Deutschland-ING: one of my favourite German Cities 2/2, Hamburg

HAMBURG, Germany

In Late October 2018

Part one of my two favourite German cities: Heidelberg

According to Google, "Hamburg, a major port city in northern Germany, is connected to the North Sea by the Elbe River. It's crossed by hundreds of canals, and also contains large areas of parkland. Near its core, Inner Alster lake is dotted with boats and surrounded by cafes. The city's central Jungfernstieg boulevard connects the Neustadt (new town) with the Altstadt (old town), home to landmarks like 18th-century St. Michael’s Church."

I definitely have a thing for water. I have unexplainable fascinations about water, about places close to the water. Water is calming. Being close to it just gives me so much joy. I have been trying to improve my swimming skills so hopefully, one day I will live close by the water, with my dog.

The trip was done around late October in 2018, while I was on exchange. It's a little funny, I actually took more than a year to write about my travels. It doesn't feel long though. I am still in disbelief about how time goes so fast, and I am already in the quarter-life crisis chapter of my life.

And the world has been paused all of sudden, travelling is basically forbidden in most countries. Going to restaurants, mass gatherings, going out for brunch the very essential every activity we do and take for granted are now histories. I thought maybe this would soothe my quarantine soul. It has been a long due travel diary, I really should have done this in 2018. But I am not going to deny the fact, this is actually a perfect time to do stay home activities. Hence, let's all sit back and grab a cup of tea, let's go on this memory lane together, shall we?

I like all my photos unfiltered, unedited and present them in their most natural form that is when I took them, and with the exact lighting.  I do really, miss Germany and Europe very much. I can't wait to be back in summer to have a month-long trip just dedicated to travel, slowly.

I don't exactly recall the type of transportation we took to get to Hamburg. I am just going to assume, it was done by Flixbus as it was the most used transportation for me to get to places. The only reason I was willing to stay more than 8hr on a bus was to save money because broke as fuck as we all know. Anyways, that didn't really stop me from enjoying my trips. We arrived on the 26th of October, 2018. And guess what, the first meal we had in Hamburg was HAMBURGERS :). My lameness shall never get old in this blog also, actually never.

Day 1- 26th October 2018 in Hamburg 

With my Hamburg travel buddy, Olivia from Taiwan. Our trip was spontaneously decided during our German class. It was originally Santorini, Greece but we didn't make it happen, Instead, Hamburg happened.

not sure if that man is judging or just getting sick of an Asian tourist taking selfies. Sorry, can't help it being myself. 

The Airbnb was the biggest surprised. I was not expecting beautiful green plants and nicely decorated room. The room was big and very simple, yet it has its own uniqueness to it. The bed was alright, a little bit hard to sleep on.

After being super hyped in the middle of the night, I've decided I should go to sleep to ensure a good night of sleep for a full-on day and possibly the next few days in Hamburg. I am not bragging but this trip has been the most productive one so far. We were so organised and did a lot of things.

28th October 2018, Day two in Hamburg. 

Just really aesthetically pleasing as I was on my way to the train station - the location according to my Iphone is Winterhude

Landungsbrücken, Hamburg

St. Paulli Landing Bridges

I was thrilled to be there, as you can totally tell.

This photo and this seagull were meant to be, it flew into my frame without me trying to capture it. Perfect timing and perfect location.

I was contemplating if I should buy a fridge magnet from St Pauli. It is rather a cliche and seems stupid to do so, as your memory of a destination will fade even if you have the fridge sticker on your fridge. The best memory is always in your head. And we always overestimate how much we need a physical item to remind us of a particular experience. However, I am by no means against. I was just trying to be minimal with my journey. So I took photos of these instead. I was a little disheartened after I've got back to Australia and I seriously wish I had bought more fridge stickers from cities I've visited instead of countries.

 

"Old Elbe Tunnel or St. Pauli Elbe Tunnel which opened in 1911, is a pedestrian and vehicle tunnel in Hamburg, Germany. The 426 m long tunnel was a technical sensation; 24 m beneath the surface, two 6 m diameter tubes connect central Hamburg with the docks and shipyards on the south side of the river Elbe."
 

The view from the other side of the St. Pauli Piers

A cute Westie encountered in Germany, and now proudly a westie dog mum :). Well, my affection for Westies didn't start here, It was from Sarah's wedding.

After the Berlin Pho Incident, I was so thankful and very happy to have a hearty warm pho soup with some real pho in Hamburg. I would've cried if I had got a real pho in Germany.

Rathaus

going up in Saint Peter's Church

I got really excited when I came across a physical Monki store as Brisbane didn't have one.

Alstadt

4pm at Jungfernstieg, it was a long day but it is not even the end yet. We've got more planned ahead.

again, got really excited with a physical Abercrombie & Fitch store, Brisbane has nothing. I've known these brands from online but I've never been a physical one. It was exciting for me.

 Then after that, we were in Sternschanze, apparently a really hip suburb in Hamburg to meet up with my model friend Addie - Adelaide Sine. She happened to be working in Hamburg when I was in Hamburg! It was the coolest thing to have met up with her and hearing about how she got scouted and her adventures in the modelling industry.

