Ala Archa National Park

Gorgeous. 

Our first excursion from the program was going to the Ala Archa National Park. This place is a mere 45 minute car ride away from the dusty capital of Kyrgyzstan, but is probably one of the most beautiful place on earth.

The most iconic scene of Ala Archa.

Our final destination is the Ak-Sai Waterfall, which is a 3.75 km (2.33 mi) hike one way. That doesn't sound too bad at all, but in reality, the trail was quite steep and filled with loose rocks. We planned for a 1.5 - 2 hour hike, but it took us 3 hours to finally get to the waterfall. At this time of the year (early June), the waterfall wasn't too impressive, as it is still somewhat too cold for the glacier to melt. The water, however, is clear and tasty, and the view was amazing from up there.

And the hike begins.

Beautiful mountain top.

This is how steep it is... and it's not even the worst!

Our group taking a break on the plain.

Breathtaking gorge in front of my eyes.

The Ak-Sai Waterfall we came so far to see!

We brought out own lunch and picnicked on a pile of rocks by the waterfall. It was honestly pretty comfortable, and arguably one of the nicest lunch I have (even though all I brought with me was cucumbers, peaches, waffles and some trail mix). It was a nice hour to regain some energy after a somewhat intense hike. The last stretch of getting to our lunch spot was especially difficult because the slope was so steep. I was practically climbing up the rocks and steps.

Climbing over rocks to get back to the trail after lunch.

The boys hiking down the hill.

The Ak-Sai River running along our trail.

Everything seems so peaceful here.

Even though going up the hill was strenuous, going downhill was more of the nightmare. A lot of us constantly slid and fell down the steep slopes, and as for me, I did not slip much because I basically overused my knees to support myself. By the time I get back to paved roads, my knee was swollen and I had a painful time in the minibus heading back to Bishkek. But I really don't regret any part of this, even the pain, because the nature was simple awesome (in its original meaning) and it was admittedly a good work out.

Annie

First 20 days or so of Bishkek

It's different than what I have imagined. I thought I would go out more, I thought I would be better at Russian by now, I thought I would be hiking those mountains, I thought I would be eating all these traditional foods. Fact is, I have done barely any of the above. But I don't regret any of the moment I have spent here, because I am still learning more everyday.

Okay, I like Bishkek. But maybe one day I'll love it.

Bishkek is the capital city of Kyrgyzstan with a population of less than a million. Most people here speak Russian in addition to Kyrgyz. In fact, Russian is very commonly used here, and you can survive here knowing only Russian, making this a good place to study Russian because you could practice anywhere. This is a pretty small capital compared to most, and it doesn't exactly have a "city center", which is interesting. But you can find history around almost every corner of the streets, from statues to museums, to squares to parks. My host lives pretty far from the school (like 4 miles), and I usually take the Marshrutka in the morning and walk home after school. It takes me around an hour and 15 minutes to walk home, but at the same time I am also giving myself a different tour of Bishkek each day. I stopped using a map after a couple of days, and I find something new all the time. It's actually not too boring of a walk as some might think. Only down side is I feel like I'm a vacuum sucking in all the dust. 

Ala-Too Square, surrounded by museums and statues and parks.

The Red Guards Memorial, dedicated to Red Guards who died for Soviet Power.

Monument of Mukhtar Auezov, a prominent Kazakh writer, scientist and academian.

Statue of Lenin behind the State History Museum, which is currently under renovation.

Tattybyubyu Tursunbaeva, a well-known Soviet artist/cinematographer.

A statue of Kurmanjan Datka, also known as the "Queen of Alai". She was a strong tsaritsa whom the people respected.
PS. she's also badass enough to reject an arranged marriage... back in late 1820s!

Manas (national hero) statue in front of the Philharmonic Building.

MiG Fighter Jet in front of the National Guard headquarter.

I'd say I've seen a lot of Bishkek city in these 2 weeks, just from walking literally everywhere. Now that I got a couple explore buddies, I will see even more in Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan. It's gonna be a good 10 weeks, я думаю. Also, I got a multi-entry Kyrgyz visa, so maybe I'll go see some other countries, with Kazakhstan on the top of the list because it's visa-free!

Annie

Shortest flight I have been on

Almaty, Kazakhstan (ALA) → Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (FRU)

Mountains between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

This flight is a maximum of 25 minutes, but it was the most breathtaking, jaw-dropping flight. Ever. I love mountains, and this flight is like a dream because we flew low and somewhat close to the mountains. 

