Amsterdam Coffeeshop Directory Forums

The best trip report ive read in a very long time.
Truely one i'll reread again, EXCELLENT camera work.

dude65: In hindsight (and perhaps you are diplomatically alluding to this point), the budshots are nerdy. The most important thing they demonstrate, I think, is that appearance is no measure of the quality of a sample's high. The Purple Power looked like raisins attached to a twig, and the Afghaan Haze was dry and mangy. Nevertheless, these two strains produced my favorite highs of the trip.

I tipped the budtender the way I'd tip a bartender in the States: If a beer's six bucks, I'll leave a dollar. Hence I tried to leave her a Euro. (I also feel bad that I usually do these transactions in English, so if the 'tender is nice about it, I figure ...) In short, she said that she wouldn't tip a clerk at the corner store for a pack of cigarettes, so I shouldn't tip her for a bag of weed. If she had been busy (I was the only customer there at the time), she may have accepted it, she said.

I believe budtenders are fairly representative of employees working in the hospitality industry. I can't see how they'd be banking loads of cash, unless they're owners -- or are selling merchandise off the register :)

Iko: Thanks! Being from BC, can you lend any insight into Godbud? While you're at it, could you tell us a little about any other special strains you've run across in British Columbia? I am very curious.

Ya, Godbud and Ambrosia ( GodxBurmese) is pretty common as are a bunch of strains ( Texada Timewarp, Fruit , Brittish Columbian )that do not seem to make it globally.
Last spring we got this crazy weed called Infinity.
Completely a daytime smoke, never want to try that near bed time or youd be up all night.
http://www.vancouverseedbank.ca/catalog ... Path=33_61
http://www.vancouverseedbank.ca/catalog ... Path=33_65

Great report!! I've added HGF Purple Power on my "to smoke" list

quiky wrote:Being timid as I am, I've yet to light up within the confines of a coffeeshop. That being said, De Bommen would be high on my list of places to break that odious streak. It's like a little, local bar inside, the kind that's welcoming.

we are all different and special in our own ways. not everyone can be gregarious since the world would miss the analytic qualities of fine posts like yours.

great write up

all the best, S.

Hey, nothing wrong with some nerdy pics. And you're right, sometimes being guided just by looks may not be the method to get the best weed. But it is soooo tempting to just buy the nicest looking, fattest buds

About the tipping: Ah, so that was the point. Here's how I tend to handle it: If I get pre-bagged buds, I tend to agree. Just a shop employee handing over pre-packaged goods. No tip. If the budtender does a good job by either a) taking care to pick really nice buds for the amount I'm buying or b) being honest when the current batch of a particular strain isn't up to snuff or c) otherwise doing a good job recommendation-wise when I ask. Of course, c) should be judged AFTER the wares are tasted but hey, treat me right and you'll get a tip.

Iko: The weed I smoke on a regular basis comes from three places: Amsterdam, New York City (strong, indoor stuff) and Canada (outdoor stuff, presumably, since it looks like dry hay). It's probably blasphemy to post this opinion on these boards, but ... the Canadian herb is usually my favorite. The Canadian varies somewhat, of course, but it tends to be balanced, non-headlocking and euphoric. Maybe I just stumbled into a particularly good source. I assume most of it comes from Ontario, though some was said to be British Columbian.

bleak: I didn't get the Jamaican, as you had recommended in your posts, but your input did lead me to Anyday where I picked up Durban Poison. Thanks for the tip! I will be going back to Anyday next time I find myself in town. Their outdoor/import menu intrigues me.

Spliphy: Thanks! It's good to know even wallflowers have a place on the ACD boards :)

dude65: Almost all the 'tenders I've been served by have been very courteous and professional. Their advice, when it's been offered, however, has consistently steered me in the wrong direction. Hey, I guess there's no accounting for (my) taste.

What a great travelogue quiky. I really enjoyed that.

I liked how you took the bud shots against the backdrop of the kindle. I thought it was very creative, and your photos are very clean. With that said, the non-bud shots are even more interesting since I am not presently in Europe. The pairing up made me want to look for hidden messages on how those pictures were maybe related to your high. Especially the Planken picture. I kept thinking, "pinchy, pinchy." In any event, this travelogue was just, quite simply, pleasing. Thanks!

quiky wrote: bleak: I didn't get the Jamaican, as you had recommended in your posts, but your input did lead me to Anyday where I picked up Durban Poison. Thanks for the tip! I will be going back to Anyday next time I find myself in town. Their outdoor/import menu intrigues me.

Nice one, I find the Durban Poison has a comparable taste/effect to the Jamaican High Grade, so you made a good choice!

