Munich 3-Day Itinerary: Day Two

Read Day 1 here - BMW Welt and Olympic Park

Read Day 2 here - Neuschwanstein Castle

Read Day 3 here - Nymphenburg Palace and Deustche Museum

Neuschwanstein Castle

In the morning at Munich Hbf we bought a train ticket to F�ssen to Neuschwanstein Castle. The train ticket cost EUR 43,10 for three people and included the bus ride up to the castle. Departure wasn't until 8:53am and I used the free WiFi at the station after a simple registration with T-Mobile. The train ride was two hours long with beautiful scenery of rolling green fields, blue skies and red tiled roofs along the way.

Munich Hbf

A few weeks prior to the trip, I ordered tickets for the castle online here. We arrived around 11am and there were long lines of tour groups and individuals waiting to buy a ticket. It will make your life much easier if you just order online ahead of time (EUR 12 per person.) Furthermore you don't have to pay until you reach the counter and show them your printed reservation. Of course, if you don't show up then they will charge your credit card which is required for the reservation.

Hohenschwangau Castle

Our guided tour of the castle wasn't until 1:55pm but there were other things to do in the area so we weren't bored waiting. We went to the smaller Hohenschwangau Castle, then queued for a bus up to the Marien-Brucke (bridge) which was above a waterfall and across from the Neushwanstein Castle so that there was a gorgeous view. Neuschwanstein Castle was about a 15-20 minute walk uphill so we took the bus which cost a few euros.

View from Marien-Brucke

The tour itself was about half an hour and a guide took us through the various rooms. No photographs were allowed inside. The king only lived in the castle for 172 days before he died. It was then opened for the public just six weeks after his death. Each room was elaborately decorated with wooden carved poles and many wall art. Only a third of the rooms in the castle were finished before the king died of mysterious causes.

View surrounding the castle

At the end of the tour, we walked downhill leisurely for about 15 minutes back to the bus stop to take the bus to F�ssen train station. Our train ticket had a specific departure time from Munich Hbf but flexible return departure time from F�ssen. 

Fussen train station

Our last stop of the day was to Marien Platz which was the central square of Munich with Viktualienmarkt nearby.

Marien Platz

Read Day 1 here - BMW Welt and Olympic Park

Read Day 2 here - Neuschwanstein Castle

Read Day 3 here - Nymphenburg Palace and Deustche Museum

Munich 3-Day Itinerary: Day One

Read Day 1 here - BMW Welt and Olympic Park

Read Day 2 here - Neuschwanstein Castle

Read Day 3 here - Nymphenburg Palace and Deustche Museum

The Munich International Airport is connected to a sizable underground mall with a supermarket, restaurants, shops and car rental. We bought a group ticket (EUR 22,80 for up to 5 adults or 10 children) for the S Bahn train from the airport to city centre. The ticket included unlimited use until 6am the next day. The 45-minute ride took us to Munich's main train station, M�nchen Hauptbahnhof.

S Bahn platform

We stayed at Hotel Cristal which was less than a 10 minute walk from the station. The location was convenient and the hotel had all the basics we needed except WiFi which was charged per day even for use in the lobby. 

A short U Bahn train ride to Olympiazentrum station brought us to the Olympic park and the BMW Welt. The Olympic park was huge and we were only able to explore a small part.

BMW Welt

Interior of BMW Welt

Olympic park

Read Day 1 here - BMW Welt and Olympic Park

Read Day 2 here - Neuschwanstein Castle

Read Day 3 here - Nymphenburg Palace and Deustche Museum

Day Trip from Addis Ababa: Debre Libanos

I only got a small glimpse of Ethiopia outside of Addis Ababa and it was certainly beautiful. We took a day trip out to Debre Libanos which is about a two hour drive out of the city depending on traffic and stops.

On the way we stopped at a local village's Saturday market where people walk from surrounding areas to sell their produce or goods here once a week. It was quite overwhelming because we were the only foreigners there and people began crowding a bit to just look at us.

Saturday Market

We reached the monastery slightly past noon and they took us around for a tour. Dress code is strict here and women in sleeveless tops or tight pants had scarves wrapped around them to cover up skin. Inside the monastery we all took our shoes off.

