winter trip (3) BraTisLaVa

Bratislava, the capital of slovakia. it was the third stop of our winter trip. it was planned in the journey mainly bcos the flight bac to the UK was much cheaper. it is such a tiny country. not sure if its any bigger than singapore or hongkong. bratislava has only 427000 residents. i wonder if taiping has got more.

well i have to say. bratislava trip is one of the most memorable trips.it started a bit freaky, a bit scary, then a bit beautiful, then gorgeous and snowy.


so the story starts:

from the magnificient vienna, we took a train to bratislava. it was not a very smooth process. thinking that the latter was pretty near to the former, we didnt book any ticket before we flew. well. one thing missed in the planning. we were supposed to travel on the new year eve, the day when everything will be closed. we walked to the bus station and found no ticket counter, no english-speaking souls. tried to call the ticket line, no one picked up the call. then we walked a long way to the train station. thank you god, we found a cheap tic to go to bratislava! thank god.

in the train, mr koay kept telling me about the movie hostel, which was filmed in slovakia, where tourists were kidnapped and slaughtered. i was like, well, wadever, its js a movie. BUT, reaching brastilava was such an experience. i wont ever forget. it was so freaky. the train station looked like an abondaned old shelter. so filthy walls and the broken glassess in tat soulless place made me kinda forget i was in europe. even when i went to luxemburg (another little country in europe, my british fren robin used to say it should be turned into a carpark for europe), it wasnt tat scary.

we had no idea how to take the bus or other public vehicles. there was no information counter or any approachable person we could ask for direction. the whole place was dark and desserted. it wasnt funny at all. while mr koay asked for direction i was standing there waiting and then all the thoughts of the HOSTEL film started rushing into my head (THANKS KOAY BEETEE!). then the next scary thing-- a really scary random man walked to me and started smiling and talking in his language. i was freaking outttttttttttttttttttttttttttt. if mr koay didnt come bac at tat point i would have screamed my throat out. the whole combination of everything just wasnt right. OMG i was really wondering wad was i doin there. i didnt want cheap tic anymo. i rather fly from somwhere else.

trust me. it was so scary i didnt even have the mood to take any pics. we were then tryin to get a bus to go to the hotel. but the ticket sellin machine was not working. and a girl was trying to help us but she realli realli struggled with her limited english. then we decided we should js jump onto the bus and if they caught us we would just act stupid.

and, on the bus. along the way to the hotel. i saw nothing pleasant from the window. it was like driving from bagan serai to kurau. I MEAN IT. its worse than KAMUNTING or POKOK ASAM. it was all dark and soulless. i was not very happy with the whole thing. i havnt been feelin so scared in a long while.

the bus stopped, we walked to the hotel in the DARK. i was speeding up. it was so silent everywhere like anyone could just jump out from the bush and rob us. the pic below shows a morning version. but trust me. at night it was so so horrifying. we then made a deal we would leave the hotel n took a bus to the airport next day at 3pm before it got dark, eventho our flight was at 9pm.

the so-called 3-star hotel. it looked like some abandoned industrial area to me. and let me tel you, the city map actually put this hotel up as one of the recommended sights. -_-


well enough complaints maybe. as i was expecting nothing from this lifeless land. the silver lining appeared behind the cloud. everywhere was white with snow. it was pretty. just the look of it made me happy. the place, even empty, was not so scary anymore.

WHITE.

the town, tho small, was nice to walk around and just chill. i was beginning to like the place.


sign of lives. i was so happy when i saw these people. the more the merrier. especially in that place, we need more souls around.


things like this are amazing. they never realli mean like wad u think. like the homo sapiens, never judge them before u hav a second thought about them and have realli come to know whats deep inside them. shallowness is ugly.
welcome to slovakia. c mon try some slovakian traditional dishes. i cook as well as this girl does, the chef says. (dream on)
wine is good. icy good wine even better. the europeans know it best. wine their blood.
almost all old towns in europe are just so beautiful, including this tiny one. its new year, i really wondered where was everyone in tat country. oh tel u somtin. this day was important because the slovakian started using euros!


novy most the road bridge. the view was wowwwwwwwww. i was getting happier and happier as i saw more of the city. i told u. the beauty of all shits coming together is--things can only get better.

well all in all, it was such an exciting trip. a bit freaky, but i am happy i actually had the so-called adventure lol. so people, if u ever wanna go there for a good weekend in summer. by all means!