AMSTERDAM FLOWER MARKET IS A FABULOUS FLOURISH OF FANTASTIC AND FANTASTICAL FLOWERS OF ALL SHAPES, SHADES, SIZES AND SMELL!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

 They grow in Malaysia with no effort but DON'T ever bring the seeds home!

 Each packet of dadah seeds costs RM 26 but are illegal in Malaysia!

 Grow your own cannabis? Forget it! But it is legal in Holland!

Holland is liberal when it comes to drugs and sex!
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Holland is world famous for its flowers and of course tulips. Mind you, the pragmatic Dutch was once so crazy over tulips in the 17th century the bulbs were traded like commodities and were worth more than gold. Housewives and household staff bought and sold the bulbs and when the bubble burst, well, you know the rest. Ironically tulips are NOT even native to Holland but came from outside Europe and the first batches were said to come from Turkey which continues to have the tulip and carnations as its floral symbols.

The Dutch have perfected the art of growing tulips to such perfection it has become its national flower and KLM just raised funds recently by selling tulips in Sungai Wang Plaza in KL, Malaysia two weeks ago!

Ditto for tropical plants found in Malaysia which grow naturally here or are native to our shore---these plants thrive in Netherlands inside greenhouses and are in such healthy, blooming health I feel ashamed to admit they don't look so good or flower so profusely as they do in the alien, adopted temperate climate of Holland!

I love pitcher plants and I bought a pot at between RM 60 and RM 80 at Cameron Highlands. Here in Amsterdam's Flower Market, a big pot with magnificent pitchers sell for RM 30! Ditto for bunga raya and bougainvillea that go for under RM 25 for a pot with flowers about to burst into bloom with samples of the extravagant flowers next to them.

As for orchids, suffice to say if I live in Amsterdam, my house will be a botanic garden as they are so cheap! A pot of white Moth Orchid so beloved of arty-farty types sell for nearly RM 100 in Bangsar Shopping Centre. Here in Holland it goes for as low as RM 25! 

Finding the Flower Market is simple---everyone knows where it is. Located next to Konigsplein and a canal but then almost every other shop or house is next to a canal so it is of not use. The Flower Market is also a quick stroll yo Rembrandt Square and is known as Bloemenmarkt which must mean Blooms Market which makes sense.

It is supposed to be 'the world's only floating flower market' but how it gets this name is beyond me as the flower shops are lined next to the canal and not floating on platforms on water! 

Try resist buying the tulip bulbs which sell for around RM 12 for half a dozen---they won't grow here!

Another temptation to resist AT ALL COSTS is the packet of marijuana seeds! These grow like weeds in Malaysia---now you know why they are also nicknamed 'weed'---but are strictly illegal and you will probably be hanged for producing cannabis, hemp or marijuana or ganja! 

All the shops look pretty much the same unless you are a Flower Power Lover and know the difference between a rose and rose hip. The market is geared for locals so prices are amazingly cheap. Many tourists buy beautiful cut flowers for their hotel rooms so come here upon arrival and transform your 3-star digs into a 5-star boudoir.

This shop ships your bulbs but they will not grow in Malaysia so don't bother!

The Flower Market is next to this historic building

Wonder if you can eat the bulbs once cooked

I never knew you could grow bonsai from seeds!

So tempting

Pretty in a mini pot

The world famous Black Tulip is no longer rare!

Blue tulips are also common now

Typical store

Fresh

Lovely amaryllis 

Erotic and exotic

The flowers look like feather dusters

So pretty they look fake

Blue hydrangea 

I prefer pinks

Note the figurine

These can grow in our highlands

Cockscomb at RM 26

Choose

Stately amaryllises

See, 4 bonsai plants you can grow for RM 43

These can grow in Malaysia

Pitcher plants are so eye catching and unusual and costs only RM 34 for 3 pots!

Lemon tree

Pitcher plants from Sabah

Easy to grow it seems

You don't need to have green fingers

Bougainvillea plants that grow aplenty in Malaysia

Are those mini joss sticks?

I was curious to find out later

Flowery bags are in!

Pretty as a floral picture

Bonsai

Saw this in the shop opposite

Keep your willie warm

The flowers are fake OK!

But a few flowers are real

Pitcher plants

Impressive set up

Great decorations that last!

But you find them here

Very nice and reasonable, your own hothouse

Fab moth orchids are so cheap in Holland!

I was stunned---then was told the orchids have been sprayed blue! 

RM 22 per pot!

Grow your own weed and cannabis! But not in Malaysia where you go to jail or get hanged

Don't even think of it!

The Malaysian Minister of Agriculture will pass out at this sight in KL

Getting stoned in Holland is easy and legit!

