Why pulling a Monty Burns isn’t so bad…

With the horrible exception of the recent flooding dilemma* that’s sweeping across our sunburnt nation quicker than the chicken pox in a kindergarten classroom, the ‘bad’, rainy weather in Australia isn’t all that disastrous.

This here is however a direct reference to one Mr Monty Burns, a kind hearted character from everybody’s favourite primetime animated comedy series, Le Simpsons. What kind of man would show the slightest sense of evil if he still enjoyed the accompaniment of his teddy bear Bobo?

There was an episode a good few seasons back that put a spark in everyone’s eye brighter than lightning in a thunderstorm. Remember when Maggie got all ghetto and shot Monty after he abused his power? I’m talking about that occasion.

Blocking out the sun was a fabulous idea. I’m sure people all over the world in Arab nations and desert states were in full agreement that there are times in our summer periods when all we want to do is push a shiny red knob and have instant, controllable shade. There are miniature, more private alternatives in Australia which are known as pergolas and awnings, though they couldn’t possibly do the trick if we want to lay on the beach or bicycle through the breeze at Bronte without risking higher rates of sunburn, or worse, skin cancer.

Rainy ol’ Regensburg

This past weekend was a tough one for me…
it was officially the last time I would be with all the other exchange students before my return home in January. Saying that, it was a rather emotional outing to Regensburg for our Christmas weekend, and I tried my hardest to keep in the tears when we had to say our “goodbyes”, or as I preferred it, “see you soon’s”.

Thankfully I will see some of them again soon… namely the english speakers and those living in my town. :] I’ll definitely try to visit the others all around the world!

Here are some of the photos I took over the weekend. The main sights included the Regensburg Cathedral and the Turn Castle, where we wandered through the stalls of the lovely Christmas Markets.

Christmas is getting closer! :]
But I really don’t want my time here to end. :’[
Ryan
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We’re off to see the market, the wonderful market of Nürnberg.

The title of this blog entry was meant to be sung. I hope all the Wizard of Oz fans out there figured that out quickly enough.

The past weekend was one of my most special to be had during my entire exchange year… and why? Because I saw the world famous Nürnberg Christkindlmarkt with two lovely people; a classy French VIP and a crazy girl from Washington, USA.

With a whole bunch of mischief up our sleeves, we headed off to Nürnberg early Saturday morning and returned later that evening…

Whilst there, we wandered the streets of the old town, ventured into towering churches and ate the most delicious lebkuchen and Nürnberger Würstchen.

Here are some of the photos I captured on our day out. :]

Is everyone enjoying the festive season?

Ryan
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Rock & Roll… OMG those ribs are delicious.

Last Saturday evening was quite chilled. A few of the exchange students and I headed to Munich’s kicking Hard Rock Cafe where we nibbled on all sorts of yummy treats such as Nachos, burgers and ribs, all in the name of the USA. It was a very delicious [and fattening] thanksgiving to be had. ;]

Just chilling in these pics below. :]

Hope my dear American’s all had a great Thanksgiving too!

Ryan :]
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Lions, Tigers and Bears, oh my.

Ironically, during a day trip to Augsburg Zoo, I didn’t take one photo of a lion, tiger or bear. My bad. :p

But I did see them though… shame I can’t share their joy with all of you. :p

Until then though, all I can do is share a few of my favourite pics. Enjoy. :]

Ryan
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Screw Berliner, I’m an Augsburger all the way, baby!

Legit. After eight months in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, I’ve fallen in love. With the city, its people and its culture / history. Dating back to the 15 BC and founded by Drusus and Tiberius as Augusta Vindelicorum  on orders of their stepfather Emperor Augustus, my new home town has a lot of history to be proud of… namely its gorgeous architectural heritage (that which survived WWII).

Being the third oldest city in Germany, as well as the third-largest Bavarian city, Augsburg’s on the map. And any good traveller would be well advised to stop on by… on my behalf. ;]

So it comes as no surprise that I’d eventually see a few of the amazing sights that Augsburg has to offer… and as always I’d love to share what I saw with all of you! ;]

From Saturday morning through till Sunday afternoon, it was a true blue tour of the city’s cultural makeup on behalf of a local resident: my host brother. Some other exchange students and I saw (in order): the golden hall in Rathaus (town hall), Mozarthaus (the home of Wolfgang’s father) and the Fuggerei (the world’s first housing development, established by Jakob Fugger).

