Sunday, August 10, 2014

Amsterdam and the Hague

---coming soon ---

Fashion Week Copenhagen

---coming soon---

Stella Polaris - the biggest chill out festival in the world


Coming soon ---
http://www.stella-polaris.dk  in in Frederiksberg Have.

Classic Danish Lunch

So I've been falling behind on my blog...but that usually happens when I've been too busy living my life to write about my life!

Hello from Amsterdam!- I just arrived here yesterday! Amsterdam is amazing (post coming soon) but today it's pouring rain and there is a storm danger alert right now, so I thought I would take a few minutes indoors and post this quick update from last week.

Since coming back to Denmark, I've was really looking forward getting some work done at Copenhagen Business School, but when I stopped by CBS, it was a ghost town -.-. I guess summer school just ended or hasn't started yet because the whole building was pretty much ABANDONED. I felt really super weird sitting in there by myself, so as lunch time rolled around I decided to get off campus and joined a friend at Hansens Gamle Familiehave. Hansens Gamle Familiehave is a Danish restaurant serving tradtional food conveniently located a few minutes walk from Copenhagen Business School.

For lunch we decided to go big or go home and got a lunch sampler:
"AFTEN ANRETNING
3 skags sild ned hjemmelavet karrysalat, fersk røget laks med røræg, fiskefilet med remoulade, hønsesalat mad bacon, mørbradbøf med bløde løg, flækesteg med rødkål, brie med druer"
---or according to handy dandy google translate--
"3 skags herring down homemade curry salad, smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, fish fillet with tartar sauce, chicken salad food bacon, pork tenderloin steak with fried onions, flækesteg with red cabbage, brie with grapes"

Lunch was WAY TOO MUCH FOOD, and I think even now, a half week later, I am still suffering from the resulting food coma. All the meat and the fried and smoked fish were amazing, but ohhhh the herring.....I mean I have had herring couple times in the winter time and I thought it was not that bad, dare I say, even kinda good. However this time, maybe it was the sweltering Scandinavian noon sun beating down on us, or the fact that I had already consumed half my body weight in Danish delicacies - but I defilingly wasn't feeling the herring at lunch. It was salty, slippery and worst of all... lukewarm. I tried my best to be polite and managed to get down a nibble or two --- but man, oh man--- it was not easy for me. The waiter noticed me struggling and kindly offered me a glass of schnapps to wash the herring down o.o. 

Overall(minus my herring experience), I must say lunch was awesome- great company, great beer(and schnapps) and great food! 

Hope everyone is having a great summer! "Skål!" - Ran- A Nomad eating her way through Europe



The cold dishes

The Herring -.-

The hot dishes




Thursday, July 31, 2014

Tentative Travel Plans


Is this what Fall 2014 will look like for me? Whew- a lot of planning to do...

July30-Aug 8 Copenhagen, Denmark
Aug 9- 10 Amsterdam, Holland
Aug 12-14 Antwerp, Belgium 
Aug 15-16 Bruges, Belgium 
Aug 17-19 London, England 
Aug 19 -21 Glasgow, Scotland 
Aug 21-24 Edinburgh, Scotland 
Aug 25-27 Stockholm, Sweden 
Aug 28-30 Copenhagen, Denmark

TechCrunch Disrupt SF, San Francisco, California, (September 7-11, 2013)  

Maker on NY September 17 
Makerfaire NY September 20-21

Chicago for two weeks 
Oct 29-30th (Pioneers Festival Vienna) 
Gemany/Austria for one week 
Nov 6-8th (Dublin Web Summit) 
Norway for 10 days 
Nov 18-19th (Slush Helsinki)

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Alternate Endings

Funny how life works sometimes?

Remember when life was simple and you had to make simple choices? Like back in high school when you had to choose if you should go to a football go or not? What would be the difference in outcome of that choice? Not much difference I suppose, since you would be most likely see the same people at school and done the same things at the next Friday night football game.

But now- it seems my life is at higher stakes. Each choice I make, each day seems to have huge impacts on the direction my life goes. And many of these impacts are almost impossible to predict.

