Thursday 30 August 2018
Tuesday 28 August 2018
Chapter 102 : parkrun Singapore
My life involves a trip to Europe and being a parkrun
fanatic.
Can I combine the two?
I go to parkrun global. I look up places I will be on
Saturday and possible parkrun options. Nuremberg is a near miss. They do
parkrun but the dry weather is leading to a low river and a change to my trip
means I will miss out on this parkrun.
Singapore emerges as an option but I will be transferring via Singapore
on a Friday.
We add a day to our transfer in Singapore and we will now be
in Singapore on Saturday and they have three parkruns to choose from.
Further goggling tells me the East Coast parkrun is the
closest. About 5 kms from my hotel. It starts at 7:30 a.m.
To get there we will need a taxi. Should be easy to get a
taxi from the hotel.
In Singapore the weather on Friday tells me tomorrow is
going to be warm. Before going to bed I lay out my running clothes, my bar code
and a water bottle.
Saturday is parkrun day. We head downstairs looking for a
taxi. The driver knows exactly where to go and drops us off at the spot Mr
Goggle tells us. It is before 7 and immediately a couple of runners are obvious.
They are waiting in a shelter. We approach them. They are parkrunners but it is
their first time at this parkrun. We all think we are in the right spot.
The park is busy with people. More runners appear and
eventually one says the magic words, “I have done this parkrun before and it
starts here.”
As he is saying this a man hammers a parkrun banner into the
ground and starts placing witches hats in lines. His confirmation relaxes and
pleases us.
More people start appearing out of nothing. Either
singularly or in groups. They wear tops advertising local services, local runs
or local clubs. They begin stretching, jogging or greeting other runners.
The race director gives a talk to the gathered crowd. I
keenly listen to his comments on the proposed course. All us visitors (a lot) get to put up our
hands and say where we are from. Most are from the UK or Australia.
We walk to the start and the race director unleashes us. I
start to run and start to think about important things. My time. It will not be in range of a PB. Due to
jetlag and the heat.
We run along a very wide path by the bay. On our right are
many anchored ships. Too many to count. The park is well maintained, neat and
tidy with big trees and lawns. Singapore
is full of many spectacular well maintained and cared for plants. The plants in
the built up areas are fantastic.
This park is not absolute best one for garden displays. It is more a recreational park full of active
people. As we run down the path we
encounter other runners, cyclists, walkers, a couple of monks and a walking tai
chi phalanx. I wipe the sweat from my eyes as I approach the turn around point.
The course is straight up and back. Back down the same path.
There are even more people in the park.
I can sense the finish. And then I see it, charge throw it,
receive a token and get scanned. All very obviously laid out and done.
Job now done. I talk to a few people. One person says,
“Lucky it wasn’t humid today.”
Now I can’t complain about the heat.
Back at our hotel the results mysteriously appear on our
I-phone. I’m amazed at new technology when used appropriately. And then I get
another drink of water.
Parkrun enhances my travel experiences. As well as queuing
to see the local tourist attractions I get to do something with the locals.
Everybody running was wearing different clothes, was a
different shape, had a unique running style and had a different back
story. The course was different. The
country was different.
I now realise that on a Saturday there are people in
Singapore doing exactly what I am doing in Hobart. We are united by 5 kms and
have a lot in common. The people in Singapore are just like the people in
Hobart. All different.
Europe : 20.8.18 Prague words
We arrive at the train
station. This will be simple. All we have to do is get a cab.
We search outside; find nothing and decide to ask a policeman. He groans and forces himself to point at something. We have no idea what. We follow his suggested direction and then ask a shop assistant. He doesn’t like being disturbed by people asking stupid questions. He waves an answer. We try and follow up with more info which is a step too far. Two questions is way beyond...we’ve really wrecked his day now.
Eventually we jump into the first cab we encounter. The driver thinks it’s time to prove to us he should have raced professionally. He weaves cars and jumps lanes then races down some narrow cobblestone lanes while dodging pedestrians.
Arriving at our hotel my stressed, anxious demeanour contrasts with his relaxed, joyful manner. He has enjoyed himself. His happiness is about to increase. He gives us a bill he has just thought up.
Later that day we meet the reason we came to Prague. A couple of young guys who live here. They say, “Everybody who comes to Prague says the Czech people are rude. They are not really like that when you get to know them.”
They do a very good job of proving the people in Prague are not rude. They are both well-behaved, hospitable and friendly.
Next Day in Prague
We do a self-guided tour of Prague. Every building has an interesting story.
