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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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Wednesday Morning Not Mourning

I should have been to Gießen for Container unloading process, unfortunately there was some delay, the new arrival day is next week. I doubt if I should work from home as I don’t have any more appointment, mehhhh decided to still come to Nordwest.

Had my Mett Brötchen from cantine, Irene asked if Frau Kohl da? I said she will come around 9 AM. Claudia arrived with a flower candy on her hand “ah so that’s from Irene? that’s why she asked me about you?” before I can utter it, Claudia reached me “this is from Julius’ Mother, they went to do shopping on Monday and his mother said she wants to give you this” aaaaaaaaa what a nice surprise! totally unexpected! I know this candy flower! I saw it the day before at Rewe!

I have been listening to Miley Cyrus newest song Flower…. who doesn’t? for sure I’m not the only one. Not simply because Valentine’s in the corner, more like its a really catchy song!

I know without a doubt that I can buy myself flower but Frau Doktor Kohl can also buy me flower 😉 #Serotonin level high!

Thank you so much Frau Kohl for your sweet and motherly gesture <3

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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

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Tribute To The Beatles

You say, “Goodbye”, and I say, “Hello, hello, hello” (hello, goodbye, hello, goodbye) That’s just a bit of lyrics from “Hello Goodbye” by The Beatles and this is exactly how I feel right now, every story has two sides, one side is a “Hello” and the other is a “Goodbye”.

On 28th of August I landed Germany, I was so nervous but not afraid-nervous, I was hyper-nervous, too happy to be here. When I accepted their offer back in May, I only informed sooooo few people, as few as my sister, my parents, Markus, Thorben and Marina. Because I don’t want to be too excited as the situation with Corona was still very absurd, the German Embassy closed until further notice, Germany still closed their border for international flight but I don’t lose hope, I put one foot in front the other and keep going. And fast forward to 27th of August as my last day in mother land and going to Vaterland haha!

Once I landed at Duesseldorf Airport, I’ve done my corona test there for frei! yuhuuuu! in love with this country already 😉 after that “Hello” to my two helpers that put a significant contribution on my relocation journey to Germany!

Little did I knew, they even prepared me welcome gift… I would like to say box but it is not a box so a welcome gift paperbag-sounds more environmental friendly too 😉

Then they put me in a hotel to wait until my corona test result came out which should be beginning of next week, after that I told Thorben and he said “it’s time to announce the Disturbed Family!” haha yes Thorben thank you for keeping the secrets away from them for so long 🙂 Haissshhh this is the hardest moment, the “Goodbye” part, they are more than just friends, they’re my family and even better they all are distrubed and (such an) ass-ociates 😀

It took me some time to write them and even some time to look my phone back after I pressed that send button. Thank you for all the messages, such a heartwarming one and I knew I will never have the balls to say goodbye to all of you.

However, since my goodbye is through text, I don’t think it is a proper goodbye and mostly you guys are European anyway 😉 I’ll come to your home invited or uninvited mwhaha to have my “Hello” moment with your parents, Hello Sir / Ma’am, I’m a friend of your son / daughter 🙂

Germany, you are such a whole new world, a hundred thousand things to see and I can’t wait to reveal it one by one 🙂

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Hoop Hoop (not yet) Hooray

Living in China for almost 7 years give you the advantage of having 2 times to set your New Year’s Resolution, just in case the first normal New Year didn’t go as you expected you can always make a new one on a Chinese New Year 😉

One of the resolution that I always have is: I need to have a routine exercise! On Zero Gravity pole dance studio, they had a new sport called “Aerial Hoop” I had that class once before Christmas but back then the instructor-Cleo went away for having Christmas and New Year’s holiday, but on the first day of the CNY I had another class with different instructor.

There was only 3 people that joined the first year of the rat class 🙂 Me, Joasia and Joy and ofc our teacher-Sia. Joy and Asia was much stronger than me so they already went to different moves while for me I kept practicing my own moves mwahaha they went from movement 1-6, I just kept “perfecting” my first 3 moves haha!

  • Joy
  • Asia

And mine! Well, for the purpose of taking pictures I will hold all my strength and hide the hurts with the smile 😉 Asia said “think for your instagram” 😉

I never had a class with Sia before because she only teach the instructor so imagine how dead I was when I got her as my teacher!

I hope the virus will be over soon so Zero Gravity can re-open and we can be hoop-hoop-hooray soon!

中国加油！

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Ready Player One?

The first month of this special year 2020 has been the longest January ever! Bombing in Iran, bush fire in Australia with a special hail that only last for 30 mins in Canberra yet successfully destroyed my sister’s car pffff, flood in Indonesia and Covid-19 in China… what a tough month indeed!

I witnessed the easiest order, within 15 mins we collected over 3000 pcs mask N95 but our lovely Taiwan factory only have 2080 pcs left and we took it all, delivered by air freight and the next day we got it. This was 1 day before the Chinese New Year so it is indeed the best present 🙂

It really strikes me when 24 hours before we all just had lunch together, drawing a mouse in the red paper to welcome CNY

and the next day it was mandatory to wear mask, the following days after that we were advised to not go out unless its necessary. How things can change within 24 hours?! #I may sound very dramatic now but it’s either I am over-react or the condition is really not good. I really wish that I was over-react and laugh about it later.

Few days after wasn’t bright either, restaurants started to closed mainly because they want to celebrate CNY and secondly because of the virus. So what did I do? I cooked! I managed myself to get back to the kitchen again #proud me! but I did what everybody else do which is stocked up some snacks! At that time it was still around 4-5 degree Celcius in Shanghai and quiet rainy so going out was kind of a hassle therefore snacks is definitely necessary!

Besides that we also need to equipped ourselves with mask, see my mask-volution 😉

However, with my new home, my stock of food, my mask and my laptop I think I’m ready for the situation. But…. one major issue that I still need to face is the IELTS test that I will take on 9th of February. On 27th January, I received the official news that they cancelled the IELTS test in China for the whole February and March but I need to do it in February therefore what should I do? I decided to fly back home and do the test in Indonesia. And yes, I am heading home the next day. It is indeed a very spontaneous decision.

Indonesian, my country mate, no need to worry, I declared myself as healthy because I did my self-quarantine for 14 days and I’m clean! Yeay!! Also thank you for my friends that texted me to make sure that I still alive (read: Eiman, Frida, Arana, Tabitha, Elle, Dennis, The Bejes- Revina, Erin, Marissa, Cecil, Memey) You guys can’t get rid of me yet 😉

How long will I be here? probably longer than I expected, my plan was no longer than 3 weeks but almost a month now and will still be here for another as the official cancelled flight to China until end of March.

I have a mix feeling, of course I am sad that I leave Shanghai unexpectedly but also gyms and restaurants are mostly closed until who knows when so I’m still glad that in here I can eat and still go out freely without anyone measuring my body temperature and so on.

Owh well, this is life I guess, we as the Player One of our live need to be ready to expect the unexpected.

Wish the very best for China to fight with this coronavirus, 中国加油!