Looks like an erotic, furry lan chiau

These Malaysian pitcher plants and Venus fly traps look so healthy in coldish Holland I could die

Carnivorous plants

Grow your own capsicum or chillies

Ooh so nice

Bromeliads from South America though they are now common in Malaysia

Looks like pineapple

Gorgeous

Stunning

The flowers are fake but the actual ones  look like these when they bloom

Cheese shop

Perennially blooming tulips on bedroom slippers

Grape vine in pot

Dazzling

I bought this tulip bag

Bunga Raya for RM 35

2 pots of Moth Orchids for only RM 76! In KL it costs at least RM 90 per pot!

We get these here 

Nice

Golden Shower orchids for RM 43 for 3 pots!

Sunshiny!

Exotic

Nice combo

Bougainvillea 

2 pots for only RM 43! Cheap!

Looks better than mine

Big pot

Luscious Bunga Raya

Lovely

Dazzle

I love red Amaryllis

Grand

Christmassy

Santa in May?

Oh

Inside contain tulip bulbs

Fancy 100 tulip bulbs for only RM 35!

Cheap

I have never heard of Buddha Palm!

Stunning

Orange is the colour of Holland

Sexy

So erotic like tongues

Unusual! No water, no soil needed! And well priced

Great for condo dwellers

Purple passion flowers 

Decisions!

Bags galore

The shops at right seem to float!

MICAELA POSES TOPLESS WITH BIG BALLS IN HONOUR OF WORLD CUP 2014!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

Micaela Schaefer poses topless with big balls in honour of the World Cup! Whatever she does, you CANNOT penalise her!

Micaela Schaefer (Micaela Schäfer, born November 1, 1983 in Leipzig, Germany), is a German C-promi, naked body presenter, DJ and singer. She was Miss East Germany 2004, Miss Venus 2005, The Face Of Campari 2005 and Miss Maxim 2006. She also ranked eighth place in the first cycle of Germany's Next Top Model in 2006.

CURFEW IN BANGKOK BUT FEW SOLDIERS---BY DARUK SERI WONG CHUN WAI FROM THE STAR, MALAYSIA'S LEADING AND MOST AUTHORITATIVE DAILY

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

A curfew - but there are few soldiers

by WONG CHUN WAI in Bangkok 

The situation in the Thai capital is pretty normal except for the military-imposed curfew. Hotels have slashed room rates, it’s cheaper to shop now and there are still more traffic jams than soldiers in the streets.

THAILAND’s police general Adul Saengsingkaew arrived at the Wat That Thong in Ekamai, Bangkok, on Saturday evening to attend the wake of the 101-year-old mother of the country’s most famous journalist, Suthichai Yoon.

The political, business and media elite of Bangkok had showed up in full force to offer their condolences to the boss of the powerful Nation Media Group. Almost everyone came in dark suits and ties, making the ceremony very formal.

 But just after 20 minutes, Adul, looking distressed, asked to be excused as he quietly made his way out of the temple.

We found out, not long later, that he had been sacked by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which now runs the country.

The army has taken over the country, imposed martial law, suspended the constitution and the Senate, detained over 200 squabbling politicians from both sides, including former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and imposed a curfew between 10pm and 5am.

Events are happening fast and furious in Bangkok.

Just last week, Adul was seen seated with army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha at a press conference to announce the coup but now he has been moved to an inactive post in the Prime Minister’s Office, before he retires soon.

Also axed were Tarit Pengdith, the head of the Department of Special Investigation, and Nipat Thonglek, the Defence Ministry’s permanent secretary. Both men had been seen as loyalists of the ousted government and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Nineteen editors of the country’s top media group were summoned by the military on Sunday for “an advice on national building” and “direction of news reporting in an abnormal situation”.

In short, they were told of their limits.

On Saturday night, The Nation reporter Pravit Rojanaphruk was told to meet the military junta, and when he showed up, he was immediately detained and taken to an undisclosed army base.

The outspoken columnist had posed for photographers with his mouth taped to symbolise he was being silenced. Apparently, that did not amuse the army generals.

At The Nation office, this writer saw two soldiers, looking bored, inside the television monitor room where the visual feeds were sent in.

Still, media rules have begun to be relaxed.

The NCPO has allowed free-to-air television channels, radio and satellite stations and cable operators to broadcast normally after the situation returns to normal. Earlier, even MTV Thailand and cartoon shows from cable TV were banned.

Despite the dramatic coverage by the media on the military and sporadic anti-coup protests, the reality is that it is actually difficult to detect the presence of soldiers.

The Victory Monument in Ratchathewi district is a popular spot for demonstrations while another protest took place outside the stylish Amarin Plaza in Ratchaprasong.

