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The Moment I Knew

Andreas is kind of Kirmes’ fans, me on the other hand was only OK, apart from the public knowledge such as the biggest Kirmes is in Soest, I don’t know any ‘property’ of Kirmes: when its starts, where to get what from which stands etc therefore when he asked if I want to come to Kirmes Soest on the first day it started on 08.11.2023, my answer was yes!

We took Eurobahn from Dortmund Hörde to Soest. After several attempt to ask our colleague Maik or hoping Mike ~ yes thats 2 different person 😉 if he can drive us to Hörde failed, took the matter on our hand ~ take Bus instead. Lena joined us in some stations before arriving Soest.

Wiiiii! it’s indeed bigger, the location is direct on Soest’s Altstadt, surrounding by many old Fachwerkhäuser, makes the atmosphere even more beautiful! Like a Christmas Market minus the Glühwein + Christmas Baum.

As an introduction to Soest Kirmes, we had the rote Ampeln-Schnapps! It’s literally the translation of traffic lights ~ meaning 3 schnapps in one go with color red-yellow-green. I shared it with Lena, according to her we need to drink from the least favorite to the most, starts with Green. Had to agree with her, I do find green is the less tasty than the yellow & red. I like them both!

Moving to Langos, not this one, the Langos that parked near the Honig-Schnapps-Laden. Wokei, follow you! On the way there Andreas showed me Mr. Honig guy ~ he’s pretty famous in Kirmes area, owing to his singing ability that attract people to drink Schnapps with him, not all Schnapps, it has to be his Honig-Schnapps in his Laden.

I saw a girl holding a microphone in front of the Honig-Schnapps-Laden, playfully said “hello” to it, she proceeds with “oh do you want to say something to our DJ? you can say let’s come to Kirmes here is all great” during which Lena already on the way to the Laden, grabbed her arm, pull her to me as my morale Unterstützung. OK let me say some few words, after me it went to Lena then Andreas. I mean yo, you can’t just leave me #all by myselffff 😉

Wait, we haven’t even bought the Schnapps haha after our Radio-intermission, we had our Honig-Schnapps. What can I say? it’s sticky….the glass is cute which made from ice cream cone where we can eat, have to be honest, this Schnapps….gefällt mir überhaupt nicht iyeeeeyyyy -_- Anyway, the song! gefällt mir, something with cuk ku cuk ku cuk haha

Once we were out from his Laden, Lena met a famous 1Live DJ aka Daniel Danger, asked for a selfie, of course I also involved!

Besides food, there were some games, we played Frog. It’s 5 Euro for 12 frogs or so, I counted it was only 11 frogs! hey we are missing one! #Good job Marlyn. If we are able to put the frog to the bucket, we will get a gift, what could it be? a frog doll 🙂 did we get it? nope! there were some hits that was closed enough haha.

Even though the frog was not in our favor, we received a pleasant surprise when I found out the hammer we were using was a Promat hammer coming from one of my order!

Enough with the play, moving on to the carousel slash Achterbahn. Lena didn’t want to ride it, I was tempted simply because I don’t have this kind of carousel when I was younger. Before I became too scared or not interested anymore, it’s time to tried it. You can see how we ~ I meant me, still innocent before it starts.

I didn’t fell down except I got “kicked” from the girl next to me as we were all kind of jammed to each other and her legs were kicking my leg etc. We kept sliding over and over.

In comparison when I’m dropped dead afterwards. I felt soooo shitty not sure what could be the reason…. maybe I went after I eat Langos? Should I went before I had anything? hmmmm… not willing to test this theory #definitely.

I always carry an umbrella together with a plastic bag to put back the wet umbrellas into the bag. I told them I felt bad yet still walking until I can’t anymore…. I need to sit somewhere, on an Eingang of the Geschäft, me don’t care! I have my own Geschäft going on on my Belly right now. Andreas said “are you really want to do it?” Yes! we need to go to the dark alley since here is many people hin und her. I managed to do it, very little but it was good for the start! #facepalm

Walked around again, I do feel slightly better but there was still some unfinished business. Told them I think having a tea would helps, went to Kühbar and there is where I did quiet a number on the toilet, I was all out! Came out totally healthy again 😀 We closed our trip with finding a Bobatea-Doll! even as big as me! Life sized Boba!

Next year = no carousel! Not gonna ruin the Kirmes experience. Told QQ about it he replied “Remember your age, we can’t do that anymore” Yes! this conclude the moment I knew pffff not again! I had to stop or else it stopped me!

Oh remember I said few words on the microphone from 1Live? it got aired on Saturday, the Chef from our Kantine recognize my voice he said “I was listening to Radio on Samstag and suddenly Liebe Grüße aus Soest!” he said to his wife “this voice, I knew her” I don’t need to listen you say your name, I knew it immediately hahaha.

Insgesamt, it was a good outcome coming to Soester Allerheiligenkirmes 😀 Vielen lieben Dank Lena & Andreas!

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Ask Not What Your Country Can Do for You

Stop right there! We definitely need to ask!

OK some background stories out of it. Remember Lisa? The German Lady from my walking tour in Estocolmo? We had lunch together before visiting Vasa Museum, she said that everything in Germany is not much cheaper than in Stockholm, they are kind of on the same level, Germany is getting “more expensive” (with the inflation). Look at this, I bought a 72 hours public transport ticket, it cost me 30 Euro. Yes it is still more expensive than Germany but not much anymore.

