To Budapest
This whole story started as an email I was writing to a friend. The memories and the thoughts were flowing, and soon enough the email became this huge thing below! Hope you enjoy it.
So finally I get around to sit down and write you a proper email. Actually I
am going to go make tea right now, because that is an even better way to
write you this email. BRB! Well I actually ended up taking a longer brake
because Vlad came back home and we went to see the sunset in Kalemagdan.
But... I am back ready to tell the story.
-- The idea: planning --
I came up with the idea of going to Budapest only after my original plan of
going to Bulgaria and Turkey failed. Serbians spoke so nicely of Budapest,
and said that the food was really cheap... so I made up my mind to go there.
I was, of course, very limited with my budget so I made all the preparations
necessary to go as cheap as possible. The original plan was to hitchike my
way there and camp or couch (will explain this later) with someone while I
was there.
I have never done "real" long distance hitchhiking in my life before, but I
have really wanted to. So I got a bit of advice from some friends in
Belgrade as to where I should go to hitch hike, I bought a marker and a big
piece of paper, and I was ready to go. I even read a few websites online
which had a couple tips for hitchhiking.
I also found out the address of a couple of campsites in Budapest where I
could stay for around 5-6 Euros a night (still expensive for my budget), and
I had them as a second option. As a first option I joined a website of which
I had only learned about recently. www.couchsurfing.com is an online
community of travellers and people who are willing to offer their "couches"
or a place to stay for travellers. It is all based on trust and is free to
use. I sent emails to 10 different people who offered their couches in
Budapest, those that looked the most trust worthy, although I have to admit
I was very lenient. Of all those emails I sent, I only heard back from one
guy... who offered me to stay with him for two days before the weekend. This
guy was not a "certified" user of couchsurfing.com and it didn't look as
anyone had stayed with him before, but I still decided to risk it and stay
with him.
So I left for Budapest scantly one or two days after I made my mind that I
was going to go. I did not take anything that I could not live without if I
were to lose it. I took my camping tent and my sleeping bag and I was ready
to rough
it up for a bit. I didn't know when or how I would be able to reach
Budapest, and I thought it would be likely that I would have to spend one or
two nights somewhere on the way.
-- Leaving: nice try--
I woke up somewhat early in the morning and took an urban bus to the highway
outside of the city. Then I found a good spot shortly after a bridge (where
cars had to slow down) and pulled out my sign. One of the first responses
that I got was from this truck driver who gave me the finger. I resented it
but didn't give up. I waited, and waited, and waited... and after a couple
hours I had no luck. Some drivers had made some signs to me which I really
did not understand. Some seemed to be telling me that I was on the wrong
side of
the highway, others seemed to be telling me that I had to keep going... I
had no clue what was going on.
So I decided to walk a bit and try another location. I saw a gas
station/rest stop, which was a prime spot for hitchiking (according to what
I read online). So I walked about 1 Km to the gas station, only to find out
that the gas station was only on the wrong side of the highway and it would
have been useless for me. I was tired and disappointed, but I was also
determined to get to Budapest. So I garnered up enough courage and went back
to the same spot I was before to try again. I was there for about half and
hour with no luck. I was really tired, and pissed off that I was having no
luck, and traffic seemed to be decreasing.
Very disappointed I decided that it wasn't going to happen and that
something was not working properly. So I went back into the city and bought
myself a train ticket to Budapest. The train left that afternoon from
another city, to which I took a bus, and arrived in Budapest at 5 in the
morning the next day. I was extremely exhausted and I had all the day to
spend before I would meet up with the guy whith whom I was going to be
"couching". It was
too early to get a map from the tourist information offices in the train
station (they were still closed) so I decided to find a place to sleep in
the train station until the
offices opened.
-- Ah: Bumming --
I tried a bench, but I was woken up by police because sleeping wasn't
allowed there. So I found a corner beside a "tourist information" kiosk, I
put a
plastic "emergency blanket" on top of the filthy ground and laid on it. The
ground was cold and too hard, so after a few minutes of half sleeping I got
fed up. I got up, took my sleeping bag out of my backpack, opened it, and
slept in it. I woke up a couple hours later, at around 7 am.
I was having such a nice sleep, with a smile on my face, I decided to go back to bed.
