Bookends- still telling stories with new PICS Sept/Oct 2011

[FriendlyEdgar]

Great stuff as always!

soooo... I just went through the thread again looking at your pictures... are the "girls in slutty outfits" pictures from Amsterdam or Switzerland?

[alpen rock]

slutty outfits lol!!
I assume most of these pics were taken in Zurich lake parade??

Great instalment, I love the last picture (wet pebbles)

Unfortunately I missed the era of Henfshops here

Too bad fr you...that was a unique experience, a wind of freedom was blowing in the fat green pastures of switzerland!!but it didn't last unfortunately!!excellent outdoor and greenhouse stuff fr cheap CHF!!Indoor weed IS good, but that "terroir" touch is something else IMHO...superb local hash also!

And yes, I still live between the Alps and Jura, more accurately

Keep them reports coming!

++

[ACDlurker]

Geeky, great trip report! I keep waiting to see when your new one will be up. Keep 'em coming!

[flexativity]

Please take the time to comment on travelogues when you read them. A lot of us writers (or at least me and my imaginary friends) are shockingly insecure under our brash exteriors. Also, everyone who reports here is doing it as a labor of love to help fellow stoners. They are taking time and effort to put themselves out there, and it feels bad when that sort of gesture is met with crickets. So please, do feed the writers. We rarely bite, but will often humiliate ourselves for attention, which is fun for the whole family.

True! I'm a total lurker but read almost everyones travelogues. It's the actual reason why I joined on this forum. I'll definately start commenting more...even if it's just to say "nice"

[Mike93]

[/quote]

True! I'm a total lurker but read almost everyones travelogues. It's the actual reason why I joined on this forum. I'll definately start commenting more...even if it's just to say "nice"[/quote]

This is me. I really enjoy reading and browsing the forum.

[geekymonkey]

I'm still trying to finish the second half of this, so I'll get back to everyone individually later today. In brief, thanks for all the nice comments, and coming out of the shadows- it makes it so much more fun for me!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mellow Yellow's Nepal Pollen, Amnesia's Nepal Pollen, Katsu's Pollen Nepal, DeGraal's Super Pollen

I was bringing up the rear as we entered Katsu, as trying to text Marco and walk at the same time proved way to much for me after our two-alarm smokefest at Media. I entered the dim shop to find it packed.

“No room.” Gapie said to me.

“Yeah, let’s go somewhere else nearby. Is there anywhere close with vaporizers?” We had originally picked Katsu with verdampers in mind.

“No. I don’t think so.”

“How about De Graal? That should have enough seating right?” Marco was going to join us, putting us at a rather unwieldy 7. “I’m just going to buy something quick- wait for me please because I don’t know how to get to De Graal?” It is so nice having someone along to do the navigating.

Gapie nodded and proceeded to herd the cats outside while I stepped up to the crowded bud counter. I think it was all the hash that was making it hard to read, but the letters swam. I let the guy behind me go ahead and make his purchase.

In times like these it is critical to narrow things down, so I focused on the 20 euro hash deals, and when the busy blond budtendress turned her gaze on me I had managed to make out a few names. “Can I see the Pollen Nepal and the Paroc please?”


Katsu's Pollen Nepal

The paroc (Pakistani plants grown and processed in Morocco) looked dry and didn’t have much aroma.

What I hope I was thinking: Gee, it would be interesting to try another low-end hash to compare with the zero-zero from 1e Hulp. This smells like chocolate, which I bet my Mr. will like. Also, I have four hashes that profess to be Nepalese Pollen hashes, comparing is fun!

What I suspect I was thinking: Lots of Hash. Big. Drool.

To recap: probably the worst purchase I’ve ever made in Amsterdam, and all my own fault. What I did not do: get the budtenders’ advice, or even think much. What I got, some (too much) cheap hash that was weak and tinny tasting. It did make clear though, that 1e Hulp’s Zero-Zero really was lovely and quite a deal at 7e/g.

Moving on…(literally)

I again failed to text and walk for the short trip over to de Graal, bumping into my husband several times and a bike rack or two while trying to convey the change of venue via text to Marco.


De Graal's Super Pollen

The dealer counter at De Graal is just inside the door, and I was the last to make my purchases while the group found seating inside. The scene was relaxed, with the bar on the main floor full with regulars. We found plenty of room upstairs, and joints were already being rolled by the time I made it upstairs with my selections of Amnesia Haze, Super Pollen, and Gardela.


deGraal's Amnesia Haze

A lit Amnesia Haze joint was passed to me before I even had a chance to sit. Gapie confirmed that it was from De Graal as I hit it. The clean tart grape candy flavor was punctuated by an undercurrent of vanilla and rich haze. I took another big hits before I passed the joint on, savoring the warm lift from the sativa.

