NFL in London

Okay, so I've gotten a few emails asking if I was attending this past weekend's event, the NFL game at Wembley: Miami Dolphins v. New York Giants.

To clarify, no, I didn't go to the game. Although, I seriously considered it. I was searching for tickets online and even considered joining a bunch of Americans to watch it in a pub, but at the end of it all, I didn't care and ended up staying home watching the Bears online.

Not that I didn't care about that the NFL was in London, but it was mainly my disinterest in the two particular teams.

A few thoughts:

1. English prefer rugby. Mainly because its nonstop and no one wears pads! Those are the two main complaints with American Football. The starting and stopping of each play, and all the protective gear all the players have to wear! And of course, it goes without saying, the strange name for the game, "Football."

2. I didn't feel the "hype" of the NFL visiting London. Perhaps because I live in East London and didn't venture off to the west end to see the 26 foot robot version of Jason Taylor. I did see 2 people with Giants jackets and 1 person in a Miami jacket. Yay.

3. I did enjoy explaining the whole concept of the NFL to a few colleagues today which was quite entertaining. They were interested in the process of how two teams could end up in the Superbowl. I described the AFC formally part of the AFL, and the NFC! I went into detail about the different divisions and wildcard teams. But I realised that I forgot to mention that the Chicago Bears were in the last Superbowl! (Far from it now, that's for sure)

In any case, I have no regrets missing the game at Wembley, nor did I buy into the hype. I do hope that the NFL come to visit again, perhaps with 2 teams I'd actually be interested in seeing!

Umm.. do you work here?

I finally joined a gym. I was really picky because most gyms around here con you into a year contract and well, I'm not ready for that kind of commitment. In fact, I tried out a handful of gyms and the Reebok Sports Club in Canary Wharf caught my eye mainly because of its location, size, and its biggest selling point, no contract!

Anyway, going to a gym in London is interesting mainly because everything is measured in the metric system! Kindly enough the gym has conversion charts everywhere that remind you that there are 2.2 kgs to 1 lb and that there are 1.6 km to 1 mile.

I'm finally getting use to this whole "metric" system after 3 weeks, and I'm also getting use to the whole "men's locker room" experience.

I don't care what anyone says, a men's locker room experience is always awkward. Half naked guys walking around, some guys deciding to cover their junk, while others, disgustingly, walk around freely.

Thankfully the locker room is huge and there's more than enough room so that there won't be that slight chance of a guy's arse in your face while you're trying to put on your shoes.

It has nice wooden lockers with built in electronic locks. You type in your own combination and it automatically locks! Gotta love technology! Gone are the days of bringing your own lock and key, or combination lock where you have to remember some odd combination.

I'm always paranoid when setting the combination on my locker. Its bad enough that I have to remember my locker number! I always press the numbers really slow to make sure I don't accidentally press the wrong number and enter the wrong combination.

Anyway, one night I come back after a nice shower and I enter my combination. It doesn't work the first time, so I try again. It won't open. It just beeps at me.

I must have pressed the numbers too fast so I try again. Nothing. Just more beeping. Looks like I'm locked out.

What's funny is that I keep trying the same combination when knowingly it didn't work the first time! It just keeps beeping at me.

I'm dripping wet, sporting a towel around my waist. A little part of me starts to panic, but I calm down since it could be worse. Its not like my clothes were stolen and I didn't have anything to change in to! Imagine that!

I walk around trying to find help. There's no one to be found. I even consider asking another guy to find help. No matter how much I tried to phrase it in my head, I still sounded like an idiot if I did ask. I figured it was best that I take matters into my own hands and find help.

Let's be honest, walking around half naked and not knowing if you'll have access to your clothes is not the best feeling. I couldn't exactly leave the locker room and walk back into the gym looking for help. So I decided to stay in the locker room.

Luckily, after walking around in a towel for 15 minutes I walk back into the shower area and find someone who looked like he worked there.

"Ummm.. do you work here? I locked myself out of my locker."

"Yes, show me where it is."

We walk over. He looks at the locker.

He pushes the locker door closed, my jacket the reason why the door was slightly ajar in the first place.

I enter the "same" combination and it opens.

Damn technology.

"Oh, so the reason why it wouldn't open is because the door wasn't fully engaged with the lock?"

He nods and walks away.

"Oh that's why it was beeping at me."

Even after this incident, knowing that I entered the right combination the whole time, I enter the combination a lot slower that I ever have before.

Eat, Drink, and be Merry

Good food, good beer, and many laughs!

