Appooppanthaadi - 1

30.11.2010 : The Emirates Airlines was kind enough to offer me a window seat in its flight while I flew from Chennai to Dubai and from Dubai to Frankfurt. This was my third journey to Europe; the former two were to Zurich in as many weeks.

 

As the plane took off from the Dubai airport, I hung out my head from the small window of the aircraft to have a good glance of the city of Dubai. Hanging the head out of the window is a little exaggeration anyway- Please excuse me for my affinity towards exaggeration. Those tall and magnificent buildings, roads, flying Audis, Camrys, Toyotas, the reclaimed strips of land in the sea and above all the tallest building of the world …all were a treat to my eyes. I took a few photographs of them too. Dubai administration reclaims a lot of sea space to construct fabulous buildings.

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The famous seven star hotel Burj-Al- Arab and Hotel Atlantis are situated in such reclaimed lands. They have so many such fancy ideas. There will be no dearth of flight of fancies, if we have a lot of money to spend. I too have a fanciful idea- to spend a day or two in the seven star hotel Burj Al Arab and wallow in its luxury with my family. One night stay at this most luxurious hotel in the world may cost a minimum of 6500UAE Dirhams besides the taxes. My billionaire friends in Dubai will certainly help me see through this wish. Luckily I have a dozen such friends in Dubai.

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The airplane had been cruising at a speed of 700 to 800Km per hour at an altitude of around 36000 feet. From water to land and then to water and then to land, the flight had been taking its chartered path. It first flew over Gulf of Oman and then over the vast expanse of the desert of Gulf. Sand dunes, small villages and then big cities of the desert were all visible like dots from the top. It flew almost over Baghdad and then entered Europe. The ice covered Dolomite Mountain – the Italian Alps, green valleys of Europe and the snow covered terrains all over. The display unit in front of my seat had been showing flight information. The temperature at this height was around -50 degree celcius.

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All through the flight, after it departed from the make-believe heaven called Dubai, my entire attention was to spot some heavenly characters out in the sky. All our mythical TV sops show Gods travelling in the sky, wading through the snow white clouds. I wish I could come across anyone among them. I just want to know how they brave the temperature of -50 degree and fast moving objects like our aircraft.

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I knew it is impossible. God is visible only to those who have unflinching devotion towards Him or Her. In the olden days people did have it, and hence Gods used to appear in front of them whenever needed. They incarnated in the earth whenever there was decline of 'dharma'. Those Gods, like dinosaurs made an extinct from the Heaven long time back. The modern day Gods are the creation of the mankind. Like flaws in any product the human beings make, these Gods are also made with flaws. They develop feet of clay when they are exposed to the creativities –or lack of it- of silly mortals like a cartoonist or a painter or a teacher or a writer. The Gods feel insulted or denigrated, and their creators suddenly take to arms to punish the perpetrators. Can a human being really insult a God? If yes is the answer, then it is high time we dumped those Gods along with the heaps of garbage we produce every day.

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Ok, back to the flight. The flight ended at Frankfurt airport after being around six hours on air and travelling 5000 kilometers. Frankfurt was a name I heard of many times. So many of our software geeks travel to Frankfurt to work in software companies here. I too got a chance to see the place, though I could be neither related to chalk nor cheese when it comes to software code writing. Destiny has its own ways, we must believe.

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After I disembarked from the plane, I walked towards the emigration and within no time the passport had been stamped and the baggage was ready for me. I collected the baggage and then headed towards the information counter. The information counter was manned! Or rather womenned. The woman in the counter guided me to take a shuttle bus from there and reach another Airport terminal- Terminal-1. As I have been standing in front of the terminal 2, the bus came and I boarded it. It took me to the Terminal 1. From there the sign boards were giving specific directions as to where I have to go. No need to ask anyone for help.

