Via Beijing to Amsterdam, the City of Sex.

The speaker embarks on a summer vacation, beginning their journey from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Beijing, China, as a transit point. This marks their first time flying with China Southern Airlines. After successfully obtaining their ticket, they navigate through security and immigration, then locate a Priority Pass Lounge, noting its decent variety of food and drinks. To ensure internet access during their Beijing transit, an Airalo eSIM was purchased in advance. Upon boarding, the flight from Haneda to Beijing had approximately 80% Chinese passengers. Snacks of raisins and nuts were served, followed by a well-seasoned in-flight meal and Häagen-Dazs ice cream for dessert. The plane landed at Beijing Daxing International Airport amidst fog. Disembarking, the speaker underwent a quarantine check involving a cotton swab and then spent time filling out an arrival card, which required listing all countries visited in the past two years, before successfully clearing immigration and entering China. Beijing Daxing International Airport impressed with its large size and modern ambiance. The speaker proceeded to the Aerotel hotel, booked via Agoda, which appeared to be the same as the Meichun Hotel within the airport. After checking in, they noted the extremely long hallway leading to their room, suggesting a vast number of rooms and shared spaces. The room itself was small but clean, deemed more than adequate for a transit stay, featuring a clean bed, compact sink, card key lock, and a combined toilet and shower. Feeling hungry, the speaker explored the airport's restaurant area above the departure terminal. They chose a restaurant and ordered spicy beef noodles and a white beer. The noodles were described as delicious but incredibly spicy, likely beyond the spice level typically served in Japanese restaurants. Day two began at the windowless transit hotel in Beijing. After checking out, the speaker headed to the futuristic departure floor of Beijing Daxing International Airport under clear skies. Their next destination was Amsterdam, Netherlands. After checking in and successfully obtaining their ticket to Amsterdam, they passed through immigration. Before boarding, they sought food at a Vietnamese restaurant, ordering pho and a Tsingtao beer, finding the pho healthy and tasty with its mild sauce. Once on board the flight to Amsterdam, the speaker enjoyed a light beer during drink service. They observed desert-like scenery, identifying it as likely the Gobi Desert. The first in-flight meal featured tender and delicious beef, accompanied by another beer. Approximately six and a half hours later, with less than two hours remaining until landing, a second in-flight meal of regular but good-tasting yakisoba was served. The approach to Amsterdam revealed an orderly, flat cityscape, described as one of the most beautiful landing views the speaker had ever seen. Landing at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol around 6:00 p.m. local time, which was still very bright, the speaker disembarked. They connected to the airport's free Wi-Fi and purchased an eSIM via Airalo. After clearing immigration without issues, they noted the prevalence of Western people and the European aesthetic of the arrivals hall. They then proceeded to Schiphol Airport Station, where they purchased a 3-day Amsterdam Travel Ticket from a white ticket machine, usable for unlimited second-class train travel between the airport and Amsterdam, as well as GVB trams, buses, and metro within Amsterdam. Cash was not accepted, only credit cards. Tapping the ticket on a pole, they boarded a train to Amsterdam Centraal Station. Upon arrival at Amsterdam Centraal Station, the speaker admired its boxy, European design and solid stone structure. Passing through ticket gates, they noted the station's beauty and the lively atmosphere of the surrounding cityscape, which truly felt like Europe. They then headed to their booked dormitory in De Wallen, Amsterdam's Old Town, also known as the Red Light District. While no Red Light windows were immediately visible on the surrounding streets, the area was bustling with restaurants, bars, and shops, creating a lively, adult-oriented atmosphere. The Old Church was visible nearby. Checking into the dormitory, the speaker left their luggage and began exploring Amsterdam's streets. At 9:22 p.m., the sky was still bright, and despite fewer people, no sense of danger was felt. The city felt dense. They visited the National Monument in a calm square and then Dam Square, where a large Uniqlo store and the Royal Palace were located. As the sun began to set, a performance was observed in Dam Square. Continuing their exploration towards the center of the Red Light District, the speaker noted the many canals. Even at 9:47 p.m., numerous tourists were present. The historic atmosphere of the Old Town, including the Red Light District, was appreciated. Surprisingly, some Red Light windows were found near the Secret Church, highlighting Amsterdam's unique cultural values. The speaker was cautious not to film the women in the windows, as it was strictly prohibited. They noted that Red Light windows were concentrated in specific areas, not everywhere. Feeling hungry after arriving in Amsterdam, the speaker decided to try a burger place where burgers could be purchased from a vending machine. After some initial confusion, a kind lady assisted with the purchase. The burger, though visually underwhelming, tasted surprisingly good, albeit a bit dry, and cost 4 euros and 60 cents. At 10:45 p.m., the speaker was in the center of the Red Light District, where the temperature was a chilly 18°C in August. They shared observations about the district: it was packed with people, including groups of men, couples, and even families, not just solo men. Many visitors seemed to be there primarily to look at the windows and the women inside. Solo male travelers were less common than expected, which could be mentally draining for those traveling alone. Some streets had one-way restrictions to manage the crowds. The speaker noted that few people were actually negotiating prices with the women in the windows; most simply looked and walked past. Out of perhaps 50 windows, only about one negotiation might be observed, suggesting a high degree of self-control among visitors. Based on prior online research, the speaker had heard about "high-quality girls" behind the Old Church but found those initially seen underwhelming. After further exploration, they concluded that "behind the Old Church" likely referred to the area on the east side of the church, which felt like the "hottest spot" overall. This area featured very slim girls with good curves, varying facial features, and a mix of younger and older women. However, this area was also extremely crowded, creating a high psychological hurdle for anyone considering negotiating in front of so many people. The speaker admitted to feeling too embarrassed to negotiate and simply looked. Concluding their exploration of the Red Light District for the day, the speaker, attributing their lack of engagement to exhaustion from a long travel day, moved towards the eastern, somewhat Chinatown-like area of the district. Returning to their dorm street at 11:17 p.m., which was still lively, they had a discounted beer at the dorm's bar to end the day before going to sleep in their dorm room.