“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” Mark Twain
It was very cold outside, but it felt like another world – a place where you could lose yourself for a while before returning to the harsh realities of cause and effect. The trip to Vienna itself was a bit of a daunting affair. With lots of work pending, I considered my chances of making it to Vienna on Friday very slim. I had to give a presentation on Wednesday the 21st. What should I do? Should I stay in Delft, pretending that I’ll work on the weekends to meet my deadlines (which rarely happens)? Or should I take a chance and work on the presentation during the conference, then send it to my boss? It was a bit of a dilemma. In any case, sitting at my desk is an obligation. But traveling to different countries and meeting new people is my passion. I’ve seen beautiful places and met nice people. But there could be even more beautiful places and nicer people that I would like to see. I decided to take a chance and go to Vienna according to my plan. On November 16th, I woke up at 5:30 in the morning and went to Wageningen for the conference. As I already knew, the conference was a bit of a bore. I took this opportunity to work on my presentation using my laptop (the media center was designed for entertainment, not work). It took me 6 straight hours to complete. While working on this catch-22 situation, I realized how important work is to me and how much I enjoy it. I told myself that my real need is neither in this travel nor in the imaginary world of an artist that I sometimes imagine myself to be. The world already has enough Rowlings, Jacksons, and even Picassas. But it has not many Buddhas. Why not follow the world through our work and see if we can make it a better, fairer place? If not for ourselves, then for the generations that will come after us!
My boss was apparently satisfied to receive the presentation via email and give it back with corrections once I am back in Delft. I considered myself hard-worked and the boring talk at the conference made me longing for Schiphol. The road to Schiphol was uneventful. But the excitement of traveling was dampened when I heard that the SkyEurope airlines plane was, as usual, late by one and a half hours. Phew!! Killing time at Schiphol is a costly affair. I paid triple the price for my bacon-egg sandwich and prepared myself mentally for a late arrival in Vienna.
Flights like SkyEurope remind me of flights in my country. What an untroubled way of traveling!! The service is not satisfactory. But again, I reminded myself that their low-cost ticket has allowed me to fulfill my dream of traveling to so many places. I thanked the revolution of the low-fare aviation industry and hoped that it does not compromise safety.
As soon as I arrived in Vienna, I realized that I don’t have a single piece of information about this place with me, apart from the hostel address. No map!! And my respect for the German nation got a little lower when I realized that there are no direct trains at night near my living place. Phew!! Anyway, I boarded the night bus which took me to the center of the city, from where I could take a night bus to my place. After circling the city center three times in the dead of night (that is what people call 1 o’clock in the morning), I was helped by a local German to find the bus. He helped me board the bus and gave me his England-Austria football match ticket, which was valid for the night buses. The bus conductor was not too happy with his behavior of economically helping a tourist from a third world country. I was touched by this guy’s help and hoped that Austria would win the next football match. (What else can I ask for? I have a limited account with God!!) Living among native comrades who were lamenting about the loss of the match, I happened to meet another fellow Indian who seemed to be living in that city only. As a rule, I don’t get along with people just because they belong to my country. I asked another guy, who seemed Turkish, for the stop and then I returned to the Indian guy in perfect English. He helped me get to the place and gave me directions to the hostel. This meeting made me think about the bond of nationality. What are we? Nomadic tribes leaving our native lands in search of some fortune and a little peace? Sometimes, the emptiness of not belonging anywhere is so overwhelming at my heart that I continuously seek solace in other things. What is nationhood? Do we really have to be identified by the nation we belong to? When will prejudices of nation be over and people will face people as a matter of fact? Is it so divine and right that people kill other people most of the time and sacrifice themselves for a thing called the motherland? But then, we have evidence of crazy nationalism here in the heart of Europe!! Anyway, it is a separate matter worth spending a lifetime of a philosopher. Much ink has been spent in dividing this zero situation rather than enjoying the small pleasures of life like traveling!
The hostel was nice, with young people working at the reception. When I asked the receptionist for a receipt, he responded with “What for?” I made a typical stupid face, as my smooth talking seemed to have no effect. The hostel was clean and in a good location, but my dormitory neighbor was snoring loudly like a giant hippo. It would have been better if the price included breakfast or if there was a full breakfast available at a reasonable price, like at some other hostels. The staff were very helpful and the sitting area and drinking bar were great for people who like to talk while listening to music in the background. Overall, I would highly recommend this hostel.
