Death Camp

We reserved the whole of Sunday to visit Auschwitz, the biggest Nazi concentration camp in Europe. This is a famous historical place filled with so much terror, tragic, disheartening, dreadful and remorse. Originally established in 1940 for the Polish political prisoners and extermination site. Beginning 1940 under the German occupation, the Nazis began to deport people from all over Europe to the camp, mainly Jews. Ghettos were built all over Europe to house the Jews and later transported to Auschwitz camp for extermination. The genocide of Jews was termed as "The Holocaust", what the Nazis hailed as the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question". As much as 1.6million people had died in Auschwitz from 1940 to 1945 and 90% of them were European Jews. The entire site consists of 3 main camps. Auschwitz I was the original concentration camp, death site to mostly Polish and prisoners of War and later served as the administrative center. As the number of inmates increased, the second camp constructed was called Auschwitz II - Birkenau, an extermination camp (a gigantic factory of death) where mostly Jews were killed. The 3rd camp Auschwitz III - Monowice served as a labour camp. The camps of Auschwitz I and II were maintained as museums open to the public till today...

I am actually glad to visit this place coz I got to know and understand a lot more European history which was never really taught in school. Made me to start questioning WTF did they taught me in school??? I dont recall in depth studies of European histories, wars and etc. They were merely a few paragraphs of short description of the events. I must dig up old history text books to look through them and see what they teach these days to the kids in M'sia. Do they cover world history??? This 3hr tour around Auschwitz brought a lot of knowledge and tragic incidents and horrifying events.

The Jews kept in ghettos all around Europe were transported to Auschwitz. They were placed inside train containers, given no food and water and just a small ledge for Air, which was not good enough. Train rides back then were long, some as far as Paris which took days to reach Auschwitz. They never knew about the extermination awaiting them. They were lead to believe a better life in Auschwitz, the place to house all Jews. Most carried with them their precious belongings, jewelries, cash and valuables. Those who couldn’t survive the harsh conditions on the train journey died along the way. Imagine 10days in the train, with no food and water and even sharing the same place where you sleep and shit….Ugghhh…

Immediately arriving at Auschwitz, they were separated between males and women+children. Their personal belongings were to be left on board. Then the process of selection begins where the doctors and SS commanders would hand picked those fit to work and not. You couldn’t look fit or healthy having gone through the train living conditions for days. Most were lead to Death-Row. Children was selected and sent to barracks where they were treated as guinea-pigs for horrific experiment testings. Death-row ones were escorted and marched to a section of the camp where they will be showered and cleaned in chambers. Of course instead of water, the shower heads released toxic gas to kill all the Jews…that’s like hours upon arrival and DEAD!!! These gas chambers were constructed for mass killings with a furnace at the side to burn off all the bodies immediately. Hmmm…sometimes I wonder why the Nazis took so much trouble to transport them all the way here and kill them in gas chambers…why didn’t they just Blow Up the Trains??? Or a shooting spree inside the train…hehe…EviL Thoughts!!!!

Anyway I like the tour though the guide was very monotonous. I suppose it was her English. Part of the visit gave some tragic and eerie feelings when we walked in. Especially in the underground cell where it was cold and dark. Also because it was so hot (32deg), I could smell the decompose stench in the air. I dunno if it’s me or just the nature of the place??? But could be, after having millions of people died here…Disgusting!!! The museum displayed a lot memorable pictures illustrating incidents and events took place in the Auschwitz camps. Till today, the museum still store the personal belongings of these exterminated Jews (those left on the train) like clothes, shoes, suitcases, plates, combs and even Hair!!! The Jew’s hairs were removed to be kept for material processing. Carpets were made using the hair back then. Even gold teeth were pulled off from the dead....

Left Auschwitz about 5pm. Reached Krakow Main Railway station, bought train tix to Warsaw the same evening. Got into some trouble purchasing tickets as the train was full and the cashier refuse to sell to us. A really kind lady helped us to buy the tickets but we would have to stand. No choice...this is the last train to Warsaw and we have our accommodation booked. So stand lorr....for 2hrs 45mins....Sigh!!!! Didnt do much in Warsaw that night, we were all so Tired!!!!

To Auschwitz...Very Old SKool Train

Entrance to Auschwitz I

All Ghettos to Auschwitz

Perimeter Fencing

Inside

Used Zyklon B (Toxic Gas)

Their Collection of Jews' Hair

Auschwitz II - Birkenau Plan

Main Entrance TowerTrain into Birkenau CampThe BarracksToilet: Said to be Really Dirty...Infested with Rats!!!