We were told that this is not the original building but one ordered by the emperor to be constructed when the original burnt down.

Monastery

Interior of monastery

Our next stop was the Ethio-German lodge which overlooks the Jemma Valley Gorge. The river was completely dried up but the the valley was very deep and grand. We ate lunch overlooking the valley and as usual service was slow so remember to allow time for that. It took an hour before my simple vegetable and rice dish consisting of rice, potato cubes and carrots was ready. 

Ethio-German lodge

A short hike from the lodge brings you to the Portuguese Bridge. For 22 Birr, a local guide took us to the cliffs to see the Galada Baboons. The hike was rocky at times and we had to avoid the cacti on the sides.It was extremely hot as the sun was scorching but the view was worthwhile.

Welcome sign for the Portuguese Bridge

Portuguese Bridge

Jemma Valley Gorge

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Things to See and Do

We were told several times that Addis Ababa is not Ethiopia meaning that the country is so much more beautiful outside of the big city. I only went on one day trip to Debre Libanos outside of Addis and I would have to agree. The city itself can be quite dusty, polluted and crowded and I felt myself feeling more tired than usual while there.

Transportation

We traveled as a group so we rented a bus that cost about USD 150-200 per day including a driver and a guide. You can also take the blue taxis to go around but be sure to negotiate a price before you step in. They will often wait or come back for you to drive you back instead of waiting for another customer to flag them down. 

You can also take the local transportation called mini-buses which only costs 2-3 birr per ride but can be very confusing if you do not speak the language. They have signs on top of these vans that say where the final destination is and the van will be overloaded with people (about 12-15) who know where they're going. I tried it once and we felt accomplished when we reached our destination but it does waste a lot of time trying to figure things out.

Entoto Hill

On our first day here, we went to Entoto Hill for a high up view of the city. The view was great after the rain that cleared the smog because you could see how sprawled Addis is. There was a church and small museum there with an entrance fee. 

View of Addis from Entoto Hill

Church

Ethnological Museum

This museum is located at Addis Ababa University so you can see both at once. There was a tour guide who explained each section to us and the museum was quite well kept. There were sections on culture, the different ethnicities in Ethiopia and more. It even had Emperor Haile Selassie's bed on display.

Emperor's bed

Meskel Square

Meskel Square is a place you will probably pass by frequently. There are always people there from children playing football (soccer) to taxi drivers parked for a break.

Meskel Square

Red Terror Museum

Next to Meskel Square is the Red Terror Museum. Admission is by donation and it was a sobering experience. Our particular tour guide was a survivor himself and he led us through the stages of Ethiopia history before, during and after the genocide in the 1970s. I think it is worth coming to know a little more about the country you're visiting.

Red Terror Museum

National Museum

The National Museum hosts Lucy, one of the oldest human skeletons in the world at 3.2 million years old. The basement of the museum features the various skeletons including Lucy. The upper levels showcase art and other pieces but they are less well displayed. Admission cost 10 birr.

Market Tour

I joined a market tour with Addis Eats that started at 5:20am in the morning (USD 75). They are an American couple who has lived in Addis for 3.5 years. They have learned to speak Amharic and started this business to show tourists a more local side of the city. The tour started so early because the market we went to begins even earlier than that. The Piazza market is a wholesale one where mountains of fresh produce are brought in daily to be sold in bulk. The majority of produce you see at fruit stands or grocery places came through this market at one point. 

Market at dawn

Mountains of produce

Walking through the market can cause a bit of culture shock as everyone is there to do business so as the only foreigners you stand out and you're also in the way. Large baskets and crates are carried on heads so you have to dodge under these and between cars and people to navigate the market. 

Second market

Coffee pots at second market

Next on our tour we went to a coffee shop where we could buy some Ethiopian coffee to bring home and then to Kategna for breakfast. We went to another calmer market that sold everything from spices to live poultry to kitchenware. Our last stop was a gift shop called Salem's before we were driven back to our hotel by 11am. 

Textile at Salem's

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Visas, Accommodation and Food

It has been a while since I have updated this blog but I recently traveled again in May, this time to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This was my first time on the African continent and there were quite a few differences, the most obvious being that I felt very much like a minority when walking around as the other places I traveled to had Asian tourists or locals around.

