Berlin

Since almost everyone has been to Berlin before and had recommended me the places of interest there, I'll just give a short summary of our Berlin trip. Initially, it was planned that me and Grace go to Berlin for 2 nights by trying "Mitfahrer", that is something like hitch hiking system in an organised manner.


The Berlin Train Station

Then I found that Jun Ming, my hall kaki, gonna visit me around that period. So, I recommended him to join us. So, he took a train trip himself, since both me and Grace had the hitchhiker trip already.

We stayed at A&O hostel. Not the central 1 but the Eastern side. Where the communist East Berlin used to be. It was an experience to see another side of Berlin. Runned down buildings. Cheap kebabs. Cheap breakfast. Urine smell everywhere. But, the main reason I chose that location was the happening night spots are in this area.

First day

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag(Parliment building), Walked along the 17th June Street without my jacket, explored the night spots in the east Berlin(instead of doing a Pub crawl, we walked around instead)

Second day

Checkpoint Charlie- It's pretty hot inside and lots of exhibits to read. Many interesting ways of escaping the East side were displayed. Tons of fun like watching Prison Break. Besides climbing the Berlin wall, theres digging tunnels, using diving gears, hot air balloon, ramming the wall with a bulletproof truck, hiding oneself in suitcases and etc. Was supposed to be a place where you feel sorry for the Berliners. But, I had to applaud the escapees or those who failed. The best part was about this guy who escaped to the prosperous West side by tunnelling and 20 years later he became a successful physicist and went to space. That was the only part that touched me.

Jewish Museum- Clearly after a nasty holocaust, anti-semitism awareness was important in this museum. Mel Gibson should pay a visit inside too. Okler, it's the most modern looking museum Ive ever visited.


Thats Jun Ming in Sony Center. Where IMAX theatere is.

Then we were looking for clubs in Berlin. However, most of the famous ones we visited were having gay and lesbian night. I thought Cologne is already the gay capital of Germany. But, later I found out that there was a homosexual parade the day before. In the end we found 1 near our hostel and clubbed until 5 am. Nice atmosphere, but the music was lousy.

Third day
Jun Ming flew off to Paris early in the morning. Our driver sets off at 6 pm. So, we tried to explore the rest of Berlin as much as possible. Like, the Berlin cathedral, a shopping district of Berlin, and the vicinity of Zoological Gardens. Then finally our trip was over.

Now I know why so many people recommended me Berlin. It has the interesting architecture and history. Though it's not as prosperous as Munich, Berlin will be a force to be reckoned with in time to come. More cosmopolitan than Munich that I could speak English most of the time. I'm sure Berlin will top London in the next ten years with its excitement. But right now, Berlin can still be improved.

I O U

Dear Diary,

I'm deeply deeply sorry for my lack of attention and affection for you lately. Many things have happened lately, especially the free-falling of your visiting rates. This may seem hard on you, but I have some other issues to attend to this time. So, please don't let anyone question my commitment towards you.

I hate to admit that I won't be updating you for the next few days once again. Tomorrow I'll be expecting another Singaporean visitor, who will bunk over at my place for 2 nights. He's Jun Ming. I was digging through my old photo album for a picture of him. This is what I found.

2 years ago. Haha.. I miss my Shisha actually. It was accidentally dropped while I was cleaning my room.

So, I'll be owing you few posts once I return from Berlin this coming weekend. Till then, stay online always!

Yours truly,
Ian Han
Your sad and busy blogger

Muenster Revisited

We rented a car once again. Only 100 Euros for 1 whole weekend with GPS included. But, this time, it was a 1.3 Daihatsu Sirion. So, Autobahn thrills were severely limited.

But driving on the Autobahn wasnt the main test. It was finally time I drove manual car independently around the streets of Europe, where traffic lights and pedestrians are everywhere. Wilson gave Grace and I the honor to be the drivers of this trip. Everyones safety was in my hands which had no experience with manual cars except during driving lesson 5 years ago.

Luckily, in Europe, when the traffic lights turned from red to green, the yellow light will flash first. So, I could start doing the balancing trick of the clutch before it turns green, or I had more time to start my engine if the engine died.

Grace drove initially. I think she didnt make the engine died once. That is because, she just passed her driving test few months ago.


As for me, I had to admit I can't count the number of times my engine died. But, I think it was only 3 times that the car behind horned me in traffic lights. There were some other problems when I tried to reverse the car. Demoralised, I felt like pasting the "P" (probation) sign on the car at that point.


The only thing I'm proud of during this driving trip.


Even Wilson was excited.

Look at the sheer ecstasy in him.


Check out his super saiya hairstyle after that. Hohoho.

We visited Eagles Nest and Cologne along the way. Then we finally reached Muenster, where I used to stay for 3.5 weeks last year during immersion program.

I visited my host mother whom I looked forward to see her again. The feeling was great. It was like homecoming. The memories of a small town was still intact. I still remembered the tour guides we had around the small town last year. So, being a "tour guide" for the Wilson, Kat and Grace was no problem.


My second best trip after the swiss cycling trip definitely. I got to see familiar places like Go-Parc, Aasee, Christiane's home, the churches and cathedrals, the Promenade, and even the nice graveyard next to Aasee once again. I bet my other immersion program mates can't disagree.

Short update

My stomach's feeling upset now after eating too much chilli back to back for lunch and dinner yesterday. Hopefully I can finish this post before I have to storm into the toilet again.

Good news is... my imersion host mother, Christiane Pott replied to me really fast this morning. I'll be driving up to Koln and at the same time return to Muenster, where I once stayed there for 3.5 weeks last year. Talking about killing 2 birds with a stone in this trip.

That's us. To the right is Boon Song, another NUS student friend who I stayed with during imersion. We were under the same host family. Feeling excited now.

Now back to my road trip. We didn't do much in Zurich, apart from shopping there. Most clothes there are slightly cheaper than the same ones in Germany. So, we took the chance to shop for summer clothing. So far, these are the clothes I bought...

Guess what she's doing..

It's a special device innovated by the Germans to communicate with someone else by just a hanging string.

Noler, its just her smelling some sample of coffee beans inside the sphere in the coffee museum in Zurich. Quite interesting especially when they feature some commercials for coffee from the 50s to present day. Still remember the classic Nescafe theme song? Good old days.

Next post is about Hiking up of the hills near Jungfrau(means Virgin) Mountains.