Christmas Market in Dortmund, Germany (2008)

Christmas is much more than a festival… one realizes this moment he enters Dortmund. Few minutes walk from central station takes you to famous Christmas market of Dortmund which can be claimed as one of biggest Christmas markets in Germany.

(on way to Christmas market)
It reveals some of the oldest memories from history like centuries old coin minting press or honey-wax work with varieties of honey and wax products or over 100 years old music show performed at this Christmas market. For a change in Dortmund one sees lot of people… and when I say “lot”, I do mean it.

(toy rides for children)

(110yr of Christmas market)

(Handicraft stall)

With more than 300 stalls, places to eat, to drink to do shopping are all around. Famous “Liebkuchen” (cakes with heart shape) are seen every where. Potato varieties (Kartoffel Produkte), Glühwein, Bier, Pommes freies, Mendeln, Süßwaren etc are just few of things to eat and drink. Folk music is all around which together with handicraft articles, wood cravings, Christmas decorations, lights and people make a wonderful atmosphere and of course one of most memorable visit.

(Typical eating shop)

Dortmund Christmas market is incomplete if I don’t mention about Christmas tree of it. This is supposed to be world’s biggest Christmas tree of Christmas market. 45 meter tall, 14 m x 14 m wide and with more than 40,000 lights, this gigantic tree is the main attraction of Dortmund Christmas market.


(some of blinks of Christmas tree)
Gigantic Christmas tree at market

Official web link for Christmas market of Dortmund:
http://www.weihnachtsmarkt-dortmund.de/

-Hemant Nagda

Dortmund, Germany (2008)

Eisriesenwelt (Ice Caves)- Werfen, Austria

Werfen, Austria
11 Oct, 2008

When I heard for the first time “largest system of ice caves on Earth” I was pretty much excited to see how it actually looks like.

Eisriesenwelt is a company owned by the Salzburg Association of Cave Exploration, that maintains the caves and runs guided tour.
Werfen village

To reach there:

From Salzburg main station I took Austrian regional train to Werfen. One can also reach Werfen via free way in a car. Private bus from Werfen station is available to the base of Ice caves, which is approximately 5 km distance. Journey in morning time is very exciting with wonderful picturesque surrounding. From the bus stop, its about 20 mins walk to Ropeway. And form ropeway about 10 more mins to the caves. Instead of ropeway, one may also climb the mountain. It takes about 90 mins. I would not recommend the climb for normal tourists.
View from the cave is simply amazing.



Some words from History:
Till nineteenth century the caves were only known to hunters and poachers. In 1879 Anton Posselt, a natural scientist from Salzburg, push 200 metres into the darkness of the caves and officially “discovered” the Eisriesenwelt. One year later he published a detailed report of his discovery in a mountaineering magazine, but the caves then slipped back into obscurity.

Alexander von Mörk, pioneer of cave exploration in the Salzburg area, recognised the significance of Posselt’s report. His expeditions were followed by various other discoverers in the 1920’s and the increasing popularity of this wonder of nature soon attracted the first tourists.

From the cave !
Inside the Caves:
The total length of cave is about 42 km. out of which only about 1.5 km is open to normal visitors. The path consists of ~1400 steps and is tiring walking in dark and cold (0°C).But one forgets all tiredness, once see amazing ice formations inside the cave. These natural formations also imitate natural objects like elephant, polar bear ect.

I saw two huge Sivlings and reminded me Amaranth’s yatra. Unfortunately here no one knows Shiva, otherwise by now this would have become a holly pilgrimage.




Some tips:
Officially, photography is forbidden inside the cave. But take ur camera inside. If relatively less people, the guide allows u take pictures inside.

If possible try to reach Werfen, early in the morning as first ropeway starts 9.00 am in morning.

Information:
Official website: www.eisriesenwelt.at
Scientific details on cave formation: http://www.eisriesenwelt.at/013_wissenschaft.pdf

-Hemant Nagda

New Europe guided Tours

31st August 2008

In Munich, to roam in old city, I used Sandeman’s New Europe Tour (famous free walking tour). Founded in 2003 by Yale University Graduate, Chris Sandeman, this tour is aimed to provide every traveler, no matter of budget, good overview of City. The tour is absolutely FREE and operates purely on Tips given by the tourists. These free walking tours are also offered in London, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Paris, and Madrid.

I must appreciate the way Young enthusiastic individuals were conducting the tour, and making visit memorable. The tour also offers free city maps and special discounts at a couple of Beer Gardens.

In Munich the Free Tour starts everyday at 10:45 am, 11:45 am, and 3 pm on Marienplatz by the large column. more details can be obtained at http://www.neweuropetours.eu/

-Hemant Nagda

München (Munich)

31st August 2008

Bye all means if any city that can represent tradition of Germany… I would say it is Munich. “ The heart and soul of Bavaria” !.

Munich !

Historically famous and in present time more cheered for its OKTOBER FEST, München or Munich is very dynamic and colorful city. No doubt it attracts travelers from almost all part of the world.

