Bosnia and Herzegovia (BiH)

The train station was a little bit far away from the center of town. It was slowly getting dark and I was still feeling a little bit groggy with my lack of sleep. 

The hostel itself was conveniently located near a fruit market and just a 5-minute walk to the center if walking by the cathedral. I chose that one despite having zero reviews. Hostel Massimo opened for business last March 2013. The room looked like hotels with well rolled towels on the beds and good quality bed covers. It was a little bit cramped up though for a 6-bed dorm. In fairness though, there were lockers and the shower and toilet were well kept. One of the things I noticed though was the absence of wifi in the room and the advert noting that the hostel had aircon well in fact we only had our windows open. However, I didn’t complain. I was happy to have a decent place to sleep. Later on though there was a girl from Poland who had an argument with the front desk and demanded a discount because the room was full and she found it so overcrowded. Fair enough. The front desk guy though warned me that she was really feisty and like a snake. I had my own opinion regarding the matter by the time I met her. 

I went out for the evening to have dinner and check out the place. I was there bang on during the Ramadan season, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I did do my early research though and found that establishments were still open despite the fact. Apparently, Bosnia is known to have a different feel when it's Ramadan, so I was excited to see how it was. 

By the time I found my way to the old town centre, the streets were packed and busy. However, it wasn’t

busy with tourists, it was more of locals. Later on I learned that this is always the case after 5 pm, which is when the fasting ends and they all go out. The next few days I found myself smiling every time I walked the streets at night because I could see the massive difference of the vibe during the day. I found a place far away from the crowd, quietly hidden in one of the dark alley ways. There I had my fish, which I’ve been craving for since it was in the Balkan Peninsula. Oh yeah, I was full and happy whilst sipping my Sarajevo “sort of” beer. 

Before I move on with my blurbs about my Bosnia trip, I’d like to cover a little bit about the country and its history. To be honest, I didn’t know much about Bosnia even before I decided to go. All I had in my knowledge bank was the war that they had in the early 1990’s and that was about it. Talk about ignorance aye?

As we approached Sarajevo I noticed the buildings with remnants of the war. Bullet holes and what seemed to be ruins of what was once an area with several structures remained, eerie and gray from a distance. Suddenly I tried to imagine what it was like back then, when war tanks and soldiers walked the streets, smoke in the background resulting from bombings. 

Bosnia is known to be BiH, short for Bosna I Hercegovina. Seriously I didn’t even know about that name AT ALL. Gee weez. I was trying to absorb everything. Bosnia covers the northern area which can be said 4/5 of the whole country itself. Herzegovina then covers the southern part or easier to say, the rest of the country. Located in the Balkan peninsula, Bosnia is bordered by Crotia to the north and south-west, Serbia in the East and Montenegro to the South east. If you look at the map, it is more of an inland country, except for a small strip that is part of the city of Neum. Due to the recent war, a lot of the railways were bombed by the opposition thus the bus system can be found to be more reliable. 

The whole of Bosnia has 3 major ethnic groups, mainly consisting of Bosniaks, Serbs and then Croats. Some

of the locals can speak the different languages through and there has been a lot of intermarriages which I guess goes back to the history of the old Yugoslavia. In terms of etymology, Bosnia must have originated from the word “Bossina” which dates back to the Roman era. “Bos” or “bogh” means running water, and that fits the Bosnia river. On the other hand, Herzegovina comes out of the Middle ages where Herzog means “duke” in German and ovina as “land”. Back in 1992, the country was once called the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was only in 1995 that the word Republic was removed. 

History predates back even before Christ (B.C.), when it was inhabited during the Neolithic age. Celtic, Illyrians and Roman existence seems to be part of its humble beginnings. What made me interested was when I was reading more about the Ottomans. It was in 1463 that the Kingdom of Bosnia got invaded by the Ottoman Empire. I guess reading about that part of their history, it seemed that there were radical changes to Bosnia. With this however started the downfall of Christianity and the Slavic-speaking Muslim community emerged as the bigger group. Influence in architecture can be seen in the different monuments around the country. 

Between 1918-1941, Bosnia became part of the old Yugoslavia. With the establishment of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929, the identity or let’s say entity of Bosnia slowly disappeared and became the minority compared to the Serb-Croat administration. But then when World War II started, Bosnia was ceded to the puppet Nazi regime. 

On the 18th of November 1990, after the first multi-party parliamentary elections were held, the different ethnic countries just wanted to be independent from each other. I wont cover too much details on this write up. From what I gathered, Serbs still wanted to be part of Yugoslavia while Bosnia and Croatia wanted to be independent. What was sad to know though was that the administration of Croatia wanted to own a part of Bosnia too. Sometimes it gets to me reading history and learning about such greediness for land ownership and power. Part of this war is the well-known Srebrenica massacre in 1993 where 8,372 Bosnians were killed by the Serbian political authorities. The Bosnian war lasted until 1995. 

As you walk the city center, you’d notice different monuments in memory of the souls who perished due to the Bosnian war. By the side of the catholic church, you’d notice a spot of red, in commemoration for those who were killed by the bombings. The nearby fruit market to my hostel had names inscribed on the walls. But of course with the hustle-bustle of the market, it can be quite unnoticeable. 

Part of Sarajevo’s main attraction is the Bascarsija which serves as the city’s old bazaar and historical and cultural center. You’ll notice that a lot of locals would commune right around the area, where different cafes and restaurants can be found. 2 major mosques also stand within close proximity to the square. The word Bascarsija originates from the Turkish language, “bas” as head or man while “carsija” means bazaar or market. People usually use it as the meeting point too. The size of the square itself is said to be half its magnitude now due to a big fire during the early 19th century. 

I stayed in Sarajevo for 5 days if I remember right. But it was filled with so many good memories. For the first 2 nights, I’d chat with first guy who was on night shift. He’d talk to me about Ramadan and how he wasn’t really a believer of it and I’d just laugh. We’d watch the people pass by the side streets and he’d wave to the guy next door. He actually told me off one night because he said I’m too friendly and might be giving guys the wrong signals. I found that observation a bit false though. 

My last 3 nights were usually talking to the next night shift guy who was just 26 years old, turning 27 on my

group of local musicians jamming @ barcasija

2nd to last night. We’d usually end our discussion around 2 am and he’d tell me stories about his teenage life and how him and his friends would be crazy hanging out, getting drunk and stoned. What I did enjoy about the conversation was when he’d tell me about how they felt about the war and how this has impacted him and his friends. He did tell me about one of his friends who had a father who was Bosnian and a mother who was Serbian. Both passed away already, but the father died because of the war. The Mother followed eventually, maybe because of sadness is what I figure. The trauma of the war, which was just happened when we were still young, had impacted so many Bosnians. It was a weird feeling to talk to someone who has experienced living amidst a war. It’s crazy to think that back when I was in my highschool, there was war in Bosnia / Balkan Peninsula…when I was worried for my grades and about my crush while there were kids my age who were worried if they’d still be alive to see the next day. 

