Let the beer flow...
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Drink that liver tonic, cos there is only really one thing to do in Munich, home of Octoberfest...drink, and drink big (and see a few other things too :p)
With all the excitement surrounding the legendary beer gardens we were keen to make this priority number one once we got off the bus. This coupled with the fact some of our group were preparing to split off on separate ways, we wanted to have one big blow out as a team. What better way than to do a crawl of the beer gardens. What a night. Luckily we took photos. The beers were great, big and cheap. The old Radlers weren't bad either, despite being essentially a chandy - great on those hot munich days. As usual the night ended up at MacDonalds and really there was no way to refuse a Macbeer to wash down the burgers!!
To walk of the beer, the next day we ventured out into the city. We saw the Glockenspiel, the inner city surf wave and the city park. We stumbled across the chinese beer garden located in the park, where a traditional bavarian band was playing. This was great and added great atmosphere while we had a cheeky beer.
The following day, Em and I ventured out to Dachau. Dachau was the training grounds for the SS and the first of the Nazi concentration camps, in which all future camps were modeled. As with Terezin, this was a very somber place. Dachau is now a memorial site so most of the prison dorms had been removed and you were not aloud into the old SS wings. They did however, preserve the crematorium which was used to burn the bodies and the gas chamber - although this was believed not to have been used, unlike those in camps such as Auswich. It is just too hard to comprehend that in such recent history man could commit such crimes.
As this was our last day in Munich, upon our return we had to go to the beer garden and try a pretzel. Who would have thought that one beer would lead to a three hour domination / occupation of the pool table at the hostel. There must be something in the beer because we were in the zone (and in a world of hurt the next day on the bus).
Beer aside, Munich is a fantastic city, and it reminded us very much of Wellington in that there was a great vibe everywhere. We will definitely be returning.
Labels: Travel
posted by Tim @ 6:22 pm,
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Food, glorious food
So Vienna, like most cities in Europe, is caked in art history. By this stage we were a bit museum'd out so decided to take a break from the usual tourist spots and explore the other thing that makes Austria, Austria - food.
We had heard on the bus when entering Vienna of a place called Centimeter where you can get a ridiculous amount of food, cheap as chips, and the food is served literally in wheel barrows and on swords. We had to check this out, and believe us, you do not leave here hungry. Six of us went along for a feed, first up - a two meter sausage followed by the sword - six schnitzels, six steaks, chicken wings, chilli con carne and enough potato to satisfy an irish family. This was all for just four of us, as the other two went for just a schnitzel and salad. Man were we full! We'd do it again though, and recommend that you check this place out when you are in Vienna.
The day after the meat feast, Remy, Greig, Em and I headed out on bikes for the day to check out Vienna. Our travels brought us to the fun park - one of the oldest in the world. We rocked on in and got the adrenaline pumping by jumping on a few rides. It was happy times until we encountered the bell. This ride made us all feel sick, especially as we went around twice - mad monday the operator told us afterwards. Never again! Imagine being spun around in a circle until everything was dizzy (gravitron styles), slowing down thinking it was over, then whammo! round two. We spent the next hour at a park whilst our stomachs returned to normal.
All and all, Vienna was fun. We may not have done the usual sights, but had a good time with great people.
Labels: Travel
posted by Tim @ 6:22 pm,
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A city trapped in time
Enroute to Prague (after an hour an a half of being held up at the Czech border!) we stopped off at a concentration camp in Terezin. It wasn't an extermination camp but many prisoners suffered here before being shipped off to worse places (if they survived). One of the interesting things was seeing what horrible conditions the prisoners were put through and right next door were the guards and their families, kids etc in huge living areas with large lawns and movies theatres, and they were seemingly oblivious to what was going on next door.
We went out to dinner the first night with a big group from the bus, where we met some great mates who we'll definitely keep in touch with. After a good meal we went out to a club called Mecca which was apparently the place to go to. Unfortunately it really wasn't and we didn't stay there very long at all.
The next day we went and checked out the centre of Prague. It really is an amazing place and you kinda walk around with your jaw wide open. We decided to do another bike tour here which was an extremely good work out, but nothing compared to the tour in Berlin. In fact our tour guide had only been living in Prague for four months!!
2nd night in Prague we went on yet another pub crawl. We had heaps of fun but went to some very average places. The first place was a hostel bar (yep and it was a scummy hostel at that too). However we did get to stand in a line and try a shot of absinthe which was good. So many people complained about the disorganisation of the crawl and the general disinterest of the people running it, that we managed to get it cancelled as a busabout recommendation!
Our last day we spent at Prague Castle, which was absolutely stunning. Definitely recommend this site and I think we'll be back in Prague at some stage as 2 days is not enough to appreciate all that is Prague.
