I have been waiting for Bea’s visit since few months until the day she arrived, picked her up at Hbf, went back home, had ramen…..suddenly….. my voice’s gone!!!! I c.a.n.t. s.p.e.a.k!
Next day I did WFH only transfer my phone to my colleague as I barely able to utter a word. Called it off after not even two hours. She was isolated in the living room, did her home office there while I was on my bedroom.
Half of our plan still go through which is crossing out as many places we can from my Gutscheinbuch. Nothing is able to stop us from eating 🙂 you can see most of the time I only drink Tea with Ginger and I carried 2 hot water bottles with Lemon slice on it.
We’ve had Kuchen at Cafe Kompott, lecker!! It’s my first time being in a Ukrainian restaurant.
Cafe Auszeit for Breakfast. I’ve been there with Kinga for Kuchen too so I know this place is good.
Klubhaus1249. I had Schnitzel boah the portion was giant, Bea had Burger. Although we have all time in the world to finish it, I couldn’t however she nailed hers!
Hoshino. I really like their Bento Box!
Wonder Waffel in Hörde. We also have in city center but I want to show her Phönix See as the other tourist spot for Dortmund.
Tequilaria Bochum, some mexican food.
immergrün Dortmund. We finally have a healthy food, salad yo! save it on her last day 🙂
Besides eating, we’ve done some other activities too such as:
Had an appointment in Salzgrotte where we just lay down for 45 minutes in a room full of Salz.
Watched a Musical Express in Hansa Theater. I didn’t expect the show will be 3,5 hours + 30 mins break. I thought it will be 2 hours max, we kind of dragged down the average age on that show haha #Finally, we weren’t the older one. I feel very happy to see rather senior people still actively go out with friends or family watching musical show. This is what aging suppose to looks like 🙂
On the weekend, we went to an Escape Room in Bochum. We managed it within 1 hour with some helps from the operator. It was actually a beginner task but since we both read Chinese, we think more complicated that it has to be.
Since I knew she likes Manga, I took her to Düsseldorf, walking a long path the Little Tokyo. We had our lunch in my favourite Takumi Tan Tan Mian Shop 🙂 not for Ramen though haha
At first we planned to go to Movie Park, I saw my improvement day after day, decided it’s not worth as I am for sure not be able to stand on a line nor sitting on a roller coaster. On her last days staying with me I heard sometimes she’s coughing or sneezing, I kept asking “do you need my medicine? do you have vitamins?” God please protect her!
It was really nice having Bea here, selbstverständlich it would be better if I was healthy so we could do what we intended to do. Sometimes, life takes an unexpected turn. Sorry to give you the full week silent treatment Bea!
Approaching Taylor Swift Era’s Tour in Europe, my Instagram filled up with her new or old feeds. I am no more a rookie Swiftie, I know she held a secret sessions for her fans one month prior her album open for public. Well, here I tell you my own secret sessions, consist of secret people who all “failed” to keep it that way 😉
The first week of March was a busy week for someone who their works has something to do with importing tools from Asia as it was the Köln Fair meaning all Asian supplier will be there. In another word, our Agent from Far East are coming 🙂 We have a guest! Meet Nilesh, this was the first time I met him personally, all this time we only meet online. First few days he didn’t stay in Dortmund but once he stays here, time to turn the valve, let off steam.
Welcome to the 2024 Secret Session! The Errors Tour 😉
Remember when I told this secret is neither secret nor exclusive anymore? Who can’t keep it? First is Nilesh, he ask his friend Abhi to join, I don’t even know him. Second is me haha I told Esther about Amigo. He wasn’t sure if he can come as he live and work somewhere else but he will try his best to make it.
Me and Amigo texted few hours before on where to show Nilesh, options are Hörde or City Center. Unfortunately at that day there was a strike for Bus & Bahn. In the end we decided to just come to my place, do a home tour, have a drink nearby.
It was the first time Amigo step into my apartment, his real first one was only until stairs to handed me Rewe groceries as I was positive. I gave him my best slippers which to him the unmanliest ever. Hey this slippers has been travelled from Netherlands-Shanghai-Deutschland, very international!
