True Detective

Hey there, 

So I've gotten really bored about making up blog post titles, everything just seems pretty mundane and unoriginal. So instead, I'm going to title it things that I'd recommend to people. They could be anything, favourite books, TV shows I've watched recently or just things I'm generally into. 

To kick it off I've decided on the TV show I finished last night. True Detective has a otal of 8 episodes, each an hour long and absolutely brilliant. It's not like your average cop show where every episode is an open and shut case, it 8 episodes of the one chilling mystery and two excellent actors. To be honest, I didn't think Matthew McConaughey could be a good actor (I've only seen him in Fool's Gold, which probably explains it), but he was fantastic with Woody Harrelson. It gets creepy towards the end, but then again I'm a wuss and watched it at 1am. While I'm at it, I'll special mention Pokemon Go, but I'm sure everyones heard of that by now. Throwback to my childhood days battling my merciless brother with his level 100 party. 

Fashion-wise it's been a decent week. The weather has not been kind, however, and we've been hit with strong winds and lots of rainfall. I was going to wear a dress but the ominous grey skies said otherwise and I decided it wouldn't be the smartest decision. Instead, I've opted for a smart-casual look that's comfortable and stylish. I wouldn't say it's the warmest outfit I could have pulled together, but it's better than the dress I had in mind. 

I'm wearing brown culottes, which have started to gain more popularity recently. If you're not sure what they are, they're loose fitting pants that normally stop at your shins. The legs are really wide - they don't flare, but they're wide - and the comfortable fit makes it easy to accomplish just about anything while wearing them. I feel they make me look shorter sometimes, so I suggest trying a pair on to see if it suits you before you buy online or anything. 

I've just paired it with a simple white, button up shirt with 3/4 sleeves from Uniqlo which has been sitting in my wardrobe forever. The boots are from my last post, simple cut-out ankle boots. I'm convinced black ankle boots are a must have, they just appear in all my outfits and are a go to for everyday wear. 

To combat the cold, I opted for a simple leather jacket with a straight zip. I'm not a fan of those jackets with the zip that slants to the side, I just don't think it's practical or appealing. I had to do some hunting before I found one with a normal zip that looked good. Leather jackets are another wardrobe favourite, but I'll admit that they aren't very warm (well at least mine isn't), so unless I'm blog shooting I'll actually pick a black parker instead. A simple, warm black jacket just keeps out the cold and is still versatile enough that you'll be able to pair it with just about anything. 

That's it for today, wish it was something a bit more exciting but the weather has not been my friend. 

Until next time, 

Amy. 

Cullotes: WEGO (Japanese store) | Shirt: Uniqlo | Jacket: ASOS (brand: Hollister) | Boots: Novo 

Melbourne winter

Welcome back, 

If you're reading this, I'm rather impressed you care about my life after three months of inactivity and radio silence. Yes, you've guessed it, uni got in the way. Again. If you're really curious at how life was going in those few months, I'll just say I was studying (surprise, surprise). I've set myself a goal and I've dropped everything to try and achieve it. I worked once a week, saw no one and never left uni earlier than 7pm for three weeks during the exam period. I'll keep you updated on whether I succeed in life or not, but apart from that, let's talk about some fashion. 

After a brief period of surprisingly warm weather, winter arrived in Melbourne with a deep chill. You know how we're known for having four seasons in one day? Right, well at the moment it's just cold. Maybe you get some sun every now and again, and I'll regret leaving my sunnies at home, but it's mostly grey skies and rain. The skyscrapers in the city cast a constant shadow over the CBD so it's like a permanent freezer. 

Normally I'd dress in pants (yes, my obsession with pants is still going strong), but for some reason I was feeling a little different today. I went with a white, corduroy skirt (shout out to Alyssa for donating said skirt to the blog) and sheer, black tights. Confession: I haven't bought new tights since last year, so all of them have giant ladders running up the entire length of my leg. This pair was basically the least noticeable, but if you look closely you can see it creeping up my thigh despite my best effort to hide it behind the other leg. Note to self: buy more tights. 

I was going to wear a simple cream sweater with this, but at the last minute I decided to change. Whenever I look at myself in the mirror, my outfit needs to click. I know that sounds insane, it's like me talking about love at first sight with a sweater, but I'm not even kidding. I will spend the whole time questioning my entire existence if it doesn't feel right (you can ask Jane, it happens). As for this sweater, it's one of my favourite pieces in my wardrobe at the moment. I got it in Japan over the summer break and I was so obsessed with it, I went back to the store and bought a second one in grey. I need to rectify my obsession with off shoulder tops as it's so uncomfortable to wear under a coat, but I just cant. Maybe one day I'll get something a little more practical. 