Not much to say about this flight as it's really short, but shout out to the guy who let me take his window seat!!! 

But isn't this mountain range gorgeous! 

Interesting landscape.

What an adorable city with a majestic mountain backdrop.

These pictures don't even begin to describe the scenery, but hopefully you enjoyed them. There will be several opportunities for me to hike/trek in Bishkek during my study abroad, and I can't wait any longer! Imagine actually be on these mountains! 

Annie 

Layover in Amsterdam

On my way to the final destination, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, I had a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam. Last time I was here was about 2 years ago with a friend, but we didn't really "sight see" much. We enjoyed our time just strolling around, eating ice cream and stuff like that. I remember I really wanted to go to St. Nicholas Cathedral by Amsterdam Centraal station, but it was not opened. That became one of the reasons why I wanted to leave the airport, even though it would mean I have only, realistically speaking, a maximum of 3.5 hours to do things. If you didn't know, I love European cathedrals and churches, and I would never give up my chance of seeing yet another one.

That's the St. Nicholas Cathedral on the left

So off I go with my 12-pound backpack and purse.

Of course, the 3 hours that I am in Amsterdam had the best worst weather. It was cloudy and raining the  entire time; at times, it even poured rain. However, that didn't stop the umbrella-less me. After spending about forever trying to get Euros from the bank (note: DO NOT exchange money at the train station. I exchanged $20 and ended up with only 13.62 Euros) and buy the train ticket, I finally got to the city center. It was pouring rain, so I went into the tourist info booth right outside of the station and got myself a free map. Once the rain was slightly lighter, I speed-walked to the cathedral to find that IT WAS CLOSED. AGAIN. There goes my hopes and dreams, so then I spent the next 2 hours wandering around the side of town that I've never been. My map was in my bag basically just for added weight, because I did not touch it once. My path actually met a couple pretty nice places, such as the Rembrandt house and statue (they are actually quite far apart), the opera house, Bloemenmarkt (flower market), the Royal Palace and Dam Square. I especially spent some time at the Bloemenmarkt because tulips are pretty, and they are Dutch. With 4.22 euros left in my pocket, I also picked up some fries (without sauce.. because they cost extra money that I don't have) as my lunch.

Canals are almost always accompanied by boats, trees and houses.

Bloemenkart - would've been great for mother's day.

People in Amsterdam (and Europe) loves to have flowers outside / inside their home.

Some people actually stay in those boats.

You're looking at the Royal Palace in Dam Square.

I concluded my trip in about 2 hours because I really could not stand being in the rain and cold anymore. But it was also a good idea stopping early, because back in Schiphol Airport they actually scanned ALL electronics and even searched most passengers' bags. I made it just in time for the flight!

The beautiful Amsterdam Centraal - one of my favorite stations

Annie

How to plan weekend trips!

A few friends has asked me how I plan my trips. During my year in Germany, I spent probably half the weekends traveling and doing stuff, whether it is going to a party in the next town over, or going to a city 8 hours from where I live. As a broke exchange student back then, how did I do it all? Here's how I did it.

Step 1: Figure out exactly how much time you have
So you ask, a weekend is 2 days, what do you mean by how much time? That's true, but not if you include your Friday afternoon if you don't have class, or your Monday morning if you don't have class until the afternoon. There are weekends where I have a good 72 hours to go somewhere (don't question me, question the German school system).

Step 2: Figure out where to go
Now that you know how much time you have, you can plan accordingly. With those 72-hour weekends, you can go somewhere a little further, or somewhere close that you really want to explore inside-out, or maybe a festival that you've had your eye on for months. Have a list of possible destinations.

Step 3: Booking stuff
For weekend trips, I don't recommend booking tickets / rooms on the go. That's because you only have 2-3 days to explore, you may very well loss that precious time running around clueless. With your list of destination in hand, use the almighty Internet to find the best deals on buses, trains, hostels and homestays. Any logical people would choose to go somewhere that's the cheapest, but you do you.

Step 4: Plan your itinerary 
By that, I don't mean to have something like "8am - Healthy breakfast at hostel; 8:32am - take bus 1 to location x entrance a". That's just way too much detail. Have a few places that you want to visit each day, plan an approximate route, and just go wander around! You never know what you could find.