I do the apartment room tour where these two kept commenting about how big my place is in contrast to how small I am, yo you don’t understand this apartment is generational!
We gave up the idea of waiting Abhi, decided to have a drink without him. It took him forever why? the real reason is not because there is no Bus or Bahn as my place is only 20 mins away from Hbf, rather a series of errors: Nilesh give him my address instead of Schmackes plus he carried a big luggage and two backpacks. Me and Amigo was shocked! O.O where is he going? what is his intention with those stuff? most important, what’s inside?
Why Abhi is not on the picture? Dude, we just get to know him, he didn’t earn his badge to be included on our secret sessions yet haha! We literally waited for him to arrived to take us that picture, why didn’t we ask the weiter? For whatever reason, it’s a no haha
Gracias Amigo for inviting us for drinks, just my two cents don’t do it often to the Alcoholic #You know who he is 😉
It is not about drinking, I have Histamine Intolerance remember? haha it is about what was happening on 10th of February? Three things: Indonesian Election Day, Karneval and CNY.
Felicia really want to have Hot Pot in Düsseldorf on CNY, even though it was on a Karneval day, translates too, it might be very full which was true! the RE Bahn was very very Klebig, however nothing could stop us!
Andrea joined the Hot Pot as I knew she always willing to try new food! I wore Cheongsam from Claudia, Feli wore something red #In the CNY mood!
It is an all you can eat hot pot & grill ~excluding drink~ for 29,80 Euro. I took FLEISCH!!!!! every damn time!!! They do have a range of collection though I kept taking the same type. For drink, I had Plum 酸梅汤, love it!
We went from 19:30 – 21:30 my suggestion probably it will be better to finish at around 19:30 which means starts 2 hours earlier. Why? Because at some point when we finished the dinner, they don’t refill the dessert anymore hahaha Other than that, all good! I can imagine, I’ll come this place again: Hot One ~ hot-one.eatbu.com
Don’t forget about fortune cookies! it is a must everytime you go to Asian / Chinese Restaurant. Mine says: Toll, dass Sie sich von Problemen nicht irritieren lassen!
On the last weekend of June I suppose to have some kind of eating weekend #too good to be true. There are two food festivals, the German one aka Gevelsberger Kirmes and the Indonesian one aka Festival Soto dan Sate. Like always, there was not the case.
I didn’t know about Kirmes in Gevelsberg until Claudia and Julia was talking about it, decided to join either one of them. On the D day, obstacles arrived one by one. Claudia had a Wasserschaden, Julia wasn’t sure what time she will be there because she will gather in Dodo’s apartment together with other people then go to Kirmes. I adjust my plan, instead of meeting them there, I’ll go to Schwelm to be with them first.
On the way to Dortmund Hbf, checked which Gleis is the train boarding to Schwelm, got another news instead: it got cancelled!. I could took their alternative way by taking RE + Bus + RE Bahn meh! too much trouble. Texted Julia, skip Kirmes this year, took Straßenbahn back home #failed.
Few minutes later got a WA from Andrea asking what am I up to. Well, since Kirmes is falling off, I’m free again. Both of us went to Phoenix See, had Sushi in Bestfriends Sushi #We are Best Friend yoooooo hihi. Your visit to Phoenix See is not complete without ice cream at Kuhbar, for sure we’ve done that too #yummy!
Only to know later on Monday that Rene was also in the BestFriend Sushi, didn’t notice him, he merged well in the German surroundings. Anyway he didn’t shout or wave or whatever #German! told him by next time he should’ve scream #Asian
DB Bahn please works on Saturday! I want to attend the Soto and Sate Festival in Sankt Augustine. During the whole 2,5 hours journey I texted with Pascal, the German guy from Frankfurt event last month, unfortunately his train got severely delayed whilst mine wasn’t #surprise, for once DB Bahn does it’s job.