We randomly choose a cafe for lunch. We sit thinking it’s our fate to occasionally glimpse the cruising waiter. We then make the cardinal mistake of signaling to him for the menu. He then decides that we are rude, arrogant foreigners who always complain about shoddy service and don’t deserve to be treated. We eventually leave searching for anyone to serve us anything.
At the next cafe we get to place our order and then wait. Nothing happens but we feel committed. We have placed an order and I catch occasional glimpses of the waiter so we may eventually...
The afternoon involves touring more old buildings with modern uses. Our accommodation was originally built 800 years ago and now provides Wi-Fi.
In the evening we go out with our Prague friends.
5 of us order. Two meals, including mine, come in pretty normal time. The food is good and I finish my food and then we wait for the other meals. Eventually we ask the waiter for our other food. Two meals come after about ten more minutes; they are eaten and then we don’t know what to say to the one who has still not received her meal.
It turns out they had forgotten about her. She didn’t starve. She eventually got something to eat.
Our Prague friends shake their shoulders and one says his Czech is not good enough to complain and if you complain in English you are just reinforcing stereotypes.
I see this as a legacy of communism. Many of the people can’t remember the communist days but a lot of the work practices have endured.
I can’t conclude much else except that our countries are very different. Though we both have pretty strong tennis cultures in common.
We search outside; find nothing and decide to ask a policeman. He groans and forces himself to point at something. We have no idea what. We follow his suggested direction and then ask a shop assistant. He doesn’t like being disturbed by people asking stupid questions. He waves an answer. We try and follow up with more info which is a step too far. Two questions is way beyond...we’ve really wrecked his day now.
Eventually we jump into the first cab we encounter. The driver thinks it’s time to prove to us he should have raced professionally. He weaves cars and jumps lanes then races down some narrow cobblestone lanes while dodging pedestrians.
Arriving at our hotel my stressed, anxious demeanour contrasts with his relaxed, joyful manner. He has enjoyed himself. His happiness is about to increase. He gives us a bill he has just thought up.
Later that day we meet the reason we came to Prague. A couple of young guys who live here. They say, “Everybody who comes to Prague says the Czech people are rude. They are not really like that when you get to know them.”
They do a very good job of proving the people in Prague are not rude. They are both well-behaved, hospitable and friendly.
Next Day in Prague
We do a self-guided tour of Prague. Every building has an interesting story.
We randomly choose a cafe for lunch. We sit thinking it’s our fate to occasionally glimpse the cruising waiter. We then make the cardinal mistake of signaling to him for the menu. He then decides that we are rude, arrogant foreigners who always complain about shoddy service and don’t deserve to be treated. We eventually leave searching for anyone to serve us anything.
At the next cafe we get to place our order and then wait. Nothing happens but we feel committed. We have placed an order and I catch occasional glimpses of the waiter so we may eventually...
The afternoon involves touring more old buildings with modern uses. Our accommodation was originally built 800 years ago and now provides Wi-Fi.
In the evening we go out with our Prague friends.
5 of us order. Two meals, including mine, come in pretty normal time. The food is good and I finish my food and then we wait for the other meals. Eventually we ask the waiter for our other food. Two meals come after about ten more minutes; they are eaten and then we don’t know what to say to the one who has still not received her meal.
It turns out they had forgotten about her. She didn’t starve. She eventually got something to eat.
Our Prague friends shake their shoulders and one says his Czech is not good enough to complain and if you complain in English you are just reinforcing stereotypes.
I see this as a legacy of communism. Many of the people can’t remember the communist days but a lot of the work practices have endured.
I can’t conclude much else except that our countries are very different. Though we both have pretty strong tennis cultures in common.
Europe : 19.8.18 Budapest words
Our first guide talks non-stop for 3 hours. Not one attempt at a joke, question
aimed at us or friendly comment. All her facts are indisputable.
She mentions her national heroes: a long list of scientists and their discoveries. Rubik doesn’t make the list. His work is trivial and light.
A guy who took a different tour said his guide was the perfect cure for insomnia. I told him about our guide and we both thought...
Another guide says, “Everybody thinks we Hungarians are depressed and sad. Well that’s because we’ve been controlled by other countries for over 500 years.”
He then said, “It’s not our national character to always be grumpy. One day a week we actually get depressed. Don’t take our grumpiness personally. It’s not aimed at you.”
I managed to ask a guide about the legacy of Communism. He said Communism created a lazy, dependent people who expected other people to solve any issue. We saw this in a small corner shop. I’m sure I was an extra in a comedy show they were filming.
