Saturday, 17 September 2011
Jesse asked me, ‘It is the journey or the destination that you live for?’ “Wow, that’s deep.” I replied. He said that I gave the impression that I am always for the journey, perhaps it was my laidback attitude. After about a 10 seconds pause when various flashback reminded me of myself. “Destination, every time.”
Jesse preferred the journey then I asked him is it the fear of the destination that was keeping him on the journey. Then he answered my question with another question, what if the destination was not the destination you want? I answered his question with an answer. The destinations which I find myself in were decided by a combinations of choices. Some choices are made by me or made for me. If I decided the choices which I could, combined with the choices made for me then that would lead to the destination I want. It is that simple. I followed my answer with a question, Where are you going with your Journey?
An in-depth conversation continued and minutes passed. Eventually I understood Jesse’s reasons for the journey. He continued his journey and I arrived at my destination.
OktoberFest.
It was Day 1 of the Fest. The beer tents were jam packed. Since we did not turn up at 6 am, there was no space inside a tent. Jesse was losing faith, we might struggle for a beer ironically in a beer festival. I said to him, I will get you a beer in this festival, this destination included a beer. We spotted an empty bench outside a beer tent. It wasn’t till later that we found that we have to wait till noon for a beer anyway. Jesse wanted to move in his quest for a beer. But I had to refocus him that the destination for the beer was here. The journey was going to be tough, it was going to be a long worthwhile wait.
See the result below.
The beers was costly @ 9Euro/Litre but refreshingly great. It was the atmosphere that really made the festival worthwhile. The anticipation that came with the first day of the festival set the mood for everyone. The organised drinking began. Periodically, one must raise his/her glass and cheer before drinking. The three beautiful swiss girls improved the visuals and were really friendly to talk to. A true smooth operator like me would ask them to order the drinks for us in German. When the conversation “dried up” I managed to spill half a glass of lemonade onto her. It did restart the conversation somehow. It was an accident to be fair. I couldn’t take all the credit for that. All the cultures were united by a marathon drinking session. There were a lot of Aussies everywhere however I think the true Bavarian character was still somehow retained. A great festival ticked off the to do list.
Note how I fitted in with a checkered shirt. Experienced traveller should wear the appropriate attire in any country. 😀
The picture above was one of my favourite panning moments. The relative counter rotation of the tea cup and the ride itself meant that there a range of synchronous speeds. I was bound to capture something as long as I moved the camera fast.
Good evening Munchen, as the night fell, vomit started to fly. It was time to get out of there. Jonny Foreigners could not hack the drinking from noon. Despite the vomits, day 1 of the Oktoberfest was an unique atmosphere. The epic Europe trip continued. Then on to “the midnight train to anywhere…..” Paris to be precise. “It goes on and on and on and on…..” This was mainly to do with having solid 90 degrees upright seats instead of a sleeper train. Always take the bed option. If I could have one advice for night trains.
Adventures of Delboy 