Salzburg Card Mileage

That morning I woke up in a Munich hostel not having decided yet where my next stop was. I just knew that I have a few days to spare before I should head towards Amsterdam to meet up with some friends. I hurriedly packed up my backpack, camera, tripod and a huge bottle of water then headed towards the train station using the bike that I rented from the previous night. After consulting my map and train schedule, I felt that Salzburg has got to be the place to go...

My first class (no other choice!) unlimited eurail pass was very convenient and it really suited my being fickle-minded and my unpredicatble itinerary. I was all alone in the first class coach. (feeling sosyal, while the rest of the "Indios" had to cram in the 2nd class coaches, hehehe). But when the waiter came in carting some yummy pastries and sandwiches for breakfast, I pretended to be full. The truth was, I just can't afford to spend 10 euros for my breakfast. (while the "indios" and the "alipin sanggigilids" are munching to their heart's content at the other coach, grrrrrr).

I pretended to be busy while I spent the two-hour trip reading up about Salzburg and figuring out where to stay and what to do there. I was overwhelmed with the must do's and must see's but I realized that it would be very expensive just to cover the entrance fees to all those sights and museums. (Haaaaay... ang hirap maging indio sa europa).

When I got off the train, I immediately headed towards the tourist helpdesk and asked where I could get cheap (reaaaly cheap) accommodations. Otherwise, I have already eyed a nice quiet corner inside the train terminal where I could sleep over during night time. I don't really mind, hehe. Nobody knows me there and besides if somebody familiar sees me I could easily say I was just waiting for my trip (to Paris or Switzerland para sosyal sounding), hehe.

And as I was about to leave the tourist kiosk, the attendant asked me if I'm not going to get a Salzburg Card. She handed me a brochure and there I realized that this was my key to seeing the most out of Salzburg in the cheapest way. I paid 24 euros (around P1,600) for the card which offers a whole array of free entrance fees to almost all of the major sights in Salzburg. Of course, I really optimized it and here's what I got:

1. free transportation within the city
2. cable car going up (and back) to the 1,850-meter summit of Mt. Unsterberg (I saved 19 euros)
3. cable railway going up the Hohensalzburg Fortress (saved 10 euros)
4. free entrance to the Fortress Museum and World of Marionettes
5. roundtrip river cruise (Salzach speedboat ride across the Salzburg river (saved 13 euros)
6. entrance to the Miracle's Wax Museum (saved 9 euros)
7. entrance to the Salzburg Zoo (saved 9 euros)
8. entrance to the Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains (saved 8 euros)
9. entrance to Mozart's Birthplace and Residence (saved 13 euros)

The total would have been more than 80 euros! So for a cheapskate like me, the Salzburg card was a real bargain. For a classical music and art lover like me, Salzburg is a city I would definitely go back to over and over. The sights, the sounds, the experience, and the thousand of shots I took all over Salzburg was really worth it.

On Top of Mt. Untersburg (Salzburg)

A 20-minute bus ride away from the city brought me to the jumpoff site for Mt. Unstersberg. The scenery along the way reminded me of many scenes from "The Sound of Music." And I swear, I could almost hear Julie Andrews constantly heyelowing (Hedoley-hedoly heee hoooooo).
I had to wait for almost an hour before the next cable car came. I grabbed a sandwich and I can't resist trying out their so called finest beer - Stiegel. A friend advised me to always try out the different beers in Europe. So there I was having beer at 2pm in the afternoon while enjoying the cool and scenic place around the area.

The place was so peaceful and amazingly beautiful and relaxing. How I wish I could retire in a chalet like that... with a huge mountain backdrop and a cablecar line running over!




Finally, it was time to ascend. With the peak at 8, 850 meter high, this was the highest cable car link I've ever had in my life. It's a long shot compared to my first kinda-cable car ride which was in Fiesta Carnival in Cubao (nyahaha). And so up, up, and up I went.....

