Attending Conference at Berlin - Travelog Fly Day

Packing

It is my last day in Berlin. Wake up at 5.30am. Quite late compare to day before. Might be my mind had accepted the Berlin time or because I'm damn tired due to my visit to various place up until night.

As usual, open up my laptop and skype with my kids. This time around, I only had opportunity to skype with my youngest daughter and it is only for a while because the signal seem not very good.

Then, upload some pictures, check my email, and watch some movies.

At 7.30 am, I went for breakfast and took some of interesting pictures (not really but it is still ok).

breakfast of my last day in Berlin

Nice view aaa....

Around 8am, when back to my room and play games... what!!!!...hahaha instead of packing my things, I play games and watch movie.. hehehe... Up till 9.30am and that's because my colleague came to the room and asking when to check-out.. He had already pack his things.. :).

So, done a quick packing.. after all, not much things to pack and re-organized things. We check-out around 10.30 but left our back at hotel as we decided to go another round around the road for some last minute shopping.

Zoo, Sony, and Karstard

The first place we visit of our last day is Berlin Zoo @ Zoologischer Garten Berlin. Due to time constraint and need to save some euros for last minute shopping, we only see the animal from outside.. hahahaha...

Like car-boot or central market style in Malaysia

Not for pee except if your are stone statue :)

Then we reached the aquarium which is just beside the zoo. For detail about zoo in Berlin, do check it out  here. Many kids are waiting to get into the aquarium :).... And it opens at 11am. Can't wait as we need to do last minute shopping too.

Next pit-stop is Sony station. It is actually a mall of gadgets; cameras, tablet, hand phone, computers, etc.; all in one room and it is not Sony but I can't remember the name of the mall :). I was thinking to buy a phone as my phone was not working (old phone) but the price of all gadgets there is too expensive. Even the camera that I bought last year is much cheaper than the the sold here after one year.

Nice aaa.. in a shopping mall :)

In front of the aquarium

Finally, we when into Karstard. Actually there are three Karstard there. Each of them have specific domains on products. We went straight to chocolate section and I bought 2 full box of chocolate. Combination of many types of chocolate. But, bear in mind that if you are interested to buy chocolate in non-islamic countries, you need to observe carefully on the contents :). There are chocolate with rum, alcohol, any other names that directly refers to non-halal elements :). I almost did but then realize something and luckily the ladies at the shop inform me :). Never shy to ask what you need to know so that you don't get lost.

A fraction of Berlin Wall in a mall :)

Rent a bike anyone?

Berlin T-Shirt....

The Zoo

Final stop for me was at a van near by selling begs. I bought a beg for 16 euro (the cheapest) because it had the word Berlin there :) ... only to realize that the beg is more suitable to ladies (the word Berlin was very shiny... hahahaha hope no one saying that I'm a gay... I'm truly a man with interest only to ladies :)). My friend last pit-stop was at a beg shop just opposite the van. He bought one beg for his wife. By the way, there are many people there selling variety of product by parking their van and cars at the side of the road. Wonder if Malaysia can have that kind of business.But of course, the people in Berlin love to ride bicycle rather than drive cars and you can hardly see cars or or car-park full of cars. This is because their public transport are efficient, you can bring you bicycle into the train/commuter or bus, and those public transport is easily accessible and on time. Not like us; people like Bandar Tasik Puteri, Meru, or even at Ampang has difficulties to either access the public transport or get the train/bus on time. Here in Berlin, it is more systematic. It does not have bus that goes from Bandar Tasik Puteri to KL or from Klang to KL like we have. The bus only within certain boundary such as from Bandar Tasik Puteri to Rawang Train Station and bus in Shah Alam that only goes within the boundary of Shah Alam. If they wish to go to KL, then they need to take bus to train station. That is how it works there in Berlin. And we should implement this too. Plus allow the people to bring bicycle into the bus and train. This will definitely reduce CO2, have more relax and less traffic jam. Anyway, our ministry should know better.

Good bye Berlin

Lets get back to my journey... hehehe.

After completed our rush-hour shopping, we get back to the hotel. We did our final packing and .... ready to go home.. miss all malaysian non-healthy food like nasi lemak, kari, masak lemak cili api... oooo yes..

