Oh noooo….. last year was my parents, now it’s come to me! Like Mufasa talk to Simba, “it is time”
How can I schnorre mich again? mwahaha 😀
It Ends Tonight – Part 2
It’s Too Late
It’s a Tulip Season hey? Still? Wrong! already the last stroke, look at that? barely alive, waiting for last people to pick it up then it’s gone, we are just toooooo late to check the Tulip, its toooo lattteeeeee. Lesson for next year, better go to Düsseldorf beginning of April!
Okay, we still have Botanischer garten, meh wasn’t my favourite either. They have the Kugel like a Las Vegas thingy, however nothing compare with Singapore Botanischer Garten. Germany, you’d better keep up. Confusing is I kept seeing Real plants with the name “Real” what are the other than? do we have fake plants in Germany? Also, Echte Feige (real figs) the explanation said a story from the old Testament about Adam & Eve… yo I’m pretty sure the fruit is apple! so how “real” all of these can be? #I’m thinking.
Then to the failed Japanese park which is very sad because it’s only one small pond and some trees, we did saw a corner of Tulip there, what a glimpse of hope.
Oh well… Bright side is all of those places are for free, do I want to visit for a second time? Not really haha
Easter holiday Ausflüge done!
Harry, Is That You? – Part 2
Moving on to Paderborn, we booked a Nachtwächter Erlebnistour, obviously it started when Sonnenuntergang at 20:30. What did we do before? made the Rundgang, visited the Adam & Eve House where actually a public library, Dominik suspect only Paderborner could apply for a library card, were so lucky someone opened the door so we can sit & chill for a while.
We were such an uncreative tourist haha ~ brings me back to Innsbruck memory with Joe to take a selfie and only selfie it is with the Goldenes Dach ~ here it is the Dreihasenfenster. If it’s written a must found, then a must it is. We even took a further length for it 😉 Funny enough, we found the first clue inside the Dom.
After checking the inside, not there, we found a storage room haha on the way to getting out, hmmm a section where it is under construction looks intriguing… perhaps? bingo! saw the Schild one more time. Oh no? What to do? Germans usually not want to break the rules, however curiosity got the best of us, zonk, couldn’t find it. It’s the job for our Nachtwächter later.
Our Tourguide ooopsss Nachtwächter appeared out of nowhere, I was sure few seconds ago he wasn’t on the meeting point, then I turned my head, there he was! He was very in his role, in the way he verkleidet sich, his voice, language he was using all in the Verganenheit. I like him! With his robe + Dom on the background, he looks like Professor Snape! We were on Paderborn at Saturday evening, its neither Karfreitag or Easter Sunday, the Dom has some kind of “meeting” where in my opinion…. it does look spooky…. let’s move on, shall we?
He explained back in the day, at night, the farmer will release his livestock that’s why they build the wall. There are some house who still have the real Paderbon wall, impressive hey! He said his job was to patrol around in the evening especially after 22:00 to make sure all candles are off. What happened if not? They will knocked the door, if no answer, he asked “what is this stick I carry around?” it’s “General Schlüssel” 😀 because broken door is cheaper than a burn down house.
He guided us to the same same but different Dreihasenfenster, we found two! one in the “gate”; second in the Fenster! I’m satisfied 🙂 “Der Hasen und der Löffel drei. Und doch hat jeder Hase zwei.” I do believe he wanted to guide us to Adam & Eve House, however since I asked about the Dreihasenfenster, I think he forget it haha. Thanks God, we’ve been there #Wink!
Paderborn is famous for the Landbrot. He explained 3 urban legend story about it. First is about the fact that it can hold for a very long time, if I understand it correctly even after WW the smell is still very pungent. Second it, it taste so bad therefore Napoleon? throw it to the floor said “it’s for my horse and his horse name is somehow similar with Land” then it developed to Landbrot. Third sounds more reliable one, yet forgotten. You can skip this part I’m sure I have a blur memory regarding it hahaha
Unfortunately we have to go back to our Post Kutsche before the tour done. He said “if I missed the Kutche, we will see us in the Rathaus”, of course we didn’t miss as DE Bahn late, I kept seeing Fatamorgana if the train will be in our Gleis, it’s not… until it is.