Shoes are simple, heeled cut outs I got on sale recently from Novo. I've been seeing girls at uni with similar pairs all year and I just needed them in my life. The sunnies are Bailey Nelson and I know it doesn't look it, but I swear there was sun when I was driving.

My navy coat from Country Road also made an appearance (you can scroll into my past posts if you don't know what I'm talking about). It's still as beautiful as ever and keeps me warm when I want lighter items of clothing. I was so sad I couldn't take it to Europe (it's too heavy, it isn't waterproof and it just isn't a practical travel piece) so I'm glad to be reunited. 

I've added some brunch photos, because why not. If you're vegan or vegetarian I highly suggest The Glass Den in Coburg. I drove 45min to get there, but it was worth it. To the excellent waiter who was so friendly and kind to us, you made the experience so much more worth it. 

It feels good to be home, brunching in my never ending wardrobe again. Until next time pals, 

Amy.

Sweater: Japan | Skirt: Glassons | Tights: Asos | Sunglasses: Bailey Nelson 

Holland and home

The title is a little deceiving because I’m also going to include Bruge in this post. We only spent one night there and it was quite a spontaneous decision but it’s a beautiful place and worth a look if you have an extra day.

Juls recommended it because he went there earlier and fell in love with the city. Apparently there’s a movie called ‘In Bruges’ which has successfully attracted people there, but I personally haven’t seen it.  

Bruges is quiet and peaceful with canals running through the city center. You know that line in Adele’s song ‘Hello’ where she says ‘did you ever make it out of that town where nothing ever happened?’  That’s how I felt about Bruges. It’s tiny, secluded and beautiful but nothing really happens there. We took a horse and cart ride around the city and splurged on Belgium chocolate. It was nice to stroll around at night and climb up the tower, but a day is really all you need in Bruges. I still think it is worth the visit  because the buildings are quite stunning and it's a lovely atmosphere with the canals and the cobble stone roads. It's just a nice place to be for a night or two. 

Also, Belgium chocolate is to die for. It’s so much cheaper than any handmade chocolate at home, and so freaking good. Trust me, if anything just go there for the chocolate, it won’t disappoint.

From there, we spent two nights at Julian’s grandmother’s house (she’s now going to be referred to as oma because that's what Dutch people call their grandmas and it feels strange to say anything else). His oma lives in this little town called Zevenbergen, which is about 1.5hrs out of Amsterdam. It’s a quiet, quaint little place that has a river running through it and trees everywhere. I don't think I've seen so much green on my entire trip (probably because we stayed in so many major cities). Juls told me that he’s tried getting lost on purpose before, but somehow he always finds his way home, that’s how small it is.

We had dinner and then went out to buy some krocket. They’re in a shape of thick fish fingers, crumbed and deep fried, but the filling is creamy meat. It’s a bit sickening if you eat a lot of it, but so good. 

We took the bikes out the next day and did the traditional Dutch ride around. I tried raw herring, which is apparently a Dutch thing, and couldn't finish it. Juls thought I’d be fine because I’ve eaten sashimi in Japan, but this is something else entirely. In Japan they slice and present sashimi to you, it’s almost an art. In Holland, we literally got a raw herring on this little plastic container with its head cut off and de-scaled. You pick it up by the tail and eat it. I just couldn’t get past the slimy feeling, or the texture as you bite into it, still makes me shudder thinking about it. But hey, if you’re ever in Holland, I challenge you to eat a raw herring. Maybe you’ll do better than I did.

Okay, there’s also this super cool breakfast food in Holland called Hagelslag. It’s literally chocolate sprinkles on buttered bread. That’s it. Sounds ridiculous but it's as amazing as your 6year old self can imagine, like diabetes for breakfast. Again, a super Dutch thing but I loved it. You can just get it in the supermarket and bring it home to show everyone how crazy it is. I tried to get the bread-to-sprinkles ratio right, and I quote Juls ‘if you can see the bread, you’re doing it wrong’. You literally cover every surface and eat it. Amazing.

Also a small shout out to Julian’s cousins who are the cutest human beings I’ve ever met in my entire life.

After two nights we went to Amsterdam, which is the last destination on my trip. It’s been a magical experience, and many thanks to anyone who has bothered to keep up with my adventures.

Amsterdam is quite like all the photos you have seen with the canals running through the city and boats tied to the sides. The houses sit side by side with cute designs and colours. What I found most charming about Amsterdam was that it felt like a bustling city that had stayed true to its roots. It was busy in the way Melbourne was, with trams running through the center and a great shopping district, but the buildings and the architecture was so diverse and European that you just knew you were anywhere but home.

