Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Alongside with three of my friends from my university back home, we decide to visit Germany to attend the Oktoberfest event in Germany. Even before we got accepted in our respective universities in the Netherlands, we were already planning out for this trip. The four of us met up in Rotterdam Centraal and proceed to go to Munich (German: München) by Eurolines bus. We took the 9 p.m. bus and arrived at 11 a.m. the next day. It was a pretty tiring ride but it was bearable, to say the least.

Once we got to Munich we bought the three-day group tickets for our commute by public transportation. The three-day pass for the city transportation including Subway (S-Bahn), Undergroung (U-Bahn) and buses for EUR 28 in total. We got off our at Häckerbrucker and made a ride to Dietlidenstraße to get to our Airbnb lodging. We put our belonging in our rented apartment and then proceed with our day with one goal: buying a dirndl for Oktoberfest. It was somewhat customary to celebrate the Bavarian annual tradition with its regional clothing and everyone was particularly excited. However like I did, you can just opt for your casual dresses although admittedly you'll be part of the minority of people dressing differently around the ground of the Oktoberfest.

We then took an underground to Marienplatz to shop some items, have a look around the city center and landmark places. The city center shows off many buildings including the New Town Hall, Peterskirche, Glockenspiel and the Viktualienmarket. I only saw the buildings from its outskirt but the built were all grand and beautiful. The city center is buzzing with people, mainly those who shop, and were vibrant. I was expecting Germany to be somewhat more rigid, but this particular city with its hustling and busting left a pretty impressive remark.

Strolling around Viktualienmarket you will see traditional shops popping along the streets amongt little shops, restaurants and beer gardens. Now that it is along the weeks of Oktoberfest, the beer festivities extend around the city (and even the world; like how Oktoberfest were celebrated even in the Kemang and Gandaria area of Jakarta) with the females wearing dirndl and the males wearing traditional lederhosen.

Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures from the stores that we went shopping for but the girls went out to buy blouses, skirts, and apron for the occasion. Both tourists and locals enjoyed the sales -- even I bought three pairs of headbands -- two of which I lost already, but at least I'm happy to find that shops are still open until 8 p.m. at night. It is such a delight, coming from the Netherlands where most shop closes at 5 p.m. Yet despite so we have to go back home early in order to prepare for our visit to Oktoberfest on the next day. Better get our beauty sleep, pronto!