There was a day when I just roamed the streets of Sarajevo. Taking the tram and checking out a few other places too. Now, one of my memories of Sarajevo was getting fined by the Local tram control and charged 25 (local currency) because I didn’t register my tram ticket. Blah blah. But hey I didn’t want have a bad reputation in the country, not that it mattered. However, I’d like to exist in respect with the rules, so I paid heavy hearted. I explored one of the big parks where a river runs through. It is the called Vrelo Bosne, the spring of the River Bosna and is one of the top natural landmarks of the country. There I found a lot of local families just hanging out, having a picnic. It was a long stretch of a walk where big trees arched over the main road, but the hour’s walk was really relaxing and I enjoyed it. 

I remembered one day when I was out and about, needing to buy something from a shop, the lady at the counter asked how old I was, if I was single and how long I was staying in Sarajevo. Again, picture hand gestures and the struggle trying to work out what she was saying coz she couldn’t speak a single word of English and of course my Bosnian wasn’t good either. I thought she was just being friendly, Eventually, I realized what she was getting at. She wanted to set me up with her son who was just 29 years old. I smiled, winked at her and waved goodbye. 

I learned from one of my roomies that majority of the museums in Sarajevo were closed due to insufficient funds. I found that a little bit sad. I believe Bosnia can offer so much but because of the recent war history, it seemed to shun away people in terms of Tourism. I even noticed that so far, it was the least touristy place I’ve been to, more of locals roam the streets. And talking to a few locals made me observe that they always say the same thing… “The rest of the world thinks there’s nothing in Bosnia”. I found the statement sad. Really sad. And I felt for them. So much felt for them. Coz I believe the locals are really friendly and the country has a lot to offer.

My quick blurbs on sleeping

I had this conversation with a few girls when I was in Santorini, Greece. And honestly, I totally agree with Kirsty (girl from Aus) who's been traveling for a year too, also worked on the side in England.

Some people think that we are glamping it. Like glamorous camping, with the comforts of a bed all the time or even lavish in accommodations. 

Well one thing's for sure, I surely haven't.

I've experienced the following and I'm proud of it, because it makes me appreciate the simplest pleasures in life, and I believe that's what  matters. As I've said, complaining is always easy to do, but looking at things from a different perspective is a gift/skill that I believe people should learn to adopt as they go through life's journey. 

- I've slept on the streets "literally" of Calais, France. And when I say streets, I mean the hard cemented streets where you see homeless people sleep on, wrapped by just a simple sheet of blanket. In the cold of the night, I opted to sleep on the streets rather than in an expensive hotel. why? well, of course, I'm on a budget and I can't complain. Calais was just another sort of resort area that didn't have a hostel and I just couldn't be bothered to be walking miles to the nearest beach which I figured would have been colder. I was joined in by 2 girls from Finland who I looked after during that fearless morning. Yes, a few drunk men stopped but geez, I was so thankful nobody tried anything on us. It was a struggle though to keep an open eye to suss out the passersby. 

- I've slept in the car, amidst the cold of winter's end in Canada... shivering beside a lake and trying to sort out how to get warmer. In the middle of a national park, knowing it was just me, myself and I, it still felt safe. Watching the grandeur of the Moose was enough inspiration for me to Live in the wild for a while. thinking of bears was a different thing altogether.

- Benches in parks/side streets come sometimes be a person's best friend. And that's what I experienced in Trikkala, Greece. I didn't bother taking out a cover coz it was already 25degrees that morning. People who were about to start the morning were already staring at me, yeah, another homeless backpacker. At that point I was already feeling sorry for myself..... But I just had to stop or else I would have fainted because of exhaustion.

- Airports have always been my fave places. But the art of sleeping in airports and finding the best position is what I truly find challenging. And so I was able to relive the phrase "Sleepless in Seattle". Another lady with a dog did the same with me (she was from Alaska), and we ended up looking after each others stuff whenever one would need to go to the loo. The position we were at was quite bad for the bag, but I didn't bother to complain. I just wanted to save on accommodation so I sorted the benches out and had a shut eye. 

- The Beach, the sand and the ocean. Experienced that first time in Santorini, Greece as we watched the first rays of the sun show its lumen on the island. Then we had our sunrise swim. That was memorable. Another one was in Mallorca, Spain when I went on a road trip. What made those nights memorable was that I always chose a position on the beach which was closest to the resto/pub where there was an acoustic singer for the night. So yeah, sleeping on the beach, getting serenaded by the different musicians on 2 different beaches of Mallorca. First night though was a little bit scary when I woke up to a French guy staring at me at 2 am. that's when I just decided to move to the car and figured it was so much safer.

In typing all of these, you should realize my dear reader, how special your own bed/cushion/mattress can be, in the confines of your own room, in a safe zone...your own comfort zone. I was aware before I embarked on this journey that I'd miss the comforts of my lifestyle back in New Zealand. I had my own flat back then, on top of a hill, and I'd wake up to the lights of the sky and sleep to the stars and moon. I honestly miss those moments. So much. One day i'd be back maybe. But for now, I'm roughing it as much as I can. Until I get fed up of living on the road. 

So you see, it's not all a walk in the park. But at the end of the day, it all boils down to finances and decisions to be made. There were always moments when I'd tell myself to book that ticket and get back to New Zealand. But as I write this now, i'm on my 5months and a half through the 1 year that I've planned. Maybe one day i'd give in and head back to Aotearoa...I can't really say. The future is something I can't fathom yet in my mind, the least I can do is to imagine or daydream.... but what I have control on is now..... this is now. IF there were opportunities I have missed out, I've never been a fan of regrets in life, so I let them be. All I know is, if things are meant to happen, it will happen. If it's meant to be that paths cross each other again, it will do so. For now, i'll allow Time to be my bestfriend and the Road my company until I set my feet on solid ground and allow myself to settle on a familiar soil.

Enroute Bosnia

I've heard a lot of horror stories about the trains in Bosnia. Majority of the reviews talked about smoking in the cabins. I found that weird, but hey, if you're crossing unfamiliar terrain, then you should always be open minded.

I rushed off from the hostel in Ljubljana and almost missed my ride to Sarajevo. Good thing the train station was just close by and I was so familiar with the side streets which would get me there in a shorter amount of time. When I got there, I got confused. No train. But yes indeed, there was a bus. That's when I realized that they changed the itinerary. The first part of the trip was via bus because of some issues with the rail tracks.

I was glad I worked it out immediately before the bus headed off without me. There were a bunch of dudes from Denmark, all rested at the back rows. Then 2 girls from Spain were just a row behind me. I listened to the people complaining about the bus alternative. I thought what was there to complain about if you've got aircon as compared to the trains they had. Ahhh, I thought to myself, "How easy it is to complain rather than just appreciate what you have at that very moment". I didn't bother listening anymore, so I put on my earphones and stared out the window as we started the journey. 

After an hour or so, we stopped in the middle of nowhere that seemed to be "somewhere". A bunch of border control officers stared at us while we collected our bags and lined up to the trains. It took them a while with me, gave me the impression it was their first time to see a New Zealand passport. 