It was an outdoor event with 3 tents, before I got the sit inside the tent, I stand under the shadow of a tree #what a Baum! Look around what could I have, there it is, Soto Bandung! the portion was rather small, asked if I can get more she said no as it was instructed that way with the purpose to still have space to try another food pffffff, I ain’t tourist yo. Ashley brought me pinky drink, contains nothing but sugar + chemical stuff hahaha it’s good though! definitely needed under that kind of weather. I forgot to take picture of it, saw another girl having it too, approach her to take pictures using her still full drinks. And that’s kids how to make friends 😉
Her name is Heba from Syria, she was sitting on the front line where the consulate should sat… at that moment, there are still free seats, why don’t we took it? sat our asses #I ain’t moving. There is a box of bread in front my eyes, according to her “oh it’s belong to the consulate as well but I saw other people taking it too”. Girl, I am one of the other people!
Ashley started her Angklung Performance, we ate the bread then Pascal arrived! He knew I would be on the front because of my friend’s performance, yeap good guess! Later on, Heba didn’t want to take it anymore and I said “we already took one, its not ours so we already steal one what’s the difference between stealing 1 and more than 1? it’s either don’t steal or keep going” #logic.
Instead of coming back to Dortmund, I went to Frankfurt with Ashley and Ongky plus two additional passengers Vivi and Anira 😉 it wasn’t planned until Ashley asked if I want to join them running the next day? They registered for Staffelmarathon…. gave few seconds to thought, I was wearing my new on schuhe, let’s go, I’m ready!
When Ongky was on the dentist, we went to have Boba Tee from The Alley! Boba Boba Bobaaaa! #Boba Queen. Went back home, had Sate Ayam. Perfect!
On Sunday I called my birthday Sister, her first birthday as a mother!
Right after, we met the other 2 runners, Bunga, Rubi and their little daughter. Little daughter sitting on the stroller being pushed by Rubi #thumbs up! We did start pretty late, it was already 10:30 the sun was crazyyyy I could only ran for 2 km, the crew go further.
Sat on a bench for a some time, walked around 1km, in the end we meet again to eat Japanese food.
Feel so ashamed as they finished 6km whereas I only 2km #fufufu -_- The conclusion is I can’t do sport under heat, this is the 3rd time I felt bad because of it, can’t do it anymore #lost cause.
Although I didn’t mean to sing Gayle’s song, I can’t help myself 🙂 I wrote a series of Vitamin ABCD without slightest knowledge it’ll continue to the next alphabet, yet here we are!
What would be the representation of letter E?!
Eschborn!
Never heard about it? #me too. It all started at the end of April when I met Ashley and Ongky for the first time in Dortmund. We “knew” each other because my father and Ongky’s father are friends. Ongky had a Seminar in Düsseldorf then they drove to my favorite Italian restaurant 🙂
Prior to our dinner, I always texted with Ongky’s wife, Ashley. Thinking back, it was kind of our blind date as we didn’t have any video call before, I mean…. we are Asians in Dortmund, it won’t be that hard to recognize 😉
During dinner, she told me there will be an Indonesian Festival in Eschborn. The Indonesian Consulate General asked her if she’s interested to participate on selling foods. She hasn’t really confirmed at that time, however as the times goes by, I know they will have a stand, so I’ll definitely go! I already realized right there and then that she is a good cook as no one would offer her a stand if she can’t cook and it’s true! She brought me her signature PemPek TOP TOP TOP! I couldn’t sleep that night, woke up at 23:30, fried the PemPek, proceed to ate it! I slept happily after that heavenly snack!
Times get closer, let’s dig into more serious matter, where is Eschborn? its about half an hour from Frankfurt using S-Bahn. What a coincidence is my Archery photographer, Daniel Cuesta also in Frankfurt on that weekend, I told him, he’d better be free on Saturday to go with me to the Indonesian Festival 😉
We found the place! we were a bit confused with their disguise entrace. I thought it should be an outdoor event therefore I kept looking on tent or something that could represents as an event going on, na ja! it’s inside the building. OK. First mission, found them!
The building was OK, many people already sit on the chair… which not belong to them yet they treat it as if it’s generational, they won’t leave it for a seconds! We had to stand in kind of sharing table thingy. Good things we stood there though, we met another guy, precisely he was standing with us eating, I heard him saying “the sound system could be better” directly whispered to Daniel “he’s 100% German” “why?” “German stereotpye, always complaining” 😉 he was indeed completely right! the sound system, the mic, the loud Indonesian customers on behind, everything was horrible. I can’t hear anything what the speaker said. Poor man!