I've never seen so many happy and drunk people in my entire life. I've been to Chicago's version of Oktoberfest a couple of times, but it obviously doesn't compare to the real thing! Walking around Oktoberfest, guys are dressed in their Lederhosen, while the women are dressed in their sexy Bavarian dresses, or Dirndls.

Oktoberfest is known as the world’s greatest beer festival and after this weekend, I have no doubt that it is. In fact, Germany is by far the world’s largest producer and consumer of beer, with almost 1300 breweries – 40% of the world’s total! Beer halls and tents were filled with many people enjoying this wonderful occasion!

I met up with Abby and Jeff on Friday and we immediately hit up Hofbräuhaus, Munich's largest, most famous, and most tourist-packed beer hall! I've never been to a beer hall before, and I must say, its a sight to be seen. We luckily got seats outside in the beer garden, but it turns out that all the action takes place inside! Nevertheless, we enjoy our 1 litre stein of beer, and in fact, had a couple! You can imagine how after a few litres of beer will do for the rest of the night.

The next day we try and get an early start. Unfortunately, little did we know, Saturday was quite busy and when we arrived at the fest at 10AM, all the tents were closed due to full capacity! We're talking about 14 tents here. Each tent can seat an average of 3000 people! The largest tent holding up to 9000 people! In an case, we do get into one of the tents, the Löwenbräu tent! I've included a picture just to get a feel of how large this tent is. This sits 5,700 people inside! Unbelievable. And when the brass band comes on at noon, the place goes absolutely nuts! We find out later that people queue up as early at 6:30 in the morning. (Tents open at 9)

On Sunday, we continue our drinking again and decide to start early to make sure we get a good seat. When I say start early, I mean getting up at 7AM and showing up at the festival by 8:30! We end up going into the Armbrustschützenzelt tent on the recommendation of our friend Kristoff who we met the day before. I must say, it has been a long time since I had a whole litre of beer for breakfast. I believe the last time I had beer for breakfast was during Spring Break in Daytona Beach during my early days at Uni!

For what its worth, we did get a good feel for the city of Munich. It wasn't all drinking as you may think and we did get to do some sightseeing! (For those of you who are in the know, another new city, another robot!)

Overall, it was a great weekend with good eats, good drink, and lots of laughs! I got to catch up with some old friends, talked about unforgettable memories we had in Uni, and experienced one of the greatest beer festivals in the world.

Oktoberfest!

BEER.

LOTS OF BEER.

I've been meaning to go to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany ever since I moved here. In fact, it was "supposed" to be my first weekend getaway 2 years ago. But alas, it never happened. But its better late than never!

Its been a while since I took a weekend trip outside of London so I'm quite excited!

Can't wait!

I fail to be inspired.

Delete delete delete....

I start typing.. and then.. hit it again...

Delete delete delete....

Since I fail to be inspired lately, I'm just going to work on some free association (i.e. ramble) and record my latest experiences so I can look back at it in the future.

Today I spent most of the day in bed. Hungover. I was thinking about how I should really appreciate this time since I can actually do this - In bed, doing nothing, being lazy, sleeping, and catching up on episodes of Californiacation with no worries in the world.

I'm annoyed by this choppy p2p feed of the Bears game. Not exactly HDTV. Instead, pixelated, choppy video, using a program that crashes once in a while, viewing the game on a 12 inch laptop screen.

Impro has started again, but most of the "players" I started with from the beginning did not sign up for another term. =(

While some of my friends will be enduring probably one of the toughest mental and physical challenges of their lives next weekend in the Chicago marathon, I will be drinking copious amounts of beer in Oktoberfest in Munich. Best of luck to all of them. I wish I was there to support all of you, but instead I'll raise my stein of beer to celebrate your successful finish!

The problem with the indoor smoking ban in London is when you go to a very packed club like Tiger Tiger. The air circulation is so bad you can really smell the BO and vomit. Ironically, I prefer the scent of cigarettes smoke.

I wish I was in Chicago to celebrate the Cubs clinching the division. Instead I take it all in by reading all the articles I can find and searching for images/video capturing the celebration on the internet.

I've watched two foreign films in the last month. Not just on DVD, but actually going to a proper theater! Nothing like trying new things!

I enjoyed the 5 hour visit from Heidi and Jenny last night. They "stopped by" in a layover on their way back to Chicago. Activites included: Fries at BK, hitching a ride in a cycle rickshaw, drinks at Hakkasan, walking aimlessly, and Chinese food. Sorry for my drunken ramblings!

And finally, I bought my tickets back home for the holidays for half the cost I paid last year! Speaking of which there is an American Airlines Europe Fare Sale going on right now! $428 + tax to London. That's cheap! So come and visit!