Final Week at Munich

Third and final week at München. I guessed I should really spend sometime to see the München I visited almost seven years ago. I revisited the Englischer Garten (English garden) and Olympics park again. I did not drink at the Chinese Tower nor did I pay two Euro to enter München stadium again.

Munich Olympic Park

April is an educator, JiaYing is with defence and Yifeng has been going round planet Earth taking photo. I remember how excited I was when I was traveling on Eurail using youth card with three other students then. Those were indeed the good days.

Chinese Tower at English Garden?

There is about 1.3million people living in München city. The number did not really grow exponentially over the decade. The habit did not change much over the years too… Englischer Garten is still filled with people during weekend who are there to dry the beer barrel. Weisse Beer or Dunkel (dark) Weisse beer never failed to bring people around the world to sit patiently waiting for another mug.

"Photo were taken repeatedly" at Marienplatz

Hofbräuhaus and Marienplatz are places that most tourists would never miss when they at Munich, I was no exception. Many photo were taken repeatedly when I bypassed these places.

Bavarian State Opera House on Max-Joseph Platz

I have been lazy and don’t have much chance to update my blog. Thanks to Labour Day, I won’t be was sitting in my room editing my blog. I am leaving Munich on 4th May at 2110. Should be reaching Singapore at 1930 the following day...

Second Week at Munich

During my stay at Munchen, there is a lady who has been updating me all the running sessions my Singapore mates had. I thank Kee Leng during one of my E-mails to her. I appreciated that as her mail kept me from slacking. Below is the poem Kee Leng shared after one of the hill run… I hope she doesn’t mind I posted that without asking her for copyright?

>>> Some of the "Happy Feet"

hills run

as we stepped out of the air-conditioning

and headed towards the dark woods ahead

songs of crickets greeted us.

the air is clean and crisp

steady pattering of feet, 12 to be precise,

broke the silence of the cool refreshing night..

cruising by lovers, oblivious to the buzyness around them

basking in the soft moon rays

that shone through the lightly overcast sky

amidst soothing sounds of waters

as it gently transforms waves into bubbles

against the beautiful backdrop

of the glittering southern isles

feel the breeze and everything nice...

once again, we find ourselves on the familiar winding path

that will eventually lead us up to the highest point down south

taking in the splendid view of the our little island home

thoughtful reflections shimmering

on the road still wet from rain in the morning..

a stranger clapped when we passed by him and gal

strolling hand in hand

on the final stretch of road we cheered each other on

one by one, as we reached the end.

we made it.. though just six of us

clarence, joseph, keith

kee leng, ivy and charles

we completed hills run yet another round..

Below is my reply to her poem (I edited some info)

Hi everyone!

First of all... special thanks to Kee Leng. Her regular update makes me feel, I am not very far from Singapore. Is running with Ivy that inspiring? Or... so S-L----O-----------W that she has time to think of a peom? (Please dun start a war, colleague)

Anyway, I ve been doing my run at Munich. Nevertheless, I dun do more than 10km. With three runs a week, I cover ard 20km weekly. The sun is on overtime, she wakes up earlier and rest late every night. I kinda like that... esp when I knock off at 7pm, the route to train station is always bright and clear.

I dun hear crickets during my run, the lovers were always busy "Frenching", and the only ppl who would react to a mad mad running in singlet and shoes are those who r walking their dogs. As I only do my run in the morning, there's only a pair of "Happy Feet" bounding and pounding on the road toward Siemens Centre or Marienplatz (Munich City centre).

Unlike U guys, my interval is never on a regular distance. I only start sprinting when I see the traffic light turn green 20m ahead. I am learning to be a good Nazi, I will not start WW3 with my colleague, neither would I beat the traffic light... During my runs, my eyes are always busy. I am not looking for beautiful gals running, becos there is really not much sweet gals here. I look for something that is important to me... I watch out for street name and train station (so that I know how to orientate myself back to my hotel), shops and restuarant (so that I dun where to shop and eat).

My weekend was spent at Salzburg, Austria. U dun find kangaroo nor koala at Austria. I went to Füssen and screwed the photo taking session for the second time. Kee Leng says the castle looks magical at night. I would probably go for the third time... maybe I would see witches flying instead of ppl paragliding next time…

Happy training in Singapore.

Smile...
Chee Meng

I went to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, near Füssen, during my second weekend. Due to some restrictions, I did not go there the week before. Located at around 130km South West of München. Garmish-Partenkirchen is one of the ski resorts near München. As the name suggested, the town is divided into two parts, Gamarish the new town and elderly Partenkirchen which was at south Germany since Roman times.