We started to talk to him to some point he asked “why are you speaking in English?” because this Mister right here is from Mexicooooo haha he’s not Indonesian, come on, dude, it’s written in all of his face. We asked the basic stuff until we know he came a long 2 hours S-Bahn journey only for this Indonesian fest! what an honor! thank you! what is more surprising about him is he was everywhere in Indonesia! from the most touristic place to less touristic place, he already plan for his next holiday to Indonesia, on top of everything, he had a Spotify playlist for Indonesian songs, boah! respect! Finally I know a foreigner who comes to Asia often other than the other way around #once in a blue moon!
At 18:00 there were some culture performance on the second floor. Me, Daniel and Pascal were confused (again! nope we are not dumb! the building floor plans confused us) where the damn stairs? I saw a kind of back stairs with an A4 paper stick to the door written “hausmeister” “treppe zur Bühne” guys lets go here!
We arrived, they haven’t open the official stairs yet but we were already inside. Few minutes later more crowds are filling the so-called auditorium. Opening speech, memorable ‘plakat’ were given, yeap, skip skip skip, performance please 😉
Dancers, singer, angklung performance were all out. Guess what? Ashley played Angklung! She didn’t tell me before, what a nice surprise 🙂
In the middle of the event, I was a bit worried if Daniel got bored… on the other side, he cant do nothing anyway hahaha suck it up!
A rather “old guy” (he refers himself like that) sit next to Daniel, he got some questions… so I, being an Indonesian, answered him. He came with his Philipine’s wife, he knew Bandung, from all the place?!?! turns out his ex-girlfriend was from Bandung haha. They stayed until the end, for the whole event I was sitting next to him. Until we were about to be separated, his wife wanted to take a selfie then he said “let’s ask her (read: me) to be in the camera too” I took it as if they won’t mind to have their picture here 😉
A saxophone + band act as our closing performance, they were amazing! all photos and videos about the performance comes from Pascal’s phone.
Here is the recap of Indonesian Performance
Hey! its a culture exchange thingy, they do have some performance by the Germans 🙂 The choir did sing one song from Mexican folks, La Cucaracha. Daniel was “whaaaaaatttt”
That’s our experience in Eschborn 🙂
Daniel comes with me to Dortmund, one step back on the Alphabet 🙂 we didn’t really do much… due to the reason, there is not much to do here haha here are some activities we did when he was here, the rest off to Düsseldorf + Köln by himself.
Jump to alphabet F, I had a seminar in Frankfurt from Facebook regarding finance thingy. Since the seminar is in Frankfurt meaning I went to Ashley and Ongky again yeayyy!!!! their apartment is amazing! the one you wish you could have #Genie, that’s one of my 3 wishes!
On Saturday morning we had a video call with my family so my father could see Ongky again after some decades aparts. I had PemPek as breakfast! best best best! Sister said “for sure Ashley is a good cook, otherwise Marlyn won’t come to Frankfurt” #Im sold easily by food 🙂
They drop me to my Seminar hotel, Ongky said “make sure the Seminar is really there” I was afraid it turns out as a scam or MLM that’s why I prefer to go alone. Long story short, it was actually a nice one, I might join again as a paying customer if they hold it next year 🙂 Afterwards, we went for a Korean food.
We also did some sport heyyy! run 5km! we gained calories while not burning so much haha #this is life!
Thank you beautiful people! Something as regular as eating, watching, sightseeing, even fucking running is more fun when you have friends around. Happy to be able to do it with you 🙂
She’s On The Money book for Irina – checked and checked 1000 times or else she would reject my arrival! #I have no doubt #It’s foreseeable
Food during my at least 4,5 hours DB Journey to Amsterdam – checked. Why at least? Because DB Bahn ist genau bekannt für die Pünktlichkeit.