After hearing the price of the public transport, I feel quiet weird because every time I tap my Master Card it’s written 0,09 SEK = 0,10 Euro… Automatically I felt I have the Vorteile of not buying it as it only cost me 10 Cents each time. I am not the type who put fuel on the fire, so just let it be when Lisa said it, I won’t say “btw I only paid 10 Cents” reason: a. it’s not helping; b. this is so not true at all! hahaha

Fast forward to end of the month, Erin need to renew her monthly card, to which I asked “why don’t you just tap like me?” see it’s always 10 Cents. I actually don’t understand why because if I eat in the restaurants, the real value is there directly, for example dinner 1390 kr = 119,94 Euro or 980 kr = 84,43 Euro. All are correct other than public transport one.

Moment of truth ladies and gentleman!!!! I was completely wrong the whole damn time! I have 0 idea why, SL (the public transportation) need 2-3 days until the real value came up to my Master Card. It all depends on the exchange rate sometimes one way fee was 3,33 Euro or 3,44 Euro or 3,67 Euro. Verdammt! She was right! Rrrr should’ve trust the Germans for sure she did her research before! Aaargghh! had I knew it, I would have bought that damn 30 Euro card! I used all public transport like no one ever just to know it hasn’t been charged completely!!!

Fuck fuck fuck! what can I do? Now it’s not lohnt sich anymore to buy the 72 hours as my trips approaching the end. On top of it, I already visited all the necessary sightseeing with always tap tap tap tap #Running out of money! What can this Scandinavian country offer me? Erin sent a link “free museum in Stockholm” aha! that’s what’s I’m gonna do for the rest of my trip with the rest of the money I have. How about public transportation? Nope, I’m gonna walk the whole damn day!

We will reveal it one by one:

First: The Medieval Museum

I chose the locker number that represents my age 😉 then I read a sign there will be an English tour whoaaaa There is a part where I remembered clearly is about a punishment for adultery, the woman need to carry a 30-40kg of weight on her shoulder while the man’s private part will be tied on a string and they have to walked all the city. However! most man will get away by paying the money while girl doesn’t have much money to begin with. What?! I hope I understand that part wrong except I wasn’t…. Oh see the brick wall? that was the real wall from ancient time, they found it when they dug die Erde to make this Medieval Museum.

Second: Moderna Museet with Erin

The free entrance was 2 hours before it’s closing. We did went through all exhibitions, sometimes our reaction were only ‘hmmmm’ didn’t think I understand it 😉 I do however understand one paint with thinking “are we in Asia?” once I got close yep! inspired from Thailand 🙂

Moving on to one part where they provided us a book of a conversation between Rashid Johnson an Kevin Quashie called ” Thinking-In-Action” in Swedish and English at a corner called “please have a book”. We happily taking the book thinking “oh we got ourselves a souvenir!” Only to find out they didn’t put the Q and A on the right page, or maybe this is still a part of the art? where I need to guess on which page the answer will continue?

Third: The Jewish Museum

I came exactly at the hour when it’s free for public. Followed by many people after me, hello not paying customers 😉 #I’m not the only one

What really strucks me was this videos:

The first lady’s family were hosting Jewish girl from Berlin when she was 9-15 years old. She didn’t like her at all, according to her the Jewish girl came out of a sudden to her family and everyone need to feel sorry for her. She gave her a real hard time. Then they met again at age 40ish. She asked her about her experience on living with her family? To her surprise the Jewish girl replied “that’s the best year of my life”. Then she said “you know I was hard on you”. The Jewish girl didn’t felt and never thought of it. She is not religious person but she prayed to God for forgiveness for hating her.

The middle lady remembers a Hitler songs in German: “if a Jews’ blood drip from the knife then life is twice as good” I could still see the fear on the video when she recite it.

The third man said when he got older he understood the reason why every time he visit his classmates’ home there will be coins on the floor and it’s to see if he will take it. That’s when he felt what is the meaning of being offended.

Fourth: The Swedish Holocaust Museum

This Museums tells the story about 7 Jewish survivors who came to Sweden. They have the part where we can ask questions with AI’s help unfortunately by the time I came we can only ask in Swedish.

I bought a book from them, it’s very…. I can’t read it in one go, not because its too think, rather the content is just so wow in a negative way.

Fifth: The Living History Forum

There’s one corner about the story of Per Anger, a diplomat of Swedish Embassy in Budapest who issued a fake Passport for Jewish people. He saved so many Hungarian Jewish, there was a time he went to the train full of Jews asking “who has Swedish Emergency Passport?” only two people has it, then he spoke to the Hungarian if they have any receipt whatsoever anything that looks like legal? The German officer won’t understand it anyway. They did have that and Per Anger talked with the German officer “their Swedish Emergency Passport just got delivered, here is the receipt”

Thank you very much for standing up Sir! That’s why your name and your best friend’s Raoul Wallenberg are still be remembered to this day.

That was it, all the museums I could visit as my last resort against the cold and against the money in Estocolmo 😉

I’m so happy that Stockholm offers this options. Germany! do it please! Take a good example from your neighbor European countries!

P.S: Here is the link https://www.visitstockholm.com/see-do/attractions/museums-with-free-entry/

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Old Habits

They have been talking, at the same time I have been hearing about Stockholm Archipelago, island hopping. I was confused with “island hopping”? we are not in Thailand…. Anyway, I looked at the map, consult with Erin, made up my mind to go to at least one of their island. Decided to choose the one with bearable distance: Vaxholm, about 40-50 minutes on the boat, I can handle those!

The website showed all tickets were sold out which I don’t believe it for a second…. how? it wasn’t any high season, on top of that, I did read in the advertisement near the Port something along the rhyme “departs every day” well…. how can I depart every day if their website doesn’t allow me to?! Back to basic, went to the counter to booked a ticket there. She gave me a map of Vaxholm, take a look of it, put it back to my bag, make sure I’ll carry it as I thought “OK this is what I can see, it’s quiet big lalala”

The day came, there were so many people queuing on the line for the boat, I asked some people if they will go to Vaxholm too? some answers were no…. what is going on… I felt relief after they scanned my ticket and said “You are on the right place” Yais! off we go!

