Day 3 - White castle

This is Salzburg's view taken from a hill that I climbed that morning. Superb right?

Then I went to the white castle, called 'Festung Hohensalzburg'. It is a museum with medieval collections of weapons, cloths, and many more. It is also interesting to find out the development of the castle which was built since 1100s and was expanded for the next 600 years. Having visited this place intrigued me to learn more about the Austrian history.

Once I was done with that, I walked around randomly in the city of Salzburg. Good thing it didn't rain.

And I found KK in Salzburg!

Day 1 - Rainy

Another great solo trip! Woohooo!

Landed in Mozart's birthplace, Salzburg at 9.30 am local time. It was rainy and windy, I did go out and explore the city nontheless. My first on Salzburg is that it emanates a sense of medieval era with its huge castle on the hill and plenty of preserved ancicent buildings that some date way back to the 12th century. There's plenty of narrow alleys fenced by tall buildings.


Back at my accommodation by 4.30pm where I met my room mates, from Japan, England and Hong Kong. Then I hanged out at the hostel's bar chatting with few more English and Canadians .

Day 5 - Palace

Today I visited Schombrunn, a magnificent Austrian palace previously resided by the rulers of Austrian. I took a tour inside the palace, and I was in awe on the very elaborated designs of each room. The details of the patterns were very deep. I was amazed at the great wealth these rulers must had in their times. I didn't even have the slightest idea that any ordinary man today would even be able to enjoy such luxury. Of course, I really want to live in palace like this, given that I would plenty of cleaners (and money) to maintain it. Its surrounding area was magnificent too - the huge gardens (which have mazes), wide lakes and fountains.



I even had the chance to watch apple-struddle making demonstration, and had samples of it- wow!!!!!

The 2nd last picture showed a church at this place called Zenthralfriedhof. It is a church made in the center of cemetery ground which is about the size of 8 football fields! As to why I was at a cemetery, it was because I visited the graves of great music composers, namely Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss (it is promoted in the guide book!). These people are no longer fictitious to me.

This was the day I bought my 72 hours travel pass. It's great that I could get on any trams, trains and buses to go to anywhere in Vienna. Austria's public transport is one of the best in the world, and for a person who likes to go around randomly and stumble into interesting areas that are not listed in the guide book , I truly appreciate this system.

Day 4 - Hello Vienna!

Took a 3 hour train to Vienna. Traveled with a Dutch friend whom I stayed with in the hostel. He took the same train to another city called Linz for a Christian conference. I by myself for the second 1.5 hours of my journey after he got off in Linz. Snowy weather ruled the entire journey and I was pretty sick and tired of snow by now. It did not help a bit when I got off at a wrong station called 'Wein Hustledoff' instead of 'Wein Westbanhof' as I had to wait for another 30 min before I could proceed with my journey in the freezing cold weather! Trust me, those 2 stations can be easily mistaken for an unfamiliar and uninformed traveller like me (all I cared was for me to get to Wien, the German for Vienna)

As soon as I checked into my accommodation (which was very 'interesting'), I went out exploring the city on foot til dark. I went out for 4 hours and it rained the last 2 hours. Despite the rain, I truly, genuinely, sincerely felt in love with Vienna. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED Vienna! The city is full of Baroque/Victorian-theme buildings. Very beautiful!!!!

The last 2nd pictures above are of Vienna's high street. The last is Stephansdome - a really beautiful cathedral that has very beautiful ancient gothic lustre to it.

My accommodation has an extremely great location - smacked-right in the centre of the city and another super-long high street. The rooms are decent. My only reservations about this place are: not a sociable hostel (like in Salzburg) and its showers' doors cannot be locked! It's a place for just sleeping; probably more suitable for travelers in groups the for solo ones. However, I was lucky my room mates, which 2 were Greeks and 1 English, were very friendly and very considerate. I hanged out with them for the rest of the evening.

Day 2 - Tours

I woke up and it snowed heavily right out of my window! This was my first-ever proper snow experience (London's snow is pathetic compared to this). I was very happy ... until I went out to the city centre - very, very cold and wet. I forgot about the latter; snow is frozen raindrops afterall.