Was my train delayed? certainly! there was some Chemical thingy happening in Venlo (btw Venlo is already Amsterdam) while I had to take another train from Venlo to Amsterdam. A glimpse of hope appears when ICE train on the next platform also stopped there. That ICE bound for Amsterdam from Frankfurt, perfekt! Hop on to that train thinking they could have taken another track, hoping I could have arrived earlier #innocence
That exact ICE has no clue when it will continue the journey, had to wait inside for about 1,5 hours before everyone started to panic. The guy sitting next to me called a Taxi from Amsterdam asked if they will be able to pick him up in the train station. There was a couple, she is a German while he….somewhere from EU, Spain or Italy or so, she was very active in searching a way out. She thought to take Uber to Roermond as it’s a bigger station then took any train to Amsterdam. I, on the other hand, stand by…. well, honestly not really stand by, I was more eavesdropping 😉 30 minutes later, the girl said according to Twitter, the firefighter already cleaned Venlo’s track hence all trains are able to departs again. Yeay!! Without further due, the machinist only blew the whistle once dann los geht’s! #no warning #no waiting time
I was so hungry when I finally reached Amsterdam Central. Irina was still working anyway, I got to eat yo! Indonesian food it is! What else other than Warung Made 🙂 back to Sarah!
I really felt like home in this Warung, chilled for a long while until the rain is somewhat bearable to continue my journey. Truth: it’s never bearable, welcome to Amsterdam 🙂
She got cat sitting job right after her normal job therefore I had to be at home alone, decided to take shower, put all my equipment at her bathroom. I brought my own shampoo, conditioner, face wash, basically everything except soap. I saw her soap was put upside down, lift it, felt empty…hmmm… doesn’t matter, shampoo works perfectly fine as a soap too.
Finished, made myself comfy at her armchair with Fatty, wrote her via WA “btw you soap is dead” she asked if I finished it up. No, it’s already dead that’s why I had to use my shampoo.
Long story short, it was only an illusion, there was still some left had I tried open it. Not forget to mentioned, Irina is the type who always have a back up after another back up, there is still a hidden soap behind the closed cabinet. I took shower with a soap for the rest of me staying at her place 😉 #just so everyone conscious.
Perhaps Salem had to do revenge during my soap drama, he throwed up while I was sleeping, not literally on me, rather on the blanket. It was around 3AM, for some reason I felt Salem on my thigh (100% it was him, if it was Fatty I would got up as he is very very heavy) then I heard some choking noise. I’m not a light sleeper, I was only half aware by the time I knew some food already out of his mouth. “Irina, Irina” she woke up immediately and told me, you take the other side of the bed, I directly went asleep again zzzzz
On the weekend, we were fully book with brunch! Saturday we met with her friend, Diana at brunch Cocotei. Our agenda is to go to Amsterdam Dungeon even though I’m not a fan of horror. I went to the one in London when I was 16 or 17 yo boy oh boy! it was amazing! I still remember it so well, that scared the shit out of me, except now I’m older I wanted to see if that shit still scares me or not, thus I agreed on it.
We arrived earlier than our admission ticket, we were waiting in the supposedly creepy room. The waiting is the one that kills Diana and I. Long story short, we went in with 20 other people, it wasn’t so scary, the act were more screaming in a way that supposedly shocked us, sometimes they succeed, most of the time they weren’t. Hate to say, it wasn’t really successful #imo I think the one in London was much better, less communication.
Diana need to go but our next bitch come, Terezaaaa! with her, what did we do? cake-ing! #sweet tooth gang! Live from Amsterdam.
I bought 2 cakes to go, guys, I have no idea what went wrong in the whole conversation:
“I want to have 2 cupcakes please, 1 red velvet, 1 carrot cake”
somehow she took out a big box with 4 holes on it, she put 2 red velvet in the hole…..
caught her in that action, I said “No, I meant 1 and 1”
Her action after it was even weirder, she took 1 box for 1 cupcake so it will be 2 boxes.
before it went too far, I need to say another “No, No”
out of the blue, she put 2 red velvet in one box and 1 carrot cake in one box to me.
I clearly have no idea where her logic coming from, what kind of illusion it is. I…. had to say…. again….”I meant, 1 red velvet and 1 carrot cake in one box”
she changed the box unhappily.