I got up at 10 am and went to the tourist kiosk beside me. The
guy welcomed me with "are you looking for a place to sleep, or is that it?"
pointing to where I had been sleeping minutes before! I have to say that
sleeping in the train station was extremely comforting and empowering. Not
only did I get some much needed rest, but I also felt that, after having
slept in the train station, I could sleep anywhere! I actually bummed, muaha
:)
-- Acquaintance: In God's hands --
I got a map from the tourist station, put my backpack in a locker and left
to tour the city for the day. I met with my host, Gabor, at 6 PM in the
afternoon. I found out then that he actually lived outside the city, around
20 minutes by car. As we were leaving Budapest and we were on a lonely
highway, I remember thinking that it would be the perfect scam to get me,
but I was at peace. I recognized that I had put the whole situation in God's
hands and that it was then in his court. I realize also that my tranquility
was also born from my lack of fear to loose anything I had with me.
Alas, we got to the guy's house in a small villa. Quite a nice place. On the
way there we talked a bit and I found out that he (Gabor) was an engineer
who worked for IBM, and that his wife, Kata, was currently in Italy working
for Nokia.
Seeing that I was so tired, he offered me to take a bath. It was really nice
and relaxing after the first leg of the trip, and hours after having been
laying asleep in a train station.
Gabor had his own doubts about me. Comically, his colleagues at work held a
mini-farewell party for him before we met, for they all thought that he was
going to end up murdered!
-- Apparent reality: underlying weakness --
Before I go on, I should explain how badly I was affected for not being able
to hitchhike. My body was badly destabilized from so much disappointment I
created in myself. To date I don't really understand the depth of it all...
but I think the fact that I wasn't able to
accomplish one of the goals which I had set for myself really got to me. I
tend to work very hardly on my own goals, and I am usually able to have a
certain extent of success. But hitchhiking was a complete and absolute
failure. The destabilization led to de-energization (or viceversa) and I got
a soar throat within hours. I had it for a few days but it got consecutively
better after that day.
-- Gabor and Kati: My learning --
My stay with Gabor was somewhat peculiar because he had to work everyday. So
we would see each other for an hour in the morning while we had coffee and
then for a few hours after his work. All in all, I don't think we had much
time to spend together on a daily basis. We used to talk about all sort of
things during that time, initially about which places he recommended me to
see, and what he recommended me to do in the city. But our topics of
conversation went much beyond that.
Gabor is a very educated man in his early thirties. He seems to be what I
could be like in a few years (if I subjugate my strong spiritual connection and
need to service others)... (ha ha, not that I would be "very educated",
perhaps a better descriptor would be... aware of his surroundings). We were
very fond of discussing issues and
comparing how they are in different countries. For example, we would discuss
the nationalistic feelings in Hungary, Mexico, Korea, Canada, Germany, etc.
Talking to him was a lot of fun.
Beside our entretaining conversations. It was very interesting for me to
spend time with Gabor and Kata (his wife). I really liked them both, and
most of their
doings seemed quite a'right to me. As in, most of their doings are doings
that I would do, or would like to imitate (a very high complement coming
from someone who tries to do the best in every of his actions). Although I
felt like something was missing, for I did not feel as drawn to them as I
would have otherwise. After some reflection I realized that there were two
major things missing from their lives which I consider key to mine.
Spirituality and service. I feel my life is deeply connected not only to God
but also to others spiritualy. From that is born my desire to help and
service others in one way or another in my life. Both Gabor and Kata are
aware of these two fields, and consider them important, but in the time I
spent with them I did not see any major efforts to carry any of them through
(beside helping me). It was really valuable for me to have had the
opportunity to spend time with them and "live their lives" for a bit.
Another very interesting aspect of my stay with them was that they are both
doing the "multinational" corporate careers. An option which I have much
feared but one that is always possible for me to undertake. It was quite
timely, especially now that I am going back to Mexico to find something do
to. They had some pretty good stories to tell, good advices and good
anecdotes. At this time I think I would be pretty much willing to give
almost any kind of job a shot, of course, as long as it is not with a
company that is dubiously ethical. It is not that I am desperate, but it is
more a willigness to live and experience different working "realities"
without feeling tied. Ideally I would do a job for a couple (or few) years,
get the most out of it and move on.