Right after the boat departs, the “tour guide” ask if we want to sit outside before she announced it to the whole people through microphone. As a result, many people were sitting outside on the deck of the boat, I was like “why” I know it was relative warm for end of September in Stockholm but still you are surrounded by water yo, the breeze air, fresh water, possibility you will got splashed etc still exist! I am comfortable inside the boat #Ain’t gonna move my ass.

Indeed she was our “tour guide”, she explains some history of the island in English and Swedish followed by this kind of sentence “on the right hand side you will see, now we are on Number 1 it is a lalalala” I didn’t really pay attention, I don’t even know where the number she was talking about coming from….. until it clicked that the map the counter lady given was NOT map of Vaxholm but rather a map on the way to Vaxholm! #You stupid! By the time I realized it I missed so much points already hahaha Makes matter worse, it’s written on the map “Sights along the route” #Clever ball

Time to move on to one hour later, which means Vaxholm’s people reach their destination. It was quiet a lot of people actually, I just asked the wrong one 😉 I have 3 hours 15 minutes in this island, set alarm on my phone. Let’s see what I can explore, is it enough though? Yes it does! There was a very nice lady who showed the way of which I can go. I searched a path that looks like a private property except it wasn’t #Her instruction. Found it, it is somehow quiet peace, many people had a small picnic or tanning. I ain’t gonna do that!

What’s on the opposite side? apart from…. the same water 😀 haha I saw a very cute Briefkasten! #Very creative. It was so funny because there are quiet some people off from the board. Supported with the fact that Vaxholm isn’t that big, I kept meeting them while walking yet I didn’t say hi haha I deliberately wait until they left to take picture or wait for another strangers to help take a photo of me hihihi

It can’t be it right? OK this side is done, let’s move to the other, the “land” side. There are big houses, church with graveyard. Back to the water side once I see a “highway” road leads to another island… #Supposedly

Like 20 minutes before picking up by the boat, I somehow “discover” another part of Vaxholm, how the hell did I miss this kind of “city center” hahaha I found a chess statues like when I was small with my sissy in front of a hotel. I thought it was only one so it was kind of special to me, only to realize it’s not #Face palm there are lots of it! pfff why did I take pic -_-

The boat are back, we got picked up obviously with the same boat crew again meaning she continued to explained this number that number and I am back again to not learned the lesson haha #Too tired already!

Old habits are hard to crack hey! I’ll show some improvement on my span of attention ab und zu 😉

I’ve been to one of the island Stockholm has! #Checked 🙂

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Je suis Susi – Part 4

Susi will be my niece’s nickname for a long time, it suits her well #Stay with Susi.

Their final destination is Frankfurt Airport, distance from Colmar to Frankfurt is a bit too far, too much car seat time for Susi. Therefore Sissy and Schwager spontaneously decided to stop at Baden-Baden – stay one night in Heidelberg – next morning Frankfurt Airport.

Susi woke up just in time for Schwager to make an exit from the Highway to Baden-Baden. Priority: Susi!

DM has a baby changing corner, complete with wipes and diapers sizes. From all the sizes on the below shelf available, of course Susi’s size was empty!

Credits needs to be given though, it’s my first time seeing a changing station in DM #Thumbs up.

After Susi has changed, we were more relax for sightseeing and lunch.

We walked passed one museum, making fun of the Peaky FUCKING Blinders! #Arthur’s voice. The fans would know it, the Faberge Egg’s scene.

We were very happy at Baden-Baden, not sure why? maybe just because the name is Baden-Baden 😉 we stayed there longer than we planned. Jumping on the stones, visit the church, had ice cream- I ordered Casis, don’t do it, when in doubt, chose Hazelnut #Sissy wejangan.

Suits ourselves, continue drive to Heidelberg. It was a Saturday afternoon, Heidelberg was packed, I meant packed packed PACKED PACKED!!! I still didn’t do the justice of how packed it was. People everywhere, all parking place were full so full to the point we were waiting on the line to get into the Parkhaus. One car out from the Parkhaus = one car move in from our line and so on.

What do we do while waiting? called our Hotel to ask if they have a Parking Place. The receptionist asked under which name the rsvp was made. Only for us to hear “I can’t find your name, please just come here and we will sort it out”

In the meantime Schwager check his mails, we booked the wrong date! Let’s just carry Susi with Björn, go to Hotel maybe they have free room for tonight.

All three we went, no free room. We asked her if there is something today, to this she answered, “nothings happening, it’s just normal Heidelberg on a weekend”

Me and Schwager went to few hotels & restaurants nearby asking if they have a room: zero squared. Only then we realized our attempt to stays at Heidelberg crashed in front of our eyes. It was a sea of Menschen, impossible to find a hotel here.

Let’s make a cut, quit Heidelberg, snap some pictures here as our hotel was exactly on the city center, this is the only chance we got haha so we could say we already went to Heidelberg 😉 The focus at this moment is to find a new hotel for tonight somewhere else. Get out from the Hype-Heidelberg.

Schwager kept driving on the highway direction of Frankfurt. We will passed few cities beforehand. When we read some name like Weinheim, Heppenheim, Bensheim, search on Google- Hotel.

I felt like a Detective in the movie, with 3 phones + 1 GPS looking which directions should we go, should Schwager took an Exit to any Heims-City or keep going. I said the hotel name, Schwager put it on the GPS, responded “no it’s another direction” next, next, next we were like that for def under an hour, although at that time it feels like forever. We do have Stau so Schwager can type something on the GPS.

