BAT

The following scribbles were jotted down before / during / after my BAT trip to Munich, Kitzbuhel and Vienna.

Jan. 7, 06 9pm Shanghai

Back from dinner with Julie at Lan Xin. She apparently did not enjoy the food as much as I did, especially the "oil fried shrimps." But I took her by surprise with a nice swarovski necklace. It is a beautiful necklace with a simple but elegant crystal -- exactly the way she likes it. I hope it goes well with her dress as she had hoped such a necklace for her dress.

Car was already waiting in front of my house by the time I got back. There was certianly plenty of time to catch my flight -- I had already packed for the trip, and hence we left well ahead of the takeoff time.

Ride to the airport was predicatbly uneventful. Flight was however overbooked. I waited for half an hour and finally got a seat. Sitting next to me is this girl from Shanghai, but living and working in Switzerland. She was quite interesting to talk to. She told me everything about the hospital she works at and her neaplese boyfriend that she is about to marry.

Quickly time passed and we landed in Germany Here I am, Munich!

Jan. 8, 06 6:20am Munich

Customs officer apparently did not like the sight of a Chinese tourist going skiing in Kitzbuhel. Despite his repeated inquires, I stuck my version of ths story that I caome to ski and a taxi was waiting outside to take me to Kitzbuhel. Unable to press further, he eventually bulged. With a stamp in my passport, I finally stepped on the German soil for a 2nd time.

Air was brisk and sky dark. Unexpectedly, English was not easily spotted on street signs and public instructions. With much trouble, I located the train station, but could not figure out how to buy a proper ticket. A nice guy came along and offerred to help.

Interestingly, as soon as I mentioned Kitzbuhel, he immediately asked if I worked for McKinsey. Our training site is apparently well known to those that frequent the town of Kitzbuhel often. Is it a good or bad thing? I am yet to find out. He suggested that I ride the train to Marienplatz then walk to Hauptbahnof later. Also he suggested that I get Weibwurste at eiter Spaten or Franziskaner

Off the train, I looked and walkd everywhere. Munich is still the old Munich. Finally I sat down at Spaten for breakfast near Residenz Munchern. It became clear that a free walking map and English were all that I needed to get around this city. =) Sitting at breakfast table, I made up my mind about returning to Marienplatz to film the 11am dancing dolls in the cucooned clock.

From Marienplatz, I headed to the Hauptbahnhof to get my lift to Kitzbuhel. (I dont know why, but I wrote in my journal here in Chinese 总是在不可能的瞬间看到生命的火花）

Kitzbuhel is incredibly beautiful. The Alps quietly lies outside of my windows, like a peaceful mongster wearing his favorite wite tux and acting in its beset manner to match the ambience.

Manner is what I am lacking. The very first night I was in Kitzbuhel, I got piss drunk with Andrew Fraiser and acted absolutedly ridiculously at the Londoner. Simona, the owner of the Londoner, was fond of me. And I spoke to some Austrian women for the first time in my life.

Jan. 9, 06

Uneventful. Boring. Nothing to report. Except for dinner. I sat there eating, but all a sudden I realized my eyes were closed. I fell asleep while eating!

Jan. 10, 06

I flirted with the only female in sight -- Natalie the bartender. She was fun to chat with and was quite agressive in forcing drinks down us. An hour into the conversation, she asked if I was single. Excited, I immediately became. With a show of hands, I tried to prove that I am still single. Dont call me naive. In such a situation, I can only logically assume that my hour-long flirtation with Natalie is about to pay off. Her response was shocking to me though -- "I can now see why..."

Jan. 11, 06

It says Kings in my notebook. It probably refers to the drinking game we played. Lots of rules I do not recall. but clearly I was holding Debra's hand for a good part of the night.

Jan. 12, 06

I took a nap before the closing gala. But unfortunately did not wake up until the second morning. This is the only night in Kitzbuhel I was not drunk.

Jan. 13, 06

Boarded a train, I am off to Vienna. Vienna turned out to be a little boring. Probably because I was travelling by myself. The only highlight was probably the opera at the opera house and all those pictures I took. 5 other Italian guys stayed with me in the same hostel room. After all I am still a cheapa if I am travelling on my own expenses.