Initially I was only invited to stay with Gabor for two nights, because Kata
was coming back from Italy for the weekend and he wanted to spend time with
her. However, he later changed his mind and invited me to stay for the
weekend. Kata was also looking forward to meet me, and they had a
plan to go see a few cool places outside the city (a wine festival, a
traditional village etc.). During the weekend they invited me to stay for a
few more days. On the day I left they asked me... "oh but you are
not leaving because of us, right? You can stay here for longer if you would
like".
-- Human kindness: Kindling my candle --
Needless to say, I was very glad to receive each one of these invitations.
It was terrific to see how complete strangers had built up a bridge of trust
in a matter of days. Their kindness and willingness to help really lit up my
spirit and hope in human kindness. Halfway through my stay with Gabor and
Kati, they were kind and trusting enough as to lend me their digital camera.
This was for me to take on my own as I went around the city. This was such a
tremendous show of trust and benevolence, specially since the digital camera
was SO NICE! I have a digi of my own, although its memory was full and I
have been unable to download the pictures, so I didn't even take it to
Budapest. Gabor was also quite smart, as he encouraged me to take lots of
pictures. He was interested to see what I found interesting and what I
considered worth a shot. Gabor and Kati are great people, I owe to them most
of my learnings from the trip and lots of good memories.
-- Invisibility: Confidence and Independence --
I think I was invited to stay with them for longer partly because I wasn't
much of a problem to
accommodate. This is a principle that I had practiced before, but I learned
of its "official" term on the couchsurfing website. The term is
"invisibility," and couchsurfing explains that all guests should be as
invisible as possible. That is, to make the least haste as possible so as to
not trouble the people that accommodate you.
As a natural reaction, I enjoy being "invisible" when I am being hosted by
someone... of course no one really likes to trouble their hosts. But
practicing a purer form of invisibility while in Hungary reminded me that
there is much more I could do to be invisible in different places... and
that invisibility could also be helpful in my home sometimes, or even in my
life.
Another lesson which was re-affirmed in Hungary is the service to your
host. It is great when a guest is able to help, in one way or another, in
the running of the house affairs or choires. Dish washing, for example, is an excellent way for
a guest to help out. Usually, no one likes to do the dish washing, and yet
it is something that always has to get done. It is fast and easy, and
usually not too troubling to do. It is one good task that guests can easily
do and help their hosts. I notice it wherever I go, dish washing makes a big
difference! Help with the cleaning, the children, cooking or walking the
dogs are also great ways to help.
-- Past nationalism: Great Hungary & Serbia --
As I was about to move on to finish my story, many of the things I learned
and experience while in the trip came back to my mind! So I will prolong
your pain and write more... mua ha ha ha haaaa.
One of the biggest things that I have learnt while in Eastern Europe, this
time around, has been of the tremendous effect history and nationalism
have on this part of the world. Hungary lost a whole bunch of its territory
at the end of WWI (I think about 2/3 of it, inc. population).... that
Hungary is referred to today as the "Great Hungary". Consecuently, there are
considerable amounts of Hungarians living outside of the Hungarian territoy,
living in Slovakia, Serbia, and I think Romania, although they are the
minority in those areas. An incredible amount of people, and it appears the
majority of the Hungarians, still believe that Great Hungary is the true
Hungarian territory, and that it righteously belongs to them. Hungarian
politicians are still fond of referring to it, and of clueing about "doing
something about the Hungarians living in Great Hungary" (needless to say,
all the neighbouring countries frown at every mention of it).
The treaty which was signed to give up those territories, let's say 8
decades ago, is still looked upon as a deplorable, inhumane and unjust
event, evoking strong negative feelings. Very much alike the German
sentiment against the treaty of Versailles (a sentiment which Hitler easily
played upon).
Not only for pragmatists but also for intelligent realists, the great
hungary is history. In my opinion, the only way out is forward for the way
back is a conflicting dream. I cannot reasonably foresee how Hungary could
reoccupy those territories. And if it were to do so, foreign nationals would
be the majority of people living in them thus emanating an identical
situation and reliving history. The division occured 8 decades ago or 4
generations ago. In my "american" (referring to the continent) point of
view, heck that is history. Rolling back 4 generations would be no good.
People should look pro-actively into what can be done today. Either
accepting the foreign populations as mosaic nations (Canadian way), adapting
melting-pot-style to the local country (US way), or moving to present day
Hungary (Serbian style).
