While in London, I had tried this wonderful chai masala at a well-known Indian restaurant that I quickly became very fond of. Upon my return stateside, I discovered that a recipe for this very satisfying drink existed online. The recipe called for Assam tea. Looking to find this tea at various places around town to no avail, I finally happened upon ZenTea.

Success! They had the tea I was looking for. Assam tea in a sealed pouch. But how much tea did the pouch contain? I asked one of the employees, to which I got the response to the effect of, "2 ozs. Next time, if you want to know prices and quantities look at this" as she gestured at a blue booklet inconspicuously located on a shelf. Ok, duly noted.

As I paid for 4 ozs, I made the error of conveying why I was buying the tea. I said, "When I was in London, I had this really great chai tea at an Indian restaurant that used this Assam tea as a base". Now, what could have easily been pleasant chit-chat or at the very least nominal customer service, say "Oh, that's nice. We enjoy this tea. Here's how we've prepared it" instead was "chai means tea, so what you're saying is redundant" followed by the pair of employees snickering. Gee, thanks. Also, duly noted.

Sometimes, it's not what you say, but how you say it. Belittling your customers with a smug and condescending tone doesn't reflect the warm and inviting nature of a hot cup of tea.

Today, ZenTea lost a potential repeat customer. I'll be buying my tea off of Amazon instead.

A lifelong dream was realized the moment I set foot within the convivial beer halls of the Hofbrauhaus am Platzl. It was everything I could ever hope for. Lively "oompah music", the best beers known to man flowing freely from the taps, long tables filled with an international clientele of patrons united in the spirit of the moment, and copious amounts of Bavarian cuisine. Someone, pinch me.

Is it a tourist trap? Perhaps, but if it is, it's a trap absolutely worth falling into. As an American tourist, I felt that it was important to temper my expectations of what German service should be. German restaurants do not operate the same way that American restaurants do. You must seat yourself, which may be more difficult than it sounds (be on the lookout for spots that are already reserved). The wait staff is not exactly "Johnny-on-the-spot" as it usually is in the states. If you're lucky, you may be able to flag down a waiter every 15-20 minutes. Don't expect them to pay any attention to you unless you're trying to flag them down. Keep in mind, they're scrambling all over the place to keep the food and beer flowing to a very large number of people. Thankfully, there are girls making the rounds selling pretzels to take some of the pressure off of the waiters. Note: German waiters prefer cash over plastic.

No trip to Bavaria would be complete without drinking beer from a Maßkrug (a one liter glass). I can think of no better place to check that box. As I stated earlier, Hofbrau is a world-class beer (no matter which style you choose). I opted for marzenbier, an appropriate choice for the autumn months.

For food, I snacked on a giant pretzel with obatzda, a regional cheese spread consisting of brie, butter, and seasonings. Yummers.

The joy of dining in a beer hall is enjoying the company of complete strangers. We may be strangers to each other in life, but we are all friends at the table. Prost!

Marienplatz is the town square in the heart of Munich. Tourists, like myself, flock here to see the Rathaus Glockenspiel. Musical chimes play tunes while the mechanical contraption reenacts 16th century events: the marriage of Duke Wilhelm V to Renata of Lorraine, a jousting match, and a celebratory dance.

Marienplatz appears to be a common staging point for guided tours of the surrounding area. Cafes and shops line the perimeter of the square. At the cafes, people enjoy their morning cup of coffee, tea, or glass of beer. Souvenirs like beer steins, cuckoo clocks, traditional Bavarian clothing, t-shirts, etc. are very easy to come by at the various shops in the immediate area surrounding the square. An S-Bahn and U-Bahn station underground enables convenient transportation. Many tourist attractions are a short walk away: Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt, Alois Dallmayr, etc.

It's nearly impossible to be a tourist in Munich and not find yourself walking through Marienplatz a number of times during your visit.

A trip to Munich would not be complete without a visit to BMW Welt (World) and Museum. BMW, or Bavarian Motor Works, is headquartered here. BMW Welt features displays of the latest BMW's and MINI's. Free Admission.

A pedestrian bridge connects BMW Welt with the BMW Museum. The BMW Museum boasts an extensive collection of historic BMW automobiles, motorcycles, concepts, models, and engines (including aircraft engines). Admission (single ticket): 10 Euros.

Notes: I would estimate it taking 2-3 hours to view all of the displays in BMW Welt and the Museum. At the museum, backpacks must be secured in on-site lockers (coin-operated, 1 Euro). There are a handful of on-site restaurants to meet a variety of needs (a quick snack, coffee, or a full sit-down meal).