin the glass and reflective metal cabinetsrsquo age-old battle against darknessrsquo
49
culture
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
50culture
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
lsquoA pleasant surprise to come across so many chic cool and trendy cafeacute-restaurantsrsquo
51culture
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
52culture
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
53culture
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
lsquoThe ambiance and decor of the place makes it worth adding to a lsquomust tryrsquo listrsquo
54culture
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
55culture
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
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you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
Restaurant Review Veni Mange Port of Spain Trinidad
restaurant review56
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
Restaurant Review Veni Mange
For my European friends I am sorry to have to disappoint you with the fact that Veni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobago Port of Spain Located in an original wooden colonial building the restaurant oozes atmosphere and authenticity Due to its many windows it is a light and pleasantly airy place where you can easily spend a few hours during the hot tropical lunchtime hours All the walls are covered in a melee of local art and the tables and furniture are painted in all the colours of the rainbow It feels like you are in someonersquos living room rather than one of Port of Spainrsquos best local restaurants
The daily changing menu is filled with local flavours and dishes and the way they are prepared really brings out the best in Trini cuisine Of course it is always difficult to compete with home-cooked food but letrsquos just say that if this place was located in Amsterdam you and I would be regulars (which I already am in Port of Spain somehow) On this particular visit we were treated to a lentil soup which was flavourful creamy and filled with nice fluffy chunks of cassava and freshly made dumplings as it is traditionally served here All the soups I have tried in this place have been great On my previous visits Irsquove tried the corn soup and the split-pea soup which were equally scrumptious and they even have a little takeaway soup stall outside next
to the entrance so you can take some home if you canrsquot get enoughhellip For the main course I chose the shrimp accompanied by shadon beni (also known as culantro Mexican coriander) sauce a typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavour
With its wonderful and friendly owner and staff the feeling of being at home the colours the art and the fantastic flavours this is an all-time favourite which you will want to revisit time and again Unfortunately I cannot lay claim to discovering it Veni Mange is featured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die
httpwwwvenimangecom
By Antonia Egon
restaurant review
lsquoVeni Mange is not situated in Amsterdam but in the capital of Trinidad amp Tobagorsquo
lsquoAll the soups I have tried in this place have been greatrsquo
57
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
lsquoA typical Trinidadian dish superlight and full of flavourrsquo
restaurant review58
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
lsquoFeatured in the New York Times bestseller 1000 Places to Visit Before You Diersquo
restaurant review59
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
classifi edsclassifi edsamsterdam city life60
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
amsterdam city life
BRING BACK
Today I overheard a conversation in a taxi between two Amsterdammers about how irritating it remains having to deal with seemingly unending roadwork diversions and generally unkempt spots of civil engineering throughout Amsterdam Sometimes I think locals forget that they live on a thin layer of soil interconnected by bridges throughout the vast majority of the historical city area We are living on engineered swampland hemmed in by the North Sea
That said a better system could probably be implement-ed involving speedier overnight or weekend work to leave a clearer path for weekly commuter business and travel throughout the city The works that are ongoing are further underpinned as hindrances given that the city is currently undertaking some of its largest capital projects in decades if not centuries The city is the sub-ject of a major re-design and the works diversions and traffic jams will continue for a few years to come This being so it allows for rosy nostalgia of a city as beauti-ful as this which was such a dreamlike experience to cycle across prior to fifteen years ago Driving was also a pleasure as roadways were more consistently smooth thoroughfares
The last time I recall the city or certain routes in the city being properly secured and freshened up was in the build-up to a royal wedding This was in 2001 and the improvements surrounding the route the royals
would traverse were rather properly and speedily car-ried out Apparently some kind of extra budget is avail-able for times when celebrations concerning the royal family touch Amsterdam