Great Hungary makes me remember of Serbian nationalism, of which I am very
weary. Average Serbians have high regards for blood (genetical heritage),
language, and religion (this feeling seems to be shared by many Balcan
countries/nations). In other words, a true Serbian has Serbian blood, speaks
Serbian, and is an Orthodox Christian. For example I have heard Serbians
saying "he claims he is Serbian, but there it is, he is catholic!", or
Serbians claiming that certain nations in the Balcans are Serbian because
they have the same heritage and language, in other words clueing that other
nationalities are in reality Serbian and have "superficially adopted" other
religions/nationalities (FYI Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian are all
virtually the same
language).
Coming from Mexico, where anyone who is born in Mexico is Mexican, and
having lived in Canada, where anyone who stays there for a few years becomes
Canadian, the Serbian nationalistic stance is quite troubling for me. The
concept of identity is much more developed in Canada, where Canadians can
openly and acceptedly be of any religion, race, sexual preference, and
mother tongue. Naturally, the Serbian nationalistic stance is one that can
easily be manipulated and used to generate differences, discrimination and
hatrage for political means. Mind you, I speak of Serbia because this is the
only Balcan country I have been in, although I have grown to believe that
this is a common issue in the Balcans.
I am too ignorant to forsee a plausible way out for the problems in former
Yugoslavia. However, I am leanings towards developing people's mindset of
humanity to one where it is of not much relevance which language you speak,
which blood you have, and which religion you believe in. He, this somewhat
sounds like what Tito's Yugoslavia was (talk about a way forwards!)
Unfortuntely, this is not a problem unique to the Balcans but it seems to be
a disease that has spread around the world. Mexico not being the exception.
Indeed I believe that if Mexico (and the Mexican people) were troubled with
similar circumstances as Yugoslavia was, we wouldn't have done any better.
Mexicans have not yet developed an embracing concept of humanity, and are
fond of playing on peoples' differences (indeed simply cheering for the
wrong team could land you in deep shit).
I should say, very honestly, that I find Serbians to be very welcoming,
friendly and willing to help. To the extent that it seems odd to find such
views against other peoples. It supports my belief that the feeling of
"differences", hatrage, racism and all that is fabricated bullshit. A social
franatical fabrication, and a product of wars and massive propaganda. he, or
at least that is my 3 cent theory! (The issue is much more complex and I too
ignorant of it all).
-- Holocaust: say what? & Gypsies --
Apart from Great Hungary, there are two other big things which I very much
disliked about Hungary. They are to me big bright warning lights. The Museum
of national History in Budapest is a big well put together museum, quite
nice indeed. Unfortunately, the tone of the "scripts" in the museum is a bit
propagandistic, attempting to put Hungary in the best of lights.
(Negative aspects of a nation's history must also be studied; a good balance
must be achieved so that a nation can learn from its previous actions.
Otherwise, people are made to believe blindly in their nation, loosing all
abilities to be critical of it.) As such, I
found scantly one or two lines about the holocaust in the whole museum. The
Military Museum is another decent museum, with much more objective scripts,
go figure! Unfortunately again, the holocaust was allocated one or two lines
at most. There is a big "Holocaust memorial centre" in the old Jewish Ghetto
in the city, which is mostly a Jewish centre yet there isn't much of a
Holocause memorial centre. In the Synagogue they had a tiny exhibition with
one movie playing and 4 large pictures in display of attrocities commited to
the Gipsyies in Hungary during the Holocaust. (I should apologize for using
the term Gipsy, for I don't even like it myself. However, everyone in Serbia
calls them like that, and I have a hard time communicating when I refer to
them as "roma people" (their politically correct name). I shall refer to
them properly in the future.)
There is also a Museum of Terror (of which I refer to later) where the
Holocaust is supposed to be covered more extensively. Unfortunately, I was
unable to go to this museum yet I was disappointed with the little I saw. It
is not that it seemed badly put together, on the contrary. The museum was
playing and calling on people's fears by using very well developed,
attractive, and propagandistic means. For example, just in the entrance they
were playing considerably loud music, like the one which can be heard in
stupid horror movies accompanied with dimmed suggestive lighting. In the
lobby they were also playing a short clip which seemed more like the
trailers of more horror movies. The wording of some of their printed
materials was also very revealing. The fact that the entrance fee was so
exhorbitantly high (compared to most other museums in town) suggests to me
that it may all be a scheme to attract visitors. It is quite nasty to abuse
of such acts in that way. Just like I oppose brain-washing people for the
bad, to me it is just as dirty to brain wash people for the good.
