A memorable hotel has very little to do with the amount of stars it has earned. The ones I remember the best are never the classic 5* or the sophisticated design hotels. It’s the places that had “it”. Simple.

It’s when you know someone put heart and soul into creating an atmosphere that’s there not to dress and impress but to remind the guests of history. And do so with care, respect and a smile.

This hotel, regardless of nothing being my personal taste, gets all that “it”-credit for being creative, thoughtful and consistent.

More about the hotel.

I bought “a home”. That’s what it’s called these days in case you didn’t know. Real estate agents don’t sell houses or apartments anymore. The sell “homes”.

I think this means I’m growing up. I also know it means that for the first time in my life I’ll have a place to truly call my own. I don’t have to settle with someone else’s bad taste and not be able to choose where to live.

Obviously eliminating someone else’s bad taste or poorly carried out reconditioning needs a bit of work. For the first time I can imagine what house owners must be going through and this is just a smaller apartment.

But yet. I’m looking forward to tearing out the kitchen, floors and making this place work.

And the best part is that I’m privileged to share all of it with a truly awesome and cool person. The boyfriend of course.

I can so live with growing up.

Hmm. It looks as if this bag reflects not only my origin but also its own.

Almost everyone, including me, have our own meat sauce, lasagne, and carbonara recipe and our own idea of what Chinese cuisine tastes like. Since ethnic food has become such a natural part of our lives we accquire new customs and/or we modify and adapt to fit our own habits, tastebuds and availability.

Here are some statements based on things I ‘ve picked up over the years and it was a lot of fun trying to figure out what’s what.

- Pouring soy sauce on clean white rice is considered a big no no (yes and plainly unsophisticated).
- Italians never use grated cheese on top of fish or seafood dishes. (see 3*)
- Generally in Chinese and Japanese cuisine a basic meal consists of a minimum of 5-6 smaller dishes (in general yes but refers to traditional set meals, both at restaurants and at home).
- Bolognese is rarely called that in Italy (rather ragu or ragu Bolognese and is not tomato sauce based) *
- There’s no such thing as dish called Indian curry (curry is a mix of spices and there are hundreds of variations) *1
- Ceasar salad has nothing to do with Julius Ceasar and is an American/Mexican invention. 2*
- Sushi is a healthy lunch option. (not really, but sashimi however…)
- Eating spaghetti with a spoon is an American manner. 3*
- French don’t eat crackers with their cheese (unsure but traditionally it’s bread or nothing, source missing)

I have my own doubts: Should or should you not rub your wooden disposable chopsticks against each other to smoothen them before using? And in Thailand, do they mostly eat with fork and spoon?

This post made me hungry. And it also made me realize that I’m much more protective with the food from my own origin than others. I guess Swedes would find it weird to have strawberry jam with their meatballs instead of lingonberries. We protect our own food but don’t mind mending with others. Good, if not we’d never have all the delicious varieties of food around!

And do let me know if I’m wrong - I’ll always admit to my mistakes and misunderstandings! :)

Bonus:  How to make real carbonara. Prego! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iERZIRQEIJk

* http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/ragu-bolognese-recipe2/index.html
1* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry
2* http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/SaladHistory.htm
3* http://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/19/garden/the-spoon-question-or-how-to-eat-pasta-like-an-expert.html?sec=health

I have a particular tactic when it comes to watching movies. I try to know as little as possible beforehand. I read no reviews, preferably watch no trailers and avoid everything I can to get a predetermined image.

So John Rabe was simply a title of just another film I thought I should see as it was filed partly under “China” and I needed a Chinese film for my final list.

The problem with this film is that I can’t review it. All I felt initially was that this must be pretty good because Ulrik Tukur is starring. Afterwards it felt as if I had somehow lost my breath during the film. The otherwise talkative boyfriend didn’t say anything either so I knew it wasn’t just me.

All I can say is this. Know nothing and see the movie.

The next film is brilliant and Norweigan. Not only is Max Manus a cinematic slap in Swedish film industry’s face (credit to the boyfriend for that phrase) showing that little brother actually can produce films with a budget and do it extremely well .It’s also a piece of war history from an angle seldom told. The right actors, plot and cinematic moves with great photo and high class edge really makes it worth seeing.

Some nice bonuses: If you liked The life of others and/or Inglorious Basterds you’ll see some familiar faces here and there ;)

Afterwards I was confused. I never read the introduction in the program. Which probably would have added more confusion as they we’re both filed under “Masters” and “Festival Favorites”.