I have no desire to enter constitutional debate and accept that the Netherlands is a monarchy To change that would take a lot longer than it will to complete and have the NorthSouth Line tested and running In the meantime seeing as it creates greater urgency I say Amsterdam should encourage all manner of in-dulgences by those of the House of Orange-Nassau It seems to me that this is a clever shortcut to getting the re-beautification of the city moved on at much quicker rate Bring back love of the monarchy Why not if that love manifests itself in the royals spending more time engaging in festivities here and by so doing activates investment that can suddenly be found to tidy up the place
By Denson Pierre
ROyAL ROuTING
61
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
For complete and world class tours of Prague
Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night
These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists
Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable
ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 602 228 797Mail jcernosekcentrumcz
wwwyourtuliptourcom
JC Tours
62classifieds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
63classifieds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
64
star beer guide
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
The SentinelStar beer guide
lsquoEnters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adultsrsquo
Trawling for quality beer while in Poland can lead you through a rather extensive shoal of weak-flavoured light and not so exciting beers The country has a great tradition of producing fine to excellent beers but it takes some prior knowledge to save room for volume as cool lagers abound at relatively low alcohol content levels
Debowe Mocne enters the discussion at the point where beer becomes interesting for adults Enough taste to make it remarkable a beautiful bottle and a logo design for the beer itself that is strong enough to directly aid muscle relaxation Taken at lunchtime on a day when my body creaked from muscle soreness brought on by first attempts to ski having been scrambling around Polandrsquos icy reaches the previous day it proved to be good medicine and a session on this beer could be considered for a future date
By Denson Pierre
DEBOWE MOCNE (70 ABV)
65star beer guide
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local
De Zotte 080313
66
recommended
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort
Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl
Website wwweurogiftsnl
FILMPROEF
ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123
Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit
Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions
Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace
ZestZest is fi ne food warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday) Amsterdamrsquos newest and freshest
IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines
Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole expe-rience while dining with them
Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam
Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits
Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp Music
To Be Seen and Tasted
Fun Drinking amp Music
Connoisseurs Delight
Connoisseurs Delight
To Be Seen and Tasted
Neighbourhood cosy
Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate
Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl
Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl
Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome
Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl
2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl
Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdamwwwfacebookcomclubzestnl
Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl
Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo
RECOMMENDED
67recommended
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
Where is this inAmsterdamAnswer to sentinelpostgmailcom
68
spotted
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
Room 2cfilm
Some people might prefer The Firm but I find this to be the best John Grisham novel adapted for film An African-American father kills two rednecks after they have brutalised his daughter and has to stand trial in Mississippi with a white judge presiding and an overzealous prosecuting attorney On his side are two lawyers with no resources while the local Ku Klux Klan makes their lives hell Let battle commence
Was Holly Hunter actually the most attractive Hollywood actress at the end of the 1980s Is that really Nicolas Cage playing a convincing if tragi-comedic role Does the funniest final act in a movie prison break sequence take place here Revisit this movie to fill your room with laughter and feel refreshed after the journey
By David King
By dpmotions
A Time to Kill (1996)
Raising Arizona (1987)
room2c69
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
70trends
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
lsquoThe whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to historyrsquo
By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre
Another unfortunate lsquonewrsquo trend in fashion has been developing over the past few years While I can remember a time when wearing a dead animalrsquos furry skin was absolutely lsquonot donersquo in recent years wearing fur has been regaining its popularity among members of the younger generation According to research they are unaware of the passionate anti-fur movements of the previous century and are also apparently more or less unaware about where the things they wear actually come from from what they are stripped and that there may be good reasons to reconsider
