Monday and things look ok

Here I am back at my secret little free internet spot, which is in a nice leafy carpark/cafe courtyard of the Hermitage Amsterdam museum.

I moved hostels this morning, to a Christian hostel in the Red Light district.

I couldn't put my finger on my last hostel, I am sure there are seedier hostels around the place, but this one was expensive and dingy and made me slightly uncomfortable. I guess I didn't see too many girls around the place, and I met a few guys that seemed harmless, I didn't want to engage in too much conversation with them, and tell them I was moving here, alone. I just sort of mumbled and wheezed and coughed around a bit, and smiled here or there. I felt safe, it was central, but there was nothing to it. The reception area was right in this area called "the lounge" which was about 1 metre by 1 metre, and had a small round table with a booth around it and a small tv, and then there were dorms upstairs and on that same floor.

The only saving grace was the tv in my dorm, where I tuned into "Girls of the Playboy mansion" and "Forrest Gump", while I dwelled on my snottiness. Both nights I stayed in and hogged the tv, it was okay, most of the people in the dorm were out til late, I assume to get stoned, or pick up a hooker.

This Christian place is large, full of light, and I am in a girls only dorm, which makes me immediately feel a bit better. My dorm is in the attic, there are about 6 dorms up there, and there is courtyard and a cafe, and it just seems to be more friendly, and safe. Any potential thieves etc would have a hard time lugging my suitcase down the winding stairs.

The girl that checked me in was nice, her name was Hayley, she was American I think, she asked me about my name, and when I said it was Indonesian, she said she had spent some time in Central Java, in a town called Salatiga. Funny, that when I think about that town, even before I met her, I alwasy thought of it as a Christian town, I think my old high school used to take International students from there.

Anyway, they had some signs up for free board and bed (laundry and internet and food and room for free?!? Yes please!). The catch? Cleaning from 10-3 with an hour lunch break inbetween. I could cope with that, if it meant I wasn't spending 25-33 Euros a night on a hostel, and meeting some (christian) people, and using their internet, and washing my clothes. I had an interview with a yank called Austin who seemed nice, and said he could have a place for me in a week or so. I am keen to do it after I get back from Spain on the 27th of August, save my money on a deposit for a room or something, if nothing else, I can save my money.

I am feeling a bit better health wise, and also, a bit more of a positive attitude after some positive interactions in the hostel and with the city hall folk after trying to register myself as an "alien".

I was at the wrong city hall, but this internet hotspot is on the way to the one I am supposed to be going to, so I thought I would take the opportunity to update the blog.

Free Internet makes me happy

In wandering around central Amsterdam with my laptop, I stumbled across 2 things

1. a little hub of offices near a central canal, that seem advertising and design related. Note to self to door knock on Monday or Tuesday after I organise my visa.

2. Free internet outside of a museum called Hermitage Amsterdam. Since internet comes at a cost of 2-5 Euro an hour, i deem this as quite the find. I just had an urge to turn my laptop on as i sit in this courtyard outside the museum. I must have a knack for tracking down free internet access.

Breakfast in Denmark, Icecream in Sweden, Sleep time in Netherlands

My new BFF was a very nice, camp, young (21), Turkish med student dude from Istanbul that was staying in the same dorm as me. His name was Yagiz, but pronounced "Yuuurs" (??) and we hung out a bit.

On the first day we met, after doing some free stuff and eating lunch, we were bored at a cafe, and he randomly ran into a friend of his from Istanbul, Mert, who wsa studying Arts Management in Copenhagen, and who showed us around a bit, introduced us to some locals, and we went to a free moonlight cinema screening of the movie "Milk".

To be honest, Copenhagen was beautiful, but I just didn't feel "it" there. I just didn't like it, and I was spending money on food and survival, and I spent way too much there. There is something to be said for hanging out in a city of rich, beautiful people - your self esteem plummets along with your bank account balance. I wanted to change my flights, and go to Amsterdam sooner, but I couldn't without spending more money.

I mooched around a bit, in a bad mood, eating burger king and getting in worse moods.

Our last night in Copenhagen, we were sitting in the square off the main shopping street, drinking Carlsberg beer from the 7-11 and we met a couple of danish guys and some really young (18) kids from Chicago.

The Danes were crazy, unemployed, bisexual... drinking beers from crate that they had found outside Central Station and carrying a garbage bag of chips around with them, talking to tourists.

Photo courtesy of Chicago Nat's facebook album

We ended up going to a heavy metal club with them called 'The Rock'. I left promptly after arriving, thinking that I was way too old for this crap. By "this crap", I meant hanging out with people a whole generation younger than me, in a place where I felt severely out of place and you had to have 9 holes in your face and have an appreciation for Rage against the machine. I went home.