I found myself a cabin, joined a couple from Bosnia. The husband was already smoking, which was proof of the reviews I've read earlier. Now picture this, the whole train ride with them was a mix of the wife talking Bosnian to me while giving me that lovely smile, then me making hand gestures so as to figure out what she's talking about and husband in the background puffing his smokes, smirking and trying to work out if he knows the English translation. In the middle of this would be a little bit of finger pointing if there was anything in the background that might be connected to what she was talking about. Despite the language barrier, I was soaking it all in, I found myself smiling coz I liked that sort of immersion. It was a direct train ride to Sarajevo and I didnt have food. For some reason I was able to communicate to them and ask if they had any idea if there were food stops along the way. That's when the lady understood i didn't have any food with me. The next few events was what made my heart melt. She collected all of the food she could get out of her bag and gave it to me. Ahhh, it was crazy. I could feel her motherly care and concern. And then through hand gestures she explained to me that she had 2 sons and she asked if I had children or if I was married. As the conductor passed by, they quickly asked him about food stops and just confirmed to me it was a direct service. I said, it's okay, i can last for the next 5 hours anyway. I've learned to eat twice a day on this trip, and it didn't bother me at all as long as my hyper acidity doesn't cramp up. I then realized after they tried to explain to me, that they've just asked the conductor to get me some food from one of the locals who'd be jumping on the train. Sigh. They were just so sweet! Before they got off the train, the lady hugged me and left me some sweets to take with me. Then with hand signals, told me to wait for the food guy. Earlier by the way, they gave me a few Bosnian words to get by. :)

After 45 minutes, a guy showed up beside the conductor, and gave me the wrapped food. I learned that it was one of the delicacies of Bosnia, called Cevapi. It's their style of preparing burger. Definitely yummy and I was glad it didn't have the typical amount of onions in it. :) God bless that couple!

I assumed that there were no more people to join me in the cabin so I opted to lie down on the stretch of the couch and snoozed for a bit. After some time, the cabin door opened and I found a mother with a boy and a girl walk in, sit on the couch across mine and stared at me. I read the stares as "Okay, this primitive girl is hoarding too much space". I can't blame them.

I ended up having a conversation with the family and found out that she was sewing for a living. The father, who was Muslim, was in Croatia. The kids were so sweet and well mannered. They shared everything they ate and if I said no, the mother would say "Why not?" They also gave me some Bosnian words which the kids would write on my small notebook. They also tried to learn a few English words from me. 

The whole train ride was something I told myself I'd remember by because of the genuine kindness and hospitality of the Bosnian families I've met. In those fleeting moments, I was so happy... Simple as it may sound, I'd say having local exposure makes such experiences worth remembering. 

The family walked me out the train station and made sure I knew my way around. I hugged them goodbye and kissed the kids. God Bless them too. 

I just arrived in Sarajevo, Bosnia and I knew it was going to be Amazing!

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Lar and I separated ways in Ljubljana. Hugged each other at Mcdonalds, at the train/bus station, and promised each other that we'd still be in touch.

Ljubljana is the official capital of Slovenia. It was once believed that the name originates from the word "ljub" whch means "to love,like". The city itself is the one and only largest one in Slovenia. However, if you were to visit the place, you'll find that it's quaint, but definitely charming.

excerpt from Wikipedia:

In 1918, following the end of World War I and the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, the region joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.^[18][35] In 1929, Ljubljana became the capital of the Drava Banovina, a Yugoslav province.^[36]

In 1941, during World War II, Fascist Italy occupied the city, and on 3 May 1941 made "Lubiana" the capital of an Italian "Provincia di Lubiana" with the former Yugoslav general Leon Rupnik as mayor. After the Italian capitulation, Nazi Germany with SS-general Erwin Rösener and Friedrich Rainer took control in 1943^[35] but formally the city remained the capital of an Italian province until 9 May 1945. In Ljubljana, the occupying forces established strongholds and command centres of Quisling organisations, the Anti-Communist Volunteer Militia under Italy and the Home Guard under German occupation. The city was surrounded by over 30 kilometres (19 mi) of barbed wire to prevent co-operation between the resistance movement that operated within and outside the fence. Since 1985, a commemorative path has ringed the city where this iron fence once stood.^[37] Postwar reprisals resulted in a number of mass graves in Ljubljana.

After World War II, Ljubljana became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia, part of Communist Yugoslavia, a status it retained until Slovenia became independent in 1991.

I stayed in Ljubljana longer than planned. Jumping from places was getting to me already and I just wanted to stop for a while. Although I stayed in Lake Bled for 6 days, I still wasn't ready to leave Slovenia just yet. So I decided to stay in Ljubljana for 4 days. 

The hill that looks over the town is the well known Ljubljana castle. I chose to walk the steep path, wanting to puff and get trained again with hiking up. Well in all honesty, I didn't even think it was a hike. It was just another exercise for me to keep my blood pumping. I entered the castle and found it really plain and simple but pleasant, I guess traveling through Europe has given me a few basis of comparison. I took some apples and bananas with me so I could enjoy the view from the tower. After some time, I chose to walk a different path down the hill. I just couldn't be bothered to wait for sunset either. 

Ljubljana despite the size of its center, can offer a lot of charming places to just seat down and enjoy the vibe

of the city. The well known Triple Bridge connects the Old Town and Preseren Square. The Marketplaces is on the left and the Old Town is on the right. You'll find, most especially at night, buskers along the streets, sharing their talents. There were nights when there were hippies playing the different unique musical instruments. At some point there were fire shows and I had the chance to listen to a few free musical events along the different corners of the city. At night, the Triple bridge can look really stunning with the lights on over the canal. You'll find different restos and cafes open along the river, and candle lights adds up to the romantic and dramatic effect of the town. I didn't find it too crowded at all. Well I guess Slovenia ain't the typical place to go to when traveling in Europe. Nick and I tried to understand why the country was so under rated. People seemed to be going more to Prague or Budapest. But anyway, different strokes for different folks. What I really liked about Ljubljana was it's being a wholesome place. There were families, couples, but I didn't find it at any point too rowdy at all. 

It also has the well known Dragon bridge, where an icon of dragons stand guard on each of the corners of that particular bridge. As known, the dragon is a big symbol in Slovenia, as you can also see on its flag of arms. I was laughing when I read that folklore says the dragon wags its tail when a virgin walks through the bridge. It was once called a Butcher's bridge. In 1901, it was rebuilt in a secession art style dedicated to the Emperor. It was redone, reinforced with concrete, one of the first few bridges in Europe that used that technique. The location of the bridge is close to the Marketplace where heaps of stalls are put up, ranging from farm products, bags, clothing, shoes and food stuff. I stopped at one point to get me some fish dish that I enjoyed so much!

