first time in Hamburg?

A year ago, I didn't really know what to expect when I first set foot in this town. And now, a year later, I still don't know what to do in this city. Nah, just kidding.

There are thousands of things to see in Hamburg. Throughout the city, natural and historical and modern landmarks are standing side by side and waiting to be visited. On my first weekend in this city, I went to some of these landmarks.

Hamburger Rathaus

No, no.. you don't pronounce it hamburger rat house.. A house of rats that like hamburger. It's the city's town hall (Rat = counsel). Hamburg's House of Counsels. This is actually the people who run the city goes to work. About a month ago, it has an open day so that the people of Hamburg can talk to their representatives about what's goin on in the city.

In front of Hamburger Rathaus, there's a field called Rathausmarkt. On this place, a lot of activities may take place. Such as Hamburger Weinnachtsmarkt (christmas market) in winter, Freiluft Kino (open-air movie theater) in summer, or other festivities.

All and all it's a good object to be photographed.

The Elbe

Elbe is the river that runs through Hamburg. I believe there are so many brooks along the course, and that made Hamburg the city with the most bridges in the world. Uniquely, all the bridge in this city is numbered, and you can see it when you're passing under it.

Things to do on the Elbe can be taking a round-trip ferry from Landungsbrücken or other harbor. On weekends, the ferry could be ferry crowded (Hehehe). Especially on the deck.

Other thing to do is canoeing on the brooks and branches of Elbe. I enjoyed it alot! And wished that I could do it all summer long.

Alster

I, an ignorant and non-well-informed tourist, would say that Alster is a lake. I'm still not sure what is actually alster is. I think it's a river. But usually when people say Alster, they meant the Binnenalster and the Außenalster. They both have great views and very refreshing.

My favorite view on the Alster is when I ride on train that goes from Hauptbahnhof (main station) to Dammtor station. On the way, you can see both Alster on your sides and the view is amazing.

The Harbor

Hamburger Hafen, as one may say that, is my favorite landmark of all. I think it's because I really like the sea. In the harbor, you can see many things, from shipyards, to ships that are passing by, and of course countless of seagulls flying about. You can get a closer look on the harbor by taking the light-on-the-pocket ferry ride, or for just some extra Euros, you can take Hafenrundfahrt to cruise on even deeper parts of the harbor.

Mönckebergstraße

This is the street for shoppers. Shopping is not my cup of tea, but walking along Mönckebergstraße is. Shops are spreaded through the whole street, and also on some streets couple blocks after. From electronic center to street performers, all is good on Mönckebergstraße. If you are prepared with your fully stuffed wallet.

that bowtie dude

I gotta tell you why I think this particular the Apprentice 2 contestant is hated by Donald Trump. He is published as Raj, a twenty-eight-year-old real estate developer from Vail, Colorado slash Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. What's up with the slash? :)



I think, the Donald hate him because he is in a way or another so much like him. Hmm.. Let's count some of them.

• Raj, is being considered as someone who has presence. Eventhough some of them said that his presence is much helped by his 'props' namely his bowtie and his cane. Now will you say that Donald don't have as much presence as Raj? Bet you won't. Using prop? I think Donald uses some prop as well. Namely, the hair. :)
• Now, Raj likes the ladies. He hit on Anna Kournikouva (not the best tennis player to hit on IMHO, but one of the best ladies to hit on), the models, and he showed us that he likes beautiful women. Sounds familiar? I'll let it slip to your mind yourself.
• Raj is a good debater, not easily taken down with what other people said. I believe that Donald as well.
• Now comes the hard part, Raj is judged by some people as annoying. I can't say anything on Donald's part on this.

So we will see what next week will bring us. I think eventhough I am still disappointed with some calls made in the show in these weeks, I am still gonna watch them.