Yagiz convinced me to live life on the edge, and on our last day in Copenhagen, catch a train to Malmo, in Sweden. For $20 AU i thought being in 3 countries in one day could be a bit of a thrill.

We bought our tickets from Central Station for 78 DKK, and then ate fake subway ( Sunset Boulevard) for breakfast.

Photos courtesy of Yagiz's facebook album

(You probably want to see photos of Malmo and not me eating but whatever, I'll put them up in a big album later.

We caught the train, went down the longest bridge in Europe, connecting Denmark with Sweden, and saw Malmo.

Photos courtesy of Yagiz's facebook album

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It was a shithole ( a pretty shithole, but nothing to do ) but a much cheaper place than Copenhagen; we had walked the entire circumference of the city and saw all it's sights in an hour. I ate an icecream, and a hamburger from burger king.

Photos courtesy of Yagiz's facebook album

We then caught a train to the airport, because he was leaving the same day as me. Even though he was younger than me, we got along like a house on fire, and it was sort of sad to say goodbye even though we only met 2 days ago.


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Arrivéd in Amsterdam last night with a cough, at about 10pm. Upon exiting the airport, all I could smell was marijuana smoke. I decided to skip the hostel I had booked, with suspicions that I would feel worse than better, if I spent hours searching for a tiny hole in the wall hostel, and snuck in to a room with 4 other people. I decided I would live the high life in a 2.5 star hotel near the airport for 49 Euro.

My own room, shower, plasma and a double bed to recover. 10 hours of sleep was bliss.When I caught the free airport shuttle back to the airport, it smelt like weed. I went to the Airport doctor this morning, barely able to speak. It's not Swine Flu, it's just a normal flu. Sweet.

I just went to the newsagent, and thought they might sell an Expat newspaper in english, like othr cities do. ( Jakarta Post? Copenhagen Times?)

"If it was in english, it wouldn't be a dutch paper then would it?" the guy laughed at me.

Whatever. Jerk.

Welcome to my new home, and my new life in Amsterdam.

Happy to report...

.. that I have found a new friend, and things are looking significantly better than yesterday.

The shared dormitory hasn't been too bad so far, the guys in the dorm are pretty quiet and probably a bit sorry for me, being the only girl. Having not grown up with any brothers or anything, it is still a bit weird to be surrounded by all guys.

There is one guy from Beijing who is here on a conference, and 2 lil frenchies from Paris that look really wet behind the ears, the librarian from Colorado, and then some more randoms I can't be bothere chit chatting too, because they have kept to themselves so far.

Something that makes me even happier is that the toilets and showers aer cleaner than what I thought... scraping the bottom of the barrel for some sunshine here.

I got a decent night's sleep which also helps the situation so far.

I feel like a bit of a loser for being so down and out yesterday, but i expect that it won't be the last time that i feel like that, writing to the outside world made me better though.

Did the whole museum thing this morning, and went to have some danish open sandwhiches which were affordable-ish and yummy, and now looking for a place to have a drink, because my liver has been complaining that I have been keeping it too pristine for the last 2 or 3 days.

2 things still haven't changed;

1. This city is still robbing me of my savings. I am trying to do all the free stuff.

2,My phone still isn't working and I have no idea why, my new BFF and I went to the Tourist Information office today and we asked about that, and they said it was a common question today, so perhaps the phone companies are on strike or something to that effect.

I think you can ring me but I just can't ring out, or sms out. I had to do the whole ET phone home thing, just in case this isn't the case, and people can't actually ring me. I am sure my parents are relieved to hear from me, since my dad recently watched a movie about Human trafficking, and scared himself shitless and tried to hunt me down for 2 days while I was in the Finnish countryside, and there wasn't a lot of reception.

By the way, Copenhagen at dusk is really beautiful, so many little narrow cobblestone lanes with exquisite looking restaurants with sexy couples and groups of young people being Danish and chic.

Interior design here is a big thing, the only ugly place I have seen is the bloody Australian pub at the end of my street, and it is painted in yellow and gold, with boxing kangaroos all over it. Seriously bad street presence.

Anyway, that is all. Over and out.

