Writing my book and how spring helps me

With this very sunny february here in Berlin and the fact that I have more time as usual to do things, I started writing again. Sun makes me go out and taking walks which in that case helps me to be creative and get my ideas how and what to write. May it be my blog or the books I am working at. Thought one book was meant to finally get its way to the world outside, I had to discover that part of it became lost when I did an update and I could not save it. Writing a book is a long process and a lot of work and to do it again to save up your work is for a moment a bit depressing but who knows why this was good at the end. Rewriting something maybe brings you a better book at the end. 

But then next to this I started a couple of weeks ago to take up again my work on a thriller, which I started last year. Now I feel I will finish this little book soon and hope to find a way to bring it out to you. 

I have already written thriller but all of them went into garbage as I never was really happy with them. Then one day I understood why I liked some of the thrillers I read and why I did not feel the same with others. It seems that you must have a good fantasy and logic chills or you have to know the subject by yourself. Many thriller are also god as the writer work much like journalist before they actually write the book itself. 

But I guess above the future and fantasy books, most will have something inside from the writer itself. The rest is more or lesson, heard, read and learned. 

Yes, writing is fun and work in the same time for me and I also read a lot which in its way helped me to develop my own chills to become much better and to understand how you could make a book. 

But that does not mean you know your style as you just have to try which fits you in the end. Also you will learn much about what kind of level you want to work. Is it Rosamunde Pilcher, Jane Austen or Stephen King? Is it James Joyce or Michael Moore. Will you do -shades of gray- or getting up with your level to Hermann Hesse? 

The level does not tell you how successful you will be at the end. Much is luck and the right topic. But then writing is best when you do it from your own and just for fun, thought we all hope to make money with this but more we hope as much people will read it and LIKE it. 

The biggest fear lies in exactly that fact. Will someone like my book?

How hard it can be book after book you wanna know. Well, I have a friend, he writes more and more, becomes better and better but wonders all the time so he writes about this in his blog: http://blog.hirschi.se/ Follow him in his process as an author.

I like to follow his way as it is always interesting to see where others are going, how they survive and what they know, what I don't. I like to know where they got the ideas and where problems lies on the way. 

I get my ideas from my own experiences and looking around. As many writers the life of family and friends is stuff to write down. Sometimes. 

But most inspiring is nature for me, which also gives me much power to actually do my work. Walking around in spring is something which gives me always joy and hope and the patience to go on. 

Tulips therefore these days remind me that life is an ongoing and beauty thing. Even thought you have to get through your onionskin. Very much like writing.

LOVE & LIGHT

every- day hero?

We like to tell the world how hard our life is, don't we.

Many of us are going to be with love the drama queen, especially on Facebook. 

How many times do we read I have a cold oh pity me. I have had a very bad day, please, please pity me.

Yes, how many times are we proud of little things we've done. And how many of us likes to tell about our hero shopping. How we got this and that and for the cheap price of thaaaat.

Let's be honest, we all like to write about this and read about it. Newspaper live from that and magazines. Blogs everywhere got feed everyday with your energy of wanna know the newest cloths and the biggest pain we oh so went through. 

But what about ourself being a better person? I mean how many times do you repost those smart letters of being a better person, of being grateful, of being more in love and aware what you do, of helping without any question of getting something back. 

How many of us loves hero stories but where are we?

Do we wanna be heros? But then, does a hero wants to be a hero? 

When we look on the films and the stories we know, we must say no heros wants to be a hero, mostly not at first sight. But those heros are those for a special situation, when we need courage. 

Something many fail to live up to as many are afraid of their own courage. Many fail to remember that their have bones in their back. And at least many have learned the penguins principle. 

That's why horrible things happen each day. That's why mobbing has it so easy.

But then there are those people who just do, no matter what. Everyday. They help or just stand up against all odds. Sometimes movies are telling you about those. 

To be true you don't need the cinema to see things like this. Just watch out on the streets and then remember the question. Why should you do? Why get up? Why help?

You could stay home. You could ignore. Do you have a choice?

Oh yes you have and many are just to god to be blind in that case. 

Haven't we heard the question- what choice do I have?- What can I do? - so many times?!