The call was always “Hallo, wir sind 3 Erwachsene und 1 Baby. Haben Sie zufällig heute ein Zimmer frei?” always got replied “Nein, tut mir leid” fuck fuck fuck! No, don’t take exit on Weinheim as there is no hotel anyway, keep on the lane to next city, Heppenheim. Sissy entertaining Susi or keep feeding her banana. The stakes are high, we all knew the moment Susi cries it’s game over.

We kept driving directionless or we gonna end up at Ashley and Ongky’s couch haha I swear if it’s only 3 of us, without a doubt we would slept on the car, doesn’t really matter, go to a restaurant, use the facilities, we already got spot in the Parkhaus anyway, next morning go to Frankfurt Airport earlier to use their shower room. Since it’s not possible, keep focus!

Just to add some tension, the Benzin could only fit for 60km left. AHA! icing on the cake #face palm. It’s getting dark too hahaha strike after strike after strike, give it full gas to our last day. Relax? what’s that? #Hold my beer.

First priority sofar is unfruitful hotel searching, now our second priority is catching up with our first’s, which is to find the Tankstation. Took an exit, fuel some Benzin, next to it there is a McD, Sissy said “let’s sit down, we need to eat something”

We were not really a big fans of McD but at this point we were already desperado haha

We were still calling many hotels near by to no avail. We know we needed to be in big cities. It’s logic, no way in hell all hotels in big cities are full. The situation now is Susi still happy, we all are full, we are secured. The -Heims are small cities maybe the kind of hotel was family own which only have 4 rooms, that could be one of the reason.

Schwager called one last hotel in Darmstadt, hole in one! We got direction on where to go, finally! Now I look back realizing of how calm we were actually. We were just in disbelief or denial phase but not panic since we all aware there will always be a hotel for us, it’s just how far should we drive. What the hell is happening on this Saturday, is it Oktoberfest? yes it’s the very first day of Oktoberfest but we are not in Münich, why would be the reason of this full-ness?

Btw if you wonder how Susi was doing when we were unter der Druck setzen? She was soooo calm the whole damn time! didn’t scream, she even slept! that makes a loooottt easier. I was very very very proud of Susi for being so considerate as if she understood the situation.

Susi was so happy in the new, bigger hotel 🙂 Plaza Western PLUS you saved 4 asses that night! We will never forget you.

We slept so damn well, happy to have a refreshing shower in a big bathroom. Overall, this hotel is better anyway than the small hotel in Heidelberg.

Checked out is at 12, distance from Darmstadt to Frankfurt Airport was only 20 minutes. My luggage is already done, Sissy hasn’t finished hers. She can’t find her legginggggg yet it’s already time to check out. In order to not get a late check out fee, we just checked out first the re-open Sissy’s Koffer in the lobby haha! Schwager started moving Susi’s travel cot or some other Kram to the car on by one. I played with Susi, meaning: Susi is eating my handy case while in return I got Susi’s headphone. At some point I ask “why Susi only wear diapers?” “Where is her pants?” the hectic has taken all of us, here wear the yellow one! Now we all are decent.

Off to Frankfurt Airport. We were all in one toilet in Baby Room in Airport until we got a knock haha All in! It takes a village 🙂 It was amazing that I met them 3X within one month, always come and go, one weekend, next week and one full week. It was so hard to be parted with this kleine Mote since she’s very menggemazkan hhmmmm.

I witnesses the moment she articulate Papa, Dada, played “hide and seek”, peekabo, screaming, number 2, mingkem, cengegesan. So many once in my lifetime memories created and stored innerhalb der kurzen Zeit I have with small Susi. Next time I see you, you’ll be already able to walk, will be very seru!

Big big big thank you for Sissy and Schwager to include me on their trip. I’ve seen + been on tons places because of you. We had so so so much indescribable fun, I’m very happy 😀

Danke – Merci – Terimakasih – 谢谢

么么哒 Kuss

May the force be with our for our upcoming trips

#When you know, you know 😉

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Swarovski in a Non-existing Rose Garden – Part 2

….continuation story…..

Feli feel tired, therefore she chose to stay put, doing some Cafeing whereas I was heading towards Adolphe Bridge, only to meet with another walking tour participants (at this point I didn’t know their names) the same girls we met at the entrance of Bock Casemates. They wanted to see the Rose Garden, I already forget this option exists! I asked if I can join, they don’t mind, so here I am, one party changes to three party. Maria said: Netherlands is famous for the Tulip, Luxembourg is famous for the Rose. She also mentioned perhaps there won’t be any at this time as this is not the season. However, it didn’t reduce our spirit to check. The result was: there were no rose hahaha but one of the girl found something else 🙂

What’s next then? I’m not sure if I’m allow to follow them again as I kind of crashing their party of two hihihi I asked and they don’t mind so here we are in The Gudde Wedder. Spoiler alert, this is where the night getting excited! we grow to an even bigger + exponentially funny party. At this time I already know their names, Franzi and Sabine. Franzi is a German live in Luxembourg, Sabine is a Mauritians on the way to USA. Franzi asked “where is your friend? she can come here too other than waiting alone” OK, send picture + location + write Feli. Done from my side.

This place is always full, there is no waiter who will search a seat for you. You just have to run once a table is free, pretty Barbaric I’d say. The plan was we sat anywhere first, if we see one of the table at the side is free then moved. Our seat was the middle, next to us were 4 guys. I thought all of them are together until I realized they too separated into 2 and 2. Franzi whispered to me “they are Germans”

Mistakes happened by one of the guy’s order that caused a conversation which lead to the best unexpected night of my life. 2 Moscow Mule for free! My brain and heart already locked to Pisco Sour therefore Sabine and Franzi took it but I also had few sips #slurp 🙂

They talked, I zoned out from time to time until I saw the perfect corner table is empty! I don’t care what were their conversation is all about, it was worth to break it. Guys! Empty table on the corner, run! get it! the guys talked “should we move?” “yes yes moved!” both girls said thanks for the drink to the other guys, I didn’t even see them. Focus focus, tadammm!!! party of 3 becomes party of 5!

