What No-one Tells You About Living in a Sky Scraper

I never made it very far up in life...or rather in living I should say. I grew up on a slightly elevated ground floor and even managed to move up to the second floor during university, but that was about the extent of my adventurous spirit when it comes to living the high life.

However, when we passed the Strata building, we instantly fell in love with it and with the idea of living high up. I will say this: living on the 30-somethingth floor with a view of the London Eye is spectacular. I felt so cool, moving into our new flat, as stylish as it was.

This feeling soon evaporated, when I noticed all the little problems that come with reaching for the skys.

1. Vertigo

Unlike me, a person who thinks staring into the abyss is fun, many people do not find it amusing to look at an entire wall made out of glass and stare at the ground, which is so far, far away. The first couple of days, my boyfriend felt constantly dizzy whenever he looked out of the window. Luckily, he managed to get used to it, otherwise the next year would have been hell for him.

2. Wind

Have you ever thought about the wind that is generated at the top of such a high building? I really had not. Then I opened the shutters for the first time and heard the wind howling eerily through the flat. Definitely close those shutters when you are sleeping.

3. Elevators

Probably the worst part. I never considered living on the 35th floor would mean many, many people getting off the elevator before me. While waiting for the elevator has probably never actually taken ten minutes, it sure feels like it. When taking the elevator uppwards, you have the agony of seeing all the floors you will halt at. Another one. And another one. And all the those glances while people get off the lift saying: poor you.

But it gets better. Just imagine the elevator does not work. In the week we have been here, it has already happened once. Thank God, I didn't have to leave the house in the morning. My boyfriend had to. His muscles still hurt.

So next time, when you are thinking about renting a tiny flat, which is cut in the strangest shape (because buildings these days have to be "ergodynamic") for a lot of money, just ask yourself this: is the view really worth it? Well, yeah, actually it is.

Eurovision Scream Contest?

The question whether the progressively deteriorating Eurovision Song Contest could get any worse was answered by tonight's artists with a loud 'YES!'.

Even the German commentators' attempt at preparing the audience with warnings of an upcoming scream contest was unable to prepare the ears for the screaching that followed. Even the Macedonian Caliopi could not resist to squeeze a "tune" that reminded more of the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard than actual singing into an otherwise wonderful Rockballad, while the Albanian singer Rona Nishliu gave a performance of Dadaistic proportions. A tip of the hat to anyone who could make out words in her "song". And a tip of the hat to her - for a lung volume that simply cannot be human and the courage to perform in such a manner. Say what you will, Rona's performance was definitely something else.
After the first 20 minutes I felt the urge to call the ESC committee and demand my time back or at least a renaming of the contest to something more appropriate, possible alternatives including but not limited to European Scream Contest, European Gymnastics Contest and European Special Effects/ Glittery Clothes Contest or my personal favourite European Nothing-to-do-with Song Contest.
By now no one kids theirselves about the "talent" showing up for the ESC. The days of Abba and Nicole are long gone, and the contest has become the playground of B-list singers who just did not make it to the top. If they had, they would not be here. And this is also why many of the participants feel the need for effects instead of talent, gymnastics instead of articulate vocals, glitter dresses and pretty bimbos instead of artists.

One of the few acts that really impressed me was the Russian Babuschki. Of course they did not have strong voices - in this case it was a welcome break for bleeding ears - but cudos to that group of slightly elderly women to get up on stage and rock the house asking everyone to party! Entertainment-wise my personal favourite, it seems the voters shared my opinion.
While with Sweden's "Euphoria" finally a song won that, unlike many predecessing years' victors, actually deserved it, the overall contest does seem to become nothing more than an occasion for a good rant, more so each year. I end up asking myself whether I watch it due to its status as a "historical" contest or out of curiosity how much worse the whole thing can get before they finally call it a day. It is definitely not for the "music" (she says, knowing full well she will be in front of the TV in a year again - same procedure as every year).

Bubble Tea Party

Boston might throw it in the water, but why should we? Tea is the new old trend. While one Starbucks after the other is taking over Chinese sidewalks (thank god they kicked it out of the Forbidden City!), Bubble Tea (a.k.a. Pearl Milk Tea, 珍珠奶茶), the Chinese answer to American coffee shop chains, is starting to conquer the European market. Catering to those looking for an alternative to coffees and chai lattes, Bubble Tea is quickly gaining popularity in Germany and Austria, and can be found in and around most of UK's China Towns.

 

Originating in Taiwan, it came into existence during the 1980s. BT is made from black or green tea mixed with milk and now increasingly with fruit sirups, served hot or cold. The Bubbles or Pearls were originally made from Tapioca, cooked until having a chewing-gum consistency.

As with everything that has been invented, it needs to be constantly re-invented and so customers in mainland China can now choose from a range of different tastes for their teas (e.g. strawberry, taro, coconut) and their nutritious content, ranging from Tapioca balls or pudding, over coconut jelly to red beans.
Foto by KentonNgo

Chinese Milk Tea with Tapioka Pearls, Pudding, Jelly and Red Beans (possibly even more) - exceeded expectations and turned out to substitute an entire meal.

Asia-mania at its best? But European-style, please!
In Europe, where the strong taste of black tea might put off customers, the teas tend to be extremely sweet. As if that were not enough, there is also a huge difference between mainland China and European bubbles. The variety of the so-called "Popping Bobas", pearls made from fruit juices or joghurt by use of molecular gastronomy techniques and imported from Taiwan, is so vast in German and Austrian Bubble Tea shops that deciding is torture. However, adding sweet juicy pearls to already oversweetened milk or fruit tea does seem slightly redundant.
In Vienna and Frankfurt there are at least 5 BT shops, all of them sporting creative wordplays such as Tea-licious or QTea Panda, and it seems a new store pops out of nowhere every other week. You can usually get a cuppa around € 3,50. The good ones will offer original milk tea, that tastes of - you will never guess this - tea. The way it was intended.

(Maybe not so) useful words

珍珠奶茶 zhēn zhū nǎi chá
Bubble Tea, Pearl Milk Tea

双拼奶茶 shuāng pīnnǎi chá
Milk Tea with Tapioca Pearls and Pudding

原味奶茶 yuánwèinǎi chá
Original Bubble Tea

鸳鸯 yuān yang

Hong Kong variation, half tea, half coffee

Bubble Tea Locations

Frankfurt:

Bobo Q, Hauptwache B-Ebene, 60313 Frankfurt am Main

Mister Bubble, Münchener Straße 38, 60329 Frankfurt am Main

My Bubbletea, Münchener Straße 40, 60329 Frankfurt am Main

Wien:

Tea-licious, Margaretenstraße 22, 1040 Wien

Tea-licious, Donauzentrum - Kiosk 01/ BT 4, Wagramer Straße 81/2/3 /, 1220 Wien

Ginza, U-Bahnstation Praterstern, 1020 Wien

London:
BoboQ, Charing Cross Street, WC2H 0NE London