Van Gogh Museum & World Press Photo Exhibition

Another star attraction in Amsterdam would have to be the Van Gogh Museum. Do pace yourself though. We completed all the exhibits in less than 80 mins minute, but paid a price with the non-stop viewing resulting in "Museum-backaches".

Well, back to the paintings. The following self-potrait is definetly my favourite, as it applies the pointilism technique brilliantly to highlight the soulfulness of the eyes.

After a good 20 mins rest to soothe our backs, we proceeded to the World Press Photo Exhibition at Oude Kerk. My favourites inlcude the series on the authoritarian ex-Turkmenistan President, which created a Stalin-like regime, Muslim devotees praying on the precarious ruins of an earthquake-ravaged mosque, and the post-match potraits of football players. But the pictures that stunned me the most are the ones of a leopard seal tearing its prey apart. Do check out the pictures at www.worldpress.org