December's Greetings

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2014!

Another year has passed by.. This year's December is special, such a festive month that I have not experienced again since some time. Old friends gathering, Christmas parties three times at work (as I am involving with different institutions), new friends getting to know a little better... Such a festive month that I have been so busy, seemed to get not enough time and air to breathe. On the other hand, I have also experienced again much happiness!

Weihnachtsgeschenke

With total of five celebrations meaning I have done as well quite a little of cooking work, let alone almost 200 vietnamese crispy spring rolls :-D. Thanks family and friends for a warm December. Merry (already gone-by) Christmas but looking forward to a very Happy New Year 2014!!! May this year bring with it all the success and fulfillment your heart desires!


Weihnachtsengel

Self-made spring rolls with a little decoration touch! Thanks a lot my 'talented and hardworking personal assistant' to help me to finish probably around 200 spring rolls for three events that were well made!




Something sweet for the festive season!

Happy New Year 2014!!!

Tag der deutschen Einheit - Day of German Unity

Tag der deutschen Einheit (03.10) - Brandenburger Tor


Berlin Festival of Lights 2013 (09. - 20.10.2013)

Berlin in summer scent: Music, Art, Museum..

Berlin Philharmony


Berlin Hackescher Markt

Berliner Dom in summer view


Am Brunnen - Museumsinsel


Kite festival at the Berlin Tempelhof park (old airport Tempelhof now closed and used as a park)


11th Open Air Gallery auf der Oberbaumbrücke

Private tour to visit the renovated historical roof truss at the Pergamon Museum

At the New Museum

Spring comes, finally!!! Cheerful Berlin in spring!

Otto Lilienthal - Denkmalstätte auf dem Berliner Fliegeberg




Spring time!!!


Spring is probably a great time to visit any city - Berlin is no doubt no exeption! The city transforms itself after a long cold winter covered in snow to a cheerful warm big-garden-like hub with green and colourful blossoms in almost every corner of all streets.. It is the time to take the bike out and enjoy!!!



Britzer Garden, a large park in the south of Berlin

Joyful bike tour around Berlin, sun-shing and cherry blossoms!

An 'uninvited' cute guest!

Potsdam - a "little Versailles" romantic peaceful city

Potsdam is known as a nice romantic city near Berlin. Having stayed in Berlin for nearly one year and a half, but like a 'habit' of not sight-seeing our own city, only until this Easter holiday, combining with a visit from Dustin's brother to Berlin so we liked to take him around, we decided to make a day trip to the charming city Potsdam. Only that the weather was still quite cold and gloomy. It seemed like snows would never be gone..

At the Sanssouci Palace, which is considered as a "little Versailles"

"Schloss Sanssouci", a relatively modest palace of the Prussian royal and German imperial family. It is often counted among the German rivals of Versailles. While Sanssouci is in the more intimate Rococo style and is far smaller than its French Baroque counterpart, it is also notable for the numerous temples and follies in the park. The palace was designed/built by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff between 1745 and 1747 to fulfill King Frederick's need for a private residence where he could relax away from the pomp and ceremony of the Berlin court (source: wikipedia). The palace's name emphasises this; it is a French phrase (sans souci), which translates as "without concerns", meaning "without worries" or "carefree"...


The terrace gardens, looking down from the Palace, towards the park

It was a little pity that in winter almost all outdoor statues are covered in wooden boxes to protect them against snow. The Palace and the park would be more romantic, charming and really nice in summer! Maybe I will have a reason to come back here when the sun shines :-).

Walking around the Sanssouci park still covered in snow at the end of March..

"Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/ Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, 24 kilometres southwest of Berlin city centre." (wikipedia). It took us only about half an hour by car from Berlin Steglitz.