2014 in (travel) Numbers

I love infographics. Although I never really figured out how to make them! After a quick google search I found that you don't need years of photoshop experience to make them! I tried a couple of different free programs but I have to say Piktochart is my favourite! Had a bit of fun playing around with it and made this little travel statistic of 2014! If you go and write it down you realize you did more than you thought! Time flies!

my ups and downs 2014

I wanted to do a little recap of 2014, but instead of doing a general rundown of my year, I decided to thing of the moments that made 2014 special and that will stand out from the rest. Here are my little highlights 2014:

The Highs:

Adopting our dog Ally who had been literally scarred by life by her previous owner who made her fight other dogs for money. She developed from a shy and scared-by-every moment to a loving, playful puppy. It shows once more that the owner determines what the dog is like.



One of my highlights of 2014 were the amazing events I was working at with my company – the best one being the AMG and G-Class Test drive in May in the desert of Ordos, Inner Mongolia. Driving through the sand dunes and riverbeds with the G-Class will be something I never forget. The SLS on the racing track wasn’t half bad too… ;)



2014 was the year of trips – I got to get out of Beijing and explore the area around the capital a lot more. I climbed two different parts of the great wall and went hiking in the mountains north of Beijing every other weekend. The landscapes in China amaze me time and time again.


Another thing on my bucket list of 2014 was to see some more cities in China – and the Ice and Snow festival in Harbin was on the very top. A city carved out of ice and gigantic snow sculptures – only in China! Qingdao was one of my favorites this year two. Probably my most fun weekend 2014 with my German roommates in a German-Chinese beer city!

 

2014 was most definitely the year of amazing parties! My favorites are house parties – all your friends together, cheap endless booze and music you can choose! Better than any club in my opinion! Endlessly grateful for my friends in Beijing. Love you all loads!



THE ONE AND ONLY most amazing thing that happened to me was being able to go and live 2 months in the US. From July to September 2014 I got to live one month in New York and one in LA. I had always dreamed about living in the big apple one day and didn’t even know how much I would fall in love with Los Angeles. Wish I could go back ASAP!

The lows….

Unfortunately 2014 was not just the year of travelling and happiness. Of course there are always days you’re feeling down but there are those days that just make you want to lay down and cry. 2014 I lost a dear friend, a brother… I will always remember you.

xxx

festive feasting days

Christmas time is feasting time. I think that’s the same in every family! I love the food and being close to my loved ones, especially now that I live in China and things like an average supermarket really excite me because of all the stuff I can’t buy in Beijing! It does feels like you are in a constant move from plate to plate, mindlessly stuffing everything inside you… but this is no time to feel guilty! For these days I make an exception to my usual eating habits and have whatever I like. Come new year we will all be sweating in the gym again, trying to get rid of our Christmas pounds but that’s ok. Christmas is feel good time.

These nights never seem to go to plan

First off I want to show you some touristy shots of Madame Liberty and Manhattan during sunset! Seeing the statue of liberty was high up there on my to-do list – but I was surprised how small it is! From the shots on TV I thought it would be huge! Of course it’s still big (Just the nose is 4 feet long) but not as big as I expected.

Did you know you can skip the overpriced boats and get on the Staten Island ferry FOR FREE? It will take you past this lovely lady and after a bit of waiting back to Manhattan. ;)

xxx

 

Sunday Update #1

Thought I’d start doing a little weekly update on life and what is happening and what day would be more suitable than Sunday? (Of course I know that this is not a new idea but it’s not like I could care less.)

So it’s the first Sunday of the year and I just drove my sis to the rail station to catch her train back to Vienna. In two days I will be leaving for Beijing again and it felt like these couple of weeks went in a blink of an eye. I managed to see all my best friends, spend a lot of time with my family and even sneaked in some nice little shopping (Primark hehe) but I always feel a certain melancholy when I pack my bags and leave for another place. When I am in Germany I don’t want to leave, when I am in London I want to stay and I never want to say goodbye to Beijing. I am still waiting desperately for a teleport so that I can finally be at all the places and with all the people I love…

I am starting my new job in a couple of days which is very exiting (I did work there for a trial period of a week already to see if it suits me) and I am looking forward to a couple of interesting projects. Of course I am also missing my friends in Beijing and can’t wait to see them again.

Unfortunately a new job always means that you have fewer holidays and it might be a while until I am back home again. Thinking about the future always troubles me a little because I didn’t really choose the easiest path and there are always sticks and stones in the way that you have to get past in order to achieve your goals. But I guess it will all be worth it in the end and there are so many great things that are happening on the way so stick to your dreams and make it happen. 2014 is going to be a great year.

2014 is going to be my year.

What I did this week:

• Saw -  Doctor’s Diary – An awesome German TV series from a couple of years back
• Listened -  Lorde - Royals
• Learned -   a bit about HTML/Design, a little bit Chinese vocab
• Ate – Sushi, sushi, sushi.
• Read -  HTML/Web hosting/design tutorials
• Drank -  All the (non alcoholic) leftovers from NYE
• Thought -  Why do so many things go wrong when you really need them to work
• Wished -  to be at home for one more week
• Bought -  a couple of bits and pieces from the sale + Primark craziness

Happy new year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!

 

Hey Lovelies! I hope you had a great start in 2014!

 

I celebrated the new year with my closest friends and of course we had to play around with the sparklers haha! We had a great night with Raclette, silly games and lots of drinking till 4.30am… now I am a little bit dead (and ill – seems like I brought a cold into the new year) but very happy and looking forward to an eventful 2014!

 

I am planning to travel a lot and make the most of what is to come; I hope you are looking forward to what 2014 has to offer as much as I do!

All the best!

 

xxx