Step 5: Go and have fun
Pack up your backpack (please don't take anything more than a backpack for a weekend trip) and go!!!

Day trip to Brussels

Day-and-a-half trip to Paris

PS: I dropped my old laptop so life has been a mess. Pardon me for the lack of (travel-related) posts because like half of my pictures are not backed-up :( 

CBYX online application tips!

This is hopefully somewhat useful for future applicants.. That is if anyone reads this blog.. 

Since I participated in CBYX (Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange) in 2014, I guess I can say my online application was pretty solid. This is all based on my application experience. (I actually wroe this back in 2014. I decided to re-post this because a lot of people actually read it.)

- Essays: After you wrote and edited your essays, don't hesitate to ask people (preferable alumni, parents and teachers) to read them! Believe it or not, I attacked at least 15 people with my not-so-good essays and their comments helped me improve a lot! Essay is one of the most important parts of the application, since it's the only way the judges get to know you as of now. They look for genuine and motivated applicants; bragging and lying in your essays doesn't help.
In the interview, the interviewer(s) will be reading your application while asking you questions and talk about things you put on the application; it is IMPORTANT for you to review what you wrote in the application before having interview [and congrats if you've made it this far!]. 

- Host family letter: This is different from the essay in my opinion. This letter is for your future host family to know more about you, so there isn't a specific prompt to follow. Before you write, ask yourself what you would want to know if an exchange student is coming to stay with you for 10 months. The student's family life? Social life? Hobbies? Interests? Personality? If you don't have a word limit for the letter, just keep writing, but keep in mind that you don't want the letter to sound boring and redundant because, once again, it's the first impression you have for your future host family. I would say keep it under 700 words and don't just restate everything you wrote in the previous essays, because they'll most likely review your whole application. Try to really give them a glimpse of who you are. 

- Teacher's Recommendations: Double check if the teacher's recs are in. A lot of people didn't complete the application because a teacher's rec was missing. If you aren't sure about it, email the person in charge of application processing! It never hurts, plus this would show him/her that you actually care about the program. 

- Your cover picture: This is the first impression that the judges (and possibly host family) have on you. So you better look nice. I'm not saying you should be complete dressed up for it. Like me, I just wore a nice sweater and had my hair down, nicely combed, and smile like how I would normally. It's better to just show your personality (while looking professional). I'm kind of a casual person and I wear sweaters all the freaking time so that's what I chose to wear. As long as you don't look like a hobo or someone who just woke up, you should be good to go. 

- The grades: There's a section where you fill in your grades by hand, please don't fake it. It's so obvious since you'll be required to provide a transcript anyways. Grades aren't as important (still important) if you have an outstanding personality and desire to go :) 

- Your activities and awards: It's important to show how much you involve in different activities, because this is what the judges are looking for: people who are active and will involve in activities in Germany. In the tiny column they provided us, I included a little description for each of the things I wrote. For example, I didn't just write "Equestrian" or "Art". Instead, I wrote "Equestrian - Started in Hong Kong Jockey Club and continued in Sam Houston Equestrian Center; assisted in youth riding classes", and "Arts/crafts - School elective and personal hobby, participated in numerous local/regional/state competitions and auctions". This will give a little bit more insight to the things you do without having to write a whole essay. The judges will feel like they know you better.

The Student Information and Stats, Academic Certificate, Medical Information, Media Release etc. really just depend on you and the school. You can't really screw those up unless you filled them out incorrectly. Make sure you review your application and forms to check for mistakes! 

Future applicants, I hope this helped and I wish you the best of luck!

Annie

Kyrgyzstan in Less Than 12 Weeks!

I have been accepted into the Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Russian as a Second Language Program hosted by my school and SRAS (the School of Russian and Asian Studies). I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED!! I will be there for 10 weeks, starting from late May to early August. I might even add in an extra 2 weeks before he program starts so that I can go explore some more! While my primary purpose of studying in Kyrgyzstan is to learn Russian, my secondary purpose is definitely go on hikes and watch people eagle hunt (among many, many other things)! The landscape in Kyrgyzstan is unlike anything I have seen, and I am literally dreaming about the scenery in my sleep. 

Beautiful landscape of Kyrgyzstan - Source

Horses are a bonus! - Source

Most of my Russian class is going to St. Petersburg, Russia. I thought about it, but I decided to go with Bishkek. Why?

