Hong Kong, Thailand, Bavaria

Christopher McIntosh, Ludwig II of Bavaria: The Swan King (Barnes & Noble, 1982), 204 pp.

For years and years, I’ve wanted to see Crazy Ludwig’s fairy castles: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, and Herrenchiemsee. What little fuzzy idea I had of the castles is a sort of conglomeration of touristy posters and, somehow, a totally unrelated movie. Not knowing when I could go see them and wanting know more about the man who built such structures, I bought a bunch of biographies about him and just finished the first one. Miserable book, miserable man. At first, I was surprised to know what good friends he was with Wagner, but it makes sense he went insane worshipping extreme Romanticism.

A couple years ago, I found a discount place to stay right near one of the castles, was about to make reservations and all that, but the trip got cancelled. I planned another trip, but that got cancelled, too. So I gave up on ever reading John Donne in Germany. But going to Hong Kong this summer taught me a lot.

Hong Kong Lessons

- Faraway sights, sounds, smells are not so far away. Just buy a plane ticket.
- Travelling alone is no fun.
- Not travelling at all is even less fun.

So I bought plane tickets last week. I’m going to Thailand in a few weeks. I was going to go by myself but a really cute girl from work heard about it and wants to go, so we’re going together. Seven glorious days on the beach! I’m taking a pile of books! Whoo hoo! And then three days in Bangkok doing … I have no idea … who cares? We have no plans. We’re just going with the flow and seeing what happens.

And about the castles. Everyone I’ve asked to go with is either too busy next year or can’t afford it. Anyone up for a trip to Europe? Either way, Bavaria, here I come!