...Lo aNd BeHoLd...
On Saturday, we went to the nearby town of Dachau. Escorted by an old lady guide, we surveyed the various structures, buildings and lanes within the city that emanate an aura of the ages- about 1200 years to be precise. A small, historic town. I guess at first look, Dachau would appear peaceful, serene and even insignificant compared to the big cities. However, this town has a dark past. A past that it is not proud of. A past arising from the governance of Hitler in Germany.
We visited what is known as a concentration camp. Shall not go into the long elaborate details, but here's a summary all the same- Hitler had the idea of confining all his political opponents so that they would not oppose him when he reigned dominant. A concentration camp was set up to house these 'outlaws'. As time went by, people who committed crimes were also admitted into such concentration camps. Hitler had ideas of a superior and contrastingly inferior race. Soon enough, homosexuals, Gypsies and most prominently, Jews, were admitted into camp.
The conditions in which the people lived are beyond comprehension. Many died of diseases, many died of torture, many died of hunger, many died of pain. Many were 'gased' to death in gas chambers and subsequently cremated in a facility on the camp itself. The Holocaust. The concentration camp inflicted a damp, dull feeling within the most of us. To think that the ground upon which we tread was the same ground where millions had died before their time. The statue erected by the survivors of the atrocious period said it all: Never Again- Meaning to say, the world can never let such an era dawn upon its being ever again.
On a higher note, the second part of the day allowed us further immersion into the German culture. We went to Eyleen's house and the her grandmother's house to experience the living conditions of present day Germans. After the visit, we headed down to her church for a campfire. It was great fun. All of us huddled around the fire and sang camp-fire songs. Guo Chuan even serenated everyone with his exceptional guitar playing skills.
Here are some pictures:
...AnGeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe...
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