Goodbye Euro 2005...=(

I have come to really adore this City. For those of you thinking of visiting Amsterdam, you may want to check out this site: I amsterdam for all the city's happenings.

Well, this marks the end of my Euro 2005 Journey...so long...until next time. Dag!!


The Good-bye Train

On my last night...Dutch Rock Music

It is my last day here in Amsterdam, and also marks the end of my Spring 2005 excursion (not sure if I will have a summer excursion...but very unlikely since I have used up all my vacation). I have done my shopping in the afternoon...and strangely enough I ended up buying American products from Kenneth Cole, because they are bellying up in Amsterdam.

Shopping along Amsterdam Main Street

The massive subway/canal construction at Centrum - Date of Completion: Year 2012

In the evening, I attended a local Dutch band concert at a local pub. Music was so-so...but coming from an amateur band myself, I totally understand that they probably have no time to practice together.

However, there was one band that was really awful....off-key singing with off-rhythm instrumentation....people around me had this grimace displeasure on their face....that really says it all. Thank goodness for the main band taking over after two songs. If this was the 'Gong Show', they would not have survived pass the first four measures...

Dutch Rock Concert...this was the better band.

Strange Dances Tonight...

Tonight, my friends brought me to a local dance production called Chunking, by Grace Ellen Barkey & Needcompany at De Brakke Grond (The Broken Ground).


de Brakke Grond

How should describe this dance production...PURE CHAOTIC!!! I don't know what the hell they were doing, but I guess it is all art...I guess should know. Nonetheless, the choreography was very creative and well executed. There were five dancers, interacting with each other along with decorated foam boards, accompanied by a range of trip hop and classical-ish music. I enjoyed it....'nuff said.

Evening at Dam Square

Leiden for the Day

Today I went to the home to Netherland's oldest university: Leiden. Leiden is a compact town that 20 minutes to get to by train from Amsterdam. I spent the day visiting my good friend who works at Leiden University and walking all over town.


Leiden University...there is no such thing as a campus for Dutch Colleges!!

De Valk Windmill

The museums are mediocre. Even though Rembrandt was born in Leiden, there wasn't any good art from this Dutch Master here. The best museum was by far was the Siebold Huis. Siebold is a physician who travelled and brought some western culture to Japan in the 1800's, a respected individual even to Japanese. The exhibition contains some of the most rare prints and collectables (art and crafts, etc) from Japan during his time. All the items are part of Siebold's private collection.


Bicycle Garage near Leiden Central Train Station

Back in Amsterdam

After 8 grueling hours on the train, I arrived back in Amsterdam yesterday.


Waiting in Koln Central Station on the way back to Amsterdam....look familiar???

Today, I get a chance to take a bus and visit some rural areas outside central Amsterdam: Adam and Monnickendam.


Netherland's Own Monterey Bay: Adam


Old Little Town of Monnickendam...


Still more Monnickendam

In the evening, I watched an old Koen-brothers movie at the Rialto, a hip restaurant-bar theatre.

The REAL Disneyland

No! Not the magic kingdom, but the castle which Disneyland based on...the Neuschwanstein, castle of Ludwig II. The castle is located about two hours outside of central Munich, in the Bavarian Alps area of Allgäu. It is simply beautiful both the mountains and waterfalls around the castle as well as the castle interior/exterior itself. I would not mind having such a house!!


The Neuschwanstein Castle

The Schloss Hohenschwangau Castle

The Bavarian Alps...are the hills alive???

Adjacent to this dream-like castle, is the actual place where Ludwig II spent most of his life... Schloss Hohenschwangau. Nice....but not as nice as Neuschwanstein. BTW, I did a good share amount of uphill cardio excercise.


Dinner at the Fish Market off Sonnenstrasse near Sendlinger Tor

Need more drink at the end of the day....

My feet are killing me!!!

I walked practically non-stop for 10 hours...trying to see as much as possible. I have been very selective in where I went today...mainly several museums and churches.


Asamkirche Cathedral in Old Town


Egon is everywhere...even in the Neue Pinakothek Museum

The highlight of the day was definitely the Deutsches Museum. It is an extraordinary science museum that covers subjects from pharmaceuticals to engineering to aviation, just to name a few. The visit totally took me back in time when I had to perform all those physics and chemistry experiments in college. Definitely nostalgic.


