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Germany

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 - Joseph - Israeli Food - Levantine Food - Germany - Berlin - Diplomat's Wife - Diplowife - 36-1
in Berlin, Berlin Food, Expat Life

Two, New Berlin Restaurants I Love: Joseph & Pincho Nation

The past month and a couple of weeks were crazy when it came to my schedule. June is national day month and for diplomats and their wives, that’s the busiest month of the year. I’ve been a lot slower in writing about some of the interesting things happening in Berlin but I’m happy you’re still here. Thanks for sticking around. The next few months are bound to be a lot better in this space. Fingers crossed nothing comes up in between. 🙂 With the apologies out of the way, let me go ahead and tell you about two Berlin restaurants that recently opened. Restaurants that I ended up loving and coming back to for personal visits after I was invited to attend their openings – Joseph and Pincho Nation.

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Almost Diplomatic - Medinis - Heiligendamm - Germany - Italian Restaurant - Diplomat's Wife - Diplowife - Review - 32-1
in Berlin, Berlin Food, Berlin Travel, Europe, Expat Life, Germany, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Travel, Video

Video: Medinis in Heiligendamm – Perfect Day Trip from Berlin

Will you travel for good food? I think it’s one of the best excuses to get off your lazy bum, hop on a train, and discover a new place and some flavours. Last month, I found myself doing just that. We (and by we, I mean my friend Ute along with a couple of other food journalists) were on an important mission around mid-June. We took a short trip to see whether Medinis, the new Italian restaurant facing the Baltic Sea, was worth the trek from Berlin.

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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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Almost Diplomatic - Maisons du Monde - Berlin - Furniture - Decor - Germany - Schlosstraße - Shopping - Home - Diplomat's Wife - Diplowife
in Berlin, Berlin Home, Berlin Shopping, Expat Life

Maisons du Monde’s Berlin Store

The best thing about moving into a new apartment is always that fresh start. Along with it comes the chance to decorate your new space. We move every couple of years due to my husband’s job and while moving is always stressful, decorating our new home is always something I look forward to. There’s something so exciting about looking for new places to get your decor in your new city. Here in Berlin, there’s no shortage of such stores – both online and offline – but one of my favourites has got to be Maisons du Monde.

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Almost Diplomatic - Café Maître Münch - Berlin - Berlin Cafe - Maitre Muench - Germany - Brunch - Kaffee und Kuchen - Diplomat's Wife - Diplowife - 25-1
in Berlin, Berlin Food, Expat Life

Berlin Eats: Café Maître Münch

On Valentine’s day, I found myself dateless. Work, my husband’s ever demanding mistress, got this year yet again. Almost every other year, my husband and I are apart for this Hallmark holiday. Some conferences he needs to attend are usually scheduled around it. Even when we were in Manila and Kuala Lumpur. This time around, it was the Munich Security Conference. Not one to pass up on an excuse have cake after a meal, I decided to take myself on a date with Juancho, our corgi who recently turned one. I then had a double celebration situation. So, we made our way to one of the cafés I’ve been dying to try in our neighbourhood but haven’t gotten around to doing so: Café Maître Münch.

Almost Diplomatic - Café Maître Münch - Berlin - Berlin Cafe - Maitre Muench - Germany - Brunch - Kaffee und Kuchen - Diplomat's Wife - Diplowife - 25-1

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11 Things You Should Know About Having a Dog in Berlin, Germany - Almost Diplomatic - Corgi - Juancho the Corgi - Dogs of Berlin - Pet Owners - Owning a Dog - Pet - Haustier
in Berlin, Expat Life, Pets in Berlin, Uncategorized, Video

VIDEO: 11 Things You Should Know About Having a Dog in Germany

Finally coming out with this one! I’ve been wanting to put together a video about having a dog in Germany and now it’s finally here. It’s so different from how we do it in Asia and the rest of the world so I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who was surprised when they heard about these things the first time. There are rules, taxes, and even insurance!

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Graf's Kontor Shares 2018's Best Holiday Decor Trends
in Berlin, Berlin Shopping, Berlin Tips, Expat Life

Graf’s Kontor Shares 2018’s Best Holiday Decor Trends

The most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching and our flat still has zero signs of the holidays. Basically, I’m coming clean here by saying that it’s the middle of November and I haven’t decorated. Heck, I don’t even have an idea what look I’ll be going for this year. For someone who’s half Filipino, this equals to sacrilege. We start decorating in September, back in Manila. My situation is even made worse by the fact that I’m currently living in Berlin – the capital of one of the most Christmassy countries in the world. I have no excuse other than my being busy with events and my freelancing. Thankfully, I was able to get some inspiration recently when I attended the holiday preview of Graf’s Kontor. I even got to chat with the people behind some of the city’s most fabulous decor and floral arrangements and asked them about this year’s holiday decor trends.

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in Berlin, Berlin Food

Japanese Green Tea 101 in Berlin

Tea tends to play a special part in my life. I drink it daily and it basically helped me cure my dependence on coffee to fully function. While I haven’t encountered a tea I couldn’t drink, I’d have to admit that my favourite has to be green tea – preferably sencha. Recently, I was lucky enough to be invited to a green tea tasting event here in Berlin. Naturally, I couldn’t say no.

My friend Yuka also helped organise the said event which gave a platform to three Japanese organic tea farmers. This, so that they can bring their premium tea to Germany. These three farms – Shizuoka’s Suruga Tengu, Ishikawa Seicha from Aichi, and Kyoto’s Azuma Tea Farm – produce some of the highest quality tea in Japan. They’re so good, not everyone can get their hands on them and they’re even pretty hard to get within their country.

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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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