Berlin
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85)
Mon 2008/05/12 21:26
After the conference in Hamburg, we headed for Berlin where we spent a very hot sunny day walking about town.
This was the train we took from Hamburg to Berlin - very nice interior.
The weather was lovely and was told that its not usually this hot at this time of year.
Arrival at Berlin station where we dropped off our luggage, grabbed a bite to eat and then headed for town.
The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. The church has been left half destroyed as a reminder of the war.
And ths is what the church used to look like.
Shopping/eating district near the church.
I've never been this hot since last summer in Japan. The heat is scorching and the sun very bright. For some reason, the sun in Tokyo is not so bright that one needs sunglasses.
Catching up on project progress with my developers over IM outside the Victory Column. Berlin (and Hamburg) was covered with Wifi everywhere - not free though.
Am using Hector's MacBook Air at the moment since my MBP is dead. Fell in love with the portability of the machine and decided to get one when I get back to JP - will wait for the second generation one though. This damn machine needs a firewire socket.
Am using Hector's MacBook Air at the moment since my MBP is dead. Fell in love with the portability of the machine and decided to get one when I get back to JP - will wait for the second generation one though. This damn machine needs a firewire socket.
Unfortunately, the Victory Column is covered in graffiti. Its sad to see a symbol of history treated in this way. While Hamburg and Berlin have lovely scenery, I do notice quite a bit of graffiti here and there and reminded me of living back in the UK where it was everywhere.
Does your region have graffiti all over the place? In your eyes, is graffiti art or vandalism? Some graffiti looks nice but I think there are places for it and especially not on historical objects.
Does your region have graffiti all over the place? In your eyes, is graffiti art or vandalism? Some graffiti looks nice but I think there are places for it and especially not on historical objects.
A view from the column.
Relaxing by some river.
Recharging our HP with some Hagen daz and catching up on some more mail.
East Berlin.
This is Brandenburg Gate - a former city gate and one of the main symbols of Berlin.
A bicycle for seven.
On the move again.
Remains of the Berlin Wall. The wall separated East Berlin and West Berlin for 28 years, from the day construction began on August 13, 1961 until it was dismantled in 1989. More from Wikipedia.
The Sony Plaza where we wanted to catch Iron Man but didn't have enough time. Have to wait until bloody September when it comes out in Japan.
Sorry - forgot the name of this place - its near Berlin station.
"Berlin Hauptbahnhof" is Berlin Central Station where we catch a train to Fussen.
The train is the 10:14PM to Munich where we will catch another two trains.
First time on a sleeper train and it was a fun experience. Each room is about 2 meters sq and comes with its own shower, toilet, towels etc. The hot water pressure is good too.
Breakfast is served on the train at 5AM.
We watch the sun rise over coffee.
Corridors on the train.
And this is where we are right now. Off for more lakes, mountains and trekking around castles today.
If you are new here, you may want to keep up with more of the same via RSS or Danny's other networks. (dont show again)
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Professional
I'm glad you're enjoying your trip to Germany. :) The building on #19708 and #19709 is the German Reichstag btw. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_building
(ID #186074) Posted on 2008/05/12 17:15
I took a sleepertrain through Germany once, although the sheets and pillows were ok, I couldn't sleep for shit. I guess I wasn't tired enough ;) It's really too bad about the modern day Berlin.. I think the pre-war Berlin must have been beautiful. I don't know if I could live in a city with such a troubled past as Berlin has. PS: If you're in the south of Germany now, stay away from the Weisswurst!! Don't say I didn't warn you!
