Brr Brr Berlin

Did I mention how f*cking cold it is here in Berlin? I know I live at the equatorial line but for some reason 7 degrees here in Berlin feel so damn cold I couldn’t stay outside more than an hour. 

I had to keep ducking into building to warm up and where the hell is that German Beer I hear so much about. (I now know Bavaria is where the beer is !!!) Being well near Christmas did not help as well.

Sadly the cold was one of the reason why I left Berlin under explored. The brief time I was there however was spent walking around in circles outside just visiting and marveling on a good job on how they manage to match the old and the new totally together. 

On one side you see a old building full with ornaments and on the other a totally modern crazy futuristic building.

I somehow know this post wont do Berlin Justice and would have to in future re visit this place to soak in the moment. Ironic thou the hostels was cheaper than the one in Prague; must be the winter season.

Berlin Cathedral 

Fast Pace Sightseeing ( Due to COLD )

Holocaust Memorial 

The history of Germany with the WWII and the internal cold war and divisions is hard to miss. The Holocaust memorial was like a solemn place but a wonderful playground for children playing hide and seek. 

They don’t explain the history to it other than state it was a memorial. A gruesome one which in my opinion information best left to those who seek it. In a way it was peaceful with many tourist visitors and most locals dun pay any mind to it other than a side glance once a while.

My stubborn refusal to pay to enter a museum kicked in and ended up just wondering around the beautiful old compound of the building. Due to my lack of German history I could not tell if these building were indeed survivor of the old times or reconstructed as it was. Still it was a pretty sight just walking around Berlin

DO NOT GET LOST IN THE PARK …..

Roundabout in the Middle 

There is a huge park east of the Berlin Wall which is enormous with four main road leading to the center roundabout and one of em to the famous Brandenburg Gate. 

The main gate where people could go from east to west Berlin during the Cold War if you have the proper documentations. The park … which I got lost in … was so huge I thought I was in the jungle for a moment. Good thing the map shows it was surrounded by civilization.

To the north of the Brandenburg Gate lies the Berliner Dom which I will need to visit again. Apparently you could go in …. for free …. But will require a online booking in advance of at lease a week. Still looks damn amazing from outside in my opinion. Still the cold was getting to me so everything was not as interesting as they should be.

Brandenburg Gate 

My Casino Venture in Berlin

So far the luck I had in casino in cashing out money was good. So when I stumble across a casino somewhere on the east side of Berlin amid all the shopping area I gave up trying to be a goody good boy.

Casino is my friend.
Whenever I am bored you are there for me
Whenever I am cold you are there for me
Whenever I need money you give me hope
When I need a free toilet you provide with no doubt
Sometimes you even treat me to drinks and meals
I don’t know what I do without you

This round in the casino was a wake up call for me. I went in and less then half an hour I had lost 300 euro. Maybe it was the cold wet weather that was getting to me for I could not focus and was gambling purely on luck. No calculated risk, no studying of pattern, NO PATIENCE.

So I did something stupid when I was down 300 euro and threw balance of my money down onto a 33% chance of winning dozen bet in roulette. I manage to recover portion but was still down 200 euro. 

My stupidity continue and 200 euro was again placed in the dozen bet and by some crazy luck I won and now had a 300 euro earnings. Good thing was I suddenly realized how dangerously I was gambling without control and called it quits while I had some winnings.

At lease I had learn my lesson from Prague … I walk out with the money this time

Graffiti Galore at Berlin

I had heard about the Berlin Walls and the section they kept for memorial. Fellow traveling friends along the way told me it was beautiful as it was painted in graffiti but what I did not knew was Berlin was already filled with art not just the walls. Weird art with hidden meaning. Kinda suited my dark humor type of leisure.

It's said that they change the graffiti every few years ....

The east facing side is painted with deep symbolic meaning while he west facing side was left to be ugly with dirt graffiti and chewing gums.

Picture tells a thousand words rite ….. enjoy :)

Graffiti on the side of a Building

West Side of the Berlin Wall

Chewing Gums on the West Side of the Berlin Wall 

Prague To Berlin & A Friendly German Guy

Winter is coming, and I could feel the changes gradually and also through the things which I was obtaining without knowing. I now have a proper jacket, two pairs of gloves a winter hat, more alcohol, … I seem to think I could sustain warmth with alcohol but in reality all it did was keeping my senses numb hence I don’t shiver outside in the cold.

Fernsehturm Berlin 

So with the upcoming direction towards west Europe where everything would be significantly expensive plus I was headed to Berlin the highest point north in the map so far, I wasn’t so sure how I was going to survive. One thing for sure was I was not going to be visiting Norway or Sweden this round.

