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Now, I probably should be trying to finish up the backlog of posts and pictures from Italy, but as those who’re following me on Twitter (klaus_jones) can probably tell, I’m not in the best state to do so…6 cocktails in 10 minutes and counting.

I doubt I’ll be coherent enough (once they – plus the ongoing drinks – kick in) to get into this iPhone app, let alone post, which is probably a good thing.

In any case, i’ll update later…in the meantime, bring on the revelry!

Right, back on the iPhone wordpress app – the iPhone didn’t like it when I synched with James’s laptop to get some music, and consequently removed all the 3rd party apps I’d installed.

In any case, Cinque Terre. We left Bern on Thursday the 9th on a sequence of trains, with the ultimate goal of Riomaggiore – the southernmost town of the 5. A quick stopover in Brig, a Swiss town high in the alps, another in Milan, and by late afternoon we had arrived.

Somehow, Riomaggiore is more hilly than any Swiss town I’ve been to far, which is an achievement. A beautiful place (for a more lengthy description check this Euramble post), it truly drove home that I was actually in Europe.

The reknowned thing about Cinque Terre is the trail linking them all, a trail which hugs the coast, often taking the occupant along sheer cliffs with naught but 50m and the blue sea below them.

The 4 of us did the walk on Friday, leisurely enjoying the sights between the towns as well as the towns themselves. As we walked from Riomaggiore, Monterosso was the final stop, and we lay there enjoying the sun and surf in what was to become a trend for our 4 days here.

But beautiful vistas and sunbathing isn’t all Cinque Terre has to offer…the nightlife is prolific, with not one night passing without event. Whether 1am swimming with some Australians, clifftop dancing with Americans, balcony drinking with Canadians or pub crawling (all of Riomaggiore’s 2 drinking establishments) with Turks, something was always going on.

Alas, all good things must come to an end – although really this is just the beginning of the trip, and hopefully a indicator of things to come.

Just got the wordpress app for iPhone, test post…

Beyond that, Italy is pretty exciting with much, much going on, but that’ll have to wait for a more detailed post/summary once I get more time. Right now though, partying!

Ahh, Bern. Beautiful city. Picturesque. Cobblestones. Brilliant Turquoise river. Bear Pits. What more does a town need?

The 4 of us (as Crispy had returned to Wolfenbuettel to work) wandered to the YHA hostel a scarce 50 meters from the river. As high as Bern is in the mountains, shorts and a t-shirt were still the clothing of choice, and we spent a pleasant day wandering the streets. That evening we visited some pubs, sampling some home made beer (Jubi-Beer) and continuing to wander the streets, although rather more incoherently than previously.

Tiring of this, we returned to the hostel, hoping to continue on some of our merriment. Unfortunately, YHA hostels aren’t particularly conducive to such behaviour, and some irate Indians asked us to ‘talk slowly’ so they could sleep.

The next morning I felt like running off the hangover and started running through the town. Getting some odd looks, I moved down to the river bank and was promptly distracted by a game of soccer.

Playing until the weather changed in a heartbeat from sunny to pouring with rain (Melbourne has nothing on Bern’s weather – raining sunny raining 5 times a day) was truly an experience, one which I would be happy to repeat.

P.S. Check out Dave and James’ blog for more about our journies. They have a fairly comprehensive blog from their prior 3 months of travelling, which might provide some insight on how and why some things are done the way they are.

So, Germany. Back again. The flight from South Korea to Frankfurt was worse than the flight to South Korea, purely because I was awake and sober for it. On the upside, I was seated next to a nice German lass I was in the hotel with and we spent the time seeing how bad my German is. Apparently, I’m quite blatantly a Southerner. Huh.

We parted ways at the airport, and after catching up with Finn again and having a brew I caught up with Crispy Dave and James. Once Dickie landed (delayed flight, while mine was early) we headed to our lodgings in Frankfurt. Nothing too eventful that night, as some of us were travel-weary. Just a couple of quiet brews at a pizza joint.

Next day while the others headed to Stuttgart I split off to Heidelberg to see some of my German family – and also Martin, who’s been living in Germany for the last 3 years. After heading to the Gym with him and showing him and his soccer buddies how its done, my aunt Hedy and I headed over to Erlenbach to see my Grandparents. Both were in fine form, overjoyed to see me, crestfallen that my initial stay was only for a matter of hours.

But, plans had been made, timings must be met. Off to Stuttgart, then onwards to Bern, which is an entirely different tale.

Having a big night immediately prior to my departure and flying off the hangover seemed like a good idea, and god it was. Slept on and off for most of the 11 hour leg, was great.

South Korea is fairly interesting though. From being Swine Flu checked on entry to playing golf with a US/German drummer called Fin, everything is slightly bizarre. While I’m writing this, the TV is trying to teach me linear algebra.

In any case, traditional SK cuisine is brilliant, being able to buy Coronas for 3000 WON (roughly $3.50 AUD) is even better, and spendin the night skating around the town in 20 degree temperatures is the best.

Headin off to Frankfurt soon, will update as I can.

Pictures from South Korea

Pictures from Going Away Party Part I

Pictures from Going Away Party Part II

Oh, and the flick of a switch I can change individual power points in my room from 100V 50 Hz to 240V 60Hz….thats freaking cool!