Europe, hey you are in the center of Europe!

Sometimes, okay oftenly, I don't feel difference at all, with my surrounding. 

Since I keep doing the regular activities just like what I did before in Jakarta (studying, watching movie, cooking, exercising at gym, chatting with bf and friends), I don't realize that I stay thousand miles away from the town!

Until finally, this view suddenly distracts my concentration.

It is taken few minutes ago, from my camera digital.

It's been 8 months that I regularly see those view, right in front of my desk.

But today, it much way different. 

Blend of multiple colors, call it red, grey, orange, purple, which are combines perfectly.

Accompanied by fast-shifting cloud.

And chilly breeze as soon as I open the window.

Not forget to mention the orange stone brick and rooftop.

Okay, yes. I live in Europe.

Gent, Belgium.

Center of Europe.

thanks for the this miracle, Lord.

Carnaval de Binche, February 2014

I know, it’s been a while since the last time I update something in this messy blog (is it a suitable word to describe it?). The thing is, honestly, I stuck in Gent for almost 2 month (not counting the time when I went back to Indonesia for semester break). And finally, after looking forward to any kind of carnival, I found out one of iconic and popular festival in Belgium! Yay! It means I only have to hop on the train and enjoy the trip in short time (only). So, where was it?

Binche

It is a super well-known town in Wallonia area, the French-speaking region, due to its yearly carnival. Having stayed in Flanders area, it seems common to Flanders citizens to ignore (indirectly) other areas except in Flanders, poorly it happens as well to Wallonia citizens. That’s why it was quite hard to find further information about this area from the “Belgium” friends. Moreover, nothing can be expected more from this holy internet. Tripadvisor? Lonely Planet? Google? You name it! Nothing, I find almost nothing about the other attraction spots or foods. The carnival is the one and only hope for this town. *sigh

So, why I will share you story about this city? Yes, the carnival! Yiha!!

The Carnival of Binche

Based on the official website, this carnival is a living exceptional heritage, a popular, human and social event. It is recognized as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by Unesco in 2003. During a few months, before February, the communities and government of Binche prepared this festival seriously, since it is the most important moment in the city. The carnival was happened on 15, 16, and 17 February with different program for each shrove day.

There are some fix participants which indicated by different costumes in this festival. They are Pierrots, Arlequins, Peasant, Gilles, the wife of Gilles, musicians, and society (detail here). Two costumes easily attracted my eyes. The first one was Gilles, since it was the most important role in this festival. Second one is the Arlequins, because most of the participants were uber cute toddlers!

I went to Binche on Shrove Tuesday, since it was the highlight of the festival. Let me share you the stories starts from the moment I arrived at that city, okay?

Stepped out from the Binche Station with ton of visitors, I saw big group of gilles were dancing statically in front of one local restaurant. It was around 9.30 AM at that time. Based on the schedule, it was time for the gilles to have rest, since the carnival had started since early morning. Well, I still had time around 5-10 minutes to join the crowd and dance together with the other tourists. Anyway, since the dance was very easy and boring at the same time, hahaha, everyone could easily take part behind the gilles. Why do I say it was boring? The dance was too simple!! It was just like you only have to step your left feet and right feet and again and again, simultaneously with the beat of music. But, the good thing is that everyone, including one who has no basic on dancing, could had fun too.

The most major part of this carnival was the moment when the participants of carnival threw away oranges to the audiences. The visitors stood up behind very long gate and wait for the coming of the participants. One by one, from the Pierrots, Arlequins, Peasant, and lastly Gilles entered the area with bag full of oranges and threw away the oranges to the audiences. It was super fun! Since my position was exactly in front of the gate, I could freely ask for the oranges. At last I got nine oranges without big efforts, I mean only with serious eye contact to the participants. Haha. Funny thing was that one family next to me brought two big plastic bags to compile all of “the results”. Hahhaa.