The art that exists in Ljubljana has a big Italian influence, which is explained through its modern history, going back to world war II. It is said it has Italian Baroque and Art Nouveau style. In the 20th century the feel and look was highly influenced by one of Europe's great architects Joze Plecnik, where a New Wave of designs settled in and was embraced by the young architects. One of the places that Lar mentioned to me was the called Metelkova. It serves as an expression centre for most probably, I'd say, abstract art, thus setting as an urban cultural centre as they all say. The arts on the walls were really unique and I'd say more alien looking. 

One of my highlights was playing in a book cafe, coz I noticed they had a piano. I've visited them twice and got to play a few tunes, I definitely missed my music. On the second time that I visited the owner, it was really cute when he kissed me on the forehead, said thank you and gave me 5 Euros. I was totally surprised by that. 

Majority of my memories of Ljubljana were of the people I've met in the hostel. I've been staying in a 6-bed dorm for those 4 days. But the counter decided to just book it for 3 or 4 people. I then realized later on it was because of the technical problems with the aircon. 

On my first night I met 2 guys from Norway who were on almost the same route that I was on, although they were going to continue on to Serbia. That night it was really funny coz I ended up as their secretary, organizing their itinerary and checking out their options. They were trying to fit everything in 5 days, which I personally thought was pushing it too much. But anyway, they were fun to talk to anyway. 

On my second night I met Marissa from the US and Astrid from Vienna. It was really good coz we had a night out, us girls, just walking around town and ending up having an ice cream by midnight instead of beer. I was really envious when I learned that Marissa was there to up Triglav, the highest peak of the Julian Alps in Slovenia. Apparently they booked it via a hiking company, which would have cost more than if you were to do it by yourself. But the agency was to arrange everything and even provide the equipment and book the huts. So i guess that was more convenient. Marissa was a school teacher and she shared with us her passion about her job. Astrid on the other hand was a journalist in Vienna. I was really impressed and told her that I was in Vienna before I moved to Slovenia. She did explain to me a few things though and it was good to hear a locals perspective of her own home city.

On my last night was when I met Mauri and Francis from Italy. It was definitely a great afternoon and evening talking to them, more to Francis. All of the discussions were about the different perceptions of countries, and of course the culture and how some generalizations exist and how inevitable racism can be amidst this modern world. I was so impressed because they could speak different languages. Francis and I ended up singing the song Because the Night, and were just laughing our guts out. 

I recall Francis taking a photo of my stuff, saying that his Mom would be surprised to see someone traveling with so much stuff, although I told him that it wasn't enough for a year to be honest. haha. Good times! :)

A whole new different approach to this blog

Part of me wants to stop blogging...well I'd say, stop filling in this blog. I believe I'm a month behind already. So it's either I stop or I actually change the approach I write this blog. As you've all noticed I usually write it on a daily basis in each place that I go to. 

I think now I'll just try to cover the main points and write down as much as I can based on the highlights.

Hangin' with Larisa

The couple from Turkey left the following day and I just lingered around coz the festival was starting soon.

I wanted to start blogging again but I was just too lazy to do so. 

photo from Larisa

That day was when I met Larisa from Romania. She was my new roomie. I was so glad that it wasn't a couple, coz I requested if they could avoid having one in my room just in case the heat of the moment would get the better of them. The girl at reception told me I had a new roomie so I went up and was hoping for a fun person I can hang out with. 

Larisa was very matured for her age, and we clicked so quick. I felt like she was on old soul, in every good sense of the word. We agreed we were going for a day's swim and just hang out. She had her rolls and other epektus. We just laughed when she showed me. She was a lovely girl with a soft aura around her.

I headed for the shops and explored the town itself. I haven't really had a chance to walk around. After some time I decided to buy myself a decent blouse, color yellow this time. Something summery I figured. It took a lot for me to say yes and spend. Lake Bled wasn't really the cheapest place you can be around in Slovenia. 

Around late afternoon I went back to the hostel and met up with Larisa. After walking a little bit away from the hostel, we found a spot beside a tree and bench. There we went for a swim. It was her first day there and was loving the lake already. I told her about my past few days and told her that I've been swimming every day, loving it to the max. Although I did tell her that I didn't really get along with the girls in the hostel coz they weren't friendly at all. She also found it daunting coz she was trying to smile at them but never got a response back. We shrugged and told each other it didn't matter anymore.

We went in and out the water, between smokes, and also talking. A couple was also beside us, talking about Lake Bled. We sort of listened to the couple, I know eavesdropping is not nice, but well, the proximity was enough reason for us. 

Later on, I learned a lot about Larisa. She's into acting and theatre/film. Her looks really fitted the stage, and her Romanina blood were really apparent on her looks. She told me about stuff she and her mother would talk about. It was really good that they had a good relationship going on, mother and daughter. They could talk about anything. I also learned about her trip and the route she was taking....the journey of love. I listened intently on the love story and how they stared at each other's eyes. She was bound for France. I smiled and was so happy for her journey, wishing it'll all work out for her. 

We decided to look for dinner around 8 in the evening. She was vegetarian so we had to look for something that suited her appetite. We found a pizza place and decided to have a beer there too. We watched the sunset until we were done and decided to go back to the hostel, get some more beers and go for a night swim.

By the time we got back, the place was already loud with the other teenagers ready for a long night of boozing. I admired the 2 Dutch guys I met earlier who didn't even mingle with them, they were more fit and into activities. Good on them.We went up our room, looking for something to warm us up..just to find that we had 2 other roomies. 2 guys from the US were under the sheets snoozing already by 10 pm. The other one was friendly enough to say that we could turn on the light. We were fine though. They were only there for a night, so that was good. haha. 

We went out and went back to the spot where we went out for a swim that afternoon. There we made a pinky swear.....that of which I wouldn't note down here....but I do hope that I'd live up to it. As I write this today, and looking at Lars photos, I know that she had actually lived up to the swear. as for me, I still find i'm lost, so i'll leave it there for a while until the right time and right place finds me. It always does. I believe. and forever I will hold on to that thought. 

After an hour we were pestered by 2 teenage Dutch girls pretending that they were drunk, holding on to a bottle of wine. Lar and I just looked at each other and found the scene so pathetic. They thought they were looking cool, but , faking drunkenness is so uncool. They asked for a ciggie so Lar offered them one. They stayed for a while and asked so many questions. Later on, took photos and was about to ask for our facebook accounts, but we opted not to be added. After some time they noticed we weren't having fun anymore, and said goodbye. 

The moon was slowly fading through the clouds and we just kept quiet. After a while, continued on talking about stuff and life. The chill of the night made us decide not to go for a swim anymore. 

We headed back to the hostel and called it a night. I told Lar I was going to explore Ljubljana the following day, after all of the cool and positive things she's told me. I said goodnight and slowly faded to sleep.

Explorin' Lake Bohinj & Hikin' Vogel

I woke up early the following morning. It was still quiet around the hostel, the young ones were still drooling over their hangover most probably.

I chose to explore Lake Bohinj and perhaps hike one of the mountain ranges. I walked up the hill and waited for the 7:15 am bus. The bus ride was along the rolling hills to the next village. I definitely enjoyed the view of the different houses and watching the people wake up to their daily routine. There were so many churches that I saw along the way, which made me want to jump off the bus and take photos off. Most especially those which distinctly stood in the middle of a green field.

