Journal lingqi's Journal: Janurary 5th, 2003 4
Janurary 5th, 2003 (5:09pm)
Epilogue
Much has passed since the last day in Eurpoe, which now seem to be a memory from a distant past. Being back to the normal schedule of work - and re-adjusting, apparently, instantaneously to this familiar environment - the trip now feel like an eon ago, when adventurers roamed the earth for discovering new land and strange tribes, and myself amongst them.
Of course, it was more like discovering how insane the entire train system is, and spending a whole day within the bureaucracy of the ticket counters, the strange connections, and crowded trains with people trying to head home for new years eve.
As much as I have spent a great deal of effort to discover a route from Munich to Copenhagen within the span of a day, it is not much to write about - with the possible exception of how there are trains that run at an opportune time between Hamburg and Copenhagen which one cannot find in the winter. Attempting to get to my destination before 11pm, I had to take three transfers, most of which within Danmark - where the trains were very crowded and the Die Bahn people reserved me a seat in the smoking section; not a pleasant thing as I end up standing most of the way instead.
I did have the pleasure of eating a hamburger in the Hamburg station, which turned out to be surprisingly good. It was a simple item, just a bun with a slab of meat in the middle with some BBQ sauce instead of the ketchup I requested, but it was possibly one of the best burgers I have ever had. It eventually occured to me that the city's name might have something to do with it: Is it possible that the hamburger originated, and was perfected in the city of Hamburg? It isn't such a far fetched concept.
Besides that, I just want to make a mention of how rediculously expensive everything is in Danmark. The first night in Vejle I spent nearly no money, as I was in my cousin's place - but the last night I stayed in a hotel in Copenhagen and ate a meal there: Having accustomed to the reasonable prices elsewhere in Europe (I guess that's also relative, but keep in mind I am now somewhat ok with prices in Japan), Danmark was highway robbery.
15 minutes of internet costed 30 krones (about 6 dollars). The hotel in which I stayed wanted something like 150 krones for one night of internet access; and the restaurant something like 150 krones for a fairly average steak. Drinks are as expensive as 30 krones for half litre of juice, etc. I mean, I understand the existance of the whole 25% VAT thing, but the prices were outrageous!
I am so glad I did not pay a visit to Sweden and the other Scandanavian countries. My wallet certainly is, anyway.
The departure was fairly eventless; SAS does not board by row, which was weird - but their A330 (at least the interior) was much better than all of the boeing counterparts. One cool thing they had was forward and downward cameras you can select to view at any time: as we spent many 2pms (by going against the rotation of earth through several timezones), looking at cloud formations through a 4,000 mile journey quite amusing in its own ways.
There are more stories about after returning to Japan, but I desperaterly need to return and practice piano, so I will end here.
From Wikipedia... (Score:1)
Prices, and Sweden (Score:1)
And here us Swedes always say "Japan is so expensive! It's the most expensive country in the world!"
Come to our capital Stockholm (where I'm situated) in the summer. I doubt you'll regret it. Give me a ring, I'd certainly invite
Re:Prices, and Sweden (Score:1)
but if i offended you in any way, I am sorry; I guess I should not open my mouth without having tried it myself. It will be one of the things on my big list of things to do, though - proper visit of Scandinavia.
Re:Prices, and Sweden (Score:1)
Visiting Japan is also on my own big list of things to do. Obviously, since I've been stalking this blog for so long