Flight aboard Easyjet was smooth, on time and pleasant enough. I didn’t know that they only allowed 1 baggage… so only carry on, not even a backpack or purse! Luckily one attendant was nice enough to let me on through to put my pack for free in the hold (ie: checked baggage area) and then another lady let me just keep it in the carry on area – Hurray! It was also really hot on the plane and I got a bit lightheaded, dehydrated and dizzy. It seemed I had a low blood pressure moment and had to put my head between my knees. Luckily that sorted itself out.
I got the S-bahn and then U-bahn (all the train and metro systems!) in Berlin and it was very handy 🙂 Got a 7 day pass for 30€ which is a great deal if you think of all the connections and places that you can get to! Met up with my friend M&D and it was so lovely to see them. We have a great place that is comfy, super fast internet, nice organic tea, comfy space and nice common space too with a full 6-seater table and nice sofa.
M and I caught up and had some German food at Restaurant Mittman’s nearby. Poor D was very pooped as they just arrived and with the time change, jet lag, hot weather in Singapore to rainy weather in Berlin, it was a bit much. Slow service there but friendly and welcoming. We gals had a great catch up and the food portions were massive! Yummy chanterelles… it’s the season now!
Next day, we went to the Turkish market and bought up a storm! It was absolutely fantastic there 😀 You can get eggs, tons of fresh fruits and veggies, meats, cheese, cloth to make clothes, trinkets, jewelry, fresh bakery pie & treats (like jam), even Clamato (what the heck?!), freshly cooked food by these lovely Turkish mammies making all the amazing stews – vegetarian and with meat! Super cheap for a rice & 3 option dish… only 6€ :O Would definitely go back!
We also walked along a fun street to get there and found a wool shop for M. She was super happy and got some gorgeous wool and needles and has already make the neckline… what talent!
After that, we went back home and chilled out with another lunch by tasting the goodies from the market 😀 Delectable! After that, we went to buy some workout clothes at Decathlon for yoga the next day and Humana, a cool second hand shop. M found some fab Scottish flower Hunter boots for only 25% of the regular cost and D found a fun Swedish hat for World Orienteering. We walked around to get some good currywurst (vegetarian and meat) at Curry 61 and bought some of the sauce too. Then, we stumbled upon a cool bar (Cafe Cinema) with awesome street art nearby so we had a drink there so M could find her drishti. 🙂 After that, we went home to chill out a bit.
Next day, we went to do a yoga sess and had lotsa fun. We then went to sit in the sun around the corner at Lily’s Beef and Vegan bar & grill-club restaurant! Great service and the fellow was very friendly and welcoming too. In fact, he gave us all a round of Yaggermeister for free haha! M and I shared some ribs and D had a vegan massive burger of sorts… it was taller than the 500ml glass! We enjoyed the sun, food and laughs. The bathroom though as a bit frightening as there was graffiti everywhere eeps! Looks like a popular place for clubbing or partying on the weekend…Then, we walked around a bit at the old Tempelhofer airport field/park. It was pretty cool to be walking around an old airport that was so flat and with the runways too! After that, we stumbled upon a cool, outdoorsy bar near our metro and place so we tried some gazpacho, potatas bravas and drinks. We also popped in Denn’s Biomarkt and got more goodies too. Then we went back home to chill out again and eat more of our market spoils.
Big museum day next as we went to the Pergamonmuseum. Amazing with such ancient history available to see back to the Babylon and older! The Istar gate was splendid as well as the other pieces. We went off in search of food and found the Ampelmann store. It’s the guy on the pedestrian light fixtures and it’s a thing lol We then went for more German food and got some vegan schnitzel, bratwurst, weiss wurst, beer, German wine and pretzels 🙂 It was Food Lounge Berlin and was rather average. We did get some lovely apple cake and coffee at Berliner Kartoffelhaus. After that, more with the museums and galleries as we saw the Neues museum with awesome Egyptian art and everyday items. The bust of Nefertiti was incredible. I also went to the Alte Nationalgalerie. I enjoyed the art there and the building itself was really quite beautiful too 🙂 They require you to wear your shirt or jacket or tie it to your waist… no holding the jacket. Just in case it whips out and hits a statue. Gosh, they must have had some idiot breaking stuff before! There was a person who was busy taking a selfie and backed into an invaluable statue in Lisbon 
TIP: I got the Visit Berlin Museum pass for 29€. Good deal as it lets you into most of the most popular museums 🙂
Good grief, I was starting to get very sore from the yoga. Gosh I feel unfit! My friend was very gracious to tell me that I actually tried and pushed myself but I’m sure it was cuz I haven’t done exercise in a long time! We made it to the Thursday night street food market at Markthalle Neun. Very cool! It was teeming with people and there was all the types of food under the sun: momos, dim sum, mochi ice cream, pretzels, ice cream, bakery… everything! 😀 A true foodies delight and lots of seating on tables, stand up table with built in garbage cans under, bleacher-style seating too. Great set up with lots of options and pretty cheap 🙂 We collectively consumed momos, siu mai, vegan swedish meatballs, vegetarian tacos, spaetzle (fresh and in an amazing creamy cheese sauce!), mochi ice cream and some wine. All delicious and would definitely recommend!
Sadly, on the 13th of Sept (and a Friday!) my tummy did not want to cooperate. Felt bloated, sore and gassy at 3am and then also in the morning. So today was a rest day. I had a massive nap from 12:30 – 15:30 so that was great. Also smashing all the ginger tea with lemon too. M & D came back and we had a lovely simple dinner enjoying the fresh chanterelle mushrooms with orecchiette, nice olive oil, garlic, onion, parsley and a touch of whiskey!
Easy morning the next day with a light breakfast even though I felt better. M posted things and went to a fancy maker market but too $$$. Then a cute market like Ceres but nothing was really ready. Off we went to museum island and the art market and antique & book market were great! Got some chinese food with shao long boa and wontons at Jolly east Asian restaurant. They were so-so. It’s like they used bbq pork for the fillings and the dough was too this for the bao. Still, hot Noodle soup soothes me. I think we’re spoiled in Melbourne!
Off i then went to Checkpoint Charlie and also the Berlin wall. Also Anne Frank Zentrum. All very worthwhile. After a round of drinks at Cafe Cinema, we tried to go to another market but it was closing. So we got bbt at Come Buy : yum! Back to the house and we got some pizza and had the rest of the wine, cheese, bread, whiskey and watched the Martian. Good movie.
Antics & Adventures 