Glockenbachviertel: Bergwolf

One of my favourite areas in Munich is the Glockenbackviertel around Frauenhofferstrasse. It is all about cute boutiques, artists, gays and lots of bars. My friends and I end up there most of the evenings for a cocktail or bar food.. As we did yesterday. 

After a cocktail in one of the bars, my friend started getting hungry and was talking all along about this Currywurst place Bergwolf in the Frauenhofer Strasse. Well, I did not expect much if a curry sausage place being a veggie but this place is so cool and added to my regulars now.

 Bergwolf is a place you go to when you get hungry in the middle of a night out - it is open until 3am weekends. Besides the normal Currywurst with fries for only 3,50 € they do yummie veggie version. They have a smallish but cozy lounge to sit in and drink beer, too. 

I am in love with this place!

Map of Sendling-Westpark:

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Sendling-Westpark: More discoveries!

I started going for walks over lunchtime. I enjoy walking in the quite streets with mainly well-maintained two-to-three-storey-houses and newly built apartment blocks which you would rather find in a small town than in a metropole such as Munich.
It is amazing how close this area is to the city centre and the ring road but yet is such a quiet and peaceful place.

I discovered this small Thai supermarket in Albert-Roßhaupter-Straße the other day. If offers daily one or two choices of meals for sitin and takeaway at around 5 euros (which is a very good value considering the size of the portion). You will also get your common Asian products there like incenses, coconut oil and asia noodles at a reasonable price. Next to the Thai is a geletaria and an Italian I still have to try - both look tempting and are something for another lunchtime...

Re-discovering Munich: First weekend in Sendling-Westpark!

After 6.5 years of life in the rural Ireland I am back in Munich with my boyfriend. I must confess it is a weird feeling not having the west cork coast in front of the door nor the possibility to go surfing. We had to swop a three bedroom house for a one bedroom apartment in Sendling (at least for the first few weeks). Instead of looking at the sea I am looking out at some fruit trees.

Next to a ski shop in Garmischer Strasse

Having lived in Munich as a student for 5 years I seem to know the city but yet I am a stranger. My life will totally change. I will have to find new hobbies and new places to eat and drink. I am looking forward to rediscover the city and the Bavarian way of living! How do people spend their free time here? In Ireland we either when surfing, mountain biking or did some gardening. We were lucky to live near Kinsale with lots of nice cafes, pubs and seafood restaurants.

I tell myself that I need to get Barry's tea when I go back to Ireland in a week's time to pack the rest of my stuff. Germany has more of a coffee rather than tea culture. People drink tea alright but it is  green or herbal tea. You hardly get proper black tea.

On our first day we had dinner in the "Wirthaus in Sendling". A nice traditional restaurant which serves Bavarian food. I had Kaesespaetzle, one of my favourite Bavarian dishes! I am not sure how to describe the dish. I would say it is a gnocchi-like dish with onion and cheese. It is better than it sounds! 

I guess, these Bavarian restaurants will now replace the seafood restaurants. Indian and pizza will replace fish & chips. Instead of wine I will be drinking more spritzers (I love maracuja & rhubarb spritzers) and beer. The desserts will possibly be replaced with snaps like apricot and pear snaps!

Beergarden in Westpark

In nice weather, beer gardens will be tempting! The weather has been here like Irish summer weather in the last two day! This was excuse enough to check out a beergarden near us. We headed to the Wirthaus am Rosengarten in the Westpark for a Radler (another drink you do not get in Ireland!). The park was full of people enjoying the gorgeous fall weather.

A pity my runners are not here yet - the park appears perfect for running. I can not wait to put the runners on...

Westpark

You must love Kinsale!

Kinsale is located only about 30 minutes away from the Cork airport and really worth a visit. The town and its surroundings are one of the most picturesque in Ireland and it has so much to offer. Kinsale is well known for yachting, angling, golf and its many restaurants with locals, Irish and international tourists. 

Having lived near Kinsale for a while now, I want to share things I love about Kinsale:

• Harbour and narrow streets. I love taking walks around the harbour, exploring the narrowing streets, stopping by at cute crafts shops and visiting art galleries displaying local art.