"triangle with a dot in the middle"

The two town combined into in 1935 by Adolf Hilter in anticipation of Winter Olympics which was held there in 1936. During the Olympics, Alpine skiing was introduced for the first time. I shall called the combined town Garmisch like what the most Germans did..

On Germany map, there is a marking, "triangle with a dot in the middle", near Garmisch. 2962metre is indicated next to the triangle. These symbols identified Germany highest mountain, Zugspitze.

Looking at Garmish from Cable Car

While the journey to Garmisch is scenic, the cable car ride from Garmisch to Zugspitze is breath-taking. Cable car is probably the fastest means to Zugspitze. The cost for traveling from Garmisch to Zugspitze is 32Euro/adult if you can produce the Bahn ticket to Garmisch. Else it would be 37Euro for adults.

Looking at Garmish and Cable Car from Zugspitze

Though the sky wasn’t 100% clear on Saturday, we can see most places within 10km from summit. Lake Ebisee looks pristine from an altitude 2000metres higher. Temperature registered at 1degree C while we were exploring different corners of view mall.

Garmish from Zugspitze

Ski Equipment at SonnAlpin Ski Resort

After spending about an hour on summit, we proceeded to Germany highest ski field, Sonnalpin Resort. Aw may not be a snow mountain person. He is always sporting. Simon went a little wild. Both were racing toward our battle ground as I was busy taking photo.

Aw and Simon racing toward "battle zone"

Aw, Simon and I agreed touching, playing and fighting on snow denoted the best part of our traveling. I am pretty thankful for going to Garmisch instead of visiting the Swiss Alps. As Simon and Aw don’t climb, I don’t see much different with playing the snow at Garmisch and that at Aigle or Matterhorn? We played 2 against 1, 1 against 1, against all and with ourselves while we were on snow.

Lotsa casual photo were taken with melting snow in the shoes and under the jacket... Thankfully, no snow went under my pants.

Prost!!

We went to Ebisee Lake after having doing our German “Prost”.

A couple at Ebisee Lake

Sunset at Garmisch-Partenkirchenimon Station

Aw was tired as we were playing card during our train ride back München. I am happy becos I kept winning and loser distribute cards.

First Week in Munich

I won’t write about Training at Siemens, Munich. As I believe all info should be kept confidential.

Aw, Simon and I stayed at Hotel Carmen during week one and two. There is nothing fantastic about the hotel. The only pull factor for the hotel is probably free porn channel? While the customer service is pretty good, but condition of the room does not meet my mark. Nevertheless, we stayed there for a fortnight because the training clashed with an exhibition from 23^rd to 29^th April.

Holensalzburg from far

During our first weekend, we got the Happy Weekend ticket to Salzburg on Saturday and Füssen the following day. It cost 29Euro to travel from Munich to these destinations (return trip).

I always want to visit Salzburg to see the filming ground for Sound of Music. Little did I know, the filming area isn’t close to city. Nevertheless, I am happy to see the place. The journey to Salzburg (some 160km South East East of Munich) takes two hours. There is adequate time for me to get my orientation while traveling. I kinda decide the team should see HolenSalzburg. My justification is simple. The castle is located on a high ground. Even though I can not get close to Sound of Music filming ground, I wanna see the city from the highest possible place. The walk to Holensalzburg is interesting, we crossed Salzach river, bypassed Residenzplat, Domplatz and Kapitelplatz before seeing Castle of Salzburg.

Statue near Residenzplatz

The tour at Holesalzburg is good. The audio guide gave good info on how Salz (Salt) burg (City) developed. Nevertheless, I dun like to move through the castle with someone running after my ass. I thought I can stay as long as I want on top of the castle. While the city is no longer a major trading area for salt no more. The charm remains as composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born there. There is some kinda celebration for Mr Mozart every year and the chocolate is probably as famous as his symphonies.

Salzburg from Holensalzburg

I was thinking of some friends the night before I go to Füssen. It was 22^nd Apr at Singapore then, I was supposed to do Mount Faber run with my running kakis. I messaged a friend. She was sick and not going the run. It is very seldom for her to sign up for running event. I was sad for her.