Sleeping Area: The Better Ones

Floor covered with clothes to keep Warm

More Barracks

Sleeping Area: This is WorstGas ChamberMemorialTrain to Warsaw and Dinner KFC!Cant wait for the Bed

I suppose the photos taken and posted here didnt really reflect the Tragic Event in Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. Those who have read or learnt about this would understand. Anyway do look at Google Images on this....Interesting!! Click here for Auschwitz Images and Holocaust Images.

Krakow, Poland

This was nearly 2 weeks ago. Didnt have time to blog abt this short weekend trip to Poland, visiting Krakow and Warsaw. Best part of living in Cork is getting to fly directly to Poland. The second biggest community in Ireland after the Irish is Polish. Somehow, direct flights have been made available to the big citites of Poland...covering Krakow, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Gdansk. Plus these would be cheap frill flights. so WTF happen to flying to other parts of Europe??? Isn't there a demand or even the slightest desire to visit other parts of Europe??? Like Andalucia, Greece, Germany, Austria and so much more. Flight services in Cork needs alot more improvement. New airport but no new flight routes...most routes are via Dublin or London... Come On!!!!

Anyway back to my trip, flew out of Cork on Saturday morning 2am ($%&£@#...). I suppose that's why its so cheap. Reached Krakow airport at 6am...managed 3hrs sleep on board and an uncomfortable one. Worst...got into trouble with the Polish immigration officer. He was suspicious, suspecting i might live on illegally in Poland. Showed him my passport, my Irish work permit, all my tourist visas, my bankcard, creditcard, return ticket. Nothing more I could produce to convince him I am just a tourist. For F*** sake... i dont speak Polish and half the time we didnt understand each other...Christ!!! I stood there and waited since I have alot of Time coz my frens only arrive at 9.30am. Lets see who can wait longer....and after 20mins i was cleared. Totally frustrating....seems to me foreign tourist are not so welcome. But there's this big ass Boeing Air China parked outside.....WTF???? Screw you....

Found myself a nice long bench to take a short nap. Woke up at 9 (just nice) to this Polish dude next to me who was already drinking Beer and with A bag full....Gosh!!! Being nice, spoke to him abit and later knew he was flying to Shannon. HaH...for all I know that's the perfect place for you. You can drink all you want in Ireland...Hehe!!! Waited a long time for my frens. They were also stucked at the immigration. I guess its not lone-travelling, its the officers... WTF!!! We were complaining when we met. Wasting no time, took the cab to check into our apt. Went straight to Krakow city centre to walk around. Not very scenic, pretty nor spectacular but very busy and happening. Lots of people everywhere and rows after rows of al-fresco cafes. Very people-watching city...hehe!!! Had lunch in a local. The weather was not good. Started raining and I mean big drops of rain. Had to hide out for awhile. Plus its hot and slightly humid...temp 32degrees!!! Ugghh.....

Took the public bus to Wieliczka to visit the Salt Mine, one of the world's oldest operating salt mine. Very interesting visit!!! First time experience to an underground salt mine and getting to know how the process was carried out plus life and working condition underground. Not easy!!! There are even deep pools of water underground...so salty that you can float in it. Miners cannot afford to overturn when using the water, it will cause them their life. The chapel created inside the mine was spectacular. Everything was carved out from rocks of salt. Truly impressive!!!Even the chandeliers were made from pure salt crystals. No metals were used to built the mine due to corrosive environment. And timbers are more effective in a salty environment...actually enhances timber life and improves durability. People were already so smart back in the old days. Took 3hrs to finish the tour then went back to central city for more sightseeing. Then dinner, I thought Polish food is really good. I love their sour soup, bigos and all meat dishes!! Mostly huge portion but really appetitising....I ate so much!!!!

Krakow Old Town: Main Square Lunch TimeMeat DumplingsHomemade Lard with Bread...Damn GooD!!!See how Deep It isSalted Walls...Mmm...Horses Used to Live Down HereWater SourceThe Chapel The Last SupperMore CarvingsUnderground Salt Pool: Look at the rim of Salt

SnacktimeSalami with Pickes Chicken Schnitzel wif Sauerkraut More Sightseeing: Jewish QuartersWawel CastleDrinks at Al FrescoDinnertime: Sour sOupBigos with Bread