Berlin - London - KL

Took taxi to Berlin-Tegel Airport. It is about 30 minutes from our hotel. The driver is an Iranian. It cost us about 20 Euros. Surprisingly, we were told by the driver that he can earn around 3000 euro by just driving taxi and sometimes more than that. And the Doctor in Berlin only earn about 3500 euro. :)... Lets drive taxi there... convert to Malaysian Ringgit.. wow... more than manager's income here... hahahaha

At the airport, we need to wait for another 2 hours before we can check-in. I think the airline is low-cost carrier as the process is exactly similar and my guess is right. Will share with you why after this. Anyway, while waiting, we decided to have some drinks. Went to Starbuck, and choose coffee and wrongly said and I get Coffee-Shake ... hahahaha.

We check-in around 2.15pm and I get seat near window (as always) and I like it. After check-in, we had to go 2 round of check before get to boarding gate. At boarding gate, luckily that I take 'wuduk' before that. There is no toilet or washroom at all. When around looking for place to pray and can't find any. So I ask the stewardess (I think they are British Airways stewardess) ... At first they don't understand until I shows the movement and a lady shows movement of how chinese perform their prayer and I had to say yes to say that it is another form of prayer which different from me... Then shows me a room used by them to change clothes.. It is ok as long as I can perform solah.

We board the plane around 3.45pm. And YES!!! ... it is low-cost carrier.. The sound of the flight is not convincing at all and the different between my class (economy) and my colleague (Class) is just that they get the drinks first and separated via a curtain.... hahahaha...

Ok... Fly about 2 hours and landed at London-Heathrow Airport around 6.15pm. Then, went through another round of check-in before reached the waiting area. I was quite hungry... but when to perform solah first. Well, there they have a room for Muslim, Christian, etc to perform pray but shares the same place which they call that as 'Multi-Faith prayer room'. I'm a bit confused as it looks like the one prays there has multiple faith. huh... but as long as I know I'm a MUSLIM... don't care about that and as long as I can perform solah without issues... it should be fine.. after all there are many MUSLIM perform solah than others. Then, went around trying to find food that I can eat. An airport personnel show me a food court and advice me to ask the chef about halal-food as sometimes they do provide halal-food. So I went there and they mention the list of halal-food for that day. So I have Beriani with Chicken Tandori. It cost me about 15 pound. Ok... Not bad together with lemon tea.

The Dining Street @ Terminal 4

Beriani with Chicken Tandoori

At London Heathrow

At 10pm, we were requested to board the plan. This time is MAS and it is an old plane. :) and the stewardess too... hahaha. a very stressful flight.. :)

As usual, can't sleep and we are actually flying through a different time zone. So, most of the time (out of 12 hours flight), the journey is within daytime ... I'm totally confused (the window was advised to be closed all the way) and don't know how to perform solah, so I decided to follow the local time at London of which the subuh prayer is just 2 hours before I reach KL and at that time, KL is already Asar time.

We landed at KLIA around 6.15pm. I quickly pickup my bag. Wait for my colleague as he don't know where to go and pickup the bag (this is his first time journey outside Malaysia). Then proceed to go through Customs. I sent him to Budget Taxi while me myself went to Celcom booth to check my number which failed again and later I learn that the phone should be thrown into dustbin :) ... Then, went to surau to perform my solah. Wait for maghrib and perform solah will fellow Malaysian whom also just arrived from London.

After that, bought ticket for budget taxi and wait for my taxi. Get a taxi drive by an Indian (or singh) and I call him uncle. He was previously a lorry driver at Ipoh but just came to KL for about 6 months ago due to wanted to live with his family at Puchong. Has daughter working as Doctor and his english is good too (talking to her daughter in english)...

Reach home around 9.45pm and my kids is waiting for me... hehehe.... Definitely they can't wait till tomorrow. Everyone wants to talk... and I kept them quite with Chocolate from Berlin. hehehe and the first things I had was Nasi with Masak Lemak Kobis and Ikan Kering goreng. Yes... at last...

And that's end my trip to Berlin...... What a wonderful place to go and a journey that will be remembered as always :).

More pictures taken on the last day here and during my flight from London to KL (reaching KL).

<< 6th Day

Attending Conference at Berlin - Travelog Day 6

Final day (of conference)

A bit late today. Wake up at 4.20am. Might be the mind had accepted the time here or may be because I'm tired. My leg and butt are really in pain.. hahaha... felt like training for marathon... hahaha

Normal breakfast

As previous day, had time to chat with my kids :), then update my blogs and perform solah. Around 7am, went down for breakfast and went to the conference.

Many people were late today due to conference dinner end up late. Many attend the dinner and got drunk I guess :) ... hahaha...