3 months ago I left CPH with just one suitcase and planning to stay 1 week, and now Im back in CPH to move all my stuff out? Wow how did all this even happen!? I love CPH and had the stars aligned, I would have stayed here for a very long time. I took such a big risk and worked hard to make a life for myself here-yet somehow through a series of unforeseen events in rapid succession- things turned out so differently than how I thought they would. So quickly, so abruptly, my life changed 180 degrees this summer.

Does time heal all wounds? Do we learn from our choices? I always been a believer that things happen for a reason- and so far life has proved me right, because each time something ends - it leads me to walk  onto the path of finding something better- something more right. To explore and find the way.

But I would not be human if I did not pause and ponder my choices. How could my life have turned out, if I  had just made one or two different crucial choices?

What if I had never gone on my Eurotrip 2 summers ago? Would I have never wanted to move to Scandinavia?
What if I had stayed in Chicago? Would I still be living the same life?
What if things had turned out differently this spring? Would I never have gone to California?
What if I haven't gone up to SF and just stayed down in San Jose? Would I have decided to come back to CPH?

Oh, choices, choices, Choices--It seems to me that traveling is the common thread in all my crucial choices-- Trips can be life changing, and sometimes situations and people are never the same again. Traveling puts ideas in people's head and these ideas have changed the course of my life.

I have to believe, I do believe, there are no regrets in life- just lessons that needed to be learned. I am 27 this year and I am still finding my way. Who would have thought that coming to Copenhagen would lead me to San Francisco? I am doing this for myself. Alone - I will travel forth again.


Home Sweet Copenhagen

I travel so much and I travel constantly. But it never struck me until today, just how powerful our modern transportation technology is. Less than 20 hours ago, I was going to events SF with friends and living out of a suitcase in my tiny little "bonus" room in Northbeach/Telegraph hill, and now, one international flight later I find myself back in my apartment in Copenhagen.

Arriving in CPH was so strange today. I have been gone for the whole summer- almost 3 months to the day. Yet it was like nothing had changed, but everything had changed at the same time. It felt both comforting yet alien- maybe it is because I am the one that changed. Walking down the street in Copenhagen, I felt like I was living an alternate life, it is just so different here than in San Francisco. I love Scandinavia-I love the order, the cleanliness, the serenity, the beauty, the history, the list goes on and on. I have experienced so much in the last three months and I know I will experience so much more in the upcoming months - on one hand I feel that I have outgrown my beloved CPH, while on the other it feels so soothing to come back to a place where I have amazing friends and memories, and where I actually know the streets and can navigate the public transport without getting lost - it is so peaceful here without constant noise, without ambulances/police cars zipping back and forth and without the general craziness of SF happening all the time. Feels good to recharge in solitude.

Unlocking the door to my flat I felt like I was walking into a museum, all my boxes were still packed from when I moved in three months ago - I have only stayed in this place less than 5 days since I moved in. How did time go by so quickly? When I first arrived in back CPH this afternoon, every fiber in my body screamed, go back, gooooo back to hustle and bustle of SF. I was missing everything and everyone there. But now after a much needed nap(have you ever been so tired you pass out into a dreamless sleep?) in this HUGE BED and in my MASSIVE APARTMENT that I live in ALONE- it kinda feels good to have space and privacy- something I definitely haven't had in the last three months of couchsurfing and something I won't have again for a long while. When you travel as much as I do, you learn not to take the simple pleasures in life for granted. Something as common place as sleeping alone in a large soft bed, in your own fresh sheets and pillows - where you can sprawl out in every which direction and then the icing on the cake is- having your own private bathroom(even if is tiny and designed for midgets?) is just pure magical f&cking bliss.

The movers come tomorrow and the craziness will start again. But tonight, just for this one last singular night, my apartment in CPH is still mine, and it's quiet, its comfortable and I am blissfully alone with just my thoughts.

Yes, it's good to be home.

-Ran - A Nomad Home at Last

ps.
Home is where the heart is and Copenhagen is the closest thing I have to home. I moved not knowing anyone or anything and tried to irk out an existence here. Its been a crazy ride and so many unpredictable things have gone wrong along the way- But, still I wouldn't change a thing :) In the space of less than a year I have made life-long friends and learned so much about this beautiful land and about myself. Thank you Copenhagen.






Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Reason Behind the Madness

And the headache begins---how does one small asian girl move all her worldly possessions from Denmark to USA?

It seems just yesterday(well actually just 10 short months ago) that I made the big leap across the pond from Chicago to Copenhagen, but now I'm leaping again from Copenhagen to San Francisco.

My zigzag journey around the world has been exciting, hectic and unpredictable. Who would have thought that going to business school in Denmark would lead me back to USA in less than a year?

A little under three months ago - I literally canceled my flight to London the day before I was flying and bought a ticket at the airport 2 hours before my flight and flew to San Francisco for Makers Faire San Mateo. I packed one suitcase and thought I was staying only 5 days. Due to the fact that I bought the ticket so last minute, I had the worst ticket possible where I had to transfer in London and then sleep a night in JFK New York Airport(scary o.o) before driving directly to Makerfaire San Mateo with suitcase in tow.

Looking back, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, now its been almost 3 months and Im still in San Francisco and have now put a deposit down on an room in the "lower Nob Hill"(aka the Tender Nob).

Hmmm but was this move so unpredicted? While at first glance- it seems like I am just randomly moving around the world, but digging a bit deeper there is logic in this madness. Denmark is a great place for entrepreneurship, especially for young companies. There is a lot of energy and the ecosystem has been really coming together and gaining momentum. There are many accelerators and office spaces that do not take equity or money from young startups, plus there are many government grants and programs available to startups. So yes, Denmark is a great place to start a business!

So why move to San Francisco? Well as a lesson learned from Kickstarter---network, Network, NETWORK! It goes without saying that the Bay Area is the epicenter of the startup/high tech industry. Where else can you find so many talented, driven and ambitious people and companies all focused on entrepreneurship and the "next big thing". The speed at which things happen here is just mind-boggling, there really are no words to explain this except that you have to live it to understand it. Since finishing up Chicago Tech Week and Makerfaire Kansas City two weeks ago, I have just been getting a preliminary glimpse of the life here in San Francisco- I am seriously learning by doing here, because almost everyone I run into is somehow involved in the tech industry, whether, they be a VC, designer, media, engineer, lawyer, etc. Startups are the norm here- I always knew that was the case, I just didn't realize what that meant until now....and I LOVE it. In two weeks here, I have experienced/learned/done more than I could imagined.

So I guess my decision was made for me- career comes first and I have to follow opportunity. A piece of my heart will always be in Scandinavia, and I know I will find a way to return to this beautiful place. But for now - San Francisco is where I need to be.

My life: Wuhan > Dallas > Baltimore > Chicago > Stockholm > Copenhagen > San Francisco.
Ok, Im ready :)

-Ran - A Nomad on the Move

Friday, July 18, 2014

SF Apartment Search Update

So I just posted my rather disheartening post about my dismal attempts at apartment searching in SF and guess what...right when I was about to give up ---I FOUND ONE!!!!! Woohoo!!!

So maybe it's not in the best neighborhood, and I don't know who I will be living with and I can't move in for another month, but you know what? It's MINE, its affordable and...there's wifi! What else could a girl ask for in this world?!

So f%cking happy right now! Funny how your luck can change so fast huh?

-Ran- A Smiling Nomad :D

Countdown to...???

The clock is ticking down to the end of my lease in Copenhagen and ....I'm still not clear on my plans.

I know strategically that opportunity lies in SF at the moment but logistically how will I move my stuff over? or should I move everything?

I have a feeling I will be commuting between Europe and America often in the near future, but where do I make my home base. Not to mention, I'm not sure I even have much of a choice as I will again be homeless in less then two weeks and no clear plan in place.

I have scoured Craigslist in SF and so far no luck ....urrrgh. No matter what happens, this will be my fourth move in less than a year---oh the life of a traveler.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Day 50 in San Francisco...

So approximately 50 days ago, I canceled my flight to London and Amsterdam and instead bought a last minute flight to San Francisco.

I packed some random outfits leftover from my Berlin/Amsterdam trip and thought that I would only be in the Bay Area for 1 week, but now almost 2 months later I find myself living the one the smallest(but centrally located) rooms in SF.

