Rapid-fire Exploratorizing

DG&LOTS,

Monkeys, Park, Kuala Lumpur

Greetinges from the Orients. Having lost several couriers in mysterious circumstances, reportages of our recent journeys have been scarce. We hope to rectify the situation by messenger redundancy.

Topical DVDs, floating village, Tonle Sap

In our most recent excursion, we targetet the fabled ruins of Angkor, a past haunt of combat archaeologists and fiends of intelligentsia.

Departing KUL

Approaching Siemreab

Our most efficient and optimized rapid strike survey commenced through Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - an interesting mix of cultures, and a veritable cradle of civilization and sophistication after certain back-country cities, worthy of more exploration which we would achieve on our way back).

(TBA)

(TBA)

Having landed in Siemreab (a small city in a poor country, relatively thriving on the influx of said combat archaelogists and intrepid explorers), we lost not a single second in our deployment. Item 1: GT. Item 2: explore, explore like the wind! The documentation far exceeds the meager capacity of our courier; DG&LOTS are encouraged to enquire, are they so inclined, for more.

Floating village. The canal lights seemed like they would be worth seeing at night.

The photogenic ruins - quite varying in style - remind one of the Middle American temples in scope, implementation, and state of preservation. The stalwart reconnoiters of the ongoing restoration projects have most fascinating three-dimensional puzzles on their hands.

A visit to the floating village on Tonle Sap provides some contrast to marauding one temple after another. However, Kbal Spean is worthy of particular mention; it takes the breath away from even the most hardened explorer.

Down it goes. Safety equipment required.

Fire-proof B52.

Let it not be said that the traditions of the S are not withheld in the far reaches! One unfortunate oversight in far Japan must not be let sap the moral. Let it burn!
(The Malaysian B52 did not want to; mayhap it was the somewhat antipathetic attitude prevalent in the country that required extensive corrective rituals and spells to counter. Efforts paid; flames ensued.)
(Exchequers note: Siemreab, ~4€, large comparative investment, fancy restaurant; Kuala Lumpur, ~6€, huge comparative investment, major hotel.)

What to do when your servant contracts malaria

Best of Seasons Greetinges,
WW, HMSfS&E

Münchestein

Greetings, fellow Society members!

This time I shall report about Bawaria, Tirol, und Liechenstein. Recently an esteemed school-mate from the past called up, and asked if I would accompany him to Münich. After checking my calendar, and realizing I've never been to said city, I replied in the affirmative.
So early one morning we found ourselves outside München, acquiring ourselves a rental carriage:

Sir Eppu behind the wheel

My main goal was to check up on some contemporary architecture. On the top of my list was Ye Olde Olympic Stadium, and a brand-new BMW showroom, as well as a new Synagogue. We thence set out to explore the town. In the rather thick fog we stumbled upon the odd, distinct hanging tents of the Olympic Stadium:



It was too foggy to even see the top of the Olympic Tower!
On the other side of the road, the Bayerische Motor Werke had just last month opened a state-of-the-art showroom facilities:

The old(er) BMW HQ tower in background,

the new BMW Welt in foreground

Outside the "tornado"...

...meanwhile inside, Sir Eppu
inspects a carriage...

Münchestein pt. II: Onwards and Upwards

The next day we got up and going bright and early. In fact, we left way before sunrise. We headed down towards the Alps, and run into our second Olympic Stadium:

The one at Garmisch-Partenkirchen had
somewhat more old-fashioned pomp!


Pastoral beauty in the Lower Alps


Driving down towards Innsbrück got interesting, as the fog intensified: we could see barely 20 yards on the steep switchback road! Fortunately it wasn't slippery. Once in Innsbrück, we run into our third Olympic Stadium! Who would have thunk it?!

Finally, at around 2000 metres up, we briefly broke through the fog & clouds:

Our trusty carriage at 2000m and sunshine

The descent got interesting, again. The map informed us of 18% decline. As we had summer tyres on, some snow was unwelcome news :) At times we could see nothing but fog past the road railing, into what was obviously steep and deep drop in to the valley far below... But sometimes we caught a glimpse of some more pastoral beauty:


Somewhere along the way, in Western Österreich, we drove through the longest (14 km) and most expensive (8.5 euros) tunnel I've ever driven through:




To our great surprise, our passports were actually checked on the Österreich-Liechenstein border! Due to some misunderstanding and driving error, the Border-Guard was somewhat curt, and we dared not request a stamp in our travel documents... But onwards to the capital of all of Liechenstein, Vaduz. This rather sleepy hamlet was somewhat underwhelming in the winter and Sunday grayness. The Prince of Liechenstein's castle, Schloss Vaduz, sits right on top of the town. We rode up to it, but nobody seemed to be home, nor was there any kind of guard precence...

Yours truly in central Vaduz
(photography by Sir Eppu)

By now it was getting late, so we drove directly to München for some Sauna and dinner. 4 countries* and 2 Olympic stadia in one day is enough, one must say!

*incl. about 15 minutes in Switzerland

Whiskey in a jar-o!

Greetings, Ladies and Gentlemen!
I recently had the pleasure of setting my foot, for the first time, on the Green Isle of Ireland. If you're dyslexic, you might have hard time telling Ireland and Iceland apart, but trust me, having visited both this year, Iceland is icier, and The Emerald Isle is greener and warmer! Ireland was indeed so warm and sunny, that our motto for the week became "By Golly, we have not drunk a drop, and the Sun has shone upon us each and every day!!"