I could still smell the morning mist as I got off the bus. The driver dropped me off right beside the lake. The quaint bridge beside the church was quietly still beside the trickling water of the lake. The green moss that stuck to the rocks added up to the drama of the silence. I loved it. There, which seemed the kinloch, was the Julian alps. Triglav was looming over the valley as the clouds slowly covered its peaks. I was definitely up for a hike, but definitely not somewhere that high.

I saw an area where dingeys were tied to. I stood at the edge and took some photos. A girl was silently

watching me from the corner who I ended up chatting with, asking bout the hiking trails around. Apparently they were walking for 8-9 hours the day before, checking out the different fauna. I said thank you for the tips and found my way to the information centre. I gathered some maps and started to walk to the gondola area. I decided I was going up the Vogel mountain range, which is converted to a ski range during winter.

The walk to the start of the trek was fairly flat. The path followed the lake, passing by different hotels and hostels which seemed to be so busy and packed. There was a physical training camp too that looked so interesting. I was tempted to hitch hike but thought the walk would be a good warm up for me, so I opted to walk the distance. I believe it took me an hour before I got to the start of the hike.

I decided to save up energy and take the gondola to the first level and do some hikes from that point. I lined up and found a lot of the locals with kids and even dogs hyped up by the days walk. I was still glad that it was early in the morning as I was trying to beat the crowds and perhaps have some quiet moments up the mountain.

As I got up there, I met 2 girls on the same path. Triin was from Estonia and Cecilia was from Hong Kong. We were walking down a steep path, finding our way to an old farm where they offered goat milk. It was quite difficult coz I do remember it seemed to be an 80 degree incline there with loose rocks. With my accident last year, falling was something that always scared me now adays. So us girls just took our time, taking one step, slowly but surely. They've been traveling together

By the time we got to the shed, there was not a soul in sight. The wind trailed behind us and the flag of Slovenia swayed along. I yelled out and even rang the bell, but to no avail. The views were pretty stunning though. Beside the cow bell was what for me seemed to be a walking stick, etched from a rough but good enough bark of a tree. I chose to have it and hike up with it. I didn't take my walking stick with me that's why. It always makes a difference to be honest.

By the time we got back up that incline, we were puffing and puffing, thighs burning but I felt good. I was missing the hikes, geez, after so long. I felt like my body got back to the sluggishness when I stopped hiking. Canada offered a lot of the hikes, and I big time missed it.

Triglav, highes point in the Julian alps

The girls and I continued on to the next level and decided to take the path up to Vogel. the sun was starting to get intense and it was time for sunscreen. Along the way we were sharing travel stories and stuff about hiking techniques.

As we got up to higher grounds (i find it weird saying that), we noticed a cross perched up high on a certain altitude. there seems to be always something around Europe, most especially the Eastern side, that crosses are put up.

The girls decided to have their lunch at the nearby hut (the one and only), and as for me, I opted to sit
outside with my fruits and just adore the vistas. A sheep decided to be friendly, I thought at first, but then realized he was going on for the kill...i.e., my fruits and my bag. HUWAT DA?!?!?!? anyway, it was a struggle until a couple helped me. It sort of looked absurd that I was struggling against a sheep, but really, I've never thought I'd see one so aggressive. oh boy!

I joined the girls later on and decided to order a little bit of patte. It was hilarious watching Triin chase away the next herd of sheep who were up to no good.... aiming for our plates. She was having fun with it for sure. We laughed, and I found the scene really cute. It looked more local than just being a tourist amidst the crowd. 

We decided to walk up the cross after lunch. I was glad they wanted to join in before they headed back to their place. I was still up for a hike so I was opted to be left behind. There was a rope that enabled people to ring the bell. I made a wish as I pulled it. The girls took turns too. The sound of the bell rang out loud to the ranges and I wished my wish would be hear out loud by the heavens. We took some photos before they left and we exchanged details coz they were also bound for Bohinj that afternoon.

I continued on to the higher altitude going up Vogel. There in the distance Triglav was slowly showing its peaks and shape. It seemed to be snow but I was sure it must have been a different type of rock. I lingered for a while and found the loose rocks a little bit daunting at that point. I walked down and found myself an edge where a tree rooted out from the rocks. There seems to be always something bout edges, cliffhangers..... I still haven't really worked out why It always called out to me. Maybe some day.

The bus stop was closer this time, so I didn't have to walk for another hour to the center. The oldies from the hikes were waiting as well. I just listened to the conversations. Sometimes I have this knack by giving the impression I don't speak English at all.

I got back in Lake Bled around 4 pm just enough time for me to be pumped up for a swim. I found the same spot where Nick and I went for a swim. There I rested my muscles and allowed the heat of the sun to touch my skin. I was loving the lake and the water. I listened to the kids laugh as they jumped off, I joined in as well.

That night, I joined in the couple from Turkey for a few beers by the lake. We finished 3 cans each and by that time the girl was already drunk I figured. The guy was very sensible to talk to. And I eventually learned the culture, practice and how they met each other. Everything was secret, so that's why I'm not mentioning the names on this blog. I'll leave them to their privacy.

Around midnight there was a group of Scottish and Irish boys and girls who quickly stripped off, butt naked, jumped into the water. The Turkey couple joined in but with their undies. I was the watch out for the night. I wasn't really up for the shivers of the water. It was hilarious when they were shouting out loud...about sizes and stuff.

By 1 am, we were all up for a shut eye...We rushed back to the hostel which was just across the road. A hot shower and I snoozed off. The love birds snuggled and warmed each other with smooches. I was already in dreamland by then.

5 months on the road

It's amazing how time flies. Last 21st of August marked my 5-month stint on the road. So many stories, so many adventures, so many people I've met on the road. Of course there were highlights, highs and lows, but I also had my favourite places that hit top of my list. 

I know I'm still on a backlog on this blog. As I finish the Europe leg, i'll try to finish it off soon. Last entry is still Slovenia. I haven't written yet about Bosnia, Dubrovnik (croatia), Greece, Mallorca Spain...and now I'm already in Edinburgh, Scotland. So goodluck to me if i'd still remember the thoughts and emotions. :)

But as my friend told me, I'm writing this more for me... coz I know one day, i'll revisit this blog and smile while reminiscing all of the amazing experiences I've had.

A day with Nick

Nick was one of the guys I met back when I was in Hamburg, Germany, originally from Montreal, Canada and on a 6-week vacation. On the last day before we left Hamburg, we realized we were almost on the same route. He added me to facebook and said to keep in touch, just in case we were in the same place at some point. Back when I was in Vienna I sent him a message to check if he was around too, but found out that he was in Budapest. I was supposed to go to Budapest after Vienna, but I decided to avoid the massive crowds, so chose Slovenia instead. On my last day in Austria, we found out that we’d be in Lake Bled at the same time. So we decided to meetup and explore the place together. 