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I walked and then came across the railway station ticket counter. Railway station is right under the airport. I took a ticket to Mannheim and waited for the train. The train came 10 minutes late and everyone boarded the train quietly. Look, here too trains run late! As the train reached Mannheim, the announcement came in the public address system on the train and also displayed on the board. I got down at Mannheim. Walked out of the station and called a taxi, showed the address of the Hotel at Bad Durkheim. Hotel room had been booked by me through internet. The taxi driver took me straight to the hotel.

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For a twenty minutes ride on train I had to pay twenty euros and for a thirty minutes ride in car thirty seven euros. On the way I crossed the River Rhein too. The river divides Mannheim and Bad Durkheim. There at the reception of the hotel,I showed my booking number. The next moment, the receptionist handed over the key to me. There ended my first journey to Germany. Did it look so simple? It is so simple. Travelling in Europe is as simple as walking in a park.

Grüezi - Eurpoe that I saw (3)

When I stood in front of the Federation of International Football Asociations (FIFA) headquarters today (09.12.2010), I felt like a world champion. One of the few reasons I am proud of being a human being is that, they can play football. Creating a song with a globe like thing- only human beings can do, and I am proud of being one among them.

 

I wished the entire members of our village football team -Victory Sports Club, Olavaipe were present with me there. I could have reached cloud nine if the team led by Ravanan, the effervescent captain, took out a show down with our arch rival Nehru Sports Club, Olavaipe in the football field situated in the premises of the HQ. But sadly our reliable goalie, ‘Bhagavan’ Sasikumar will not be present. He had left from this world for ever four years back. A few drops tears is not enough to pay homage to my beloved childhood buddy….Sasikumar, may your soul rest in peace.

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The 'Home of FIFA', includes five underground levels, a fitness centre, meditation room, geographically themed parks and a full-size international football pitch. All these floors are underground. The height of the building, looking from outside, may be only ten or fifteen meters.

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In the morning, I woke up much early. Yesterday night itself, the excitation got into my head. I could not even sleep properly due to it. Turning sides, I got the night pass off. After taking bath, by eight o clock, I headed off to the Oerlikon railway station. Took a full day ticket from the automatic machine that costed 8 CHF (swiss francs). Got down at Zurich main station. Walked a little and reached the place where the tram no 6 to Zoo stops. Boarded the tram. It was just 20 minutes run for the tram. The same ticket was valid for tram too. Inside the tram, there was no conductor, but checking happens at random as the inspectors board the tram at their discretion.

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The last stop for Tram No 6 is Zoo. There, the direction board showed where to go. I walked. Within hundred meters from the tram stopping, I was in front of the FIFA gate. I took out the camera and started clicking. No one was present anywhere nearby. This building is situated at an isolated place in the city.

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I was not sure if outsiders were allowed inside. But since no one was seen there, I simply opened the gate on the left side and walked in. All along the way I took photos. All the places are thickly covered with snow. I wanted to enter the building but hesitated to do so, as I could not ask anyone for direction

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When I walked back from the HQ, I came across a man who was in a hurry to catch his bus, but obliged to take a photo of mine in front of the FIFA plaque at the entrance. He was an employee of our famed Tata Consultancy Services. From there I walked over to the Zoo. Zurich zoo is situated closer to FIFA HQ. From outside I could hear different noises of the inhabitants there, but I did not want to go inside. I did not like seeing animals and birds in cages. I believe, we the human beings are no way qualified to exhibit animals, birds and fish for our pleasure. These speechless creatures are much more civilized and disciplined than us. We shall allow them to live the way they want to live. If they happen to read a day’s newspaper, then we will not have a face to show to them!!

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I walked back. Took the tram back to the main station. Again I had to cross the lake. There too I found a man to help me click a photograph. Back in the room, it was pack up time. Vacated the room and again headed to the railway station. The same ticket was enough as it was valid for full day. Reached back at the main station, sat on the train to Mannheim, Germany. I had a reserved ticket for this.