• History. The two forts - Charles Fort and James Fort across of each other are definitively worth a visit. There are easy to walk to from Kinsale town.

• Cake and coffee. There are so many nice cafes in the town. My favourite cafes are

• the Poet's Corner with its book exchange service, 
• the Lemon Leaf Cafe with a great choice of cakes, snacks and free wifi, and the 
• Perryville Garden Tea Room - very elegant and traditionally style.

• Eating out. I can truly say that eating out is always a pleasure. The restaurants serve fresh seafood and local produce.  My favourites are
• the Fishy Fishy Cafe  for a special occasions - always a pleasure and never disappointing,
• the Spaniard Inn - a traditional Irish pub with great food and atmosphere,and
• Blue Haven Bar & Cafe for a cozy evening with friends.
 
• Old Head. Head out towards Ballinspittle and Old Head, park your car at the Speckled Door Pub and walk the 5.5 km long Old Head peninsula loop. You will pass the famous Old Head Golf Course about half way. The views are stunning!

• Beaches. There are two gorgeous beaches just beside each other near the Old Head and if you head towards Ballinspittle - Garrylucas and Gerretstown. While Garrylucas is very popular with swimmers and kite surfers, Gerretstown would be the surfer's beach where surf lessons can be taken. In the summer time you can get coffe and snacks in Gerretstown or the Beach Cafe between the town beaches.

Top List of Things to Do in Bali

I love Bali for its nature, culture, people, food, spas and surf! Here is my Top 10 List of Things to do on the island of gods:

1. Treat yourself with a message. My favourite Spas are Bali Spa and Jari Menari in Seminyak and Skin Spa (for Hair Treatment) and Nur in Ubud!
2. Enjoy a Balinese dance performance, e.g. Barong, in Ubud Palace.
3. Go for a surf in the West of Bali.
4. Watch the sunrise on the pick of Mount Batur while having breakfast.
5. Enjoy a seafood dinner in Jimbaran.
6. Visit the Uluwatu temple and beach.
7. Go shopping and for a nice dinner in Ubud.
8. Go snorkeling in the Northwest of Bali or Nusa Lembongan. 
9. Visit a traditional Indonesian restaurant. I love to come back to Warung Indonesia in Poppies II!
10. Spend a day sun bathing at Kuta Beach.

If you have more time....

1. Get to know the spiritual and magical site of Bali by getting your palm leave read or visiting a healer.
2. Take cooking classes in one of Ubud's cooking schools.
3. Get to know the art of Batik just outside Ubud.
4. Join a temple ceremony in one of the many temples in Bali.
5. Take a trip to Lombok - Gilli Island or Kuta Lombok for a bit of tranquility!

Food & Spa in Ubud!

I love Ubud for its food, galleries, Ballinese culture and spas!

It is amazing how many new places opened in the last few years. Here are my old and new favourites but I am sure there are so many more cool places:

• Clear Cafe (Jl Hanoman) - nice interior design with an interesting, delicious organic food menu!
• KAFE (Jl Hanoman) - cozy place for healthy and delicious food (also vegan and raw food available).
• Pizza Bagus (Jl Hanoman) for delicious Pizza.
• Laka Leke (Nyuh Kuning) - nice restaurant located in the rice fields after the Monkey Forest.
• Casa Luna (Jl Raya Ubud) - nice Mediterranean and Balinese food with cooking school attached. They also own Bar Luna in Jl Goutama.
• Cafe Lotus (Jl Raya Ubud) - nice international food with temple view.
• Bali Buddha (Jl Jembawan) - delicious healthy food.

And, here are my favourite SPAs in Ubud:

• NUR (Jl Hanoman) is close to Yoga Barn. They have a Balinese shower and open space masage rooms!
• Sang Spa (Monkey Forest Road) with 15% off before 2pm. Check out the 4-hands-massage!
• Skin Spa (Jl Goutama) is a cheap but very clean spa.The hair spa is meant to be amazing!

Lontar Palm Reading in Bali!