Information overloading

The panels

Topic

There are many session that I wish to attend but some of of the presenter are too good for me to walk away and attend other session... At the end, I had to rush here and there. Same as yesterday.

On one of the session (I attend the panel session since the paper presentation, you can refer to material given), the presenter talk very fast and I was not able to take pictures as he quickly flip through... arghhh, that was good image...

Another paper presentation I attend, each presenter only spent 5 minutes with less than 10 slide each. Wow!!! that's fast and they really punctual when it come to time.

Try my best to catch up with many interesting session.

Fault estimation!!!!

Break time

Buying is very easy if you know German :)

During break time, we when to Brandenburger Tor.

Just press... hahaha

Actually, my colleague
plan to go to holocaust location where jews was 'slaughted' during Nazi (Adolft Hitler) time (that is what the jews claimed) located near by Brandenburger Tor and Reichstag. So we bought train ticket for 1 complete day of which cost us 7Euro.

The train to Zoologischer

The first train was to Zoologischer which about1 km from TU Berlin. Then we need to change train. A bit confuse and got the wrong guidance for few times. They are friendly but either we don't really understand as some of them show us the way but speak in German or they don't really get what we said.


After wondered around, a man came approached us and query us if we need some help. Ooo yeh... of course and he gave us the correct and exact ways. That's better.

Another train buddy... so we switched from U-Bahn train to S-Bahn train and goes to Hauptbahnhof (the Berlin Central Train Station)... We reached there around 1.30pm. And from there we got lost again. Goes to information counter and they shows the wrong way too.. aargghhhh..... and we went here and there, up and down until I almost give up.

So I went outside to rest and thinking of just walking around the station. My colleague still looks at the map and try to find the way. After awhile, he went somewhere else. I turn around and went I turn back to the door, I can't find him. Wait for him as thought that he might come out. After few minutes of waiting and he did not turn up, I took my chance and goes straight to front. Crossed a river (saw boat-tour)... Thought if I had time, I will definitely try the river-cruise.

Then saw Branderburger Tor signboard which about 1km from there. Decide to walk and yes, saw few nice scenes. The first thing I saw was the German Chancellery which about 500 meters from the train station.
The parliament was located there too; the opposite of the chancellery and in front of it was really nice. Night scene here should be nicer I guess. Took some picture of it.

More picture can be seen here.

After shots some photos, I walk down the road towards the gate or known as Brandenburger Tor. Part of it contains lots of stories behind it. On the way there, I took few more shots on the surrounding scene. Drop by a shops selling gifts for tourist. Thought of buying something but then decided to take my chances which I plan to shop at near by my hotel; like 'gift bazaar'; around Kurfurstendamm (using bicycle should be ok).

After 15 minutes of walking slowly, I reached the gate and get to see many more. Also saw many jews whom definitely when to their memorial centre which about 500 meters from there. Wish to go there just to see the view and see how they were 'killed' by the Nazi but too many of them that stops me from going there. After all, time does not permitted :).

Capture some of interesting moment there :)

More picture can be seen here.

About 2.30pm, I decided to turn back and head towards to conference. This time around, it was very easy but my leg already felt pain. Carrying a bag of computer and camera, plus my weight, absolutely a burden to my feet.

Reach Zoologischer about 3.05 and then decided to walk to TU Berlin.... arghhh wrong decision brother. Reach there around 3.40 and went straight for break.. Had bread and coffee and met my colleague there... He really look tired (and he did make a u-turn, back to the conference after confuse of finding the right way)... hahahaha... He went back to hotel and rest (which later I found out that he lost his way due to trying to find a turkish shop to buy Zippo and spend 2 hours of circling around Berlin... hehehe).. what a day brother.

Closing ceremony

After break, went to panel session which talks about Smart Cities and how EU plan to move forward from now till 2050. They surely want to move that ways. However as previously during a panel session yesterday, there are question about successful rate of RE and smart grid and question weather we should implements RE or not since the cost and rate of successful is low. The panel mentioned that it is yet to discover.. after all, it is still long way to go and they might change the plan if they discover something else later. On top of that, it is 'RESEARCH' ... anything is possible. Even US is building up 4 more nuclear power plant, of which 2 starts this year and will commission in 2015.

At 5.30pm, the session end up and they get ready for closing ceremony. Not many left as many speakers and presenter left earlier. I did not wait for the closing ceremony as was thinking to go around the cities looking for chocolates and few items to bring back home. Reach hotel around 6.20pm after my colleague did not response my YM. When I went to his room, he just arrived from his adventurous cycling... hehehe

Went back to my room and take a rest.