But during the weekend I was there, there was continuous presence of the army outside the famous Mah Boon Krong (MBK) shopping mall, as it is regarded as a strategic location.

The presence of the men in uniform, however, seems to have sparked off more excitement than fear for tourists.

But don’t expect to see soldiers in every street corner, as the media would want you to believe.

It is regrettable that Bangkok has been made to look like a city under siege when the reality is the opposite, especially in the day time, where traffic jams are still a daily affair.

Most hotels have slashed their rates and placed guests on certain floors to cut down on power use. Essentially, this is the best time for bargain hunters to go shopping in Bangkok. Hotel guests have found themselves getting upgraded to better rooms.

While most city folk respect the curfew, with most eateries in shopping malls shutting down at 8pm to enable their workers to return home, the rules are generally pretty relaxed as it is not a “shoot on sight” curfew.

Outside the near-deserted Dusit Thani hotel in Silom, most of the bars were still open, even when the curfew began, and my colleagues still got to watch the Thomas Cup final.

But one thing is for sure – most Thais expect the army to be in control for a while with a new PM to be appointed soon, but it’s the generals who will be calling the shots.

 - Release Date: 05/29/14

SHERATON OPENS HUGE HOT SPRING RESORT IN CHINA IN HUZHOU, THE SHERATON HUZHOU HOT SPRING RESORT

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

SHERATON HOTELS & RESORTS UNVEILS

ONE OF THE LARGEST HOT SPRING RESORTS IN GREATER CHINA

Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort is set to be one of the most architecturally innovative designs in the Sheraton brand’s Global Portfolio

Sheraton is set to widen lead as the dominant upper-upscale international hotel brand in Greater China as it meets guests’ demand for unique resort products

 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced that Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort is one of the largest hot spring resorts in Greater China, with the recent completion of its hot spring and spa facilities. With 101 individual hot spring pools and jacuzzis across a vast 20,000sqm spa complex, Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort is the latest in a series of stunning resort offerings by Sheraton.

“As the first international brand to enter into China, Sheraton has been growing at a phenomenal pace and China continues to drive the brand’s future pipeline growth”, said Hoyt Harper, Global Brand Leader for Sheraton Hotels and Resorts. “With the brand’s growth focusing primarily in the country’s secondary and tertiary markets, Sheraton is working with our partners to develop new resort products. Our resorts aim to meet the demands of an increasingly affluent local market that have the means and desire to travel; in addition to riding on trend of leisure travel within China.”

Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort’s Cutting-edge Design Makes it a Modern Icon

Slated for full completion at the end of 2014, Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort is set to be one of the most architecturally innovative resorts in the Sheraton brand’s global portfolio. It features an eye-catching, ring-shaped exterior designed by lead architect Ma Yansong and a team of internationally renowned designers.

Located at the southern point of China’s famed Taihu Lake in Huzhou just two hours away from Shanghai, the design concept of Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort incorporates traditional Chinese symbolism in a contemporary setting. The resort’s cutting-edge design has earned its reputation as a modern icon in Huzhou. The circular shape symbolizes unity, wholeness, and infinity in Chinese culture – ideas that resonate with the Sheraton brand’s positioning as “The World’s Gathering Place.” When night falls, 79 lighting lines light up the building’s facade, reflecting the resort in the lake like a full and luminescent moon.

Its striking 27-storey structure consists of two curved towers - the Crystal Tower and the Jade Tower -  both soaring more than 300 feet above the ground. The resort’s 282 luxurious and contemporary guestrooms are located within the towers, which join together in a gleaming arch that also houses many of the resort’s facilities. As a result of its unique curved structure, a staggering 28 lifts are needed to service the towers. Interestingly, most of its rooms are also of different shapes and sizes, only two rooms are of the exact shape and size on each floor and mirrored on the opposite tower. All rooms offer the Sheraton brand’s signature comforts and amenities such as the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper^SM Bed, ample work space and state-of-the-art technology.

Sheraton brand’s signature restaurant Feast presents multiple open kitchens with delectable buffet spreads of eastern and western fare, as well as an outdoor “al fresco” lakeside terrace, while The Lobby Lounge provides a warm and inviting place to relax over coffee, Chinese Teas, or pre-dinner drinks. The arch connecting Crystal and Jade Towers from the 23rd floor houses an integrated contemporary restaurant – Starlight Kaiseki﹒Chuan, Sichuan Hot Pot and Japanese Kaiseki overlooking Taihu Lake. Located separately is a low-rise annex that features Sheraton brand’s signature YUE Chinese Restaurant with 15 private dining rooms with lake views. Joining the two towers underneath the lake is the resort’s lower level, which houses a Shine Spa for Sheraton and well-equipped fitness facilities featuring the brand's health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness.

