Phnom Penh; Keeping it simple

Keeping it simple. How can I, when Phnom Penh is nothing but simple?

Life here have definitely not been luxurious, I'd rather say it’s been comfortable and I had to get use to a lot of sweating. Just like working at The Flicks, though it never felt like work. I got to chat with people from all over the world, see a lot of movies and get free beer.

Living in a house(and under a cinema) and not a hostel/hotel, will, instantly, make one feel more at home. Saying thank you in Khmer aw kun(which means thank you) is a part of daily life. So is going to the market to buy fruit or shoes. Knowing which one is the expensive one and how much to pay for a tuk-tuk ride(between 2000 riel or 1 dollar). Knowing the way to work.

Though when it all comes down to it, I’m still a tourist. I still get lost, even though I know the names or numbers of the roads. I still want to go to the museums. Which I did. I saw the unimpressive National Museum, with the beautiful garden and the depressing Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, located just two blocks from my house. 

My favorite thing here is the traffic. The traffic here is something unique for me. Never in my life have I ever been stuck in rush hour on a bicycle! While I try to get to work, riding around in the roundabout I simultaneously try not to get hit or for that matter, hit anyone else. Being out in the traffic here is an adventure in itself! It lets out the inner anarchist in anyone. I don’t miss the civilized lanes back home in Denmark, there has always been a little Asian in me saying” red light, no cars? Go!”

In the beginning my expectations were crashing down all the time. Because I expected the pearl of Asia. Phnom Penh, is just Phnom Penh. It’s not the pearl of Asia and it’s gonna be awhile before it becomes that. But it's a great city and I have enjoyed every minute of my two weeks here, wishing i could have stayed longer. This city CAN be beautiful. It can be exciting. 

The things I enjoyed the most was sitting on the Flicks terrace, chatting with the other volunteers about that kids' party and what a mess the children made. Hearing other peoples stories, about how they came to Phnom Penh. Enjoying Cambodian beer. Delicious lunch at Friends. Unexpectedly falling in love with this crazy city. Thankfully I’m not done with Cambodia just yet, Monday night I will travel by bus to Siem Reap to the famous Angkor temples and there after Battambang.

On a last note on my life here in Phnom Penh, I’d like to say thank you to Paul, Harry and The One Who Shall Not Be Named. The house rats. I ended up, not being entirely grossed out by you, so thank you for that. But honestly, my stay in Phnom Penh wouldn't have been the same if I hadn't volunteered for The Flicks. Not only did it give me the opportunity to experience and live in Phnom Penh, it also gave me a feeling of being part of something with the other volunteers. 

Chances

This photograph could mean anything. The blue dots could be the chances that you never took. It could be about how sometimes life can be dark, but the light is always there. Somewhere. In whatever form or color it comes in. There are so many different ways to see things. All I see is the possibles. At least I try to. 

Back, but not really.

A lot have changed in the past years that has gone by, mainly me. I left blogging behind. It was not a conscious decision. It simply happened, with getting to caught up in my own life and all creativity was lost, that included writing. But recently I started writing, painting and feeling creative again. I'm also soon embarking on a small trip and maybe my best and closest would like to know what I'm up to, when I have left. But for now, I will keep it simple.

Thinker - Reflecting on my travels - PART 1

Tiergarden, in Berlin.

My mini Europe trip to Berlin and Paris, has both been a learning, healing and magic experience for me. In my last post I was in Berlin and my stay there was coming to an end. How I spent my last days in Berlin where different from day to day - I spent one day reading about the victims of the Berlin wall, another in the Pergamon Museum looking at archaeological treasures and the last in Tiergarden walking around in beautiful green surroundings thinking about my life, friends and death. Why death you might ask? A family member died for about a year ago and one of my closest friend's father just passed away. These two people have something in common besides that fact that they are no longer here, they died way too early and young, both taken by a desease we've all in some way been touched by - Cancer. It was the death of these two was on my mind that day , but also the death of a new friendship. How it feels to no longer to be friends and the confusen that follows. It's not the first time I lose a friend(when I say lose, I don't mean to death), but it doesn't mean I can't feel it, like I felt it years ago when it happened the first time, except dealing with it now is easier then it was back then. Berlin and Paris was both healing places for me, because it gave me the time to think thoughts,

I would not have had the time to think and a quiet peaceful place to do so.

