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Berlin What to Do

in Berlin, Berlin Food, Berlin What to Do, Berlin Where to Go, Expat Life

Rutz: Saving (one of) the Absolute Best for Last

Before leaving Berlin, I had a series of dining experiences that are just too good not to share. After much struggle with moving a server to a different wifi network, I finally regained access to photos from those unforgettable evenings. So here are! Yes, I am the absolute queen of awful timing with this post falling within the extended lockdown in Berlin. However, I’m hoping this will keep people inspired and look forward to the reopening of restaurants in the city once things are much better. So let’s kick things off with RutzMarco Müller‘s three-Michelin star restaurant.

The announcement of the restaurant’s third star came right before the first Berlin lockdown. Such a shame, one might think. And it was, mostly for us who love amazing food. For Chef Müller, however, it only made the well-deserved hype bigger. Once lockdown was lifted, the seats were once again full all the way up to the second lockdown towards the end of 2020. I was there when it was announced. Quite heartbreaking for the dining scene which was starting to pick up at that point but the people understood its necessity. Frankly, the feeling of luck that I had while being there that night doubled. Especially since I was days away from leaving Berlin.

“Isn’t it fitting that Rutz gets to be the last restaurant you’ll visit during your posting in Berlin?” my friend Ute asked over our dinner. She did, after all, had to endure my constant chatter of wanting to go to Rutz and writing about it afterward. Variations of ‘Yes, finally!’ and ‘Saving the best for last’ were exchanged with a goofy smile plastered on my face the whole evening. It was probably the wine but I digress.

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in Beauty, Berlin, Berlin What to Do, Berlin Where to Go, Expat Life, Skincare

Getting a Facial at Club Olympus, Grand Hyatt Berlin

The past couple of months have been quite hectic, to say the least. I went back to Youtube, I took on new roles, and I accepted more freelance work. It’s been rewarding but I’m not gonna lie – it really did a number on my stress levels. So, despite my skin getting better over the summer, I experienced breakouts and hives anew. At some points, I was rather dehydrated and was running on little sleep that it started showing on my skin. So an invitation to the Grand Hyatt Berlin‘s Club Olympus was much more than welcome.

It’s hardly my first time coming to the Grand Hyatt here in Berlin. Having covered the Berlinale before for Forbes and Rappler, I’ve spent some time in the hotel doing press registrations and attending press conferences. So the hotel really does have a special place in my heart.  I met Wes Anderson and Tilda Swinton in their premises for the first time and those instances definitely make it to my list of memorable times in Berlin.

Almost Diplomatic - Club Olympus - Grand Hyatt - Berlin - Germany - Spa - Diplomat's Wife - DiploWife

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in Berlin, Berlin What to Do, Expat Life

Berlin’s The First Reel Filipino Film Festival is Back for 2019

This November, Filipino films are coming back to Berlin thanks to The First Reel Filipino film festival. This year’s lineup is definitely something to look forward to as it’s a well-rounded mix of genres. Stepping away from what people usually think Filipino films are all about and have already seen before, the films showcase stories on Filipino the youth, individual talent, growing pains, and issues – both timely and timeless.

Happening from 6-10 November at Berlin’s oldest cinema – the Kino Moviemento in Kottbusser Damm, here’s the rundown of the films you can catch as published by the festival’s team:

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Almost Diplomatic - KPM - Porcelain - Berlin - Germany - Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur - Diplomat's Wife - Diplowife
in Berlin, Berlin Shopping, Berlin What to Do, Expat Life

VIDEO: The Making of KPM Berlin Porcelain

Germany is known for many things. It is, after all, the home of high-quality products and big industries. People visiting the country or even living here as expats/diplomats often find themselves shopping and bringing home locally-made items that could last them for generations. Functional souvenirs, if you will. I was never one for keychains or magnets as they usually become clutter and accumulate dust. Beautiful, functional, and timeless pieces are a much better choice for some serious return of investment (ROI). For this, I often recommend pieces from Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin (KPM Berlin).

It’s true that porcelain costs way more than your average ‘I Love Berlin’ shirt. However, it’s a true work of art that you can actually use and can last lifetimes.

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Almost Diplomatic - Cherry Blossoms in Berlin - Germany - Sakura - Hanami - Diplomat's Wife - Cherry Blossoms - Sakura Campaign - TV Asahi -
in Berlin, Berlin What to Do, Berlin Where to Go, Expat Life

Cherry Blossoms in Berlin: The Best Places to See Them & Get Your Hanami On

There’s nothing quite like spring in Berlin. I always feel it coming like I’m some sort of early warning device. My hands start to develop red spots and my throat gets scratchy. Pollen, like the White Walkers in Game of Thrones, tend to creep up on you like that. Before you know it, they’re in full-attack mode and you’re sneezing like there’s no tomorrow, stifling that curse word you want to direct at nature. But you stop yourself completely, knowing that this season has its pros. Number one on my list? The cherry blossoms in Berlin.

“It’s like a unicorn threw up all over Berlin,” I found myself telling my husband last spring. “I love it!”

Call me basic but pink everywhere is definitely my cup of tea. From wet, grey, gloomy winter, Berlin comes of out of its closet (intended), leaving its black, puff jacket behind to reveal itself dressed in the prettiest pastel shade. Pink goes with everything and taking pictures around the city is just made a lot more fun. Just don’t forget to take your anti-histamines.

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in Berlin, Berlin Tips, Berlin What to Do, Berlin Where to Go, Expat Life

Relax in the City: SpaSphere (Berlin)

I’m a city girl through and through. People who know me personally can attest to that. I just love the hustle and bustle – the excitement and energy a big city generates. However, I won’t deny that it can get pretty taxing sometimes. The excitement and physical strain of daily living can actually wear you down. Living in Berlin for over a year now, I find that even though this city is not as busy as Manila or Kuala Lumpur, the constant moving around that I do (even in awful weather) can still be exhausting. What really saves the day for me, though, is a spot of relaxation within my week – either at home or at a spa. Germany is big on spa culture and I’ve written about it before. This time, I’ll be telling you about another spa that I recently visited that has left a really good impression with me: SpaSphere.

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in Berlin, Berlin What to Do, Expat Life

Photo Diary: Berlin Pride / CSD Parade 2018

“My Body, My Identity, My Life” was this year’s theme for Berlin Pride also known as the Cristopher Street Day Parade. It’s an event that I look forward to every summer. Supporting and showing love for the LGBTQ community is one of the causes I truly believe in.

Despite the unforgiving heat (it said 32 degrees on the weather app but it felt so much warmer), Kurfürstendamm was jampacked and there were lots of people on the sidelines showing their support. My heart swelled three times its normal size. There was so much love. 💖🌈

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in Berlin, Berlin What to Do, Expat Life

Berlin’s Buddy Bears: Beyond the Cute Factor

One of the first things we noticed upon arriving in Berlin was the abundance of bear statues throughout the city. The city does have a bear on its flag but these adorable depictions of the animal seem to be something else – less ferocious and quite adorable. Almost every establishment has one of these two-metre tall bears standing on its hind legs. I was later told that they were called Buddy Bears.

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