On my first day in Vienna, I set out to visit the Museum Quartier to decide which locations to visit. However, I found myself staring at the great white shark teeth in the natural museum. There were many living and dead creatures, and I even feared some may be in between. My next stop was the MUMOK art exhibitions. As I entered the building, I felt like Columbus. There was a Chinese art exhibition going on! Columbus set out to find rich India and instead discovered Red Indians with red feathers in their hats, staring at him as a savior from heaven. (These days, he is now directing traffic at a famous street in Madrid. Poor soul!) I came to Vienna for its art history and western culture, but on my first day I found myself surrounded by hundreds of small Chinese eyes looking through portraits. The art was fantastic and I learned a lot about Chinese art. The paintings were really beautiful and the Chinese have their own way of depicting things. However, the Red dragon always seems to be present as a symbol of their not-so-great recent past. Instead of discussing this, my friends and I talked about the new China, a capitalistic culture with a communistic approach. However, these things are dynamic and cannot be reversed. The more we talk about this, the less we seem to know.
I spent the remaining day roaming around the city. It was a pleasure to take the 1 line and go around the outer ring. With this line, you can cover large areas of concentrated monuments. Vienna is like lost in time, being in the imperial time. It is a great place full of history and promise for the future. The evening came with a surprise. I knew that Mozart is at every other corner of Vienna, but I did not expect to sleep in my dorm. A very talented guy named Taylor from America happened to be there and invited me for a drink in the bar of our hostel. After a tiring day, I was a bit reluctant, but later I decided to join him. He turned out to be a guitarist and a very good one. He sang famous songs by the Beatles and other hits, which made my evening enjoyable. That’s what I was looking for! Just some cool music and people around sitting or chatting lightly. We even didn’t show off by asking each other’s name. I met an Indian guy who was traveling across Europe. He seemed exhausted but still cheerful about his travels. It was nice talking with him. An important thing was that we didn’t choose to talk as fellow Indians, but as fellow travelers. The nationality concept discussed above was revised in my mind.
My second day in Vienna started off well with me kicking myself out of the hostel and entering another one. The breakfast was very helpful in starting the day fully. The bar was fantastic. It would have been better to have WiFi in the rooms instead of only on the ground floor. Overall, it was a fantastic stay! I went to the Cultural Historical Museum, where the gatekeeper didn’t consider me a student anymore. I sheepishly paid ten euros and entered the place with the determination of spending the next four hours to get my money’s worth. After spending an hour and a half on mummies and daddies from Egypt and Greece, my sensibility took over, and I ran away from the various other painting galleries and showcases. Artists like Albert Durer and Dutch masters like Rembrandt were there to dissuade me, but I couldn’t concentrate because of hunger. In the evening, I went to one of the cafés on a famous Vienna street. I remembered a show by Ian Wright on the Travel and Living channel where he discussed how intellectuals used to come here and discuss issues. I felt honored with the thought that I was one of the places where Sigmund Freud kept himself busy with his “We are our desires” motto. The food was delicious. Vienna is a costly city, but I was lucky enough to get into a restaurant with modest service. I spent my time between the courses looking at the people. Most of them were couples having tea or coffee with something to eat, so it wasn’t exactly a dinner place. Hmmm, I thought. I also got curious with the bunch of newspapers lying there for everyone to read. A precursor for an evening of brain-wracking discussion over politics, science, and other matters suitable for the time!
On the third day in Vienna, I spent half of the day mailing and chatting with people and writing cards for friends. I wanted to carefully preserve these memories and share them with friends who are far away in distance, but close to me in thought. I imagined the laughter of the most beautiful girl I have ever seen when she reads about the Macarena moves. I knew that my Spanish friends would feel affection towards me, and I was sure my Indian friends would be proud of my travels to so many places. Love, life, and friendship – these words mean different things to everyone. I too have my own understanding of their meanings.
I spent the afternoon taking a bus ride across the city center, marveling at the beautiful monuments and palaces. As I passed through, I caught sight of the Christmas night market at Rathhaus. That’s exactly what I wanted to see! It reminded me of the special occasions in my old village market, known as “Jatra” in the local language. If I had bought everything I desired, I would have needed an Airbus 380 to carry it all back to the Netherlands. But some desires are better left unfulfilled. While I couldn’t bring back any physical items, I left with lots of memories. And for a word-lover like me, that’s more than enough.