On my last visit to Bali I discovered that palm leaf libraries do not only exist in India but also in Bali. Fascinated by the fact Wayan, a friend's friend, organised a meeting for me and my partner with the only Pedanda (high priest) in Bali who does Lontar Readings (the other priest who did proper readings past away a while ago). I was told that the Lontar leaves with texts written in Sanskrit are kept in the high priest's shrine and are taken out only for ceremonies. To save the transcripts the high priest has transcribed the texts by hand and bound them to books.

When we arrived in the Pedanda's place there were other people in the pedanda's courtyard receiving blessings or bringing their offerings. While waiting we were offered coffee and biscuits and watched all the birds in the Pedanda's courtyard which were waiting to be released when a soul dies.

When it was my turn Wayan and I sat down in front of the Pedanda and I was asked to write down my name and birth date. According to Balinese religion we are always an rebirth of a family ancestor either from the mother's or father's line - therefore the name. The birth date was transformed to the Balinese calendar which consists of 210 days. The Pedanda opened his books and started reading out in Sanskrit from his books and while Wayan was taking notes in his book in which he had all readings written down. I was his 249th customer. Sometimes the high priest would stop reading, smile at me or discuss something with Wayan.

After about 30 minutes the Pedanda stopped and Wayan started translating what the Pedanda said. Wayan explained the gods responsible for my personality, characteristics and protection. Wayan also explained me that I am the rebirth of my great-grandmother from my mother's line and described her/my personality. He mentioned that I am in my 5th incarnation with two more to go. He moved on to my bird and tree symbols that match my karma and talked me through the karma of my present life and the future including some problems I might face. He also referred to health, job, relationship matters, changes that might occur later in my life and the year of death (only because I asked). In the reading the 7 steps of life where mentioned which were graded (0= lowest grade, 5 = highest grade for normal people, 6 = priests). In the end I was allowed to ask three questions that the Pedanda answered.

In the end the both of us together received a Melukat purification ceremony in order to be prevented from havoc, bad luck and sickness. An incense was lit and waved into our both faces, our hands were cleaned with flowers, holy water was poured over the heads before we were given the holy water and rice into our mouth and on our frown and throat. Finally the priest put hairbands made of palm leaves and flowers over our heads.

Bali is a very special place for me on earth that calls me now and then back. Having visited Bali for the 4th time I was a bit disappointed with all the crowds of tourists because it makes you easy to forget and oversee the beauty of Balinese culture. However, the experience with the Pedanda was a very meaningful one and strengthen my love and admiration for Bali.

Post me if you need contact details.

Top 10 List of Things to Do in Big Island

Big Island is a amazing place for lava lovers and really impressive.

1. Drive the Crater Rim Drive and watch a volcanic eruption by darkness
2. Take a walk in the Hawai'i National Park and visit the sulphur bank and steam vents
3. Visit the former village of Kalapana
4. Watch turtles at Whittington Beach Park
5. Walk the loop trail in the Akaka Falls State Park
6. Visit a coffee farm and enjoy fresh coffee
7. Go snorkling with manta rays
8. Enjoy Hapuna Beach
9. Visit the Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park
10. Stay in one of the romantic B&Bs

Top 10 List of Things to Do in Maui

There is so much to do on Maui. Here my Top 10 Things to Do:

1. Watch the sunrise or sunset at the Haleakala National Park
2. Drive the Hana Highway
3. Enjoy the views along the Kahekili Highway (which is not exactly a highway but at least as spectacular the road to Hana)
   
4. Enjoy Maui's best black sand beach Pa'iloa Beach
5. Make a stop in Paia and pick up some picnic goodies in Mana Foods or have lunch in one of the cafes
6. Spend some days in Lahaina
7. Enjoy a Lomi Lomi message in the Ala Moana Spa of the Hyatt Regency
   
8. Have dinner at the waterfront restaurant I'O in Lahaina
9. Watch surfers at Ho'okipa Beach
10. Go swimming the cave pools of the Wai'anapanapa State Park

Top 10 List of Things to Do in Oahu

Oahu is beautiful! Here is my Top 10 list of To Do Things:

1. Enjoy Waikiki beach
2. Take a surf lesson or watch a surf competition
3. Drive on the Pali Highway to the Windward Coast
   
4. Visit the North Shore
   
5. Have Shaved ice in Haleiwa
6. Have a cocktail at the Moana Surfrider in Waikiki
7. Visit Diamond Head
8. Go shopping in the Ala Moana Center
9. Watch a free Hula Performance at the Kuhio Beach Park
10. Try some Honolulu Cookie Company cookies
    

Hotel in a Drain

I didn't get a chance to stay there myself but I find this a great idea! Andreas Strauss re-purposed drain pipes into guest rooms which you can book and called it dasparkhotel.