At any rate (Gosh can I ever ramble!) I was badly disappointed at the lack
of education about the Holocaust. I am confident that education is the ONLY
way in which we could avoid similar attrocities from reoccurring. It ain't
something pretty to admit or display as "national history", but aren't we
supposed to from our mistakes? Ignoring and forgetting it doesn't cut it.
Everyone condems the Holocaust yet few take active steps to effectively
prevent it from happening again.
I don't have a lot of experience about this, but it seems like Hungarian
people feel very negatively against the Roma people. It also seems to be a
common factor across Europe (and certainly Serbia). Again, I see this as a
lack of acceptance and education though I admittedly know nothing about the
whole situation.
[After reading this, Gabor sent me an email telling the following:
"- Holocaust is not even educated properly in school (we have mandatory History lessons in all 12 years of school, yet nothing) in Hungary
- I got my only initial experience about holocaust outside of school, in the so called Film Museum, which was organized in the grammar school. Imagine those schools which do not show artistic films... Also, there were about 30 out of the 500 students there :(
- there is no such class (which I'm aware of - definetly was not in my time) which educates about diversity in school (that poster, which I have pointed out to you is basically part of a campaign which started a year ago. The first signs I guess will show up in 10-20 years)"
The poster which he referrs to, is a billboard campaign that has started recently to sensitibilize Hungarians towards the Roma People. I cannot remember precisely what it was about,]
-- Mental abouse: deep lesson --
The biggest of my learnings in this trip, of course, were about myself. One
in specific is worth telling although it's a bit flipsy and it may seem too
weird to you. I'm very much interested in meditation and mind control, and I
have been practicing (or training) both for a few years now.
I have to admit that I've become quite decent at mind control, which I
believe is extremely useful and necessary not to be slaves of our own
bodies. To understand what I mean with mind control you can remember when
someone is cold and they say "think of something hot, think about fire,
fire, fire!!" and then all of the sudden they are not cold anymore. Another
example of mind control could be when people are able to ignore 30 bees
flying around them. Through mind control I have made headaches and other
sorts of pain go away... as I have also healed myself of other sicknesses. I
have made myself be rested without much sleep, made myself to stop feeling
hungry without food, or feel comfortable without any comfort. Many people
use mind control unconsciously to a certain extent. Controlling your mind
consciouslly is a lot more powerful and potentially deeper (I know this all
sounds crazy).
On the other hand, I have also experience a whole whack of crazy stuff
through meditation. When meditating, I don't use "thought power" as I do in
mind control, but I use deep concentration instead. Through meditation I
have also been able to get rid of pains, heal myself, and be deeply at ease.
Just so that you can understand me better, let me further explain the
difference. Imagine I was tremendously nervous about an upcoming exam I was
about to have. If I used mind control to get relaxed, I would have used
thought power to calm me down. So I would have convinced myself that it was
all good through positive thoughts (also called affirmations). If I used
meditation to get relaxed, I would have used concentration to calm me down.
So I would have emptied my mind completely and simply "lower down" or atune
my consciousness. You may relate to this if you remember those times when
you just woke up, you are feeling completely relaxed, can't feel your legs,
don't know what time it is (and you don't really want to know), and you feel
your mind relaxed (as if dreaming). Ehehe, I wonder if this makes any sense
to you!
Ok, after that big preface here is the story! One of those days when I was
rummaging around Budapest, I stoped in a Hungarian restaurant to eat. I
ordered a "menu" as it was pretty cheap and it sounded like it had Hungarian
food, without knowing well what I was going to get. I got a pasta and a
purple soup... they both looked quite fine. I tasted the soup first, to my
surprise it was cold and sweet. It's dessert, I thought. Then I tried the
pasta, to my surprise it was also sweet! Both dishes were good, I did not
mind their taste, but my body couldn't handle the fact that my whole meal
was sweet. My body and my mind knew (all through experience) that main meals
are salty, whereas only desserts are primarily sweet. I had a few forks and
spoons of the meal and my body was refusing to have anymore. My stomach
begun to feel uneasy, and I started to get a taint feeling of wanting to
puke... my body was warning me!
The problem is, you see, that I have as a principle never to waste food. (I
could go long to explain the reasons why, but I will spare you of that one.