My next stop was the Musicverein hall to attend a music concert. I only knew that it was a UNICEF concert, but I had no idea that Japanese artists were going to perform with 130 guitars. Only a few westerners turned out to show their past alliance with this Eastern might. I cursed Columbus again for directing me to a Japanese concert in a kingdom of western music. I took my seat and checked if I had better company. On the right side, I had an old Austrian couple, and on the left, a spooky old Austrian grandmother with a loose mind joined me for the opera. Initially, she had a problem with my seat, considering it her own, but I solved the issue with the help of the kind couple on the right. Then, she began speaking fluent German, which I retaliated with fantastic Dutch. Finally, she could barely put together English words in a way that would have made Shakespeare turn in his grave. “I have no idea” was her opinion about the event. She unsuccessfully tried to solve my confusion between an opera and a concert. Finally, after a while, the artists started to appear on the stage, and I escaped from her clutches by jumping to a vacant step in the aisle.
Unfortunately, I do not play any instruments or have a musical education. However, I was fortunate to be able to attend the concert and experience the beautiful sounds. The concert was very well-disciplined, in accordance with Japanese tradition, and the artists were skilled masters of their instruments. The first guitar performance alone gave me goosebumps. The rest of the concert was a blend of Western sophistication and Eastern improvisation. I began to see pieces of my own life in the symphonies and understand the concept of “timelessness.” Without a doubt, my heart was clearer. One of the great things about music is that it transcends national boundaries and touches the hearts of millions. It speaks a universal language that we all understand.
On my fourth day in Vienna, I woke up with a sense of sadness knowing that I had to check out of my room by 10am. I packed up my belongings, including my laptop, and set out for my final day in the city. I had already purchased a ticket to visit the Leopold Museum, but the experience left me feeling disappointed. The museum featured paintings from old Austrian painters, both great and tragic, and I was a bit depressed to see that so many of them had died at a young age or had not received proper recognition for their work. It’s a harsh reality that artists, writers, and poets often lead difficult lives, tormented by social and personal issues. I then tried visiting the Wien Historical Museum, but it was hosting an exhibition on baby cars. Frustrated, I walked through some exhibits featuring Vienna during the Turkish attack and was struck by the city’s resilience and the bravery of its people during that time. Life can be unpredictable and we often feel small and lost in the face of the challenges that come our way, but it’s important to remember the strength and determination of those who came before us.
It was getting late at the museum in Vienna. I quickly returned to the hostel to get my luggage and went back to the Westbahhof station to catch the bus to the airport. I was feeling sad to leave Vienna. I checked my luggage, which consisted of just my laptop and an extra set of clothes. The flight to Amsterdam was uneventful. To pass the time, I kept watching videos and reading the Austrian lonely planet guide. When I arrived at my house, I greeted my Dutch housemates and told them about my travels. I turned on my laptop and checked my emails. I found one from my boss about the presentation for the next day. I pushed aside thoughts of the magical city of Vienna and focused on the Internal Friction report.
Spending time behind a desk is an obligation, but traveling to various countries and meeting new people is my passion. I have seen beautiful places and met nice people, but there are even more beautiful places and nicer people that I would like to see. Europe is like a dream for me and I don’t know how much of it is reality. Vienna is a city of imperial rule, which was monumental to the Habsburgian Empire across Europe. In Madrid, I saw a part of the Habsburgian Empire, and the other part is here in Vienna. I salute such a great culture! So far, entire Europe has been a revelation for me – I have learned about who I am, what I like, and what I should be. (There are too many “I’s” and “what’s,” but it is still a beautiful sentence.) I wish I could create an empire as splendid as Europe. It was magical to be here, as if I were going back in time to the imperial days.
Why do people travel? I don’t know. Everyone has their own reason for doing so. I travel to see the past which holds importance to the present and gives hope for the future. It is not just for fun, but rather a spiritual experience to be at places where history was made. I always wonder what it feels like to be at places where certain events have shaped the world as it is now. These places are silent witnesses to great (both good and bad) events and will remain long after we are gone from this earth. And then there are the people I always find amazing to meet. They carry the experiences and emotions of the past and hope for the future within them. I also find a lot of myself in other people. Too much philosophy! But I can’t help it. As Benjamin Disraeli says, “Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.”