Night tour

At 8.00pm, after prayed, we went around the cities. Enter the Kastard (a large shopping complex) just to be ask to leave.. They closed at 8pm... So, they only open for 10 hours (compared to us which from 10am - 10pm and sometimes till 12pm). So we went up ahead and took some pictures. Not really impressive scenes.

Then, we met an Indian guy.. a Phd student and we exchange business card. He is doing EE but I can't remember his focus area. We discussed for a while. He told me that the dinner he went last night was not as expected. The food is ok but the location, scene, and the band was lousy.. hmmm and he said that it is a waste of spending 4 hours (1.30 hours of journey through-and-flow).. hehehe good for us.

Then we went about 100 meters ahead before turning back. Reach our room at 11pm. Take a light shower, play games... and goes to sleep...

That's end my 6th day in Berlin... Need to wake up early tomorrow to pack my things and hopefully to do last minute shopping :)... Good night Berlin...

<< Day 5    Last Day >>

Attending Conference at Berlin - Travelog Day 5

As usual

Sunrise ... the scene is not that ok :(

As usual, woke up at 4am. Have chit-chat with my kids and my team at Malaysia. Read and reply some emails :).

Around 6am, take a shower, perform solah, and then continue updating my blogs :) as usual...

Then, around 7.30am, went for breakfast and as usual, ate the same food for breakfast. Just that the location has changed... hahaha seat at another end of the restaurant.

The cafe... Kaffeehaus

Me.. with coffee.. in b/w

The cafe... Kaffeehaus

Conference again

The second day conference was really pack and full of presentation that I wish I could divide into few people. There are many presentations that I wish to attend but can't.

During the break, visit the exhibition from various exhibitor including Vattenfall, IEEE PES, ETAP, etc. The Vattenfall shares lots of ideas and I can only remember one - search for papers published or written by Vattenfall staff :). Here are some of the pictures of best speaker...

Solah with Middle-east brother

Around 1.30pm, I went to prayer room in the university and pray with brothers from middle-east. They are fast and not like us... too many istiqomah and slow movement. On top of that, I do confuse when the mention Jamaa'... I thought of Jama' (for travellers) but it is actually Jamaah (pray together)... hahaha... never mind, lesson learn... but I actually perform Jama' together with them...

Conference Dinner?

The conference end up at 6pm. I was thinking to attend the dinner, but then my colleague does not register for that. So, I decided to cancel and went with him and have dinner at Arabic Restaurant, El Reda (the same we had on the first day). Is not that difficult to find a good and halal place to eat here. There are many arabic and pakistani restaurant but they only issue is the location. It is not that far. The nearest is about 1km and the farthest is about 5km from our hotel (Azimuth Hotel). Just type halal restaurant in Berlin and you'll find your way there. The only food that was not here is Malay food (or I can't find it). Not like when I was at Sydney. There are 2 restaurant in North Sydney which belongs to Malaysian and they served Malaysian Food; you can have curry, asam laksa, masak lemak, etc.

But at least you can eat halal food in Berlin and as for me, not Maggi Mee after two consecutive days of having it and at least I can eat a lot :). If I went to the dinner which 8km aways from the hotel, I'm not sure I can ate or not. But we should go there tonight for some pictures :) (if we can... hahaha)

On the way back, stop by a few shops and bought few gifts to get back to Malaysia for few friends and team member.

Not many pictures taken ... but you can see some of the shots taken around TU today here.

That's end my 5 day trip in Berlin... Gute Nacht!

<< Day 4    Day 6 >>

Attending Conference at Berlin - Travelog Day 4

The conference starts

Just cereal!!!

As yesterday, I woke up at the same time. Around 4am. Finish my shawarma bought previously as was very hungry. You need to be skillful in warm-up the food here :).

Then, open up my email and messenger. Get some messages and then spend time to chat with my kids.

Around 6am, perform my solah and continue with updating some notes.

At 7.15am, pack my things, and went for breakfast. The same food that I had yesterday. Not much choices. There are scramble-eggs but it was located side-by-side bacon which I'm not confident at all ('was-was').

Shining early day

After some 'ok' breakfast (I miss nasi lemak and roti canai), we went to thee conference. Still using the bike and the leg and butts are really felt painful. It is but enjoyable :).

Welcome day

Parking .. they love cycling

Reach the conference at 8.45 and the take the last row just to ensure that I can get better view for taking photo.