Initial Copenhagen observations

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1.Everyone is fucking beautiful. And cool. Really fucking cool.
2.Everything is fucking expensive.
3.My hostel seems to be deader than a doornail, even though they claim to be full.
4. The Canadian guy that just checked in is a wanker.
5. I want to be back in Helsinki.
6.My phone doesn't work here and it's really fucking me off because I don't know why.
7. I think I am cranky because I'm all alone, even though the sun is shining in Copenhagen and it's a beautiful city, with beautiful people, and beautiful shops and buildings, and I should be happy.
8. I need to do washing and the nearest laundrymat is a 20 minute walk away.
9. The only thing I could smell for about 2 hours after I checked in was cheap men's spray on deoderant because I am sharing a room with 7 boys, and an old American librarian from Denver, Colorado that wanted to share his life history with me as I was settling into the room. Do I sound thrilled? No? Probably because I'm not.
10. As for point 10, apparently this is the only bed that was free for 3 continuous nights. Mixed dorm, poo.
11. I hate my suitcase more than I hate being by myself.
12. Re-reading point number 8 makes me even more annoyed.
13. My ears are still trying to clear themselves up after the bashing they took on the flight over here.
14. KFC still uses their old branding here. It's retro.
15. Burger King are offering hamburgers for 10 DKK. Approx $2.40. I might be on a Burger King diet for the next 3 days as even a hot dog costs twice this much. To put it into perspective, I bought a bus ticket from the airport to the city and it cost 35 DKK, and an ice tea cost me 25 DKK. I spent almost $15 on a bus ticket and a drink. That would have at least got me a hamburger in Helsinki.
16. I acknowledge this has been a whingey post, but I don't care.

Hopefully I will feel better tomorrow after I eat and check out this jazz club at the end of the street.

A few Finnish observations

- Finnish people don't eat the skin on the fish, even if it's been grilled. This is weird, right? Even weirder, most don't eat the skin on a rotisserie bbq chicken. I will never understand....

- There is no KFC in Finland. Awesome. I think it's fantastic that the Colonel hasn't gotten his greasy little mits on this pure country. Leave them alone Colonel Sanders!

- The recycling over here is impressive, and all countries should take note. Not only are the facilities first class, but every finnish person takes it so seriously, at home and when they are out. It also helps that they also get money back from their beer and cider bottles etc. Sunday Hangover ritual? Get your ass to the supermarket where one night of drinking can afford you the luxury of an icecream, a gatorade and a packet of chips each. Is there nothing this country won't do for it's hungover citizens? Me likey.

- Every Finn cleans up after themselves, when in fast food joints. I felt like an idiot if I didn't pick up after myself, and put my tray away. Social responsibilities need to be taken seriously people!!

summer cottage, had me a blast PT2

First stop, Jukka and Outi's home town, Kuopio, at dusk - amongst one big lake, so many cute islands!

After 5 hours on train, Sini, Jukka and I arrivd in Kuopio and had dinner with Outi and Jukka's sister (Anu) and parents (Olli and Helena) and cousins (Anya and Katya) at a revolving restaurant close to the city - Reindeer steak... yummy!! The Makela's were lovely...

View from the Makela's home balcony...

One night at their family home, and then 2.5 hour drive to the country where I arrived to ....

the main cottage at the top of the hill - too cute for words

close up of the main cottage at the top of the hill


The view from the front window - veggie garden, forest, lakes, islands....

Inside the main cottage - old world scandanavian charm ( with or without Jukka in the cottage)

meanwhile, down the hill, towards the lake...

The lower cottage that housed the sauna, and the bbq area behind me

Having just tasted my first wild strawberry

30 degrees and perfect - life doesn't get much better

chillaxing lakeside with Jukka

The view from the left of the dock - howdy neighbour

Sunset over the lake

Sini and I in our post sauna dip in the lake

Post sauna cider

I didn't try to eat them, honest!



Red Currants

The cheesiest photo I have ever taken in my life - I got all lovey dovey with nature... weird.

Night number 3, the crowd goes wild for my dancing

Finnish Love - Thanks for the memories you two lovebirds xxx

After three days and nights at the cottage, back in Kuopio, Outi and Jukka's one year old nephew, Erro, and Me, matching attire. (So tired after non stop shenanigans at the cottage)

As you might be able to tell, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I absolutely loved this place.

But I also loved Helsinki because I rocked out with so many of Outi and Jukka's cool friends,

I am sooo not spelling these names right!! L to R: Oui, Sini, Kata, Me, Vendla

Yet again, not correct name spelling - Esco, Me, Eric

Me, Sini and Outi

The boys and awesome girl, post golf tournament, and some sauna and swimming


Me and my awesome Outi xxx

Rani hearts Finland!!

Summer Cottage, had me a blast... PART 1

Back in Helsinki after having a taste of the good life - 3 nights, and 3 days in the Finnish countryside at the Makela family summer cottage, which is a 5 hour train ride to the city of Kuopio, then 2.5 hours in a car to the country.

I'm talking sunshine, sauna (yes! Their own sauna, and I had my first sauna!!), cider, card games - I was lakeside, and I loved it.

Today is my last full day in Helsinki. I woke up quite late, I think my body deserved a long rest after 3 continuous days of drinking, and eating, and late nights talking shit with my friends Jukka and Sini.

I should get off the computer and go outside and enjoy this beautiful day, but I will post some awesome photos of their cool digs in the country soon.

Off to Copenhagen tomorrow.