Late post from Germany: Welcome to the dark side

Today is the 9th day I have spent in Europe, including UK and France, and I'm currently on the way to Koln, in Germany by train.

I think all the cities I have visited, all left me a lot of impressions and also memories. From London, Northampton, Manchester, Bordeaux, Medoc, Paris, I'm very grateful to my dad for giving me this chance to experience all this wonderful visits. In other blogs, I have written down all the good experience, but this time, brace yourselves, 'cos I'm going to write the dark side of each city, to show you that travelling or backpacking is not a 100% sweet.

For London, many of you may already know that there are many immigrants in the city. Indian, Italian, Nigerian, lots of them. I once read in the newspaper, an expert said that London has changed, not for a better London, worse. I'm not a racist, but from what I saw in London, whether I saw it with my own eyes or on the news, these immigrants suffer from racism. I once saw in the telly there are protests everywhere in UK against Muslims, and to be honest I was a bit shocked. I know there are a lot of Muslims, but I have never thought that they will go this far against them. I come from Indonesia, which is one of the country where Muslim is a major religion, maybe about 90% of the population, (CMIIW, but I'll check later) I feel OK when talking and working with them, as  Dad's factory has a majority of Muslims there.

The other thing about London and other cities in UK, the living cost is terribly high. I have this currency shock when I was there. I mean like an Indian dinner with my Dad is about £50 or something. That equals to Rp 1 million roughly. OMG. So that's why when I went shopping in Primark I was like crazy. But as we say in Chinese, 一分錢一分貨 (yi fen qian yi fen huo), the price is equal to its quality. Yah well for a poor university student like me, it's expensive enough already.

If you read my post when we touch down in Bordeaux, then you already know the incident that we had there. I was completely shocked, and my high-expectation had been taken down like you slap a fly, or maybe you smashed the shuttlecock when you're playing badminton. I mean, we had the visa, we had money, we had a clear objective to visit Bordeaux, and I was sure we did all the procedure right. I didn't know whether it was because our race or skin color but I wouldn't guess that of course. I love France, I love European countries, but... *sigh.. It was inevitable anyway.

French people are nice, I said this from all my heart, really. Although there are still some times, we received some... uncomfortable sights from their eyes. Do you know that in Asian countries, like Taiwan, Japan, or Indonesia, we see the Caucasian as the "pretty race". I'm not talking about the Nazis or being racist but, it's true, we love all about them. Their blond hair, blue eyes, light and pale skin tone... And by the way, when I was lost in Louvre, and about to ask a pedestrian how to get into the museum, I kindly asked them how, but their immediate reply? "Sorry, no English!". I was like, what the? I thought English is an international lang? Another thing is.... the city is a bit.... how can I say this, dirty and smell like piss. Bordeaux, Paris, the stations, are all the same, that stinking smell is everywhere! And in Paris, some part of the city, is not as beautiful as I thought it would be.

Well, Germany was a little bit unexpected. I love all about Germany! I thought after the incident in Bordeaux, I expect the worse from here. Although, yes, Germans are a bit cold, but at least they are willing to help you. They all know that their English isn't that good, but they explained the routes slowly and clearly, till you understand. Ooooh, another one, while we were waiting in Koln Station, we saw these two late-Asian teens, left their luggage unattended, and started to queue in line to buy tickets. Me and my dad started to get these naughty ideas on how to give them lesson. He said that if there are any luggage left unattended in UK, the police immediately take them. So he decided to tell the German security and pointed at their luggage. And something unexpected happened. Both of the police waited there till the stupid girls came back, and advice them not to left their luggage, and me and my dad was like, what? HAHAHAHAHA. A bit down actually, 'cause we were expecting the police to take the luggage away.

Wait a sec, that's not Germany's dark side? Ah, never mind, I like Germans anyway XDD

It's fall already...

I'm now sitting in my desk, my eyes wandering into the glorious sunny day outside. Just another typical fall in Taiwan, and wondering when will the true face of winter show up. I'm waiting for you ar! I really can't stand this type of weather. Freaking cold and freezing wind in the morning and night, but bright shining sun in noon. Ugh every year I catch cold from this freaky weather. Damn you. I'm coughing and sneezing already.

Ah.. How I miss my mom's chicken and mushroom soup (香菇雞湯), and 麻油雞湯... How can I translate this into English? Mayou (not mayonnaise lol) is like some kind of rice wine, and the chicken is boiled with it, sometimes adding ginger. Both of these soups are very popular in Taiwan during fall and winter. If you drink this soup, especially for girls, is extremely healthy and warming.

BTW, exciting news, I'll be going to Hongkong next Thursday, to attend my cousin's wedding there. She is a flight attendant in Cathay Pacific, and she will always be my role model. Can't wait to see her in her wedding dress, must be breathtaking. Oh, and also my grandma from Bali and many relatives will be attending, plus, we're gonna celebrate my grandma's birthday also that day.