Oh my God.
I have to break the month of absense from this blog to share something absolutely amazing that was gifted to me for my birthday...
An Elena fan video...
I have no words for this.
Showing posts with label Berlin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Berlin. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Excursion to the Chinese Embassy
What a life. Shortly past 9 a.m., the sun on my back, happy chirping in the bush to my left, and in front of me the river Spree.
Every now and then a hurried stranger passes by, but the general mood down here between the sparrows is nothing but relaxed. :o) Past the tourist ships, fisher boats line the shores of the Spree. I listen in on the chit chat of captains busy painting their beauties.
My trip to the Chinese embassy this morning demonstrated two things about China and tourism:
1) traveling to China seems immensely popular at the moment,
2) it's getting harder to obtain a visa.
Fortunate for me, I don't come to these conclusions based on difficulties or crowds at the embassy. There were actually only a handful of people there - but 3/4 of those were bringing up to 4 business cases full - and I mean FULL - of passports to be processed along with them!
The lady in front of me explained her daily routine visit to the embassy as a travel agent - mystery solved. Though increasingly hard, it does seem to still be possible to get a visa to China - a proof of which is my roommate's passport, newly branded with lots of Chinese characters :o)
The poster on the bridge next to me advocating Falun Gong meditation techniques makes China ever more visible around these parts.
Every now and then a hurried stranger passes by, but the general mood down here between the sparrows is nothing but relaxed. :o) Past the tourist ships, fisher boats line the shores of the Spree. I listen in on the chit chat of captains busy painting their beauties.
My trip to the Chinese embassy this morning demonstrated two things about China and tourism:
1) traveling to China seems immensely popular at the moment,
2) it's getting harder to obtain a visa.
Fortunate for me, I don't come to these conclusions based on difficulties or crowds at the embassy. There were actually only a handful of people there - but 3/4 of those were bringing up to 4 business cases full - and I mean FULL - of passports to be processed along with them!
The lady in front of me explained her daily routine visit to the embassy as a travel agent - mystery solved. Though increasingly hard, it does seem to still be possible to get a visa to China - a proof of which is my roommate's passport, newly branded with lots of Chinese characters :o)
The poster on the bridge next to me advocating Falun Gong meditation techniques makes China ever more visible around these parts.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Next stop - Berlin
Amazing. I simply love my life :o)
Walking down the shaded alleyway towards Berlin's inner city transportation network, I can't help smiling with a flock of warm rays of a descending sun on my face. During the flight to Berlin-Schönefeld airport, Timothy Ferriss just introduced me to "outsourcing your life for everyday people", and a new book has made my to-read list: Thomas Friedman's "The world is flat".
I get incredibly excited about a lifestyle like Ferriss describes in his entrepreneurial bible. Jet-setting with just the right mix of preparation and free-styling improvisation. My first online checkin at a convenient seat next to the hallway, right up front. No boarding, no luggage, backpack securely stowed away in the overhead compartment above. First time travel with 6.5kg of luggage for a week :o)
I do miss my laptop already, though, so I make a mental note on my wish list for a topnotch highspeed ultralight sufficiently sized portable baby. If you happen to have any suggestions for a travel companion like that, let me know in the comments!
Until then, this little note will have to be written on good ol' paper.
Can't wait to explore Berlin from a new angle - roaming the city with a new friend, a new way of travel, a new sense of self, and a very bright outlook into the future.
Welcome aboard. The journey has begun.
Walking down the shaded alleyway towards Berlin's inner city transportation network, I can't help smiling with a flock of warm rays of a descending sun on my face. During the flight to Berlin-Schönefeld airport, Timothy Ferriss just introduced me to "outsourcing your life for everyday people", and a new book has made my to-read list: Thomas Friedman's "The world is flat".
I get incredibly excited about a lifestyle like Ferriss describes in his entrepreneurial bible. Jet-setting with just the right mix of preparation and free-styling improvisation. My first online checkin at a convenient seat next to the hallway, right up front. No boarding, no luggage, backpack securely stowed away in the overhead compartment above. First time travel with 6.5kg of luggage for a week :o)
I do miss my laptop already, though, so I make a mental note on my wish list for a topnotch highspeed ultralight sufficiently sized portable baby. If you happen to have any suggestions for a travel companion like that, let me know in the comments!
Until then, this little note will have to be written on good ol' paper.
Can't wait to explore Berlin from a new angle - roaming the city with a new friend, a new way of travel, a new sense of self, and a very bright outlook into the future.
Welcome aboard. The journey has begun.
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