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Improvement

Background song: it’s the most wonderful time of the year…. not Christmas (yet!), more precisely Food Nerds annual gathering, in a style we know best ~ Tracht & Dirndl to our favourite season Oktoberfest 😀

After having a very authentic Chinese Lunch at Xiang, done set up at Claudia’s: I got the Sofa, she got the air matress, Thomas brought the pump. One last straw, getting ready for Schützenfestzelt where Drake was there during the opening day. Claudia explained that our tent is second Promi Zelt after Käfer.

Thomas went off earlier to meet Dan as he proclaimed he just wanted to say ‘Hi’ then stay for one Maß ~ spoiler: he didn’t, went through thick and thin of the night.

Familiar faces from last year started to appears one by one. Once we completed, hau reinnn, were welcomed by some finger foods, me likey! We all directly ordered our first Maß, the Nerdies told I gotta improved, don’t worry it’s on my agenda 😉 I’ll try to make it to the second Maß.

Started pretty good, almost ‘neck to neck’ with Thomas’. Right after, I lost count, he went through his fifth while I was still on my second mwahaha. I can’t get my Dessert due to lost track of time and space, more explanation: (A) Kitchen is closed. (B) Honestly… had it not, couldn’t get anything anymore! My Dirndl felt soooo tight!

Decided to walked around the tent with Elena + Janine. I had one mission: tried to find some Promi. Failed miserably, forget it, look at the crowd, it’s impossible.

Hours of laughter, dances, songs and drinks later…. 不知不觉 our evening of wonder has passed! Thank you thank you thank you soooooo much to:

  • The one and only powerful couple Claudia & Gio, not only for getting us a table in a correct side so we could stood up on the bench but also to gather the coolest crowd;
  • Janine & Thomas for opening your brand new house to me. I was there when your home was still full with Baustelle. Thomas didn’t accept money at Xiang, he said to me “Marlyn, you can pay me back with your labor in my Garden” hahaha hope I did my job well 😉
  • Kai & Coco who somehow amazed by how small I am? Well…. I’m consistent, was already this size since last year 😉
  • Stephan & Elena, I’m glad we got to talk more! can’t wait to see your next year’s Dirndl, what could it be? hmmmm;
  • To Dan for not only staying for one Maß like you proclaimed before, hope I can also meet Nino next year!

I’m so grateful Claudia asked me to join, getting a table on Oktoberfest is very challenging. Without you, I wouldn’t even able to experience any of it. Pictures & Videos don’t do the justice on how fun our night was 😉

Food Nerds main crew: Prost to our second & still counting Oktoberfest! #Mandatory picture on the Bavariaring’s elevator 🙂

Quiz time: do you see the subtle difference from 2024 to 2025? #Only Oktoberfest participants will know. What an improvement a year could bring 😉

Can’t wait for next year! <3

Oktoberfest 2024: In der Badewanne

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View – Part 3

Some times ago, my instagram was flooded with a new rising star called Damiano David. He was / is the singer from Maneskin who took a solo career. One look, damn he’s hot! Not long after his single out, he announced his world tour, knowing solely one song from him + only standing ticket available = bought it nevertheless.

Missed his first 2,5 songs not because I was late, rather I couldn’t placed myself, tried to find some gap. Went to the far back, second floor, all people wouldn’t budge, got frustrated, went back down again. Made my way to the corner, there I saw him! Where exactly? in the pillar’s hole, tried to go to the front of that corner, in the hope to get a “broader” view #Forget it. Other people phone kind of saved me though, they all have zoom capacity like maybe 30 times haha.

Up until his concert, I only knew three of his songs: Born With A Broken Heart, Next Summer, The First Time. But all other songs are easy to follow and good too. His voice is deutlich besser than his recorded version. After being on my feet for a whole hour, decided to step back from the crowd.

Then something better happened! Some of the viewers opened the side door, I could see him clearer. The lady infront of me was exactly my size, her husband is bigger, he was my hero! he opened another door! I was able to see him for his 4 last songs! Was very very front, behind the Baricade. A glimpse of happiness has come.

His show lasted for about 1,5 hours, the lighting effect at his last song was great, the crowd kept saying Zugabe. He re-appeared, was kind enough to sing two songs.