First, Like You Know It All, a Korean movie. I’ve seen only good Korean films during the past festivals. Tough, hard, but always good. Ironically this was about a film director who was chosen to judge at a film festival. For the first 30 minutes I thought that I probably have very limited understanding of Korean culture because people acted rude, unnatural and irrational. I started to get annoyed with all the characters. And the script (or translation) was awful making the lead role say nothing but “Really? Thanks.” For about one hour.

And that’s when I looked at my buddy Mathias for support. He whispered: “I’ve never left a movie before. But I think I have to.” Mathias is a very polite and smart guy. If he didn’t understand it either AND wanted to get out of there I truly trusted his instincts.

We laughed all the way out of the little movie theatre and wondered “What the heck was that?!“. Later I found out that we could have suffered for one more hour had we stayed.

And now to the most confusing movie all times.

About Elly. Four shows - completely sold out. Iran’s contribution to the Oscars. Won prices at Berlin Film Festival. It looked pretty good.

Reality? Two hours of excruciating boredom completely liberated from intensity, drama, depth, and intrigue, which, reading afterwards, the introduction had promised. And no music, just two hours of women half crying, half complaining, men yelling and the waves of the sea to accompany that.

Irans Oscar contribution. What did I not get?

A fish story is:

n. Informal. An implausible, boastful story.

And yes. The world is supposed to go under in 2012 and supposedly the punk song Fish Story will safe the world. But we’re in Tokyo, Japan, and everything is possible. The film takes us back and forth through time between 1975 to 2012 where we meet different people. Slowly a pattern arises and we start to see the connections. But only until the very end do we get the real “aha” experience.

The company consisting of my mother, the boyfriend, the K and yours truly all agreed that is was a good story, told with wit, humor and nostalgia topped up with a twist of judgement day scepticism/belief.

Worth seeing because of the warmth, the absolutely fascinating characters, and the evolving plot.

To generalize I believe the Germans are very good at making films. I haven’t seen one even slightly rubbish German movie so far in my life. Die Welle, Das leben der anderen, Nordwand, Keinohrhasen and now Soul Kitchen. A fun, warm drama with an appealing plot. A worn down restaurant needs to shape up - for both clients and the IRS. The owner hires a recently unemployed gourmet chef for the task while he tries to find out what to do with his girlfriend who just moved to Shanghai. Lots of laugh, fun and music this one.

Worth seeing because of the transformation in atmosphere, the IRS lady and the “just-outta-jail” brother who predictively adds some twist and turns to the story.

Two different kinds of struggle start out this years festival.

First an intense story of the first day of the Lebanon war from the sweaty, dirty, and seemingly inexperienced tank crew, almost completely told from the view of the spyglass and the surrounding sounds from the unstable and nervous outside.

Well told, played and delivered leaving you with a bothersome feeling that you know so incredible little about this thing called war.

Worth seeing because of the different approach from the inside of the tank and the realistic nervousness.

Applause then jumped to the not-so-glamorous actress, sober alcoholist (sort of) who tries to convince her ex husband that she’s ready to take care of the kids again after the divorce. Told between the everyday struggle against alcohol and scenes from her success in Virginia Wolf in stage. Clever and apt the Danish way with an absolutely brilliant Paprika Steen in the lead.

Worth seeing because of Paprika Steen. Superb.

Tomorrow my personal film schedule begins. I will kickstart with an Ang Lee favorite “claustrofobic feeling and sweaty men in tank” Lebanon and on Sunday continue with some German forest monsters, Kaifeck Murder.

After that a bit of Danish glamour, or the dark side of it, Applause followed by my other Japanese half, Fish Story. Then Creation, Soul Kitchen, John Rabe and…

…from there it’s a bit fuzzy. It all started while listening to my boyfriends intense mumbling to himself on how to choose his movies, having too many, which ones to remove then and double checking them with imdb.com. After a (substantial) while he finally had his schedule ready. I looked at my movies again. Something was not quite right.

What’s “R”?, I said to myself. “Why am going on that one?”. And “Cracks?”, I continue. “The lesbian possessive undertone movie about a boarding school in England? I don’t wanna go see that. I specifically avoided that one!” And on I went simultaneously trying to figure out how this had happened, hoping to blame someone useful.

Today I went to fetch the tickets. Thought I’d only have to change Soul Kitchen into another show day. Stood in line for 30 minutes. Came home and realized that “R” and “Cracks” was completely forgotten and very not changed into something else.

Anyone have some interesting suggestions on suitable replacements? Either comment or write to tellme@monologuer.com

(´sval´ is Swedish for ‘cool’, as in temperature)

Today I have the utter pleasure of sharing these amazing moments from a friend who worked as a coxswain on a trip up north. A little place called Svalbard. I’m jealous.