We have one more empty seat that could be a hot seat between Feli or Franzi’s housemate. Knowing the party will be bigger, one of the guy (at that time I didn’t know their names yet) said we wont be asking chairs from another table anymore rather asking for a table. Funnily, both of them arrived at the same time, I asked Feli to “run, run” but she ignored me, she was the last one to get the seat 🙂 How many are we now? party of 5 become party of 7! After we complete, now I know all the names, they are Lukas, Tobias, Sabine, Feli, Ivy, Franzi and moi!

Best seat – Best crew

We will treat this corner as generational, ain’t gonna move our asses. If someone needs to go to the toilet, we will guard the sits with all our hearts. Don’t be a beginner like the French guys sitting next to us pfffff. Okay, French guy asked in French if we have a paper for smoking, none of us understand so he spoke in English, we all “no, sorry we don’t smoke, we don’t have it”. The three of them try to asked the restaurant I think, they didn’t realized….they have left their table!!! In three seconds, two ladies already grabbed their spot. Me and Franzi was looking at the girl giving thumbs up or trying to say “I don’t think the guys meant to left the table” the moment the guys realized, it’s too late. Lukas said “it’s because he didn’t put the towel in the chair as a mark, the German towel really is sacred”

Lukas, Tobias and me still have a bit of drinks, meanwhile Sabine, Ivy and Franzi are ready to move on for Open Air Cinema. Lukas gave Ivy his “Towel” (read: jacket) to spot the chairs for Open Air Cinema. Once we are done, we walked to Place Guillaume II, “you guys continue, I forgot my bag” ahhh Tobias… we didn’t realized he walked without his bag #face palm Lukas said “I need to take care of my bag because many people (myself including) said I have a nice bag”

I was the one who made itinerary for the trip so I know we are passing the Corniche aka the “most beautiful balcony of Europe” When I told the guys their response was “OK, checked” me on the other hand getting a selfie “Have you see yourselves on the camera?” Lukas answered “I am right there!” We arrived at the Open Air Cinema, the movie is Singing in The Rain with French and German Subtitle. The German Towel doesn’t serve the purpose of 7 seats, we have to scatter around. I was sitting with Lukas, Feli with Tobias, Sabine with Franzi, Ivy prefer to stand.

Once the movie is finished, Franzi and Ivy already gone but we got additional member which is Tobias’ housemate, Pedro. We kept strolling around until we reached one pub only to use the toilet haha noooo we stay just a bit due to our AirBnB is quiet far, we need to catch the last bus. On the dance floor we received a good news that Lukas was accepted into a University in Mannheim, whoaaaa! Congratulations!!!!

The level of Dopamine from that whole day was very indescribable, one of the night you don’t want to end, not in my wildest dream I would expect any of it. It is like finding a hidden gems or Swarovski in the most unexpected place like a non-existing rose garden.

Hey! I’m serious, Franzi found it and she gave it to me 🙂

Made in Germany, found by a German!

I will remember all of you, Ivy who study her PhD, Franzi who work in EU Parliament, Sabine who always manage to get into private swimming pool at any Hotel in Mauritius, Tobias who studies Data Science if only I can turn back time, I’ll tell myself to study that too, Lukas whose backpack was stolen 🙁

Sorry to deliver a sad news… I know the next day that Lukas’ great backpack has been stolen. I was very shocked when I heard it, damn! how about bank card + Personalausweis + keys etc. When we met the guys, I even more shocked because he can turn the negative into something humorous, that is the skill not everyone have. Lukas himself turn it into a joke that leads to running gag for the whole day, such as “they dropped my AirPods and I have the box back home, so now it’s complete; well, now I can’t pay anything; I need to chill, good thing is I can’t get lower than this, they took everything from me; I wear the same clothes because they took all my belongings”. Ah yes forget to mentioned Lukas literally just arrived Luxembourg when I met him so his backpack is all his stuff for the weekend. Anyway, my personal opinion, with this kind of mentality, he will be able to go very far in life.

Moral of Lukas’ incident, follow the quote from How I Met Your Mother, “when it’s 2 A.M., just go to sleep. Because nothing good happens after 2 A.M” I told him I believe in Karma, something stolen from you, it will be stolen from the thief in another way too, for example something bad happen to their family that would cause damage more than your iPad etc. He said my words are too dark he didn’t intend any bad things to the Täter, oh yes bitch I am Indonesian, we have Voodoo Master hahaha don’t mess up with my things or else……#devil’s laugh

Back to the good side of me, you guys have made my weekend unforgettable. I owe you a big thank you, I wish you all success in life. See you when I see you #you’ll never know 😉

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Swarovski in a Non-existing Rose Garden – Part 1

We started with Twentytour / walking tour guided by Maria from Russia, my initial thought was that she is a local Luxembourgish as…she speaks the language hahaha such a standard to define if someone a local or not. She mentioned, it is very normal for people to be Polyglot, your language ability will not be treated as skills but rather as a part of life.

We gathered at the Jan Pallach Square in front of Monument Dicks and Lentz who supposed to have a red lion as symbol of Lux’s flag. FYI, you saw the correct lion, it is not red. Moving on to Place Guillaume II where they have market until 17:00 in front of a building called Hotel de Ville, it’s not a hotel nor a Villa, it’s a Town Hall. We walked passed Place de Clairefontaine and Grand Duchess Charlotte Memorial.

