Come alive: May 2012

"My skin is coming off!"

What? How? Why? 8 straight days of sun in Vienna without sun screen is the cause. I couldn't resist to stripe off as much as possible to absorb that radiant light my being so needed. Yes, I was told that it was unusual for Vienna, but this golden experience of the city has been printed on my mind. My tanned skins remind me that this dream was real. I did run by the canal, cycle through the woods, climbed into an abandoned church/restaurant, party in the mountain, hug a tree during sunrise...

On the contrary, Prague was a more introspective trip. The beautiful city has a calm spirit with a slight touch of sadness. I felt a sense of alienation and disconnection not only in the architectures but also in the very air we breathed. Perhaps the history of continuous occupation and the communist ideal still have subtle influences on its society or was it just me? Nevertheless, my lovely couchsurfing host lives a nudist lifestyle, and he gave me my first taste of a naturalist indoor swim.

I enjoy the kind of travel which takes me out of my comfort zone as well as stimulate my intuition and sentiments. Each city will be remembered as a specific experience; not merely a postcard photo. One year of non-stop adventure has given me the inner strength to fearlessly pursue what makes me come alive. Yet this expedition only feels like the beginning of something much bigger. No rush to find out what it is, but this much I know – I need to keep learning how to flow with open arms.

三星期的旅程完滿結束，難忘巴塞隆納的情、布拉格的靜、維也納的光，倫敦生活緊迫，密密麻麻的時間表跟長長的工時立即帶我回現實，但那不是夢境，我真的偷了西班牙之吻、吸了捷克優美略帶哀傷的空氣、飲了奧地利熾熱奔放的能源。

離港闖蕩已一年了，重看第一篇博客，記起當時的憧憬及心情，意想不到的事已接踵地發生，究竟要做一個擔驚受怕還是從容不迫的人，其實到最後都是自己的決定，還想什麼？繼續感受當下，為認為值得的人和事而活吧！

A quiet small town near Prague - only 40 mins by bus.

Run into this peaceful foresty park while I wandered in the city.

Sketching is one of the best way to observe and feel a city's details and rhythm. I sat there for almost 2 hours! (well, with some naps n between)

Prague 2 is rather calm and has less tourists, especially at night.

Big road, small alley way all seem to have a history, tell a story.

Captivating Jazz/blue performance by Stan the Man (right); just a little too expensive for poor travelers like me

The modern art museum, Veletrzni palace, carry the same grayish cold feeling as the city.

Mushroom-like form and marked motionless child - can't be a coincidence, right?

These are my kind of artwork - vibrant order in chaos.

An enjoyable 4.5 hours bus ride from Prague to Vienna went by real fast.

My first impression of Vienna - sun, sUn, SUN!!!!!

Left: Before Sunrise? Right: an artwork casted from a 2000 years old tree in a Greek temple exhibition hall. Terrific space for installation!

Museumsquartier assembles most of the art museums in one area. Easy for visitors to see it all. I only managed to check out the Museum of Modern Art though.

MUMOK was mostly showing works by Claes Oldenburg. To be honest, apart from this soft/fabric everyday object series, I wasn't really engaged.

Sunbathing time outside of the galleries!

Joined my friend for a geo-scientist post-conference party - a very different crowd.

Splendid night view of the canal.

Hiking time, tanning time!

Gosh, I miss being surrounded by woods.

Checking out an abandoned restaurant (possibly previously monastery) with Stefan.

It's very exciting to explore deserted places. Loads of history and breath-taking energy.

The exterior of the building and the church next to it.

A lovely meaty Austrian family lunch with my superb host, Roland.

Cute looking scene from a movie.

Ready to cycle through the woods?

Left: pure self-amusement. Right: fountain in Schlosspark

What a magnificent view of the mountains outside of the Goa party, 2.5 hours drive from Vienna. This is where I had my first and probably last psychedelic trip.