I woke up around 8 am and walked around the lake. Early mornings always makes a difference if you want to explore a place. Dad’s advice about photography was “always try to take shots early morning or early evening”. Makes sense because too much sunlight can make a shot tricky, unless you’re on the right angle with the light coming from behind, shedding enough light on the subject. Early mornings also allows you to soak in the feel of the place, it’s when the peaceful surroundings come more “to life”, for me. It’s when majority of the tourists are still tucked in bed. I had those moments in Lake Bled, although there were a few groups of Chinese who also had the same idea. I didn’t mind though, coz it was just a few of us, and clear shots were still possible, without the worry of having heads suddenly pop up in my frame. 

I was scheduled to meetup Nick at 9 am beside the lake. It was still early so I decided to dawdle beside the boats. There was a bloke from the US who I had a chat with. He mentioned seeing a guy the day before, who caught a big fish. I saw a school of fish staring back at us through the clear water of the lake.

Nick was up the stairs when I walked further. Apparently he arrived earlier than expected. I gave him a map of the place and had him decide what he wanted to do for the day since he had to go back to Ljubljana that evening. He initially planned to get the last bus back, so he could cover majority of the sites in Lake Bled. 

We walked up the Bled castle first and had a chat along the way. He wasn’t really into hiking nor walking,

seemed that he was struggling with a hangover although he didn’t admit to me that he went partying the night before. I actually teased him about the incident in Hamburg when he woke up in a different house, ending up with a girl he met in the pub. He was a little bit defensive though and had to tell me not to get the impression that he was like that, sleeping with a girl in each town that he went to. I smiled and said, it didn’t matter what I thought.

We decided not to enter the castle coz they charged 8 Euros for it. To get a view though from the castle’s angle, we decided to stand on the sidewalls. After that, we walked through the trees and headed to the rowing area. The price for an hour’s rental of the rowboat was 15 Euros. We decided to share on the fee. At that moment, that’s when I told myself, that’s one of the benefits of actually traveling with someone. Sharing the price can definitely help lessen expenses so quick. I thought, had I not met up with him, I would most probably have opted to ride the boat with a group which would have been the same price. 

Nick was in shape, and when I mean shape, his body was really fit which showed that he was conscious of how he looked. We agreed he’d row from the port till the island then I’d row on the way back. I’d never have thought that I’d be rowing in such a romantic setting, let alone, rowing with a guy I barely knew. I didn’t wallow too much with the thought. We got to the island and walked up. Even entry to the church itself had a fee. We decided to just walk around the island instead of going up. The steps were kept clean. At the end of steps was a dude in his knickers, sunbathing in a star fish position. It really looked odd coz he was the first thing you’d notice as you went down the steps. And personally, I think it was a sight for sore eyes. I couldn’t stop myself form taking a photo though. Just to have proof of the oddity. 

After a few minutes, we got back to the boat and I started rowing. Oh boy, how I struggled with it. Well, what made it worse was that the left paddle was smaller than the right one. And it seemed that I was always wading to a certain direction. So in the end I always had to stir differently just to make sure we were on the right course. Good thing that Nick was fine even though we went over an hour. The waves were against me, which made it harder to paddle. But we eventually got there in the end. The lady who tended the rowing area wasn’t a happy chappy one. Oh man, she asked me to row back out and back in again and yelled at us that we should just leave the ores behind. 

We were famished by the time we finished. We looked around the places to eat but found things a little bit expensive. So we decided to find the nearest supermarket and make ourselves a sandwich. I bought the veggies and he got us the meat and cheese. We decided to head back to my hostel and have a picnic outside. It was really cool and we just talked whilst eating. I learned a few things about Nick which was good. 

After eating so much, Nick got magnetized so quick to lean to a corner while I was washing the dishes. But he got shy and helped me out to clean up. He then told me that he decided to take the 2nd to the latest bus ride back to Ljubljana. I said that was fine. I felt like he wanted to sleep already. 

We decided to go for a swim, so we found ourselves a spot that was free. At the far end of the side of the lake was an area of grass where a few kids were jumping off from. We decided to choose that spot and sat down. I was all up for jumping so I quickly joined the kids. Nick was still checking how cold the water was. I was already in the water then…. Woot! I realized I liked fresh water than salt water, although the lack of buoyancy always made me struggle with my strokes. It was good that Nick was a sport and said he’d jump too. That was cool. After some time he dried off though, and I was still in the mood to jump. He was so sleepy that he curled up so I suggested to find a more shady place coz his white skin was so red at that point

After a few minutes of walking we found a spot, I let him choose coz I wasn’t really fussy about it. 

He had a nap and I just watched the people pass by. I was smiling coz it's been a while since I've had my mind so peaceful. I didn't mind anything at all. I loved the fact that I was able to swim again and the heat of the sun was just right for the plunge. 

When Nick woke up he decided to take the next bus back to Ljubljana. He was so weak and tired, I figured he had a late night... I wasn't bothered at all. 

I walked him to the bus stop up the road and we had a chance to talk about stuff. He asked if I was thinking of moving to Canada. I said, depends if I get a job offer.

The bus was late, but anyway, I hugged him goodbye and went back to the hostel. 

Lake Bled, Slovenia

I never thought that I’d be finding my way to Slovenia. It was a place that Shelly, Grace and her cousin Beth suggested to me. Well, here’s the thing. I missed my first train to Lake Bled. First time ever to miss my ride. I was so glad to know that there was another train, or else, I would have needed to cancel my hostel booking and stay somewhere. 

I sat on the platform of Wien Miedling waiting for my train. I contemplated….I missed my guitar. I was feeling a little bit sad and lonely that moment. Not knowing what to expect in Slovenia, not knowing what was after…not knowing anything at all. All I knew was, I had to get going. 

Lake Bled is located in the Julian Alps in the northwestern side of Slovenia. I would never have thought to be going there, far away from the route that I’ve planned. But all I knew was I wanted a place that was different and not the typical place to go to. When I got there though I realized it’s a top tourist destination (toink). Apparently, based on research, Bled island, found in the middle of the Lake, is the only natural island to be found in Slovenia. A church was built in the middle of the island, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. A walk up 99 steps would give you a pretty sight of the church, though rowing towards the island itself gives a beautiful view too. It seemed to have such a charming feel to it, well if you think about it, it was more of a romantic feel. Yeah, lots of lovers going there actually. The lake was formed by mixed glacial and tectonic activities. On top of the hill that overlooks the lake is the known Bled Castle, that has a medieval-era architecture. That also added to the beauty of the place. At night they turn on the lights on the castle and lovers just pass by the lake and stare up. Pretty. 

I had to do a transfer in a small town in Slovenia. I opted to avoid the capital, Ljubljana, and decided to go straight to Lake Bled where I heard I can go swimming and just chill out. My adventure in Zakopane, Poland had me start looking for similar places where there were combinations of lakes and mountains. 