The train to Berlin was quiet with the cabin full at every stop. A friendly nod and greeting was more or less everything that anyone does. I sat down next to the window far inside tripping through three people from the door and settled myself for the journey. 

Opening my Lonely Planet book I started to do some research of Berlin with my mind blank for once not filled with anticipation or expectation. I was just on the road … no biggie

“Backpacking Europe ? Going to Berlin ? First Time ? Where you from ?”, a bald headed guy kick started a conversation with me seeing the book in my hand.

We ended up chatting about my travels and adventures for *Baldie* was quite curious of an Asian boy traveling alone going places. After a while he switched to the place I would be going and started recommending places to visit in Germany. 

Baldie was a Germen and he was proud of his country although after a while you soon realized he had a small rein on his proudness being careful not to insult anyone else and quite self aware of the WWII which was a touchy subject.

It was weird … he was proud of Germany doing well despite the Euro dept crisis and yet he sympathizes with the neighboring countries who were in the slump. 

I tested water with a remark about how Germany earns the money and gives it to Greek or Italy for that matter so those country don’t need to work so hard. His reply was so neutral you would almost thought he felt Germany was indebted to all the countries in the world.

Berlin was my stop but he was headed onwards to Hamburg. Once he found out I had no interest in WWII or the concentration camps he started suggesting so many places of interest to visit in Germany. 

The history of the Berlin wall …. I drifted to dreamland a bit here but by the time he was done and me making notations all over the guidebook I knew I was going to stay in Berlin for at lease a week instead of the initial 3 days plan.

Next Stop Berlin … and to my horror he came down with me on my stop. He walked very fast to the tourist information center and before I could do anything he got me a map, a discount card for the Bahn (Trains), pointed me on the orientation of the city, a quick guided tour of the new station and the monuments within eyesight’s or mainly the Parliament buildings and bid me farewell leaving me stupefied standing at the middle of the station waving goodbye to a overly friendly German guy.

Money & Poker

Czech Republic Koruna (Money)

Travel and money seam intertwined but traveling in multiple countries with different currency well there is a whole new cook book to ways of doing it. 

The usual problems are the worst exchange rate that is out there. Its almost unavoidable since the money changers has to make a living and even bank rates are always slightly lower.

You are always a loser when it comes to traveling and changing money which was what I felt. Unless of course if you travel during a crisis (Euro debt) like me which feels awesome since I have never seen the Euro dip so low in respect to the Singapore Dollar. 

Still every time I draw money out the rates are bound to be better the next few days. Dang it. So new currency and I change the minimum amount in Bratislava just so I could get to the hostel or buy a ticket once I arrived Prague. 

Emergency money! ATM was easily found and I drew out the most money in Europe …. A FEW THOUSAND KORUNA.

Lets see …. 1 SGD = 0.56 Euro and 1 Euro = 25.04 CZK and 1CHF = 18.18 CZK …

I was constantly on my calculator and that was not funny. I got cheated too at the money changer which listed 1 CHF = 18.18 CZK but only if you change a lot of money so for my balance Swiss francs of 128 CHF I got a measly 1836CZK ….

Are you confuse yet ??

Poker Match in Prague Casino

I could not help noticing all the casino at Prague and I was slightly spoilt for choice. Prague would make it three successive country + city which I would enter a casino and try to earn my keep. 

After much procrastination by visiting old town Prague and keeping myself busy with sightseeing gimmick my will buckled and I headed out at night for the casino.

Juggling Multiple Currency 

Entry Log on Casino Losses

Some were kind of small with only slots machines and limited games. Others were medium in size but low key. I found one that had table games and you had to check in your coat. 

Small for a casino for they only had two roulette table and two Caribbean stud poker a few blackjacks and one casino taxes hold’em poker where you play with the dealer instead of the players. 

The place was packed with people filled with smokes from cigarette and merry with chatter. People actually socialized in the casino.

It was my first time too where the non-alcoholic drinks are free and they served you pretty much everything even if all you do is change chips and sit down. 

I took my time warming up the seat with black jack and slowly eased my way to the poker table. A few hours later I noticed a new table open and they were playing Texas Hold’em poker players to players with the dealer as a facilitator. 

How much was the blinds I asked. 10 & 20 Koruna the dealer replied and I hopped in the last seat available. This was my first time playing Texas Hold’em players style in the casino with random strangers. 

Usually it would be with friends over a casual house gathering with drinks hence the wagers were normally small and you don’t aim to wipe your friends out. I folded the first few rounds.

How good is your POKER FACE ??

Unlike playing with the casino whereby the dealer is not concern of losing money and always play with a set of rules, player poker involves bluffing which makes it more thrilling.