I made this post into two parts, one for this and the other for Paris - so come back to read more!



Tiergarden.

(sorry for the wierd way the pictures are placed, but Blogger just won't collaborate with me when it comes to pictures!)


Some of the old Berlin Wall.

Pergamon Museum

Roman architecture (Pergamon Museum)



Berlin: DAY4

Is almost nonexistent. I got up very late and found my way to Alexanderplatz, by train, which it in self is a wonder, because just like my German language skills(it comforts me that they at least at Starbucks can understand my order), my skills at using their trains are just as bad.

It was the start of my day, but Alexanderplatz the day was more than started, the stalls was up, running and selling. The street performers had long before my arrival started their acts, one particular act caught my eye and sense of humor. There was this character that kept saying “merry Christmas” and getting injured, I kind of felt sorry for her while I laughed my ass of. There was this other person dressed in a sailor costume, who had to catch two balls at the same time and every time he didn’t, he threw off his clothes at someone from the audience, being completely oblivious that he hit someone. First it was the hat that revealed very long hair – he didn’t mind that, but every time he didn’t caught those balls, he got this sad miserable face - and then he took of more clothes. He ended up in his underwear, just as miserable when he didn’t this time around caught the balls. He then looked thoughtfully up into the sky, to distract us from him gathering up the balls, so he didn’t have to throw off his underwear.

Interesting story, I know.

Later in the evening I went to a vegan gourmet restaurant, to enjoy the more fancy food being a vegetarian can offer. 

Berlin: DAY3

(Reichstag)

Discovering berlin by bike is an exhilarating experience that you simply must try! It turned me into a lover of speed and my parents into my own personal circus clowns! It was after I had seen Reichstag and had eaten lunch that I bumped into a place renting bikes. Besides renting out regular bikes, you could also rent a tram. The tandem bicycle was what that turned my parents into circus clowns, the first 15 minutes driving it, was one of the most hilarious moments of my life. The thing about riding a bike in Berlin is that the cycle lane is right out in the middle in between the cars and busses and it’s so exhilarating, the speed, fun and the risk. The two hours on bike went by as if it was just 30 minutes. Later I became the circus clown, when I headed out in my roller-skates, the roads in Prenzlauerberg is really not meant for roller-skating, but a least I put some smiles on the Germans passing by me.

Berlin: DAY2

Day 2 I came to understand how I truly suck at German. I mean, I don't even know how to say yes and no!

But I have been lucky, because if in the right neighborhood the Germans speak and understand English quite well, unless you are wandering around in the Asian/Turkish neighborhood, when I asked a girl about my age if she spoke English she answered "small" and indeed "small" it was.

Something I happily discovered was that Berlin has Starbucks. All over the place. I know nothing better than a caramel macchiato, which I so rarely has the chance to enjoy because Denmark only has two Starbucks, which both are located in Kastrup airport, so whenever travelling I always take the opportunity to go.

Another great thing I discovered today is a vegetarian fast food diner, Yellow Sunshine. The food was so delicious, that I definitely will return another night if I got the time.  I also went to see Checkpoint Charlie and the museum. The museum was sooo boring! Usually I really like museums, but there where so much to read and it would fit better in a book then on several walls in an old building. I hope that I one of these days in Berlin can find a art museum, because that's more my kind of museum, less text more paintings.

Berlin; DAY1

These two next weeks I'm out traveling, first in Berlin with my parents and after I'm going to wander the streets of my favorite city, Paris alone. I will try to write some posts while I'm there, even though I'm usually against using Internet while on vacation but I often feel inspired(like I did on Roskilde Festival) when I experience things and write about them, while I'm in the moment and the memories of the feelings is still fresh.

As we first arrive to Berlin, by car it's raining heavily. The city doesn't look much, but my expectations ain't high, so there is  room for improvement. Me and my family had gotten up early so we could go to a market, only held on Sundays and in the puring rain we walked.