At the moment there are two of these hotels - one at the Emscher bicycle route at Emscherinsel in Bottrop-Ebel close to Essen in Germany and the other one in Ottensheim at the River Danube in Austria. You can make a reservation online under http://www.dasparkhotel.net and pay-as-you-wish that means as much as you want! Sleeping in a pipe might feel like camping only in a cozy bed and if you on a cycle tour go for it!

Go Budget in Munich!

I love Munich and I am there at least once a year there!

If I do not stay with friends I stay in Motel One at the Sendlinger Tor. That's right hotel for young professionals with rooms from 69 Euro. The hotel is stylish, has free WLAN and breakfast included and is located in a quiet street in the center of the city with shops, restaurants and bars in front of the door.

From there you can walk to all the tourist attractions such as the Marienplatz, the Hofbrauhaus and the Viktualienmarkt as well as to the Central Station (800m) with a Ubahn and tram stations in front of the door. Visit the Glockenbachviertel with lots of bars, restaurants and boutiques while you are staying there! If you don't get a room there (as it is quite often booked out) try one of the other Motel One hotels in Munich. They are cheaper but not as central as this one.

Another good value compromise is the Hotel Royal with its delicious breakfast, free WLAN and friendly staff. It is close to the Central Station, Deutsches Theater, Stachus, Kaufinger Strasse and the Beer Fest but the area is not as nice.

Best Fish Restaurants in West Cork

Here is my top 5 list of the best fish restaurants in West Cork, Ireland:

All of these restaurants provide freshly caught local seafood and each of them is in its way special!

• Mary Ann's Bar & Seafood Restaurant in Casteltownshend serves pub & restaurant food and has a large outside area. The dinner menu includes a wide selection of fish, their speciality are lobster thermidor or lobster mayonnaise. The food usually comes with veggies, chips & gratin potatoes (love it!). Check also out their gallery in the first floor!

• Deasy's Harbour Bar & Seafood Restaurant in Ring just 5 mins from Clonakilty has a lovely view over the Clonakilty Bay and a nice and relaxing atmosphere. The menu changes regularly and offers creative fish and meat dishes. Dishes come with veggies and potatoes. Don't miss out on the dessert!

• Fishy Fishy Cafe in Kinsale is a bright and stylish restaurant influenced by the European mainland cousin with an own cook book and a open area. Dishes come usually with veg or salad. 

• Fastnet Catch across the church in Clonakilty is a special fish & chips shop with a great selection of burgers & fresh fish depending on the catch of the day. All is freshly prepared with your order and you can sit in or take away.

• Dunes Pub in the Inchydoney Lodge & Spa serves a fair big but delicious portion of fish & chips in a great setting! Besides the fish & chips, my favourites on the menu are the cheese sandwich and the side salad. Oh, and the hot chocolate is also not to be forgotten. In nice weather there are cozy outside places available.

I would recommend to make a reservation in advance on weekends to avoid disappointment.

And, if you are looking for a nice fish restaurant somewhere else on the island check out the Seafood Circle - you never go wrong with a restaurant which is listed in it!

Dublin Food

Looking for something to eat in Dublin, Ireland?

Here are my favourite places depending on the type of food I feel like:

• Best Breakfast is served in Odessa, 13 Dame Court! The breakfast menu includes huevos rancheros, veggie breakfast, all sorts of eggs and much more. Have a cocktail with your breakfast to celebrate! Check out the chill out area downstairs!
  

• Need a good coffee? Carluccio's Restaurant & Shop, 52 Dawson Street is the place to get it! Depending on your coffee taste pick between the Napoli and the Milano coffee bean! If you are hungry have food in the restaurant or ask for a take away Foccacia - food is as delicious as their coffee!
  

