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Art Attack

Dienstag den 11.08 here about my conversation with Weilando

  • Marlyn, do you know was für einen Tag morgen ist?
  • Thomas Tag
  • Ja aber was noch?
  • Was könnte noch sein?
  • Sonnenfinsternis Tag
  • Hääää? Was genau ist das, habe noch nicht gehört

He has an idea to off work together, pick Dominik up, drove to Herten to see it. For that, I will for sure skip my sport! Ain’t gonna missing it, while talking he told me that we need to have a Sonnenfinsternisbrille… Owh, my smart ass thought I could just look directly to the sky… Amazon Prime won’t work as we were too late to realized it. Weißt du was? I do Feierabend now, spent 1,5 hours in the city center going one Optik + Pharmacy to the other, results: NIL. We were so unprepared, he was sure he can make it by himself. I’ve told him unless we can find the glasses, we won’t go, it can cause permanent blindness, not so worthy for it.

He is however a very DIY person, a very Handyman, he sent me reel at 20:00 from a genuine source about how to make a Camera Obscura, okay! our plan back on! Took Doms Panzer Tape + Aluminium Foil, built it in the office with many versions and sizes. Weilando asked: do you know Art Attack? Stimmt!!! Me and my sister always watched it but never done any.

Plan stays on, we picked up Dominik then meet up with Axel and Tanja at parking lot. We arrived the premise, so do a thousands other people carrying their made out cartons. We had to got some snacks from vending machine then march up the stairs. Choose a field to stand on, testing ur camera obscura… it worked!!!

To our luck, perhaps this lady took a pity on us because we need to bend up and down to adjust the light so she gave us 4 of her Brille!!! she said she bought it too much! WOW! Thank you Lady! Without you I might have a Kreislauf Problem haha

Thank you also to Weilando! Not only I wouldn’t know what to do without you, I would also miss this natural phenomenon 😀

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Gaming With The Gamers

About one week later after our Schwarzwald short trip, Stephan visited us 🙂 #Well, not really haha he bought a concert ticket in Köln to which Dom also followed him. What should we do with a gamers? Let’s visit Minecraft Experience in Oberhausen hey. They played it, I didn’t. I only knew about Minecraft computer game, also I had an ice cream 😉

It was an interactive playground where you each got cube as our tools to cut trees, open boxes, kill spiders etc, the ground also plays a role, we can step on fruits, or any other items to collect it as medicines or whatnot.

Selbstverständlich we managed to save the villagers 🙂

However, we still need to save a villager from starting a war = hungry Marlyn! Because this Minecraft is in the middle of der Pampa, we still need to drive to Oberhausen City, search for park place, go to the mall, search for the restaurants. I had my eye fixed on Spare Ribs! Three Sixty! it was delicious! Pass auf if they asked you for sauce, it’s not for free!

This village also saved 🙂

Happy Marlyn, Happy Life!

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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 😉