On the flip side, I didn’t quite realize that Amsterdam is incredibly famous for its Red Light District and for legalizing weed. If that’s your cup of tea, go right on ahead, no one bats a lash in Holland. I on the other hand, am about as straight as you can get. It was an interesting experience to see something different, but not something I wish to partake in anytime soon.

I tried profitures in Amsterdam, a personal favourite of mine. They are tiny, fluffy pancake-like things that are traditionally eaten with icing sugar and butter. The first time, we bought it from a cart on the side of the road with a friendly man complaining about his broken radio. Possibly one of my favourite foods in Holland, I could eat it everyday. 

We visited the Anne Frank museum which is a must do if you’re in Amsterdam. I do suggest reading at least part of the book before you get there because it gives you a better connection with the people who lived there. It’s just eerie to think that good, honest people lived and hid there for a number of years. You can walk through the place they slept, ate, talked and listened to the radio. They weren’t a good story by a creative author, they were real people who had lives and went to school. That’s what really hits home, every time. We get to walk past on the street and see a nice plaque that says ‘Anne Frank’s House’, but that’s something she could never do in her childhood. It’s an incredible experience that, again, reminds you of the atrocities of The Holocaust.

Another pretty cool experience was the Amsterdam Dungeon. Here's the thing, we bought the tickets as a sale price because we wanted to do the canal rides around Amsterdam. So we thought we may as well do something else while we're at it, and the shop keeper said that it was a 'dungeon about Amsterdam and its history', so we thought it was a great idea. Let me say, that it was still amazing, but not what I was expecting. You go from room to room and there's a person dressed up in old clothing, and there are jump scares and things that move, designed to frighten you. Trust me, it's quite terrifying at some points, but for someone who hates horror movies and crumbles at jump scares, I ended up loving it. So I think it's worth the money and a good activity to do while you're around. 

The canal ride was very interesting, but I was pretty sleepy that day so if you ask Juls, he will say I looked like the most bored human being on the planet. There is an audiobook inside the boat which tells you about the history of certain areas of Amsterdam. It's quite informational and also points out some good places you might like to visit later on. 

On the day I flew out, we went to the Van Gogh museum. I don't know much about his life or his work, but I guess we had to visit one of the famous museums before we left. It houses the most comprehensive collection of his artworks in the world. The two most famous ones which I am aware of are Starry Night and the Sunflowers. Starry Night is in New York, but the Sunflowers were meant to be at the museum we went to. However, we got there and there was a notice that explained it was not on display due to restoration measures being taken to ensure its longevity. That was highly disappointing, considering it’s basically the only painting I know of, but that’s okay. Do check it out if you’re in Amsterdam, or at least the Rembrandt museum. 

That’s pretty much it. Amsterdam was done and dusted, and it gets a 10/10 for food and shopping. I flew home at 9:20pm and arrive home on the 5^th of February. Juls has continued his adventures to Spain and Poland but I'll see him real soon. I don’t know how I survived five weeks in Europe, and as good as it feels to be back home, it kills me to think a week ago I was walking around the cold streets of Holland. No words can ever describe how amazing and brilliant this trip was, but I’ve tried. A million thanks to my best friend, my travel partner and just the guy I could talk to on random snowy nights in strange European cities, you made it all the more incredible. 

Guess we'll go back to fashion and brunching now. Until next time, 

Amy.         

Belgium:

Holland

Berlin

I don't want to use the same verbs for Berlin as I've done for everywhere else.  Somehow magical, amazing and incredible aren't enough to describe what I felt. It has a deep, painful history that's so worth the time and effort to explore. It's not just a city with some big, old buildings and a river to look at, and that's a huge reason why I love Berlin. I'd go as far to say that it was just as good, or even better than Budapest (and if you've been following my adventures, that's pretty big). Berlin made me feel grounded, it reminded me of the destruction and the history that's embedded in Western civilisation. Everything I've ever learnt in high school suddenly became real, clear and prominent. There's no experience like it, so again here are the highlights of my time in Berlin. Please note that many of the things I did were historical related and I highly recommend visiting. However, if you're not into that then maybe this city isn't for you. 