She explains how Luxembourg become very rich due to steel and agriculture. When we arrived at Grand ducal Palace + Chamber of Deputies, she informed that the Prime Minister- Mr. Xavier Bettel is a complete regular guy, you can find him on the street, the bar etc too bad, he is on holiday. How do I know? because there is no flag hanged in front of the palace.

There is some interesting pole in front of it, on top of there is a face, everywhere you move the face is following into your direction. It has a symbolic meaning as the people who works on the palace is being watched by the Luxembourgish people.

Next is we visited Saint Michael’s Church who is the oldest shrine in the city. Right outside, adjacent to it we arrived to the most picturesque of Luxembourg, Bock Promontory = the cradle of the city of Luxembourg.

There we met our new friend from Brazil who lives in Ireland, Brunna. I like her mentality, she asked if I can take picture of her as a proof that she was there. Girl, we are the same! Picture or else it didn’t happen 😉

We walked in circular movement for about 5 Minutes tadammmm we reached The Grund.

We closed our tour by visiting Cathedral Notre-Dame de Luxembourg + Place de la Constitution, saw from distance Spuerkeess and….Adolphe Bridge, p.s not gonna lie I was shocked to hear the name of the bridge.

I felt myself not really myself, I need to eat before I turn into Hulk. What is the best options in this situation? Italian! its very hard to make it wrong. Brunna agrees too, ha! same mentality proof! #high five.

Right after I feel satisfied, we three went to the Pfaffenthal elevator, re-do what we did with Maria only with more time haha we also visited Fondation Pescatore. Brunna wants to crossed the bridge. Which bridge? the only bridge that matters, the red one. It has a name no? Yes it is, it’s Pont Grande Duchesse-Charlotte. Feli said we might only come until the middle as we have Bock Casemates at 16:45. However as what Maria said, it looks far but it ain’t. We finished crossing the bridge plus come back to the city using Bus.

Brunna didn’t join for the Casemates tour so we separated there. On the entrance we met with two other girls from the walking tour, she bought the ticket for tomorrow visit while we already have it.

Here it is the one that I have been waiting for, Bock Casemates! What is that exactly? Its a Unesco world heritage fortifications and old town Gibraltar of the North – that’s how its written on the flyer hahaha in a normal language, it used to be a fortress for underground military defense system. The view always faced the same, nevertheless it didn’t reduce the beauty. We saw the same thing on a different level.

Here is the video of the views from different angles:

We walked back to the city center, enjoying the last chance of shopping until…. who do we met randomly? Brunna!!! She somehow had a feeling she will meet us again 🙂 We have to separated for the second time as she went to a supermarket then fetch her stuff to catch her flight back to Ireland.

We seal our good thoughts deals of meeting each other again in the future which are more likely to happen, thanks to so many reasons: we live in EU, she has a German boyfriend, she knows if she’s in Köln she has to text us or we do it the other way…. we visit you in Ireland. Whatever or however it will be, we will see you again Brunna 🙂

…..story continues….

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Free At Last

Flash back to a time where I thought I lost my glasses? http://marlynpraseli.com/2022/10/16/marlyns-spectacles/

It is now for REAL! I lost it! somewhere in Sydney…. there are three places of possiblities. First when I had brunch with Alvin and Aldrich in PCP, second when I had lunch with Mom in Spice I am, third when I was on the way from Spice I am to Paddys Market (that’s all on the same day). I only wear my glasses in the morning, afterwards I was wearing my sunglasses, supposedly my glasses was always in my bag or in the hotel (although it’s less likely….)

Continued… picked my Mom up from Central Station, took a Taxi to Ibis, proceed to Spice I Am Thai’s resto, walked to Paddys Market then meeting with Betsy. When Betsy and I were inside, I wanted to see the Menu that was on the wall, this is the moment where I want to change from sunglasses to real glasses…. hmmmm where is it? it’s not on my bag, didn’t pay attention if my bag’s zipper closed completely or not. Anyway didn’t think much of it, thought it could be on my room somewhere.

Back to Ibis, glasses is nowhere to find, ok it’s missing, I’m positive about it, went back to PCP asked if someone see that or if it’s in the toilet, 0 squared. Reported it to my friends, not sure if they are happy that this time it’s gone for real as they were the one who actively sought my glasses last time hihi

I was quite dysfunctional on my last two days in Sydney, relying only with sunglasses, need to go back before dark, I’m not Alicia Sierra who wore sunglasses in the evening #fanatic fans of La Casa de Papel

Good bye my Marc by Marc Jacob’s glasses, wait! it’s not mine from the first place, it was Aggy’s haha she gave it to me back then couldn’t remember when, I guess in year 2018 or 2019. Aggy worked previously in a glasses shop, sorry Aggy I lost it. But I did have a good adventure of 4+ years with your glasses from Shanghai to Dortmund also any places in between 🙂

It’s time for me to move on to a German Brand, Mister Spex! Chose a 4 modes to test it at home:

Do the eye test, waited for one week delivery #believe me for German standard it’s already fast.

From 30.03.2023 on, me and my Lisa-Marie Schiffner will have a new adventure!