We have because the play of staying a victim then being the creator of your own life seems to be more easy and is a learned thing in most cases. But if you wanna get happy, wanna have a chance you have to be aware that there is always a choice, even know, it is not always an easy way you are going to choose. 

Like with that man on the pic. I watched him many times going and coming from work. Going step by step and taking the way out into a world he otherwise could not discover. You see how hard it is for him, as he cannot really walk and even his walking stick is not the biggest help. But he never gave up. He always goes his way slowly but he does. He has not much money, he is not going to travel all around the world but he is getting up and out of the house. He could say- why should I. He never will have the same chances as the most of us naturally have. He will most likely never be rich, have many friends but he is trying to reach out the hand to the world to make sure he got any chance because otherwise there would be none. He sure can have it more easy to come forward but would this make him stronger or going where he wants to? No. His self esteem is stronger then most of us will believe it could be for each of us. 

He is for me always a reminder of never giving up, even when you have a tough time. It could be worse and he also shows me that I could take more then I maybe believe I could now. He just does. 

To overcome each day the fear of failing and just do it- that makes you an everyday hero. Just by trying to live your life. 

These are the thoughts for this throwback thursday.

LOVE & LIGHT

Two hearts

Now I am back in Berlin, Germany and it has been two months ago that I was leaving Gothenburg. 

Leaving again, as it was my second time I was working there. This time much longer and in town. 

Thinking back now and watching the pics I have made. I feel my heart pounding. In a god way and it is also interesting, as it is more then I expected. 

As starting again in Berlin has become much more different as planed, I wonder, but have no regrets. 

You know, it seldom goes the way as planed and in the end mostly you see why this was better. 

Thought it can be a challenge to have patience with yourself and how things are going on.

One is to discover that bureaucracy has become worse since 2013 when it is to work in another country. Had I known this, maybe things have already went another way. But so it is and I have to do as needed. 

Even when I know much more then before that my heart is bound to Berlin, I still have part of it in Gothenburg. Of course, it never was such a bad place. It was the other way round and above the trouble I had, I had a god time and working there was nice and I learned so much. 

Lucky as I am, I am still in contact with my colleagues and that is a very nice feeling.

When I was in Thailand in January, I felt leaving was right and in the same time it began to feel like all what was happening is from a long time ago. Same now with my feelings of the Thailand journey. Feels already as it is from another life. Pictures can't bring back the feeling you had when you've been there. It's a memory of the fact what you felt. 

So looking at the picture from Gothenburg, I see the beauty and understand how easy it is to look over what was not so nice. In my mind I know the problems I had and why some things bothered me. But looking back is kind of doing it with a soft eye. 

Crazy thing is, when I am here I miss the other town. If I am there I miss my town here. Even known that I am more a -Berliner- and feel very comfortable here with all the things going on in town here, I sometimes still wonder, if I could live again soon in Gothenburg or Stockholm. But when I look on the job/ work I wanna do- I know I'll stay here quite a while. 

No, working in Sweden was nice, but how it went on was not the way I expected. But you live to learn and see how you can find the right way. 

Of course I am maybe thinking too much and just now I have more time as planed for such.

I wait for the time to know, how does it feel when I am working and learning again in Berlin. And how will it feel when I am back in Gothenburg to see my friends, colleagues and the places I worked at. 

When I left I was not that sure if Sweden would play a bigger part in my future. Now I think, it will, but maybe not that big just now, but maybe, many years from now I try it again, but who knows how the world, the politic and the private life will change. Maybe I first try England, as I am very curious to see how living there would be. So making my next journey when I have my holidays is already planed.

Yes, I am one of those who have to see the world, to try the things on other places and find out, if there is a place I am gonna settle down for a couple of years. 

I am free. Still have just myself to feed and pay my own bills. 

Sure not getting any younger but who can tell me it is impossible to try? No one! 

LOVE & LIGHT

licorice ice cream

an now Germany/ Alexanderplatz- Berlin

Frank Loman- a painter

As a man who loves art and likes to not only see them in museum, I also like to see them in galleries or on art markets, because you can also buy them there if you like. 