Upon arriving in Dublin, I rented a horse-less carriage, along with a very helpfull guide called Mildred (she said she was a G.P.S., but that must be a peculiar Irish honorary title I am not aware of, and of course a gentleman never asks further).

My main object, of course, was to visit the 3 distilleries still operating in Eire, and buy me some liquid souveniers!

First day I drove to Central Ireland to visit the Townes of Killbeggan and Tullamore. Although the disttilleries there were no longer operational, they did feature museums about Whiskey History.
The most important items learnt:
1) In Ireland they do not use smokey or peaty fuel to dry the wheats
2) Irish whiskey is distilled 3 times, as opposed to twice in Scotland and once in the newer
Colonies (so called Bourbon whisky)
3) Irish whiskey is spelled with an 'e'

Old copper pot still, and barrel makers making
their barrels, in Killbeggan

The Grand Canal, a man-made canal from
Dublin to Ballinasloe, runs through Tullamore

Day 2, back in Dublin, I enjoyed a refreshing
B52 as per The Society's rules & regulations

Day 3 took us down to Middleton, home to
Jameson's whiskey, in Grande Olde distillery

At the end of the tour, I volunteered for a
Tasting Jury, sampling 3 Irish, 1 Scotch and
1 Bourbon, and I was awarded this handsome
diploma for my bravery & service.

Day 4: After a night in the very pleasant and
pretty town of Cork, we headed up to the Cliffs
of Moher (of The Princess Bride fame!) and
onward to Galway, also a very nice town.
(Lady Anna seen here showing her lack of vertigo.)

On Day 5 the road took us further North, and accross some kind of an invisible border, into the Ulster Territory. In (London)Derry one could still see some tension between the protestants & catholics. We attended a lively musical show in a local public house. Later I walked around in the Bogside, site of a rather sad, Bloody Sunday a few decades ago. The murals of Derry are quite world-renown and touching.

The northern-most point of the trip, on Day 6
we reached the Giant's Causeway, a curious
hexagonal stone formation, where we
apparently run into Elwood Blues!

And close by, the oldest whiskey distillery in
the world! It shall celebrate 4 1/2 Centuries
next year. Carry on, Sirs, carry on!

After Bushmill's, we headed down to Belfast. It was a nice enough city, but nothing special to write to the Society about.


That's it for this Travel Report. We'll be waiting for other contributions shortly. Untill then, keep on exploring & experimenting; for God and Country!

Yours truly etc
Paddlewick, Esq.

Mms. & Messrs. of the Society;

it occurs to YT that the fabulous Google Bros. has created a Tool of Utmost Suitability for the Education & Entertainment of the Society. Said Tool, one Google Earth, allows one to store places of interest, to paint the broad strokes of one's foreign experiences, and to exhilarate one's Fellow Members with the piquant details of Hidden Locales.

However -
It also occurs to the same that our most Esteemed Board of Notices does not support the attachment of said Maps, making them available to all Members to Edit.

Has anyone chanced upon a solution to this dilemma?

WW, HMCE

Costa Ricans Ohoy!

This past weekend Wensworth & Yours Truly had the pleasure to entertain a couple from the costarican clan here in these northern shores, Mr. & Mrs. De la Cruz, Esq. They were passing through on a magnificent vessel, the Star Princess, en route on a Baltic cruise. They stopped in Helsinki for mere half a day, but we did what we could!
Wensworth picked them up in his favourite carriage, and I was able to join them a bit later, having returned from the Eastern Provinces (celebrating the pagan Mid-Summer festivals). We took our guests to a few churches, some monuments, lunch, and an out-doors museum. Here are some pictographs for Your viewing pleasure:

Mr. Alvaro making a daguerreotype of the Senate Square

Wensworth and the De la Cruzs' inside the Church of Doom
(german: Domkirche, swe: Domkyrka)

Waiting for the typical butter-fried muikku dish.
Incidentally, the finns exclaim "Muikku!" instead of
"Say Cheese!" when taking the photographicks.

Mrs. Maria-Elena at the Sibelius Monument

Mr. Alvaro & Mrs. Maria-Elena in middle-ground,
with Wensworth operating the Photographick Apparatus,
in the back-ground

Wensworth explaining something or another in the
back-yard of a typical finnish domicile (not his)

Mrs. Maria Elena at Wensworth's carriage,
in front of the Star Princess

We hope they had as good a time in and around Helsinki as we did, and we heartily wish they have a most enjoyable cruise, weather and fortune the rest of the way!! Welcome again, and may your memories be fond!

Onwards & Upwards!

Paddlewick, Society Cruise & Hospitality Co-ordinator

P-wick, SCHC, eyeing aforementioned vessel. Such a headquarters it would make!

Oriental Mysteries

June -07

Having deemed the CWC expedition a resounding success, and a locale well worth further investigation and investment, yours truly is now on the way back to the gentle embrace of the Society Headquarters - but only briefly, in order to fill in grant forms and sponsorship requests for further escapades.












The way back winds through the far east, the City of Emperors (and of Exhaust Particle Laden Air). Glimpsed only briefly, the vast city evokes awe and regret simultaneously, both for past glory and for future troubles: this dragon grows too fast for its good. One is particularly impressed by the lyrical euphemism for 'military might' (ref. illustration, bottom right).