The national ethos seems to be: Eventually our country found true liberty and true freedom but the country is much smaller than it was. In 1920 65 percent of the country was taken away. This seems to grate more than the Communist years.
We were in Budapest on a public holiday. There was a festival by the river. One guide said, “Don’t go there it will be crowded.”
We go. The stalls selling food are fantastic. I’m beginning to love Hungarian food. Lots of casseroles and stews and one pot food.
The atmosphere was also fantastic. Crowds of well-behaved people; a rock singer on a stage; no hoons or larrikins showing off; no drunken chorus; a few boats on the river; a few scattered violinists. No possibility of a local being openly friendly or extroverted and welcoming but the food is good and we feel very safe so life is good.
She mentions her national heroes: a long list of scientists and their discoveries. Rubik doesn’t make the list. His work is trivial and light.
A guy who took a different tour said his guide was the perfect cure for insomnia. I told him about our guide and we both thought...
Another guide says, “Everybody thinks we Hungarians are depressed and sad. Well that’s because we’ve been controlled by other countries for over 500 years.”
He then said, “It’s not our national character to always be grumpy. One day a week we actually get depressed. Don’t take our grumpiness personally. It’s not aimed at you.”
I managed to ask a guide about the legacy of Communism. He said Communism created a lazy, dependent people who expected other people to solve any issue. We saw this in a small corner shop. I’m sure I was an extra in a comedy show they were filming.
The national ethos seems to be: Eventually our country found true liberty and true freedom but the country is much smaller than it was. In 1920 65 percent of the country was taken away. This seems to grate more than the Communist years.
We were in Budapest on a public holiday. There was a festival by the river. One guide said, “Don’t go there it will be crowded.”
We go. The stalls selling food are fantastic. I’m beginning to love Hungarian food. Lots of casseroles and stews and one pot food.
The atmosphere was also fantastic. Crowds of well-behaved people; a rock singer on a stage; no hoons or larrikins showing off; no drunken chorus; a few boats on the river; a few scattered violinists. No possibility of a local being openly friendly or extroverted and welcoming but the food is good and we feel very safe so life is good.
Europe : 16.8.18 Vienna more words
No kangaroos in Austria.
Viennese see themselves as famous for their music, buildings and cafes.
Music: Their claim that Vienna was the epicenter for classical music is pretty sound. At one time Vienna was the best place in the world for composing and playing music. Today it is the best place in the world for telling people what used to be composed and played. It even puts on concerts which are direct copies of past concerts.
The “Sound of Music “is full of well known and loved pop songs.
In Austria the film says Austria is a beautiful, mountainous country full of happy, singing children. We heard the song “Edelweiss” introduced as the unofficial Nature Anthem. We also heard “Blue Danube” introduced as the unofficial National Anthem so take your pick.
Today the people of Austria are not more musical than others. They don’t sing joyfully as they work. The Zulus were a much more musical people. The Zulus used to often sing or dance spontaneously in public as they worked or waited. In Austria music is more about history and tourism.
Cafes: From what I have seen the cafes/cakes in Vienna are not better or worse than Hobart. We do not have a famous traditional cake to restrain us. In this area we are going pretty well.
Red Bull: Austrians seem to lead us in scary, risky behaviour. They have a team in F1 racing. I can’t imagine an Aussie F1 team.
Beaches: We saw multiple fantastic beaches on the Danube River. The weather has been warm and sunny ideal and conducive for swimming.
Some of the locals have tried to make water fun. They have tried to swim or sunbath or play in the water but they never quite get it right.
Their sporting heroes don’t surf or swim. They win gold medals at the Winter Olympics and their stories involve alps.
The result is I see so many fantastic swimming opportunities evaporate.
The War: The national psych is dramatically affected by one event. The ten years from 1945-1955 involved the country under the control of 4 other countries. These ten years have been mentioned often. No mention of how to prevent a recurrence.
Viennese see themselves as famous for their music, buildings and cafes.
Music: Their claim that Vienna was the epicenter for classical music is pretty sound. At one time Vienna was the best place in the world for composing and playing music. Today it is the best place in the world for telling people what used to be composed and played. It even puts on concerts which are direct copies of past concerts.
The “Sound of Music “is full of well known and loved pop songs.
In Austria the film says Austria is a beautiful, mountainous country full of happy, singing children. We heard the song “Edelweiss” introduced as the unofficial Nature Anthem. We also heard “Blue Danube” introduced as the unofficial National Anthem so take your pick.