The lady hands me a tray of some exotic looking food with salad. I hope she understood what i said, but by the looking of the food it's very likely she didn't. I'm standing in front of a Turkish food stand in the mauvetpark marked in Berlin. It's still raining, but that doesn't stop the shoppers or the other tourist from enjoying the interesting market, that both sells old beautiful lamps, freshly pressed orange juice, the beloved wurst and fabric.

I have been told that Berlin, is the place to when you are a vegetarian and tomorrow I will find out if that is true.

Brunch for the vegetarian!

When becoming a vegetarian, people think they have to give a lot of things up. That thought is both right and wrong; sure you give up the meat and some of your favorite meals with it, but you get so much back. Becoming a vegetarian is like expanding your world of food. There is so much food I myself, would never have discovered if I hadn't become a vegetarian. Like this mornings brunch and even though is misses bacon, it's so much healthier and just as tasty.

I dont wan't to be this "ranting" vegetarian, because no one likes that, but think about it.

Being there

Just last week I attended a danish festival called Roskilde Festival. Being there gave me inspiration, so I wrote a little bit on my Ipod while I was there, mostly when I was waiting in line.

Roskilde Festival. Walking in the hot sunny morning(when i say morning i mean 12 o'clock) on my way to my camp, a little tired and a little drunk, with a caramelle latte in one hand and Orange Press in the other. The road is quiet, you can hear the music in the background; trumping, but it sounds far away, even though it's just down the road. The feeling of Roskilde is everywhere and you can't get enough of it. You can't help but like the nice people that have occupied the festival. Here I can greet a stranger like a friend and give hugs, because that stranger has lost his guitar.

It's the last day of Roskilde. The sun is burning hot. The grass has long gone, due to the rain, walking and wild drinking. I quitetly walk around by myself with my very last cigerette, enjoying the last moments of the festival. Reflecting over the experiences I've had the last week. How I had gaiend friends, becomed closer to them, and lost dreams. How we in our drunkness, late in the night had confided in each other about our everyday worrys and joys.



I wrote these two, while I was there. Feeling a feeling, that can only be felt there. Being more crazy, than normally allowed.

If you haven't been to a festival, by my opnion you should give it a try, because it's completly different adventure.

My Love of Travel

So I'm very passionate about traveling, my big and expensive dream is to see, Egypt, New York, London, New Zealand, Tokyo and Zimbabwe. By my choices of citys you can guess that I love big citys in which the feel the rush of life is so strong that it enchants you. You are probebly wondering where does Zimbabwe fit into the picture?

Well..to be honest, at first it was the name that caught my attention, but after a little research and off course with the help of Google I found out a lot more. There are great and exciting opportunities to volenteer in Zimbabwe and I hope that I one day, I will have the money to go down there and continue to help build the independent country Zimbabwe strives to be.

(Just want to mention that my amateur research was not so thorough)

As much as I love to discover new places there is nothing like revisiting a place you've been before. At the top of my list is Paris, the streets, the old history and art, throw in the incredible atmosphereinto it and you have the place on earth, I could walk around for hours, while drinking café au lait and eating pastries, sit in Les Tuileries or gazing at art in the Louvre.

Greece is yet a place i'd enjoy to revisit. Samos is the holiday resort of my childhood. I have only been to the islands of Greece three times, but I loved it so much that I can't wait to see it again.

Writing this has been like going though the river of my memories and there is nothing like it.

An Introduction That Ended on a Sidetrack

You know, I have never really introdused myself?

Well, it's about time!

Hi! My name is Nellie, I'm a moody, kinda serious, yet funny eighteen year old teenager, that loves food and in the food catagory; mostly cheese, and broccoli is my, go to food(believe it or not!).

Now that we are talking food, I'm a vegetarian for reasons I'm still trying to articulate properly without accusing or offending anyone, so to explain my reasons I have a quote from The Fault In Our Stars(which you can read a little about here). When the maincharacter asked 'why no meat', she answered " I want to minimize the number of dealths I am responsible for" which by my standards, are the best answer to this date and it will also be mine until, I on my own, come up with something better.

