I am Write!

4.1 The Detour

Taking a detour from our journey to Amsterdam, we got down at Den Haag HS to catch a 10 min connection to Leiden, the town where resides Nitin Ashok. Due to a missed digit in a telephone number that Nitin gave me (orkut.com, 2006) we walked the 30 min walk in over 70 minutes, with constant interruptions to ask the few pedestrians if we were correct. Finally reaching the place at 9.30 PM we dumped our bags, and Nitin gave us a few apples to munch on while he walked us to the station. We caught the 10.30 connection to Amsterdam, and at 11, we met up with our guide for the trip NG.

4.2 Red Light District

NG who had already bought a 2 € map and two 6.5 € 24 hour tram passes guided us to do the same. Loaded with expensive passes, that Kannad, Sam and I didn't use for more than 4 times, we took a tram (Figure 4.1) to Dam Square. Once there, NG took us through a scary back alley, and then to the Red Light District. Exactly what we were there for. We looked for a place called Bulldogs (Akhil Ravi, 3rd Year, ChE, IITB, 2006) from where we could lay our hands on Hash Brownies (Eurotrip, 2004). With a brownie in the stomach of each of Neha, NG, Kannad and I, we decided to walk the path that most do. None of us though took the leisure to look for Wandersexxx or a camera shop (Eurotrip, 2004) but all sure did have a look here and there. We did a little window shopping, of good looking prostitutes. A look here and a peep there, that's all what we did for the next couple of hours. Most of us were tired in 2 hours, and while we made plans to go back for the night, Kannad wished if he could see a peep show. So I accompanied him to one, and for a small amount of money he got a peep for a small time.

Figure 4.1 : The expensive tram pass was for...(Photo Courtsey NG).

4.3 The Painful Dutch Railways

Finally 3 of us left for the train station, waiting for some 20 minutes at a tram stop, hoping that a night bus might come by. But little did we realise that the road directly led to the station, not more than 200m far. We caught a train that was 30 min late, and it took us in the opposite direction to Utrech. An announcement in the train told us to take a connecting train to our respective places. At Utrech came a disaster blow, my one way ticket from Amsterdam to Leiden would not be valid, because Utrech was in the opposite direction. This problem stood with quite a few passangers and though most bought a new ticket, a lady who has missed the train fought out her way for a travel on the same ticket. I stuck on with her, and gave her company in the fight (she spoke Dutch, and so did most of the talking) we caught the train at 4 AM to get us to Leiden at 5. A 10 € cab ride to Nitin's place, we woke him up at 5.30, so that Sam could sleep in his bed, and the 3 boys downstairs at his friend's place.

4.4 Madame Tussades

At 10, Sam came down waking us all up, and we had some Rice and Daal that was supposed to have been our dinner :) We reached Amsterdam at around 12.30, and with about 4 hours at hand before Sam took her train home. Hurrying onto Madame Tussades, we took a 15.25 € pp ticket to enter. An hour and half, the place was worth the experience (Figures 4.2, 4.3, 4.4). Next came the bombshell that 200 and 500 € notes are not widely accepted in Amsterdam. So I was kind of pennyless. Luckily we came to a canal boat ride place, where we could get them to accept the note for 3 rides at 7.5 € each. An hour ride, and 90 min for Sam's train to leave. :|

5.1 A train Lesson

A lesson from my train ride from Amsterdam to Hamburg: If one sleeps soundly enough in the train, the ticket checker ditches you, and you can travel for free :) I had EURail, and had already written the date, so I really didn't save anything, but my ticket wasn't stamped till I boarded my train to Wittenburg from Hamburg at 9.12 in the night!

5.2 Meeting and Entry

Now, I reached Hamburg at 12.12, and took information on how to get to the stadium. Next I waited on the platform to pick up Akhil who was to come at 12.35. Met up with him, and we waited for around 15 minutes at our meeting place, platform 1, for Jassi. The man who has no mobile, travels cheap, and is mostly not locateable. I did keep a back up plan, of meeting at the closest Mac D to the station, with the one inside (if any) as the 1st preference. Akhil and I walked to the Mac D to find a person with his back to us, constantly playing with his hair. He was sure to be Jassi! :P A few burgers inside, we left for the stadium, taking the S21. At the station, we walked for more than 1600 m before we met some officials, and asked them where to collect the ticket. Collecting tickets that were specially made for us (it had our names!) we entered the stadium. The steward questioned the chocolates (for Onkar) and I said they were for my kid brother, and the chocolates came from Belgium. He said throw them, and I said please, and with a little senti, the matter was resolved! No pain for the water or the deo! Strange.