Deutsches Museum

Deutsches Museum - Biopharm

Deutsches Museum - Aerospace

Deutsches Museum - Me under the Plane

After all that...I need a drink!!!

In Munich killing time

Just got into Munich. Checkout time is not until 2pm, so I am just spending some time on the net to kill time. As soon as I check in, I will head off to Dachau Concentration Camp, the model which other concentration camps throughout Europe during the Nazi days were based on. It will sure be fascinating.


Entry Gate into Dachau Concentration Camp


The Gas Chamber...eerie and utterly sickening...

Afterwards, I think I will walk around different parts of the City, because most of the churches and exhibits closes at 6pm...thus I will get up early tomorrow to do that. For some reason, I think I am going to run out of time in Munich...


Building near Karlstor at Dawn

Frauenkirche (Old Town) at Night

Last day in Vienna...

Early in the morning, I went to Schonbrunn. It is a baroque palace with adjoinging gardens. It was so refreshing to walk this huge place with minimal tourists. The scenic view is just simply glorious. I was so moved by the grandure of the entire space.


The Magnificent Garden at Schonbrunn

Then, I hurried off back to Museumsquartier and walk through Kunsthalle. I happened to drop into a press conference of an up-and-coming exhibit ("Living and Working in Vienna II"), that will open on the 14th of May. But I was fortunate enough to get the first glimpse of the exhibit before the general audience (I pretended I was one of the press). I even got a press kit with a CD-Rom of images from the exhibition.


Kunsthalle New Exhibition: To Live and Work in Vienna II

Afterwards, walked across the street and went through my last museum visit in Vienna: Kunsthistorisches Museum...it is like Vienna's version of the Louvre of Paris. The collection consists of artwarks from Ancient Egypt, Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Barouque until around 1800.

Museum day.....so much to see, so little time...

I went to Hofburg and then three great museums (Albertina, Leopold and MUMOK of Museumsquartier) today. Hofburg is like an imperial palace...totally stunning. But art was where my heart was. Naturally, I walked just enough time until 10am, which is when the museums open. The exhibitions were totally phenomenal...of course, the highlight was seeing more Egon Schiele.


Albertina Museum

However, Leopold Museum stole the show. The collection of artwork is mostly 19th century and modernist Austrian artworks. The next stop was MUMOK...though the architecture was impressive, the collection was only OK. The most striking work was Viennese Actionism...very disturbing stuff.


MUMOK at Vienna Museumsquartier

There is one more museum to go to: Kunsthalle, which is also part of Museumsquartier.

The rest of the time, I went to hunt for soap and towel...which I found was not available in the hostel here. I had a lot of fun last night, partying with these 'kids' until 1am, albeit I am not the oldest (thank goodness). However, I was stunned to find the alcohol content in the beer is kind of light.

Dump Prague!!! Hello Vienna!!!

Prague just had to screw me one more time before I leave. My train ticket listed the wrong train station to board for Vienna...so I was forced to take a taxi for $20!!!!

I arrived safe and well this afternoon in Vienna. The hostel here is by far the best (Wombats). It's clean...super clean. It is also a party house...I feel I am in college dorms again!!!

With the short amount of time, I visited the Stephansdom - a gothic cathedral with catacombs that house dead priests...as well as dead people died from the plague over 300 years ago.


The Gothic Stephansdom

But the highlight is really the evening. I was fortunate enough to obtain tickets to see an opera at Staatsoper. My dream to see an opera (or a classical concert) in Vienna has come true!!!


Interior of Staatsoper Opera House...tonight...Wagner's "Flying Dutchman"

Prague...a beauty plagued with toursit traps

I almost did not have a place to stay!! The darn hostel overbooked and sent me to another place to stay. It took me 3 hours to get settled in. I practically lost an entire day!! Thank God that the hostel was at least clean with hot water and shower.

Prague is simply breathtaking, with beautiful bridges, castles, and town squares. The architecture is absolutely stunning...almost unreal. At times, I thought I was in Disneyland. BUT...the city is filled with tourist traps (ie. wax museums, gift shops, McD, etc). Imagine SF Fisherman's Wharf all over town. That is just sick. If you are looking for romantic scenaries, you had better look above store front level.


Prague Castle from a distant...