I shared a train cabin with a girl from Ukraine, another girl who was from Slovenia and a cool and friendly bloke from England. We were all traveling on our own but it was so cool because we immediately clicked and just talked and talked along the way. The girl from Slovenia taught me a few words and even helped me work out on which station I was supposed to get off. The guy from England was really cool too coz he was really easy to talk to, into mountaineering and rock climbing. 

As I got off the train, I hugged them goodbye though I just shared a fleeting moment with them. I figured that it didn’t matter what they thought….. when I give someone a hug, that means I appreciated the company and enjoyed the conversations. 

The sun was slowly settling down when I arrived. There was a van waiting at the parking lot offering a ride to Lake Bled for 3 Euros. I accepted, dumped my bag at the back and chose to sit beside the driver. I earlier tried to talk to 2 girls from England, but they weren’t that friendly (more friendly to the boys), so I didn’t bother anymore. 

The driver was a lady and wasn’t that much used to driving a van, let alone that it had a manual transmission too. It was okay, she smiled at me and restarted the engine as we stopped before the train tracks. My hostel was Villa Victoria Bled, 50 meters from the lake. She didn’t drop me off there, instead, asked me to get off at the top of the hill. I was fine with that, I didn’t complain, though when I got lost and confused, the weight of the pack seemed to be too heavy for me. 

I checked in and was assigned to the 2nd floor, in a 4-bed dorm. I quickly chose the lower bunk bed and settled in. Later on, I met my roomies, a young couple from Turkey. 

I went out to grab dinner and decided to sleep early after walking for a while. By the time I got back a bunch of teenage Scottish, Irish and English girls & boys were starting their drinking session in front of the hostel. I thought to myself, “man, it’s gonna be a wild, noisy night for sure”. 

I opened the door to the room and quickly heard a shriek. Now at that point, with no lights, I quickly figured that the couple was having a moment (if you get what I mean). It was awkward for all of us. I said sorry and quickly decided to grab my camera bag and tell them I decided to take night shots despite my exhaustion. 

From the hostel, I turned on the torch lights on my mobile, and found the way back to the lake. The castle lights were stunning, the vibe was romantic as I watched couples walk by, dreamily staring at each other’s eyes. Awwww. 

After an hour, I hang around the lobby of the hostel, checking my emails. Around 10 pm, I decided to go back to the room, hoping they were done. I knocked at the door and asked if they were done. The guy said “can you give us 5 minutes more?”. At that point, I was too tired, but said yes…but a little bit irritated already. 

I went down and told the front desk girl that I wanted a room transfer the following day. She was sympathetic to my qualms. I told her, it wasn’t a hotel, but a hostel and a dorm that we were all in. So if they wanted to have their moment, they should have booked their own room instead regardless if they were on a budget. I’ve heard so many horror stories of people having sex in a dorm room, but never did I expect to be in the same awkward situation ever. 

They were having a shower by the time I got back to the room. The girl was the first one back in and I was surprised that she spoke English fine, despite his explaining to me earlier that she wasn’t good at it. She was in a bad mood earlier when I first met them. I gathered it was because they had company in the room. 

To break the ice, the guy asked me what my plans were the following day. I said I was meeting up a fellow traveler. That was it, I didn’t want to stretch the conversation and be friendly. After a few minutes, I was in dreamland, oblivious to their laughter while they watched something on their laptop.

Explorin' on my last day in Wien

I woke up the following morning and decided to extend for another night in Vienna, aware that I haven’t explored the stuff I wanted to see. 

There were 2 main things that I wanted to see, where the genius mind of Bach stayed during the era of his music brilliance and lastly, the tombstone of the big names in classical music in Zentralfriedhof. 

I guess before I continue on to my blurb about the happenings of my short exploration, I think it's worth mentioning that when I booked my train ticket to Vienna, I got a little bit confused because my ticket said "Wien". Apparently, that's the German name of Vienna. It has been called the "City of Music" due to the various musicians who shared their gift of tunes to the world. Also, it has been tagged as the "City of Dreams" because of the first psycho-analyst Sigmund Freud. 

the view from the window

It was an emotional feeling when I entered the house of Bach. He was born in Salsbury, Austria but eventually moved to Vienna with his wife. There, he reached the ultimate prime of his compilations until he passed away. I walked around the rooms of their abode, looking through the windows and imagining what would have inspired him whenever he started composing. A lot of his manuscripts were posted on the walls, the whole house was converted to a museum, giving each visitor a glimpse into his life. 

I slowly walked the cobbled stone alleys and found myself stopping for an Ice cream, hoping to extinguish the afternoon heat. It was hilarious when I got on the tram, being my first time, it tested my comprehension. So I found myself getting on a joy ride going somewhere, supposed to getting to the cemetery, but getting off far away from my destination. 

By the time my brain got sick of my poor ability to understand the tram system, I stopped by the closest and cheapest noodle stand I could find. I haven’t been really good with my meal times, and that was 4 pm when my tummy reminded me to eat something after the yummy ice cream. Vienna can be really expensive, but if you get to find the small stalls far away from the center, then prices can be affordable. 

I bought myself a noodle box and a can of coke. The initial heat of summer was starting to take me down, obviously my pacing was getting slower too…. Indirectly proportional. 

I found a bench beside a lady. She was wearing dark glasses and had her 2 dogs on a leash. It stared back

at her when she got back to the bench with 2 boxes of food, which were all to herself. The dogs must have been giving her the look, sending her signals that they were also famished. We sat quietly beside each other, I’d only budge when the dogs would suddenly jump and growl at some of the passing dogs. She said sorry each time I jolted. I smiled and said it was okay. I didn’t mind at all, I just like that I was having lunch in an unusual spot, far away from the tourist’s path and quietly eating my lunch. After finishing my hearty lunch, I asked her if she knew where the tram station was that would take me to the Central cemetery. Alleluia! I was right bang on where the first stop was. Ha!!! She laughed at my vocal Hurrah! I said thank you and was well on my way to the great tombstones. 

It was a 45-minute tram ride and I was glad I didn’t get off at the 1st gate of the cemetery. When I got off at the right one, I looked at the gate and the insides… and realized how massive it was. 99% of all the famous names of Vienna were buried there. The first few tombs were intricately designed with statues, majority with angels or of robed-women. 

Each section of the graveyard was classified. The sun was going down and the dramatic sunset was adding up to the lovely vibe of the cemetery. Now, that’s one of the things some people find weird about me. I like cemeteries. I like checking out the birth years and computing how many years they lived. I enjoy reading the words that the family chose to etch on the stones. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea. But anywhere I go, most especially if it’s a new place, passing by cemeteries can sometimes be added to my itinerary. 

Zentralfriedhof

I eventually found the section entitled “Musicians”. There, right in front of the sign, were the tombstones of Beethoven, Schubert, Martinelli and so much more. It was amazing. I strolled around and stared at the other tombstones, wondering what kind of ceremonies they had for such amazing names in the history of classical music. 