(ID #186194) Posted on 2008/05/12 21:42
I can only say that Weißwurst is a great thing. You eat it the bavarian way with a beer and sweet mustard and a brezel. Nothing better at 10 o'clock in the morning. Then it's called a "Weißwurstfrühstück" (weißwurst breakfast)
(ID #186280) Posted on 2008/05/13 00:18
IT-Architect, SysAdmin, WebDesign and Coding, Virtualization (VMware + NetApp)
Always when i have been to Berlin it was covered in snow, or rather the grey leftovers of it, which didn't make the city look as nice as the summer weather does, completely different. Yey for another Haruhi pic. (^ω^)v Seems you are lucky and get only to see the good sides of germany so far. ;) Indeed the grafity part is sad, dun know what to say more about it though. :/
(ID #186200) Posted on 2008/05/12 22:01
Everything looks so beautiful over there. Wish I got the chance to travel around...
(ID #186202) Posted on 2008/05/12 22:06
Student
Berlin is very nice, I'd like to go there someday, the only euro capital I know is Paris, need to stay away from the states but I'm going there again this year XD
(ID #186204) Posted on 2008/05/12 22:09
Wow, the sleeper trains changed alot, the ones I took to Italy and back were quite old and that was ~ 5 years ago
(ID #186207) Posted on 2008/05/12 22:12
Oh, and about the Graffiti, it can be art, but not if it's only "You smell" like in the picture... Banksys Graffitis are art for example imo.
(ID #186210) Posted on 2008/05/12 22:16
Man, Iron Man is awesome. And don't get out of the cinema before the credits end!!!
(ID #186218) Posted on 2008/05/12 22:37
I agree. Don't leave 'till the very end. That movie is awesome!
(ID #187034) Posted on 2008/05/14 01:41
i agree!
(ID #189712) Posted on 2008/05/17 14:15
Pharmacist, Accountant to be!
Wow, German weather as good as Australian weather? Thought Europe had shitty weather?
(ID #186221) Posted on 2008/05/12 22:41
it's called "global warming" :)
(ID #186243) Posted on 2008/05/12 23:10
Anime & Ferrari fanboy
Weather never stays the same or else the weather would be boring :P
(ID #186535) Posted on 2008/05/13 06:38
Blogger and university student
The corridors on the train reminds me of the capsule inns in Akihabara ^^. About graffiti, I don't really like it. It can be cool but it's mostly just crap in my opinion. There are places for graffiti and that's where it should be, I hate it when I see it on trains, historical objects and other places where it shouldn't be.
(ID #186227) Posted on 2008/05/12 22:50
Medical Research and Design
Beautiful pictures, Danny, it looks to have been a wonderful trip. I can't help but smile each time I see a picture with the Haruhi figma standing somewhere, seems to ubiquitous yet at the same time it always adds this hint of color and SOSdan awesome. I hope your return to Japan is easier on the jet lag than the trip to Hamburg.
(ID #186235) Posted on 2008/05/12 23:00
Raven, AMV & MAD maker, Otaku
10th picture where your working on your laptop danny was total awsomeness!!!!!!! XD
(ID #186237) Posted on 2008/05/12 23:02
Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
(ID #186245) Posted on 2008/05/12 23:13
Polytechnic Senior, Bronze Lifesaving Trainee, Mech Designer, Pokemon Indexer.
That's definitely graffiti. I mean, it had the holy word of four letters... Berlin is really filled with nice scenery. I mean, sure, I get to see green now and then, but Singapore's really small. The green that I mostly see are roadside trees. XP
(ID #186246) Posted on 2008/05/12 23:13
五〇一軍团 TK8316 Singapore Garrison Public Relations Officer
the coolest graffiti in my area is this. http://gordonator.blogspot.com/2008/04/singapore-gundam-graffiti.html
(ID #186247) Posted on 2008/05/12 23:15
LOL at shameless plug. You bold, gordon. ^^
(ID #186516) Posted on 2008/05/13 05:40
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:54)
and comes another guy with a shameless plug... ^^; http://www.marvinryan.com/blog/2008/03/25/gundam-graffiti/ gordon and I took a picture of the same graffiti. ^^
(ID #186790) Posted on 2008/05/13 15:03
Looks really nice there. Im quite looking forward to my trip there now. Shame about the graffiti yeah, but at least those trains are spotlessly clean!
(ID #186253) Posted on 2008/05/12 23:21
cool pix....wait a sec...u have to wait till Sept to watch Iron Man?!?