1. It's off-the-grid
9 out of 10 people I talk to have no idea where Kyrgyzstan is, and I am going to study there. How cool is that? Since not many people have gone down this path, there isn't really something that I "must" do (other than Issyk-kul and the bazaars in Bishkek) and I get to do whatever I want and share these unique stories with others. Also, I'm just an awkward person that doesn't like super mainstream stuff.

2. Mountains. And Lakes. 
If the pictures above aren't breathtaking to you, I don't know what to say. I simply can't wait to finally see and hike them in person! 

3. Less distraction, maybe
While my classmates are probably getting drunk and partying in a bar in St. Petersburg, I'm probably sleeping in a yurt. I'd say that's a fair trade. But then I'd be tempted to ride horses everyday, so that could be a slight distraction.

4. The people
The Kyrgyz people are known to be hospitable and gentle. They are not from big, modernized cities, which makes them perhaps more innocent and easy to communicate with. They also probably speak less English than Russians, which would help me in learning my target language. 

5. Kyrgyz food
Some might say they're weird (fermented mare's milk??! Yes that's weird), I can't wait to try them. Honestly, I have never tried any food like Kyrgyz food, so I have absolutely no expectation for it. But at the same time, I am pumped to try something complete new to me. (I've also heard they're really yummy) 

By the way, this is a yurt. - Source

In conclusion, Bishkek just sounds better for me. Now all I need to do is find $9000 on the street or something to pay for the program.

How to Fit Everything in a Suitcase to Europe

Most people over-pack, I am no exception. I have been to Europe twice, once for 10 months and once for 6 weeks, both times over-packed. But with my experiences, I hope to provide an insight on how you could actually survive out of a suitcase for a little while without having to move your whole room there.

1. Don't bring a ton of hygiene stuff

Your jars of shampoo and conditioner can stay home while you travel the world. They are heavy and take up precious space, not to mention the possibility of the content spilling all over your clothes due to the change of air pressure. Take sample sized bottles instead and buy more as you go. 

2. Mix and match your clothes before leaving

Take an hour or two to decide on a common style that you want to wear in Europe; oversized t-shirts and booty shorts are not recommended. Bring things that are slightly dressy but comfortable. Also, try to stick to a neutral theme - they are classy and easy to layer. Remember that these outfits can be mixed around, so you will end up having more combinations than you thought. Accessories are good additions to your outfits and they're usually small and light to carry.

3. Fold your clothes neatly and efficiently

There are many videos on YouTube that teach you how to fold/roll your clothes and save space in your suitcase. Try a few tricks and find one that works best for you. Personally, I don't find packing cubes and vacuum bags too useful if you organize and fold your clothes nice enough. However, they can be good tools to keep your luggage neat. 

4. Minimal electronics

Let's face it, you can't live without your electronics. However, if you are traveling, you should be enjoying the scenery and culture, rather than spending your time on the Internet. If you are not going to be working or studying abroad, you probably don't really need your bulky laptop. A smartphone and tablet often suffice. Also, bring a compact multi-outlet to save space, especially if you are going to a place that needs an adapter. If you are a hobby photographer, a compact DSLR camera with one lens is enough.

5. Wear the bulkiest thing on the plane

Going to Norway in Winter? Your puffy jacket will probably take up half of your luggage space, so logically you should just wear it to the airport. You can always just hold it in your hands if it gets too warm as it wouldn't count as a personal item when you board. 

6. Only bring enough clothes for like two weeks

But I'm there for 10 months! Well, if you are there for an extended period of time, you will probably stumble upon places with a washing machine. Bringing basic clothing, like plain t-shirts, cardigans and jeans can give you an endless possibility of combinations. Plus, you are most likely going to expand your wardrobe, so you might as well save some space for the new additions. 

7. Use a customized packing list

There are many packing lists available online, but don't just follow everything they say. Find one that somewhat suits you and personalize it with things that you need, like any medication or your favorite comfy shoes. Stick with the list you have so that you should add extra "maybe" items. 

8. Double, triple and quadruple check

Pack a few weeks ahead of your long journey to ensure you have everything you absolutely need and weed out anything that doesn't prove its usefulness. Keep going through the stuff you have every couple of days in case you change your mind. 

Now, hit the ground running at your destination!