Extensive meeting and event spaces makes Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort the premier choice for meeting planners, with over 2,000sqm of function and meeting spaces, including a pillar-free ballroom and the 300sqm Taihu room on the 27^th floor with its stunning chandeliers and panoramic view of the lake. Additionally, the resort will appeal to brides and grooms-to-be with its 1,600sqm ring-shaped Wedding Island, a verdant outdoor venue overlooking the lake and its European-inspired Rose Garden.

One of the Largest Hot Spring Resorts in Greater China 

With the recent unveiling of its signature Mystic Spa and Hot Spring Village, Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Spa is one of the largest hot spring resorts in Greater China. The Spa and Hot Spring features 101 hot spring pools & jacuzzis, including 39 private guest villas, eight spa chalets for private treatments and 21 treatment rooms housed in the Spa complex all across the vast 20,000sqm spa complex adjacent to the iconic Sheraton Huzhou ring-shaped main building.

Central to Mystic Spa is a large glass dome pool complex featuring 26 hot spring pools overlooking the resort’s private lake as well as a hot spring waterfall.  On arrival from the underground passage that connects directly to the private changing rooms, guests are greeted with the stunning vista of cascading waterfalls running over large vertical stones from the famous Tai Mountain in Shandong Province. The water flows into the resort’s largest hot spring pool where exotic flora and fauna, stone statues from across Asia and hot steam in the air provide guests with the feeling of being in a lush tropical jungle. Away from the main pool, other hot spring pools, such as the unique red wine pool with antioxidant properties, are located on different maze-like levels.

Dotted alongside the outdoor pools are eight free-standing private individual spa treatment chalets offering treatments and massages inspired by various cultures. Located within the main Mystic Spa building, guests have access to 21 treatment rooms that focus on body and foot massages, as well as access to a health food restaurant.

A theme across the whole resort is health and wellness, symbolized by the wide use of jade across the resort’s buildings. Jade is seen to be an important symbol of purity in Chinese culture and the Chinese believe that these precious jewels can help promote physical health and maintain mental balance. This theme transcends to Mystic Spa through the use of spa products exclusively provided by Ba Yan Ka La. Ba Yan Ka La is named after a mountain range on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, and explores the nature of China across its products including glacial mineral water and traditional Chinese medicines like Chinese mulberry (detoxifying), liquorice (balancing), goji berry (strengthening), lotus seed (nourishing) and Tibetan roseroot (anti-oxidant).

Demand for Sheraton Surges in Greater China

Leveraging on its first-mover advantage, the global powerhouse currently has 63 hotels and resorts in Greater China and 42 in the pipeline. As the dominant upper-upscale hotel brand in Greater China, the 15 existing Sheraton resorts have more than surpassed the sum of resort offerings from competitive international brands such as Hilton, Hyatt Regency and Marriott.

Other notable Sheraton resort openings include the brand’s first resort in the region – Sheraton Sanya Resort, urban resorts such as Sheraton Dameisha Resort, Shenzhen and Sheraton Guangzhou Huadu Resort and ski resort such as Sheraton Changbaishan Resort. In response to the strong demand for its resort products, Sheraton will also be adding five more stunning resorts to its current portfolio of 15 over the next three years. Four resorts, including Sheraton Diqing Resort, Sheraton Sanya Tufu Bay Resort, Sheraton Ningbo Xiangshan Resort and Sheraton Beijing West Mountain resort are due to open by the end of 2015, widening its lead as the dominant upper upscale hotel brand in Greater China.

About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 hotels in nearly 70 countries around the world. The brand recently completed a $6 billion global revitalization and is now in the midst of an $8 billion global expansion over the next three years. Sheraton is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with nearly 1,200 properties in 100 countries and 181,400 employees at its owned and managed properties.  Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands:  St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®.  The Company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates.  Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands.  For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

GUESS WHICH COUNTRY WILL WIN THE WORLD CUP IN BRAZIL AND WIN! NO FUSS, NO WORRIES, NO SWEAT!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

To all sports fans, just join a contest and win cold cash!

@BodogAsia is giving away a total of

RM150 Million for this upcoming World Cup! 

Grab your share at <http://bit.ly/fcbodog2> by just guessing which country will win the World Cup in Brazil.

This is the campaign mechanics:

•         Choose which country you think will win the World Cup

•         For the country with the most number of votes at the end of the contest on

June 6, @BodogAsia will place a wager of RM65,000 on that country

•         If the most voted country wins the world cup, the prize money will be shared among all participants

•         For example, if Honduras with winning odds of 2,501 wins the World Cup, a

total of USD $50 million will be shared among all players

Join the competition!

Joining is simple, just choose which country you think will win the world cup, submit your email and click submit An email will be sent to your email, so verification is required.