(ID #186257) Posted on 2008/05/12 23:26
Illustrator & Designer
Berlin definitely looks bright and sunny. I do like graffiti and stencil art and like you Danny, I think if done at the place, it can be art (to a certain extent Banksy who's done some really nice stuff but he's a bit over-rated, too). I think tagging and graffiti on historical objects is bad. Those trains look really clean and nice.
(ID #186258) Posted on 2008/05/12 23:33
Wow, was very suprised after your post about Hamburg and the votes, 28% said that they are from Germany (now only 14% - german readers are the fastest? ^^). I never felt of Germany in such a good way as u do - everything looks very nice on your shots but in everyday life you´re just bored about :D But iam very happy that u enjoy our country
(ID #186266) Posted on 2008/05/12 23:58
That looks like an amazing place to visit. I never rode on a train you can sleep on, but it looks pretty darn nice. All I ever rode were the crappy Metra trains from the burbs to downtown. Nasty! That last shot of the mountains and lake were simply amazing.
(ID #186269) Posted on 2008/05/13 00:01
it really depends on the person. people living at the blocks of house, they would think graffiti is vandalism but to other people who visit the blocks of house once in a while, it is art. it depends on the nature of the graffiti also. in the case danny mention,i would label it as vandalism as there are other ways to leave your name and date of visiting that place...eg. log book or photos etc
(ID #186270) Posted on 2008/05/13 00:03
I have to agree with you on the MacBook Air. Light enough to make all the sacrifices it requires... EXCEPT FOR THE FREAKING FIREWIRE.
(ID #186272) Posted on 2008/05/13 00:07
Nice pics... hope you had a wonderful day in Berlin. As for the graffiti thing I don't really like it exept the very HQ drawings artist were permitted to draw. BTW, where will you head next after Füssen?
(ID #186277) Posted on 2008/05/13 00:14
danny it haven't been so hot and with blue heaven in many years so you are lucky xD it's the same in Denmark
(ID #186303) Posted on 2008/05/13 01:08
It looks like you are haveing a beautiful time in Germany, I'm happy the weather is good. Are you finding Germany a little more relaxed and less over crowded than Japan? I should be going to Germany later in the year to attend some beerfests and hopefully vist a concentration camp.
(ID #186309) Posted on 2008/05/13 01:21
Very nice train. Wish I could travel around on work like that D:
(ID #186311) Posted on 2008/05/13 01:22
wow. nice scenery and very nice sleeper train. never been on one before. seem to be having a good time. we don't have much graffiti in Singapore. the laws are very strict and vandalism is punishable by skin-splitting lashes of the cane. *ouch*
(ID #186325) Posted on 2008/05/13 01:31
Too bad you couldn't catch Iron man, it's an awesome movie
(ID #186331) Posted on 2008/05/13 01:38
Part trooper, part -timer, 100% loser...
Graffiti=Getting caught by the police but there are some areas where you can do graffiti... Anyway, Danny you look cool there with the shades... LOL a bicycle for seven, I want to see it in motion! That would be interesting...
(ID #186345) Posted on 2008/05/13 01:50
Student
Woot, Danny eats Corn Flakes. /win
(ID #186375) Posted on 2008/05/13 02:20
Full-time student へへ
if only shinkansen interiors were that luxurious :-). speaking of mbp and mba, i wonder what cases do you use? any cute ones with big manga eyes ^^. or do you just chuck it in the bad? i just got a foofbag for my mba. check it out. has a very nice feel to it with the "nami" designs. http://www.kenleewrites.com/2008/04/foofbag.html
(ID #186404) Posted on 2008/05/13 02:54
Extremely Poor College Student
i really like that runrise picture frrm the train.i havent seen a sunrise for years
(ID #186415) Posted on 2008/05/13 03:06
writing mini thesises
CMIIW http://www.dannychoo.com/slide/eng/world/19708/photo/Berlin/ is a parliament building designed by Norman Foster. ^^
(ID #186429) Posted on 2008/05/13 03:21
Hotdog Repairman
Looks like you guys are really enjoying the sights and sounds Germany has to offer. Thanks for takin the time out to post pics. Cheers!