After getting out of Central station, I asked a passerby “Wo ist die Bank?” and he asked me back, Do you speak English?....I can’t understand Deutsch?.... and I answered NATURLICH :)

Munich was often called the "most northern city in Italy" for the stunning baroque architecture of the 18th and 19th Centuries, Munich’s palaces, royal avenues, theatres and churches make it one of the most characterful cities in Germany.

The city is teeming with beer halls and beer gardens, where the amber liquid flows without end. Home of the celebrated “Weizenbier”, a typically Bavarian wheat beer, it isn´t surpirsing that more beer is consumed in the region than in anywhere else in Germany! And not to mention…. the hundreds of thousands of Weisswürste (white sausages) consumed every day.

One of Beer Garden

Apart from the Munich’s festive colour, its history is a long, important one – at times shocking, at times amusing, but always fascinating. Later named by the Nazis as Die Hauptstadt der Bewegung (the Capital of the Movement), Munich and its surrounds were central to the rise to power of the Nazi leader. There are many infamous streets in Munich where some of the darkest stories of human history took root and grew into Hitler´s dictatorship. The death-site of more than 40,000 people at the Concentration Camp Memorial of Dachau lies just 20km North-West of the city, and is one of the most important places to visit in Germany. Munich was extensively damaged by allied bombing during the 1930s and 40s. But following American occupation in 1945, the city of Munich emerged from the rubble and was restored to its former glory, more so than any other German city scarred by war.

-Hemant Nagda

Hofbräuhaus

31st August 2008

After reaching back Munich in the evening, we visited Hofbräuhaus. Imagine a big hall sufficient enough to accomodate 5000 people.... all drinking Beer (each one with ONE liter mug) with traditional Bavarian music and dance. It simply energiesed me after a long tired day.

The world-famous Hofbräuhaus was founded in 1589 and has since been one of Munich's most popular tourist attractions. Here, one can find a little Oktoberfest throughout the whole year! another reason of Hofbräuhaus being famos is that Adolf Hitler used to give his early days speeches here and it was official political meeting place.

Traditional food, music and sometimes dance combined with a nice cozy atmosphere, waitresses in traditional costumes and a lot of beer makes the Hofbräuhaus a must for every interested travelers.

One Litre Beer !!! on traditional wooden Table

Address:

Hofbräuhaus am Platzl
Platzl 9, 80331 München
Tel: 089-2901360
Fax: 089/227586

Oficial website: http://www.hofbraeuhaus.de/en/index_en.html

Travel to Bavarian Germany (Neuschwanstein)

30th – 31st August 2008

This particular travel, I would call a well planned travel, as we booked & reserved tickets in advance, hired hostel to stay and almost everything planned and discussed to fit in the given time frame.

Travel with CNL

From Duisburg we got in to City Night Line CNL, a train that travels almost entire Europe. It was my first experience with CNL and was quite satisfactory. The journey is bit slow compared to Inter city express ICE, but is very comfortable.

Neuschwanstein Castle

After reaching Munich, we immediately traveled towards Hohenschwangau, extreme south of Germany. As the day light was getting brighter and brighter, a different Bavarian Germany was waking up. This side of Deutschland is quite different form other part. I must say, Southern is very beautiful!!

way to Neuschwanstein

Reaching base of Neuschwangau castle, we confirmed our ticket and started walking up the hill. Its bit steep but very beautiful. One may also take horse-cart to go up, but is slow.

Horse-cart in Mountain

The weather was fogy when we started, suddenly the fog started vanishing as wind blown and sun arrived and first sight of Castle appeared… Love at First Sight!!! No doubt it makes u feel u r leaving in Fairy Tale. A white stone castle in middle of beautiful lush Green Mountain, crystal blue lake and a clear sky.

beautiful Neuschwanstein !!!

If I had discovered this place, I would only had made few hundred pictures J , camped for a night… but King Ludwig II had better plans than me. He built world’s most photographed Palace.

It is said, that he got this castle built to have peace and get away from people,…. But he never got chance to get it finished and after his death, immediately the palace was open to general public. On an average, every day about 6000 people visit this palace.

Alpsee (Lake)

Near Newschwanstein castle lies lake, Alpsee. One of most romantic and picturesque places I have ever visited!

Crystal clear Alpsee

Beautiful Bavaria

Team: Hemant, Vipin, Irfan
Thank you guys for making this travel Sucessful.

-Hemant Nagda

Carring the Burdens

from J. Krishnamurthi's "Freedom from the Known"

We carry our burdens all the time; we never die to them, we never leave them behind. it is only when we give complete attention to a problem and solve it immediately - never carrying it over further, and at very next moment there is solitude.

i qoute here a text from J. Krishnamurthi's "Freedom from the known". it is quite interesting to understand carring our own burdens all the time.