You can ask me if you are interested tho). The food was perfectly fine, as
it was being eaten by many Hungarians around me. It was just my body and
mind that were working against it. So I began to use mind control to appease
my body and finish the meal. It was a tough job, and it took me a while, but
I was finally able to finish the meal. I felt fine as I finished it.
While I was using thought power to convince myself to finish the meal, I
heard a little voice literally coming from the back of my mind. The voice
said "I don't want to eat this" (in English). I recall hearing that voice in
one other ocassion, when I had fabricated a "good" situation in my mind from
a situation that was unwanted and very negative... it came as I was beating
the hell out of a pillow (to relief the emotions).
In both ocassions the little voice did not seem to have much logic. For I
know of the value of not wasting food and eating that which I am given--it's
a pure principle. On the other ocassion, the whole situation was far out of
my control and there was nothing I could do about it--despairing was of no
use. Fortunately I was able to spend some time reflecting as to the source
of this voice and the message it was trying to carry across. It took me a
while but finally, as I was writing about it, I discovered what could be its
meaning. Mental control is as powerful as it is dangerous. Through mental
control one can easily fabricate a reality that is absolutely fake (think of
Hitler being absolutely positive that Jews were the source of all evil, and
proving his argument logically to himself... or think of Ralishnikov if you
have read Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment").
I think my little voice was telling me that I could be abusing of my ability
to control my mind and body. I don't think it was speaking against my
principles or goals, but against my means. Meditation is a lot more pure
than mind control, yet it is also much more hard. I believe my little voice
was saying, "meditate dude".
-- Poetry: I'm sorry --
Last summer I met a poet with whom I had a pretty good connection. Really
pure and peculiar, of the kind of close relationships that have been
uncommon in my life (and I think widely uncommon in western societies). At
any rate, after meeting her I suddently felt an urge to write poetry. Of
course, I have 0 (or negative) artistic talent... I still draw as if I never
graduated from kinder garden.
I did not have a book with me when I went to Budapest, because I could not
find a good book in English or Spanish that I could take. Instead, I bought
a little notebook and I found myself spending a good amount of time writing.
I wrote a couple of "poems" (if they can be called so) about some of the
stuff I have described above. I am pasting them below for some of you who
are interested. Writing the one about the "little voice" was key to my
finding and trying to understand it. For those of you who are wise, you may
want to avoid the pain of reading them!
That voice
>From behind my mind
I think I heard you twice
was it truly you
I have no clue
Like apples that don't fall down
your message has no ground
so it sure makes me frown
I am a logical kinda guy
"I don't want" "I don't want"
Stop! No more rant!
Where are u coming from?
Certain principles are not to be broken
for people starving w/o a token
food must not be let rotten
for things outside my heir
I should not despair, but repair
Hmm... perhaps you are wiser that I thought
flying high unto the sky
building castles with no round
is it me who left the ground?
Like a fish sinking deep in its pond
failing to sink deep in its own
reality should be internally relieved
and not mentally retrieved
Hmm... c'est ca?
Apparent Reality
Feeling am in the middle of nowhere
Lost in place, lost in space, lost in pain
For nothing worked the way I wanted
So little it takes to set me off
so easy it is to leave my feet
apparent the weakness is thereof
my soul to weak
mental success it must eat
Save the World!
Poetry I cannot claim to write
I must put up a fight
for poems I do try
since she brought the need
when she came to my heed
to explore this far cry
I promise
I would drop the sharade
if beside me she laid
It's now her job
to save the world
from my poetic mob
Simple way
Life so complex
right hard to discern
a puzzle it is
for purity to shine through piss
An ant never fails
to find its way
but a human can't
tell which way
way, way, guey!
running in circles
it's just a rat race
so simple to drown
in a small vase
making grey
from white & black
making millions
from the primary pack
simplicity behind lays
must lift the haze
to see its face
stagnant and arrogant
you are no ant
wisdom, wisdom beseech
for simple purity to reach
This last one is on the works but I didn't finish it when I was writing it
To give
I am here to give
though I often forget
the reason I live
If I buy and eat and apple
I could quench my hunger
If I receive and eat and apple
my heart is also filled
It is of much higher value
when for my need
someone comes to my heed
I have seen it through
giving is receiving
works like a guru
-- Last Day: Email to Gabor and Kati --
... And lastly! here is an email I sent to Gabor and Kati about my last day
in Budapest,
which also includes one of my trip's lessons. Gabor's reply was funny
indeed, and he said he had bought a couple of lottery tickets in case "he
has due to receive"! I have added some explanations in parenthesis.
