Meow

Castle Mountain and Monolith Valley

Amongst the giants

The Australian sphinx

Deutsch Schal

I started knitting this when I was on the train from Frankfurt to Nuremberg during my great German adventure with my brother.

Really fun and easy knit. It's not hard at all, even though it works in a way you would not normally knit - ie. you turn the work around without finishing all the stitches on the needle. Reminds me a little bit of entrelec but way faster.

The bamboo yarn I used was really lightweight, making this a great spring/autumn kind of scarf. I only had a little bit of each yarn, which explains the bizarre colours that actually turned out quite nicely.

I think I prefer wearing it like in the first photo.

Oh, and I was almost finished by the time I left Copenhagen, although I did have to put the finishing touches back home.

Pattern here.

Hi's and lo's

Now that it's been a month since I returned from the great German adventure, it may be a good/bad time to reminisce.

Good to reflect fondly on the great holiday. Bad because I've got horrid memory.

Anyway, let's give it a go.

Lo's

• Experiencing really bad hayfever: for some strange reason, there was something in the air that did not agree with my sinuses this time. I was sniffling and had teary eyes for the best part of the trip.
  
  
• Paying A$3 for one nectarine: ok, it tasted amazing, but $3?!?!
  
  
• Rain at Fussen: Neuchwanstein Castle was awesome, but the rain just made the experience rather wet, cold and uncomfortable. It also made it impossible to get some good photos.
  
  
• Castle tours: they were interesting, but you needed a tour guide for most of the tours. This meant that you couldn't really spend as much time as you wanted in the castle. Instead, you were herded off like sheep on speed. There were a lot of restricted areas as well, which gave the impression that there really wasn't much value for money.
  
  
• Paying for public toilets: I really missed the free toilets in Australia. It was at least A$1 each time you had to go to a toilet, and they weren't that fantastic either.
  

Hi's

• Dresden: I would visit Dresden again in a heartbeat. The city has a real thriving "hippie" atmosphere and the creative vibe to it agrees wholeheartedly with my soul.
  
  
• Cycling around Dresden: we ventured further into the countryside using the bike paths along the river. It was a gorgeous ride on really really old bicycles.
  
  
• Germans: I learned that Germans aren't as rigid and gruff as the stereotype. Instead, I found them to be friendly and really eager to help.
  
  
• Dachau: I'm not exactly sure if this counts as a high coz it was a really sombre affair but it's certainly an experience I would never forget. I knew about the holocaust etc., but to actually see a concentration camp for real gives you a different perspective.
  
  
• Checkpoint Charlie museum: could have spent forever in that museum. Filled with stories of when Berlin was separated into East and West, it was a fascinating experience.
  
  
• Berlin accommodation: decided to upgrade to a private "apartment" for the last leg of our German trip (staying in crummy backpackers for the last two weeks) and it was most delightful to have some privacy and space again.
  
  
• Window shopping in Sweden and Denmark: they've got the most gorgeous household items. I couldn't afford most of them, but I wanted to buy the whole store.
  
  
• Ben & Jerry's: I love B&J's, but they're not available in Australia. Being able to consume copious amount of B&J's guilt-free was almost equivalent to being in heaven.
  
  
• Being in Europe: it's just a beautiful continent and I will forever have a love affair with it.
  
  
• Catching up with old friends: all I can say is that I wish that someone will invent a teleport machine soon so that it doesn't take months and years to meet up with friends.
  

Copenhagen highlights

Goteborg (Sweden) highlights

Photos taken at the Slottsgarden.

Berlin highlights

Memorial to the murdered Jews

Reichstag

Brandenburg Tor

East Side Gallery

Conversations with a telemarketer

Telemarketer (TM): Hi Miss Tan, you have been selected for a special benefit offered by American Express. Would you like to hear more about it?

Me (M): Er, sure?

TM: The benefit is CreditShield......goes on for a few seconds...

M: Er, sorry, I hate to interrupt you, but can I just tell you that I'm not interested in the product?

TM: Why not?

M: I pay my credit card bills quite regularly, I don't really need to worry about it.

TM: But the beauty of this thing is.....something or other....it's really quite good.

M: Yeah, but I really don't think I'd be interested.

TM: Why don't you let me tell you about the benefits and then you can tell me your decision?

M: Nah, I think that's alright. I'd probably say no.

TM: But if you let me tell you about the benefits and how much it costs, you may change your mind.

M: Probably not, I don't want to spend any more money.

TM: Well, why don't you let me tell you about the benefits and then you can tell me your decision?

M: Ok, sure. You can tell me the benefits. But I can also tell you that I will no longer be listening.

TM: That's alright then Miss Tan, thank you so much for your time.

The final score: Melody 1 Telemarketer 0