Before I even sat down I passed Gapie some of Mellow Yellow’s Cheese and the bag of Gardela, which was oily and dark. I smelled it again before I handed it over and my head swam with the rich spicy floral aroma that reminded me of fennel pollen and Szechuan peppercorns.


Mellow Yellow's Cheese

Jerelo had been kind enough to offer to buy a round of drinks for everyone, as a thanks for our collective hospitality, which was super kind of him. I offered to help facilitate, and all I can say is that it’s a good thing I spent my school years waiting tables on the side. Just as I had finished getting everyone’s drink orders, the Amnesia Haze joint made its way back around to me.

If you know anything about this geek by now you know that I took a few huge hits, feeling a wave of warm tingles run through my body. My head floated down the stairs next to Jerelo, and I impressed myself by remembering the correct number of mint teas, lattes, and hot chocolates to keep the group running.

While the pleasant gentleman made our (surprisingly affordable) drinks I took in the atmosphere of the shop, as I was way too high to make conversation. Comfortable arm chairs, lots of chess boards, quiet locals, afternoon sunlight. The shop looked lived-in, comfortable rather than cool. Homey. A radically more mellow scene than the bustle at Katsu just a few blocks away. And the Amnesia Haze was undeniably nice, with a warm sensual body high and a bourbon-vanilla undercurrent to the haze candy flavor that still lingered on my tongue.


De Graal's Amnesia Haze

[cattales1960]

wonderful crawl. LOL cant wait to hear if Marco ever caught up with you. lol.

[Trouble13]

love it!! making me even more excited for my trip keep it coming please!

[Old Timer]

Top notch as always! Thanks

[Lamont]

nice installment!!

yeah I discovered deGraal for the first time myself about a year ago, and the Amnesia Haze I got there was the best example I found over two weeks in the Dam.

[geekymonkey]

More soon, and I'm going to try to pick up the pace before my next trip at the beginning of April.

yeah I discovered deGraal for the first time myself about a year ago, and the Amnesia Haze I got there was the best example I found over two weeks in the Dam.

It was actually your report that got deGraal added to my visit list. (Plus whoever had taken the amazing pictures of deGraal's hashes- that white gold picture still haunts my dreams.) So, Thanks for the great recommendation . Your description of the Amnesia Haze totally stood out to me (and I am the biggest amnesia haze monkey.) I agree that it was great. Among the top 5 I've had in the 'dam.

Too bad fr you...that was a unique experience, a wind of freedom was blowing in the fat green pastures of switzerland!!but it didn't last unfortunately!!excellent outdoor and greenhouse stuff fr cheap CHF!!Indoor weed IS good, but that "terroir" touch is something else IMHO...superb local hash also!

And yes, I still live between the Alps and Jura, more accurately
++

I've been lucky enough to come across some outdoor swiss mountain weed and it's been lovely. A friend of mine's uncle grows some every summer and he usually gives me some as a gift. It's actually piqued my interest about outdoor, and I'm hoping to get settled in Cali quickly enough to do a few outdoor plants there once I can have a legal garden. I've never had any local hash, my local market is way sketchy for hash.

Lucky you to be (I assume) in the French cantons where they seem to be moving towards legal personal growing again.

That's beautiful country where you are. Are you generally above the fog line? That's my one sadness for where I live, that I am below the fog line for pretty much all of the year. But when it burns off the light is spectacular.

soooo... I just went through the thread again looking at your pictures... are the "girls in slutty outfits" pictures from Amsterdam or Switzerland?

Alpen is right, those pictures are from Zurich's annual Street Parade. It's one of the largest "street raves" left in Europe. It's a fun party in early August. Worth a trip if you're around at the time.

aa05084, flexativity, ACDlurker, chillers2, Fred, Weed-o, Slow, Munkee, Catt, Old Timer, Trouble13- Thanks so much for the nice words, and for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it. Cookies for everyone.

[geekymonkey]

Club Media's Hindu Kush

My brain was a million miles away floating on a cloud of pure thc when I feel a tap on my shoulder. “Geeky?”

“Yes. Marco?”

