Green snaps Dublin
Here is the first week in Dublin with a cold weather just few degrees. I was in the city centre yesterday. Being unknown to everything but just St.Patrick’s Day, I have one concept of Dublin and Ireland: Green! british post box but in green colour, green bus, green tourist office, green souvenirs, green card…
This City is Dyeing…by Green.
Back to Zero ( To stay in Ireland ) 回歸零 – 來到愛爾蘭
有些事情，你不想改變，但仍然不由得要變化。猶記得二月天刮大雪的日子初到德國，街上只有零下十五度，要把行李拖至 hostel 至 hotel 至 租住的家。然後三月天忙着到政府機構申請不同的東西，要學習他們的生活方式。天氣仍然寒入骨，終於慢慢去適應習慣，上課，認識一班各有故事的同學，一班來自香港仍然在柏林努力生活的人，會面及吃飯。學懂德國式的購物及享受陽光，然後天氣漸回暖，只是這時候我要離開，開展另三個月的愛爾蘭生活。把一切歸於零，慢慢調校重開。
可能快樂，可能不快樂，沒有人知道結果，沒有人知道世界末日何時，或者我會活到八十歲。重新開始過，我對明天也不太清楚，希望睡得好，繼續開心歡笑，用這心情去度過每一天，大家都做得到。
I believe, change seems no better than remain unchanged, but in some case you don’t have a choice. Well, I still remember the first few days on Feb, I went Berlin and experienced the hardest day of storm and snow. It’s only -15 degrees on the street…I had a very hard time to bring my suitcase from hostel to the hotel and to the home stay. Then, on March, I had to settle down and learnt the German way of living, especially their traffic, their “AMT” system – which is something related to gov’t department. Cold weather still. Then I went school and met some friends from other countries, learnt every hidden stories. I met some HK friends who stayed Berlin and had gathering with them. I went to flea market as usual on Sunday, started to go sun bath when sun came out at once. Even tried Japanese noodles and Chinese dumping in restaurants. All seems getting quite well with…but now start to have the following new life in Ireland for few months. All back to ZERO…REBOOT the computer with a slow speed device…
Maybe it’s fun or maybe it’s not. Maybe it’s almost the end of the world or maybe I can live until 80. So, start from the first step, I have no idea on tomorrow. But let’s sleep well and smiles always, we should be more than good at it.
Base flying in Berlin 柏林市中心飛行
That’s what I did yesterday, the Base flying. In the centre of Berlin, Park INN, Alexander platz. This site start in 2009 and the season of 2012 just start yesterday at 3pm. But they said they opened a little bit earlier. Well, I went there at 4:30pm and I was already scheduled and fly as the number 45. That means within 2 hours 44 people already done the base flying. So what is base flying? It’s simply like sky jump in Macau Tower. You don’t actually need to jump but, more like step out to the air and they hang you up….you start to scare…in a security way…then when you are ready ( or you will never feel like ready ) then the wire release… Suddenly drop down from 98 meters to almost few meters to slow down and stop. Woo…I felt more like dropping down than flying…Very very fast….in 4 – 6 seconds you already feel a guy standing on the platform and waiting for you. “How is the flight?” Woo…the first answer to him is:”haha…ha” , “what’s going on?”
You may like to ask me what is the most exciting moment, I will say, the dropping with unexpected speed. I tried twice in Macau Tower, which might said even double height of this base flying, but it’s somehow with the feeling of flying. But I didn’t feel it in Berlin. It’s all about dropping. Very exciting!! Please try if you are crazy or seeking for something awesome.
Bauhaus Dessau
If you are the one who learn design or architecture, I guess you must have interested in Bauhaus which their school is now in Dessau, Germany. Not far from Berlin, within 1.5 hours by train. Here the town is small, clear <—should be, as the concept of Bauhaus are something about simplification, conciseness. Btw, it comes to UNESCO and some of the former buildings remained and renovated in these few years. Right now, if you visit, there will be some Master houses and the school buildings you would actually have a look. They d0 organize some guided tours. Unfortunately, most are in German. I wish they would have english tour later on.
如果，你是讀建築或者設計，我估你會對包浩斯不陌生，他的一所校舍在德國 Dessau ，距柏林不遠，只 1.5 小時火車。此小鎮相當細，而且予人簡潔的感覺，或者也是包浩斯的概念之一，簡約、清楚、不花巧。而它已被列入聯合國世界遺產名錄上，主要參觀的是教學大樓及幾位 Bauhaus 大師級當時所設計的住所。在教學大樓有詢問處，設有些導賞團，只可惜大都是德語的。我期望下次，他們會開設些英語的團，畢竟，是包浩斯。
What’s on in Berlin: Spring Festival
Yes, there is a Spring Festival in Berlin which just start last Friday and right now about one week and will go on till 22 APR. I have been there yesterday. I know its like an amusement park with some swirling swings, Ferris wheels, and other exciting airborne rides. But I have no idea what will the German amusement park look like. Finally, I found it quite “old school” style with NO wheels existing this year but an old one in front of the park. Anyway, the park was not crowded because yesterday the easter holiday not yet started. And I went there around 4pm, some families with small kids played in some attractions and took a ride. Funny with friendly people and those were wearing smiles. And there were a lot of Wurst and Bier that you can enjoy. I love this kind of “old school” park and sometimes I miss our Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park so much.