The Story of two monks:
two monks walking from one village to another and they come upon a young girl sitting on the bank of a river, crying. And one of the monks goes up to her and says, `Sister, what are you crying about?' She says, `You see that house over there across the river? I came over this morning early and had no trouble wading across but now the river has swollen and I can't get back. There is no boat.' `Oh,' says the monk, `that is no problem at all', and he picks her up and carries her across the river and leaves her on the other side. And the two monks go on together. After a couple of hours, the other monk says, `Brother, we have taken a vow never to touch a woman. What you have done is a terrible sin. Didn't you have pleasure, a great sensation, in touching a woman?' and the other monk replies, `I left her behind two hours ago. You are still carrying her, aren't you?'

In the reallife also there is very little solitude. Even when we are alone our lives are crowded by so many influences, so much knowledge, so many memories of so many experiences, so much anxiety, misery and conflict that our mind become duller and duller, more and more insensitive, functioning in a monotonous routine. Are we ever alone? Or are we carrying with us all the burdens of yesterday?

Once we can leave off this burden from TIME, what is left is Solitude, and this solitude indicates a fresh and innocent mind.

-Hemant Nagda

Nuclear Power Plant (Visit)

Hamburg, 7th August 7, 2008

Visit Vattenfall’s Nuclear Power Plant at Krumel

After brief talk and discussion at NIT with Vattenfall, a day arrived to visit NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. Dream… of probably every kid!!!!
A Little introduction of Vattenfall and power plant at Krümel, Germany: Vattenfall is one of biggest electricity producer, distributor and seller in Europe. Krümel is a small village near Hamburg, where vattenfall’s nuclear power plant is located. Site of the plant is very historic. About 100 years back, Alfred Nobel (remember Nobel price!) build world’s first Dynamite manufacturing plant here in Krümel at the same site where this plant is built.

Krümel plant from other side of river Elbe

Journey to the plant:
Location of plant is about 40 km form Hamburg, but it took us almost 2 hrs to reach there, changing trains and buses. But overall journey was quite pleasant. The plant capacity is about 1250 MW and is Europe’s one of biggest “Boiling water” type Nuclear power plant. The road passes just next to power plant!!! Quite uncommon to India where it would be probably 2 to 3 km away from normal operational roads.

Plant Model

Visit to Controlled and non controlled area:
A nuclear power plant is divided in to 2 parts in general: controlled area i.e. the reactor and accessories and non controlled area i.e. turbines, coolers and generator section. I never thought that we would get chance to see the controlled area. Fortunately the plant was under maintenance and due to non-operability we got chance to see every part… even the core of reactor with Nuclear raw material. I must say as a process engineer and designing and commissioning chemical plants, this was one of absolute extraordinary experience.

Nuclear reactor Core (during shutdown, under the water level)


Generator with Turbines (1250 MW)


On the top of Reactor Core area !!! (reactor top is seen in back)

Security and Safety:

Even though plant was not operating at the moment, we had to pass through all safety and security procedures. I must appreciate the security protocols for the visit. Even international airport or Consulates Generals don’t have such security. Apart from an independent security for entry to the plant there is continuous monitoring of reactor core and nuclear material by regulatory authority via close circuit cameras. We checked ourselves at least 4 times at different places before entering the controlled area. And same while returning back. We were wearing special suit, shoes helmet and gloves all the time in controlled area. A radioactive measurement device was given to each of us and was continuously monitoring radiations around us. I remember value of 0.001 mSv of radiation when we moved out (safe limit for normal visitor is 2.0 mSv).

Team NIT at one of Control Posts with Suites

Impression:
In India probably I would never get a chance (or permission by authority) to visit a Nuclear Power plant, that too into controlled area looking at the core of reactor. Also I would probably never get a chance to design a nuclear power plant!!! But I’ll never forget this visit to Vattenfall’s Krümel plant.

-Hemant Nagda

Planten un Blumen getting closer to nature

Planten un Blumen : Hamburg
2^nd August 2008

It was Saturday afternoon, and I was bit bored being at home. So thought of moving out and seeing some new place in Hamburg. I had heard from people about “Planten un Blumen” from people but never got time to visit it…. So why not today?

Planten un Blumen

The Planten un Blumen ("Pflanzen und Blumen", or "Plants and Flowers" in low-German) is a large park smack in the middle of Hamburg. The park itself is very large and diverse, and is delightful for joggers, photographers, tourists and just people strolling by.

Despite of being in the heart of the city, it has totally different atmosphere. One simply forgets being in the city while visiting. One can say that it’s a wonderful place to breathe some different air and feel being close to nature.

There's a lot to see around Planten un Blomen. This includes, Japanese garden, Tea house, Rose garden, Lake, fountains, jogging tracks, numerous wild and domestic botanical collection…. Music pavilion (famous fountain-show, illuminated with ´rainbow-colors´ and classical music), Cafes and many more….truly magical!

I would rate Planten un Blumen as one of most romantic places in Hamburg… how come I missed visiting this place for so long!

more pictures of Planten un blumen are at following link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/hemantnagda/PlantenUnBlumen

Other useful links:
www.plantenunblomen .hamburg.de.

- Hemant Nagda
Hamburg