Instead of running at Mount Faber, I went to Neuschwanstein castle, about 160km South West West of Munich. The walk from Füssen to the fairy tale castle took me about an hour. 4km is no easy walk for Aw. I thank him for walking with an uncomfortable pair of shoes. I realized the walk is indeed a little too long and time consuming. If only we have bikes, we should be at the castle within 15minutes.

Flowers Along the way to Neuschwanstein

Hohenschwangau

Neuschwanstein

There is another castle which was owned by the same Bavaria King, Ludwig II. It is sun yellow Hohenschwangau. I was at the Füssen seven years ago with April, JiaYing, ZhenHui and Weilin. We did not enter any castle then. I realized I was smarter seven years ago. The cost for entering each castle is 9 Euro now. It shd be cheaper if U wanna go to both castles. Nevertheless, I dun think that is necessary.

We entered Neuschwanstein, the English guide spoke with German slang. I did not quite catch him at some point of time. Anyway, I am not superbly interested as what he said can be easily found on internet. Walking through all halls in 30minutes is quite a shame. Unlike Holensalzburg, we did not have the opportunity to roam within the castle.

The drawing within the castle is fantastic. I appreciate paintings that were done on round surface, especially if it is done inverted. It is not easy to paint on the wall especially when the drawing needs to be done with mathematical considerations. I wonder how those artists drew with such precision.

The more interesting part of the tour is probably when we explored beyond Marienbrücke, Mary Bridge. There is a short track after crossing Marienbrücken. I think the view from some part of the trail is even better, as one can explore from higher ground. I am thankful to King Ludwig II fascination over his beautiful castle. I wouldn’t be able to seeing the castle view without his foresight of having the bridge.

Neuschwanstein and Marienbrücke

After seeing the castle, we walk to the river which runs under Neuschwanstein. As Aw and me are running low for water. We collected the water melted from the Bavaria Alps. We took a bus back to Füssen. The sky was bright when we left the empty town.

Neuschwanstein from the trail beyond Marienbrücke

Before Munich

Unlike the rest of my holiday, I am actually at Europe for work. The primary objective is to learn as much as possible and to know the restrictions for my 3 weeks machine training. I am psychologically happy to have another colleague from Malaysia, Aw, joining me for the same training. One of my Singapore colleagues, Simon, is also in Munich during the same period for different machine training.


Having three people for a trip is good, though I prefer 4 always. Aw is a funny man… he is capable of lightening the sprit anytime. With three people, we are given the opportunity to travel cheap during the weekend. In Germany, there is a “Happy Weekend” ticket system which allowed up to 5 people to travel to a nearby city at a discount rate. U may get to DIE BAHN web for more info.

While this is not my first trip in Munich, there is still a certain degree of excitement. I am here to do what I did not do, and collect sweet memories I left at Europe seven years ago. Thanks to Chwee Ling and Yew Mun. They are the invisible support for the trip. Chwee Ling loaned two Lonely Planet (Germany and Switzerland), two Frommer's (Munich and Austria) and an eight years old Munich map from library, and handed them to me on Friday the thirteen. My planning is simple, I don’t need to do a lot of research for traveling, surprises are welcome and there would be no rushing from point A to B. I do have some restrictions for this holiday. My colleagues are against expensive traveling and the longest holiday we can have is four days. For other people who are going to Europe, I would still suggest them to purchase EURAIL pass.

If there is only one place I can be again in Europe, it would be Switzerland. It is so far the cleanest and most picturesque place I ever been. Generally, Swiss are friendly people can communicate using English. Thanks to April, JiaYing and YiFeng, there is more than a thousand reasons for me to dream about Switzerland. I first backpack, touch snow, did my first trek (DNF), and meet the first tough lady in the country with a white cross, red background and square flag.



Simon and me took Thai Airway flight to Munich on 15th Apr at around 8am (Singapore time). Four hour is the transition time at Bangkok airport. I was at the same airport a month earlier with Kee Leng, Charles, Teck Wee, Qi Ming and Ying Kai. We were there for an adventure race at Kanchanaburi then. The foot massage at the Bangkok transit lodge isn’t as good as that in the city. Nevertheless, it is the recommended method to relax while waiting for connecting flight. Flying to Munich in the morning keeps me happy, the sun seem to follow me throughout the journey. As I went to Seoul recently, I caught some of latest movies like Pursuit of HappYness, Blood Diamond and Freedom Writers. The rest of the movies are not as interesting… Nevertheless, I am shock to find my all time favourite movie on Thai Airway, Forrest Gump. I reached Munich at close to 7:30pm (Munich time).