Why is this happening I was under the impression that the whole world had realised some time ago that this was something that should be consigned to history How can it again be on the rise When I read a particular article a few months ago I began thinking about young people walking the streets of Amsterdam and indeed the warm fur-collared winter coats that a lot of rap and RampB stars have been wearing in recent years These have absolutely cluttered the Amsterdam streets usually in combination with Uggs and are one of those things that happen in fashion that I simply
donrsquot understand A lsquorealrsquo branded version of one of these coats would set you back euro830 upwards which buys you a Canadian Goose coat with a coyote fur-lined hood The coyotes are caught in the wild using illegal leg snares which cruelly wound the animals and lead to extended suffering Their coats are then sold for between US$ 21 and 51
Then last week an article pops up about RampB superstar Beyonceacute ndash she ordered some now renamed lsquoFrankenshoesrsquo made from a collection of all the exotic animal skins you could possibly think of (think stingray ostrich calf crocodile and anaconda) I was surprised What was it all of a sudden with dead animal skins and celebrities Some quick Google action soon revealed mountains of celebrities rock stars pop stars style icons role models and their ilk wrapped up in more square metres of fur than could ever be found on one animal Why was this Were they feeling cold Were they jealous that some of these animals had better skin then they did
After Uggs which of course are made of sheepskin but that doesnrsquot count as fur the trend in celebrity land is to wear real fur as exotic and as much as you can find so yeah surprise surprise that is what the kids want to wear Shame
Deadfamous
71trends
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
With spring being just around the corner Irsquove been looking into gemstones that inspire enhance creativity and bring a bit more light into our daily life My mind was immediately drawn towards one particular stone Citrine also known as lemon quartz A member of the quartz mineral group it gets its yellow to golden orange-brown or reddish-brown colour due to silicon dioxide The name citrine is derived from the French word for lemon (citron) This lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and success This success may take unexpected forms however The stone is a birth stone for people born in November sharing the month with Topaz I should also mention that citrine used to be called Brazilian topaz as Brazil is one of the places where it is most commonly found It is also
Citrine
By Evelina Kvartunaite
ndash
lsquoThis lovely gemstone is known to bring inspiration abundance and
successrsquo
ndash
a stone thatrsquos traditionally given on 13th wedding anniversaries Citrine is said to be beneficial to digestion and the stomach thyroid general health heart kidney liver muscles strength endocrine system circulatory system tissue regeneration urinary system immune system diabetes and fibromyalgia as well as eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances Citrine is also reputed to be good for removing toxins and overcoming addictions Since the stone is associated with solar plexus chakra it is said to increase and magnify personal energy and power
Citrine dissipates negative energies of all kinds It also does not absorb negative energies from its surroundings and therefore never needs energetic clearing This means itrsquos always a good idea to leave your other gemstones or jewellery with it openly in your room Donrsquot forget to leave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shining so they can recharge with that energy
72health amp well-being
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
ndash
lsquoIt is said to increase and magnify personal energy and powerrsquo
ndash
ndash
lsquoLeave them on a windowsill at night when the moon is shiningrsquo
ndash
73health amp well-being
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
a variety of other teams that more or less manage the way an organisation presents itself to its customers Its coverage ranges from audio and video to static images but also to the outfits of the employees in front offices All of this in an effort to create that unique and memorable experience
Therersquos no magic formula for customer experience success This quote by Colin Powell describes what it takes ldquoIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attituderdquo
According to the Temkin Group an organisation that uses feedback collected from consumers to evaluate organisations in order to make great customer experience a lsquoprevailing attitudersquo companies need to master four competenciesPurposeful leadership does the executive team operate consistently with a clear well-articulated set of valuesCompelling brand values are the brand attributes driving decisions about how they treat customers
Although you may not have noticed user interfaces are pretty much everywhere from your door knob to your washing machine and even as far as a condom wrapper or how easy and fast it is to unwrap a packet of sweets
Large companies such as ABN Amro BMW and many more invest a lot of money each year in an effort to try making user interfaces easier to use faster and more accessible to different target groups Some of them went even further and came up with a new term user experience After all an interface is just a standard interface the difference is that extra step user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designers take to make them more fun or easier for users The key distinction is that you will not remember an interface but you will always remember an experience If you do a bit of research yourself you will discover that the majority of companies have a department called Customer Experience This department covers