Disregard the difficulties of me seeing him at the beginning, I’m happy with his live performance. If in the future, he’s gone very big, I already say him once 😉 #Nailed it! Oh perhaps I should answer if he’s hot in real life? I wasn’t close enough to justify this, based on the distance I had, I think he’s just like any normal Italian guy haha

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Game of Stones

Me and Dominik just had our very first trip outside DE, it was happening on last week of July for his 30th birthday. Neither of us have been to Croatia before + I was FOMO because I have three colleagues + one friend that has been there, I gotta do it as well!

Our base was in the city of Dubrovnik. While we were still on planning stage, we saw so many tours about Game of Thrones movie set. Unlike him, I didn’t dedicate myself to watch it, therefore I couldn’t care less. Hainka has been there, he told me it was mostly filmed in the Old Town, I don’t need to necessarily join the tour, I still can go to those spots. Ahhh okay understood!

We flew in, arrived at our AirBnB around 01:00 AM. Our Host Zoran & Igor were waiting for us. P.S: I really like their place, located only 800 meters from Old Town…. chill… there’s no straight way in life, their place was up in the hill, you gotta be good at the game of stones #Stairs everywhere.

Regardless of Game of Thrones’ fans or not, you gotta admit, Dubrovnik’s Old Town has it’s own charm. My first time in East Europe and it’s not dissappointed 😉

The moment we step in the first alley, Dominik said “it’s directly given him a GOT vibes”. Not to forget the iconic scene of the series, if someone who doesn’t watch knew it, it does meant something 🙂 None other than the famous “Walk of Shame”. I guarantee you will find it, there where most tourist are!

We tried to familiarize our way through the Old Town first. Where does this path leads to etc until we found the beautiful corner near the Port area. The view of the boats parked + lights on the walls make it looks magestic.

You can’t really change what stunning hey? That area looks dazzling day and night time. We bought a Dubrovnik Pass (40 Euro) had one main target in mind: City Wall (the entrance itself 40 Euro). Will I be satisfied only with breakeven? No way in hell #Haben wir es schon bezahlt! Was kann man noch sehen? let’s tick it one by one and boy oh boy we did!

I didn’t want to be on the City Wall during midday, we unraveled what Dubrovnik Pass has to offer, such as: Rector’s Palace + Dubrovnik Natural History Museum + Friars Minor Franciscan Monastery Museum + Archeological exhibition ~ where I sat in the kids corner to “dig” some archeological stones.

Around 15:30, it’s about time to visit the City Wall, one more Museum to check: Maritime Museum. Little that we know, it’s connected the entrance to the City Wall. It reminds me of Great Wall of China. Take some water please, there was no shade.

Unless of course, the whole wall takes only about 1,5 hours max to walk haha in the end it’s not really like Great Wall of China 😉

Last spot on the Dubrovnik Pass of the day was Lovrjenac Fortress. Where? up the stairs, my oh my. I have no Lust for pictures. The entrance without the Pass is 15 Euro, in conclusion: get yourself the Pass! #Money wins 😀

Are we content with all the stones we seen? Noooo. It is not Marlyn if I don’t participate on Walking Tours. Our guide Antonia (Tonka) took us around the Old Town, which means I also got some behind the scenes theory of filming GOT.

What I like the most was how the HBO Productions supports the economy of Dubrovnik. It is extremely important to keep the secrecy, they didn’t want any spoiler to record them during filming so they need the locals who owns a restaurant / hotel to be closed. They paid them a big time a.k.a choose the highest earning per day then trippled it. They paid every house owner located on the “Walk of Shame” stairs to shut their windows for 3 days. Tonka explained there was a very smart grandma who kept coming back to his apartment during shooting, what did people do? They need to give her more money in exchange for her to not come close to the production area. Within those three days ~ rumours said the Grandma earned 1000 Euro, a phenomenal amount of money, talking back in year 2011.

Apart from the physical preparation to “play” Game of Stones, I love Dubrovnik, I mean… how could you not 😉

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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 🙂

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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!

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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.

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It’s Me, Hi!

I’ve got my first visitor ever from the Hungover Games, yeay! finally can show the city I called home for the past… ehem…. 4 years 5 months 21 days #Still counting ~ till the day Dennis arrived. I really needed this day-off more than anything therefore I was genuinely happy he visited me 🙂

On his first day, I showed him what Dortmund has to offer, which are: our version of 南京西路, instead of having 外滩 at the end, we went to Ubahn Station to visit our second destination, Dortmunder U. Dennis, the U is from the Dortmunder, not from the U-Bahn 的 U.

