WHY YOU MUST TRAVEL OUT FOR A HOLIDAY!
Recently my wife and I took an International trip for a holiday. This was after three years of staying masked at home due to covid.
We had lived in the UK before coming down to settle in Coimbatore 3 decades ago. As my younger son lives in the USA with his wife, we take a trip now and then to see them for about 2 weeks or so. Beyond that, we hardly ever go on a holiday.
It all started with an SMS to my wife from a group organising a trip to Scandinavia for about 12 days - Supreme tours. The organizer mentioned that it was only for doctors belonging to Indian Medical Association. We decided to take on the trip though we did not know personally anyone else who was going.
PREPARATION:
I did know where Scandinavia was. I looked up the map, drew it, and named the countries with capital cities. I even taught this to my 6-year-old grandson and he seemed to remember them better than I did.
Then I read up on the itinerary of the trip. The 5 countries had numerous places of interest for tourists. It was worthwhile reading about them. But it was like a blind man feeling an elephant- knowing bits of stuff which one could not see.
I also decided that I must make this trip count by digital documentation. So ensured how to make videos with mobile and save them on the laptop to ensure decent video travelogues ( which was a new term for me).
THE TOUR:
Meeting 37 doctors ( a few non-medical members too) in Chennai airport was daunting. After landing, it was easy to make friends as everyone was friendly and helpful. Strangers formed intense bonding like a family and it was easy to function as a unit.
A coach took us from one country to another for our hotels or city tours. There was a guide in each city/country who travelled with us on these trips. They were mostly teachers of history who were extremely knowledgeable.
We visited museums, places of worship, and markets, met local people, visited parks, ate local food and went on so many boat rides as every country was surrounded by seas everywhere.
WHAT WE LEARNT:
1. Behaviour of locals
Locals were always on time and polite. They were not very friendly overtly, though they could speak English well. The population was very low compared to the Indian population.
There was hardly anyone on the streets when we travelled. We met people only in places of tourist interest or in restaurants. They waited patiently for their turn and did not push their way in for seats/ tables which are common here. Soft voices and no eye contact with strangers.
Sure, they were like us in that there were demonstrations - like the one supporting Ukraine and another against Iran. Both times, people stood inside designated marked areas, kept flags and banners, raised slogans for a limited amount of duration and dispersed without any procession. The rest of the population watched on and carried on with their own affairs. Did you know that the happiest people on earth are found here as the government ensures everyone has a roof over their head and food on the table?!
2. Traffic
Traffic was an eye-opener to some of the first-timers. No horns at all. All vehicles moving in complete harmony. When you stopped on the road at the green signal in zebra crossings, vehicles stopped and allowed you to cross.
There were tons and tons of bicycles and electronic standing scooters for adults /electric hoverboards - easily hired by the internet. Hardly any motorbikes or scooters as we have them here. Pollution due to traffic was minimum. Plenty of lanes for bicycles ( and electronic standing scooters only) on every road.
The bike parade on Sunday was so orderly! Everyone followed traffic rules, and traffic lights and police were conspicuous by their absence.
3. Museums
Museums were based on ships, old lifestyles or history. Ships which had been to the north and south poles were preserved in entirety for everyone to walk through and have a hands-on experience. There was a movie in every museum first on the history of what it was about and the main events; there were guides available as well as free printed literature.
Old lifestyle museums had live actors in the old recreated situations- like for instance boat making or women who were weaving or cross stitching. It was interesting that many actors were students on these subjects of boat making or early stitching habits.
We were as curious about them as they were very precise as they were about where we came from! Even actors driving old wooden carts drawn by mules were passing by as we walked along these museums.
4. Education
Education for the students was free. The same teacher taught the class ( small groups of 10 or 12) for about 6 years. There were no exams. They were taught the way of history or music or sports or anything they wanted. So it was like homeschooling which was totally free. The school allowed any age - adults too to learn. College education was free too. For subjects not available in the country, the government paid for free education abroad. Scandinavian countries have produced many Nobel prize winners, talented musicians and top leaders which bear witness to the success of the free and fair education system they possess.
5. Palaces
Palaces were open to tourists both outside and inside to exhibit how they function even today. They are kept in prime condition and the well-informed guides ensure that the groups they take around are small and do justice to the history. Many of the monarchies behave in a simple fashion living away from the palaces ( which are open to the public) and even travelling among the common folks. Hence are quite popular.
6. Parks
Parks are another popular sites to visit. They are generally very large extending to sometimes hundreds of acres. Always filled with statues - not of politicians - but just figures of common folks, workers or sports people.
Some statues like the ‘Little Mermaid’ have even stories of myth to make them attractive!
Parks can be theme based like music (Sibelius) or sports ( Winter Olympics Skying) or just beautiful small parks with beautiful plants, green grass, flowers and chairs for all to sit around.
Music abounds in these parks played by large uniformed bands ( brass bands) as solo singers with HiFi equipment or just a violinist with a hat around.
These musicians sing/play for the love of it and not for making money out of it - though there is usually a box around for you to contribute if you wish.
The weather, the greenery and the nature of people make everyone stop and enjoy the music.
7. Superstitions
There were many superstitions among the people. One such was the Haunted Garden of the King of Denmark where ghosts walked at night, with vague whispers, strange noises, articles moving by themselves, etc.
There was also the Angel with a pointing finger. The finger of the angel was later discovered to be pointing towards a shipwreck many centuries ago when hundreds of sailors lost their lives.
The ancestors were men of the sea; you had to believe in God and the Devil with all the superstitions in between! Then of course the Little Mermaid of the sea who was converted to a human by a witch as she fell in love with a prince drowned at sea. He, unfortunately, married a human princess and not the mermaid!
8. Places of worship:
Churches have been kept in prime condition though the Sunday attendance is paltry for visitors.
There is always a souvenir shop closely by where one can buy things to remember the visit. There is even a big church cut out of a huge rock with natural lighting on the sides.
Almost every church has a huge pipe organ which is expensive and is well equipped acoustically to ensure even a whisper from the stage is heard by the audience without a mic.
Churches are open to concerts of classical or modern music due to their acoustic sound planning; so they are used for worship as well as the propagation of music.
9. Boat/ship cruises:
As the countries are surrounded by water on most sides, almost every major city has a motorised boat cruise with its own PA system announcing places of interest.
There is a major boat overnight cruise between Norway and Stockholm across the Baltic Sea which is a big sensation by itself and definitely a lifetime experience by itself.
This is the place of James Bond movie scenes!
10. Roadside cafes and pubs:
Food, food everywhere.
There were plenty of pubs around, but surprisingly no drunks!
Every type of food was available. Vegetarians were looked after too despite the abundance of seafood. Food was every nationality was bountiful!
WHAT WE MISSED MOST 🧐
What really struck me was the absence of roadside tall statues, cut-outs, and wall posters of politicians, movie stars and cricket stars which we are used to in abundance. There was no littering or horns or traffic noises or animals either. No potholes on roads.
WHAT THE TRIP HAS DONE FOR ME:
Despite visiting multiple nations in the past, I learnt many things. I had not been on a structured trip with such a large and intense literary like this. Such as this made me understand the local people, their habits, their government and their education systems.
Relaxation is a byproduct of any vacation.
Travelling broadens one’s mind and outlook in life!
WILL I BE WILLING TO DO THIS SORT OF TRIP AGAIN?
Most certainly, yes. Maybe after a year or so. I feel it is best to travel with the spouse as it adds to the companionship and understanding.
THE END
