The Amazonian Clutter

I don't always shop in Amazon. The only time I do so is when there are things that I really need, yet I know that it would be hard to find them in an offline retail store. So these are the times when I go online and see what is available. In the past, Amazon has been a great place to find items. However, nowadays, it feels like it is a very cluttered marketplace.

Coffee Wars and the German Fear to Innovate

A news article caught my eye recently, which gave details on how a coffee chain that has several branches here in Berlin was on the receiving end of coordinated vandalism attacks. I wondered, why would anyone do that? And as I dug deeper, I realised it's another manifestation of the urge to adhere to tradition. And when there is innovation, there is disruption. And of course, people do not like that. In this case, people do not like the fact that there's someone offering cheaper coffee than the rest.

A Collection of Small Problems

Sometimes, life is complicated. Sometimes, life throws you lemons. Most of the time, these lemons are small. But sometimes, these small lemons get thrown at you all at the same time, and sometimes you wonder, whether life is playing a joke at you. I mean, it could have been nice if these lemons are thrown at a predictable pace, but every now and then, after a long lemon-less period, then there's a period where all the accumulated lemons get thrown at you.

The Fall of BVG

This is not the first time I am ranting about Berlin's public transportation system. But given that it seems to really suck nowadays, I felt the need to rant again.

On Climate Change Denial

Recently, I learned something that initially was surprising, but eventually upon further thought, was not exactly surprising, but nevertheless disturbing. I learned recently that someone I work with denies climate change.

Spoon Feeding is not Fun

I am generally a helpful person. And if someone really needs help, I definitely would take some time to enable this person. But sometimes, there are people who don't know how to help themselves.

Commuting with Nerves of Steel

I have already written a few times about how sometimes, using Berlin's public transportation system is not a pleasant experience. There is always something that makes the whole ordeal not uneventful. And sometimes, one just needs to have nerves of steel to be able to go through the whole thing.

Berlin Is Not Germany It Seems

I've already ranted about this topic before. But I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that there are establishments that are operating in Berlin, who seems to be able to get away with not being able to speak German at all. I really am puzzled by this, and wonder why this is the case.

Americans in the Airport Train

When I commute and take the train to go to work, I sometimes take the train that eventually goes to the airport. So in the morning, whenever this is the next train that I can take to Ostbahnhof, I encounter interesting passengers who would be going to the airport, with their luggage. For the most part this is an uneventful affair, but sometimes, I hear passengers who immediately give away the fact that they are Americans.

On Speaking in German in Germany

It's been twelve years now since I moved to Berlin. And yes, eventually, I became conversant in German. After all, you need to learn the language if you want to fully enjoy your time in Germany. But sometimes, I encounter people who don't even try. And this sometimes annoys me.

Digitalisation and German Healthcare

Earlier this year, there has been a change regarding how one gets prescription medication in Germany. Back then, one gets a pink sheet of paper from one's doctor, which one then carries to the pharmacy. The pharmacy fills the prescription and takes the paper away from you. Now, starting earlier this year, the paper has vanished, and everything is now digital. Well, sort of. There's a few hiccups, at least, when I experienced it.

Berlin's Deteriorating Public Transportation System

Earlier this year, I ranted about Berlin's U8 metro line. It's a metro line that I try my best to avoid. But somehow, there's a part of me that is starting to think that I should avoid the entire public transportation system of Berlin. This, however, is an outcome I do not like.

When the TV is Always On

Whenever I open my balcony window, over the courtyard I see the windows of a neighbour. And every time I glance in that direction, I see that the television is always on. No matter what time of day I take a look, whether it's early in the morning when I wake up, or in the middle of the day, or late at night, when I close the balcony window, I see that the television is always on. I wonder why? Why is it that there are people who always needs the television to be on?

Exotic Animal

I am not an exotic animal. I am a regular human being. But sometimes, other people around me make me feel like I am.

Redeeming Award Travel Isn't Easy

I collect miles on each of the three major airline alliances. And recently, it seems that I have quite a bit of miles accumulating, and so I figured I'd redeem some of them for award travel. It turns out it's not always easy to book award travel. Sometimes, it feels like it's easier to just buy airline tickets the "normal" way.

The Expiration Date Nazi

I find it important to keep track of expiration dates. And so I regularly have the habit of flushing objects out of the house when the expiration date has passed. Of course, I don't believe that something would go bad one day after the expiration date, but at the same time, I don't think it's wise to keep on using a product that has expired months, if not years, in the past.

The Stinky U8

As much as I am a fan of my home city (11 years and counting, by the way), there are nevertheless certains parts of Berlin where I would rather avoid if I can. One of these is the U8 U-Bahn line, which I have to say, I don't have a pleasant experience every time I am riding this metro line.

Delivery Personnel and their Bros

Back in the summer, we ordered something from Amazon. And it happened that the delivery date coincided with a day when I was working from home. For some bizarre reason, the delivery person was rude, and left a bad taste in the mouth. I mean, he was calling me "Bro!"

When Lonely Planet went Downhill

I have been travelling since ages. And for the most part, I have been accompanied by Lonely Planet guidebooks in my travels. I am proud of my substantial guidebook collection at home, it's one of the few categories of books that I don't either resell or give away. But sadly, it seems that Lonely Planet has been going downhill ever since, and when I saw the latest incarnation of some of its books, I felt sad and heartbroken, as it definitely didn't feel like the Lonely Planet guidebook that I used to know.

The Vaccine Attitude Spectrum

I recently went to a clinic that was specialising in travel health. As I was planning to travel to somewhere exotic, I wanted to make sure my vaccinations are complete and up to date.