Girl…seriously… you coming from another planet? Tereza and Irina waited in H&M next door. I told them the story, they said “don’t worry Marlyn, it’s a Dutch service”
Although we were not too hungry, we went to Warung Made again hahaha! I want to introduce them the new Indonesian restaurant I discovered 😉 I know Sara would be there however when I get in there was a white blonde lady….oh! Where is Sara? haha very polite ehhh!
Irina went for cat sitting right after dinner while I went to her place to feed Salem and Fatty, they must be sooooo hungry! They lead me to the kitchen as I opened the door. Yes Salem I know! We’re sorry, Fatty you’re always hungry anyway 😉
On an Easter Sunday we decided to go to Utrecht. In my opinion it’s a mini Amsterdam. Sadly it wasn’t so alive due to it was on an Easter Sunday. We still can see something, it was enough for the grasp that Utrecht is beautiful.
Our destination is to reach the famous Gelato ice cream, did we take a straight way? No way in hell #got distracted. One of them is by getting in to Kelly Expat Store #We are an expat yo! It sounds fancy but basically it’s a shop selling American food brands hahaha. What other shops that opened on the holiday? Souvenirs shop! Magnet for mother – checked.
Reached the famous Gelato Roberto, I had a Broodjes with 2 scoop of Ice Cream. The place is small, there isn’t a proper place to sit outside of this shop, there was only a “bank” (auf Deutsch) attached to the wall so we sat there having a view of other people waiting in line to get the ice cream. Fuck no I ain’t leaving the bank, my ass need some rest haha
Utrecht is the origin of Miffy, there are many of this statue around city center. In one specific red lights they have Miffy as their icon. Just like Ampelmann in Berlin, here is Miffy in Utrecht.
On the way back the train didn’t stop at Tereza’s station so she need to get out from another station. Yeay! more time with you!
On my last day, we finished Jeffrey Epstein Series. There were still some time before my train, clueless what to do? While I tried to re-heat the bagel, Irina screamed with joy “Marlyn, Netflix understand us! there is a movie about Ghislaine Maxwell ! let’s watch it!”
Wait, back to the bagel story. I was informed there is a bagel in the kitchen, I can cut it half, put on the air fryer facing up then spread the Frischkase. I’m so lost in life, I spread the Frischkase first so I can’t put it again into the air fryer otherwise I’ll messed it up more than I already am….pfffff what can I do without her.
Once the movie ended, my gut told me to go to the train station. It was too early, more than 2 hours from my real ticket. When I just arrived the Dam, I got notification that my middle train, the one that is from Venlo to Germany got cancelled hahaha! Am I surprise? honestly no however it didn’t meant that I’m calm. I’m still panic #not at the disco. Since I was there earlier I just took whatever train available, most important it will take me to Dortmund. I reached home one hour later than I suppose to be, bottom line, made it!
Although it’s not a Lake Como holiday like our bitches Anu and Louise, I still had my fun! Looking forward pho next time bitcheeessss!
The Clash has London Calling and Berlin has Marlyn calling 😉 This second part of my Berlin story I named it “Marlyn invited herself” as she starts to call her friends that might be available by the time she’s in Berlin. Lucky me, I got to see them all!
First, contact Nico! He has a brother that lives in Germany, I can’t remember where exactly in Germany but Nico made it so clear last year he said “Whenever you go to Berlin you need to tell me and I will tell my brother” Booyah!! Supporting reason to visit Berlin 🙂
Sebastian is really really cool guy, I like him and he looks exactly 99,9% like Nico! People definitely can see they are brothers, had Nico didn’t spend so much time in the sun, people will think they are twins haha. Sebastian chose a restaurant called “The Big Dog Berlin” what the hell is that? what a name for a restaurant 😀 I told him I wanted to have a Berliner wurst so this is the place.