“Yes.” Real names were exchanged and Marco was sent upstairs to join the group. Drinks were stacking up on a tray on the bar, and I eyed the tray, weighing my intense stone vs. my mad server skills. The shop keeper saw me eying the tray, and a look of panic crossed his face. He grabbed the tray and with an overly bright smile said, “I’ll follow you.”

I thanked him profusely when the drinks were safely delivered to the low table around which we formed a loose circle. No sooner did I sit than another lit joint was passed to me from Cisco and I hit it hard. My mouth was filled by a rich lemony spiciness and the deep kushy stone rolled over me instantly. My head felt heavy. “What is it?”

“Hindu Kush from Media.” said Cisco.


Club Media Hindu Kush

I hit it again (and again) while I stirred sugar into my latte. I had opted for the Pot of Gold over the Hindu Kush at the dealer's recommendation, but I made a mental note to pick some of the Hindu Kush if I happened by Club Media again. I succeeded in holding up my heavy head but I lost the battle with my eyelids and they drooped to half mast. I watched the joint make its way around the table, followed by big smiles and sleepy eyes.

Gapie handed me the cheese and gardela joint to light. The smoke was dense and grippy in my lungs and I exhaled a huge fragrant cloud of musky skunk and spicy licorice. I licked my lips and immediately hit the joint again, my head swimming deliciously. The gardela had a soaring stoniness, almost reminiscent of good Nepalese temple ball, weighted a bit towards a truer stoniness, more grounded. My notes say something about Morocco and Pakistani plants, but I'm not sure if that information came from the menu, the bud tender, or a little bird. I am 100 percent sure that the gardela hash had the lovely anise undertones of my favorite kinds of oily black hash.


Mellow Yellow's Cheese

Feeling seriously stoned I was glad to have the sugary latte. I pulled out the other half of the Champagne Haze I got from Club Media.

"Sick of rolling joints yet?" I asked Gapie, as I was happy to give him a break and roll one.

"No. I like rolling." So I passed him the rest of Media's champagne haze alongside a chunk of the super pollen from deGraal.

The Super Pollen was reasonably pliable, although still hard enough that it was best chopped up in the grinder, which Gapie did in short order. I paused in my perusal of the hash long enough to hit the cheese and gardela joint that was still going around. It was completely yummy and so I smoked on it a bit, savoring the interplay between the earthy cheese flavors and the bracing aromatic notes of the hash. The combined stone rumbled through my brain like an earthquake, leaving me feeling loose and warm.


De Graal's Super Pollen

I held the joint so Gapie could hit it as his hands were full of weed and hash, then passed it on to my husband. He was happily chatting with Marco but he paused long enough to tell me how much he loved this combination. My attention strayed back to deGraal's Super Pollen, which was the color of light brown sugar. I couldn't resist smelling it and when held up to my nose I detected lemon pepper and rich sandalwood.

I had barely put the hash back in the bag when Gapie was trying to pass me another unlit joint.

"Isn't it your turn to get the fresh joint?" I asked him.

"No, it's ok, you go ahead."

"You are too sweet, but really, have at it." I handed him a lighter for emphasis. He sparked it up and hit it a few times before passing it to me. I hit it too, glad for the lift of a sativa after the murderous round of hindu kush and cheese joints. The champagne haze was still lovely, especially now that it was complimented by an assertive sandalwood and cinnamon flavor from the pollen. This combination seemed to bring a warm energy with it, and I felt myself perking up.


Club Media's Champagne Haze April 2011

When the joint came back around, it had me reflecting that the champagne haze had really been nicer in April, but even at non peak it had a nice yeasty flavor and a warm elevated high that I really liked. Also, there was a little harshness on the exhale that had to be coming from the hash as I hadn't noticed it earlier. On the plus side the super pollen had a happy buzz to it that seemed to put a pep back into the table. I turned to Cisco to get his opinion, to find an empty chair.

Oh no, we lost Cisco. Did he go up in smoke? The more pressing question at the time, if the underlining in my notebook is any indication, was:

Did Cisco meet the ninja turtle?


Stay tuned my party peoples.

[BigDanHaze]

Nice report, loving the descriptions. The pics are very nice especially the herb and girl pics (2 of my fav things in life). Thanks for taking the time to keep this journal up, I appreciate it.

[ACDlurker]

Loving the descriptions of the herbs and hashes. Sounds like epic smoke was being put in the air. I wish I didn't smoke tobacco so that I could get some of the flavors and smells you get. Is your trip in April before the 20th and QD, because if so it would be great to get a mini trip report or just a top smokes list before I and others head over to celebrate.....just a thought

[gapie]

lovin it
thnx geeky