5.3 Freebies

Into the stadium, we looked for the fan shop, and when we were led to them, we ran into T-Mobile stalls. A free "small football" and a gay-pink-bean-pouch was what was free, and as Jassi put it, it has been given to us by a cute female, and it's free! A few games of Fifa-2006 WC on the gameboy, and a couple of games of fussball against some Swedes who beat Jassi and me clean, we got photos with Kahn, Podolski and Schweinsteiger. Next came the free face painting, and the 3 of us got both the flags done, one on each cheek. A free foto with this too :) A look at the fan shop told us not to try buying anything :)

5.4 Seats Taken

Finally, we entered the stadium at 4.45, and were amazed to see ourselves so close to the pitch! A quick look at what the "kioske" had to offer, 3 € for .5L water, 3.5 € for .5L colddrink, and 4 € for .4L beer + 1 € for the deposit to return the glass! I bought Akhil and myself a beer, with Jassi buying himself one. We entered the stadium, and with a quick look around, we realised that the 105 € seats were worth the money. Sitting right above the Saudi box, and on the left of the media enclosure, we had one of the best views of the pitch. At around 5.15 came the teams to practise, and up went the roar of the crowd.

5.5 The Kick Off

At 5.45, both the teams were on the field, with the national anthems played, and the toss done (Figure 5.1), the teams took to their huddles (Figures 5.2, 5.3), and their formations soon after (Figure 5.4). At sharp 6 PM, the rain gods opened their pouches for water to fall into the stadium, and even though the audience seating was covered, we could feel the strenght of the water. The whistle blew, and the game was off (Figure 5.5).






5.6 The Match

Since all know what conspired here after, I shall not go into the details. But a 4 minute goal by Ukraine, lots of corners (Figure 5.6), a 2-0 Half time score, a few bookings, and a Shevchenko goal. That is what all we saw. A 4-0 match, and we were happy to have spent 105 € usefully.


5.7 Return

With the match over at close to 8 PM, we took some final shots of the stadium and us, and then left by the nearest exit. I had to catch a 9.12 train and I knew it wasn't going to be easy. An 1800m walk, and a huge crowd to get to the S-bahn station, we slowly made our way to the place in quick time, reaching the Hbf at about 8.40. A connection check at the counter, and Jassi and Akhil realised they had ample time to spend in the city. I left for platform, and was quick to realise the Mumbai local feel in Germany.

5.8 Trains Back

I took an ICE back, and even though it's supposed to be mostly an empty train, because of it's cost, this one was full to the neck, like a Mumbai local, with people sitting on every piece of floor, even next to the loos. I had an option to get down at Berlin, and take a 21.90 € ticket back to Magdeburg next morning, or get down at Wittenburg, take an RB to Stendal, and after a 4 hour night at the waiting room, take a 9.10 € ticket back home. I chose the cheaper option, thinking it shouldn't be that bad.

5.9 Stendal Sleep

Bad it was, because the station had waiting rooms closed, it was cold, and there were fields and the highway on both sides of the platforms. This meant that I was going to sleep on one of the platform waiting chairs, and one look, and I couldn't strech myself on these. Sad but true, I spent 3 hours, with 30 min bursts of sleep, and 15 min in between them. Finally, the train arrived at 3.30 AM, and I took a seat asap. At 4.01 I was off to home. A jab in the ribs is what I remember next, not from the cleaner, but from the ticket checker. I asked her for a ticket to Magdeburg, and she gave me an 11.1 € ticket, 2 € for the fee of buying on the train. (I was hoping if I slept soundly I wouldn't be woken, but alas, I was!).

5.10 Conclusion

At 4.45, I was in Magdeburg, at 5.15 at MPI, and at 5.45 in my bed, with an alarm for 11.30!