Wiesn!

Go to ride in style, compliments of client..
around wiesn, a time for all

Was in Munich, it was public holiday (not again!) as it was the Unity day (National day), remembering the unification of East and West Germany. So as usual, everyrthing was closed. Good thing one, was Victor (the chauffeur) mentioned that it was also the last day of Wiesn - or we would know it as Oktoberfest.

We know the Oktoberfest as a beer drinking festival, but it is much more than that. History takes us to the 17th century, when there a was marriage between the bavarian prince and erm.. some princess. But like us back home, can't just have one night of celebration, they have two weeks of festivities which would later be known as Wiesn.

So, today was great. People from all over Munich came for the last day. They came with friends and family. Was a rare opportunity for me to see them in traditional Bavarian costumes, which Markus (my chauffeur for day 2) complains that they only wear during Oktoberfest...

Today's Iftar & Sahur

Today's meal includes:

1. 2 Banana's
2. Cheese sandwich from the flight from Paris
3. Fruit juice
4. Whole meal bread
5. Apricot jam
6. Honey Cashewnuts, bought at Oktoberfest, macam pasar ramadan lak rasa tadi..

Need to keep myself healthy, perjalanan masih jauh...

Ghost put to rest..

Outside the Lourve
Cik Mona Lisa

Apakah tujuan engkau diciptakan,

Apakah rahsia disebalik potret itu....

Mona Lisa - Wings (Teori Domino 1990)

8 years ago, under and I went to Europe. From our home base in Manchester - or more specifically Meng's house, we set off on a last minute trip to Paris. We went around the usual stuff, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, etc. but so unprepared were we that we didn't know what the Lourve was. We did end at the Lourve, saw a long line at the tickets, and after about 15 mins in line, decided to give it miss. Only later did we know about the Lourve and that the Mona Lisa was there.

So today, I touched down Paris Charles de Gaulle, took a cab to the hotel and made my way to the Lourve. Good thing the line was short, so went straight to the Denon - where the Mona Lisa, just to lay this ghost of 8 years to rest..

Rain, rain, rain..

United Nations, Geneva

The famous Jet-deau

Was in Geneva over the weekend. Arrived at 9pm Saturday nite. After a long journey, just wanted to go to the hotel and take a shower. As most places were already closed (according to the concierge, which I later found out that there was kebab place open till midnite), just went to my room, took a shower and decided to just eat the egg mayo sandwich I bought at Heathrow for sahur later..

Sunday morning, was really gloomy. As I was only going to be there till noon Monday, was not about to let a little rain stop me. Walked around the lake, to the train station (where I found the kebab). As everything else was closed, read that the UN tour is open Sundays. So, there I went..

Was quite a walk there. As I got there, the rain started pouring heavily. So here I am, jalan-jalan sorang sorang with my little umbrella, socks starting to get wet. Arrived at the UN only to find out that its closed..Seems there was a special event going on.. hmmm, wonder what it was?

Nevertheless, there was a sliver lining to that. As I was about to leave, a taxi pulled over and a familiar looking lady appeared. Not that I knew here, but the appearance just looked sooo from our part of the world. She was from Singapore, and similarly disappointed that the UN was closed. We felt cheated..

So now I had a mate to go around in the rain with. As she had been here a few days now, Sow Ching took me aroud to the old town and as the sun seemed to come up, we decided to go on the Chateu cruise on the lake. As our luck would have it, just as we got on the boat, the rain started pouring again, and boy did it pour. Sow Ching really enjoyed the part where we entered France, albeit just for like 10 mins. Will post some pics on that soon.

So, all in all, despite the rain, the price (my god, the price), the language barrier and with everything practically closed, was quite a fulfillig day. Later went back to the kebab place to get my iftar meal, headed back to the hotel and spent the rest of the evening blow drying my shoes, jeans and socks..

Tommorow, to Paris!