They offer free Museum entrance, it has two floors with quiet interactive videos or “sounds” instalation if we press the very well hidden button. At first we were confused on where does the sounds come from until the security told us then we proceed with moving our asses from one button to the next haha

There is a room where they explained about one specific painting, how they transported it around Europe. While we looked around Dennis realized “oh this is the real box”.

Dennis wanted to have a magnet of Dortmund, I brought him to BVB Fanwelt. When we’re done we went back to the Ubahn Station where I almost brought him to the wrong direction. He said “Darling, we just went straight, did you already forget when I said ‘such a nice path’?” haha

Off again to our version of 南京西路 to have coffee at Maximilian. Once recharged, continued our daytrip to Phoenix See, it is always good to show the manmade lake alongs with the big houses from rich Dortmunder. Closed the day by having dinner at Mukii. We weren’t convinced if we want to have All You Can Eat, our response was: are we gonna able to eat more than 36 Euros? Dennis answered, “well, we will make sure we reach it!” It was like a fun and strategic eating, in order to reduce food waste, we can only order 8 dishes within 10 minutes.

We formulated so many strategy such as “okay maybe not all rice, let’s do some skewers” Followed by “let’s have snacks like Edammame” Done it. No matter how perfectly our plan in the brain, the executing was a bit difference. After 3 full rounds, the Ipad will be unlocked within 10 seconds, Dennis said “Darling, we need to order again” Boahhh…. were really full. In the end we can only eat full of 4,5 rounds, they did forget one menu which we were so greatful #Thanks God!

On his second day, I do HO whereas he went to Düsseldorf, only to come back ontime to see our Proud Dortmund: Signal Iduna Stadion. Hainka picked us up at my place, we went to the Schwimmbad not for schwimmen, only to gangged up with his friend before the game started. Okay, this is the moment, moving on to inside the Stadion. We were there one hour before kick off, they have the Camera shot to audiences, I realized they shot our area but I didn’t see myself. Dissappointed…. no more! the camera rolled once again. Hiiiii, it’s me! me me me me, here! 😀

We did felt the Euphoria for 3 seconds before BVB Goal was considered as Offside 🙁 Nevertheless, it was a good experience, at least I was on the screen! although it’s not for people outside the Stadion, yet it’s good enough for my existence 😉

Tausend Dank für Hainka and Kowal um Ticket zu besorgen, 谢谢 Dennis for being my guest #Till we meet again 🙂

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Reel to Real

I spent too many times on my phone, saw one reel on IG where Mercado in Spain changing the way of dating, by simply putting upside down pineapple in their shopping cart for someone who open to date #I know, it does have another meaning in the USA. Sent it to Feli saying “I gotta go grocery shopping in Spain”, be careful what you wished for #Genie is hearing. Few weeks later she sent another reel showing the same concept in Edeka Germany. Do I have Edeka near me? Yeap about 1,5km away.

As if the distance is not a problem, it came literally to my Rewe!

They did put it in the middle, instead in the front where people getting in #OMG, complaining, proof I’m already eingedeutsch. Even Hainka texted me saying “you could change the basket”

It’s real, not reel anymore, didn’t I wished for this? After hearing Sophie grabbed the pink basket, can’t remember if Feli did that too hmmm… well, I’m not on any App, this is the traditional way where people got rejected for real and not with Emojis.

Proud me, I took it! did someone talk to me? of course not, they’re Germans! What do you expect 😉

Nevertheless I have done my part #Klopf mir stolz auf die Schulter.

First step is always the hardest, from now on I’ll be brave on taking any baskets.

#Anytime, anywhere 😉

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Good Karma

It was end of January when I #wie immer sleepover at Claudia’s, we were in the living room, Alina proposed an idea “let’s do Murmeltierlauf for 7,5km” it’s the virtual walking activity, you walk on your own then upload your results.