"Hello Gabor and Kati!
I am finally home after a long day of travelling. My
last day was also very interesting and fun!
After I said goodbye to Gabor and Pufy, I took tram # 4
to Androssey Av. When I got off the tram and started
walking towards the House of Terror, I met a young
lady who was requesting doinations for "food for life
international" which she said was an organisation that
gives food to homeless children.
I said that I didn't have any money, since I only had
about 700 HUFs (bout 4 USD) left and I had to use them for the
house of terror. She then asked "Do you really need
that?" Which was really interesting and actually made me stop and think.
I told her that I was suffering from being withdrawn
from the frontline, and that if I had one of those
kids in front of me and saw that my money was
effectively going to feed him/her, that I would
definitely do it. But that at that time I wasn't sure
that was going to be the case. So I asked her whether
she was going to be there for a long time, she said
yes and gave me a sticker that reads: "Gouranga L�y boldog!" Which she
said it means... be happy (Later I found out it is a Harikrishna saying. The
Hungarian can be translated as fly blissfully).
So I went to the house of terror where they had raised
the prices. A normal ticket was 1500 HUFS and a
student ticket was 750. I had just the right amount of
money, but the cashier would not let me in because my
student card was expired (I had used this card in all
other places without a problem). Despite I tried to do
some convincing, I had no luck.
I sat down and tried to find other places where I could
go nearby. I found an art gallery nearby which Gabor
had recommended, that had an entrance fee from 200-400
(according to the book). On my way back, I found the
same lady requesting donations and gave her all
the money I had except for 400 forints. She was
surprised.
I got the gallery to find out that they only opened at
2 PM, so I was out of luck. Once again I sat down to
think what I could do. Then I noticed that I was only
a few meters away from the place that Gabor had
recommended me for Fuzalek (a traditional Hungarian dish made of
vegetables). They had one portion for
280 or half a oprtion for 160. I decided to get half a
portion of Pea Fuzalek and half a portion of fried
cheese. So the lady served the Fuzalek and threw the
fried cheese in, and then said... "it's 460". I said,
but I only wanted half a portion, to which she replied
that she had no half-portions for fried cheese. So I
was at a loss, I had no more than 400 HUFS. The lady
said, ok ok, take it and pay back tomorrow. I was so
happy.
And I ate a sweet Fuzalek with a salty fried cheese and
bread (which I had brought with me). It was great! Later I went back to the
counter
and said: "I am sorry but I have to take a train in a
few hours, I cannot pay back tomorrow." I offered them
my T Com calling card which had 60 HUFs instead. They
did not take it and said that it was all ok. I was
happy.
Later I went to the museum of crime, which is
surprisingly not a bad museum at all. There I met
"Peter" a very friendly retired army leutenant who is
now working for the museum. He kindly offered to show
me around, since everything was in Hungarian. By the
way that museum has the body of "Kator" the hero dog
and of his TV stunt! (an old Hungarian celebrity... kinda similar to the
American Lassy). He told me several other cool
stories, but the museum overall is pretty gross. What
was I expecting? It is a museum about crime. Anyway,
if you are ever intereted in checking out some of
Hungary's famous crimes, you should check it out.
After all this I really started thinking. I had to give
to receive. On my way to the house of terror I refused
to help and people refused to help me in the house of
terror. On my way back, I helped and people helped me
in the restaurant and in the museum of crime.
In other words, since you have given me so much in this
last week... you are due to receive! Thank you so much
again."
-- C'est ca: Good travelling --
Overall, being in Budapest was quite liberating. Mostly because I was in an
environment where a lot of the stuff I like to do was present. I was
intellectually challenged, I had the opportunity of taking many impromptu
decisions and was in full control over my days,(during the evenings guided
by wise local people), and I was visiting beautiful places, events, and
ocassions while meeting different people. Ah, good stuff. The kind of
travelling that makes people grow (though not the only one!).
I would love to discuss any of my thoughts with you or hear about similar
experiences which you have had. I apologize for making it so long. But even
as it stands right now, I failed to talk about certain stuff in Hungary
(like the peacing language)... at any rate I should stop. NOW!
Best regards,
Luis
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