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The smoke twisted and spiralled around my fingers and mouth as if possessed by some unworldly creature unable to form the same pattern again. Heat deep inside my chest encourages my body to cough the foreign matter away but soon enough by conscious will ask for more.
Triggered synapses inside my head dulled like smoke on a bee, slow my sense of reality. Over sensitivity causes my eyes to become twitchy, as every movement gets carefully analysed by my brain. Cognitive thinking seems to be an out of body experience, my conscience delving deep into seemingly innocuous ideas. Questions get answers immediately as if the smoke has opened a parallel to a previously unknown intellect.
A slur in someone's speech sets off a somewhat uncontrollable giggle that when provoked can turn to a belly bursting fit of laughter. In control, the sound of music is mesmerising, as if the sound was playing from within my ears. Distortion seems non-existent and the rhythm and flow of each sound takes your mind and body with it. My foot taps to the music that appears clearer and more relevant than ever. My skin when touched seems delayed and slow like the closing of a Venus fly trap.
Welcome to Amsterdam!
"Where the hell do I get some food round here? I've never been so hungry in my life!"
Granted with such convenient locations to enjoy Amsterdam, firstly deep inside the city and then later slightly further out on the footsteps of the beautiful Vondal park. This park after sampling the offerings at various coffee shops was a good source of entertainment, especially when floating on clouds.
When the appropriate strain of plant was acquired, the scenes unfolded in the park as if in a Broadway production, spoken and directed by ourselves. Our oblivious actors taking the brunt of our laughter as we narrated the story of three men's plight to a swarm of foot stomping seagulls or the old man cycling his bike so slow we thought it impossible he could maintain balance and old Pablo cackling away with his mates.
You might in turn read this and think what I funny sight it may have been just to witness us, laughing and joking about, a new found outlook on the world. Thing is. . . . Everyone else is in the same boat. Nod to the passer-by down the street and a look at the colour of each other's eyes will tell you, we're pilgrims to the coffee shop shrine.
As a matter of fact 1 in 4 people that visit Amsterdam go to try the local delicacies. With over 300 coffee shops in the country they attract (insert number) million people to the Netherlands. That's not counting the ones going to see the ladies of the night. Don't worry they're all registered, work for themselves and get government health care. It's the safest place to be a prossie you can ask for.
This leads me to my next point and probably what you are all thinking.
"Must be a pretty dangerous place ay?"
Amsterdam is the 4th safest city in Europe, being beaten only by 3 cities in Sweden.
"Hay man, did you steal my chips?"
"Oh yea man they were awesome"
"I'm gonna punch you in the face"
"Violence never solved anything, man"
"Yeeaa your right"
"Want to smoke another joint?"
Well that's how I imagine a stoner fight to go.
They are no recorded fatalities from marijuana use and only 0.30% of users becoming addicted to "hard drugs".
My favourite story, during the 80's and 90's there was a massive influx of heroin users in the country with something like 10,000 junkies calling Amsterdam home. So what do you think the government did to stop this? Decriminalise weed and allow it to be sold commercially.
Opiate use dropped 80%. . . . 80 per cent, basically eradicating junkies from the street in one move.
I can see the negative side, I mean when you're a child you only have your family, your parents to guide you through the world. Make sure you get the best opportunity in life. Raise you in the standards they hold themselves. As a child and even an adolesant your opinion might not have matured enough for you to understand the implications of your actions and in that cause "drugs are bad".
But travel to me, definitely opens your mind and opinions, throws prejudice to the wind and allows people to see through fog which can restrict open thought. Seeing the stories from all sides and letting your mind foresee new possibilities. Opening up to different cultures and ways of life, unfortunately we haven't stopped in one place long enough to deeply envelop oneself.
Is it the purpose of life?
The search for ultimate freedom.
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