Cosima Underwater

Floating underwater
held safely from all sides

Stillness around me
Inside me

Sun rays lost in blue
Glittering fish below

No need to breathe
Time does not exist

by Cosima

tags: poem

I just couldn’t resist. Here are more pictures from my visit to Prague. I made so many, because I just fell in love with the gracefulness of the architecture. Sadly, these buildings are from a bygone era.

View of the Vltava River and Charles Bridge

Newly renovated Synagogue in Jerusalem Street

Certovka, a small side arm of the Vltava river

And especially for you lecram sinun…

…bottles of absinth in a shop that unfortunately was still closed when I passed by. I would have liked to try some.

There are even more Prague pictures on my flickr account.

This week my family and I drove from Berlin to the Adriatic coast. The fastest way to go there is to drive through Germany and Austria, because these countries have the best Autobahn system. However, if you look on the map the shortest route distance-wise goes through the Czech Republic and passes Prague. Since I have never been to Prague before, we decided to overnight there and do some sightseeing the following day.

After passing the German-Czech border I was shocked. Shocked in the true sense of the word. Because for the first 50km inside the Czech Republic the road is lined with prostitutes. Prostitutes standing in front of converted newsstands, prostitutes in houses in villages almost completely taken over by the horizontal trade, and prostitutes standing at the side of the road. And they are not your meticulously groomed girls found in western strip bars. These woman look poor, desperate, and at the end of their ropes.

I have seen reports on German TV concerning prostitution in the Czech Republic, sometimes called “Europe’s biggest brothel”, but to see it with your own eyes is quite something else. While we are driving towards Prague, I asked myself how this can be. Like always, the biggest problem seems to be that there is demand. Most clients come from rich countries opposite of the border: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and even further away. Ads at the side of the road, offering parking spaces for trucks, a bed, and some fun for 40 Euros, point to another target group. While we were still winding our way through Germany’s hilly border region on relatively narrow roads, I had already asked myself why so many trucks from all over Europe were using this inconvenient road.

Second problem, seems to be the desperate economic situation of the women and also the region were they do their trade. I read that most of these women are not Czech, but often come from even poorer countries in Eastern Europe, Ukraine and other states of the former Soviet Union. They are lured by newspaper ads, offering fast money in Western countries, and later find themselves in slave-like situations in brothels run by the Ukrainian mafia. The local authorities are of no help. Predictably, the Czech authorities don’t admit that there is a serious problem, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them are profiting from the trade.

When we did our sight-seeing walk around Prague, I was still chewing on what I had seen the earlier day. The city was full of affluent tourists. Half of them seemed to be part of a Jehovah’s Witnesses convention, enjoying the splendor around them and that they could meet with people of their faith from all over the world. They were easily identifiable by their purple stickers “Deliverance at hand”. How fitting I thought, these women at the border could use some deliverance fast.

And not only me. Cosima was one of what felt like ten million tourists visiting this very picturesque city at the Vltava river. While I get my pictures in order, read about “problems” of people living abroad.

——

One of my pastimes is reading internet sites were expats, tourists, and exchange students air their peeves about the countries they are visiting. While I do read political comment sites, I find sites where cultural idiosyncrasies are discussed equally as interesting.

First of all it amazes me how passionate people can argue about things that are in the grand scheme of things rather unimportant. A while ago, I stumbled over a blog where the differences in American and German toilet bowls were discussed (?!?). I just have this to say: both designs have their pros and cons, and pale in comparison to the latest toilet technology from Japan.

Another problem discussed is the German illness of “draftomania”. I only admit it grudgingly, but many Germans, especially of the older generation suffer from this illness. Here is the scenario. You enter a very hot room or train compartment. While sweat is running down your forehead you open the window to let in a cooling breeze. Shortly after, someone in the room yells “Es zieht!” (it’s drafty). You argue that the room is very hot and you will close the window in a few minutes. Most draftomaniacs are ok with this, but some will accuse you of causing their immediate death. I am firmly on the side of my American friends on this one.

Always entertaining is the culture clash concerning Germany’s relaxed attitude of public nudity vs. Anglo-Saxon prudishness. The internet is full of accounts by shocked Americans and Britons, who went into a mixed sauna or stumbled onto an unofficial nudist area (especially popular in Eastern Germany). Also legendary are the hordes of topless German women sunbathing on Mediterranean beaches. While I prefer to leave my bikini on, I think Anglo-Saxons could be a little bit more relaxed about nakedness and their body in general. What’s so awful about seeing someone naked? It’s the way we are born.