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The train took exactly three hours and thirty minutes to reach the destination. Now, to travel among the Schengen countries, we do not require separate visa. Once we get our visa stamped at any one of the listed countries upon our arrival, we can travel anywhere as we please. Schengen is a place in Luxembourg and here is the place the European countries inked the agreement to do away with visa restrictions among many other things. The countries that are presently in this agreement are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, The Netherlands and Norway. Inside the train, when we crossed the swiss boarder and entered Germany at Basal, German Police boarded the train and checked passports at random.

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It is almost midnight in Germany. The outside temperature is below zero. I am just leaned back on my bed in the hotel room. It is time to say goodnight to my friend –my laptop. The romance with the laptop continues tomorrow and the offsprings in the shape of stories will come out in the open for everyone of my friends to see...till then Tschüß(''choose'' this is the pronounciation that means good bye in German).....

Grüezi - Eurpoe that I saw (2)

Grüezi is a word the Swiss people use to wish others The dictionary meaning of it is good morning/afternoon/night or even hello. It is pronounced roughly like “gruetsi”. It sounds to be a German word but used widely by the Swiss. The people in Switzerland speak four languages – German, French, Italian and Romansh. Out of the four , German is the language majority speak. But the German they speak is not the one the people speak in Germany. The dialect the Swiss people use is called Swiss-German. A pure German speaking person may find it very difficult to make out what a Swiss German speaks. But the script they use is original German. So the people of Switzer devised a language for themselves, but forgot to make a script.

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Since different parts of people speak different languages in the country, the common language that connects them all is English. People use English even to communicate with the people from their neighbouring countries like Germany, France, Austria, Italy and Liechtenstein. Switzerland is geographically locked inside these countries. Most of the people can speak English or at least “ a little bit of” it. So, if we need any help we can easily communicate with them. However the older generation may not know English. The accent is easy to understand unlike the British or American ones. Thankfully, they have their own English accent. I could never follow the heavily accented American or British English. I normally avoid watching Hollywood movies because of this accent blues.

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Though Switzerland is not a super power in football, the headquarters of FIFA is situated in Zurich. All the power centres of European football like France, Germany and Italy are their neighbours. Still, Switzerland could not make it big in the football arena.

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On the first day of my arrival in Zurich itself, it took a stroll down the streets of the city. Oerlikon, the place where I stayed is well connected with other parts of the city by Bus, Tram and Train. My main aim of the first walk was to find out how a swiss-bank looks like. But I could not figure out a bank like thing that may be dealing with billions of dubious money from all over the world. I could see some banks that bore the name like GE Money or a Coop Bank. Most probably the banks that deal with dirty money hold no name in public. Only the customers may know the name and address of these banks.

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Though an infamous swiss bank could not be located, I could stumble upon an Indian restaurant. Madras Curry House. The menu that was displayed outside showed Idly, Poori and many tandoori items. Most of them were meat based. I wonder why an Indian restaurant in a foreign soil should be so fond of meat. Is it not their duty to proclaim and propagate the non violent principles we were expected to follow?

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All along the roads, we can see a lot of shopping malls and business establishments. Many people roam around inside these malls. Anyway these big halls are sufficiently heated and it is comfortable remaining here to beat the cold outside. We can see so many pram pushing men also. Usually we see women do this work. These men shop for vegetables and groceries with the kid in the pram. Mind it, men and women have equal rights and equal duties too to perform! Good tiding in the gender equality front. To me it gave a rare sight, as, back in our country men were not seen pushing a pram.

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In fact we do not use pram widely as we have to push it all along our dirty roads. Many times we may have to jump to avoid the stream of urine flowing from the adjacent wall!!! We prefer carrying the kids on the hips, shoulders or hands. I too carry my kid even if he is seven years old now. Though I cannot walk with him for hundred meters, it gives immense pleasure to me in doing so. I do not want to see him grown up. I wish the little innocent face and the unadulterated walk and talk remain unfaded for ever. But o’ God, you make him grow up and as a price for it, YOU take back his innocence (the photo you see here of mine and my kid is taken when we visited Andaman).