When I got to the top, I was greeted by a spectacular view. And to think that it was such a breeze getting there. Unlike the painful and long rough treks that I have to take in Sagada in order to bask in the beauty of nature from a high altitude.And to top it all, there was a cozy log cabin restaurant which was serving hot food,beer and ice cream! Weird combination huh, but that's what I had as I enjoyed the "here and now" of Unsterburg.

I went around the various trails and made small chats with fellow travellers. However, I spent most of my time up there simply meditating and absorbing the energy from a beautiful unfolding of nature....

 

Beer Over Classical Music (My Salzburg Diaries)

It was almost four in the afternoon but when I got out in the street, I can't see anybody walking around. It was literally like a ghost city with a car or two passing by every few minutes. Is this Salzburg or am I in the twighlight zone? (tuninuninuninuuuuuuuu).

Apparently my hostel was in the modern side of the city where people seem to be always asleep or they're just not there. From behind the old buidlings, I could see the commanding presence of a fortress perched on a hill. And when I checked out my map, it's telling me that that's where I should be headed because that's where the action is.

After walking two blocks, a bustling side of the town slowly unfolded... aahh Salzburg it is. The fresh mountain air was perfect for the ornate architecture but what struck me most was the hegemony of "Mozart" and "The Sound of Music." My senses was suddenly filled with visuals and sounds that bombarded me with the spirit of this musician and this classic movie. Pictures, posters, figurines, banners, pockets of PA systems airing Mozart's music, video displyas looping The Sound of Music...

After crossing the bridge, I found myself in the city's compact center which straddles the Salzach River. The tight-knit network of alleys and squares reminded me of the opening scene of Beauty and the Beast where Belle was walking across the town. The atmosphere was very festive and I liked the blend of modernity and the conscious effort to preserve the old century culture. The streets were lined with musicians playing classical music. It was normal to see people fully dressed up in tux or long gowns apparently walking around prior to going into a concert event which is essentially all over the place. Some of them are in horse carraiges or in bikes! (I can't imagine this scene in Manila with glamarous ladies in flowing gowns but riding a bike).

After going through a maze of alleys I reached the foot of the fortress hill. A cablerail took me up to the Hohensalzburg Fortress. After going around a bit into the museums and courtyards, I finally settled into one of the towers and set up my tripod and camera just in time for the sunset.

I enjoyed a few numbers of a violin and flute recital in one of the fortress' hall before I went down back to the city center. I settled in one of the squares where a huge screen was publicly showing one of Mozart's opera. This was a perfect night I thought. I drank a few rounds of beer (yes Stiegel) and enjoyed the swirl of sensation that combines the cool mountain air, the classical music, and the relaxed people all around me. My night in the square was capped with my most favorite work of Mozart -- Requiem. The thunderous roar of "Dies Irae" haunted me for the rest of the night as I walked back home to rest.....

Berlin Nights on Bike

Two weeks in Berlin made me fell in love with the city. I think it has the right mix of urban and rural elements that excite the explorer and photographer in me. I saw the city from above -- on top of the TV Tower which is one of the world's tallest towers) or getting drenched in the rain on the Berlin Cathedral's rooftop. I also explored it from a river cruise perspective.

Of course there were the endless walks, subways, and trams. But in the end, I realized that the best way to see Berlin (or most other European cities for that matter) is through bike!
And so, with my tripod slinged across my body, bulky camera bag settled in a basket pouch along with my ever dependable large bottle of Fanta, I spent hours and hours criss-crossing the city and exploring its every nook and cranny. The good thing about being a biker is that you have a special treatment -- we were kings of the road! But the best thing about it is that I could just stop anytime and take all the shots that I want of a particular place. I often get frustrated when I see a potential for a perfect shot but because I'm on board a train or a car I get forever deprived of that moment.