There are a few scenario which could occur :

1. You have GOD LIKE cards in hand … but BAD POKER FACE … hence everyone backs out and you don’t make a killing

2. You have GOD LIKE cards in hand … makes everyone thinks you are bluffing and fish in the money … PILE UP THAT STASH BABY ..

2. You have dirt shit hands, and so does everyone else and if you are able to read their expression which tells you everyone has shitty hands anyway … NOW how could you bluff them into thinking you have a winning hand and back away …

3. You have lousy hands …. GIVE IT UP

Then there is the TAIL …. A form / gesture / action / look / twitch / that everyone has which is instinctive and uncontrollable. 

There was finding a random strangers TAIL and at the same time be very cautious of your own action which may form a TAIL. 

It is said it is impossible to identify one own self TAIL and it is equally as difficult to identify someone else’s, however if you do manage to identify, it that would be a HUGE power advantage.

Of course there is also the planting of a fake TAIL which I did. It was like a fishing game. You put the bait … wait for it …. wait for it …. Sacrifice the small bait …. Put up another bait …. and reel in the big fish …. 

I first went semi crazy upping the stakes all the way to the end … with a pair of deuce which was useless as all the commodity card was already higher than my deuce. 

I still opened my card when it was time to determined the winner and everyone laughed. I put on my best little boys face !!

Stagger of the hand … hesitant to put down more money since I had lost a few rounds already … everyone joined in my doubled up bet. Smirk … I had them nipping. 

More pondering and finally putting down chips only matching and not raising, but some idiot double up and everyone followed … Hooked. 

Last bet and a huge pile went down from the guy across me … I smiled … and double up his huge pile … everyone backed out left one …

“What do you have boy ? Pair Aces ?”He asked I smiled a little, raised my shoulder to indicate I don’t know in a cheeky way. Lick my lips … and waited. 

He matched my stack and it was time to duel it out. I had a straight beating his trips … sweet sweet taste of victory.

I played a while longer but I had used up all the tricks I knew … time to move on while I had winnings.

The next stupid thing I did right after was hit the dealer tables. Overconfident with my wins over players I played on the tables games thinking I had the best luck in the world. 

Within an hour I had made almost an equivalent of 400 euros but alas due to my brain blunder in the currency conversion I thought I had only made 40 euros. 

I did not cash out and continue with the games thinking I had only won 40 euros and not long after lost everything back to the casino.

If I did learn one thing from this … THERE IS NO BLUFFING THE CASINO

Bribe The Police in Europe Checked !!!

Good ole Richie Rich gave me not one but two new mini adventure after a long time. We were going to a couch surfing event he created which was on the outskirts of the old town Prague set in a gym that serves beer and has a ping pong table. 

I am still not quite sure what kind of place it was for it had two ping pong tables, foosball tables, pools table, bowling, air hockey and a bar.

So on the way to some ping pong and drinks event he created we went out waiting for the troller-bus on a Sunday evening. As we board the troller-bus I asked Richie what about tickets … bus tickets …

“Just sit down, Its fine”, Richie said

Seeing as Richie had been in Prague for a significant amount of time chasing skirts or in his manly valor charming explanation “I have to go see about a girl”, I assumed he knew what he was doing.

Few stops later two guys in casual clothing tapped us on the shoulder and asked for tickets and showed us a badge cupped closely in their hands like it was a secret operation. Richie did all the talking, said we don’t have tickets and we were both shuffled off the bus.

So there was a fine for not paying the bus ticket, 800CZK a person. The asked for passports and ID which Richie said it's back in the hostel and I just pointed at him pretending not to know English. 

Richie did his best innocent look and explain how he did not know where to get tickets on a Sunday since all the tickets shops are closed. (They sell them in grocery stalls apparently which is close on Sunday, so you need to buy in advance or at the train stations)

“F*cking Americans”, the cops in casual clothes said.

A random photo of Money ^^

I just put on my dumb look and hoped for the best. Everything they asked I replied with hand gesture or a shake of the head and a blank look to Richie. 

Richie had work to do and a small Chinese guy did not look as attractive (money wise) as a young American guy.

Richie went through three of the five stages of grief for parting with money.

1. Denial
He actually denied doing anything wrong. As if the tourist is not at fault for not knowing how to buy a ticket.

2. Anger
Richie voice did got louder at a point with arms in the air saying it was ridicules to pay such a heavy fine for not buying a ticket. I watched as he tactically scolded the cops but with no success … it just made things worst

3. Bargaining
This one work out the best … he yanked out some money from his pocket and showing the balance of an empty pocket said that was all the money he had. The wallet was still smugly tucked in his jacket. So he worked out the BRIBE COST FOR TWO = 600CZK

So my share of the bribe was 300CZK about 21 SGD. Not bad Richie ….