• The best authentic Italian Pizza in town you will get in Bar Italia, Ormond Quay.
  Stay upstairs as downstairs is not as nice and don't miss out on the dessert!

• Feel like Veggie Food? Cornucopia Wholefood & Vegetarian in 19/20 Wicklow Street since 1986 will not disappoint you, the menu changes everyday and the portions are huge.
  

• Queens of Tarts has the best scones and cakes in town and is the sweetest coffee place ever. There are two of them these days in Dame Street and Cows Lane quite close to each other.

• Fallon & Byrne, Exchequer Street is the best Food Hall with healthy food! They have also great Lunch Deals at the moment. Check out the wine cellar with a great wine selection downstairs!
  

• Best place to get away from the city buzz is the Library Bar in the first floor of the Central Hotel, Exchequer Street. Come here with friends or a book and have a cup of tea or hot whiskey!
  

• For best Fish & Chips go to Leo Burdocks, 2 Werburgh Street. They have been there since 1913!

• Want Japanese Food? I'll recommend Yamamori Noodles in 72 South George's Street or Yamamori Sushi in Lower Ormond Quay (the menues are almost identical) - they serve Sushi, Japanese Grill & noodles. My favourite is the monkfish dish!
  

• My favourite Pub Restaurant is a bit outside city - just after Phoenix Park. Hole in the Wall in Blackhorse Avenue offers a great wine selection, nice bar and restaurant food and a great atmosphere! Even Prince Albert from Monaco paid a visit last year!
  

I hope you will enjoy these places as I do each time!

Go Camping Maui!

The Wai'anapanapa State Park is a great place for camping almost at the end of the road to Hana, Maui. It offers a shady lawn near the beach, cold showers and toilets (that are kept clean by the staff).

The best thing about it is that there is so much to do: you can swim in a cave, sun on a black-sand beach or walk the coastal trail with blow holes and old lava fields.

Don't forget to make a reservation in advance and have your permit with you as rangers are quite strict and ask you to leave if you do not have a permit. Also, take some food with you as there are not too many shopping opportunities in that area!

For more information on camping in this and other Hawaii State Parks see http://www.hawaiistateparks.org.

Go Budget Waikiki!

To stay in Waikiki, Oahu can be pricey but we found good value, good location, friendly staff and more in the Aqua Hotels.

We stayed in three of their hotels in Waikiki:
Best Western Plus Coconut Waikiki Hotel, Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki and Aqua Pearl Waikiki.

All of these hotels are well located and the staff is friendly. While we liked the large room in the Pearl, we loved the nice view over Waikiki in the Surf. But after all, our favourite was the Coconut - we had a good time there and enjoyed their waffles & more for breakfast. The hotel is located at the canal which is not as bad as people say - it is actually perfect for morning runs & free parking!

While saving money on accommodation enjoy a cocktail with view at the beach bar of the Moana Surfrider Resort & Spa! They have the best cocktails in town for sure!

Go Camping Oahu!

The Hawaiian islands are not well known for camping. However, there are a few really nice camping sites on Oahu & Maui!

Since there is not much budget accommodation (we did not like the Plantation village too much!) along the North Shore we decided to camp and it was a decision.

Malaekahana Campgrounds are great, quiet and quite private camping grounds with a nice beach! You can perfectly explore the North Shore and its surf from there with being only a few minutes away from Waimea, Sunset Beach and Haleiwa.

Note that you need a car and there is no way to drive into the grounds after 7pm but you always can walk in!

You can get your groceries shopping in Haleiwa or Foodlands in on the Kamehameha Hwy. Visit Haleiwa's Joe for lunch or dinner and have the best shaved ice on the island in Haleiwa. And, don't forget to stop by at Ted's bakery where all the locals have their breakfast - you won't regret it!

Stay Green in San Francisco!

On my trip to California last year I stayed in the Good Hotel in SOMA, San Francisco. This is an eco-friendly hotel for a smaller budget!

This hotel is not just stylish but also looks after the environment. The hotel's interiors are made of recycled materials and guests are encouraged to recycle and save water. To explore San Fransisco you can rent their bikes for free.

Find more information under on the Good Hotel website & enjoy your stay!