“Sauberkeit” (cleanliness) in turn is a “Steckenpferd” (special interest) of some stuck-up Germans. They rate their travel destinations by the amount of waste in places where it shouldn’t be. While German waste collection and recycling is pretty good, my fellow Germans should keep in mind the dog shit that lines the side walks in our larger cities. These “Tretminen” (landmines) need to be cleaned up first (preferably by the dog owners themselves), before they can criticize others.

Another one, involves English-speakers, first- and amazingly enough also people who speak it as a second-language, getting exasperated by the unsatisfactory level of English by natives. I have witnessed a few of these exchanges in Hong Kong, and they never seize to amaze me. Firstly, while English is an official language in Hong Kong, most Hongkongers’ first language is Cantonese. I am just incredibly grateful that I can live in Hong Kong without having to learn this extremely difficult language, and I can certainly live with a few instances of non-understanding. Especially hilarious are exchanges of heavily accented Europeans getting angry about Hongkongers, who don’t immediately get what they want. For some reason, people from Mediterranean countries are especially prone to do this.

To end this post about prides and prejudices, I would like to say that when people visit other countries they should keep in mind that different doesn’t necessarily mean better or worse, just different. And some of the down-right hateful comments, found on the internet, say more about the arrogance of the writers than the alleged flaws of the country they are criticizing.

—–

Further German idiosyncrasies are listed in Spiegel’s Survival Bible Forum. After your next visit to Germany, don’t say you haven’t been warned ;).

I was planning to write a complicated post about the state of the world, but had to admit defeat in the middle of it. I am just too tired. So, I thought I show you a picture of where I went with my family today .

It’s a gem of a lake south of Berlin with excellent water quality. While Berlin is land-locked, the city and its surroundings have lots of rivers, channels, and lakes. As every tour guide worth his money will tell you: Berlin has more bridges than Venice.

We spent the day with building sand castles, swimming, and even rowing. The water was wonderfully cool, and brought a welcome reprieve from the heat.

I will probably not post for the next couple of days, as I am traveling to southern Europe by car.
But I promise lots of pictures when I have arrived.

tags: berlin

The world has a new Miss Universe, Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza, 18 years young from Puerto Rico. I didn’t see the actual event on TV but http://www.spiegel.de/ has a photostream on their site of all contestants.

Over here in Germany there is a lot of hypocrisy concerning beauty pageants. No one admits to watch them, but like tabloid newspapers and gossip magazines, they don’t go out of business. And of course the press just loves to report about them, because they are a welcome change from all the usual death and destruction.

While men ogle the female flesh on display, women bitch about the supposed flaws of the candidates. Me too. Just envious, you say. Yeah, you’re right, but it doesn’t stop me from doing it. So, boys just look at the pics! Girls read on!

Miss Albania looks kind of familiar…

Miss Albania: I want my lips to look just like Angelina Jolie’s.
Surgeon: That costs one thousand dollars extra.
Miss Albania: I have some savings.

And her boobs do not look natural.

Miss Bolivia: Gimme some more!
Surgeon: That’s one thousand dollars per pound.
Miss Bolivia: I take two pounds…on each side.

After intensive training in front of the mirror…

Pageant coach: Remember, do the dangerous-sexy-look when they do the close-up.
Miss Denmark: Aye aye, Sir!

Boy, who is her hairdresser?

Cosima: You should sue him!
Miss Latvia: Well, we were trying something new, the mermaid look.

I am not an expert, but…

…I am willing to bet that Miss Lebanon’s nose was bigger before the operation.

Kudos to Miss Mexico for her facial control.

Cosima tried, but she could not get her left eyebrow to arch like that.

Half of the contestants hook their thumbs into their bikini bottoms like Miss Slovakia.

Photographer: Let’s have some fun!
Assistant: You think their bikini bottoms will fly off?
Photographer: It’s worth a try!

Cosima’s final question: What do the Tour de France and the Miss Universe Pageant have in common?
Answer: You don’t know for sure who is doped.