- This is ironic because I've just said I did heaps of historical things, except on the first day we went to the Berlin zoo. It boasts the largest collection of species in the world and many rare or highly endangered animals. Personally, however, I found it a little disappointing. I think this is mostly because of the fact that I have grown up in Australia, learning about weird and whacky animals that are only found in my homeland. I get excited to see a wombat or a platypus or an echidna and that's what I picture when I think of a zoo. The one in Berlin had many more European and American animals, so a lot of deer or elk, goats and horses. Juls and I both agreed that having a love for Australian wildlife definitely made it a little less exciting, but it was still an awesome place to visit for a day. There's also an aquarium attached with three floors: aquatic animals, amphibians and insects/arachnids. I recommend going to both and you can get a combined ticket for €15 (student price). 

- We visited Sachsenhausen  concentration camp on a tour. Our guide was extremely knowledgable about both the place and the history surrounding World War II and the Cold War. I've learnt about the holocaust in high school and watched movies and read books with concentration camps, but I have never been to one. I can't describe it any better than it was the most miserable place I have ever been to. There was just a patch of cleared land and it was very open and exposed. You could feel the elements clearly and the grounds just seemed lifeless and grey. This camp was used by the Nazis to keep political prisoners and after World War II it was used by the Soviets. It was an uncomfortable reminder to realise that those who had survived the Nazi era had to survive the Soviets directly after. This war wasn't something that existed separately, but instead very close together on the historical timeline. The clock on the watchtower is stopped to the time it was liberated in 1945, but as Juls noted, it's ironic because that same camp was used again by the people who liberated it. It's worth the visit if you're in Berlin, and I also recommend doing a tour. Every building and monument erected is explained clearly so you have a much better understanding of the camp and its history. 

- After the concentration camp we went directly to the Berlin Wall. This is where I learnt the most about the Cold War, which I previously hadn't realised existed. The Berlin Wall is just one of those things you have to visit. It's so integral to the history of the city that you have to at least go there once. Basically after the Nazis were defeated, Germany was split into two main occupied areas: The Allies (France, America and Britain) and the Soviets. Berlin lied right in the middle of the Soviet area and the Allies argued that, being the capital, it was too important to just belong to one side. So they split Berlin in half, creating East and West Berlin and erecting a wall to separate the two sides. The wall stood for 28years, dividing people and hindering everyday life until it came down in 1989. People have died trying to cross the border to escape and there are memorials in their honour. 

- I want to talk about my favourite monument in Europe, which ties in with the Berlin Wall and the Cold War. I was watching a video in the information centre of the part of the Berlin Wall I visited. It showed footage of the moment the Berlin Wall came down and people streamed across to the Western border. In that video was the Brandyburg gate. People gathered under it and embraced loved ones, and it was a powerful video of unification. So naturally, we visited this monument as well and I learnt from an explanation sign that the gate was completely inaccessible between 1961-1989, during the time the Berlin Wall was still used. It stood in the middle of a 'dead zone' which was an area patrolled by soldiers and completely forbidden to the public. It served as a symbol of the separation of both Germany and Berlin, and also freedom for the people as the Wall came down in 1989. I love that it has significance and a rich history and something about that video I saw in the information centre made it so powerful. To watch the waves of people celebrating freedom and love after 28years of living under a dictatorship was powerful and moving

- If you walk from Brandenburg Gate to the Victory column in a straight line, you'll pass a memorial for the Soviet soldiers that died in the Battle of Berlin. I just remember having an interesting conversation with Juls about how easy it is to forget about world history. I have friends who have no idea what the Holocaust is, who don't know how many people died in the wars. It baffles me to think that millions of people died, empires fell and rose less than 100yrs ago and there are people who haven't even heard of it. Berlin was just an amazing place to learn about history and gain a better understanding and first hand experience into what has happened in the world's past. 

- We went up the Victory Column which has my dreaded worst enemy: stairs. The view is lovely and you can see many things from the top. Most of its history comes from the Prussian era and it survived mostly in tact during the first and second world wars. 

- Last, but not least, we took a visit to the Holocaust memorial which is quite famous in Berlin. From the top, it looks like level granite slabs just lined up in a grid formation, but as you walk in your realise the ground slides down. So the blocks in the middle are twice your height but gives the illusion of looking level from the top. It's uncomfortable and strange to be there, just a dark, quiet world with grey blocks surrounding you. People disappear between them in the distance and you can hear the echo of alien voices around you. I searched up the memorial after and apparently in the architect's project text he wrote that it's designed to produce an 'uneasy, confusing atmosphere' from a supposedly ordered system that had lost touch with reality. When you think about it, that's how the Holocaust really was and its strange to think of it now 

Berlin is a place of its own and it's amazing for its history and culture. There's no better place to learn about world history than in one of the central places of World War II and people underestimate how powerful and tragically beautiful this can be. If you're in Europe, take a trip to Berlin. It's worth doing, I promise.