Local coffee shop

Visas and Addis Ababa Bole International Airport

After close to 24 hours of continuous travel including three separate flights and two layovers we were finally in Addis! The last I checked, only two countries are exempt from visas when entering Ethiopia so make sure you plan for this. There is the option of visa on arrival where you pay USD 50 for a stamp in your passport. However, this policy may change any time due to political circumstances. 

I opted to prepare my visa before departure with the embassy in Canada using their website's instructions. There is no online form version for this unless you use a third party visa company. I applied for a one month visa which is valid from the day that it is issued. This is very important because you cannot apply for your visa too far ahead of time or it could expire before you leave. For example, I went on a two week trip so I applied for the visa one month prior to the date of departure. It cost more to apply for a visa rather than purchase one on arrival but there is the ease of mind that I will not be rejected at the border for any visa issues.

When we were there, we had to fill a health form and have our passports checked to see if we were in any Ebola affected countries prior to arriving to Addis. After going through this part we went through the queue for customs and immigration. It was quite long and some people would cut queue. Fortunately, by the time we were finished with the process our luggage was already circling around the conveyor belt so we did not have to wait for that.

Accomodation

Addis Ababa is Africa's diplomatic capital hence there are people from all over the world here. There are some hotel chains such as the Sheraton and the Radisson. We stayed at a hotel called Dreamliner which had a booth at the departure hall of Bole Airport to get a shuttle bus to the hotel.

There was a man dressed like hotel staff who helped us with packing our luggage onto the shuttle bus but then asked for tips after. Be aware that the hotel staff will not ask for tips like this so you may want to just carry your own luggage.

At the entrance of the hotel is a bag and metallic scanner like the ones at the airport. Many places in Addis will have this such as in hotels and nicer restaurants. When I went to the post office, we were not allowed to bring our cameras in.

Hotel lobby

The Dreamliner hotel is about 15-30 minutes drive from the airport depending on traffic. It was clean with WiFi in the rooms and lobby. Be aware that the WiFi is quite spotty so be patient. Internet penetration is only 1% in Ethiopia. The staff are friendly and we enjoyed a buffet breakfast every morning with fresh fruit. This was the only place I had fresh fruit and I will explain more in the food section.

Now lets move onto things that the hotel could not control but may affect your visit. When we were there, only half the road in front of the hotel was level and the other half was rubble. On our last day there, a machine dug up the concrete parking lot right in front of the hotel doorsteps and left a pile of rubble there. I presume it is for construction purposes. There are cafes and coffee shops within walking distance of the hotel but the rubble makes it inconvenient to go to them especially at night when you cannot see as well.

Street in front of hotel

Electricity is not a constant here. Several times the power went out and the hotel does have a generator but it is extremely loud. Sometimes it turns on at 3am in the morning which can affect your sleep. On the topic of noise, behind the hotel is a large dirt football (soccer) field. People gather there and on frequent nights there was an extremely loud intercom playing music and reciting something in the late hours of the night like 4am. 

Food

A dietary staple of Ethiopians is injera made from a grain called teff. I would describe it as a spongey rolled up carb that is slightly sour. You eat with your right hand and rip up sections of injera to pick up the sauces placed on top.

Left: injera and Right: tibs (beef) wot

I was very careful not to eat any raw vegetables or fruit other than at the hotel. Even at a nice restaurant, the salad made a friend sick. I presume it was because it was washed with the local water which we were not used to. I did buy mangoes from a fruit stand nearby the hotel and cut it up to eat in my room without any problems.

Fruit stand

I brushed my teeth and changed my contact lenses using the hotel's tap water and that was fine. Needless to say, drink only bottled water while you're here. 

Some nice restaurants to try include:

Kategna for traditional food

Yilma for grilled beef

At Kategna

Coffee

Ethiopia is well known for their coffee and rightly so! I am not a coffee drinker but here I found myself wanting a cup quite often. The traditional style is served in what looked to me like Chinese tea cups instead of the mugs we're used to in North America. 

Down the street from the hotel was a local coffee shack called Messi Coffee. There were three tin/metal walls so you could see outside onto the street while sitting inside. It was a cozy place with small stools and tables that could fit 6-7 people maximum. The coffee cost 4 birr a cup and you could see the lady boiling the fresh coffee over a coal stove next to you as you drink. It was one of my favourite experiences there!

