Belgian Blogger – Belgenius

Norway – the best of

March 8, 2018March 4, 2018 by Belgenius, posted in Food, Travel

A week ago, we came back from the cold north that is Norway and were blown away by the astonishing landscapes and dreamy, wintery views. We will definitely be going back in summertime someday to see the great contrast. Because I’m all about spreading the joy, I thought I’d share my favourite bits and pieces, including photos, of our trip. We stayed in Oslo for four days and took the Oslo-Bergen railway to, you guessed it, Bergen, where we spent another 3 days before heading home.

Oslo

Things you shouldn’t miss

Oslo Operahus. It’s undeniably one of the city’s architectural masterpieces. Impressive in winter, with the frozen harbour, I can only imagine the grandiosity it must radiate in summer, when the roof is the best place to catch some of that sparse soleil.
Korketrekkeren. This translates to the English equivalent of “The Corkscrew”. It used to be a winter sport practice course, but is now open to everyone for… sledding! And it’s one of the most fun things I’ve done in the snow for sure. You simply take Metro line 1 up till Frognerseterveien, where you rent a sledge and helmet and off you go! And what’s even better is that you can take the metro back up at Midstuen and go again. Easy peasy.
Norsk Folkemuseum. Although a bit chilly and slippery in winter, the peace and quiet of the outdoor museum and the colourful old houses make up for it. If you plan to go, try going on the weekends, when they have lots of activities going on, even in winter. We did some banana and chocolate grilling on the campfire.
Det Kongelige Slottet. The royal palace is located on a bit of a hill and offers a fantastic view over the main shopping streets and a beautiful park.

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Things you can skip

Vikingskipmuseet. Although the viking ships are impressive, you’ve pretty much seen everything the museum has to offer on their website. 100 NOK felt a little bit much for the size of the museum. A tourist trap, if you ask me.
Nasjonalmuseet. The museum itself is relatively big and provided me with an okay indoor visit, but you won’t be missing out much if you skip it.

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Places to eat

Gryn. A concept restaurant that specialises in porridge with typically Norwegian ingredients like brunost (brown cheese) as well as waffles (savoury and sweet). Great place for a quick lunch!
Munchies. With two places in Oslo, they are the best burger places. Quick, easy, delicious. Try the sweet potato fries.
Rent Mel. Although expensive, this pizza place next to a hotel, had a-ma-zing pizza’s. The best.
Taco Republica. This place has delicious taco options. You can mix and match to your liking. Make sure to book a table, though.
Retrolykke Kaffebar. The best place to try waffles with jelly and cream. The entire interior reminds of the 50s and 60s. I love the mismatched cutlery, cups and plates.
Liebling. A good place for lunch or coffee. Cozy and homey with plenty of space. Great pie. They also have a variety of colourful lattes.

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To shop

Norway Design. The best place for design. Also a stationary lover’s dream.
Ting. Cute little gadgets that you don’t need but desperately want anyways.
Glasmagasinet. Basically, you could’ve just left me here to live and I would’ve been perfectly happy. It’s like a dream for any design lover. They also have a fabulous Kicks department which is perfect for any make-up or skincare lover.

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Oslo – Bergen railway

A highlight of our trip was definitely the Oslo-Bergen railway. We had booked tickets 2 months in advance, which was the perfect time because that’s when you get the “minipris”, which is cheap tickets. You get to choose your seats and there is no hassle of checking in, just hop on. Bring plenty of snacks and reading or listening material because you are settling in for a 6 hour train ride. Things never get boring because after every tunnel, a new and magical scenery appears. Sit back, relax and enjoy (it’s easy).

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Bergen

Things you shouldn’t miss

Bryggen. The row of old Hanse houses is one colourful sight to say the least. If you’re lucky the sun will come out and the harbour view will be one to never forget. (Or very lucky, because apparently there’s 320 days of rain in Bergen!)
Fjord tour. You can simply not leave Bergen without exploring the fjords a bit more. Even in winter, there’s tours running. Although I’m pretty sure the Norway in a Nutshell tour is better (but our budget didn’t allow for it), we did the Mostraumen fjord tour. Nonetheless spectacular! We booked ours through Fjord Tours.
Fløibanen. Take up the funicular (with a 26 degree slope!) to Fløyen and you will be rewarded with an amazing view over the city and the harbour as well as the surrounding mountains. It’s when you realise why Bergen is called Bergen! If possible, go for a hike or a ski. We got stuck knee-deep in the snow, but had an enjoyable walk nonetheless. And the hot chocolate afterwards with that view is just the best.
Audhild Viken. An all-year-round Christmas shop. I didn’t know it was a thing, but I am so glad that it is! You’ll come out cheery, singing “Jingle Bells” in no time.

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Places to eat

Pingvinen. The best restaurant we went to for the entirety of the trip! Also very popular with the locals, which says a lot. They have daily specials, of which we tried the Plukkfisk and the Raspeballer. Typical Norwegian flavours assured.
Blom. If you’re looking for a strong, specialty coffee, Blom is the place to be. Clean, crisp, cozy.
Alléhjørnet Thai. Also very popular with the locals, we had some delicious pad thai at this place. Can’t go wrong.