(ID #186440) Posted on 2008/05/13 03:37
Lasersword operator
@Danny, nice pics x) to your post/picture: "Sorry - forgot the name of this place - its near Berlin station." -it's called "Reichstag" or "Bundestag"
(ID #186459) Posted on 2008/05/13 04:00
Online Shop
Nice pics and Danny looks cool on that one pic above~ We have too much graffiti around Los Angeles area since we have lots of gangs and what not and they don't look artistic at all. Wow, Iron Man opens on September in Japan!? The movie is really fun, I feel bad that you don't get to watch it for so long x_x
(ID #186470) Posted on 2008/05/13 04:18
.NET/Web Developer
Awww...I wish I had more time here in Linkoping so that I could spend some time on the neighboring countries. especially germany. It's so close from here. Guess I'll have to rely on your photos then. As for the graffiti...most of the time they look bad and they're just plain vandalism. The only graffitis I consider good are the ones that I consider art. You can rarely see them around. They fit the environment just well and they're beautifully made.
(ID #186481) Posted on 2008/05/13 04:53
Really nice place, I´m gonna visit it next semester =)
(ID #186490) Posted on 2008/05/13 05:15
Superb pics as always. Say, isn't the Brandenburg gate a symbol of Europe as well? We don't have much graffiti here (whether it be downtown or more in the suburbs; it's so nice this way... Though I do wonder how's life in North-Montreal, where there is supposed to be a less secure environment) And... You do have a Mr. Anderson (Matrix) look with those sunglasses. Nice! You're going to buy a Macbook Air next as well? Gotta boost the economy! ^^;
(ID #186517) Posted on 2008/05/13 05:48
Awesome photos Danny, looks like you are having a blast (?) over there. Germany got alot of places for a tourist to visit, and if you like 2nd world war it's even better. Sweden is pretty much filled with graffiti if you visit the right town.
(ID #186521) Posted on 2008/05/13 06:04
wow the scenery is beautiful. Visiting Germany is definitely on my things to do list before I die.
(ID #186526) Posted on 2008/05/13 06:13
*Laugh* "A bicycle for seven". How does it even work?
(ID #186530) Posted on 2008/05/13 06:26
Professional
German engineering... ^^
(ID #186540) Posted on 2008/05/13 06:49
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Lol, yeah, German have cutting edge technology mastery. ^^
(ID #187127) Posted on 2008/05/14 04:03
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
how cool! I'm reminded of the Monster (animated series) so damn cool! thanks for sharing! :D:D
(ID #186544) Posted on 2008/05/13 06:56
I've been in Berlin last year for the 24C3 (http://events.ccc.de/congress/2007). I didn't see much of it in daylight though. Spend most of the daytime either sleeping (resting from going out the night before) or in the congress center. :) But I liked what I did see. Did a little write up of the trip: http://blog.orly.ch/articles/2008/01/02/so-long-berlin
(ID #186548) Posted on 2008/05/13 07:07
Oh cool i went to berline recently on a uni trip, we went to all those places in Berlin. Wierd seeing them on here. We also went inside the Kanzleramt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Chancellery) which was cool, you usually cant go in it. Did you go in the dome of the Reichstag danny?
(ID #186601) Posted on 2008/05/13 08:17
オタク all day long
Many place in my region are covered wutg graffiti too. Some ppl even did graffiti on some other ppl's car too. That's really sad. Graffiti is vandalism for sure, I hate them!! =(
(ID #186616) Posted on 2008/05/13 08:40
Procrastinator Extraordinaire
thats a mighty nice train right there. haven't had the luxury of being in one like that although I've been in train rides that lasted overnight. I for one cannot condone graffiti or taggers and that sort who call themselves artists...If your canvas is someone else's property its vandalism.
