Munich... april 1-4, 2007

Like Berlin, there's a Free Munich tour and its emphasis was on beer because that is what Munich is all about! The number one tourist attraction, Glockenspiel, has figures of barrel-makers to store beer. Biergartens (beer gardens) everywhere... Dreamy smiles on recollecting Oktoberfest... you get the idea, anyway, below is a pictorial view of this pretty city, restored to its medieaval beauty after the war.

http://picasaweb.google.com/yannyranran/MunichTour

I find Munich a little contradicting. Munich comes from the word meaning monks, because its beginnings came about from the settlements of monks. This is why one symbol of this beer-loving city is a boy-monk, another is the lion. This Catholic city was presided over the bishop who is now the current pope -- Benedict XIV. His church was rumoured to be built by the devil due to its rapid construction.

A look through the new pope's old church.
http://picasaweb.google.com/yannyranran/NewPopeOldChurch

We had a wonderful dinner in the oldest brewery -- Hofbrauhaus or Royal Brewing House. Breweries are the favourite meeting spots in Munich with regulars having a place to lock up their beer mugs! We had Schweinehaxn (pork knuckles) and of course, beer.

They DO lock up their beer mugs!The guys looking each other in the eye because it is said that if you don't, you'll suffer from bad sex for 7 years! Sauerkraut, Germans' main vegetable dishPork knuckles with potato dumplings... I prefer Chinese roast pork but the dumplings were sepcially tasty!

Neuchwanstein Castle is to rip tourists off. Expensive, no photography, poor guide and limited access. It is enough to photograph outside this castle that inspired Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle. Walk around and admire the lovely view around. A visit to King Ludwig's other castle -- Linderhof, would be more rewarding. I been there when I was little and the grotto in the basement still lingers.

Scenic spot...

Castle King Ludwig grew up in...

This is the castle that inspired Sleeping Beauty's!

Waterfall nearby

The trip up to Germany's highest peak, Zugspitze, was once in a lifetime. The view was brilliant and the skiing was unforgettable. The snow and lake was dreamy but the skiing was something else. I enjoyed skiing around little slopes. Then we saw the gadgets bringing people higher up and we had to try it. Whoosh... whee... it was fun being pulled up.

Zugspitze, highest peak in Germany

Me skiing... very slowly and carefully...Lydia finally has enough snow to make snowman!The fun thing that pulls one up... not so fun going down though
Then we don't know how to get down. Skiing was too scary, so we struggled down and were so afraid we had to spend the night up the mountain if we missed the cable and tram. We DID miss it, the cable was out of order but a blessing in disguise as the cafe there gave all free food and drinks during the wait... haha!

Anyway, I made it down all in one piece to meet Yip and Zhang Er on the streets the next day and Ruoling and Lifang in their hostel later that night. It's very warming to meet old friends unexpectedly. Hope they're having as much fun as me!

Prague... march 28-31, 2007

Prague was not quite what we expected. I had imagined a quaint place full of old-world charm instead of a bustling, cosmopolitan city. There were old, old buildings decorated with intricate paintings or statues but some were marred with modern, garish neon signs. The most surprising thing was to see Bata in Prague!

The famous astronomical clock...

Charming pictures on walls...

Detailed carvings...

Gorgeous windows...
Don't get me wrong, Prague is still full of grand old architecture, like St. Vitus's Cathedral in Prague Castle, which was beautiful. The stained glass windows seemed rather new but still gorgeous. The crypt was not scary but it felt rather disrespectful to sightsee the resting place of the ancient rulers, oops. There were statues and sculptures in alcoves which were not too clustered. I prefer them spaced apart, with enough space to admire them before moving on to the next. Luckily, photographs could be taken!

http://picasaweb.google.com/yannyranran/StVitusCathedral

After that, we wandered about Prague Castle and were just in time for the change of guards. It was grand, with fanfare and barriers. The soldiers were all tall and smart-looking, the imposing effect was dissolved at the funny way they align each other by shoving. See for yourself!

http://picasaweb.google.com/yannyranran/ChangeOfGuards

Near the castle is the famous Charles' Bridge lined with imposing statues depicting biblical scenes. On the pedestal of one of the stautes was two panels with reliefs that were supposed to grant one's wish on touching them. Hope everyone's come true!

http://picasaweb.google.com/yannyranran/CharlesBridge

We went to a musical fountain telling the story of Romeo and Juliet in the outskirts of Prague. The play of lights and water is beautiful but gets rather dull after a while. There was a perk up when the music changed from dramatic Tchaikovsky to a modern upbeat melody. I felt the change a little towards poor taste but the worst has to be scenes of Romeo and Juliet projected onto a curtain of water.

I've picked out the best bits here

http://picasaweb.google.com/yannyranran/MusicalFountain02

People have told us how wonderfully cheap Prague is... to them, because they earn in euros and pounds. To poor overseas students like us, Prague is of the same price back home. Like back home, one has to pay for everything one sees, does and goes. The wonderful thing for the guys is FOOD. There are enormas sausages that are piping hot and bursting at their seams. Also, there are burgers with huge patties that are satisfying.

However, poor me can only look and not eat, as I was not feeling too well. The plus side to feeling not up to a feast is that I've got everything to spend for souvenirs! My doting aunties have not been to Prague, so I spent on some little things for them. Below is me hugging my purchases.