So my dear chaps, sit back relax, and enjoy a walk through tour of my home sweet home (plus a few photos of the amazing “International Party” we had on friday night). :]

Love Ryan :]
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Among the birds and the bees.

Yesterday marked something special… the end to an amazing weekend enjoying the sights and sounds of Bavaria. I thought that Saturday was lovely enough, but chilling in the beautiful Botanischer Garten (Botanical Garden) in Augsburg was something completely different. And what better way to enjoy a day outside then with other exchange students? :] Here we are below:

As soon as I met up with the group, we paid, entered and were taking photos within seconds… it was so pretty we couldn’t help but play “tourist”. ;]

Here’s me and my girlfriend:

One thing that we found quite odd were all the pumpkins scattered around…
Like, why would they supply free food?

In the steps of the crazy Bavarian king…

Today was a good day… like a really amazing day. :]

With my host mum, grandmother, brother and a fellow exchange student from the USA, we all travelled to gorgeous Schloss Linderhof and later the unfinished Schloss Neuschwanstein, both built by Ludwig II, the King of Bavaria. We also popped by Alpsee and Stausee. :]

Then afterwards on the way home… we had a picnic with fresh milk, bread, cheese and grapes! :] Delicious! We sat there enjoying the view of the Bavarian Alps whilst nibbling on our goodies and listening to the sounds of tweeting birds and the clonking of the cow bells… Was lovely!
You’ll want to see these photos…

Ryan
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Snow, a hut and 30 or so exchange students…

This past weekend I’ve spent my time catching up with the new exchange students in my district, all in a hut in the mountains near Obertsdorf in Southern Bavaria. :]

We got up to some wild adventures during our two nights…
Upon arrival there was our first Schneeballschlacht – snowball fight – and it became an all out war with truces being made between a Kiwi at one point “in honour of the ANZAC’s”. ;] That night we got into the grub – some heavy pasta around the dinner table.

Breakfast however wasn’t all that… some slices of meat and bread. But having to shower with all the others was something a little different. Even after six years of boarding school I found it to be something quite strange; I’m used to having a shower curtain. So I think it’s safe to say we’ve all gotten to know each other quite well ;]

After freshening up for the day ahead, we were informed of the death-defying journey we would soon be facing… an hours march through the freezing snow… but we all had fun pretending to be wolves, throwing even more snowballs, and making some pretty little snow angels. Oh yeah, and we hiked across a river where the water was ice cold. Good times. Good times.

That night it was time to learn some names… so we played a few stupid games. And I really do mean stupid games. For example, we sat in a circle and had to repeat everyones names and their favourite thing / thing to do: “I’m Ryan, and I like fish”. (Which we all know is a lie) ;]

We got even cozier later on when we discussed host families and any troubles we’d been having the past year in a “Candlelight discussion”. We discussed German food, the oddities of the language and even the weather. :]

So that last night turned out to be even more fun… Kim and I played a little game, soon to be joined by the others after we danced the night away to some deliciously trashy club music… and a ridiculous (a.k.a. way over the top) amount of Latin Music. With Leila and Naomi both behind the camera lens, we were the two models following our photographers’ directions. I think we did well…. we took well over 100 photos of absolute shit… definitely good enough for Vogue… ;]

So that was a night to remember… and then we woke up and a whole new adventure kicked off. Sunday meant we had to all pack our crap together and say “see you in Berlin” to everybody, jump on our trains and head home. But, being amazing english speakers, we all headed to our beloved English Cinema in Munich and watched A Midnight in Paris starring Owen Wilson and Marion Cotillard, among others. Good film, great time laughing at its faults. Can’t wait to do it all again.

I’ve fallen in love with the new exchange students, and I miss the oldies like hell, but the one thing that keeps me going is knowing I’ve still got tons of Germany to see. And I intend on doing just that… even if I do end up getting “accidentally” hit in the face with a water bottle whilst on the train to Munich. Thanks for that Little Miss Ontario Representative. It hurt A LOT!

Love you still.
Love you all. Newbies, Oldies and everyone in between. :]

Ryan
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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
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