A German friend advised me to explore the city late in the evening till the wee hours of the morning. And so, one night, I woke up at 11PM and decided to set out on a bike. The cool air and the almost empty roads (tourist-free!) made the experience really convenient. It felt great cycling like mad and stopping often to enjoy the dramatic light effects casting on the different monuments and architectural wonders. And what I liked most was the fact that I felt really safe. I didn't feel any danger of being mugged or held-up (or raped, haha!) despite carrying around my DSLR. Hmmm maybe I should do this also in Quezon City or Manila! (what do you think).

It was already 3AM when I headed back to the apartment feeling tired, thirsty and very hungry. But as reviewed the hundreds of shots I got that night.... I slept with a smile of contentment and it seemed that my last thought before I finally dozed off was "may pang Facebook na naman ako!"

Brandenburg Gate

A museum... notice that half of the image is just a water reflection in a small lake.

Reichstag Building

Note the Orb!! A friend told me that I captured a spirit in this photo

A National Geographic Moment in Hawaii

Today I had an unforgettable national geographic moment in the quiet side of Oahu. We cruised around Kanaohe bay for a few hours and finally anchored over “turtle reef.” When I saw the turtles fearlessly bobbing up and down all around us, I couldn't resist and decided that I have to make a dive for it. And so, I braved the cold winter waters though i knew that I would start shivering even with my insulated suit on. I just felt that i could not let this moment pass.

As I was exploring and appreciating the reef and the colorful fishes, the cinematic experience was magnified with the presence of the turtles peacefully gliding all over. It was really an awesome sight that I wouldn't trade for anything. And as if nature was not contented with Her bragging, when I surfaced, I saw tunnels of light streaking through a tiny patch of the cloudy sky and it was magnificently striking the striped Koala Valley (where some of the grand valley and mountain scenes of Jurassic Park was shot). What more could I ask for???? It was such a perfect moment of nature bragging her beauty and awesomeness. In my mind, I was hearing the orchestra music of Jurassic Park's finale theme song. Tanana...tanana...tanana.nana...
...the reef, the fishes, the turtles, the ray of light, the valley, the music in my mind.... the blend in that point of time and space was soooo perfect.

Crabbing at Kanaohe Bay

When was the last time that you had to literally labor hard just to have something for dinner? Yesterday, I did just that. I spent the whole day trying to catch what I had --- giant crabs and fresh mackerel!

After a healthy breakfast by the beach, I started to help out uncle Allen in setting up the boat in preparation for a whole day of crabbing and fishing. I have never done crabbing before in my entire life. So there I was, for two hours, I imagined myself to be a hard-core fisherman. I had to “lovingly” endure the stench of rotting eels and a variety of dead fishes which we used as crab bait. And you could just imagine how I had to mash them using my bare hands and place them in one section of the crab traps. Eeeeeeow (nyahaha, I could almost hear how a pa-sosy collegiala would react to what I was doing). We went around the bay and hauled six strategically placed crab traps. Uncle Allen patiently instructed me with all the nuances of how to hold the wire traps, how to throw it out, how to pull the slimy ropes and buoy,and how to make sure that I don't get snapped by the crabs! It was hard work! And not to mention the scorching sun all over my half naked body. It's a good thing though that the cool winter winds felt like a soothing balm.

After lunch, a bunch of friends and neighbors joined us for fishing. It's been a while since I last did some fishing. I used to do it with my Dad when I was a teenager. Joe and Craig patiently taught me how to use their very sophisticated fishing rods and after some time I felt like a pro already. I felt like Brad Pitt in the movie A River Runs Through It as I do the wriggling moves before hurling the bait far out. The rhythm was cathartic each time I made a cast and then reeled back the fancy bait. Joe, Craig, and I each had our rods and occupied the different sides of the boat while Allen took the stirring wheel and skillfully guided the boat through the occasional waves and the reefs. Finally after two hours of silent competition, we only got one large mackerel! Haha.... all the effort for just 1 fish! Finally, we gave up and started to head back to the boat house just as the sun was beautifully setting behind the Koala mountains. Guess what we had for dinner?