a Filipina mom's journal of new experiences, discoveries, travels and everything else as she adapts to a new life in the land of sausages and beers.
Have you watched A Walk to Remember, the movie which starred Mandy Moore and Shane West? It was a story of a young teen who’s suffering from an illness. She got a list of what she still wants to do before she passes. One of her wishes was to be in two places in one time. Shane West granted this wish by bringing her to the border going to Virginia. I really thought it was a brilliant idea.
When we had our getaway last weekend I had no idea I that I could do the same thing. We were on the tail of our family friend’s car coz we had no idea where we were going. Suddenly my friend’s husband stopped and got out. The next thing I knew we were on the border of Germany and Austria. I really was so happy! I didn’t know Austria was just less than an hour away from where we went. We went out of the car and Micha (my friend’s husband) said, “picture-picture”. He really knows we would not miss that opportunity. 
My shot may not be as romantic as in the movie and no white line like where Mandy crossed but still I crossed! 
Since the trip was not earlier planned, we didn’t do that much on the first day that we crossed. We actually just went to buy some groceries from a supermarket called Eurospar. It was a Saturday and we had to buy groceries good for two days. We actually laughed thinking we went to Austria just to go to a supermarket. See, there was really no plan of crossing the border.
I’ve always thought of travelling to other countries here in Europe but I never thought it would come this soon. I know it’s not the vacation I dreamed of but just the thought of crossing a border by car made me so thrilled.
A dry, itchy scalp poses an annoying problem for many and may develop for any number of reasons. Under most circumstances, the symptom does not represent a serious condition requiring medical treatment. Numerous home remedies alleviate the problem. Staying well hydrated also helps scalp or skin dryness and ensures that all bodily systems have enough lubrication to function properly.
The enzymes and acidity of lemon juice eliminates bacteria that may cause dryness, irritation and dandruff. The chemicals within the fruit also trigger natural oil production and minimize dryness. The treatment merely requires cutting a lemon in half and removing the seeds. Rub and squeeze the lemon on the scalp in sections, ensuring that the juice makes contact with the scalp. Gently massage the juice into the scalp and wait 30 minutes. Rinse the juice from the hair and scalp using water. Repeat the process every other day for around three weeks. In between treatments, wash the hair with a mild shampoo.
The oils and components of mayonnaise not only moisturize the scalp, but additionally offer nutrients. Combine ½ cup of mayonnaise with one beaten egg. Mix the ingredients well. Liberally apply the mixture to the hair and scalp. Leave the treatment on the hair for a few hours or cover with plastic wrap and wear overnight. Remove the mayonnaise/egg treatment by shampooing thoroughly. Repeat the therapy at least two times every week.
This common kitchen ingredient also conditions the scalp by protecting natural moisture. Heat the oil in a microwavable bowl for approximately 30 to 40 seconds. Apply the oil liberally to the hair and scalp. Massage the oil into the scalp vigorously for around two minutes. Place a warm towel around the head for 20 minutes. Shampoo the hair thoroughly with a mild product. Conversely, the treatment also works well at bedtime when covered with plastic wrap for the night.
Honey not only adds much needed moisture to a dry scalp, but additionally possesses antimicrobial properties that helps eradicate unwanted organisms. The banana adds moisture along with many beneficial nutrients. Mash two ripe bananas in a bowl. Add four teaspoons of warm honey and mix the combination well. Apply the concoction to the scalp. Leave the mixture in place for 45 minutes to one hour. Wash the hair with a mild shampoo. The treatment also performs well if left on and covered overnight.
Tea tree oil adds moisture and reduces dryness while offering antibacterial and antifungal properties. The oil not only eliminates dandruff, but also helps by minimizing flakiness and itching. Add 10 to 20 drops of tea tree oil to ½ cup of baby shampoo. Massage the scalp while washing the hair. Repeat the process daily until the condition shows satisfactory results. Deep treat the scalp by adding two or three drops of the oil to one tablespoon of warmed vegetable oil. Apply the mixture directly to the scalp. Cover the head with a warm towel for an hour or with plastic wrap overnight. Shampoo the hair. Repeat the treatment two to three times every week.
Sarah is a hairdresser by trade and has been for the past 5 years. She loves cutting hair and making her clients feel good about themself, by writing these blogs she hopes that it may help give some people confidence with her beauty tips and tricks.
Image credit: ladycarehealth.com
I have always wanted to travel or just drive to other places here in Germany. With its richness in culture and history no doubt that there are plenty of tourist attractions where we could visit. That’s why when time permits I would ask hubby if we could go somewhere.
School break started last May 21 and ended May 31 here in our place. Upon knowing this I had thought of maybe going some place so I asked Janelle, my Filipina friend. She hag gone to many places here and even outside Germany. They normally spend summer vacations out of the country. She suggested a number of places and one of these is a town called Oberstdorf in Allgaue.
I’ve never heard of Oberstdorf. I didn’t know any attraction there but when she mentioned Neuschwanstein Castle, it rang a bell. I didn’t know of Neuschwanstein Castle until an article about it was shown to us by our teacher from my last Deutsch course. There, I learned that it was where Walt Disney got its inspiration for the castle in the fairytale Sleeping Beauty. When I saw the photo in the article I really wished I could go there someday. Apparently the fairytale castle is just less than an hour away from Oberstdorf and two more castles are adjacent to it.
We decided to schedule a weekend vacation two weeks before and his husband, Micha found a place where we’ll spend the break. Unfortunately, weather forecast was not available until the week before and we found out that it will rain on the weekend that we have scheduled. We could not back out since we have already made the reservation. Adding to this unfortunate event, Zyc got sick just the day before we leave. 
Nevertheless we still pushed through with it.
It was just a little less than a two-hour drive going to the castle and indeed it was worth it.
The Ticket Office
From the parking lot we had to walk approximately 5mins to reach the ticket office. Good thing we need not stand in line since Micha had reserved tickets for us online. The line was short, Janelle remarked compared to peak seasons like summer. Although it was raining that day still tourist came in buses!
The Ticket
Each ticket costs 12EUR or approximately 16USD and kids are free. Printed at the back of the ticket is your time of entry to the gate and some details.
Since the castle is situated on a hill, buses and carriages are available for transportation. If you’re in the mood to trek especially when the weather’s fine, you can also do so.
We opted to ride the bus coz by the time we had to go up there were no more carriages available and we had to wait for one to come back. Besides it’s cheaper to ride the bus than the carriage. Tickets to the bus cost a little less than 2Eur, that’s to and from and the kids are free while the carriage cost 6Eur a passenger and half for the kids. Oh well, I guess you really pay for the experience.
The Map (it just didn’t rain… hale fell!)
I saw the sign!
After the 5-minute ride came the stop and we had to still walk uphill. Understandably, due to the steep slope and narrow road, buses can not go any further.
You really wouldn’t notice those aching legs if you see this view on your way up. Well… except for the kiddo. He was really getting tired and cold that time.
I’m getting closer…
‘Til my next post!
