Here's how to swing like a local in Amsterdam

The name Amsterdam conjures up only one image – that of mirror flat waters of a maze of canals, and boats chugging up and down with camera wielding tourists. Throw in a cycle on a bridge for good measure and a tulip shop as a foreground, and you have an Instagram-worthy photograph. Fatigued by the profusion of canal centric experiences, I ditched the treaded trail and opted to spend at least half of my time away from the waterways. The results were astounding.

Browsing through blogs and guides, I narrowed in on places where locals would go to get into the thick of uber-creative neighbourhoods and unmatched drinking and dining scenes. Some history would put things in perspective, so I started with the well-documented walk around the city's red light district with Randy Roy Walks.

As masculine as the name sounded, it was quite the opposite. This was no man leading the walk, and she was certainly not 'randy.' Instead, Kimberley's (our guide) quick wit and subtle humour took the nervousness out of a seemingly embarrassing scenario. A group of us followed her through the oldest quarters of the city, where the red light district started and still is a raging commercial activity. She showed us the oldest adult stores, broke down the business of windows and its occupants and even walked by Oude Kirk, the oldest church of the city, which curiously thrived in the heart of this environment. The evening ended in a legendary speakeasy bar, Café t' Mandje, a landmark LGBTQ establishment since 1927. Cold beers warmed me up for the rest of the stay in Amsterdam.

A sunny Saturday is what you need to visit the oldest flea markets. I hopped onto a tram from my B&B and reached the Albert Cuyp market at 11 am. The grid of 300-odd stalls had just started stirring into action. Clothes, cheese, waffles, flowers, fruits, curios, antiques and fresh fish sprawled from one corner to another. I matched my steps to the lazy pace of other browsers, fresh organic juice in hand. Shopping was limited to a few souvenirs, but I gorged on fresh stroopwaffel with a gooey centre and topped it up with a beer. Hours passed in a flash, until my legs complained and it was time to rest.

I also decided to head to A'dam Tower and the surrounding area. I had seen the 'Over the Edge' – highest swing in Europe – feature on almost all the websites. The swing is fixed atop a 100-meter building. You get into the enclosure, get strapped on to your seat on a large metallic swing, and swoosh over the building's edge looking over at the bay and the city below. I was not quite done with one adventure, and the This is Holland (a 5D flight experience) was close by. Belted to movie-hall like seats, the audience 'flew' over the marvellous country, eyes peeled for everything on the screen – the windmills, tulip gardens and other iconic sites of the country. Rain, wind, sounds and visuals made this a delightful experience.

Out from the gravity-defying adventures, it was time to put my feet on the ground again. A short stroll around the Foam Fotografiemuseum in the same complex as A'dam Tower ended my day of non-canal experiences. I plonked on a grassy patch outside, thinking of the next thing to do. I have to admit that cruising down a waterway in a slow boat was an irresistible temptation.

A Unique Red-Light Tour

The red light district of Amsterdam is one of the only places in the world where Christianity and prostitution coexist. The district surrounds the oldest church of the city

Dutch painter Rembrandt was buried here in this church

You can get a tour of the red light district from former sex workers who used to work here

Marijuana is legally served in cafes in the area for adventurous souls