LadyJane: Ah, so you noticed the Kindle background … Did you also notice that there is also at least one cannabis-related word in each photo? :)

There is no hidden meaning to the pinchy-pinchy photo, alas. I happened to choose it because I liked the photo and I liked the Planken. It also helped that I found the crayfish around the time and place I imbibed the Planken. I did indeed try to choose the photo that best represented the high, however, whenever I could. The blurry action shot I took in Schipol, for instance – I felt the steely weirdness of the pic best matched the effect of the Silver Pearl.

I should also mention that I took the photo at Schipol while the Silver Pearl was winding down. Again, I cannot recommend SP for the trip to the airport :)

Like your avatar, BTW.

quiky wrote:LadyJane: Ah, so you noticed the Kindle background … Did you also notice that there is also at least one cannabis-related word in each photo?

There is no hidden meaning to the pinchy-pinchy photo, alas. I happened to choose it because I liked the photo and I liked the Planken. It also helped that I found the crayfish around the time and place I imbibed the Planken. I did indeed try to choose the photo that best represented the high, however, whenever I could. The blurry action shot I took in Schipol, for instance – I felt the steely weirdness of the pic best matched the effect of the Silver Pearl.

I should also mention that I took the photo at Schipol while the Silver Pearl was winding down. Again, I cannot recommend SP for the trip to the airport

Like your avatar, BTW.

Thanks!

Yeah, I really liked the way you had cannabis related words in the text. It was like "Where's Waldo?", I kept looking to find them. =)

My favorite non bud shot was the one with the metal ape that you took with the Sour Diesel review. I can appreciate art, but I don't have the "eye." This was great. I imagine, he looked like you felt. ha ha.

The ape is apt for the Sour Diesel. Its body language captures the melancholy of Diesel. It helps that the SD was in full swing when I took the photo ...

I don't have the eye, either. I just take a dozen photos of the same object, and post the one that comes out best. Thank God for digital cameras :)

Strain: Blue Saguna (sp?)
cs: Boerejongens
€: 9/gr
odor: Weak. Of pine sap once pulled apart.

It went to Bij and asked for Blue Amnesia. They were out of that, so the clerk directed me to Boerejongens … so I went to Boerejongens. I told the 'tender there how I asked for Blue Amnesia at Bij and how they were out of that. He suggested the Blue Saguna. Blue is blue, right?

Blue Saguna (spelling?) is strange looking stuff. Fuzzy green nodules sprinkled with green sugar. Picture marijuana crossed with a muppet.

BS couldn't smoke better. It forms an ember that stays lit, and it's gentle on the inhalation.

What does this pot do … It keeps asking for chocolate. It's an easy indica teddy bear that's needy for attention. All it wants is to be fed chocolate, alcohol and rock 'n roll, repeatedly.

There's no edginess to this bear. You squeeze it and its foam innards just love you back. The BS is an indica. Like, wow.




hamster: maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=...

Great write up on the grass and unusual parts of the City. Regarding tipping, I recall Reefer had a tip jar at their counter, go figure.

I'm feeling this very good Canadian stuff as I write (oh, yes), so let's see if I can write a coherent sentence.

A recap, long overdue:

special:
Purple Power (outdoor, Homegrown Fantasy) – Fun. The perfect balance between a high and a stone, with both poles present and euphoric. Stronger than expected.

Afghaan Haze (Loft) – an obvious, sensation-needy Kush propelled upward by the Haze. A familiar stone done really, really well.

dysphoric, but special:
Silver Pearl (Barentsz) – The stongest weed I've tried in Amsterdam, without qualification. A jarring, all-head ride. Clear. The right choice if you're ready to wrestle with a bit of anxiety. The right choice if you're up for an experience.

nice:
Durban Poison (Anyday): A golden dream. So mildy euphoric. I picture weed from the '70s being like this.

Planken (Kashmir) – Functional – and motivational? Doesn't sound good, but it is. Kinda unique.

Sour Diesel (Chapiteau) – Ah, Diesel. That cool, confident high with that fine melancholy. 420's NYCD came to mind. Maybe a bit stonier than the NYCD, though.

Godbud (Chapiteau) – Half a Diesel: the cool, confident part. I was glad to be high on this stuff when I was walking on the outskirts of Zaandam in the drizzle.

Cheese (HGF) – A warm Nescafe moment. Vivid. Vividifying. Elegant. I can understand why people like this.

alright:
Mean Martian Green (Grey Area) – Kicks in with an interesting poke to the aural senses. Fades quickly to an unmemorable buzz. Probably better when taken in larger quantities? Harsh on the lungs.

Twisla (hash, De Bommel) – When you're smoking this stuff, all is forgiven. (Me, worry?) An escape from the world. A terrycloth bulletproof vest.

Paars (outdoor, Loft) – A mild, transparent, speedy high.

Blue Saguna (Boerejongens) – A generic, plush hug.

Santa Maria (Kashmir) – Another speedy high. A repetitive prod. Unremarkable.