Anyway, I followed went on a four-hour tour visiting filming locations 'Sound of Music' (I'm impressed how such movie can make this place famous worldwide). Some were in the city, but many were in the countryside. Not all shootings were done in those places, as Hollywood did artificial copies of the locations. The original places were very, very beautiful indeed. It already stopped snowing and the sun came out producing gorgeous views! Mountains and house roofs were blanketed in snow. It's very serene... .

I also tried out Austrian's apple struddle. Yummylicious!

In the afternoon my tour continued. This time we're on a trip to Germany to the Bavarian mountains and its mountain salt mine. The mountainous view was very pretty!!!! And on top of that is where the Hitler's "Eagles' Nest" rest - an outpost for the Nazis. Must had involved many lives during its construction.

After descending the mountain (using a minivan), we went to the salt mine where salt deposit, which is concealed within the rocky mountains, is obtained for daily domestic use. This industry started since 19th century and in those days, salt=money. We get to wear the miner's uniform before entering the mine. That was a very educational tour and it's amazing how we actually went into the mountain to see the passage of the salt mine. We even took a boat to cross a lake inside the mountain! Not forgetting to mention, we also slid down to get into the lower level of the mine!

Day 7 -Easter Sunday

My last day in vienna. After having a very expensive capucinno (€3.90) with my greek rom mates, we exchanged contacts, bid our farewell and head our head our separate ways.I attended an Easter Sunday mass (in German) in St Augustine (i found it by accident at right time). Service lasted 2 hours. The church was packed !




To be honest, after the service ended at 1pm, I was already very ready to go home. Combination of money and having visited all the places i'd liked to see made me feel that way. But my bus to Bratislava airport (in another country, Slovenia) was ony going to leave at 6pm. I killed the 5 hours by walking around randomly , dragging my bag along.



My holiday trip this time is again another very interesting experience. I shall do more solo trips in the (very) near future !!!!

Day 6 - MAK, UNO, classical concert

Went to MAK, a museum of contemporary modern art. Not that i'm really into this kind of stuff, but since it's free on saturdays, I might as welll go. It displayed plenty of of household goods design that dates back to the roman, boroque era til today's. Almost like and IKEA museum. Some of the designs were so elaborated you cannot help but to admire the skills the workers had back then when technology hadn't developed. Next went to Jesuitkirsten, one of the most beatiful churches I've ever seen! I then went to , Vienna international city, Vienna's business district-the 'canary wharf' of vienna. Love the modern architecture, especially the church.Then Hofburg- an art museum collection + Imperial history. But just stayed outside. Next I went to Favoritaße, a high street outside the city centre.

I tried their Austrian sausages. Damn oily, but simply delicious!







I watched mozart's concert afterall( I didn't want to initially )! But plenty of 'interesting' journey before getting to Konserthaus, the location of the concert.

I was just about to turn into the junction to my hostel, when I randomly walked somewhereelse, that led me to Volkstheater, Vienna's prestigious theatre. Curiosity led to curiosity when I went in and dimply for ticket prices and its availability. The lady said I could even get ticket as low as €1! That, suddenly ignited my desire to watch the concert again!

I quickly rushed to Konserthaus' nearest station, Staadplast. But walked out of that station the wrong way! I was.... Lost! In a place that seemed like residential area- quiet patchy lit areas. I was lost for nearly 30 minutes now. My watch showed 7.30p.m, and I thought for some strange reason, already missed the concert. Mixture of nervousness and disappointment were very dominant.

With the kind help of an old lady who couldn't speak any english (she was very insistent that she would show me the direction despite the language barrier), and some helped from the bus driver and another passenger, I finally reached Konserthaus at 7.45pm! I was very happy the concert would only start at 8.15pm. I finished My last note, €20, for this concert.

All the effort was worthwhile. That evening was superb!

holiday!!

off Austria!!! woohooooo!!! 3 nights Salzburg..then 3 nights Vienna!!!

So you thought classical music is boring?

Hope this will change your mind: Go on, try listening to it

Contemplation

To move out, or... to remain staying in

1 years + beyond

Pardon the boredom. I didn't feel like studying (this is not my first time feeling this. nor it was the first day. Heh).

I have been in this room since June 2006. And still will be, next year.