Day two checked!
Sugarbomb
We are now officially on the Easter holiday, what to do when you feel like you want to go somewhere but your wallet doesn’t let you? haha #On budget 😉 Deutschlandticket is the answer!
Searching what is still distance-wise possible plus what to do there? As a regular #On budget travelers, I always look for a “free walking tour”. Why? You gotta come back with experience plus one tick smarter haha. It was a bit tricky with the Feiertage therefore everything must be mapped out precisely.
Since Dominik has nothing planned, we both packed up for these Ostern Ausflüge. I narrowed down to two cities, first is Aachen; second is for the next day #Wink. I remember QQ Dite said he has a friend who is opening an Indonesian Warteg called Warteg haha #Creativity to the max, they are already eingedeutsch 😀 let’s try then!
We were knapp inside the train, few seconds later then we have to wait for next one in one hour pfffff such a stressing morning. After a 2,5 hours train ride, oh boy gotta eat directly hey, you don’t want to see a Hungry Marlyn. Once we arrived at Warteg, Dominik said he need to go to the loo because he was feeling dizzy, oh no! let’s order some sugary drinks, what else other than “Soda Gembira” / “Happy Soda”, a bunch of sugars there ~ suddely a memory jumped in my mind, Thorben hadn’t had it when he was in IDN otherwise he would “die” from the sugarbomb!
The Restaurant is really good, very different concept from Toko Bersama or Warung Made, they have a real set menu. I found difficulties to choose as it all very delicious, I could feel it. He said not only that it looks good, it taste good too. I wish you Randy, Lina, Evelyn and all staff a sucessfull Warteg ahead!
Then we started our self-tour before the walking tour started, we kept coming back to the Dom + Furzbrunnen + Rathaus. I really like the view of the Rathaus, it gives me Hogwarts vibe, just amazing. I have to say the highlight is the Aachener Dom, what the hell is that? it’s the most beautiful Dom I have ever visited #Droll! The color, marbles, candles hanging on the ceiling, wow wow wow! #Speechless.
Strolling around without a purpose seems quiet boring hey? let’s find ourself a homework, a very easy one: find a store that is the same as our age. It took us some time to complete it yet we make it before our tour starts.
Okay what can I take from the tour? We started at the Aachener Thermal Bad, there is three Wasserhahn which looks like a Trinkwasser, it’s not, it’s warm. Then she started to talk about Printen which I thought a Drückerei? while Dominik thought of a Cafe? häää? guess what we both wrong, it’s a snack haha! I did had one in the office. We were on Easter and the Lindt Osterhase chocolate was made in Aachen! She also explains these characterical builings are 3 Houses next to each other. There is a Puppe in the city center where we can move the steel part etc, the characters there represents what the city of Aachen is, such as a Professor as Aachen also known for student city and a…. yeap only that I remember, you need to do your own interpretation hahaha Aachen also have a very small statue which reminds me of Manneken Pis, unless of course its a fisherman 🙂
Had Aachen is not 2,5 hours away, I’d say I’d choose Aachen than Köln, big times 🙂
Day one checked!
Discoveries
I discovered many new things during my stays with Irina 😀 from snacks to stores to experiences, let’s get to the bottom of it!
She brought me to Xenos, oh how I love that place, can get Asian snacks! Hope it will be spicy, it’s not #What have I thought pffff. She is the queen of snacks, the good one are keep beckoning her to buy it. Not only Amsterdam is heaven for Asian snacks #Power of Colonization! but also for sweets, we accidentally passed by a new Cinnamon rolls shop #Lecker lecker
Visited Thrift stores where I finally can buy pants for my size: two of it + two tops. Funny how I need to go to the tallest populations in order to get what fits me #Ironic. It is really an appropriate good stores, not smelly or disgusting, they really do take care of it. You can find everywhere here from tableware to clothes to piano haha. I kept questioning myself “how can I carry these to Germany?” 😉
Wow look at that, the opening bridge for ships, I saw it twice. Word from Irina “Look at this building Marlyn, you are standing in front of history from 1689” Gotcha, snap snap.