UserInterface
lsquoInvest a lot of money each year in an effort to
try making user interfaces easier to usersquo
By Andrei Barburas
74technology
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
of the services of multiple disciplines including engineering marketing graphical and industrial design and interface design
The majority of product developers and service providers have a tendency to forget that the products they develop or design might not be used by everyone hence the market loss The bottom line is that the next time you design or develop a certain product donrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end userrsquos shoes How easy is it to use product X How quickly can one become familiarised with it Will it become a product or service used daily Will it be just a hype How sustainable is it Will you as the designer be using it
I am curious to learn of what challenges you went through in creating a lsquofabulousrsquo user experience when you were designing a product or service and most importantly how did you overcome those challenges
andreibarburasconsultancymarketmediacom
Employee engagement are employees fully committed to the goals of the organisationCustomer connectedness is customer feedback and insight integrated throughout the organisation
While you might think that this applies only to large organisations these are excellent guidelines for people-centric design and development in almost any field and on almost any scale
So what is User Experience Probably the most beautifully written definition of user experience comes from the Nielsen Norman Group ldquoUser experiencerdquo encompasses all aspects of the end-userrsquos interaction with the company its services and its products The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss or bother Next comes simplicity and elegance which produce products that are a joy to own and use True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want or providing checklist features In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a companyrsquos offerings there must be a seamless merging
lsquoMake great customer experience a lsquoprevailing
attitudersquorsquo
lsquoDonrsquot forget to put yourself in your customerrsquos or end
userrsquos shoesrsquo
75technology
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
76classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
77classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
changing face of designer space al fresco is big business all over the world But just how big has gardening become and can digging over your borders provide the same amount of pleasure that football delivers
During the past decade a dramatic swing has occurred in the publicrsquos perception with outside spaces seen as an extension of peoplersquos homes and personalities resulting in a horticultural revival In fact spending time and money doing up the garden has become so popular that dedicated garden centres television channels and web shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so far as to dub gardening lsquothe new rock lsquonrsquo rollrsquo Todayrsquos typical gardener then is a thirty-something high-flier with a steadfastly urban sensibility Furthermore it has been suggested that the growing interest in gardening and the accompanying opening of garden centres has changed the face of football forever But how did tending to green space become a credible alternative to the beautiful game
Growing up in Tottenham in the 1970s there were green spaces everywhere I particularly remember the allotments on the Great Cambridge Road just before the junction with White Hart Lane where some regular supporters turned the soil on their home-grown veg
The snow and ice have finally melted and Irsquove been inspecting my balcony for signs of life In fact throughout Amsterdam renewal pruning will no doubt be going on But what kind of activity is lsquorenewal pruningrsquo exactly and can it ever replace watching a game of football on a Saturday afternoon
For those of you who have no idea how to tell a fruit bud from a growth bud renewal pruning is just as much about your available outdoor space as it is about maximising your fruit crop even so not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden Now I wouldnrsquot call myself green-fingered but Irsquove been attempting to transform my balcony into a significant outside space This takes time hard work and patience
When you bike around Amsterdam you can clearly see the amount of time and effort people put into their balconies and urban spaces although the Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardeners Over in England on the other hand our gardens were once the envy of Europe their style intended typically to reflect an idyllic rural landscape But fashions come and go and currently the
By Simon Joseph
On The VolleyMore to the point
lsquoHow to tell a fruit bud from a growth budrsquo
sport
lsquoThe Dutch arenrsquot exactly celebrated gardenersrsquo
78
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
lsquoWeb shops are popping up like spring crocuses urging some to go so farrsquo
lsquoDigging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimesrsquo
peace and sanctuary to escape the madness of the city Itrsquos difficult to say but within the concept of a garden is a philosophy of pleasure-seeking and I only have to think back to childhood memories of our familyrsquos back garden to derive immense pleasure Digging for buried treasure for example was one of my favourite pastimes as were climbing up or camping under the pear tree and the endless water fights in summer all of which will remain clinging like lichens to my neural pathways forever Whatever way you look at it people enjoy spending time getting their hands dirty and creating their own little representation of Eden or some other vision of paradise
At the moment I have a dilemma when it comes to my little bit of spare time but I donrsquot think Irsquoll be converting to lsquothe good lifersquo as I struggle to find contentment on my moss-covered north-facing balcony thatrsquos beleaguered by an icy and perpetual wind However as the keen gardener John Stuart-Mill once said lsquoThose only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happinessrsquo So perhaps the answer is not on a football field but in our own backyard
before walking down the Lane for a home game But it wasnrsquot just in North London that allotments and gardens were so popular Going back to the Second World War any vacant land was turned into a vegetable garden including a few football grounds to satisfy the needs of the hungry And it wasnrsquot just about necessity either it was about cultivating wisdom with some arguing that it was part of the growing struggle to access the power and wealth that land ownership could provide The tenders of these so-called lsquoCockney Plotsrsquo concerned themselves not just with growing their own food but with grassroots political activism Over the following decades as wealth spread and leisure time increased so did the simple pleasure of tending green spaces and eventually some even went so far as to give up football altogether in favour of increasingly middle-class activities with gardening high on the list
Tending to your garden is a different expenditure to say standing on the terraces or shouting at a screen Compared to the relatively simple pleasure provided by football garden maintenance is no walk in the park So where does the pleasure from such hard work stem from Is it the ability to control nature or tame wildlife that appeals perhaps to a deeper inner desire Or maybe our gardens are simply a place to turn to for
sport79
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
freeskiers from the lowlands This little resort tucked away just an hourrsquos drive from Geneva airport is the hometown of one of my ski heroes Candide Thovex The name might not ring a bell with you but let me assure you hersquos one of the most innovative skiers ever and a really nice and down-to-earth guy to boot I was lucky enough to be at his signature event in 2007 Ever since that day Irsquove wanted to go back to La Clusaz and experience the resort to the fullest After seeing his new movie Few Words this desire grew even stronger
The choice to come to this resort with this crew of skiers was a conscious decision I wanted to see how they would use the terrain La Clusaz has to offer and whether they could leave the indoor slopes and parks behind I wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different way To expand their horizons of whatrsquos possible in a way that others have done for me in the past But also to see how they could challenge me and the things Irsquove learned at the avalanche safety course
As we are traversing from the climb across the mountain to get to better snow I hear the boys talking to each other They are looking around and discussing options of cliffs to drop and switching in their minds
Irsquom smashing my right ski boot in the hard snow Pock lsquoGrrrrsquo I just hit a rock with the tip of my boot and slipped out I take a deep breath and try to regain my balance by shifting my skis slightly on my right shoulder I lift my other ski boot and push myself up to place it higher while grabbing a piece of rock with my left hand for extra support ldquoAbout three more steps and Irsquom thererdquo is what shoots through my head A bit short of breath I make it to the top of the narrow climb I look up into the smiling and eager faces of my ski buddies and before even looking at the ski terrain that we are about to go down I know that itrsquos gonna be good really good I love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz already
Having completed the avalanche safety course itrsquos time to move on to the next adventure Together with my friend Anna from New Zealand Irsquom driving over to La Clusaz where we will meet up with three eager young
white outHeroes tricks and adventurersBy Ananda van Welij
Just another girl from a country without mountains addicted to snow
lsquoI love the lsquoSecret Valleyrsquo of La Clusaz alreadyrsquo80
sport
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
you can go home tomorrowrdquo I guess the (business) bitch in me had to come out at some point on this trip and that was it
But then we reach the top of the Secret Valley where the avalanche danger is reduced and the ski patrol said it was OK to go there There is no one around us First tracks and powder shoot up into our faces and all the concerns disappear with the fresh snow ldquoI wanna hit that cliffrdquo ldquoIrsquom gonna jump over that thingrdquo They are all eager to explore and show what they can do Bruises and sore muscles make their way into the house from day one At the end of each day and after a delicious dinner made by Anna they practically push me behind my computer to see how they did and who featured in the best photos