Photos: Reuter, Miss Universe L.P., LLLP

tags: miss universe, girlie stuff

1. I was born in Berlin, Germany, 33 years ago.
2. I am a woman.
3. My first crush was my gym teacher in school (I know, a classic).
4. My first kiss, with tongue and all, took place during summer camp. He had dark eyes and brown hair.
5. I lost my virginity in the back of a car, on the spur of the moment. I was 16 years old. In retrospect I think, it was all well planned, but not by me.
6. I enjoyed myself, we used a condom, and I cannot remember his name.
7. I can remember what we did, how he looked, and even how he smelled. And how I felt.
8. I started to learn English in third grade. I learnt vocabulary, grammar, and how to write essays.
9. My final high school exam was on Macbeth.
10. On my first trip to the US, I discovered that they didn’t teach me how to speak the language.
11. The first place I visited in the US was Chicago. I was seventeen.
12. My spoken English has improved since then.
13. I am left-handed and left-footed. My grandpa on my father’s side and my grandma on my mother’s side were left-handed too.
14. Both of my eyes had a Lasik operation, and I am very glad I had it done.
15. I have B-cup boobs, and I don’t want them any other way.
16. I have shoe size 38 (US 7.5).
17. I went to three universities. In Germany, in the US, and in Great Britain.
18. I live in Hong Kong.
19. I enjoy traveling and to see new places.
20. I have visited all continents with the exception of South America and Antarctica.
21. I would like to go there too.
22. I am an only child, but never felt lonely.
23. I was not spoilt by my parents. They took extra care not to do it.
24. I have a four year old son. His father is the man in my life.
25. I am an atheist.
26. I respect other people’s believes. I realize that they just had different influences and experiences than I had.
27. I don’t discuss religion, because it’s futile. And I am disgusted by religious fanatics of whatever faith.
28. I am addicted to coffee.
29. I only drink cappuccino at Starbucks. I do need lots of milk, to mask the poor taste of the coffee they use.
30. Swimming is my favorite sport. Usually, I swim several times a week, mostly freestyle.
31. It’s not just a work-out. Swimming frees my mind from whatever problems I may have, and I love how it massages my body.
32. I enjoy bicycling. I am not a mountain biker, I prefer paved roads.
33. The first time I saw a real-life condom out of its packaging was at school, as part of an HIV prevention lesson. I also learnt how to put it on (over the index and middle finger of my teacher).
34. I think that was an important lesson, and I don’t understand why some parents don’t want their children to hear it.
35. During love-making, I enjoy when my head is caressed and held.
36. Also my ass.
37. My preferred position is from behind. Doesn’t mean that I don’t like the others.
38. I have done it outdoors, but the last time was a long time ago. I want to do it again.
39. I once tried to make love with a man in a Jacuzzi. It didn’t work, because we didn’t have water-resistant lube. Whenever I think about the situation, I have to smile.
40. I exercise my pelvic floor muscles. The first time, I used them on a man, he laughed then groaned (not from pain).
41. However, I am unable to shoot ping-pong balls.
42. I swallow, I don’t spit.
43. I enjoy watching love scenes in normal movies much more than in porn flicks.
44. I once peeped on a couple doing it. They didn’t draw the curtains in their hotel room, mine was directly opposite. After a while, I worried that the woman was dead. Maybe she slept. The guy was going up, down, up, down…
45. Business travel gets old pretty quickly, especially if you are traveling alone. Even when you stay in a five-star hotel and fly business class, it’s the pits.
46. Brad Pitt doesn’t do it for me.
47. I was pretty sure Angelina Jolie had silicon in her lips, until I saw a picture of her brother. He has the same pout. Maybe they got a two-for-one?
48. The only car damage I ever caused was during parking maneuvers. I am so glad they invented parking sensors.
49. I like the handling of sports cars. I would like to drive a Porsche.
50. I don’t own a car at the moment. It’s too expensive in Hong Kong, and most of the time, I don’t miss it.
51. Learning how to sail is on my list of things to do before I die.
52. I like eating vegetables more than eating fruit. I am into bell peppers at the moment.
53. I read to my son every day.
54. I cannot stand the smell inside Burger King. It makes me gag. McDonald’s and Wendy smells are ok.
55. The huge servings some restaurants serve are disgusting.
56. I admire the importance people in Asia place on good food, and on enjoying it with friends and family.
57. I put on mascara every day, sometimes lipstick and eye shadow, never foundation.
58. I don’t like sweet perfumes, and I like citrus smells on men.
59. I only like hearing music in a car at night, not during the day.
60. I can ski down a black run. The gym teacher, I had a crush on, taught me how to ski.
61. I have only tried cross-country skiing once, in shoes that were one size too large. I fell in a steep curve and my shoes and skis traveled down the slope on their own. My friends thought this was very funny.
62. I don’t want to learn how to snowboard.
63. One of my greatest indulgence is buying expensive lingerie.
64. I get blisters on my feet very easily. I go barefoot whenever I can.
65. I have dark blond hair, almost brown. And four white hairs.
66. My hair reaches to my shoulders, but I am growing it longer.
67. I love my hometown Berlin…even more from a distance.
68. I took part in a three-weeks exchange student program in France. My French host family spoilt me with wonderful food.
69. I have forgotten most of my French.
70. I was in Paris during the 200th anniversary of the French revolution.
71. I stood on the Berlin Wall, shortly before it was opened.
72. I was in Hong Kong during the hand-over in 1997. It rained, and half of Hong Kong’s inhabitants were in Bali.
73. I am hopeless at ball games. In gym class, I was always among the last to be chosen by a team.
74. I know that it hurts to be hit in the face by a football. No lasting damage was incurred.
75. My interests and hobbies usually go through phases. A while ago, I was into painting with watercolors. That passed pretty quickly.
76. I have never worn handcuffs, but have used a scarf.
77. Slow morning fucks are wonderful.
78. The most stressful time in my life was the year after my son was born.
79. He only took short power naps, and I looked like a zombie.
80. I can count the times I had sex during that time on my fingers.
81. I am glad that phase is over.
82. Whenever I cook, I picture myself as Nigella Lawson, not as Martha Stewart.
83. I have a love/hate relationship with cooking.
84. I think it’s sexy when a man cooks for a woman. The man in my life doesn’t think so.
85. On average, I iron three times a year. That’s how much I hate it.
86. I have never tried illegal drugs.
87. I don’t smoke.
88. Dry white wine is my favorite.
89. I like hotel bars, and the cocktails they serve.
90. Once, I shared an hotel elevator with Mikhail Gorbachev. He is a short man.
91. I cannot survive without reading books.
92. I think something magic happens during reading. The imagination of the writer and the reader unite, and create a new story.
93. I have never thrown away a book.
94. My favorite soft drink is water. I also like fresh lime soda.
95. I have recently started to drink Diet Coke with lemon, but I am not sure if too much Aspartame is good for me.
96. I love ice-cream. I just ordered an ice-cream maker.
97. I sleep on my side.
98. I am a night person, and like to sleep in.
99. I have only watched one horror movie in my entire life, and will never do it again.
100. I only lie, if I absolutely have to.