She known I won’t leave Amsterdam until I ate in Indonesian restaurant. Well, to get rid of me haha she make sure it happened. She found a new one called Toko Bersama where we got to meet Novrie. Look at our portion, it is massive and it’s very delicious too! We got free Krupuk + water + located near Irina’s + we had to take it home (read: got food for next day). Without a doubt, this will be our new favourite place.
Not to forget going to Warung Made, the place where I always went, to see Zara again 🙂 on that day, we got a bonus aka two new friends: Poppy and Tari! Our conversation started from the very normal wishy washy talk such as “where are you from etc” to sharing a personal toilet experience?! What?! Irina has a lot of it! she even explained the difference between the USA, EU and Asian one whoaaa hygiene engineering to the max!
I always like to go to Amsterdam, it is a fun city to visit, especially with all of these new discoveries, the game changes to another excitement level. Irina even says there are thrift store where I can bring my stuff then they will exchange it with “Points” to be able to use in their store; blew my mind. Say goodbye to my handbag signature, I’m coming with my luggage from now on 😉
Smart takes:
- Oh I took a FlixBus to Amsterdam remember? Guess what? two policemen came inside shouting “Passport control” yes it was written that I need to bring Passport, lucky me I actually listened. This was my first time I got ever checked; well….. to be honest, I usually took trains. He even asked questions like the Airport Customs: is it your first time in Ams, how long will you stay, where is your accommodation, are you on holiday or business. Bottom line, bring your passport everywhere even when you only crossing the border.
- Activate your “Data Roaming” just as long as you’re inside EU or else you couldn’t use your German phone number. Thank you to the young lady in the Sloterdijk Station for your help!
Tres B!tchketters
Amid my stress level, I knew I had to visit my biatch Irina, und zwar inmediatamente. When would it be? being #OnBudget you gotta calculate everything hey, before Easter that’ll be it, didn’t take long to got her confirmation, Fixbus here I come. One ripple sets off another to my other biatch Tereza, so great she’s also available to meet me! My serotonin levels got boosted by planning to meet my friends again, a great amount of endorphins release when I actually hug them.
When I arrived, she was surprised as I carried a proper carry-on luggage, yes this is what happend when you also do WFH therefore I couldn’t only come with my signature handbag haha.
Some requirements I briefed her, won’t leave Amsterdam until I ate in Takumi + Indonesian Restaurant, practically I still have to leave hey haha. She warned me that the Takumi is not that great, how come? she just came back from Japan #That’s why, everything is way better there! Even though they really do try their best to copy the taste, ain’t the same, Japan is whole another level. Their Menu is really different from what they have here in Dortmund or Düsseldorf, she encouraged me to choose a completely new flavor, was I disappointed? Nope! Plus point is they have Calpis! Bring back to my time with Eri in Shanghai or in Japan itself, I tried Calpis Cassis, both are good #Yum!
Prior to joining Tereza & her friends, Irina brought me to a veryyyy nice Australian Cafe called Five Ways, she mentioned all Cafe made by Australians are good, their cookies are to die for! #Figuratively. Irina still can’t take the Japan out of her, look at her Hello Kitty Leather jacket, so Japan! It fits her perfectly!
We gathered with our Terezaaaa ~ lady in pinkkk in Burger King, not so many restaurants options in the center that didn’t ripped your wallet hey 🙂 Then I wanted to go to Uniqlo so much as I don’t have it in Dortmund, do we have time? Yes because Tereza friends were only sitting haha I bought 2 pairs of clothing on Discount! yeayyy! #MoneyWins! Then we gathered with her friends, where to bring a tourist when you’re new in Amsterdam, obviously flower market.