I love to travel, actually I love it so much, that I have written a whole post about it! Which I will, post at the end of the month

As you can guess from this blog, I like to write. One day I aspire to become a auther even though, I will be the only one to know. I don't care if I won't be published, it's  the accomplishment that matters to me. The only person standing in the way, are myself and my astounding ability to procrastinate. Writing is not easy and hard stuff are hard.

It seems I got on a sidetrack, but it's okay because I think this is all you need to know, for know at least. If you want to know more about me and my everyday life, maybe you will find something out by reading some of my blog posts or trying to read between the lines.

Poem Tuesdays; Twillight/A gypsy

Poem Tuesdays is back, and in this week I have found a beautiful poem by Scott Fitzgerald.

Come, wander where the firefly gleams;
Night's mingling with day.
Come soon for all the summer beams
Fade slowly away.
Night will burn you with its kisses;
Day will charm you with its eyes,
I'm waiting for the twilight time
Where mystery lies.

Love's sweeter in the afterglow
Born over the years;
Red roses when their beauties go
Hold laughter and tears.
Gold is fading in the yellow,
Yellow melting into gray;
Eve's perfumed with jessamine.
Farewell to the day.

Have a great Tuesday!

The beauty and awkwardness of first kisses

Do you remember your first kiss?

That first, either planned or completely spontaneous moment when two lips meet.

I find these story's both adorable and interesting, because it says something about the person that tells the story. Maybe the one that made "the move" was very nervous or maybe it was a decision made just before the actual kiss. Who knows? I don't. Sure, sometimes the subject comes up between friends, but it's nothing you tell to a stranger.

"Hi, let me introduce myself; my name is Anna. My first kiss was with this boy, at this age and so on."

It would also be a bit odd. That is at least  how I would feel, if someone introduced themselves that way, but also that the person would be really outgoing and that's never a bad thing.  

The theme of first kisses is exciting, maybe I could write a book about that, since I have that 'writing a book dream'.

You say spinach, I say pizza!

When you normally think of spinach, a taste of bitterness comes to mind, but when I think of spinach my thoughts are, mm yummy pizza! There is simply nothing better on a lazy night, then a spinach pizza dripping of mozzarella cheese, filled with spinach just so it isn't so unhealthy with all that lovely cheese.

Pizza is always a little better when you make it yourself and therefore I want to give you guys, my recipe!

I don't really use exact measures, given that it depends on what you like.

I would advise you to put a lot of spinach on the pizza, because it shrinks in the oven and put the cheese on top. By the way, you don't need a stone to make pizza!

We are a little lazy and busy in our everyday, so we are using ready-made pizza dough.

You need:

Spinach
Mozzarella cheese
Grated cheese of your choice
A basic tomato sauce
Fresh or dried basil
Garlic

And voila, after using only 10 minutes on making your dinner and 20 minutes in the oven, you got yourself an almost homemade pizza!

Finally Summer

The long waited heat of summer and spring at last came to little Denmark. When I stepped outside today, finished after 5 hours of this years English annual examination, the rays of the sun hit my pale body and made me wish, I had worn something else then my long black pants. The sun made me thank myself for the casual tank top, I had felt like wearing this morning, saving me from the 23 degrees of heat. It made me sweaty and today was a bad day to be sweaty. This morning I had forgotten to use deodorent and under the heat of the sun, I did not smell good. Despite the sweat the sun will always beautiful and make one happy.

Sitting here, my inside my room, instead of outside makes me a little sad. I would like to have a bigger garden. A garden you could actually sit in but no, my garden is like a flower; closed, savage and just something to look at.

I really wish summervacation would start today, so I can fully enjoy the sun. The sun that so rarely makes an apperence in Denmark. I would sit in my hoilday home, looking out at the water, feeling the wild wind in my face, finally able to breahe again for yet another year.

I'm very much looking forward to it.

Light my cigarette?

This is a kind of Flashback Friday, a thing from Lost and Found that I thought would be fun to try.
Short recap: it is about writing a memory from the past, on Fridays.