tags: 100things, girlie stuff

This week, I biked my way to Martin-Gropius-Bau, an amazing site itself, to see Egypt’s Sunken Treasures, a spectacular exhibition of ancient art and artifacts. The statues, cult objects, jewelry, and every day items were recovered by French marine archaeologist Franck Goddio off the coast of the modern city of Alexandria and in the Bay of Aboukir over the last ten years, and are on display for the first time.

The artifacts come from the sunken cities of Alexandria, Herakleion, and Canopus and date from the 7th century BC to the 8th century AD, a time period that saw the last pharaohs, Alexander the Great and the period of Greek rule, the Roman conquest, and the spread of Christianity. In the 8th century AD, the area was struck by a series of earthquakes, and these cities and their treasures sunk into the sea.

Torso of Arsinoe II, who became ancient queen of Egypt by marrying her brother (no kids –thank god), and later was promoted to goddess with her own cult. I bet the statue helped.

Stele of Naukratis
Among other things it says:

Let one tenth of the gold, silver, wood and joinery and all thing coming from the Greek Sea, be taxed for the King’s House in the place called Honë, as well as the tenth of gold, silver and all things existing in the domain of the harbor named Kratj on the bank of the Anu canal..”

Argh, taxes! Some things never change.

For fellow history buffs: best pictures and information about the artefacts are on Frank Goddio’s site

tags: egypt, alexandria, arsinoe, naukratis, goddio, berlin, martin-gropius-bau

While membership in this golf club costs a fortune, the path underneath is common.

tags: photo friday, hong kong, common, golf

Today, we went to my favorite park to play, sleep, and eat ice cream. Boy, it was hot! 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit) in the shade, I bet it was close to fifty in the sun. We stayed until the sun went down, and the shadows became longer and longer…

tags: hnt