Brewing coffee

Coffee for 4 birr

If you're looking for a more cafe style, Tomoca has several branches there. They're famous for their macchiato and you drink standing around some tables. Each cup is 12 birr and I bought an abundance of packaged coffee here.

Macchiato for 12 birr

Flowboarding at Flow House Manila

Calling all thrill seekers out in there! A new water activity has set and waiting for you to be tested! Have you already tried wakeboarding? Surfing? Skimboarding? Yeah? Hmm... how about flowboarding? Not yet? Well, flowboarding is the new hype in town which gives waterboard sports a new kind of face. Flowboarding combines the look of surfing, the tricks of skateboarding, and the boards of wakeboarding yet instead of doing it outdoor, flowboarding are being manipulated/controlled by mechanics. The said sport has been evolving since the 80's but been an underdog since the market which offers this sport is just limited as they are only seen on some resorts, cruise ships, etc. But worry no more because Flow House Manila brought it to the metro and they are now operating!

How to get there?
Flow Hose Manila is located at Molino Boulevard corner Masaito Drive in Bacoor City. If you are going to commute, you may take a commercial van in MOA having a signboard of Paliparan-Molino. Just inform the driver to drop you off at Flow House Manila as it is just along the road. Just in case the driver do not know where Flow House Manila is (since it's just new in the area), just tell them to drop you at V-Central Mall along Molino Boulevard. V-Central Mall is just beside Flow House Manila. Travel time is maximum of an hour.

Option 2: Take a bus at Coastal Mall terminal having a signboard going to Dasmarinas. Then tell the bus conductor to drop you at St. Dominic College of Asia. From there, take a tricycle going to Flow House Manila.

As I am blogging this, Flow House Manila is still in its development period. The area hasn't fully furnished yet like the shopping mall and stuff but the flowboarding area as well as the bar are fully functional. As for their rates and fees, flowboarders will have to spend PhP 650 per hour per head which is inclusive of entrance fee, board rental, instructor, and pool use. For non riders there is an entrance fee of Php 300 which is also a consumable value in the bar/restaurant. Both flow riders and non flow riders can use the pool without time limit. Just kindly refer on the schedule below for the operating hours of Flow House Manila:

Monday � Friday: 10 AM to 12 MN
Saturday � Sunday: 8 AM to 12 MN

The pool side

The bar and restaurant

The flowboarding activity area

Then my family

There are three kinds of position you can do when trying out this activity. First is the laying down position, second is where you are sitting on top of the board and the most difficult one is the stand up position of course. Tip: Flowboarding is considered a sport so basically you will have to keep riding to improve. I fell so many times (surfers called it wipe out) before I was able to do the stand up position. Also always listen to the instructor's advice. They're expert and only wanted to help us to enjoy the experience fully. Do not afraid to get wipe out because the material used by Flow House Manila is similar to that used in trampolines. The ride surface is ready to absorb impacts and will have you bouncing back for more. Yeah I got hurt to some of my wipe out but its tolerable and nothing to worry about.

Lookin' cool right?

Picking some advice from my instructor

Then I let go of the rope and started surfing...

After a minute or less, I got swipe out. lol!

As per what to wear... hmmm there is no dress code in Flow House Manila, but I strongly recommend a boardshort and a rash guard or any comfortable beach clothes. Also bring your own towel and extra clothes. Just anything light and be prepare to get wet!

Flow House Manila also offers not only flowboarding but also a place where you and your friends can enjoy a great drinking experience as its bar has wide range of beverages - Alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Who wouldn't enjoy a glass of Jack Daniels after a nice flow ride huh?

This is me chillin'

So, what you waitin' for? Grab a friend now and experience flowboarding at Flow House Manila!

Flow House Manila
Molino Boulevard corner Masaito Drive, Bacoor, Cavite
Dial 09985545035 for reservations.
Monday � Friday: 10 AM to 12 MN
Saturday � Sunday: 8 AM to 12 MN

Breakdown of Expenses:
Transportation: Below 100 Pesos from Manila (one way)
Flowboarder: 650 Pesos per hour per head
Non rider: 300 Pesos