I have been a casual/social smoker for about 2½ years on/off. Know, that I decided to quit, and I'm finding it harder, then I thought it would be. It would be easier if I wasn't clubbing every weekend; a smoker in all corners of the night club or outside, a cigarette offered. I feel like I can't say no. I don't want to, but I have to. The thing that holds me back and make me say no every time is the thought of maybe one day, it's not a choice to smoke, it's an addiction.

Sometimes I wish, I never had smoked that first horrible tasting cigarette, but then I think of all the funny memories I have with a cigarette in my hand, laughing with my friends or a kind stranger.

This makes me think back to a party I attended in 2010. I wanted to smoke so I went outside. I ended up in a shed, with a two people.
One was my girl friend and another was a guy, I went to school with. We lighted some cigarettes and had a very deep conversation. It was a conversation with a person I knew and a person I didn't knew. That night, in that shed, we where all friends and confidants. The guy talked about him feeling, that he wasn't himself when in school, in front of his friends and we where amazed, because this guy that sat in front of us - smoking like he swore he would never do - was a totally different person, apart from the person we knew from school.

Maybe it was the alcohol, the cigarette or the atmosphere of it all; he was never himself, besides that night.

That is my Flashback Friday memory.

Moving on to a new month

It's a new month and therefore a new start. I didn't finish A-Z, but I to got get over it and move on. There will be a new A-Z next year and I'm already looking forward to it.

Moving on:

Life right now feels both hard and awesome. Hard because of the responsibilities I have taken on my self and awesome, because of the benefits of becoming 18.
I love, finally being able to go a night out in the city with my friends and having a blast. It's a sad thing, that you in America have to be 21 to do that or try to buy fake IDs..

My thoughts is quite empty now.

Have a great day, I'll try to make something good with the rest of mine besides facebook.

P - Parkinson's disease

I thought about writing about party's, procrastination or Paris, but I ended up wanting to write about Parkinson's disease. It's a disease close to my own heart and family. I decided to write about this, to make people aware that this is an actual disease and not just something old people gets, because the are getting old and it's nothing to joke about. 

My father has Parkinson's disease, he was diagnosed in 2009 when I was away on boarding school.

Year by year the disease has been getting worse on my dad. First, before he was diagnosed it was just a little shaking in his left hand now three years later he can't sleep though a night, both his hands shake, his legs are cramping the hole time. The time he is well is when he is running, walking or riding his bicycle.

He didn't have it this way three years ago. Maybe he would be a lot better right now, if me and my mom didn't pressured him to go to the doctor back then.

He is not even a bad case, he's are a mild case, at least for now.

All those thoughts about, "maybe it's the pills he have to take" or "the doctor" who doesn't know shit about Parkinson and doesn't want to refer to a specialist.

Maybe he would be better of without the pills.

Being away on boarding school made it all easier for me of course I struggled with my thoughts, but as time has gone and I came home, I could see with my own eyes what this disease do to a person.

Have you ever had a close family member suffering from a chronic disease?
Share your experiences:)

O - Outcast

A very late O, but what the hell it want to finish this, late or not!
- My deadline is three days, the question is; can I make it?
In various  periods of my life I have been an outcast; a person without friends and I've perennially felt a little different from others. But there is nothing wrong about feeling that way.

Just because I have never been afraid to be myself and show it, it does not mean that I should feel different or weird. It's okay to be who you are and not change, for the shake of other unless you want to.

Recently I have undertaking a motto called "accept what you can't change,  change what you can't accept". Since I have begun living by those words things seem more simple and decisions about change, easier to make.

Though you can't decide whether you are an outcast or not, you can try changing it even though it's probably really hard. Try to approach some new people, some you maybe never would have thought about approaching otherwise. I know it's hard, when you are an outcast it's rarely by choice and often you are a shy person (I am), but trying is what matters. What matters even more is what you think about yourself, because people will come and go, in the end it's yourself you have to live with all of your life. I know that and now you know it too and hopefully that will help you.

Knowing that and that I have had those bad experience's in my life have made me stronger as a person..