I wanted to have a Rosa Farbe for some reason plus pair it with Gold is not bad hey 😉 I realized it’s the same color as my Moti’s tumbler, we both wear cardigan too #matchingggg

Missing my niece, at this moment she’s currently sick, get well soon baby K #hugs and love from Germany XX

*Koala icon from Flaticon Australia icons created by Freepik – Flaticon

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Surroundings

You are the sum of who you surrounds yourself with. Therefore be careful about your surroundings #Remember (sounds effect of Mufasa talking to Simba please)

I had been wanting a Chicken & Waffle for a long time, ever since Anu posted the picture on her Insta Story. As matter of fact is not even that long only like 3 months, nevertheless dramatic spice were needed. There are always a lot of vivid things going on in Düsseldorf, new restaurants, good deals, more than in Dortmund although we are only 1 hour away. Which means both Anu and I are one hour apart however it was so hard to find the time to meet as that bitch is a frequent traveler, she’s constantly away, living life to the fullest hey 😉 #you have a jealous bitch on the other side

We settled on 6th of November, through rain and wind, we made it! to her place first haha had a sip of wine (second reason), first reason is because I need a scarf haha brrrr mir ist kalt!

This restaurant named Hitchcoq, their specialties is by having first Sunday each month Chicken & Waffle with 5 level of spiciness. Anu recommended level number 3 so we can taste the spice in enjoyable manner instead of number 4 which is already cross the limit and more to the direction of just hot. She’s Indian so I trust her, thanks God I did 🙂 Then we had a cheesecake Ferrero boah, mamamia, lecker, I really enjoyed both of it!

After we tank ourselves unfortunately the weather was very unfriendly and made it impossible to walk around the city. What did we do next? going back home haha purpose solved!

She posted me on Insta story that give me an idea to proof if my surroundings knows me or not haha by making a poll. I was hoping for some faith that someone will pull it out. In a moment of despair (another dramatic spice here) someone did pull it out, thank you Memel! Now I can sure that faith in humanity restored 😉

Anu gave me goodie bag full of snacks also returned the book I lent her a year ago haha she said “here is for you, it’s not something from Germany because you live here, in a way that you can buy it yourself, this is from Edinburg and somewhere else (like I said that bitch is a traveler)” my response was “this is not the one that already lay for 6 months and you don’t want to eat it anymore right?” she was like “wtf” hahaha

I’m indeed surrounding myself with good people 🙂

before you think I’m the villain here, think again… haha our bitchiness is the same 😉

Until next time biiiittttccccchhhhhh #wink wink

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Marlyns Spectacles

Small Iceland bitches reunion! Why small? because the big reunion happened back in April for a Tulip festival where unfortunately I was Corona positive one day before the trip, thus I missed it. Where? In a theme park in Germany called Europa Park! One important truth in life, bitch always comes unexpectedly, one of our friend broke her legs about one week before the trip causing her not to be able to drive 🙁

Feel threatened that even this plan will fail…. I stayed silence during the whole discussion if the girls will still keep it, who will drive and so on. I am the only one that lives in Germany, obviously I still want to go, I can take the train therefore they don’t need to count me in on their car’s space. Odds are in my favor, my bold bitch Irina make sure the plan still on! yaiss girl! you rocks!

They started around 3PM from Amsterdam, picked me up in Köln Hbf around 18:30, arrived in Rust at 00:15, all done by Irina. While Me and Lina slept on the car, Tereza and her keep awake all the time, that is respect yo!

Mind you, I just came back from Milan, whole day on the way, arrived at the hotel at 00:15, they put our keys in the Briefkasten. My brain literally was no where near functioning, grabbed two envelopes, didn’t even bother to ask why there are two, opened one of them, took out the card key, saw the number, okay let’s go to room number 10.

Beep! door opened, saw two shoes, “oh girls I think they haven’t clean the room” to my surprise there is a girl at the bed! She was for sure shock as well however she still managed to politely say “Hi! I think you are in the wrong room”….. hmmm, my spirit starting to come back one by one….I couldn’t even remember what I replied her, should be somewhere along the line…. “how do you know?” “it’s not your name” heeee? she continued “it’s my name on the envelope” first I was amazed she can read her name written on the envelope from that 2 meter-ish distance, second my whole spirit were already back at my body, “oh I’m really sorry, I didn’t check the name” “can you please put the key back?” “yes, I will, good night! bye” We were laughing like wtf, how come the Germans put all the keys in one Briefkasten! Imagine if I’m a bad person! Irina was also puzzled when she said “it’s not your name?” well, how do you know my name? haha Little did I knew, Lina or who else I don’t know had the correct envelope with our name written on it, we were totally at the wrong floor at the wrong room at the wrong time haha the circle of mistakes couldn’t be more round than this #facepalm

We found where we should belong, into our family room (4 beds in one), arranged ourselves to rest, had a really long day #snooze out zzz zzz

Breakfast done, drove to Europa Park, the weather was bad at the beginning, but it gets better during our day there.

We literally just enter the park only to found out that I already dead! #dead inside

We tried the attractions that doesn’t have a long queue first, I thought we just need to sit down but nope we need to pedal the bicycles so it moves faster! we didn’t believe Irina at first when she said we need to pedal after few minutes of confirmation she said “let’s go bitch, don’t tell me you didn’t move faster when you pedal” woah what an exercise in the morning.

We did Moulin Rounge together then we got separated because Lina and Irina doesn’t want to ride Silver Star whereas on the opposite side, me and Tereza were waiting in line for first row! the feeling was amaaazzzinnggg!!!

We had lunch at a restaurant called Food Loop simply because they will deliver us our order via a roller coaster thingy, see this pictures and videos so cute eh!

From the website it’s written they closed at 18:00 near the closing time, we took the deceiving no waiting line roller coaster, yes no waiting line because we come out wet like wet! Credit to German efficiency, directly after we came out there is a dryer machine 🙂

Seeing people still walking around, we took one more attraction, not roller coaster, just the one where our job was to sit and enjoy the view. We could finally relax because at this point I already have a back pain haha #getting old, the struggle is real.

