Spotted at the Hairdresser
Beim Friseur Gesehen
Spotted in 2011 in a hairdresser's window in Berlin: “That feels good! Shampoo-ing with schwarzen Kopf (referring to both the brand and 'black head') is really the best. 20 pennies…
Bath Station
Bad Bahnhof
The U-Bahnhof Paracelsus-Bad's interior design references both the nearby 1950s swimming pool as well as Roman baths. Its Art Deco 'stalactite' lamps are noteworthy.
Chinese Threat
Die Chinesische Bedrohung
She darted at me, very upset. The German came thick and fast and all I could make out was “Kein Foto!” Taken aback, I lowered my camera. But why she was so perturbed?
Bengawan Solo
Bengawan Solo
I am walking towards the trains when I hear 'Bengawan Solo' being played on the accordion. I stop, for it suddenly transports me back to Malaysia.
Locked Forever .. or Not
Ewig Verschlossen.. Oder Nicht
Despite being banned and contantly removed, 'love locks' keep popping up on Berlin's bridges. These padlocks are inscribed with couples' names and locked to bridges, their keys thrown into the river…
Eco Easy Rider
Öko Easy Rider
It's been called a transport revolution, a bolt of lightning on wheels, in fact, one of the quickest forms of inner city transport on the planet. Best of all, it is environment-friendly.
Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut
I never quite learned to enjoy the taste of Sauerkraut. I guess I would have had I been a fan of pickled food, for the dish is originally actually Chinese!
Surviving Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest Überleben
Oktoberfest isn't German. It's Bavarian. That that distinction is an important one was obvious when we first arrived in Berlin and I casually asked our new friends about the beer festival.