Im surprised that I'm still there and even more so, I'm surprised that I've been able to survive off of just one suitcase of poorly packed clothes. (I only have shorts and it's actually pretty damn cold in SF- A big THANKS to Tom Wang for telling me I needed absolutely no cold weather clothes :p)

The last 50 days have been crazy, exhausting and exciting!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Amsterdam Part 2

Slightly hungover and half a day late to a conference is never a good thing, not to mention I was soaked from the rainstorm that had decided to start right when I got on Hugo's bike. So I guess you can say I really wasn't feeling my best when I finally checked in at Hotel Casa 400 and clipped on my QSEU14 badge. My head was pounding and even the ambient light was hurting my eyes - damn what do they put in Dutch beer? :p

Eventually I started feeling better and sight of familiar faces put me back on track. I ran into Erik and Jakob from Cortium(Cortium.com) and we attended some office hours and sessions. Cortium makes an awesome little heart monitor that tracks your heart rate, respiration and position. It's portable, accurate, open source and takes advantage of off the shelf parts like standard electrodes. Being the curious person that I am, of course I offered to try it out for the conference, and besides, what better way to get insight than to wear the device and see how it really feels and get feedback. The device was surprisingly easy to put on and my data collected inside the device but also could be streamed via bluetooth to a smart phone/tablet. I spent the rest of the day with the device on and I must admit it really was surprisingly comfortable to wear.


--more to come--

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

First day in Amsterdam

I spent just a bit under 72 hours in Amsterdam and I must say it was fantastic. I am not sure what I was expecting and maybe I must admit I skipped most of the tourist sights here. No, I did not visit The Hague, or the red light district or even hit up a "coffeeshop', but I did meet some truly awesome people here and got a small but authentic view of Amsterdam.

Believe it or not, my Dutch adventure started on the plane ride from Berlin, I ended sitting next to a pair of German DJ's - Chopstick and JohnJon. Being unfamiliar with the German music scene, I had not heard of them before, but JohnJon was a real chill guy and actually doled out some great life advice to me during our 45 minute flight. The duo was scheduled to performed at Studio 80 that night and offered to put me and a +1 to the list for their 3 am set. I wasn't sure if it was a smart idea for me to out all night as the QS Conference was scheduled to start at 8 am the next morning, but I figured, I'll just go with the flow and see how the night goes.

My host in Amsterdam was Hugo, a Dutch student studying Medical Informatics. I didn't know him before I landed in Amsterdam as he is actually the classmate of a girl I met during my volunteer stint at the World of Health IT Conference in Nice, France last month. What a small world? Who would have thought my random encounter in Nice would lead me to a place to stay now in Amsterdam- and to come to think of it, another contact from WoHIT was also my "couch-host" in Berlin. Pretty damn amazing huh? - I love it.

After a rather sunny week in Berlin, I was a bit bummed to be greeted by wind and rain in Amsterdam. But my ever- enthusiastic host, Hugo, reassured me that the weather was really not that bad and was sure to clear up soon. After dropping off my things and a short bicycle ride(of course I rode on the back :p) into the inner city over the scenic bridges of Amsterdam(what a beautiful city) Hugo introduced me to the finer points of Dutch fast food. We started our weekend binge at FEBO- a certified Dutch institution, where vending machines meet fried balls of cheese and mystery meat. It was f*cking fantastic! Like little exploding balls of greasy joy, each of FEBO's plethora of croquettes were unfailingly delicious. This place is a must visit for Amsterdam, just makes sure you have exact change for the vending machines as they do not give cash back. After stuffing our faces we figured a couple of cold ones would be the best way to wash down all that delicious grease so we popped into a snazzy little jazz bar-Jazz Café Alto just off the main street. We were lucky to snatch up a pair of much in-demand bar seats just before the live show started. Even though I am not a jazz expert-couldn't name you any famous jazz musicians, I am definitely an admirer of the music. The vibe of this place reminded me of La Fontaine in Copenhagen, but a bit more intimate and cozy :). Hugo and I sampled a variety of Dutch brewery classics: the Palm, Brand, La Chouffe and Wieckse, with my favorite being Brand Zwaar Blond.

