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96. Modern Travel | 時下夯旅遊

Modern Travel

– Musings of Dr. Jamie Hsu, 11.10.2019

Ijust returned from a 14-day trip in Europe and experienced two drastically different ways of modern travel: by riverboat and by airplane. The contrast was astonishing and interesting.

During the river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest, it took 13 days to navigate a distance of 1400 km.  As we traveled along the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers, we went through more than 70 locks and dams, and we probably saw an equivalent number of castles and churches. It was a slow and very relaxing journey which gave us plenty of time to tour the countries and soak in the local culture. I wonder how people centuries ago used these waterways to carry out their commerce, daily lives, and even a lot of wars.

Through this long and slow cruise, I got a much better appreciation of how rivers were the lifelines of migration and civilization. Of course, our journey was very different. We were pampered by the modern convenience and hospitality of the cruise organizers. Maybe lives were like this for the lords, bishops, and knights of those ancient days.

After the cruise ended at Budapest, we took a plane to fly back to Amsterdam. It took us less than 3 hours to complete this return journey, through hustled airports and in a jam-packed plane. Other than a tiny movie screen and a cold sandwich, we had no scenery, no elbow room, and no catered food. I was glad it was over in only a few hours.

The two ways of travel were so different. In the riverboat, everything was at a slower pace, allowing us to soak in the environment and get to know our fellow passengers.  In the airplane, we tried to block out the crowded surroundings by burying ourselves in our screens or by napping, without even acknowledging the neighboring passengers.  I wonder which is the more modern and civilized way of traveling.

Life is similar; we experience both fast-paced and leisurely journeys. Let’s do our best to master and enjoy both.

時下夯旅遊

-作者 許俊宸博士

-中譯 薛乃綺

            我剛剛從14天的歐洲旅遊回來,體驗了時下兩種迥然不同的旅遊方式─河輪旅遊及航空旅遊。兩相比照真的是挺有趣的。

            從阿姆斯特丹到布達佩斯的河輪旅遊花了13天,體驗萊茵河、美因河、以及藍色多瑙河畔長達1400公里的美景。我們上上下下在河上穿越了70多個水壩和水闸,看到了也差不多同样数目的城堡和教堂。這是一段非常緩慢且輕鬆的旅程,讓我們有足夠的時間遊覽並且沉浸在當地的文化裡。我很好奇幾世紀前的人們,是如何透過這種水道方式來做生意、過生活、甚至是打仗。

            透過漫長而緩慢的旅遊,我對於河流如何成為人們遷徙和文明的命脈有了更多的瞭解。當然,我們的旅程是非常特別的。河輪經營者所提供的現代化便利,以及悉心款待,讓我們被照顧的無微不至。也許在古代時候的領主、主教或騎士們,過的就是這樣的生活。

            河輪的行程在布達佩斯那邊結束,然後我們搭乘飛機返回阿姆斯特丹。我們花不到3個小時,就在繁華的機場以及擁擠人潮的飛機上完成了回程。除了一個小小的電視螢幕、一塊冷的三明治外,沒有風景、沒有餐盒、甚至連要張開手肘的地方都嫌狹隘。幸好只有幾個小時就到了。

            這兩種旅程是如此的不同。在河輪上,所有事物都是徐步緩慢進行,讓大家能夠融入環境,並且認識周遭的人。在飛機上,大家試著阻擋周遭擁擠的環境,不是看電視打發時間、就是闔眼睡個覺,更不可能去認識周遭的旅客。不曉得哪種方式算得上是更現代、更文明的旅遊方式。

            人生也是如此。我們都會經歷快節奏、跟步調慢的兩種截然不同的方式。希望大家都能盡力掌控並且享受這兩種不同的旅程。