Labels: Travel
posted by Tim @ 6:21 pm,
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War history 101
So there is more to Berlin than just beer - really there is. This city has figured in many a war and has the sites to prove it. To get our bearings and a better appreciation for the city, we embarked upon a tour via bikes. This was by far the best tour we have been on to date. Not only did we get some much needed exercise, but we also got a crash course into Berlin's history.
We went and checked out what was left of the Berlin wall (a line still marks where the wall stood separating east from west - traffic lights still reflect the split), the typography of terror (outlines the rise and fall of the Nazi party etc), got our passports stamped at Check point Charlie, visited the site of the Nazi book burnings. We also went to the holocaust memorial where we learned about the atrocities that were committed against the jews in WW2.
After a day on the bikes, we rewarded ourselves with a much deserved bar crawl - particularly as Timmy hurt his leg trying to be clever on the bikes, and Em rode into a pole whilst being distracted by some drunk protesters - we're fine though. Berlin has some great bars and we had a really good night.
To be honest, we found Berlin to be a bit soulless and still very much a city rebuilding itself. This was evident through the numerous construction sites. Nonetheless, Berlin still has a lot to offer.
Labels: Travel
posted by Tim @ 6:20 pm,
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AO - Adults only
Monday, 14 May 2007
Amsterdam! Wow, wow, unbelievably f*&^ing wow! Sure there are canals and old buildings, but by the time we reached Amsterdam we were a little building'd out. There were only a few missions to tick off the list, but by no means was two days going to be enough time to get around and fully immerse ourselves in the town. One bit of useless trivia, back in the day they wanted to dam the river amster, they did, setup a town and, whammo! Amsterdam is born.
Anyways, as the title states, we all know the town is famous for various things, notably, liberal approach to certain drugs, prostitution, cyclists and of course, waterways and old buildings. So, if you don't want to read about anything involving the above fore-mentioned, then we are well and enjoying ourselves. Stay tuned for the Berlin post in a few days. Otherwise, prepare to be taken through the magical town...Amsterdam.
Well everything they tell you is true. You can smoke pot in coffee shops and some bars, you can shop for sex in the red light district, and there are indeed more bikes here than people, kinda like us with our sheep :)
It wasn't long before we found our first coffee shop. What an experience, and the coffee in most places wasn't too bad. On the Saturday we meet up with an American couple to do a bar crawl. This was nuts. Every stereotype under the sun, all with mostly one thing in their mind – getting 110% muted. The crawl organisers were more than happy to assist, with a mix of vodka and red food colouring poured into our mouths at every new bar, and two euro beers.
After hours on the bar crawl, we bailed to go and see what all the fuss was about this red light district thing. Well, I can tell you that everything they tell you, everything you've seen on TV, well
forget it! This place has to be seen to believed. One thing though, never take photos of the window workers. Rumor has it, that if you do, they press a button, then out come the big dudes, and, Whammo! They've got ya. It would work out cheaper to go in for a closer look rather than the prospect of having to shell out for a new camera – not to say less painful.
There is also a ton of history in this town, and we did manage to get out and appreciate it. We visited the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum. Both worth a look for their significance.
If you get a chance, also check out Boom Chicago – a live improv comedy act.
Needless to say there is a lot to do in this wonderful wee city, so much so that we will return for another round at some stage.
Next stop on the list...Berlin!
Labels: Travel
posted by Tim @ 5:19 pm,
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Beer and chocolates
A whirlwind visit to the medievil but quaint Belgium town of Bruges
Checked in and 10 minutes later we began our relationship with ridiculously cheap beers as we had to pass an hour until our room was ready. A Jupiler or a Hoegarden EURO1,60. This was a much welcome relief from the price of beer in Paris.
Hostel was warm and inviting, and looked a lot nicer than the hostel recommended by the bus company. The only gripe that we had was the terrible showers. Picture this...
To turn on shower:
1)Press the button on the shower wall
2)Stand under water for 15 seconds (maximum)
3)Water turns off
4)Repeat steps 1-3 until you've had enough of pressing that damn button, and you are only half clean.
As Bruges was such a small place, you could walk anywhere. This was to be our first (but not last) encounter with the local phenomenon- the cyclist. Forget the car, the two wheel machine is all the rave in this part of the world.
After Missioning around to get our bearings, we went to the bar at the hostel where we meet a group of folk on an Intrepid tour. We got to know them (Ozzies, a kiwi and a Canadian) and have a few more beers. We even broke out the Texas Hold-em, with bar straws as chips. It wasn't long before the first Euro was on the table. In the end, Em cleaned up, despite our new Canadian's friends confidence.