Surprise surprise the place was closed! with no announcement what so ever, Sebastian was so upset, he complained to JW Mariott (because it owns by them) and JW Mariott just say “yeah, not so many people today so we just close” pffffff but kein Stress, we will figure somewhere else. We walked through Potsdamer Platz and Sebastian said the traffic light here was the first traffic light in Germany, oh cool! a bit of a history haha he wasn’t sure if it’s the first in EU but bestimmt in Germany. We went to Sony Center and in the end we had Obatza and Schnitzel in Paulaner 🙂
Then, I asked Radite-my highschool friend who studies in Landshut, he has many Indonesian friends like Christo for example. But more importantly (not that Christo unimportant heyyy), he connected me with one of my high school friend that I haven’t met for 14 years, Gita! Little that I knew she is heavily preggo now! what an amazing surprise!
Radites sister gave him a “wide angle” thingy for taking a selfie, because both of our iPhone is not the latest one so we don’t have this function but thanks to this thingy we can have something similar to that. We were so dedicated to test it at first but since the difference wasn’t so big and it’s annoying so we ditch it right away haha
When I’m with him, we had mainly Asian as a big meal but we also have Western breakfast, snack or brunch whatev. However, best of the best is Indonesian food! whoaaaa the taste really close to home! Thank you Nusantara for bringing our food to Berlin! We went to Gita and Budi’s house and ordered a Vietnamese food. We met with Christo and had Japanese food.
Of course I am a member of Girl Gone International Facebook group where I got to meet empowering ladies that lifting and supporting women. I joined a couple of GGI Zoom movie film meeting. The organizer named Trish from Ireland just moved to Berlin in July. Heyyyyy, Carlos also has a friend, why don’t I met her too? I actually already met Fabi one time on Carlos bday so just ask him for her number, easy peasy 🙂 We had a brunch at The Father Carpenter, this place is really good! Waited for one hour due to it was so crowded on Sunday but it’s ok, we have time 🙂
Last but not least, I contacted my online German teacher, Michael. I wanted to meet him because when you see someone all the time through a monitor, you feel like he is a movie star so you got to meet him haha. At the beginning, I can’t meet him due to the time doesn’t fit in his schedule, but one thing lead to another, good that DB Train has a streik and didn’t operate so I had to prolong my stay in Berlin, in the end I can meet him 🙂
I met him for a early coffee before I came back to Dortmund…..and….. being a German he said “He won’t smile on the picture” and he did it 🙂
Berlin is very very very international, we can meet all people from everywhere here. Reminds me of Shanghai, I miss my Shanghai people so much though XO but life goes on and I’m doing well in Germany 🙂
I like Berlin already and now I like Berliner, double thumbs up! Until next time, peps!
I noticed some bunnies and eggs chocolate in supermarket and my mind directly know “oh Easter is coming” but I never really remember what date is that as my feelings towards Easter is different from my feelings towards Christmas, not that I don’t know what Easter is, I exactly knew but… yeah
Few days before Easter, Moeke posted in one of my Fb group.
Hmm… I didn’t know that people give other people gift on Easter, this is totally new for me. I remembered that I was searching for eggs or decorated it when I was a kid but not really having chocolate or do any celebrations. Ofc Im one of the girls that commented hihihi…..
I directly forget again that Easter is real holiday until my colleague asked “What will you do on Easter?” hmm…. working? and she said “it’s a public holiday Marlyn” really?! so people don’t go to work? No! #mind blowing! This was the first time that I know, as in Shanghai we don’t have Easter and in Indonesia…. I can’t remember it… Im away from home for too long. So we will have a good long holiday! too bad it’s corona time otherwise I already go somewhere and explore, well at least now I know when to plan my holiday next year #schlau
I met with Moeke to get my first ever Easter gift! So happy there are still strangers that cares about other strangers and brought joy to my life, just one simple gesture of care in Fb group was able to restored my faith in humanity 🙂
Thank you girl, maybe it’s common for you to do that in Netherlands but little did you know that it’s my first ever Easter gift after almost 30 years living in this planet Earth 🙂
Since its a long weekend, Julia asked me to come over and have a BBQ together, why should I say no to that? Hell yeah! Took a train to Schwelm and found a “decoration” in my room 🙂
Another bunny and eggs! so it’s really a big deal yeah for the European country 🙂 We were sitting in Julia’s balcony to enjoy a bit of the sun with Decke on our body because it’s kalt! while Moritz prepare the BBQ, what a good combination.