Today the people of Austria are not more musical than others. They don’t sing joyfully as they work. The Zulus were a much more musical people. The Zulus used to often sing or dance spontaneously in public as they worked or waited. In Austria music is more about history and tourism.
Cafes: From what I have seen the cafes/cakes in Vienna are not better or worse than Hobart. We do not have a famous traditional cake to restrain us. In this area we are going pretty well.
Red Bull: Austrians seem to lead us in scary, risky behaviour. They have a team in F1 racing. I can’t imagine an Aussie F1 team.
Beaches: We saw multiple fantastic beaches on the Danube River. The weather has been warm and sunny ideal and conducive for swimming.
Some of the locals have tried to make water fun. They have tried to swim or sunbath or play in the water but they never quite get it right.
Their sporting heroes don’t surf or swim. They win gold medals at the Winter Olympics and their stories involve alps.
The result is I see so many fantastic swimming opportunities evaporate.
The War: The national psych is dramatically affected by one event. The ten years from 1945-1955 involved the country under the control of 4 other countries. These ten years have been mentioned often. No mention of how to prevent a recurrence.
Europe : 16.8.18 Vienna words
Vienna guided tour
A guided bus tour where the guide attempts to cram info into our brains.
I’m expecting an exam to follow with questions such as:
When was this building built?
Who built it?
What style is it?
I’m expecting to know nothing and hear him say, “I told you that.”
We then become pedestrians in the centre of Vienna.
The centre is full of international tourists. I don’t want to complain about people doing exactly what I am doing but there are a lot of them.
According to what we are told there is one group not complaining. The pickpockets. They are most prevalent around churches. What does that say?
Vienna unguided walk
We head towards a ferris wheel. Surrounding it is a fun fair replete with locals. And some pretty scary rides. It looks like some of the rides would not pass Health and Safety in Aus. This country is the origin and home of Red Bull. Either they are a nation of thrill seekers or we are very cautious.
Vienna concert
In a room with gold leaf, an enormous chandelier and high ceilings we listen to a small orchestra play Strauss and Mozart.
Vienna Schoenbrunn Palace
I wander the palace and hear comments about people who cover their breakfast plate with bacon and hash browns then sit in the pool drinking.
I’d rather talk about some of the residents of this palace.
Maria Theresa: Mother of 16 (including Marie Antoinette) turned a few feudal kingdoms into the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Franz Ferdinand: Achieved both fame (smash hit song) and immortality (managed to trigger WW1 by getting himself shot).
A guided bus tour where the guide attempts to cram info into our brains.
I’m expecting an exam to follow with questions such as:
When was this building built?
Who built it?
What style is it?
I’m expecting to know nothing and hear him say, “I told you that.”
We then become pedestrians in the centre of Vienna.
The centre is full of international tourists. I don’t want to complain about people doing exactly what I am doing but there are a lot of them.
According to what we are told there is one group not complaining. The pickpockets. They are most prevalent around churches. What does that say?
Vienna unguided walk
We head towards a ferris wheel. Surrounding it is a fun fair replete with locals. And some pretty scary rides. It looks like some of the rides would not pass Health and Safety in Aus. This country is the origin and home of Red Bull. Either they are a nation of thrill seekers or we are very cautious.
Vienna concert
In a room with gold leaf, an enormous chandelier and high ceilings we listen to a small orchestra play Strauss and Mozart.
Vienna Schoenbrunn Palace
I wander the palace and hear comments about people who cover their breakfast plate with bacon and hash browns then sit in the pool drinking.
I’d rather talk about some of the residents of this palace.
Maria Theresa: Mother of 16 (including Marie Antoinette) turned a few feudal kingdoms into the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Franz Ferdinand: Achieved both fame (smash hit song) and immortality (managed to trigger WW1 by getting himself shot).
On the return bus the guide says, “When you eat one of our cakes always have it with whipped cream. Go the full Vienna experience. Don’t count the calories.”
That reminds me of Maria Theresa. Regarded as a good “king” she abolished capital punishment and introduced compulsory education while weighing 20 stone.
Austria is a country where their most loved monarch weighed 20 stone and is a country where “don’t count the calories” is a common mantra. You would conclude that they are a fat country.
But looking around me I would say on average us Aussies are fatter. And I am pretty sure that is what the statistics say. Too much bacon and too many hash browns.
Europe : 13.8.18 Salzburg words
Nuremberg
Our guide is an Aussie living here. She says, “We are a small group and I prefer to talk to you face to face. I will not use a mike and earphones.