(ID #186649) Posted on 2008/05/13 09:15
I guess I can add another place in the world I want to visit, Thx Danny! It's not enough you show us cool figures and gundams...now you show me this gorgeous countryside and my wallet is yelping from my excitment! Glad you are enjoying your little vacation, please take more pics they're great to look at. BTW where was the last pics taken? One word "stunning", been staring at the pic for the last 20 mins.
(ID #186664) Posted on 2008/05/13 09:48
Leisure Consultant, Writer, Webmaster
They even had graffiti on the trains like 1980's New York. The youth are pretty rowdy too. I was out there for New Year and there were fire crackers popping everywhere.
(ID #186671) Posted on 2008/05/13 09:56
Student Engineer
I would LOVE to ride on one of those sleeper trains- I don't take metro/rail enough! I took a train maybe once in my lifetime. Berlin looks beautiful- especially the last picture of the mountains. It really depends on where you go in my are if you want to see graffiti. It is in Bethlehem, Allentown, Wilson, and I believe Easton. There is plenty around the Reading area where I go to college, but we are in a somewhat nice area. I believe graffiti is both vandalism and art. It is vandalism when historical landmarks are desecrated, but I have seen graffiti in Baltimore, MD that was turned into a mural and a presentation on the side of a few apartments- if you know Baltimore I am referring to many works- but mainly the one of the giant man planting a tree near one of the many bridges in the city. Many graffiti to express themselves; others do it to claim gang territory. I think it is a great thing to open parks dedicated to graffiti art; and encorporating it into a fun and clean park would be a plus. Go ahead and create graffiti art- just not on my house or on campus.
(ID #186690) Posted on 2008/05/13 10:28
Engineer first, On-taku second.
Even though the church is somewhat destroyed, I find it quite beautiful still. I suppose that's that charm of architecture, no? And graffiti. I think its an art form. Only when the artist actually will take time to draw it. Artistic tags and murals I don't mind. But when I see "OMFG JUULE WAS HURR" I get pissed off. Anyway. Hope you're enjoying your trip to Berlin, Danny!
(ID #186698) Posted on 2008/05/13 10:48
Jaina Solo Fan-boy! umm...Frozen food mangaer
Glad you're enjoying you're trip to Germany. I've spent some time and Germany myself, it's great isn't it. Although i was drunk many times, I can't stay away from the beer gardens.
(ID #186732) Posted on 2008/05/13 12:53
Computer Science Student
My very first comment here o/ Anyway, Berlin surely looks a nice city, if german wasn't so hard to learn I'd like to visit it someday :3
(ID #186744) Posted on 2008/05/13 13:23
Visual Communications and Web 2.0
Germany is a beautiful country and i hope one day to travel there. looks like you are having a blast and soon you will have even more fans MMAUAHHAAHA (do the evil laugh). In my area there is not much graffiti around, there is much more in Washington DC and when I was in Philadelphia there was even more. When I lived in Minsk, Belarus, there was very little. Though I remember when a big gate to a park in the center of the capital was cornered off by concrete fence for restoration, the fence was covered with graffiti. It was actually very nice and no one removed it. Not sure what they did after restoration was over. Have lots of fun Danny
(ID #186764) Posted on 2008/05/13 13:48
student, vexillologist
My pops was in Germany before it was reunited. He liked it over there, especially the beer. As for the graffiti, there are many places in my area that I see it. Stuff cannot last a month without being "tagged" by gangs or people with too much time on their hands. I even know at least two taggers at my work, and they always try to compete with each other at work. Sure, folks try to clean it up, but the cleanup even looks worse if you don't match the paint. People were even killed for trying to stop taggers in my area, so it is very bad here.