As Irsquom sitting on the lift with one of the boys for one of our last runs I ask him what he liked most about this whole trip ldquoI just canrsquot believe I have never explored the mountain like this before It has really opened up my eyes to things that are possible and I think that the tricks I can do in the park are gonna be really fun to do all over the mountain as wellrdquo
Mission accomplished
as to what would be the best trick for the photos I intend to take The quiet Belgian guy with the most experience silences the two park rats pretty quickly by dropping a nine-metre cliff on one of his first runs ldquoYou can play in the freestyle park Well I can play on the whole mountainrdquo The new hero of the group has shown his face the challenge has been laid down the bar raised and the group dynamic changed within a few seconds Letrsquos see what the rest of the week will bring
At times during the week I feel like I have a bunch of young dogs on a leash who are ready to pull me off my feet On one of the days the avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5) Dangerous Very dangerous One of them says ldquoBut it looks fine there is barely any snow up there and it will be great in the valley where itrsquos snowed-in by the wind Letrsquos gordquo and then shoots off The only thing I feel like doing at that exact moment is high fiving the boyrsquos face I talk the rest of the group into taking a slightly different and in my mind safer route down Luckily they donrsquot have a big need to show off in this situation and do what I tell them I imagine my face didnrsquot leave much room for discussion ldquoIrsquom responsible for you guys and Irsquom not OK with this Hate me for it but you are not going down there If you do
lsquoI wanted to take on a new adventure and challenge them to look at the mountain in a different wayrsquo
lsquoThe avalanche danger is up to level 4 (out of 5)rsquo 81
sport
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
lsquoThen we reach the top of the Secret Valleyrsquo
82sport
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
83sport
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
84sport
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
85sport
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
86sport
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
lsquoSee how they did and who featured in the best photosrsquo
87sport
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
88
sport
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
89sport
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam
wwwwswonennlenglish
wwwconsultancymarketmediacom
- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive
we are looking for
90
classifieds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
91classifieds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
keepers with a higher number of Dream Team Star Man awards
DEF Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash bearing in mind that this is his debut season in the Premier League his ability to settle into his game and impress so regularly with his solidity and game-reading ability has been nothing short of spectacular The Belgian successor to Ledley King
MID Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) ndash not flawless but has brought awesome power and excitement to the British game as a British player for the first time since an era when the game was played at a much slower pace
MID Juan Mata (Chelsea) ndash the diminutive Spaniard has excelled in his performances at Chelsea when so many other so-called superstars underperformed or were simply awful
FWD Luis Suarez (Liverpool) ndash a fantastic season in which he has set new standards on striking with regularity using consummate skill inventiveness and clinical technique
FWD Robin van Persie (Manchester United) ndash has demonstrated that his mastery was not restricted to Oranje or Arsenal and has managed in just a single season to end the discussion about how good Wayne Rooney has never been
With a summer free of international tournament football approaching even more focus will be placed on the trophies and personal awards garnered by Premier League players during the 2012-2013 season This includes the crowning of an individual player as the Player of the Season in the FFG-CL (httpthesentineleuffgLatest-FFGhtm) The criteria always involve key points of judgement such as overall point scoring but in keeping with the golden nature of this master game we also take into account other important indicators such as impact on team impact on league attitude discipline and most importantly aesthetic appeal Only players used by managers for periods longer than 10 weeks in the FFG-CL come into considerationThis yearrsquos winner will be revealed on 9 April and the shortlist of six candidates in no particular order is as follows
GK Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) ndash despite a late start and injury at the business end of the season his has been a truly outstanding season Maybe because he is at a poor vintage QPR he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the range of his skill and outstrip all other
By Denson Pierre
The Gold Room
92sport
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
93sport
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds
wwwczechtourismcom
CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT
94
classifi eds