Today, 5 years ago, we arrive at Schiphol Airport at 6 am after a 13 hours KLM flight from KLIA . Having set foot on a European soil for the first time is best captured with pictures. But that is not to be the case as we are in a hurry to the immigration counter to catch the connecting flight to Copenhagen. The past experience of friends at the airport proved that walking leisurely to the counter would end you up at the end of the line. Luckily we are among the first and I am surely offguard when the immigration officer says (with a rude look) something about my passport's nearing its expiry date. That is rather unexpected, I mean he didn't have to make face. After all we are just passing through Amsterdam to get to Copenhagen. Whatever! I wouldn't let that spoil my excitement of things to come.
We have to wait for the 9 am flight to Copenhagen which takes about another 1 and a half hour. In the meantime, my wife chooses a few leather handbags worth Euro10 each while I scout around in the shop looking for something that could remind me of this experience in the future. When we approach the counter, we found out that since we are not entering Amsterdam and on our way to Copenhagen instead we could not purchase the handbags. It has something to do with some tourist shopping rules or something.
Day One
Then we make move to catch the flight to Copenhagen and reach there at close to 11 am. As we get to the exit, the chill of 7 degrees Celcius freshens me up unlike my wife who does not prefer the cold climate. The Mercedes taxi driver who is a Muslim tells us briefly about living in Denmark, within the 20 minutes ride to the Scandic hotel located, I would say in the heart of Copenhagen.
The tourist attraction sites are easily accessible from the hotel such as the Grand Central Station for buses taxis and trains, Tivoli Park, Hard Rock Cafe, the City Hall, the famous Stroget pedestrian shops and many others (pictures in order)
We couldn't check in at the hotel as we are early and leave the luggage there and take a stroll instead. Enter McDonalds and order some halal food with the aid of a Muslim girl manning the counter. They don't serve chilli sauce and have to make do with tomato for these few days and suddenly I miss Life, Lingam even Maggi chilli sauce. he he what a hopeless romantic!
We move on to the survey the area and check out some of the landmarks to get our bearings right. There is the
Copenhagen ByMuseum,
Copenhagen Theater, 
Copenhagen Planetarium (hotel room view), 
a lake and park in front of the hotel,
buildings along the Stroget area,
Illums Bolighus shopping mall,
My own bank he he have a look at the name on top of the ATM, 
Cafe Norden which sounds like a Malay name,
Ice-cream anyone? in the -4 to 7 degrees Celcius... chill,
and lastly our dinner. I have always remind myself to snap away freely, photographing anything and everything, scenery, people, landmarks or food before going for a trip. This is to capture the moments and to enjoy them in years to come. But I keep forgetting it in the actual trip. Next time I shall fire away. Now that's the end of the first day. Tomorrow there are a lot of places to go and things to see.
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