I recommend you to join the crowd of this carnival next year. I believe that you won’t refuse the easy dancing part and getting the free oranges part.

Join this crowd! :D

Oki, tot ziens! 

Nurnberg Christmas Holiday

Small walking in European little city with Christmas spirit, houses dominated by woods and bricks, snowflakes pouring down from the sky, and gripping cup of hot chocolate. That is a perfect and overrated imagination of mine which fortunately becoming real. Moreover, it becomes very memorable and unforgettable experience!

Nurnberg

Honestly, I never heard this city before until my best friend told me about the popular Christmas market there. Indeed, after I searched again and again, I found out that Christmas market there is one of the biggest markets in Germany. On November, I didn’t think twice to book the bus ticket and room.

Christmas Market

This memory will stand still in my mind every day, every time, Christmas Market. Tough I heard that it is too over-rated (due to more than 80% of visitor is local and outside Germany), it didn’t stop my intention. The market took place in the main square of Nurnberg, and inside the area, it was also divided into some zones too. There were only two areas which interest me most, general zone and Christ kindle. For the stall itself, it was constructed by wood (brings more homey sense) with jaunty red.

Walking around Christmas market, I believe that not only me but the other visitors also focusing our sight to the Christmas treat placed at each stall. You can find them mostly made by wood, some of them from ceramic and plastic. Two words to describe it, drooling and overprice at the same time. I am giving simple example, when you compare the same thing from stall with one in the real store, the difference could reach 20-40%  The fact is that you pay more for the same thing just because the shopping sensation in the Christmas market! Before I forget, force yourself to buy mini ornament made from wood. It is uber cute! J

Another part big part from this giant Christmas market is the Christkindle. As I tell you before, it was special zone which served children as their main customer. That’s why you can find more cute Christmas decoration at the top of the stalls, kids playing arenas like mini ferry wheel or giant merry go round (it was two-tiered! Can you imagine it?), photo booth, and display for steam railway (super lovable!). It is a perfect getaway for family with small children.

Christmas Treat

Other thing to be noted must be the Christmas food or snack or beverage. First one is Gluhwein, totally must be listed on your list. It was made with red wine along with various spices and raisins. It was served warm and not that alcoholic (in my opinion). Hence, there was a special mug for gluhwein. That’s why if you want to buy the gluhwein you have to deposit around 3-4 Euros for the glass. Since it was an iconic glass, most of people brought home those glasses as souvenirs. J

What’s next? Lebkuchen, which was the most popular cookie from Nurnberg in Christmas time, was the second dish had to be tried! Basically, it was made from (not-too-sweet) ginger dough baked with a bit hard outside but soft inside and almond at the top. The taste was so damn good! And it was quite pricey (again!) for one piece that cost you around 2 euros.

Next one was Bavarian white sausage or called weisswurst, usually eaten with kind of burger bun. The special one was when you put kind of hot Bavarian style mayonnaise sauce. Since it tasted like wasabi (the hot paste from Japan), I was positively (not) enjoy it at most. Can you imagine it? Hahaha.

The last one and the most recommended one was Damfnudel. It was kind of pao (if you familiar with Chinese food), white bread roll which steamed first and served with special sauce. Commonly, you can choose whether it is served with vanilla sauce or berry sauce. You will also have sugar and cinnamon powder as the topping. Perfect at cold weather J

Handwerkerhof at the Koningstor

It was the area which successfully brought pleasurable and cozy feeling at the same time for me. Honestly, it was only small block with two alleys; however I love the concept of decoration of the stores as well as the ambience of this block. The buildings showed medieval sense combined with wood element. Besides, you can found traditional craftsmanship and typical product of Nurnberg which sort of pottery and silver items, gingerbread, and doll in that pretty stores. As the result of it, I strolled around this block for more than an hour. No regret at all.

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I make a promise; I must not plan to go Nurnberg again next time. Having created amazing memories on December 2013, I want this memory to be the one and the last one for me.