Let���s Start At The Very Beginning
Let���s Start At The Very Beginning
���It���s a very good place to start. When you read you begin with ABC, when you sing you begin with Do, Re, Mi���,��� Julie Andrews sang in the internationally acclaimed, The Sound of Music.
Like her, I���m also here to start at the very beginning; of Walter and my honeymoon in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. My introduction to this City of Canals began in 1968 when I was under Sheik Fahrib���s auspice, my 4th Arab household harem service. For those who have read A Harem Boy���s Saga ��� book IV ��� Turpitude; a memoir by Young (aka Bernard Foong), you would have read my wonderful adventures in this enchanting metropolis. Here I am, 50 years later with my husband and guiding him down memory lane to revisit the exotic locales I experienced.
To make it easy for you to understand I will start with the notes - Do, Re, Mi, Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Te:
Do ��� to begin the first day of our honeymoon, the aroma of freshly baked dough in the recently redecorated Art Deco Amsterdam American Hotel���s restaurant was an enticing draw to an early breakfast before a day out in the freezing temperature. Our rumbling bellies desperately needed nourishment after twenty-four hours of marathon traveling. And dough in all shapes, sizes, flavors, and fillings came through for us with flying colors.
Re ��� During our brief stay in this wintery city, there was not a drop of golden sun to be found; but the hospitality of the Amsterdam American Hotel more than made up for the dreariness outside. I knew I had returned to the bosom of an edifying grande dame whom my then patriarch, Dr. Fahrib had introduced to my ex-lover/chaperone/Valet, Andy, and moi. And here I am with husband, Wally, to once again relive my time in her enthralling affection.
Mi - A name I call myself; I couldn���t say Thank You enough for the love, richness, and abundance of life, the universe had bestowed upon me. The one universal secret I���ve discovered is gratitude. The more thankful I am, the more plentitude ricochet my way.
Fa ��� It had indeed been a long, long way to run from sunny Maui to wintery Amsterdam. But our sojourn was well worth the distance because our fiery love had kept the chills at bay as we explored the city���s cultural richness to my beloved.
So ��� I asked Walter his thoughts. And this was what he said, ���To be honest, I hate this darn cold!��� To which I replied, ���Well, we���ll have to return next Spring so I can reveal to you the beautiful tulips of Amsterdam.��� I am sure with some gentle persuasion, we will be back to good ole Amsterdam in the not too distant future.
La ��� the note to follow so; is that we had a marvelous time in the intimate Canal City during our fleeting visit. And you, my dears will no doubt hear from moi sooner than you���ll expect.
Te ��� Last but not least, Afternoon Tea at the Amsterdam American Hotel is to die for.
This and other vignettes are documented in A Harem Boy���s Saga; a memoir by Young (moi ��� aka Bernard Foong) - (a five-book autobiographical series): http://amzn.to/1FMlHVY
Bernard Foong (aka Young)
A HAREM BOY���S SAGA (series) - Film Option Agreement signed with a UK Film production company.
Book I - INITIATION is currently in film pre-production.