We separated on the corner, we will meet again on Irina’s stand up comedy show 🙂 in Spanish #My first Stand up Comedy ever. Tereza got the jokes, while me…. no entiendo nada however I understand body language + facial expressions.
Who would have known that that evening could be my last time meeting Tereza as she will embarks on a new journey to New Zealand 🙂
Tereza, I know you are very looking forward for this move, strangely my heart feels a little heavy, I can only guarantee Irina’s felt 10 thousand times heavier. Rest assured we too are happy for you, it’s a double edge sword. Funny enough, you are geographically closer to my hometown! It makes me believe; somehow, somewhere, our paths will cross again.
I felt really recharged after spending time with my favorite bitches during the turbulent moments in my life. Irina kept reminding me that this is exactly the moment where my patience isn’t just an idea but something I actually have to live through. Even though it’s tough sometimes, I’m so grateful to have friends who help me laugh, breathe and keep going a little bit stronger.
To both of you: no matter where life takes us, to new jobs, new homes, or even new hemispheres, our bond will always stay. Here’s to friendship that distance can’t erase, bitches!
Love you loads <3
Alohabora
I’m literally a victim of advertisement if anything related to Harry Potter #Guilty of charge 😉
Before Halloween 2024, there were a Werbung from Haribo in Instagram, showing they will have a Harry Potter series. Waited unpatiently until Halloween arrived, been to Rewe, checked the sweets sections many times, WHERE IS IT?!?! days after days, months after months, I “forget” about it, maybe it’s not in Dortmund.
Until it appears on the shelf in April! Aaaaaa! gotta have it! Too bad they didn’t have Slytherin version 🙁 How does it taste? Exactly good like any other Haribo haha what a smart que to tricked the die hard fans 🙂
Double-double – Part 2
Just had a double-double celebrations! Lena’s 30th birthday plus their Baby Gender Reveal Party, all at once! #Celebrate good times, come on! at the place where Hainka celebrate his 30th as well as their wedding. Wo, so many doubles here 😀
Swantje + Alex picked me up at home since officially we are neighbors #Thank you Lena for contacting them auf den letzten Drücker. We arrived just in time before she started her speech. Submit our tip if the baby will be boy or girl. Who do I say hello at the begginning round? another Lena + Julius on Parkplatz, almost went with them had Swantje & Alex nicht funktioniert. It all began since PV so spät geantwortet, caused me bombarding other people for transportation haha. Arrived at the same time with Jana + Lars who put my jacket on the not Asian friendly rack, greets Thorsten, Anki, Lari, Lena’s parents, Papa Hainka literally his father not Andreas Hainka eventhough he will become Papa soon, Mick, cheeky rascals Hannes and Karl 🙂
First announcement, the Buffet is officially open! They not only look but also taste so good, I got each one #Nom nom. Jana asked if we should standing while eating or sitting? Obviously the later, we were the VIP as our table was right in the very front. Somehow we formed a group of 6 with Christopher, Thorsten said it was meant for Children seat. Valid for us too, we are all someone’s children 🙂 PV and Johanna arrived almost one hour later, thanks God I didn’t go with them, look at the food I could’ve missed #Priorität. Later, they joined our table too, from the smallest it became the biggest one to which got evicted as it was meant to be a dance floor.
Leute, this is my first Baby Gender Reveal Party I attended live, I’ve seen enough through the lens of Instagram to know usually they don’t do anything. However not the case for Hainka & Lena, they prepared a funny dance for us. What’s important is the correct song for when the Gender came “I don’t care, I love it” Then the clasical Simba! Nants’ ingonyama bagithi baba Sithi uhm ingonyama. Hmmmm seems the circle ain’t so circle #That’s why it’s called life. It took some time to hit the Pinata. Wowowowo, someone choose violence hahaha
I swear I saw somehow the color was blue, perhaps the light though, it’s a Baby Girl!!!! From our round, all women votes boys and other way around. Even though we know deep down, Girl is better 😉 #Who runs the world? GIRLS!