Anybody likes to add some of the list?

a step in life begins with a 6,847 miles journey

- Events depicted below happened around fifty-eight weeks ago -

Mom didn't cry. Fun didn't cry. Adjie would have not been crying. Only Dad tried to hold in his tears. I think. I didn't cry. I saw it as a blessing and great opportunity that would color up my days, weeks, months, and life. Hmm.. Definitely would be a wonderful opportunity.

After a hard couple of weeks of trying to be issued a visa to from the Embassy of Germany in Jakarta, I finally flew my way to Hamburg. Second largest city in Germany, and some degrees different from Jakarta. Had 58 kgs of baggage (hey, it's me and Ena. But I think my baggage weigh more than 30 kgs). I didn't know for sure why I pick this city in particular. Maybe its not-so metropolitanity (any such words?). Or maybe I was just blindfolded and pick a numbered ball like in a lottery. But one thing for sure: I'm a like it!

14 hours later.. Arriving in the Flughafen Hamburg first cultural shock got me. Everything was written in German! Second cultural shock hit me. A young German mother asked us a favor. And we barely understood her. But finally we did. As we went out the gate and rushed to see the kind people that picked us up. They were Prana, Iyun, and Ken. Never thank you guys enough for the effort.

Next stop: temporary lodging. Mine was Ken's, Ena's was Aida's. On the way there, it was the first time for me to experience the transport system of Hamburg. And to tell you the truth. I couldn't find anything I dislike about it. It was zuverlässig, neat, fast, and comfy. But you know what, the first time I rode a German's bus, is when I pay nothing for the tickets. Amazing. Schwarzenfahren how people here call it. It was the bus and the train slash subway.

In Ken's, jet lag started to hit me. No, not homesick quite yet, but felt terribly sleepy, tired, and nowhere to go to. Caught some rest then, it was time to face the challenge of starting a new chapter of my life in Hamburg.

in the beginning.. when we were winning..

Not pretty much sure what was implied by Manic Street Preachers on the excerpt of lyrics up above. What I'm sure of, is that that song is on the MP3 player of my room, and struck some chords for my brain.

Eventhough this song was not talking about beginning of something, it reminded me of writing an opening for this blog. Well, of course not counting the 'test-post'.

"The beginning is the most important part of work."

-Plato, Greek philosopher

As what Plato had said, I then take into consideration about the beginning of this 'work'. I remember there are lots of events in my life that the beginning of them were just flown by. Or coincidentally occured. But it won't be it this time. The beginning of everything is crucial.

Can you recall the day you had your first date and work your ass off to give the best first impression? Or practicing lines for your job interview on the subway so that the employer thought that you're the best? It deals with the beginning.

I remember vaguely there are no second chance to make a first impression. However, people do change and there definitely are second chances to make a better impression than the first. Remember how you sometimes sat back in the subway and said, "Ah, yeah. He's doing it much better now." It's because of people do learn, and one who learns, acquires the most. But still first impression is hard to brush-off.

I always in an awe everytime I had first impression with people with strong personality. Like me. Peeps that develop their own opinions, and not being afraid of sounding them. I looked at them and said to myself. What a friggin' cocky guy..

Sometimes it is also difficult to deal with people whose personality is not stable. Like me. Most of the time I kept playing with myself and saying: "What kind of person I want to be right now, in this acquintances." And also most of the time, it came out with one safe conclusion: The silent cocky guy. But I know that this is not me. Well, at least my friends keep saying that I'm not as such. Hm.. that is why I had thought deeply of softening that cockiness a little bit (or maybe a lot) and always try to be me. So in this case, in the beginning of every relationships that I will encounter, and everytime the question rings in my head, I will answer it with..

"Take your chance. Be friendly and warm." But still, don't talk too much and be yourself.

as easy as one two three

To start things out, this is the brother site of my other blog that tells about my daily activities. In order to make things tidier, I created this blog to speak my mind about something, anything, or everything that bugs me. :)

But still, lotza work is needed to make this thing more interesting.. Tee hee hee..