I think art is something- which can make you just think after, make you laugh or feeling melancholic, and also has the possibility to enjoy you in many other ways- that is healthy for you and can live up your spirit. Though some art can depress you and that's why you should very carefully think about what you keep home. Some art is just meant to be shown and take people into discussion. Some art is very nice but won't make you happy at home. 

Many people believe you had to have art lesson to understand art. That is not true. First you just have to feel it. Let a picture capture you and make you fly away in your own thoughts. No matter if you are delighted or depressed of it. Art is not about amusing and pleasing everyone. 

A painting sometimes has no other goal then just let you feel god.

A painting sometimes is telling you a story and sometimes it will make you make up your own story.

Now to Frank Loman, a painter I really like and adore and his work is such beauty and extraordinary god. 

He still is growing, he still is doing new ways in his painting and I discover just more beauty and still his paintings look modern and old in the same time, remind you of aborigines and impressionism. 

I think you should absolutely take a look on his paintings and if you like get in contact with him @frank_loman on Twitter, as he lives in London and is open for your interest as every artist is. 

You can buy his work and help him create more art and at the --> https://www.facebook.com/crazycoqsopenmic?fref=photo you can also hear him sing and after the show get in contact with him.

I also once made an interview with him, which you can read here:

http://one-thing-to-remember.blogspot.de/2014/03/frank-loman-interview.html

But now some picture from his paintings and you will be able to see the same as I- he is very good and needs to be known! :-) 

So If you like it- spread this post as much you can... 

LOVE & LIGHT

25 years ago- a moment in history

So long ago and even it feels like it was yesterday. But then is it really already 25 years ago, when my people started to take down the wall for god? Yes, 25 years ago my people decided it was time to make one country, be one again. One Germany, not two- one in the East and one in the West. 

Yes, 26 years ago people run over the wall the first time, but not until 25 years ago it was not sure will this be a change for more, for real, for something new.

Though since then we had tough times and been through many changes and some have been god, some made things worse. 

History. I am part of this history and as I lived that time in Berlin, the wall was always part of my life then. Never had I or most of my people imagine that this wall of stones could be vanished in our lifetime, even when we hoped for it. 

How the country has changed since that and even more how Berlin has changed. The face of this town is like completely new. Sure we have a lot of the old still here but then, streets have not only changed names, even some streets got new ways and others became past as on the ground we see houses now. 

But most of all the beginning of taking away the wall meant to start the change of a whole system people lived in. A change one year later all went through who lived in the East part of Germany, as it became officially part of one new Germany. 

25 years ago we started to break down the last of our industry, our identification, our god things without asking if that was right or not. Now we know many things should have been saved but then now it's too late. Now we have to live with food which is badder then the one we had, even though we did not had much. Now we have the chance to take home ten different dishes but it did not made us more happier. 

25 years ago we killed a system in politic which was not god for people and that time there still was hope to change all in a soft way, but most people just looked at money and did not listen and have payed a high price since then. 

25 years ago it became obvious how the Stasi was listening, how a country was listening in shadow to people to keep them small. (well) That has not changed, just got another name. NSA and BND. They are even worse. 

But 25 years ago we got the freedom to travel, to learn whatever we want and to discover the world, places, people. A Chance I am very grateful as I don't know what I would have done. I am disabled and that was nothing god for a future for someone who had his own mind. To study was nothing I could do as my parents were not all into politics. But then I just got the chance to learn 20 different jobs and only one was not a -keep yourself stupid- one. Thought I only have a hearing problem I was second class. 

25 years ago was the beginning that I could experience life as I choose to and not have to look at the family situation. My parents are journalists and had lost their job if I opened my mouth or tried to get into another country as no job I was offered was something I could do for lifetime. 

I was a teenager 25 years ago and not all did I understood but I already had the hunch of what was going on and what was wrong. I had eyes and a mother who thought me to think by myself. 

Thanks to the change 25 years ago I was traveling to several countries all around the world, have friends from several different places and can be grateful for the fact that I can work whatever I feel like and want and believe I am capable of, even thought people may not always think the same.