Right after the gender revealed, we were getting a Tüte with Schnuller went back to buffet to take some more sweets from the candy corners where Jana said “Marlyn, still no one cut the 30th cake” Someone has to do it #Challenge accepted! Hey Netizen, don’t judge me, I got an instruction from Hainka on the Messer whereabout. We are sometwo who has hearts, waited and said it should be Lena who cut it, when we came back for second round it still one piece, that’s a sign someone has to do something. She encouraged me “cut it Marlyn” I was so excited to be back to my 30, this is me defying gravity! Hey Jana, you’re also the accessories of a crime 🙂
We got back inside with our Tütchen this is where Jana found a GIRL PWR Gummibärchen, perfect for tonight, thumbs up.
Woaaa woaa, what is that? she could really bend it, then we started to twist our Zunge until Johanna said “I can do finger spagat is that count?” I said I can do real Spagat! From then on, I did too much Spagat in a day haha
We went dancing until time with Photo Wand, every Pair wants to have picture with each other, I can’t just let it happen hey? Spaagaaaatttt!
Thank you Lena for having me as part of this revelation and congratulations for Baby Girl, this baby will be loved so much! As a proud member of Club 30’s welcome to your best Era! As a supporter of Family, I’m happy a girl will be raised by you and Hainka, you’re gonna be a great parents.
Next time, I’ll see a little Leni 🙂
Thank U, Next!
Our boss always inviting his team for a BBQ at his house once a year in September. That’s when one of our colleague ~ Christina initiated a Party Weekend in Willingen. It’s all sounds very interesting, never been there nor knew about it.
October came with realistic date that our Party Weekend will be in March 2025, November was the time where we all booked our hotel. I kept thinking to myself, Willingen is less than 2 hours away yet we booked the hotel as if it’s an Ausland Trip haha. To my surprise, the hotel where most Nordwestler stays are already full. How come?
Last weekend in March it was, 28-31.03. Being picked up at 14:45 ish arrived at around 16:30. We five: CB, Robinhood, Haribow, Monicita and I stayed at B&B Hotels. Went to Rewe, CB was very smart he said, let’s take the car eventhough it was only 200 meters as none of us want to schleppt it. Afterwards we walked to our Restaurant for dinner, following a romantic way of a young “couple” whom we saw at Rewe #Stalker!
Their appetizer was rather a what the hell experience, food wasn’t I expected but acceptable. First club of the day is called Vis A Vis. Entrance 5 Euro only cash, both place and dance floor is small. Me and CB need to change our position to avoid me being knocked out in the head from some people who were dancing as if they were in the Halle. Me and Monicita went back at around 23:00, it was more than enough for me, CB couldn’t let us walk by ourselves so he accompanied us. Milena said “you can book a Taxi” no way man, we are ~ well I am #OnBudget 😉
After breakfast we were chilling until it was time to meet up at 12 AM in front of the Sailbahn. Didn’t get place in Siggi’s Hütte therefore we stayed outside all the time, from 12-16:00. Thank’s God they closed at 16:00 or else they will still there. Cost up of Sailbahn is 9,50 Euro #You can really walk honestly.
While all other people drinking, me and Tanja were playing on the Spielplatz, visiting the “observation deck”, ate Bratwurst 4,50 Euro. People, bring cash! Without her, I couldn’t even buy anything. Later Monicita also wants to go to the Spielplatz, our final act were doing frog observation. At last walked down, took opportunity to play with some snows left, chill a bit at hotel while watching Gefragt Gejagt.
Moving on to Pörtner room, have Sekt, had dinner with Monicita alone. Evening arrives, proceed to second club: Brauhaus, entrance 6 Euro plus locker 2 Euro. I like this club way more than Vis A Vis, we have enough place to breath. Wanted to go back but after everything has been paid to enter this club, I said to Monicita “Wir haben es schon bezahlt, muss ja durch!” this became our Mantra 😀
Last day, only frühstücken before ab nach Hause #Hourray!
How does it feels like? As a non-drinker, it’s too much, we do nothing other than drinking. Probably better if we have some sightseeings activities. In my view, you can always drink everywhere, no need to specifically dedicated weekend in Willingen. Overall experience? only Good to Erleben aber nix für mich.