(ID #186789) Posted on 2008/05/13 15:00
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:54)
apart from the graffiti, Berlin looks extremely clean. lol on the heptaicycle. btw when you do watch Iron Man, wait until after the credits for a surprise final scene. ^^
(ID #186792) Posted on 2008/05/13 15:13
The name of te building you forgot is the german 'Reichstag' aka the parliament building ;) And yes the weather was/is very unusal, you're one/two lucky guy/s ;) Next stop is Switzerland? On a visit to Kerim? ;)
(ID #186805) Posted on 2008/05/13 15:32
Graffiti in Singapore ??? Are you kidding ? But last time, I happened to see one: I took in picture this rare expression of freedom
(ID #186816) Posted on 2008/05/13 16:04
Dog of the Country
ha ha ha..i see graffiti in some parts of singapore..more rural areas though..lol..even public bus stops have them..
(ID #186862) Posted on 2008/05/13 18:31
Student/Part-timer
Awesome stuff here. Definately need to visit Berlin on my next visit to Europe. Those trains are really nice, similar to the ones I took in France, but a bit more classier
(ID #186817) Posted on 2008/05/13 16:05
wow, that bicycle is cool. I love how everyone has to contribute still :P
(ID #186820) Posted on 2008/05/13 16:12
those stupid government campaigners.... they fill all my gate with their poster! breaking all the paint in the end! i got a gate for my house, since my family is 'chinese' or just my big gate interest graffiti makers, they spray it like craze paint it back, asshole!
(ID #186882) Posted on 2008/05/13 20:32
Nice to see you're having fun there :0)
(ID #186922) Posted on 2008/05/13 21:41
security/3d graphic artist
sweetness! Thanks Danny for the photo round up.. :D
(ID #186934) Posted on 2008/05/13 22:02
Director/Technical Director, Cameraman
There are different types of graffiti, and just tags arn't that great to look at. But graffiti art is really creative, and sometimes you gotta wonder how they go to those places to do it.
(ID #186974) Posted on 2008/05/13 23:54
Wow' what a nice view in berlin. Nice icy mountains,Historical areas like the church and seven person for the used of a bike but i sad that i see that freaking graffiti. Its not so nice..Take care of your journey O.K
(ID #187106) Posted on 2008/05/14 03:18
wow i wanna ride the sleeper train~ is that what its really called? -_-;
(ID #187162) Posted on 2008/05/14 05:32
Hangmen13 in Sabah, Malaysia, but now studying in KL (still the same country) (Registered on 2007/04/21 22:31)
Aimless Traveler
Other than sausages and Mercedes Benz, there's one contribution that I feel is the best thing ever made in Germany: the Heckler and Koch MP5 submachinegun. Nearly 50 years old, yet still the favourite weapon of choice among law enforcement and special forces personnel. Like the old saying goes: "German stuff are always nice".
(ID #187165) Posted on 2008/05/14 05:37
Ahh reminds me of when I went to Berlin! It's a cool place. The bars and clubs open and stay packed so late! Love it!
(ID #187167) Posted on 2008/05/14 05:37
The scenery looks lovely. I wonder when I can get to go to Germany for a vacation... And yeah, we have lots of graffiti here, mostly obscene phrases and cellphone numbers of people who want to "make friends".
(ID #191415) Posted on 2008/05/19 18:45
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
Great pics Danny, you truly have a magic eye for taking pics. Graffiti is a big problem in Brazil. While we do have some talented ones, what we have most is those ugly rival gangs undecipherable stuff.
(ID #191479) Posted on 2008/05/19 20:30
It is certainly a beautiful place. I
(ID #197940) Posted on 2008/05/27 13:32
Aviation Instructor, dedicated and certified lunatic
Danny, Awesome pics! It's nice to see how well Berlin's changed after the Wall came down, I served in the Army there from 1979 to 1981. ( BTW, I cried like a baby when I saw the Wall come down,*on CNN, Live, with the Scorpions playing "Wind of Change" * I was living in Calif. at the time, and my wife couldn't understand why.... had to have been there, I guess ) Anyways, thanks for the pic's, I have great memories of being there....
(ID #616369) Posted on 2009/05/22 10:05
I've always wanted to go there.
(ID #665787) Posted on 2009/07/04 07:54
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