After our 3rd round of beer, I could feel my recent jet setting antics finally getting the better of me and I was starting to power down, but it was a Friday in Amsterdam and it just didnt feel right calling it quit so early ;p. So we refueled with some Flemish Fries from Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminkx(get your fries with mayo) and a slice from New York Pizza(decent pizza but there is nothing NY about this place). Feeling our energy returning we made our way to Studio 80. This club was fun but a bit crowded with drunk tourists, that annoying fact aside, the music was SICK. We showed up around 2am and just caught the last hour of Daniel Bortz-very good stuff and then we stayed on for Chopstick and JohnJon's set. As we were leaving I jokingly told the guys that their music wasn't that bad :p but to be honest, their stuff was damn good. I would definitely see them again - and for my Chicago friends- you should check out Chopstick and JohnJon in Chicago this June at the Primary :)

And so my first night in Amsterdam drew to a close at the wee hours of the morning and of course I knew I wasn't going to make the 8 am opening session at QS, but was it worth it? Hell yeah :) What a perfect way to start my weekend in Amsterdam, well everything was perfect except for a small bicycle crash on the ride home haha! -you can blame the bridges! ;p

-Ran - A Nomad in Amsterdam









Friday, May 9, 2014

Oh Berlin

Oh Berlin, what can I say about this place?!
Berlin is definitely my type of city! It is a city covered with graffiti, inspired by the art, and filled with history. There are delicious CURRY DOGS and bratwurst on every corner, endless cafes and vintage shops. It is a modern metropolis that is a mix of the old and the new- I love the architecture here. I think I love everything. Berlin is a city that is bursting with life, possibilities and mystery. There are so many international people here and I hear so many languages on the street. Sitting here in this little cafe on the corner-enjoying my Berliner Pilsener, I feel content just watching people walk by.

I'm in Berlin for 6 days, which may seem like a long time, but I feel like I have only glimpsed a tiny portion of what this city has to offer. I have watched street performers, gone to flea markets, strolled by the river and seen the wall. I've met wonderful people with warm hearts and been to the places that I never imagined I could go. I'v heard stories of other places that seem too crazy to exist and now I am curious and I feel I must see these things for myself. But alas, I am all out of time. I am flying to Amsterdam tomorrow (which is sure to be another great adventure.) I have been to many cities in my 27 years on this Earth, but Berlin is has earned a special place in my heart. So I will be back sooner than later, for another glimpse of this fantastic city.

Thank you Berlin for inspiring me, intriguing me and leaving me wanting more...

-Ran - A Nomad in Love with Berlin

What have I learned?

It was a really tight squeeze with my apartment issues and electronic problems, I almost didn't come on this trip-but I am so glad I did. When I left on this trip to Berlin, I thought I would learn about startups, investing, IT etc, and I have learned about these things, but I have also learned something much more valuable- I learned about myself.

During my time in Berlin I have learned both how fragile and how resilient I am. I have really not had a easy go of things lately, but you know what? I still did all the things I had to do- for better for worse, I never stopped trying. I'm here trying my damn hardest to live in the present, to seize opportunities, to make new connections- to learn by doing. But, this does not always come naturally. I think I must fail 100 times a day. I get shy and awkward. My words get stuck in my throat. Sometimes really important people talk to me, and I am flabbergasted why they are interested in me. Even worse, sometimes I meet people and I get intimidated and don't say anything at all. Maybe all those years in the lab and studying engineering has really made me an awkward turtle -.-

But life is what you make it right? and we humans are not static beings. We are self aware for a reason-we evolve to match our environments so that we not only survive, but thrive. So as I watch the people that are older and wiser than me network and pitch-it becomes obvious that business is an art. There are opportunities everywhere. Especially when you are traveling, chance encounters can happen in the blink of an eye, and you never know who you are going to meet or how that meeting might change your life. So now I know I need to keep practicing, be clever, and most especially- I need to trust myself. Because what is the worst that can happen? Someone doesn't like what I have to say, or doesn't want to talk to me? Oh well?! I need to stop being worried of saying something wrong, because a wise friend told me: "Everyone wants something, you just have to figure out what they want, and sell it." So what happens if I never say anything? Never have the guts to even say hello. What I have learned on this trip is that I will lose 100% of the opportunities that I don't take. My future is in my hands and I'm ready to take it in stride. And besides- Fake it till you make it, right babbby? :p