It was indeed a good time with my colleagues, gar keine Frage, it’s not a cheap holiday yet to spent time with them, thinking it would be my first & last, from the bottom of my heart: totally worth it.
#Thank U, next!
Ice Rice Gummi
#Marnilla Ice
During the dinner of my belated birthday celebrations last year with my Freunde-Gangs, we discussed about Karneval 2025, how they have a friend who could get us the ticket. Hell yeah to my first Karneval! Julius immediately got a brilliant idea “Du kannst als Asiastischer Reis verkleidet” LOL. I kind of like his proposal, stay true to my roots plus experiencing German culture #Why not?!
That evening, I got serious, couldn’t sleep, was searching the possible Reissack material for my costume. Initially my concept was to buy a big bag of rice maybe 25kg one, cut the label, sew it on white T-Shirts. Or I could be a rice cooker? Claudia said, “no, people in Germany will think you are an Air Fryer”, back to Reis.
- How about this packaging?
- No, if you wear the real Asian Reis, no one in Germany would understand. I think you should go with the orange “Uncle Bens”
- Mehhhh, then the Asians wouldn’t get it.
- It was actually easy, your costume will be all white, take “Jasmine Reis” buy some alphabets and sew it on. Hmmm maybe not Jasmine or else people will think your name is Jasmine, Basmati Reis to the rescue!
Everything’s set! Feli came to sew my rice!
She was very dedicated!
Julius was “wow! Es ist wirklich gut geworden” yeap, all thanks to her 🙂
I’m very satisfied with my costumes, it’s a normal one, doesn’t have to invest too much money. We are not a crazy Karneval fans after all, perhaps….. I might can wear it again? or I become a hardcore fans? #Who knows?!
D-day, I did home office at Claudias, Alina arrived later, we inaugurated Karneval with Berliner then off to Stadt mit K! Alaaf. Arrived our Hotel, since our idea were only to drink, therefore had early dinner at Olymp.
Draumfess is the name of the place where we will go celebrate Karneval, about 300 meters away is our Hotel 😉 The celebrations starts at 19:11 but we weren’t there on time haha still on preparation. Claudia thought I could have the white hair spray too, as the color of the rice is white, turns out it’s only enough for hers haha
On the Draumfess itself, they have a system where we need to buy some coupon, no card transaction, everything is with Bar #Germany, come on. We exchanged it with the drinks bzw. Schnapps, Feigling, Kölsch und Wasser.
There were performance from Tanzgruppe Flamme vum Rhing and Porzer Dreigestirn that we didn’t see, that’s why we couldn’t beuerteilen. However we saw a very very superb band called Aluis! I like them a lot, they are all handsome too hahaha what a bonus 😉 They’re really good, not only their faces but also their music, swaying from left to right, jumping #Top top top.
Next band is Fiasko, I only like their last song, sadly I couldn’t find it anywhere on YouTube, the lyric was “machs Gut! bis zum nächsten Mal” 🙂 There was a kind of Coldplay moments where one or two giant balls were thrown away, confetti, etc.
In every Karneval, they have Princess, Bauern and someone else.
Then the Guggenmusik Zieefägge, I don’t know what to expect, they are coming with a Truppe. I felt a bit weird for the flag holder… I mean can’t you have a stander for your flag then play some instrument? Hmmm
Not forget to mentioned DJ Pultt for all the music in between live performances 🙂 Without you, who will accompany our drinking session?
After all of that, I’m d-o-n-e! When we return back home, we arrived exactly at 11:11, the special number for Karneval fans! I even sofort got back to Dortmund, need to lie down on my bed, getting old has never been real #Snozzzzeeee
Thank you my friends for the evening, I really like it! any events to let me turn a valve, let off steam, verkleidet, drink and dance to the…. Karneval music hahaha. Will join again! Perhaps I’ll upgrade myself by taking a day off on Rosenmontag! #Man immer schlauer werden.