This Europa Park imo is very much interesting than Disneyland or Universal Studios because the place itself is not so big anyhow they really maximized all the usage, all attractions are close to each other, there are toilets everywhere. It’s not like Disney where you need to wait in line for each attraction followed by wait in line for the toilets. The attractions itself are more for adults, there are of course kids and family suitable roller coaster. We know the character of Disney and Universal studios more but Europa Park just like the name, we are in Spanish part, Italian part, Greece part, or the animal “character” that they used is like dinosaurs etc.

So, if you want to be in the whole Europe, go to Europa Park haha

Check out day, I was the last one who use the bathroom, ready to had breakfast… until…. where is my glasses? where my damn glasses! Texted the ladies if by chance they saw it even though my second thought was “how could they?”

Sure as hell I couldn’t find it that time, anyway, went to had breakfast while all the 3 ladies moved around my bed, their bed, checked their bags, went to the car, talk to the receptionist etc (they had breakfast before me, I’m not acting like a diva here hihi)

OK. I was made to believe that I lost it in the park pfffffff I still have my sunglasses though, it has prescriptions too. We were doing some sightseeing in a French city near the border of Germany, called Alsace-Riquewihr. As you can see from the pictures, we didn’t see the sun (aka ‘was raining), nevertheless, I’m wearing it haha!

When in France, have a pancakes….. don’t forget ciders! We versehen Cider at the drink menu, we all ordered Apfelschorle or sth like that, luckily Tereza saw it combined with Irina speaks French, so we all get our beloved ciders 🙂

After that Irina drove me back again to Köln, not a surprise DB got delayed so my arrival at home is the same as their arrival in Amsterdam haha! so severe ehhhhh. In the middle of no energy left, loaded my clothes to the washing machine when out of the sudden a booster energy erupted, there’s my glasses!!!

The trip that ended happily 🙂 just like driving back to Köln after Riquewihr, all through the rainbow.

I am really glad to see you again, yes you bitch with the addition of my new two bitchessss 😀 you’re the best!

#GGI

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The (Non)Fairy Godmother

Remember Silvia? The crazy “Italian” lady from my German class who I just figured out that she is actually a Swiss-Italian rather than an Italian, oh well, nothing is as straight as an arrow with her 😉

I wanted to go to her place for the weekend, this is the second time we tried to make it happened. First time it was cancelled due to Dortmund City found a potential bomb around her area so everyone living within the parameter got evacuated. Second time is this weekend, we finally made it happen…..wait for it…. We met up at the City Center, it has to be always there otherwise Silvia will lost!

But she carried another bags with her..hmm.. I know she was somewhere before so maybe she didn’t go back to her apartment yet. I told her “Let’s go to put your stuff and mine into your place and get out again” because her place is exactly in the City Center. She said “Actually there is something I would like to say, we don’t go to my place” I thought OK then she can stay in my place, then she added “I already booked a hotel for us, it’s around here” I was drop-dead shocked “Whattt?? what the hell do we need to stay in a Hotel in Dortmund? Where both of us live in Dortmund?” She told me that she tried to cook a steak on her new electrical stove however it caused an electrical splash on her socket, smokes comes up from the cable, activated her smoke detector, in the end power went off.

Long story short, she booked a hotel just 5 mins away which means still in the City Center and she can’t cancel it soooooo I’d got to stay in a hotel too! Wohoooo a surprise Staycation in Dortmund 😀 really not bad eeehhh!

The hotel were just right in front of the Football Museum and this was my first time staying in the hotel since forever I forgot that I need to insert the key to have power on…pfffff… don’t know how to behave haha!

After checking in, entered our room, got ourselves refreshed, we went out to…..the City Center duhhh and had dinner in Maximilian Cafe. I went there before and I sooooooo like the BBQ Chicken Wings, it’s an antipasti but more like a main dish because it’s big!! I feel something weird that night, something like really good to go out, eat in restaurant, not worry about not catching the bus back home, just chilled and enjoy the day! I think this forced or surprise Staycation is not a bad idea after all, perhaps I will do it too but ofc not in the City Center where my apartment is located haha somewhere else 🙂

The next day both of us woke up really late, already at brunch time haha and we did a lot of stuff on that day! what a productive day! We’ve done 15K steps! where and what did we do? Silvia bought me a mug due to I moved to a new apartment so this is the present for my not yet “housewarming” party. When I opened it I really like it because the mug is so me! the color etc, love it love it love it! Thank you Silvia!!! She also said that when she saw this mug it reminds her of me <3

As you can see, first stop is my place, then we went to IKEA due to I need to buy 3 drawers for my new Kleiderschrank that wasn’t available last week. I surely need help because one drawer is 6kg, I carried one hihi and Silvia carried 2 haha She had 5 kids before so for sure as hell she can manage 12kg 🙂 During our bus trip to IKEA we passed by my office and my old apartment that was our “sightseeing place”

Then we go back to my place to put the drawer and back to our hotel yes! one last Staycation day! We had dinner again in the City Center but this time I felt sore not only on my legs but also on my shoulders due to the “weight” that I carried. No weird feeling this time, just tired. Nevertheless, we had a nice dinner, Spaghetti! Italian dish is never wrong!

I brought my laptop because Silvia said she will study German and do her homework but she doesn’t have the age anymore (quote from her) so she just watched some series in German and went to bed #bloody woman!

All in all, it was a funny weekend, I like and enjoy it! We don’t have a terms of “Godmother or Godfather” in Indonesia but if we have it, it should be her. We talked a lot about each other during dinner and brunch time and I’m really lucky that she was one of my classmates who become my friends and again… if I can choose, I’d like her to be my Godmother, regardless fairy or non fairy 😉

Merci beaucoup Silvia!

P.S: Don’t be afraid if I tried to come to your place for the third time, I’m looking forward of what will happen next! haha #devils laugh