Certainly, we visited places such as the Berlin Wall, and the Berlin Palace of Tears. The famous Berlin Wall separated the East and West Berlin, and from Day 1 pick-up, already the lady driver was telling me about the wall. It must have been such a sad part of their history, and the West Berliners could visit the East and return to the West, but not so for the East Berliners. That's because the East Berliners would not want to return again to the East.
There's quite a lot of graffiti on the walls now. As I learnt about the history, I really tried to imagine what times were like then.
Then, there's the Palace of Tears. It is the railway station that divides East and West Berlin, and allows for only particular groups of East Berliners to cross to the West. It was called Palace of Tears because that's precisely it - tears of goodbyes as they leave families behind.
Behind us is the Palace of Tears and its iron and steel structured pavilion keeps with the architecture of the 1960s. Taken with US journalist Steven Hills as we took a walk out during a lunch break.
And the Reichstag building from the river Spree. This building houses the German Parliament.
Apart from these famous sights, I particularly enjoyed 2 aspects of Berlin - looking at the flats which the Berliners live in, as well as walk through the neighbourhood park.
I have always liked to imagine the lives of different families, and how apartments' windows are actually gateways to another world. The buildings and apartments provide a solace, a roof over the heads, and the lives of the individuals living inside through the windows make me wonder how we, in different parts of the world, live. I used to peer into the windows of the neighbours living across me in Japan, Suzurandai, and while of course, I couldn't see anything very clearly, I like to think about what the mummy is cooking; what kinds of conversations they might be having in the home; their daily routines, lives, etc. I particularly like to imagine dusk time, the close of the day.
So when I walked past the apartments in Berlin, I was quite happy to observe. There's a certain uniformity in them, and they do look pretty much like our SG flats. I even walked right up to one of these blocks, just to see if there's any way I could enter and walk around. :) Entrance to each block is only via a locked gateway.
Thought this pink one reminded me of a block of Eunos flats. :-D
And some further shots, including how there are supermarkets and shops at the first and second floors.
This was captured just to show how the plants have encircled the building. Quite a sight to behold with the different fall colours.
One of the highlights was the walk I took in the park. Wished I had brought along my running shoes and gear. It was just beautiful. Since I have very limited time in Berlin, and I've seen the key highlights like the Berlin Wall, I thought, I'd spend the last evening in the neighbourhood park. It was so lovely to see the families taking a stroll and with their dogs, the ones playing table-tennis and basketball, the many joggers. The walk reminded me to breathe, to take in life and be thankful. Moments of reflection, introspection, thinking about this year passed, thanking God. I walked until the skies turned a reddish-blueish hue, as they grayed and became dark.
Loved how the beautiful trees flank the pathway, and how they are changing colours, with the brown leaves laying the path.
Happened to catch all 3 dogs staring at me. :-D The french bull-dog especially.
Some table-tennis and basketball action. :-D
Some outdoor fun. :-D
And kids having fun, families chilling out at the restaurant. It was actually Wed evening as I captured this, about 4.30-5pm. So I wonder... these folks no need to work?
All such lovely and beautiful snapshots. I really enjoyed this walk tremendously.
So, now that I am back in AD, I wanted to capture some of these memories. Certainly the week passed too fast. The work dialogue and panel discussion were very enriching for me. In a sense, I had to consolidate and crystallise my own thoughts, to put forth SG's case on workforce development and the Future of Work, Skills and Learning. The folks there included a mobile FinTech entrepreneur from Tanzania, a Brazil International affairs professor-cum-Maltese diplomat, a Canadian-Germany Tech-Policy analyst, a US journalist covering US and Europe. And there was much interaction with the KAS and CDU too. There is much learning and development in the conversations.
So, I am very thankful for the week passed.
I started with writing about walks, and shall end this with some snapshots of work.
After all, I am in Berlin because of a digital dialogue.
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