Oh, something I really enjoyed is boat-paddling. We paddled on the river on the last day and gazed upon all the lovely sights that we've enjoyed for the past few days. A perfect conclusion to a tour of such a picturesque city.

http://picasaweb.google.com/yannyranran/PaddleBoat

This is the city at night

http://picasaweb.google.com/yannyranran/PragueAtNight

Berlin... march 25-28, 2007

Berlin is a historically-rich city but not very pretty. However, we had a comfortable and informative time because the transport system is brilliant and the people are friendly and helpful.

Our cheap and good hostel, Jetpak Original, is situated at the end of Pucklerstrasse (an expensive district where the president stays... haha) at the edge of Grunewald forest. The couple who runs it like travelling to Singapore! They're very friendly and adviced us on purchasing the group travel pass and going on the free berlin tour to get the most out of our visit.

http://picasaweb.google.com/yannyranran/JetpakOriginal

The free berlin tour is an intelligent concept. It is free because there is no fixed price, but after going through the tour, one gives the guide the amount one deems the guide deserves. As a result, the guides are all highly motivated. Our guide, Naida, a small Bosnian girl who grew up in Boston and fell in love with Berlin, told us so much interesting history that i got muddled up slightly. We went to the Brandenburg Gate...
Jewish Memorial...
Checkpoint Charlie...

the beautiful Gendermenmarkt... it was a fun history field trip!
For my version of the free berlin tour
http://picasaweb.google.com/yannyranran/BerlinTour

Inside the Reichstag
http://picasaweb.google.com/yannyranran/Reichstag

After the tour, we went to the Pergamon Museum, where crumbling structures, statues and artwork of bygone civilisations were painstakingly pieced together and transported here by German archaeologists. It was really as if one has gone back to time because there is the stairway up Acropolis from Athens, Ishtar Gate from Babylonia and much more.

Peeking into the ancient world

http://picasaweb.google.com/yannyranran/Pergamon

Our dinner for the days we were in Berlin was in an North Indian restaurant -- Himalayas. I know it is rather funny that we're sampling Indian cuisine in Berlin but hear me out! Firstly, the food was delicious, piping hot and warmed our chilled bodies wonderfully. Secondly, the spice and aroma gave us a little bit of home. The guys were a little sceptical at first but ended up fans of Indian cuisine! It was owned by my papa's business contacts, Anil and his brother Ajay, who was very nice, calling and checking on me.

my favourite was fried Indian bread... we keep forgetting to photograph the food, only know how to eat!

While Alwyn went for the Sachsenhausen tour, Lester, Lydia, Xianhong and I went up the Reichstag mentioned earlier during the tour. Sachsenhausen is the very first camp that the Nazis built and had all others modeled after it. I did consider going but decided against it as I think it would depress me dreadfully.

Some buildings we saw along the way, the Jewish Synagogue...

Friedrich something... left like that on purpose after bombings

Instead, we went to East Side Gallery, the longest strip of the Berlin Wall left, spanning 1.3 km. The graffitti is really a piece of art. Then, we went to visit the Allied Museum that gave a glimpse to life in Berlin during the Cold War. The German spirit is to be greatly admired because they own up to every mistake they made and do everything they can to show their remorse and to remind everyone of the horrors of war. Also, much of the city was rebuilt after bombings of WWII and also after the Cold War, showing great strength.

Glimpse into life in occupied Germany

http://picasaweb.google.com/yannyranran/AlliedMuseum

A lovely end to our stay in Berlin was a walk to the lake near our hostel. The waters were crystal clear and along the way were people walking their dogs or old couples strolling about. I think I would like to have a hostel of my own at the edge of a beautiful forest with dogs for company and helping travellers to enjoy their stay!

Back from Easter

Hallo everyone! I'm back from backpacking Berlin, Prague, Munich, Naples, Rome, Florence, Venice and Paris. It was gruelling work, some parts fun and some parts frustrating but it sure was an experience. Shall slowly update my blog and arrange photos because there is schoolwork to catch up on... gulp.

Well, I had a pleasant surprise in the mail, with cheery birthday cards from my wonderful family... Papa and Mummy and Ek Son... Thank you all so much for everything, I really miss everyone and wish you all could be here with me =)

and from one of my best friends ever -- Lixiang. Wish you all the best in your exams (although i think they're over already... oops) Yup, when I return, we shall mess up Zhaoqi's kitchen... haha... Thanks for the family photo, that was sweet but I DO look awful in it, so shan't put it up =p
Last but not least, from Xianhong Dearie. Actually I received the pretty painting and amber pendant on my birthday in Venice but shall put them here anyway. Know I've been difficult lately, with homesickness and pettiness, but shall curb them because I am now OLDER and have to be more RESPONSIBLE and WISER

... I hope I can walk through the woods with you just like in this picture for many years to come. "... and rain... will make the flowers... grow" -- les miserables
Lots of love,
Xian

May everyday for everyone I cherish glow as brightly as these amber stones!

P.S. Thanks too to Lydia (my wonderful roommate), Lester (our chef and photographer whose photographs we all used in our blogs) and Alwyn (funny guy) for the birthday treat that I shall write about asap!

P.P.S. To all my neglected friends overseas, thank you for remembering my birthday!

Smile, Huijun, the les miserables quote also means that bad things (rain) make good things (flowers) better

Elsa, "the forgotten boyfriend", I may have flouted you for others but you're still special =p

Oh no, I've forgotten Yijun and Lin Xu's birthdays but I have not forgotten you! Forgive this 22-year-old, she's getting OLD and hence forgetful you see!