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Many of the shops at the main city centre show watches at the decorated windows. Swiss watches, as we know are the most famous watches in the world. Many people stand in front of them and take a good look of them. I just dropped in to a shopping mall there. The name of the mall was Coop-City. It has a chain of big complexes all over the Zurich city. The price of every commodity was prohibitively high. Still as a memento, I bought a table clock that looked like our vintage time-piece.

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Switzerland is famous for chocolates. Even in Dubai airport, they sell Swiss chocolates. We can see varieties of chocolates in the shops with attractive prices. I found this is the only commodity we can afford to buy. Though they are not so cheap, as a mark of our visit to the cities like Zurich, we are bound to carry something back home. So, best thing to have is chocolates. If we happen to visit Ooty or Kodaikanal, there also we can find handmade chocolates. They promise us to pack these chocolates such a way that it will not melt and set together by the time we reach home. If we believe them, consider we lost some money. These chocolates can never bear the temperature of the mainland. Ok, if we buy chocolates in Ooty or Kodai eat them there itself.

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Streets in Zurich are arguably neat. No trash is found thrown carelessly anywhere. Nobody was seen pissing or spitting on the streets. Perhaps these are the positive fall outs of prosperity and less population. But if anybody happens to visit the city of Kochi, we can see many people whip out their private part right at the street corner or closer to a wall and relieve themselves. They need not necessarily be poverty stricken or an illiterate and uninformed ordinary soul. Many educated people also join the chorus that is out to stink the public places in our country.

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Space is not a constraint anywhere. Enough space is left out in front of the commercial buildings, hotels, restaurants and on the road sides. No need of parking the cars and other vehicle hap hazardously. This itself gives a pleasant look to the city. All open places are paved with tiles and are being maintained neatly. At one of such places, I could see people playing chess. The chess board is the squares formed by the tiles. The pawns of the game were at least 2 feet high. The players could stand and move the pawns along the squares of the chess board. There were a number of teams playing chess on the courtyard of a shopping complex.

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The same place, on the week- end, ie Saturday, was turned into a market place. It looked as if the entire people of the locality had converged there on that day. From tomatoes to potatoes to flowers and carrots to meat, everything was on sale there. All shops were in makeshift structures and many of them where inside the vehicles themselves. As I was just walking around, I glanced at the price of tomatoes. One kilogram of tomato costs around 5CHF ( 1 swiss franc is equal to around 43 INR). This makes our Bharat really mahan. There we get a bagful of tomatoes for this price. Forget about the quantity of pesticides that may be present in those red vegetables for the time being.

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Zurich lake gives a beautiful sight. In Tourism’s parlance, it gives a panoramic view of the pristine water, floating big white ducks, beautifully constructed buildings in typical olden architecture, the nices decorated banks of the lake and above all the backdrop of the ice covered beautiful hillocks. We can just walk on the walkway all along the bank of the lake. The lake extends to the city as a small canal. After getting down at main rail station Zurich Hb, we can easily reach the lake by walk. One can take a good walk. It extends to a few kilometers-I walked for two kilometers. We can otherwise just sit on one of the benches and lazily observe those floating white ducks or the architectural beauties situated on both the side of the lake. Otherwise go for a cruise in the ship or a small ride in the motorized boat.

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In anyway, it is a perfect place for honeymoon. If anyone feels like to do a PDA(public display of affection) no problem. If the husby and the wife want to smoke cigarette, just do it. No one cares for anything. Those who missed honeymoon first time, don’t lose heart. Just pick and keep your international credit card in your purse, pack your belongings and set out right away with your spouse and children. You will not regret. Look to the other side, the gorgeous Alps is calling- who can resist its seducing charm?

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After a short trip to the heart of the city, I beat a retreat to my room. As I have been walking back after disembarking from the train, through the underpass of the railway station, I spotted a man standing on his heels with folded hands. He was there when I was going to see the city. He looked young, but the purpose of his being on the side of the underpass was to beg for alms. Beggars in Switzerland? Yes, believe me, there are beggars in this rich country too. Relax and take heart. Poor people are spread all over the world. They have not only made permanent abodes in the third world countries…