We eventually got dragged along with them to checkout a visiting fair, complete with rides and carney folk. Glad we went, as it turned out to be an experience. Nothing like progressing your way through the varying degrees of thrill seeking rides after a few beers! The highlight was this crazy ride that spun you six ways from Sunday, at ridiculous heights. As it turned out, you got the best upside down view of Bruges.
Needless to say, day two was somewhat subdued. We looked at the morning market for fresh foods. Following a light snack, we went sight seeing. There are a lot of old buildings, namely churches here – sounds boring, but this place was one of the few towns in Europe to escape any damage throughout the war. This means that everything here is old, a preserved piece of time. They even still have cobblestone roads, and horse and carts. One church also displays Michaelangelo's Mother and child, his only artwork allowed to leave Italy. We also hiked up to the belfry of the tower in the main square. 366 steps. Good way to burn off beer.
All in all, our trip, albeit brief, was fun. Next stop...Amsterdam!
Labels: Travel
posted by Tim @ 5:18 pm,
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Bonjour!
Monday, 7 May 2007
Parlez-vous anglais? Well it appears that some locals do, and some don't. It has been interesting times trying to over-come the language barrier, nonetheless, Paris has been fantastic.
We arrived after a wonderful 14 hour flight from Singapore. We managed to sleep for some of the flight which provided some much needed rest.
The first day in Paris we went exploring through the Monmartre district - renowned for the bohemian village feel and its historic tenants, such as Picasso. Here we were duped by some local artists who drew some un-lifelike images of us and charged us a small fortune for them! Regardless, Monmartre was mint. Great views over Paris and it was great insight into the grandeur of things to come. Dinner was a picnic of french stick, cheese, ham and a great bottle of red - magnifique!
Day two, we meet up with Ben and Kat who arrived from London. First stop, the Eiffel tower. Despite being the cliche Paris landmark, the tower is still a sight to behold. Next stop, the pub! We managed to find a bar where the beer glasses were as big as our heads. In a town where beer is not that cheap, this was a welcome relief.
Day three. We rose early to get some bread for breakfast then headed to the Louvre. This place was amazing! The architecture and design of the Louvre is a true testament to the great renaissance movement, and highlights the opulence of Paris's history. Of course we went to see Mona and Venus. Following our art appreciation, we made our way to the Arc de Triomphe via the famous Champs-Elysées. Again, another one of Paris's great monuments. Keeping with tradition we still managed to find time to hop on the metro and end up in a random part of Paris to reward ourselves with an ice cold beer (or two . . .) We found ourselves a great cheap bar and even attempted to partake in their quiz night but failed miserably and had to scarper to avoid complete embarrassment!
All in all, Paris has lived up to its name as both a cultural and historic icon. We will spend today doing a bit more exploring, then pack our gears this eve.
Next stop, Belgium. Bring on the beer and the chocolate : )
Au revoir
Labels: Travel
posted by Tim @ 1:04 am,
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Singapore, the Lion City
Thursday, 3 May 2007
Surrounded by lots of loved ones, we left Welly to embark on our journey. First stop - Singapore. At first we were nervous and this wasn't helped by the lady sitting next to us counting her rosaries and saying her prayers. Nonetheless we arrived safely into 29 degree heat.
First impressions, well we're not in Kansas anymore Toto! Things are heaps bigger over here, more people, more gadgets, millions of high apartment buildings. City was very green and lush - probably down to the fact they're legally required to plant a tree every year. Some interesting observations, bar the clean, no spitting / chewing gum thing:
Hotel - was a nice place, amazing buffet breakfast that had everything you could think of. Beds were smaller than your avg NZ bed and feet went over the edge!
Taxis - incredibly cheap, probably a third of NZ price.
Beers - the complete opposite and sometimes more than double NZ. However, we recommend the 711 as you can get 2 tiger beers for $7 - bargain!!
Hawker centre - crazy times. These places are nothing but great big food halls where you get constantly harrased by people trying to sell you their goodness. A bit intimidating but food was definitely worth it, and again cheap beers!
Singapore sling - Interesting drink, but worth trying, especially in Singapore (same price as a beer!). We had one of these puppies on Santosa Island, a small island of the main coast. Real nice beaches.
Shops - don't open till 11 am ish and close late. Never mind getting up early here!
Tims personal highlight - Mos. A burger joint where we ordered burgers that came without any buns. Just wrapped up in a huge lettuce leaf. Very tasty and good times (kinda messy though!). Also buying a Macbook Pro.
Ems personal highlight - shopping can't be beat and the service and the locals here are lovely. Girls, if you love sleeping in late, shopping all day, and drinking cheap cocktails, then Singapore is for you.
OK peeps. We are getting ourselves ready for the next leg of the journey - 15 hour flight to Paris. Least we can learn some of the lingo in transit.
Take care, and we will upload photos etc soon.... :p
Labels: Travel
posted by Em @ 11:28 am,
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