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Where to sleep

Citybox Oslo. A very easy and new concept hotel. You do everything yourself: from check-in, payment to luggage storage and check-out. If you really need help or more towels, you can go to the management office, but we loved this hassle-free and easy stay. Also very close to the train station and the city centre!

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Next up…? I’ll leave that to be a surprise! :)

Why I Blog

February 7, 2018February 3, 2018 by Belgenius, posted in Life, Wordy Wednesday

People often don’t know I have this blog. It’s only when I tell them or when they see my posts through social media that they know. It seems weird to me, seeing as to me it’s a relatively big part of my daily life. I’m always surprised the word “hobby blogger” isn’t written on my forehead somehow. But anyways, I love to blog and here’s why.

Firstly, writing is my number one creative outlet. I love to juggle with words and to carefully consider what to put where. I love that you can rearrange and change your mind. My blog is a space that allows me te be or do whatever I want to. It could be poetry one day, it can be a lifestyle or fashion related items the next. My mood constantly changes and I thoroughly enjoy that my blog can change with me.

Secondly, it’s a fantastic way to look back on things. Sometimes when I’m not really feeling it, I scroll through my own Instagram and blog and think: wow, I’ve done so much in the past few months or years. I’m always stunned at how many good moments there have been. It’s a great way to keep those memories safely stowed and always at hand to cheer me up.

Finally, this blog gives me a platform to straighten my thoughts, to make lists, to get out there what I feel needs to be heard or simply be said, whether it’s being read or not. It’s how I structure the dreamy, emotional and creative part of my brain. What’s even better is that this part gets to interact with people; there’s nothing more fun than seeing someone like or reblog a post and reply to comments. It’s the best feeling to see that a blog post doesn’t just end with the reader, it’s only the starting point of a discussion.

So, that’s why I blog. No matter the time or effort, I’m determined to keep this blog going and I’m excited to see how it evolves as I grow.

Dressed to impress

January 6, 2018January 6, 2018 by Belgenius, posted in Fashion and Beauty

When I stumbled upon this high neck midi dress at Zara a couple of weeks ago, it immediately “spoke” to me. There was something about the cut that intrigued and the combination of the turtle neck and short sleeves intrigued me. I bought it anyways, because it felt really comfortable and it’s one of those buys that was a bit of a gamble but turns out to be a winner! I have fallen head over heals: the length is perfect, with a bit of a side split to make it playful, the colours are my cup of tea because they go really well with a dark red lipstick and the stripes are flattering to my figure because they are vertical and make me look taller. Despite the short sleeves, it’s also surprisingly warm! In case you’re interested, you can shop the dress here.

Bolivia – the highlights

December 21, 2017December 17, 2017 by Belgenius, posted in Travel

After the blogpost I wrote on the best bits of Peru, it’s only fair I should dedicate an equal amount on my blog to the other South American country we spent some time in, Bolivia. Here’s what we enjoyed most…

Copacabana

It sounds like an exotic beach place but really, the beach isn’t that “beachy” nor “exotic”, but nevertheless Copacabana’s water formed a nice change from all the desert landscapes we had driven through. And it made for a nice sunset too. I would also highly recommend hiking up the Calvari mountain. The hike takes approximately 40 minutes and offers stunning views over the coastline and the colourful rooftops of the town. Another one you shouldn’t skip is the cathedral. When we were there, there was a celebration going on where people could have their new car blessed and decorated with flowers – absolutely beautiful!

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La Paz

This city that is not the capital definitely has that cosmopolitan, big city-life vibe to it. It’s hard to breathe here, due to the altitude, but more so because of the exhaust fumes all over (that goes for the whole of Bolivia, by the way). Nevertheless, there’s something really fun about this city: whether it is from visiting the Witches Market, a must-see, or finding the most gringo hotspot in town to sitting at the steps of the cathedral and watching the street vendors come by with the weirdest looking foods, there’s something for everyone. Also, don’t skip the Valley of the Moon, a little outside the city centre; it’s like a different world entirely.

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Salar de Uyuni

This HUGE salt plain is incredible. I knew I would be amazed by the nothing-ness of the place, but it exceeded expectations. Definitely take sunglasses when you go, because the white of the plain hurts the eyes. We couldn’t help ourselves and took some classic salt plain photos, because if you don’t, have you really actually been there? My favourite part was the Inca Huasi, cactus island. The hike around the island takes about 30-40 minutes.

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On the road

If you’re into wildlife (lama’s, vicuñas, alpacas, etc), look out for them when you’re on the road. Also, the views were always amazing. Here’s some of the best ones.

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I hope this inspires you to also visit this wonderful country. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll go back, because there’s definitely plenty more to see.

Happy travels,

Silke

Gigi Hadid x Maybelline

December 15, 2017December 9, 2017 by Belgenius, posted in Fashion and Beauty

As I was browsing the make-up section in store, I stumbled upon the Gigi Hadid make up line in corporation with Maybelline and wanted to give it a try. First of all, I really like the packaging – so simple but feminine! I picked up a lip liner and the mascara. Not 100% about the lip liner – I couldn’t get the accuracy I wanted, but really happy with the mascara. Below is a full break-down of the make-up.