It was so lovely, and I am really short. Correction is just that my model friend is really tall.

After we've parted, I've decided that I want to explore more of this suburb. I serious miss travelling;').

Reeperbahn, Hamburg's nightlife and also the city's major red-light district

Last day - 28th October 2018 in Hamburg 

Hamburg's fish market. Who else also think the fish market is only for fish. It turned out that the fish market has a lot of fresh fish and a lot of fresh produce as well. It was definitely a place to experience how Hamburgers spend their morning, the buzz, the crowd and the cold winter breeze. It was all worth it to get up early.

After the fish market, we went to the Hafencity. " Harborside HafenCity is known for the landmark Elbphilharmonie Hamburg concert hall, with its striking facade and cutting-edge acoustics. The red brick warehouses of the 19th-century Speicherstadt complex house the Spice Museum and Miniatur Wunderland model railway. Near the busy Port of Hamburg, historic vessels moored in Sandtor harbor contrast with the upscale residential buildings and hip cafes by the water."
 

ignored the really-need-sleep travel face, but I've got the tiny balls back to where they belong 

Night view from a church, last few moments before we going back to Oestrich Winkel.

In my natural elements

25

Firstly, I want to say a big happy birthday to me, for hitting this quarter-life mark in life. It truly is a milestone in this day and age. I am thankful that I am alive and didn't contract any COVID-19. It has been the hottest topic globally. COVID-19 pandemic is no joke. The highly infectious and yet no vaccines can be developed until years later, is scary to even think about. This has costed China's economy and soon the worlds. Almost every country has cases with COVID-19. I hope this could end soon. Australia has just put down the lockdown measure, not sure when it will end. Definitely not any time soon. People's lives have changed and it's just not the same anymore. The ordinary going to the cafe to catch up with friends, is illegal now, at least in Australia. The social distancing rule only allows two people who are strangers to be out together for legitimate reasons only. All restaurants and most retail shops have closed and made millions of people unemployed. Desperate times call for desperate measures, this year's 25th celebration has been moved to video call dinner with the girls. I should probably write this post after the 'skype dinner', but I thought I can always put the photos in again later today. (Mind you it is currently 1.34am in the morning, I should really be sleeping, well Cooper is).

 Wow, what a year it has been since my 24th!

2019 has been extremely fast. I almost don't even recall what had happened last year. I suppose it was a good year. Although my mum still is quite disappointed that I am still in uni. However, she seems to be more understanding of my choices now. 2020 brought a lot of mental clarity to me, not too sure if it's because of my age or it's because of other experience I've had. Ok, probably both.

I don't feel particularly too stressed with anything, I don't feel rushed because I've finally come to peace with myself about the pace I want to take with myself. Continue from last year, I have been paying attention to myself, on how I feel mentally and emotionally. This year, I want to keep myself focused, not that every other year I was not. Every year I was focused but not knowing where I want to go. This year I am focused and I have a direction I want to follow. Since moved out, I have loved doing life more, making myself a hot cup of tea in the morning, dancing to every beat of the music, keeping myself on track with university and making delicious healthy meals to look after myself. All these little things brought me the real joy of doing life.

Truth to be told, I've been missing a lot about Europe and the times I had overseas when COVID-19 was not a thing. (I am continuing my Europe trip posts, although It has been taking forever.) I did have a fall out with blogging.

I've definitely have changed a lot in the past year, in terms of my style and what I wanted with my life. Here are the most recent photos of me and Cooper in the last 3 months.

Cooper is 10 months old now, I can't believe I had been looking after him for 10 months! and He had been with me for 10 happy months!

got a handsome trim by me :)

Jan: got my dog chain necklace, definitely obsessed with thick necklace chains for 2020

Feb: layering some necklaces I barely wore but own

Mar: trying Bobbi Brown's intensive serum foundation, that shit is good

 

This is how I celebrated my quarter-life. 

Anh was the first one (surprisingly) to have sent me the birthday message. She said 'enjoy your day alone.' She forgot that I am never alone again anymore. An intimate morning photo, a bit blurry with filtered morning light. This year and in the next ten years or more, I will never be alone.

My phone rang in my fanny pack. For a second, I was stoned. Because who would call me at this hour of the day? As Cooper was resting on the pavement below a blooming tree, I fished out my phone. Voila, it was Anne! The sweetheart that I really appreciate in my life. She wanted something special from her this year. Indeed, very special.

Always spoiled :)

As I was having my virtual birthday celebration with the gals, I got this surprise delivery on my birthday. I was extremely puzzled who delivered this. ( I had no clue, it was from UberEats.) I acted like a lunatic when I went out and grabbed this. I waved at the UberEat driver and screamed on top of my lung:" THANK YOU, WHO ARE YOU? ARE YOU ANH'S FRIEND?" After that, I waved at the driver again. Only minutes later, I've realised I was just being an idiot.

Till next year!