There was a small church right in the middle of the cemetery, with big white steps leading to the main door. I entered and found only 1 other person there. It was one of the girls I saw in the tram ride. She was sniffing and wiping her eyes… I didn’t look back anymore and allowed her to have the moment on whatever she’s been contemplating on.

At that point when I had the church to myself, I sang the usual song that I’d sing, in Thanksgiving for that moment. I realized that the edifice of the church was constructed to enable a beautiful echo effect. It was amazing. The door creaked and I was again with company, so I decided to pray my last respects and move on. 

Hundertwasserhaus

I sat outside the church steps that had a panoramic view of the cemetery. I sipped a little bit of water and started filling up my postcards. I can imagine how my family would have been so appreciative of what I saw that day, knowing that each one of us had a big love for music. 

Another place I checked out was the Hundertwasserhaus, an apartment of funky desigs built after the idea and concept of Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser with architect Joseph Krawina as a co-author. When I got there I was really impressed by the colors and the uniqueness of the apartment. 

Hangin' in Vienna

I woke up around 10 am the following day. The guy who arrived late was already up, watching a movie on his computer. The shower was for both male and female, I was used to that since I’ve arrived in Europe. But what I detest was when I got out (of course all clothed), brushed my teeth then noticed a middle-eastern guy staring at me just a few steps away. I looked at him, tried to work out what his problem was but got quickly annoyed when he just stared at me. As rude as I can be I asked what he wanted..it took him a few seconds to figure something out and walk away. It was only after a while that I realized I was the only girl in the hostel. Duh. I was glad later on that there were a few girls who checked in. That made me feel more safe.

I went out and explored the streets in the heat of the day. Summer was setting in and I was feeling it in the hot air besides the scorching rays of the sun. I explored the markets near the museums. I think I might have been walking for 3 hours already. My energy levels were so low so I found a tree and slept for an hour as tourists passed by. 

One of the things I liked about Vienna was the feeling that it wasn’t packed with tourists though, unlike Prague. There was something elegant about Vienna too, I couldn’t explain it. Also, I enjoyed myself when I found alleys and streets that were really quiet. Bumping into 3 or 4 people was something usual. Later on, I found out that tourists didn’t really stay that long in Vienna due to the expensive prices around the city. Fair enough. But then, Vienna has been in one of the best places to live in. 

I was scheduled to meet up Luki at the museum around 3 pm. He told me to look for someone wearing blue shoes. That was really easy, so the moment I got out of the museum, I easily identified him. 

Luki and his friend Gerold were originally from

Austria, and are more into the arts and theatre. Amanda met Luki when she was studying French in Paris, from there, they became good friends. We crossed the streets and decided to have coffee. That was their welcome for me. It was really sweet.

We sat right beside the fountain in front of Karlsplatz, where the reflections of the cathedral caught each bystander. They asked a lot about my background and what I’ve been experiencing in my travels, the people I’ve met and my opinions. It was a really good exchange and I liked the conversations we had. We watched people pass by and find their favourite spot in front of the fountain. A group of locals were beside us, playing a board game. 

They had a part to go to so we said our goodbyes around 5. I hugged and thanked them for meeting me up. Luki wrote me some places which were good to check out. I told him I’d explore it soon enough.

I decided to go back to the hostel and rest up. I talked to the front desk and requested for another night in the hostel coz I haven’t planned the next destination nor the accommodation. I was glad that I was able to book the same bed in the same room, so I didn’t have to repack again.

Catchin' up with Lieven in Vienna

It first confused me looking at my ticket. Even way back when I booked it, although the name didn’t make sense to me, I assumed the ticket lady gave me the right one. Apparently, if you book a train to Vienna, the main station was named Wien Meidling. That was something I’ve never understood why. And usually, I’d think Meidling would be the middle station and HBF would be the main. However, I later found out that it was treated as the main train station in Vienna. Go figure. 

I arrived in Vienna around 8:30 pm. I rushed off to the Metro and got on the metro to my hostel. Jack’s Hostel was conveniently located right beside the train station, so that was a good thing. The hostel itself though wasn’t impressive, but it was cheapest I could find in Vienna, so I didn’t complain. I was booked in room 1 which was right beside the reception, i.e. right beside the main street too, so imagine the noise. I quickly changed, checked my email to make sure I had the right instructions from Lieven, then head off for the 20-minute walk to Ratahaus. 

I first met Lieven back in 2011, when I joined a group for the ultimate outback experience. He was there for the shortest duration of the trip enroute to his ultimate destination >> Mongolia. Photography has been one of his passions, thus the trips to places and capturing different events. He didn’t get join us for camping, but the quick discussions we shared was enough to keep us in contact even after the trip. I guess technology has a big thing to do with it due to the fact that facebook was the main means of communication. I did make a short video of my outback trip and sent it to everyone I met on that trip. 

It so happened that when I posted a farewell note when I left Brussels that I got a message from Lieven that he just arrived in Belgium. By the time I had it on facebook, I was well on my way to Germany. But we were able to exchange schedules and realized that we could work out an overlap in Vienna, before he flew back to the US. 

We agreed to meet at the Ratahaus around 9-ish pm coz I wasn’t really sure how my train travel was. Good thing everything worked out fine, so I was able to rush off to meet him up within the specified time frame. He already checked out the place a day before, and described to me the place where we could meet. I found it fitting that we met at the Australian food stall, which was his option coz apparently he hasn’t tried eating Kangaroo. It was the big Film Festival in Vienna, so it was very busy with people around and food stalls to quench their thirst and feed the hungry tummies. 

Lieven was already there waiting when I got to the food stall. I hugged him and asked if he was waiting too long. He said it was okay, he rushed off from the hotel as soon as he got my email that I’ve arrived in Vienna. He bought me dinner and also tried the Kangaroo meat. We were lucky enough to find a table coz it was really packed when we arrived. I’d say besides the fact that it was a film festival, it was also a Friday night.

It was really nice to meetup and catchup with Lieven, different from just chatting on facebook and exchanging ideas on photography or even travels. He gave me some photography tips too and showed me his heavy duty camera. Whoa! Time just passed by so quick as we chatted through the night. We noticed that almost everyone was gone and some of the stalls were closing for the night. By the time we left the place it was past midnight. 

We walked the streets of Vienna and I already observed that it was clean and quiet, no drunk people around at all. Lieven walked with me till the closest station to my place. I realized earlier that my hostel was located 2 doors away from a strip/whore house. It made me wonder if it was actually the red district area. Lieven wasn’t really sure how safe the place was either, but, yeah, he was really security conscious too. 

I said goodbye to him and made sure he knew which station he had to get off. Some guys were staring at me when we passed by a bar, I gave them a bad look … I hated it when men stared. But that didn’t scare me at all, I confidently walked back to my hostel on my own. 

By the time I got back to the hostel, it was around half past 1 in the morning. Majority of the people in the room were back. But around 3 am, someone just noisily arrived, groaned, opened the window, changed, then got into bed. He didn’t smell like alcohol so I was feeling okay. I was the only girl in the room so my first instinct is to check if my roomies were okay. Else, I’d request a transfer.