Now that I’m used to spending at least 10 hours on a plane again, it’s time to plan my return to Asia…
The world famous BMW Museum Featuring cars, motorcycles and engines (marine and aircraft). Part 2
I chose to break this up into two parts because there’s a lot of photos.
The 507 gets a special nod here. Not only because it’s probably one of, if not the most beatutiful BMW ever made, it was a car that helped put BMW on the map in the 1950s. This model was also imported to the USA in small quantities which helped establish the brand there.
And here’s the Z8, the modern interpretation of the 507.
The 02 series was BMW’s first mass market seller and put them on the map. It saved the company and as befitting such an important model, it gets its own space.
There’s so much more to see here…need to return.
BMW Museum
Am Olympiapark 2
80809 Munich
The world famous BMW Museum Featuring cars, motorcycles and engines (marine and aircraft). Part 1
The draw here, for those of us not collecting a car for European Delivery, is the Museum.
When you enter, there is this mobile of every model that BMW has made over the years. The museum consists of two main parts, motorcycles and cars, with a small Motorsport section.
Although I like motorrad, the draw for me are the cars. Every iconic BMW is here in mint condition as well as their recent cars.
More in Part 2
M! The most powerful letter!
Here’s a teaser from my recent visit to the BMW Museum in Munich. This was one of my favourite parts of the museum.
What’s the most powerful letter in the alphabet? M!
This traffic jam consists of ALL the M class cars ever produced. I learned that the M635csi is a true collector’s piece because it’s just a good looking car, the first generation M5 came in other colors besides black, and the first M3 (E30) is still a good looking car and the previous M3 (E46) looks pretty damn good too!
To get a feel on just how motorhead the museum is, here’s the engine exhibit; every M engine that was made for the cars you just saw. Artsy!
Munich Mileage Run, BMW Welt. It’s still a mileage run if you leave the airport!!
So on the never ending quest for status on United Airlines, necessary if you expect to be treated like a person onboard, my friend and I have been doing weekend runs to Germany since the tickets round trip are in the neighborhood of $300 for 11728 EQM (elite qualifying miles). The destination alternates between Munich (MUC) or Frankfurt (FRA). We eat in the Senator Lounge, fly out on Friday evening, land Saturday afternoon, go clubbing to practice German (das stimmt, genau), head back to the flughafen early Sunday morning for the flight back home, arriving around dinner time.
The traditional Mileage Run involves a cheap round ticket with a lot of EQM, flying the same aircraft there and back and not leaving the airport (or the gate in that matter). So there’s some controversy about if this is actually a “mileage run”. I’d argue that it is since we spend 13 hours between flights.
So this weekend it’s off to Munich. We caught an early flight so we had a few hours to kill before clubbing. My friend crashed in the hotel room and I decided to visit BMW Welt, a pilgrimage that all Bimmer fans should make a few times. The complex consists of the Welt, a very large and swish brand dealership with the latest models on the floor, snacks and drinks (though you can’t buy any there). There’s also the Museum which will be the next post. The Welt includes a training facility for technicians (mechanics) and a delivery area where lucky people can pick up their cars for European Delivery.
Sights from Taipei
Last night I went with Diva and her entourage to a couple of events.
Piaget had a full spread of Moet champagne, cocktails, finger foods, a trunk show and a concert. Great event!
After that, there was a pre party at Opus for the Golden Horse awards. For the first couple of hours, it was like the Piaget after party. Lots of hats!
From the top of the Bottle Opener
If you actually pay the Y150 to visit the 94th, 97th and 100th floors of the Shanghai World Financial Center (AKA the Bottle Opener), hang around until 1830. Why?
And then, they turn the lights on! For four hours…
Shanghai Stories #2
Sunday was a rainy day and when it rains here, being outside or going anywhere where there’s a lot of people is a miserable experience.
So I stayed in, did laundry and pre-packed for my flight back to HKG on Tuesday. Eventually, all the laundry was washed and dried and packed away and it was time to eat. Still raining out, I did my customary nighttime walk on The Bund and Nanjing lu. The “massage massage” touts were out in force as well as the grifters. I witnessed an attempted pickpocket attempt just past the Peace Hotel, where Nanjing lu is still a street.
The scam goes like this:
Small guy follows the mark who is usually with his g/f (so there’s no trouble). He is shadowed by a larger guy maybe 4 paces behind at his 4 o’clock. Small guy times his gait with the mark and slips his hand into the mark’s pocket. Usually they seem to be after mobiles since you usually keep that in your jacket pocket as opposed to your wallet.
How do I know all this? I happened to witness most of this up to the point where small guy went for the mark’s jacket. Larger guy saw that I was witnessing this and strategically angled his umbrella so I couldn’t see the rest. It didn’t work out in the end. Why? There were lots of standing puddles on the sidewalk and small guy didn’t want to get wet. He rushed going for the mark’s pocket, which alerted him to small guy’s pickpocket attempt. Screaming and yelling ensued and both small and large guy took off.
Rule of story: keep your pockets zipped up.
Shanghai Stories #1
Scene from a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (cuz they have free Wi-Fi).
Sometimes when you travel overseas, you see different incarnations of the Ugly American. I had an unfortunate sighting when I ducked into a Coffee Bean near Jiang’an Temple to check email (Jiang’an is one of the favorite places for expats to live and breed ).
I’m sitting at a table, drinking black coffee and trying to reply to email via iPhone. A couple walk over to a table, a local gal and a middle-aged American guy, replete in the American uniform of knockoff pea coat, sweatpants, t-shirt and “Shanghai” hat that was probably purchased at some stall at the Yu Gardens. He looks around furtively, trying to determine who, if anyone within speaking distance, speaks or understands english. After determining that there are none, he begins his “charm offensive” against the local gal.
He begins by talking about his “work” and that China should change its immigration rules just for him, so he doesn’t feel like he’s wasted his time explaining that BD (business development) is NOT “doing business” for arrival card/visa purposes (which I’d argue that it is, but that’s not the point here). Since he was “a lawyer for the Department of Justice” and unlike PRC workers, US workers stay longer at their jobs, he is supposed to be given the benefit of the doubt and the Chinese authorities had no right to investigate him further. All in a condesending tone that would make John Kerry or Joe Biden proud.
Then, after the local gal tries to change the subject and talk about other things, like running in Century Park, Ugly American replies that he lives in a new high class building with its own running track and he likes to run there because he doesn’t like to ride the train to Pudong (Century Park) and he doesn’t like to run with the pollution.
Duh, you’re in the PRC! Of cors you’re going to have lots of pollution!
Based on the way that Ugly American was speaking and sitting, he was thinking that this would impress local gal. Local Gal replies that she’s working on her MBA, is close to graduating and securing work. As Ugly American’s face deflates, she thanks him for coffee and they both leave.
Nice.
Back to Beijing (soon)
When I made my trip to the home village back in February, I was mugged by the authorities for US$135 for a multiple entry visa. At the time, it was either get a single entry or a multiple entry visa. They no longer sold the double entry visa.
A couple of months ago they stopped selling the multiple entry visa. “Smart thing” to do right before the Olympics. Hopefully for everyone who has to work over there, that restriction will be lifted when the games end.
I’m looking forward to a trip back to BJ for several reasons. I’ve a friend I’ve not seen in a while. Would be fun for a visit. In November (!). I’ve been hankering for really good Peking Duck. And the BJ Capital Airport FINALLY has an express train into town.
Nice. If it keeps regular hours, i won’t have to deal with taxi drivers and traffic anymore!
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