This is also my first BBQ not only in 2021 but also since hmmm….. 2020 I’m not sure maybe also 2019! haha times fly so fast yet so slow in this special pandemic time. The next day which is on Friday, we aren’t supposed to eat meat but…. what can we do with the sausages? we can’t just throw it or leave it for the next day? Bring it to the table please!! Together with the colorful eggs and bunny Brötchen. Is it a front or back side of the bunny? Let you guess 🙂
Then I’m back to Dortmund and on Saturday I met with my ex-classmates when I learn German but since we had online class so this also my first time seeing her in real life, Silvia! and she’s just exactly crazy as what I had on my mind #Marlyn’s feeling is correct!
There are so many first things happening to me in this Easter time. Not only know what I already known that Easter is a holiday but most important is I finally get the feeling of it!
Julia needed to take me back to Sparkasse for opening another account and after that we wanted to have dinner somewhere since she drives a car anyway so I got to choose the place of where to eat. I was in doubt between Indian or Greek food but the winner was…. Mongos!!! haha
They have the famous all you can eat deal for 2 hours for 26 Euro excluding drinks. They have many many meat options, vegetables…but when there’s meat… why should I choose veggies 😉 Because I knew about bigger future is coming soon therefore I saved some spaces on my stomach and what exactly did I do? I only had a high protein chocolate pudding!
However when we back to work again after lunch, my stomach is not in line with my plan…I was craving for something and the only snacks available in the office was chocolate, at first I only ate one, then go another, then go for candy and if it’s still not enough, go to Daniel, he must have something and he gave me the ice cream bon bon from other colleague’s table and it is not an ice cream or anything close to ice cream, in fact it’s another candy! oh my this is so not proper lunch…
The appointment with the bank guy took longer than I expected so as you may guess, my stomach is getting bigger and bigger! I was so happy when we finally arrived Mongos!
There are 2 types of deals in Mongos, first is the one that they weight the food you are taking and the second is the one with appetizer and dessert…. and I went for the…. second one! The appetizer was soup and snacks platter. The full snack platter was 5 dishes but I only like two of them which was tandori and spring rools so I only had that two types for my second appetizer round.
Then we went to the main dish! look at these options! we need to choose what sauce we wanted and the cook will cook it accordingly. I had the classic beef with BBQ sauce.
Of course the first round wasn’t enough so we went for the second round but the food waiting for the second one was so long! oh no… I had zebra meat together with Malay satay sauce.
I wanted to go to the third round but the zebra meat was quiet tough so I went straight for dessert 😉
Savings for a bigger and brighter future indeed a good things but it does not apply in all you can eat food haha! The craving in the afternoon is def not healthy at all, I should’ve eat my lunch, lesson learned 😉
Hungry…. I am so hungry…. I have no foods for my own…. Oh I’m so hungry…. that song from Akon with a little bit of switching some words was exactly how I felt last Sunday. It was already passed dinner time but I have no appetite but hungry yeah how to explain. I was hungry but I had no clue of what to eat and what do I want to eat, not that I didn’t have food on the table but I was not willing to eat it.
I kept opening the fridge to see something that I can grab a bite, I did had some snacks but not a proper meal. I was kept asking “whats to eat?” and my father also gave me some suggestion: McD in front of our home? pasta? this? that? but I still don’t want it and he said “my fried rice?” and my eyes were wide open YESSS!!! he said “but we need the seasoning from Indomie noodles” so I checked whether we have it and yes we do!
My mom was in her room at this time watching a live streaming video so she didn’t know what me and my father doing. He said “okay, seasoning is here, we need egg, ketchup and tomato sauce” and it’s everything that it takes haha in less than 5 mins my dinner is ready 😉
He said these are the emergency ingredients that I should have no matter what, where and when.
For my whole life, I probably only seen him in the kitchen cooking like less than 10 times. That’s why it’s worth to take pictures of him doing the cooking! Without a doubt I know that he can cook, he just lazy of doing the dishes because we don’t have a dishwasher! and nope every other household also don’t have it, it’s not common here in Indonesia.