She then takes us on a beautiful walk through a wooded forest.
Back on the bus she tells us about the local beer, the local sausage and the local cake. All unique to the town. She gives us copious information about the local sausage and then drops us at the local market. The first stall is selling “the sausage “and has a long queue of tourists. It tastes nice.
A crowd is gathering. A lady says to me, “My daughter can’t see the clock. Can you please move?”
The clock strikes 12 and then disgorges tiny animals. Multiple cameras capture the moment.
The bus makes a fuel stop. I decide to photograph a long line of buses. A man winds down a window, gesticulates and shouts. I approach him and he says, “Are you Jewish?”
I say, “No.”
He says, “0kay go ahead.”
I walk away thinking nobody will believe that and what was he thinking.
Wurzburg
The guide shows us the local cathedral. A real live service is occurring. Us tourists stand at the back behind a roped off area. We are not allowed to take photos or wear hats. In front of us the priest preaches to his congregation.
Salzburg
The guide’s enamour is divided.
He says, “This is where Mozart was born. This is the house he lived in for 8 years. This is where his parents were married.”
His name or music is included in almost the name of every cafe in town except there is another famous name.
The guide says, “This is where the scene at the fountain was filmed. This is the lane where... This house was used in the film.”
“Not the house the Von Trapps lived in. That was too small. You will see that unlike in the film there is no lake behind the house.”
“Those scenes were filmed at a lake over there and edited in.”
“And that’s the Monastery where the real Maria trained.”
The guide’s job is to meet tourists. Anything used in the making of “The Sound of Music” is a sacred sight worthy of showing such pilgrims. He ignores the bit where the Von Trapps find true happiness by leaving Austria.
We travel from Salzburg in a train. Opera singers suddenly appear in our carriage and sing Mozart. Stunning. Later they reappear singing the “The sounds of Austria. The songs that celebrate Austria.”
Edelweiss, Doh Ray Me and others are sung with pride and joy. Their enthusiasm and the songs create a magic moment.
Durnstein
Walk down a country lane. Two local teenagers pass us carrying a music machine emitting loud music. I know that song. It’s “Highway to Hell” by ACDC. We all bopped together.
Our guide is an Aussie living here. She says, “We are a small group and I prefer to talk to you face to face. I will not use a mike and earphones.
She then takes us on a beautiful walk through a wooded forest.
Back on the bus she tells us about the local beer, the local sausage and the local cake. All unique to the town. She gives us copious information about the local sausage and then drops us at the local market. The first stall is selling “the sausage “and has a long queue of tourists. It tastes nice.
A crowd is gathering. A lady says to me, “My daughter can’t see the clock. Can you please move?”
The clock strikes 12 and then disgorges tiny animals. Multiple cameras capture the moment.
The bus makes a fuel stop. I decide to photograph a long line of buses. A man winds down a window, gesticulates and shouts. I approach him and he says, “Are you Jewish?”
I say, “No.”
He says, “0kay go ahead.”
I walk away thinking nobody will believe that and what was he thinking.
Wurzburg
The guide shows us the local cathedral. A real live service is occurring. Us tourists stand at the back behind a roped off area. We are not allowed to take photos or wear hats. In front of us the priest preaches to his congregation.
Salzburg
The guide’s enamour is divided.
He says, “This is where Mozart was born. This is the house he lived in for 8 years. This is where his parents were married.”
His name or music is included in almost the name of every cafe in town except there is another famous name.
The guide says, “This is where the scene at the fountain was filmed. This is the lane where... This house was used in the film.”
“Not the house the Von Trapps lived in. That was too small. You will see that unlike in the film there is no lake behind the house.”
“Those scenes were filmed at a lake over there and edited in.”
“And that’s the Monastery where the real Maria trained.”
The guide’s job is to meet tourists. Anything used in the making of “The Sound of Music” is a sacred sight worthy of showing such pilgrims. He ignores the bit where the Von Trapps find true happiness by leaving Austria.
We travel from Salzburg in a train. Opera singers suddenly appear in our carriage and sing Mozart. Stunning. Later they reappear singing the “The sounds of Austria. The songs that celebrate Austria.”
Edelweiss, Doh Ray Me and others are sung with pride and joy. Their enthusiasm and the songs create a magic moment.
Durnstein
Walk down a country lane. Two local teenagers pass us carrying a music machine emitting loud music. I know that song. It’s “Highway to Hell” by ACDC. We all bopped together.
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