-Ran-

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Reporting from Berlin- May 3, 2014

Written on May 3, 2014
This week has been so hectic with my move and all my broken/stolen electronics. So I write this post from my trusty iPad- so glad I had the foresight to buy a keyboard for this handy little thing. I just landed in Germany and I have already met interesting people. A VC from Singapore who invests in biotech startups just happened to help me with my suitcase off my flight. Who would of thought? And now I boarded the train with a nice Mexican family from Guadalajara who offered me their place to stay if Im ever in town. My dear readers, this is exactly why I love traveling - because everything is possible and you never know who you will meet. That indescribable feeling you get when you know your life could change at any moment. I love this feeling.

So, I sit here on the train in Berlin with my suitcases next to me and the sun on my legs -with each kilometer traveled, I feel the weight of recent stress falling away. Kilometer by kilometer, I feel more free. Don't get me wrong, I love traveling with my friends, and I am excited to see Marta and the rest of the group from Copenhagen. But for the next 30 minutes or so, I will enjoy my solo bliss on this train. This is my favorite part- right before the journey really starts- because in this moment its just a girl, her iPad and her thoughts. Yes, this is my life :)

Friday, May 2, 2014

A Beautiful Life

Packing, packing, packing my life away. When one thing ends, another begins. Done with my move, my next big adventure awaits me :)

The best part about traveling is not knowing where you are going and when you are coming back. Into the unknown I go. So my dear friends, its not goodbye, its until we meet again :)

-Ran

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

A Kindred Spirit

Today is the big move day and I am up all night packing like a champ. This is my THIRD apartment in the eight short months since I have moved to Copenhagen - crazy right?!!

Anyways during one of my packing breaks - I browsed some travel blogs and stumbled across one that really resonated with me(http://www.baconismagic.ca/chile/walked-away-from-love/). Even though we are different people and have never met each other, this girl was able to put into words the emotions I felt when I moved from away Chicago - and I quote:

"This trip has been a huge sacrifice for me. I have gained so much but in exchange I had to walk away from love.

The irony of me breaking up with my boyfriend to travel is that he was the only one who never questioned why I had to go. He understood and I never needed to explain.

But because human emotions are complicated he was both proud of me for going and resented me for leaving. In return I loved him for encouraging me to go and resenting him for not insisting that I stay."

Wow just wow. Even though my previous relationship did not end because I wanted to travel-there were so many bigger and overarching reasons- the emotions I felt when I was leaving were the same as she wrote. I have found a kindred spirit. We are not so alone afterall :)

This post is for all the beautiful people in my traveling life. Its not "Goodbye", but rather "Until we meet again." Thank you for understanding me, for supporting me, for not trying to change me. Thank you for loving me for the imperfect, passionate and curious soul that I am.

-Ran- 

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Kicking A$$ and Taking No Prisoners

Since I have moved to Copenhagen, life has been full of surprises both good and bad. Each day I spend here, I learn more about myself. Distanced from all the things that made me feel safe in USA, I have been forced to learn to become self-reliant here. Its been wonderful here, but its also been so hard here, so incredibly hard. The challenges just keep piling up, one after another- everything goes wrong at once. How can one small person like me handle it all. But I have no choice, do I? I either find a way to solve my problems and persevere, or I give up and this whole journey was for naught.

In USA, the old me would have let my emotions get the best of me, and become reclusive- left tasks undone. But here in Denmark, I know- when it comes down to it -I am the only one responsible for myself. If I don't take care of myself, no one will. Of course I still get sad sometimes, and my insomnia comes back with a vengeance, but unlike before where I would be overwhelmed by my sadness, now I have learned to put it aside(after a bit) and continue to get things done. 