Here is some information:
Berliner Frühlingsfest
vom 30. März bis 22. April 2012 in
Zentralen Festplatz
There will be a Sunday market and firework in several days. Please check it out.
最近，柏林有個臨時的樂園，被視為一年一度的春節活動，於上周五展開，如今剛一星期，我昨天就去過了，出發之前已經知道是個小型的遊樂園，有少許機動遊戲，誰不知往年有的小小摩天輪（看過往年的圖），今年卻沒有，只剩下放在大門入口的一個裝飾。其實這小地方頗為搞笑，充滿了舊時代的玩意，夾公仔機還是古老的夾子，公仔都很古怪，實在不能跟日本的相比，我看來看去只有藍精靈的一部機引起我少許興趣。遊人不多，通常是爸媽帶着小孩，而且年紀是 3 – 4 歲那種小。機動遊戲的項目如大鞦韆、米老鼠車、碰碰車、鬼屋等都有，約 3 歐左右，還有攤位遊戲等，此外，賣腸仔啤酒的，幾乎隔幾米就有間。攤位遊戲也是受歡迎的，情侶們、小家庭，齊齊圍捕，大顯身手。
間中去參與一個這樣的舊樂園，感覺像時光倒流，回到過去的荔園。懷舊的度過了幾小時。
瓦努阿圖 Vanuatu
Recently, I heard that there is an advertising about migration to Vanuatu. Vanuatu, people start to raise the question and feeling like this is the only haven in planet maybe, the last Wonderland. I didn’t watch this advertising on TV and don’t know the details. But, few years ago, I have been to Vanuatu because this country/place have been won the award of the happiest planet. So I started to search some information and wanted to visit for this reason. And finally, I found a way: go by the cruise from Australia and they go south pacific line, I would actually stop there for half day!!!! I asked sponsor by this simple and rear reason, although some might think that I was just wasting time which will never seems interesting. But to be honest, a traveler should always feel exciting to all kind of destination.
Thanks for all helps, it did happen on 2007-8, can’t remember. But I am sure my photographer would never forget this trip. First few days in Australian Blue Mountain we went canyoning and I was Fucking hurt, she and I were never a swimmers but I did the crazy jump over the waterfall about 25 meters….Finally, I hurt my hand then it was inflected when we boarded on cruise. I went to see the cruise’s doctor day by day. Finally, we arrived Vanuatu, we went to one of the secret island, there were an underwater post in 3 meters. Before, I dived the wreck, the US ship which the deepest point reached 60 meters. At last, my photographer and I walked back to the cruise as the taxi driver tried to charge us more money than usual…this was the Wonderland of Vanuatu.
I had a lot of memories about this place and the whole trip. And I loved to be an explorer. But I am sorry for those few years who suffered the trips with me, I knew that you might not be a crazy people like me…haha…but you need to work with me. Sorry! Please store this in your memory.
最近，聽到有一個電視的廣告節目，是關於移民往瓦努阿圖，說是世界上最快樂的國家，這勾起我少許回憶，早在 2007-08 年左右，在網上有個快樂星球指數的選舉，而瓦努阿圖名列首位，比芬蘭等公認最富的北歐國家還要優勝，這引起了我的興趣，決心想找一個方法去採訪這地方。或者，當時我的同事與上司都覺得我痴線，為了這麼一個「小」理由，幸運地最終找到了贊助，是郵輪公司的一條南太平洋航線。首站我留在澳洲悉尼附近的 blue Mountain。這旅程非常深刻，因為我與不懂泳術的女攝影師，竟然往 Canyoning 去（溪降），我還冒死跳落二十多米深的瀑布，當時我是不懂游泳的。最終手背受傷細菌感染仍上船去，每天見醫生。不過，到站瓦努阿圖時，仍然是去潛水及拍攝海底的郵筒去，我與攝影師此行印象深刻，我肯定她不會忘記，我們不甘被屈錢而由市中心徒步到碼頭這一幕。
我真的很感激，過去「被迫」與我工作的攝影師及夥伴，我知我是個很瘋癲的人，不過我是個有病的冒險家。我知道你不會忘記這些旅程，呵呵，當是回憶也不錯。
Hotel Art Nouveau – Freund aus Deutschland
Few years ago, when I worked for one of the magazine from HK, I traveled quite often, once or twice a month. But even I went to the same destination which I have been to before, I seldom stayed in the same place. I was quite happy to search for new. In those few years I visited Berlin for four times, but I stayed Hotel Art Nouveau for two times, which was also recommended by my colleague who stayed beforehand. Why? I guess you may agree with me, because of the host, the owner. He is a very friendly German with a nice artistic wife who came from Austria. They have a kind a love story which is easy to understand: opened a guest house because they wanted to build their nest fill with love. And they both loved travel around the world. So when they tried to find a place to settled down a bit, they bought some flats on a building. His wife designed the interior and he do his managing work. First when I came, they treated me like a friend and the following next time I backed, seems like visiting an old friend who lived Berlin.