25 years ago and now the children born on our days become just German people as the older are more people who changed and moved to another country. No wonder old habits come through and the which to stay blind in the new time. Yes, the East has moved likely to another country as from one day to another everything changed. Money, food, laws, government and the job situation. 

No wonder that people still ask about which part are you from. That East and West are still not one in their minds. That people define them self being this or that and still avoid to travel to the other part. 

The children now will be the first generation which will truly make no difference (thought even them will learn about the difference from parents). 

25 years ago history had a splendid hour but sadly in school it is seldom something they learn about, thought it is important. 

25 years ago and I walk with friends through the streets and we are talking about how buildings are made these days. How they have changed. 

25 years ago and just now I am living in a building which is made in time before the wall was broken. 

A "Plattenbau". It looks much the same as before, but new windows, internet and TV have arrived.

25 years ago the future for me, my family and friends have become a chance to make it better. 

Maybe we still have to fight. Yes, we have failed in some ways, but there is still time and hope and we still have no new wall. We have peace and better possibilities to do what we need and want. 

That I am very grateful and also for that I can write this to you.

25 years ago a wall has been taken down and it still feels strange, but god. 

LOVE & LIGHT

The Elegance of the Hedgehog- a book

Yes, it has been long that I did a review of a book. As we still have winter time, we also have the possibility to read more then on another time. So I tried the book, a bestseller, from Muriel Barbery. A bestseller which also became a movie. 

Looking on the cover, this book seems to be good. 

Well, don't be that sure! 
First it is kind of a philosophical book. A story about a girl living in a house and the meetings of people there. A book about life and the question- why are we here. Sounds interesting and could have been fun, if the writer did not always tried to be funny or to be obviously philosophical. 

Reading the book was much less fun as I expected. Many times I wonder why she wrote passages, as they did not bring the story forward or gave you anything to consume. Many times I thought that what I just read was dull and not worth the time. 
Even thought the changes of who we follow in the story is nice put.

But I had in that case a hard time to keep up and wonder when is the story are going to be something more then just bla bla bla. 

No, it is not hard to read, as it is easy written and the change of perspectives are god to follow but then, it was not thrilling or giving me new insight or something that made me read till the end.

Actually I gave up after the half and put it aside. This book is simple not worth the time and again an example that bestsellers are not always god books or even interesting. This one is better to avoid and I wonder how many actually have read it to the end. 

LOVE & LIGHT

My love with a swedish tradition- Fettisdagen

Fettisdagen, is -The Fat Tuesday- and will be celebrated every year in February and it is always the last day before the Lanten fast or 47 days before easter. 

(so easter is not far away now)

People eat sweet things but mostly it is about the Semla- also called fastlagsbullar (Fat Tuesday Buns).

Some may also read about the - White Tuesday- as the buns are very much white.

The name fat is because of the food. It contains a lot of fat but the taste is sweet.

It is a christian tradition, thought in Sweden no one really things about that. It is more that you just happen to like the -Semla- as a perfect food for coffee and friends. 

Of course you can already buy those -Semlor- weeks before this day. 

Once it was forbidden, now they should not sell it right after x-mas. 

Mostly you buy a minimum of two Semlor just for one person. 

Sometimes it is kind of a fight between my friends who got it first, who got most. But all we have in common is the love to eat that sweet and fat thing called Semla once a year. 

I came several years ago in contact with that and from the very beginning I fell in love with it. Perfect for a cup of coffee, you just want another one to eat. 

For me this is on swedish tradition I try not to miss. 

On the pic below you can see, I'll get crazy having them.

And if you pass Sweden these days- buy them, eat them or go to a coffee and eat them there! This is a very swedish thing and will give you a very good impression on what is Sweden a like.

LOVE & LIGHT

Happy fettisdagen to my swedish friends!

Thailand- my tips and what you should know

So guys, this is it. The last entry about my journey to Thailand. As I promised, I will give you some advise. Some classic, some of my own.

Thailand is best to travel to between January and May, as it is the try period. That does not mean it won't rain, but chances are it will much less and shorter. 

It may be very warm- around 30°C but be sure to have warm cloths with you. Trains, hotel rooms and underground, even shopping malls can be quite cold. And when you travel in the North, nights are much colder then in the South. So better have something to wear which can warm you.