Photo: Daniel Ståleby

He arrived, he shook, he cut and he served. Everyone should have a greek friend whom you see too seldom.

For us northerners the winter season provides intense darkness each year. On the darkest of days we have 25% daylight (Göteborg). On New Years Day this year Kiruna had less than 1,5 hours total daylight. Uplifting, indeed.

The good news is however that already on the 21st December 2009 things started to look brighter - literally. After that we get a little more daylight for every day until it peaks at the other end on 21st June. The tables have turned - we now have the opposite situation with 75% daylight. In some places the sun simply never sets or rises. It just stays.

My point of course - sleeping. Or more accurately, the precise and delicate art of waking up. Personally I’d prefer hibernation between November and April but that not being an option for various reasons one must call for other, more drastic measures. Getting in bed with the iPhone and Philips.

My latest experiment then is having the iPhone track my sleeping pattern by movements during the night and wake me up when it sees fit. Philips then syncs by engaging its light slowly to blind the sleeping hormones. And at just the right time it turns on the radio on my favorite morning channel.

Does it work though?

On a bad wake-up day I feel just like Tare-Panda looks. So you bet I’ll try.

Creation - among many on my list.

The turn of the month each year between January and February. A week where I can just completely indulge in movies from around the world. Flip longingly through the pages of the programme even though I already  made my choices. Sit in uncomfortable chairs of temporary theaters chosen to accomodate the 200.000 visitors of one of the worlds largest film festivals. Discover new themes, feelings and filmmakers.

Göteborg International Filmfestival - the one thing I love about west coast winter.

Monologuers posts from previous festivals.

You’d imagine the idea of a 2,5 hour wait at arrivals in a small airport a literal nightmare.

You’d imagine just right. After staring into the arrival information board for sixty minutes you know she’s not gonna be on that already very delayed flight you hurried in for. The next possible flight is already more than 1 hour late. I continue glaring. I never leave my post. I’d make a good soldier I guess.

Fortunately I possess the ability of foresight for worst case scenarios and was well prepared. I just never thought worst case would actually happen. Expectation versus reality bites.

My plan to relax with my Macbook went terribly wrong. It took less than 3 minutes from that I was online until I was chatted up by a severely unsober man from Örebro who suffered from acute human interaction since he mumbled “Am I disturbing” while moving my jacket, handbag and scarf to sit next to me.

I should have known better. He asked me to watch his bags while visited the gents room. Asserting me he was not a terrorist. I promised him the same, that neither was I. He didn’t really get it. That was a clearly a first sign.

For 2,5 hours I observed people moving about the terminal. Taxi drivers loitering around with little signs in their hands. “Nilsson.” A middle-aged couple munching on homemade sandwiches washed down with a shared 50 cl  strong apple cider. Mothers threatening their kids to leave them if they didn’t visit the bathroom before checking in. Tear-filled reunions and red eyed families arriving from uncomfortable flights with too little sleep.

And then my mother arrived.

Third flyer out is a friend of mine currently living in Sweden but spent most of his time in Asia. Apart from English, German and perhaps French this blonde Swede speaks Mandarin and Cantonese as well. And now he has the job of making his beloved hometown attractive for conferences and events.

Ladies and gents, meet Mathias.

Name: Mathias
Based out of: Gothenburg, Sweden
Travel mostly in: Europe, Asia
Occupation: Project Manager

1) Favorite destination all times?
Tokyo
2) Favorite airline/airport?
Cathay Pacific. Very good service, good food and great entertainment system. Airport, that’s tricky, I loved Kansai international Airport but Hong Kong is great as well, I guess it’s a draw between them. 
3) Favorite seat location? Back/Front, Aisle, window, or emergency exit seat?
Window in the front of the aircraft. 
4) Preferred aircraft model?
Never thought about it, but I think Cathay Pacific’s configuration of the Boeing 777-300 ER is pretty nice. 
5) Worst nightmare flight?
Flight from Hong Kong to Frankfurt, 2 hours of severe turbulence over the Tibetan Plateau, people were praying…
6) 3 things you always bring in your carry-on?
Book, Pen and my computer
7) Are you the chatter or chatee with your neighbor?
Really depends on my mood and who is sitting next to me
8) Easy sleeper on flights, yes/no?
No unfortunately, but I really wish I was.
9) The flight is delayed. What do you do to ease the wait?
I Read a book or Magazine.
10) What do you always order when the pre-meal beverage cart comes?
Always water, and sometimes I have a glass of wine or a Gin Tonic to go with it.