Their guest house is perfectly quiet and in the very “west” berlin area, Savignyplatz. So if you have time to visit, please say a hello for me.
在過去於雜誌工作的幾年間，我經常出門，不過就算往同一地點去，也很少重覆住同一酒店，因為我很愛新鮮感。而這幾年來柏林有四次，然而卻有兩次入住同一間旅館Hotel Art Nouveau，有趣的是這家旅館是我一位同事介紹，他之前亦住過。為什麼我們都愛它？原因不是因為什麼設計與裝修，而是「人為」因素，就是這裡的老闆。他是為很親切有善的德國人，有位奧地利籍的藝術家老婆，是一個平凡的愛情故事，兩人築愛巢，然後買下物業作為居所也作為旅館，兩口子都愛周遊列國，他們仍間中外遊。無需多說，妻子當然是發揮所長，負責室內設計，老公做管理。當我第一次到訪時，他們已很熱情招呼我，而我再次回去時，感覺有如探朋友，一位居於柏林的朋友。
他們的旅館真的非常舒服，清靜，座落在很西面的柏林。如下次你有機會入住，請代我向他們問好！
ITB in Berlin
ITB, the leading travel trade show in Berlin, is now holding in Messe Berlin (the big big big exhibition halls). I was there yesterday for just few hours. Today is the last day open until 6pm. Some of my friends planned to go with the discount rate because of the “late check-in”. I was lucky as I can visit with my media status anytime from 7-11 MAR free. It was really big with almost 20 something halls inside, can’t be comparable with the one in HK exhibition centre. But ITE (held in HK) is also a nice travel expo with well organized and clear instruction. It is what I am proud of being a HKese sometimes.
今天將完結的柏林 ITB 旅遊展，我昨天參觀過。地點在 Messe Berlin 舉行，而此地是個非常大的展覽中心，我只逛了幾小時，已經很累。最後一天的展覽至下午六時，我有些朋友在最後幾小時前往，說是有 discount。我知道自己很幸運，因為可用特殊的記者身份免費參觀，但無論如何，halls實在太多，展館有二十幾個，相比香港會展實在也不能比較，不過，我也欣賞會展的旅遊展，雖只得兩至三個 hall，但也很組織得好，指示清楚。身為香港人也為這點感到自豪。
Surrealism
Here comes the last day of Museum’s tour in Berlin which started 2 days ago, when I’ve got a three days pass. Then I planned to visit the most TOP 10 from the booklet recommended. Surely, I was just picking up some interesting <—which I regarded… mostly were painting and drawing. For example, Gemäldegalerie (old master painting) in Postsdam Platz and Alte Nationalgalerie in Museumsinsel. I didn’t miss DDR, Guggenheim and Pergamonmuseum for sure. But the most interesting one was not on this list, which is the one I saw today in Charlottenburg which just opposite to the Palace, called Scharf-Gerstenberg. This is a private collection of Scharf’s family and showcases of the Surrealists. Two floors and one big hall covers many important works from Piranesi, Goya, Redon, Dali, Rene Magritte, Paul Klee, Max Ernst and Jean Dubuffet. Remembered that once I was in Brussel, I took a tour to Rene Magritte Museum which impressed me very much. I thought I really appreciate what the artists’ creative works. I started my first touch on this topic. Now, I am still learning about Surrealism. This private collection of Scharf are not the Mega store, but tidy, nice, interesting and modern. There are cafe and film display also. Can take a short break on weekdays afternoon especially the weather is bad outside.
by Odilon Redon, 1895
今天是漫遊博物館的最後一天，說是最後，只因我買的是三天通行證，期限在今天屆滿。我打開小冊子選擇，例如是十大必逛的博物館，當然我也有個人喜好，大多數揀畫廊，包括在 Postsdam Platz 的 Gemäldegalerie、博物館島的舊國家畫廊，亦不缺最人氣的東德生活館、有名的 Guggenheim 及看古文名的 Pergamon。但最令我難忘的，卻是今天所參觀的 Scharf-Gerstenberg，她是一間私人館，位於 Charlottenburg 城堡的對面，展品其實是超現實主義的作品，由 Scharf 家族擁有及收藏。開放的是一個大廳及兩層的展廳，展出全是超現實主義的代表，包括 Piranesi, Goya, Redon, Dali, Rene Magritte, Paul Klee, Max Ernst and Jean Dubuffet 等的作品。我記得我在布魯塞爾看過 Magritte 的博物館，印象深刻，這是我最初接觸超現實主義的畫家的作品。而如今我仍是在學習中，也許 Scharf 不是一間龐大的博物館，極其量是小巧精緻有趣又摩登，不過她也不乏 Cafe 及影片播放室。我想，大家可在這兒留幾小時，尤其外邊的天氣差不想活動之時。
kenjitsui 