I try my best to keep my priorities in line and invest in myself. Some people may call this cold or say I don't care, but that's exactly opposite the case. Its because I care too much about the people in my life, that I don't want them to have to take care of me. I try to live my life in a way that makes me happy, so others can share in my joy and not have to deal with catching the failing  me. Of course this is still a learning process. But after all these years, I have come to the conclusion that the only one that can make me truly happy is myself and being self-sufficient and independent is not being selfish, but rather the most real way of showing I care about the people in my life. 

Of course I am not perfect, but I like who I am now far more than the me a year ago, or two years ago. Maybe I am a bit more jaded and scarred but I have learned that life goes on. I fight for what I want, and I fight for what makes me happy. As tough as things get, I know I can find a way to make it through, as I always do. I may be one small person - but I am one damn tough person ;)  So now, its back to kicking a$$ and taking no prisoners! Stolen phone, broken computer, downgraded apartment, new challenges and new adventures - I'm not afraid, lets do this!

--Ran- The Warrior Nomad--


Sunday, April 13, 2014

Friday at HIVE!

Since I have been traveling so much, its been quite some time since I have gone out in Copenhagen. So this friday night out with the girls was a treat! I can't believe I have never been to HIVE(http://www.hivecph.dk) before, but all I can say was that it was AWESOME!!! Huge place, beautiful people, killer music and free bar- what more could girl ask for?

Hope you guys are having an kickass weekend - pArTy-on! -Ranimal Ma


Pretty in Pink :)

Work hard, play hard

We clean up nice !

It's going down!


Monday, April 7, 2014

Day Trip to Beautiful Monaco !!!

So we finally finished our volunteer duties in Nice so my friend Julia and I decided to take a quick day trip to beautiful Monaco ! All I can say is - wow!
I'm not sure what I was expecting but Monaco blew me away ! The cars, the people, the clothes -everything is glam all the way- man I could really get used to this.



Feeling blue in Monaco !

Monte Carlo Casino - l@@k at the cars!

Soaking up some rays :)

The coast was surreal.

Beauty is everywhere in Monaco.

Training some seagulls  :P
Getting my shop on.

Buddha bar!

AWEsome music and what a gorgeous place!

What a view !

Neighborhood in Lights

World of Health IT in Nice, France

So I just back from a week long trip to Nice, France where I was working as a volunteer at the World of Health IT conference. I almost didn't go on this trip due to my current apartment crisis, but you know what - I am so proud of myself for going, because this trip is just want I needed!

Nice is GORGEOUS! I mean what can I say? It was f*cking amazing- the warm sun, shopping and all the macaroons we could eat. And while I had to do some mundane volunteer tasks like passing out delegate bags :p, I had free hotel, food and access to all the exhibits and talks at the conference. I met great people, exchanged ideas and now may have opened the doors to new business opportunities. AWEsome!

My friend Julia and I finished off our week in the French Riveria with a spontaneous day-trip to Monaco. Wow! That was pure heaven!! Monaco is definietly one of my favorite places that I have ever been to! It was such a contrast to Denmark- see next post for pictures from our perfect day in Monaco :)

So moral of the story is: Keep your word and carry through. What is meant to happen will - keep smiling and keep traveling - XOXO - Ran



Beautiful.

So I totally bought this place.

Seafood by the Seaside - can't really beat this :)

Quaint old neighborhood in Nice, France

Can I move here?

Double trouble - its conference time!

Paparazzi! 

Pink fur on the tram - "pourquoi pas?"

So Business.

World of Health IT Conference Volunteers!

"Danes" in Nice!

Earning my keep - Working hard!

Officially done with work! Now its party time!! <3








Saturday, March 29, 2014

Nordic Startup Conference

Yesterday was the Nordic Startup Conference (http://startupconference.org) and this full day event attracted the best and brightest from the Nordic startup ecosystem- It was really nice to meet new faces and also catchup with the people I haven't seen in a while :)

So it was a kewl venue, great people, interesting presentations and an overall awesome time! Great to see CPH startup community growing and coming together. What an exciting time to be living in this city!


VC panel discussions

Birdseye view of pitching battle!

Beer + pizza = best idea ever!

Speaking about failure- very inspiring!

Conference Selfies :P

A big thank you to conference staff! - Job well done!

Pictionaire- startup style! :p

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