Overlooking Prague from Prague Castle

Prague Bridge Tower at Little Quarter

Food is a strange thing here. It is kind of hard to find breakfast, thus good coffee (McD's might be the best they have). No pastry shops anywhere. So, the first thing you are readily able to find in the morning, is a nice dosage of Big Macs (not all McD's have breakfast stuff), Hot Dogs, and pork shoulders.

The weather is surprising cold, with some sun, but guaranteed rain/drizzle by 3pm for an hour or so.

During this past weekend, Prague also celebrated the 60th anniversary of their liberation in WWII. The City planned a series of events all over, from concerts to reinactment of the last battle on the streets of Prague with tanks and people dressed in soldier uniforms of the time.


Actor in Nazi Uniform in Prague

Outdoor Celebration Concert at Prague Castle

Tomorrow, I head off to Vienna. I hope it will be better....


The Evening Lights at Old Town Square

Last Day in Berlin...

Today, I went to the Neue National-Galerie, where I saw original artwork by artists such as Francis Bacon and Pablo Picasso. They sure have a nice collection of work. Why in the world do we, in San Francisco, get such crappy stuff????

After the Gallery tour, I went on a 4 hour walking tour, tracing through the steps of the rise and fall of the Third Reich. The tour was superbly done, and made alive everything I have learned in World History at Cal Poly (I must have been sleeping in class).


Brandenburg Gate at Night

However, I happen to be here at the right time. In two more days, Berlin will commemorate the 60th anniversary to the end of WWII. The day after, Berlin will have a grand opening of the new Holocaust memorial right next to the Brandenburg Gate. This will mark as a point in time where Germany wants to look to the future, not the past. There will be a big concert event...but there will also be demonstrations, including the Neo-Nazi's....so watch the news!


An Evening at Berlin's Very Own Sony Building

Now I am packing.....tomorrow I shall head to Prague. Auf Wiedersehen.

Just can't get away from work...

I have walked soooo much today. I visited the Judisches (Jewish) Museum of Berlin as well as the Pergamon Museum. The architecture of the Jewish Museum was designed by Daniel Libeskind, who happens to be the architect for the project I am working on at home: San Francisco Contemporary Jewish Museum. The exhibit as well as the layout of the building is extraordinary. I have never been in a building that stirs up so much emotion. Simply amazing!!!


Inside the Reichstag...no meeting for the Parliment today

Interior of Berlin Jewish Museum...the corridor of confusion

Sitting inside Jewish Museum of Berlin...a haunting experience

As for Pergamon Museum, it is all Greek Sculptures. Basically, if you are in Turkey looking at the ruins, you will come to a point where the exhibit will tell you to go to Berlin and England for the remaining (actually the most important) pieces. How odd...but Germany at the time, wanted to measure up to the rest of the world, particularly Paris. The exhibit is just massive and overwhelming. By the end of the day, I was very "museumed" out...so I went to the pub.


Relaxing at a pub with Aussie Friend, Emma

Guten Tag from Berlin!!!!

I am finally in Berlin after a 13 hour train travel from Amsterdam via Brussels. Fortunately, I got a good night sleep on a Class 1 Sleep Train. Superb and private...best of all, I did not have to worry about theft!!

I was a bit queezy about staying in Hostels, but this Hostel in Berlin is great...showers, kitchen, and best of all, FREE INTERNET!!! Upon arrival, I took a free-by-foot tour around the City, looking at most of the major sights that dealt with the origin of Berlin, World War II, and the Cold War.

Scene from the destroyed Brandenburg Gate at the end of WWII

New Jewish Halocaust Memorial - View 1

New Jewish Halocaust Memorial - View 2

Stepping on Hitler's Suicide Spot - dirt next to the entrance to the Jewish Memorial

Since the tour took almost 4 hours, the only museum I got to see was the Checkpoint Charlie Museum. Very cool museum on the Cold War with all the stories and displays of the creative escape plans and equipment the East Germans utilized. But the downer was that right where the Checkpoint Charlie was, were all these street vendors captilizing on goods depicting the Cold War (including gas masks, hand-cuffs, etc.)...kind of sick, I think.


Cold War Victims Memorial near Checkpoint Charlie

I have met some new cool friends on this road trip. One was a Mainland Chinese student named Sam whom I travelled with from Brussels to Berlin...the other was an Australian girl named Emma who is staying in the same hostel as me. Tomorrow, Emma will be my travel companion to the various museums. Ah...not so lonely after all...=)

Ampelmann denotes this street was part of East Germany