Top 10 Destination I recommend from my trip to Europe in Summer '16

This past summer, I dragged my mom to go on a 6-week Europe trip with me. I planned everything, from flights and hotels, to daily schedules and transportations; that was a good couple of weeks of work, not to mention it was during the finals week. We visited almost 25 cities in 7 countries, and here are my top 10.

10. Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and a mere hour train ride from Vienna. While most people don't think about stopping there, this is definitely the city for budget traveling. This city can be easily overlooked when traveling around Europe simply because it is not as advertised as bigger tourist cities, but none the less, Bratislava has loads to offer. Their streets are lively, and since there are not too many people, I actually get to enjoy the performances. The short 2 days that we were there, we saw a folk dance and folk song stage performance, a market, 5k Color Run (or their version of that?), and 2 people dressed up like a flower pot. Throughout the city, there are also tons of hidden statues, like the Schoener Naci Statue and the Rubberneck, waiting for you to discover them.

Popular attractions: Bratislava Castle, Main Square, Michael's Gate, the Blue Church

Market on the Main Square sells mostly cheap souvenirs and folk crafts

View of the city from the Bratislava Castle

9. St. Goar/ St. Goarhausen,  Germany

These little gems are definitely worth visiting if you ever find yourself in the Rhine Gorge, which is known for its beautiful landscape and abundance of castles. St. Goar and St. Goarhausen are situated on the Rhine River, one on each side of the river bank. In these two towns alone, you can find Burg Katz and Maus (Castle Cat and Mouse, literally) and Burg Rheinfels sitting on the mountains. Not too far from St. Goarhausen, you can find the Lorelei - a rock on the right bank of the Rhine that is closely tied with folklores and myths. If you ever have a chance, a cruise down the Rhine is also highly recommended by many travelers. While tourism is not too big here and there aren't load of things to do, spend your day visiting castles and hiking would be just as wonderful.

Popular attractions: The Rhine, Castles, Lorelei

 Watching the sun set on St. Goar is calming and relaxing after enjoying supper in St. Goarhausen

Burg Katz - now a privately owned castle, overlooking St. Goarhausen and the Rhine

8. Hallstatt, Austria 

This village situated between mountains and lake in the heart of Austria really does live up to its fame on Instagram and Facebook. Most people only know the picturesque side of Hallstatt with its cathedral, houses and lake, but what I discovered was that its nature trails in the back of the village were just as beautiful. They offer cruises on the lake - it's a great way to explore the surrounding areas of Hallstatt (like Obertraun). Do beware of tourists, as this village of a couple thousand inhabitants is usually flooded with tourists. 

Popular attractions: Marktplatz, Salz Welten ("Salt World"), Hallstatt Ossuary

The postcard-perfect view of Hallstatt most people know of

Hidden trains behind the familiar face of Hallstatt

7. Salzburg, Austria 

Salzburg is home to the Sound of Music, a classic movie that is famous for its historical background, music and scenery. There are numerous Sound of Music tours in the city, and if you are adventurous or too poor for tours, you can make one on your own (which is what I did!). This musical city is also home to Mozart, and you can find Mozart-themed everything here. Many of its cathedrals and historical buildings are well protected, and the attractions are mostly within walking distance, making the town easy to explore.

Popular attractions: Salzburg Cathedral, Birthplace of Mozart, Fortress Hohensalzburg

From here, you can see the Salzburg Old Town with many of its main attractions

The Residence Fountain is one of the most beautiful and detailed fountains
in Salzburg,  not to mention it was one of the locations in Sound of Music

6. Grindelwald, Switzerland 

Known for being the ski Wonderland, Grindelwald is just as great in the summer, especially for hikers. This village is located near the Jungfraujoch, one of the most famous peaks in Switzerland, and surrounds itself in nature. The mountains are covered in hiking trails that lead you from one village to another. Not the hiking type? Take the train to go all the way up to the peak! But let's be real: there isn't much to do here if you don't like outdoors.. It's a pretty wonderful spot if you want to just hide from the world and go back to mama nature. I was not bored a minute from my 5-hour hike because the scenery was constantly changing, from snowy and stony to muddy and grassy.

