The second Christmas Dinner

Legit. I didn’t realise how big christmas was in Germany until Christmas dinner… well, the second one at least. Last night I visited my former host family in Zusmarshausen and we nibbled on a delicious goose with traditional Bavarian cuisine such as blaukraut (red cabbage), knödel (potato dumplings) and even a christmas salad as entrée. It was a delicious [second] feast…. it was surely worth a couple of photos. ;]

An amazing Christmas was to be had! I hope everyone feels the same way. :]
Ryan
x

A Feast for Fourty? No, six. [Animails #8]

One part of my year on exchange in Germany that I’ll never be able to forget is Christmas Dinner. With lashings of food decorating the dining table, I believed we’d be accompanied by a bunch of guests… I was wrong.

It’s something else that I find quite humorous. :]

This picture is highly inaccurate; double the amount of food on the table for an estimate of the amount food that was splayed out before me on Christmas Eve.

Ryan
x

Munich on two wheels… with a bit more of Oktoberfest.

A few days ago I took up an offer from my last host family to tour Munich‘s cityscape by bike and then go to Oktoberfest afterwards, for the second time in one weekend. And what an offer that turned out to be. I saw much of Munich I never thought I’d see… including the Olympic Park, BMW Museum, Ludwigstraße, Odeonsplatz, Munich University, National Theatre, State Library, Englischer Garten and the Glyptothek. Mind you, I’d seen the main sights such as Marienplatz all before. :]

After seeing the Olympic Park (above), along with some other notable sights, we stopped for lunch at the Chinese Tower in the Englischer Garten and nibbled on some traditional Bavarian food. :] (All delicious). ;]

Later on it got even better when we dropped off our bikes outside St. Paul’s Church and headed in for the final day of Oktoberfest. We went on some rides, had a pretzel or two and even went on the world-famous ferris wheel where we saw the huge expanse of locals, beer enthusiasts and tourists that were celebrating the final days of this annual giant.

Towards the end of the night I even did a shooting game… (first time I’ve ever used a gun) and I actually did very good. :p Surprise surprise… perhaps I’m meant to be a copper instead of a journo. ;]

Hope you enjoy the pictures people, because it was one of the best days I’ve had all year :]

Love Ryan
x

OKTOBERFEST… (Take Two)

So on Saturday the 1st of Oktober, I enjoyed the never-ending booze-fest for a second time and on a day that I found rather suitable for its namesake- being the first day of October. :]

Of course wanting to get a table in a Beer Tent meant I was waking up at 4:50am and meeting the other exchangees at 5.30 to get to Theresienwiese before the main crowds… we all failed in that pursuit. It was already packed and we were lucky enough to score a table in the tent… but we were forcibly kicked out at 11.30am due to a reservation… didn’t ruin my day though. :]

Later that evening my host brother celebrated his 18th birthday and boy did we have a good time.

Lots of good stories about that one. :p
But I won’t be mentioning them on here… perhaps on request. ;]

There was a good variety of German food, a lot of dancing (to my amazing music) and there was even a few Shisha pipes. Here’s some photos from that glorious day/evening. :]

Can’t wait till my next birthday ;] 19 Years old… still got quite a while to go though :p Stay tuned for some more Oktoberfest photos. :] Shall be uploaded within 24 hours or so. LOVVVVVE Ryan. x

Beer, Lederhosen and Bretzen…

… I most certainly am referring to the one and only OKTOBERFEST!!

World famous, and rightfully so, this beer mecca isn’t just for the locals… I’m certain that 90% of the drunks within the Hofbräu Beer Tent were Australians… making their country “proud”. ;]

Anyway, just to be clear, I only had four hours sleep from the night before (nothing to do with someone drunk-calling me)… but my host brother, two Argentinian exchange students and I decided to go clubbing… prepping up for the big day. :]
Well worth it normally, I was incredibly tired when we arrived in Munich, but that never stopped me from having a blast with some long-lost friends! Met up with so many people I know… no mentioning names… *cough* Mississippi-mates *cough*… :]

The beer was delicious, the bretzen too (although certainly not fresh), and the rides were great…. after two beers :] Haha. The Olympic themed rollercoaster was a personal favourite, as was the pitch-black ‘Haunted House’ rollercoaster…  :D

So without further adieu (I’m sure that’s how you spell it), I give you a gallery filled with great memories!

Just so we know, I have recently come to own a gorgeous second-hand pair of lederhose… so the next time we go, I’ll be looking all that more authentic. :]

Hope some of you join me there.
We’ll have a ball… and a few beers ;]
Lots and lots of drunken* love…
Ryan
x

P.S. IF ROTARY READS THIS, I DIDN’T DRINK AT ALL… it was all for show. ;]

50 Things I have to do before I kick the bucket.

I have to admit, I’m a rather superstitious person… but when it comes to those clichéd lists of 100 Things I do before I die… they’re rather interesting… truly… and I think achieving each thing on this list, may be a very good idea. :]

So, in honor of my 50th Blog Post, I’ve done the truly unthinkable and come up with 50 of the most exciting and inspiring events, cities and worldly wonders that I simply must see before I end up facing St. Peter, or whoever in the next life that’ll be holding a key to enlightenment… As well as things I must learn, things I must try, places I must live, and people I must meet.

So here goes… with most things even put into preference…

Frühlingsfest [in München]

So, for those who just can’t quite work that out, it’s a Spring Festival [in Munich], and we went there the day after Plärrer. So apologies there for the delay, I’ve had a bit of trouble with internet and stuff, plus I’ve just recently moved on to my second family. So now I’m living in Zusmarshausen, which means I must travel about 120 mins per day with the bus to get to school and back. Yippee. But there’s really no complaining. Apart from having to get up at 6am, which I suppose is good training for my future career, the bus trip is quite lovely. Our route takes through the rolling hills of the Bavarian countryside, between lush forests and Augsburg‘s sprawling suburbs. Quite a journey indeed.

But back to the main event. I’m offering you some insight into what I got up to on this chaotic Saturday. It began with me travelling in with three Brazilian‘s and an Argentian. We travelled to Munich’s Main Station and then got an underground train to where the festival was being held (at the same site as Oktoberfest). We were surrounded by rides galore. A true playground for children and adults alike.

What an awesome ride. Except that it's covered in America.

I should have tried photography... this ain't half bad.

Plärrer. Good times.

So Augsburg had a little Volksfest (Folk Festival) from Friday till Sunday two weeks ago (6/5/11). It was most certainly an enjoyable occasion. Much dancing, eating, (a little bit of drinking), and on behalf of one person [no names to be mentioned], what you get as the reverse of eating. :/

But we had fun nonetheless! :] There was some amazing rides and the odd traditional food. For example, I doubt I’ll ever give the ‘fish on a stick’ a go. Think shish kebab with Nemo. Doesn’t look too appetizing. We did however gorge on giant brezels, potato salad and this delicious chicken! Was all very well cooked if you ask me!

So this is the first ever photo of Kim and I. Enjoy it.

So this is a Breze. If you don't eat it, it eats you.

My first German fireworks. How lovely. :

The night ended with some lovely fireworks, and all I can say is, there really wasn’t much to it. It’s rather difficult to explain how much fun a person can have in one evening.

Until next time, I’m Ron Burgundy.
Stay classy San Diego.