She meant to do it only for the three of them as they always do Sport on Saturday, the place was about 3 km away therefore they thought let’s walk to Sport and walk back. The Mascott is a very cute Murmel, Claudia even thought to buy the Medallion too, decided against it, cost too much money, let’s just pay the registration fee 5Euro. Alina clicked next “oh the Mindesteilnehmerzahl ist 4. Julius immediately “Marlyn, danke dass du da bist” #ins Schwarze getroffen. Haha Okay, let’s do it then, I’ve done the 12km Firmenlauf, I can do 7,5km lauf. “Willst du aber?” fragt Claudia, yeah, it’s OK but then we have to do it on a Sunday as we can’t really time the Saturday if the Bahn will be on time or not to catch your time after sport. With that say, I came back to Claudia’s the following week.

I’ve got the favourite number for every Chinese, 800! This will brings me luck!

Julius does have an extra tracker that he couldn’t wear anymore due to Metal allergie, he lend me #behaupte his Withings. We did the set up, at their place there are a lot of Bluetooth devices, “maybe this one?” nope it’s my watch “how about this?” also no it’s my phone.

We managed to find the correct Withings Bluetooth, we couldn’t connect it because Julius still have the App on his phone. He removed it and I said “don’t do that, I will only wear for today” of course not, it belongs to you now. Whooaaaaa!!!! good karma, what goes around comes around 🙂

I simply have to be on the right place at a right time so they can participate, in return I got a new watch with Fitness trackers! Thank youuuuuuu.

Since it will be like a normal spazieren at Nordwest, I wear jeans + leg warmer + sunglasses + heiße Veste + Jacket; while the three were sportier, they all have proper Wanderschuhe #Germans, always prepared!

Alina brought Wilma, a very smart dog! we walked on the Berg, the weather really plays a significant role, it was brezzy yet bearable. I did have a Gevelsberg view from the top. In the km where I thought already half done, only to get it shattered completely, was barely 2km hahaha oh nooooo. Julius commented “my friend, you need to walk” Hey I’m moving but I need to decide where to put my feet to the not so muddy grass.

Almost at the end, Alina found what could be my Lebensversicherung for this year Kirmes? Had it’s not broken, we already saved 13 Euro 😉 How long did it take me? Almost 2 hours haha FYI Father, don’t worry I’m not the last 🙂

Egal, Hauptsache we made it! #Sunday well spent, good job! Here is the compilation videos made by Alina 🙂

http://marlynpraseli.com/2024/06/30/lebensversicherung/

http://marlynpraseli.com/2018/09/13/daddys-rules-number-1/

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Yeah, Its Not Happening Bro – Part 2

My mom has a wide broad collections of fridge magnet for every places she or anyone in the family visited, it’s an absolute souvenir. I do not want to start with the same item / keychain or whatnot because once I did, I need to keep it durch #Couldn’t resist. What kind of Mitbringsel I opted for? mal earrings mal books.

In our family the one who always loves reading is Sissy, almost all books at our house belongs to her, I on the other hand only read Comics Doraemon or Detective Conan, even that’s very little. However, around 14 years ago, can’t simply remember where I bought it, perhaps Singapore ~ got myself two very interesting books consist of short “story” / “activity” although I’d never wrote it down on the book #Don’t want to mess it up haha anyone got the same point of view?

Anyway, out of nowhere I want to sort out my life by getting reading as my new hobby. I knew right away I wanted to start with those two books collections. Number 5: Where will you be five years from today? & Number 7: How many days in a week can be extraordinary? Organically I thought there will be 1-7. Then I realized on the bottom corner there is the website live-inspired.com

What?!?! it has been there all along yet I literally acknowledged it more than a decade later?! pffff if that takes me that long, don’t bother to think where will I be five years from today mwahaha #Hope not, jokes aside 😉

Unfortunately the customs + delivery cost to ship from USA to Germany is more expensive than the books itself. Amazon it is, a used version. Ordered Number 1: How many people does it take to make a diffference? & Number 2: How will you create something beautiful together?

Number 2 arrived, well it’s a book for appreaciating your partner #Don’t have any, can’t say much about it.

By chance, this book shattered me #Tragic. I thought my collection completed, nope! there is a number 10: What’s on your top 10 list?

Dude come on! Cant complete my stash now hey?

Back to their website, didn’t sell it anymore, feasibly they stopped printing it. The used edition from Amazon year 2013 cost 24 Euro! Aiyoyoooo monopolize at its finest. Nevertheless, I should buy it, otherwise FOMO will kick in!

Someday you’ll see my all-inclusive compendiums #Just not happening now bro 🙂