Popular attractions: Lots of Mountains and extreme sports

Grindelwald before me after 4.5 hours of hiking, it was worth the rain and mud

Adorable cattle with traditional cow bells seen before reaching town

5. Vienna, Austria

You can find the perfect mix of new and old in Vienna. One of the most popular activities to do here is to go to a concert / opera, and while do watch out for scams and promotions on the streets, this is one thing that you cannot miss when visiting Vienna. If you are not able to do so, at least go on a tour in the Vienna State Opera. Other than the musical and performance side of Vienna, there are also plenty of sightseeing opportunities, like hundreds of museums, cathedrals and palaces. Tired of old looking buildings? Visit the Hundertwasser House - they are a series of houses that are shaped and colored very artistically. Last but not least, Vienna's city center has a great collection of brand-name stores, including the Swarovski Kristallwelten (Crystal World). 

Popular attractions: St. Stephen's Cathedral, Hofburg, Schönbrunn / Belvedere Palace, Vienna State Opera

The Schönbrunn Palace was an imperial summer residence, now a museum for visitors
Its garden (aka perfect picnic spot) is open to the public

"Amorem Meum Populis Meis" ("[I give] my love to my people") - this Statue of Pope Francis II is located
in Hofburg Palace, where my mom and I enjoyed afternoon tea

4. Prague, Czech Republic 

A European destination that is more and more often visited, Prague is certainly a beautiful city with much historical significance. There are lots to see and lots to do; my 3 days there were not merely enough! To the east of the river Vltava is the Old Town of Prague, and to the west is the famous Prague Castle. There are always people selling handmade jewelries , paintings and photographs, and even people playing traditional music on the Charles Bridge, so don't just take a picture and rush to the other side. 

Popular attractions: Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square

View of Prague Old Town from the Powder Tower: Church of Lady before Týn, Old Town Hall, Prague Castle

Looking the famous Charles Bridge on Mánesův Most after visiting the Prague Castle on the other side

3. Bern, Switzerland 

Wait, Zurich is not Swiss capital? Nope, it's Bern. Surrounded by the Aare River, this capital city might throw you off with its traditional buildings and historical sites. Its Old Town is listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and it's absolutely stunning. There are many local shops in the Old Town that provides you with snacks, a cure for shopping addiction and even craftsy fun. Walking around town was soothing (this is not the busiest part of town) and watching the river flow will calm your soul down. Don't forget to visit the bears and the Rose Garden on the other side of the river!

Popular attractions: Cathedral of Bern, Zytglogge, Einstein House, Bear Pit

A short walk to the Rose Garden will give you this mediocre view

The main street in the Old Town - the bear is the coat of arms of Bern

2. Budapest, Hungary

Did you know that its name came from combining 2 cities - Buda on the west and Pest on the east? This shining star of Europe will satisfy your eyes with its Gothic style architectures. A cruise on the Danube river is an easy way to see all of the beautiful buildings on both the Buda and Pest side. Or if you are like me, you can spend your night on a boat hotel and admire its night lights. One of the most memorable sights is the "Shoes on the Danube Bank". This memorial is composed of bronze shoe sculptures along part of the east-bank in memory of people who lost their lives to fascists during World War II. Taking a walk along Danube, especially passing by said memorial, will give you something to reflect on. The banks of Danube would also be great places to picnic while enjoy the magnificent scene of either the Buda Castle or the Parliamentary Building. 

Popular attractions: Hungarian Parliamentary Building, Fisherman's Bastion, Buda Castle, Széchenyi Thermal Bath

The Hungarian Parliamentary Building sitting by the Danube River, who knows how much it has seen?

The opposite side from the Parliamentary Building are the Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion
among many other landmarks

1. Munich, Germany 

Home to the Oktoberfest, this southern capital of Germany is historical yet metropolitan. There are countless things to do in this big city: enjoy Bavarian food in the Rindermarkt, visit the Residence (oh you will spend half a day there), experience a game in the Allianz Arena (I'm actually a Borussia Dortmund fan..), go to the BMW museum... If you are traveling for an extended period of time, stationing in Munich is a great way to explore the southern part of Germany. Within an hour of train ride, you can reach cities like Augsburg, Rosenheim, Landsberg(Lech), Ingolstadt and more. Want some nature? No problem! There are tons of lakes and forests surrounding Munich that you could explore! 

Popular attractions: Marienplatz, Munich Residence, Deutsches Museum, Nymphenburg Palace

The "New" Munich Town Hall - one of my favorites

From the Town Hall, you can easily see the whole Munich Old Town,
including the old Town Hall and Heiliggeistkirche

PS: Thoughts after my first actual post: holy potatoes finishing this took way longer than expected.