As you may already expect, visiting a Wat or a Temple means to not show your knees and shoulders. Sometimes you even have to take off your hut. In Bangkok you must wear long trousers and they should be white/ large as all clothes which shows your body is not welcome.

As you travel, be sure to take your time. Busses are going often and there is usually no need to buy a ticket earlier then the day itself. It is cheap but has three different categories. Simple- which is better not for you, then the usually big busses and the mini bus. Mini busses are always the thing when you are going to Bangkok as it goes much faster. 

Taxis/Caps are usually easy to get but not everywhere they work with taxameter. Sometimes you have to fix the price before you drive! 
In Bangkok they all have to take the Taxameter and you should keep an eye on that when you get into a taxi. Always remind them to put them on. If they don't then tell them to stop and leave the car! 
Mostly the driver can speak bit english but always have your hotel or the place you want to travel written on paper in Thai. 
Airport taxi is the best way to get into town in Chiang Mai, right behind the baggage claim they will get you a taxi for the same price, always.

Well in Bangkok you can also take a motorbike. (I don't mean hire one- to much traffic!) Here you must also make up the price before and be sure to have enough with yourself but also make sure they don't see how much you have. So you better take out the money you are willing to pay and leave the rest hidden.

As we speak of money, as always make sure you keep an eye on it and keep it save. 

Make also sure to always have a copy from your pass and license and put it in another bag. 

The money must be exchanged- best in Thailand, best not on the airport, thought in the South it is no problem to exchange, in the North it can be a problem. In Chiang Mai you have to look out in on the Island, otherwise it is hard to find an exchange. Sometimes you can change in hotels too. Actually they should make it possible for you. 

What more? There is a rule about food- nothing is save and you always have to be prepared for that you can get bad food. So have some medicine with you (for fever, flue and the rest of the classical).

Drink if able always with a straw. 

You maybe will read in travel guides how to eat but actually eat as you know it. No special rules these days. The same is with the Buddha thing. They say it is not allowed to make a tattoo of a Buddah. They even claim to not have Buddhas at home, but it is because Buddhism has become a religious and so they try to play with power. So don't worry if you have a Buddha Tattoo, just don't show it at Temples and Wats open and absolutely not in Bangkok. 

But back to the Busses, as there are those little open ones in towns. Mostly they cost about 10 Bath, but can be much more expensive, so ask in your hotel. At least ask before you drive. 

By the way Hotel staff. You may expect that they know best, but no... Exception is when you are in an exclusive or four and more star hotel. 

If you haven't planed any tours with your travel agency home, it is not a problem to plan some in Thailand. Most hotels offer tours. 

You can even book fights over t.ex.: http://www.thaismileair.com/en/flights

It is also very good to book rooms and hotels on: http://www.booking.com/index.de.html?sid=495ea52d61ca2b653567baff9768595f;dcid=4

So... how much money a day should you plan in?

1000 Bath for one person. Sometimes you will need more, sometimes much less but at the end, it will make sure you can go on with your journey in an easy way and without worrying, even thought you should keep an eye on your economy.

Wanna hire a private guide? Look out on Facebook, ask friends and search on the internet. 

Important thing is- make sure as much you can- all the prices and what you wanna do, when you wanna do it and so on. The guide should write you a plan, the prices in an e-mail and best you pay as near the time you can and not after. Be prepared they are not exact and can be unprepared the day you move. They are very flexible, but bad at communication and so just make sure the result is what you want. They are flexible and don't like critics as in Asia it is important to keep your face. Don't discuss much, but say what you want and what not. Calculation can get up and down, this is normal, just keep an eye yourself on all this. Have patience when you travel with them. Sometimes they have a reason, sometimes things just take a longer time. They are flexible, but so you must be too. Then a privat guide is a plus. 

So.. I guess that was a lot again.. ask me, write me, give comments, leave a massage and follow my blog with writing your e-mail on the right side of this entry---------------------->

You can also follow me now on Twitter under: @SebastianisLove

Now some more pics and as always have a great time...

LOVE & LIGHT