Blog

  • Pfauninsel

    Basia and I lost our hiking group, so decided to make a detour to Pfauninsel, which translates to Peacock island in English. It has a total of 30 peacock’s roaming about the island, along with more who live in protective cages.

  • Stupidity

    They feel something, then think in depth about their feelings, and then validate those feelings as their new conception of reality, never having to expose that process to the objective light of anything/anyone external. And the problem is that subjectively of course, that feels exactly the same as a truth arrived at by more rigorous means. – Phill Minns 2022-05-09

  • Psychedelic hike idea

    This is a plan under development …
    ATTENDEE LIMIT = 20
    MUST DO NUMBER COUNT AND MAKE SURE NOBODY DROPS OFF INADVERTENTLY.
    DATE = Saturday 2022-06-04

    This event is being run in conjunction with the Psychedelic Society Berlin (https://www.facebook.com/groups/364225797498545) and is open to anyone with an interest in the wonderful world of psychedelics. Our intention is to create a pleasant atmosphere for psychedelic fanatics to meet and enjoy nature together.

    We will be starting at S Heerstraße at 11:00am (look for the mob of hikers standing outside the station). From there, we head straight into the forest and slowly meander our way over Drachenberg, around the spy domes of Teufelsberg, then head down the hill to the der Havel river, and follow the coast for a bit.

    If the weather is good, we will then stop by the waters edge for the rest of the afternoon at Badestelle Grunewaldturm (https://goo.gl/maps/VLrGp71YCoUhNRnq9). Anyone who wants to head home earlier, can make a short walk up the hill to Grunewaldturm where you can catch a bus (218 Pfaueninsel leaves at 16 and 46 mins past the hour).

    Rough guide to the route:
    https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1k0LkOo-TBOgGKaDDCRCzXF_emxNqFR7T&ll=52.49442471637654%2C13.224894000000011&z=14
    You can download a GPX version here … https://ryan.hellyer.kiwi/files/2022/05/psychedelic-hike-1.gpx

    Details:

    Meeting point: Heerstraße S-Bahn station (look for the mob of hikers outside the station)

    Start time: 11:00am sharp
    Finish time: No idea, but probably before 17:00

    Distance: ~7.5 km +/- 1 km

    Bring: A good attitude and stuff for a picnic (blanket, food, drink, sunscreen, mozzie repellant etc)

    Cost: Spending an afternoon with like minded fans of psychedelics

    Cancellation: The trip will be cancelled if weather doesn’t look good.

    Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Note that attendance is entirely at your own risk.

    Would you like to organise a hike? If so, please get in touch! We always love to have new organisers, and if you aren’t sure what is required, just ask and we are happy to provide assistance with anything you may like to know.

  • NATO membership

    There’s a heated discussion currently about whether Finland and Sweden should join NATO. The Russian government views this as a provocation, despite NATO having never shown any indications of threatening Russia.

    Imagine a world where the conversation was about whether Russia should join NATO. This could have happened if the Russian government didn’t shove it’s own head up it’s backside looking for non-existent enemies.

  • Memorial to the Sinti and Roma people

    Julia and I visited the memorial to the Sinti and Roma people who died during World War 2.

    Sinti and Roma memorial in Berlin

  • Teufelsberg spy station

    I finally visited the former NSA spy station on top of Teufelsberg in Berlin. I’ve walked around it, to it, toward it and anything else you can imagine, but never went into it. I went with my friend Diana who was visiting for the weekend.

    Diana and Ryan on Teufelsberg

    Diana and Ryan on Teufelsberg

    The Teufelsberg spy domes

    Inside one of the The Teufelsberg spy domes

    Me inside one of the The Teufelsberg spy domes

    The Teufelsberg spy domes

    The Teufelsberg spy station paper shredder/mulcher
    The Teufelsberg spy station paper shredder/mulcher
    A Soviet motorbike on display in the Teufelsberg spy station
    A Soviet motorbike on display in the Teufelsberg spy station
    A Soviet motorbike on display in the Teufelsberg spy station
    A Soviet motorbike on display in the Teufelsberg spy station
    USA jeep used in the Teufelsberg spy station
    USA jeep used in the Teufelsberg spy station
  • Blasphemy

    Just because the law defines something as a crime, does not mean it is something that should be prosecuted.

    New Zealand has a blasphemy law. Police don’t waste their time prosecuting people for being blasphemous because they know it’s a stupid law. The same should apply to weed. – Ryan Hellyer

  • Vegan beef tartar

    I’m not much of a food blogger, but this was too weird not to mention. I had vegan beef tartar for dinner today. I wouldn’t touch real beef tartar with a pole, but I tried the vegan version. I described it as “a bit weird”. Not bad, just weird. It was apparently made from rice cakes.