Outside TU

It starts with simple speach by Prof Kai Strunz.. He delivered a warm welcome and speech with less than 3 minutes... so fast and there is NO MC for at all. He is the chairman of IEEE PES and also the MC and also deliver the first welcome speech. Direct without protocols. Then he call TU Berlin President whom also give simple speech, and Engineering Dept Dean of TU Berlin. Next, it was followed by Minister. Again no protocol but he deliver speech longer.. after all, he is political person.. hahaha. And finally, Ms Li Xiaolin, the co-chair of the conference whom also the president of China Power which deliver the longer speech and like many asian, addressing many people first before began with speech. We should starts with that... Begin with Bismillah and Salam and then straight to speech and only use ladies and gentlemen thorough the speech. :)

The session starts... just kick-off aaa..

Prof Kai Strunz of Faculty of EE and CS, TU Berlin giving the opening remarks

The great German

The main IEEE PES people

History you should not forget

Presentation time

What good about the European is that they are really puctual in time. If the scheduled starts at 8.30, it will starts at 8.30 (except when it involves the minister... hahaha). I miss out the first speaker because see an exhibition and get interested to know more.. When I came into a panel discussion, the second panel has half-way through the slide.

It is apple ... not ****!!!

Listen to the panel presentation. Most of it was related to European implementation or perspective with regards to smart grids. There are interesting facts that we can learn from the EU people. They are really committed and also supported by their people and governments ... also includes the universities and industries.

I had this for my break

At 10am, we take a break and not much can eat accept bread and sweets castard like,.. Get to talk with few presenters and met a good professor from france (E'cole polytechnique). Thought of doing collaboration in power quality systems. He shares new project of him of which he is using time reversal technique to detect fault. That's interesting.

After the break, I went into one of sessions which talks about smart grids and transmission and distribution and cyber securities and many more...
Not much I can learn as either the presentation is not well delivered or I don't understand at all.. hahahaha

We had lunch and it is an interesting lunch. Nothing that I can ate except salads and small bun. One thing I notice here, the drinks (apple and orange juice) is really masam. and they have sparkling mineral water which taste weird.

Talk continues

Yeah... the talk continues as goes the presentation and panel discussions. Had to run to two places due to different locations and there are papers that capture my interest.

Had to rush through to find location to perform solat. Ask the information counter but the lady can't speak in english very well. Ask few muslim student and they seem either new or don't know the location. Luckily the committee help out and show us the way to prayer room.

At prayer room, met 2 turkish, one is applying for Phd after completing his M.Sc and he actually start his studies here in TU Berlin before change to another university in Berlin and now applying for Phd at TU Berlin again. They other one was just his first semester. Then, we pray maghrib together.

Today conference ends up at 6pm.

Welcome Reception

The Orangerie

After prayer, we rush to The Orangerie (beside Charlotteburg). We was guided by another committee member whom also riding a bike (bicycle). But he left us after I checked with him on the right path. Wow!!! they are surely very healthy people. See many of them just ride a bicycle and if the place is far, than the ride to nearest bus or train station...

Friends from India

Lets drink and... not for me!!!

We reached there around 7pm. The first smells goes into my nose was alcoholic drinks.. what??? never mind... we just register in and walk around. I met a Prof. whom previously work with Nokia and turn into lecture 3 years ago. He was a computer science lecture but came to smart grids due to his student were doing research in EV. And he felt that he need to equip himself with such knowledge and hopefully to get few experts to work with. Proposed him to talk to Christop Brunner and Alex Apostolov. Good as we share the same understanding and difficulties. :)

The musician.. relaxing

Than met my colleague whom managed to talk with a Brunei lecturer whom attach to Physics Faculty but doing EE research.... hahaha... complicated world isn't?

Can't talk with them.. can't stand with the smell

They only offer sour apple or orange drinks plus tasteless mineral water and alcoholic drinks. My nose already felt uncomfortable. Get to taste soup with peanuts plus bread than decide to take off...

On the way, I was thinking to stop by a curry cafe. Was thinking that it was an indian curry cafe but it is actually referring to Italian style of curry and not confident of the food at all.

Then when around the street and take some nice picture... you can view it here. After awhile, back to hotel room and have Maggi Mee which my colleague brought from Malaysia... that's all I can ate. Saw KFC and McD but 'was-was'.

Do some reading and then play games on my phone.

Around 10pm, goes to sleep and that's end my 4 day trip to berlin.

For nice scenery of Berlin at night.. see it here.

<< Day 3     Day 5 >>