別看題便以為這期會介紹手袋。其實筆者在最近的長周末到了米蘭一遊,而酒店就是在米蘭中央火車站 (Milano Centrale) 附近。剛過去的兩個月內不停地有親友從各地到訪倫敦,把筆者弄得團團轉,當最後到訪的友人回國以後,於網上看到有很划算的米蘭自由行套餐,二話不說便訂位出發。
這幾年來,曾經到過米蘭兩三次,印象都不是太好,總覺得米蘭就是一個沒有個性的商業化城市,景點不外乎是米蘭大教堂 Duomo di Milano、 其附近的古典購物中心 Corso Vittorio Emanuele 和不遠的舊城堡 Castello Sforzesco. 可是2015年的世界博覽會難得地在意大利舉行,地點位於米蘭市西北部的 Rho 區,所以縱使對米蘭印象欠佳也得去看看吧。
米蘭世博由五月初開幕,至十月尾閉幕。這屆有一百四十個國家、多個參展商和慈善機構參與,大部分國家和參展商有其獨立展覽館。這屆世博的題目為「養活地球,生命能源」(Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life), 所以除了參展國與參展商以外,還有數個由主辦單位設置、圍繞主題的展覽館,例如關於蔬果、稻米、香料等。而主辦國意大利的場館就在中央,分開為主場館和數個不同主題的小場館,還有人工湖、巨型音樂噴泉和表演場地等。
由於筆者到場參觀那天是暑假完結前的最後一個星期天,遊人多極了。早上十時遊人便魚貫進場,很快地不少熱門的展館門外已見人龍。到場參觀的人大多是意大利本土遊客,也有不少來自歐洲各地的遊客。在短短一天內要看畢所有場館是沒可能的事,而且由展覽場地一端往另一端足足三公里有多,所以筆者只能參觀了十來個展覽館。
在云云展覽館中給筆者留下最深印象的是德國展覽館。德國館外整天也有人龍,烈日當空,排了差不多一小時才抵達龍頭。排隊時工作人員詢問每位參觀者會說的語言,然後派發一塊紙板,初時大家也一頭霧水。參觀者分批進場後先看介紹紙板的用途的短片。原來紙板上有數個感應貼紙,而場內有不少展覽是用短片形式介紹,當參觀者把紙板平放在投射機下,紙板便搖身一變成為平板電腦,只要把紙板向左或右傾側,人們便可隨自己喜好選擇看哪短片。筆者的紙板為英語紙板,所以所有短片也是英語播放。
除了用科技令參觀者更加投入,德國館內的展覽也十分貼題。有介紹德國農業如何引進新科技來生產更多食物和减廢,亦介紹了一些德國農民與科學家如何保護瀕臨絕種邊緣的蔬果和重新種植古代蔬果品種。亦有展覽是喚醒大家如何能盡地球人的責任去保護地球,減少浪費不必要資源,例如城市人如何利用極少的空間去種植一些沙律菜。
本來很想參觀一些亞洲國家的展館,如中國、日本、越南等,但日本館的輪候時間高峰時達兩小時,根本沒可能花那麼多時間排隊,只好放棄。雖然世博場館關門時間為晚上十一時,但不少展館在傍晚七時便陸續關門,當筆者終於有空走到中國館已吃閉門羹。晚上遊人是疏落了一點,但只能參觀那些還沒有關門的展館,幸好也有意外驚喜,例如阿塞拜疆展館。在阿塞拜疆展館內學到原來這個位於歐亞兩地的前蘇聯小國,除了有豐富石油和天然氣資源,原來不但不用依賴進口食品,其食物產量還足夠出口呢。
走了一整天,在關門前半小時,筆者拖着極度疲乏的身軀離開世博場地,和眾多遊人一樣乘搭地鐵回市中心。回到米蘭站已差不多半夜,幸而米蘭中央站附近是商業區,不像一般歐洲中央火車站那樣龍蛇混雜,走路回酒店也只是五分鐘路程,回房間後洗個澡便呼呼入睡。
這幾年來,曾經到過米蘭兩三次,印象都不是太好,總覺得米蘭就是一個沒有個性的商業化城市,景點不外乎是米蘭大教堂 Duomo di Milano、 其附近的古典購物中心 Corso Vittorio Emanuele 和不遠的舊城堡 Castello Sforzesco. 可是2015年的世界博覽會難得地在意大利舉行,地點位於米蘭市西北部的 Rho 區,所以縱使對米蘭印象欠佳也得去看看吧。
米蘭世博由五月初開幕,至十月尾閉幕。這屆有一百四十個國家、多個參展商和慈善機構參與,大部分國家和參展商有其獨立展覽館。這屆世博的題目為「養活地球,生命能源」(Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life), 所以除了參展國與參展商以外,還有數個由主辦單位設置、圍繞主題的展覽館,例如關於蔬果、稻米、香料等。而主辦國意大利的場館就在中央,分開為主場館和數個不同主題的小場館,還有人工湖、巨型音樂噴泉和表演場地等。
由於筆者到場參觀那天是暑假完結前的最後一個星期天,遊人多極了。早上十時遊人便魚貫進場,很快地不少熱門的展館門外已見人龍。到場參觀的人大多是意大利本土遊客,也有不少來自歐洲各地的遊客。在短短一天內要看畢所有場館是沒可能的事,而且由展覽場地一端往另一端足足三公里有多,所以筆者只能參觀了十來個展覽館。
在云云展覽館中給筆者留下最深印象的是德國展覽館。德國館外整天也有人龍,烈日當空,排了差不多一小時才抵達龍頭。排隊時工作人員詢問每位參觀者會說的語言,然後派發一塊紙板,初時大家也一頭霧水。參觀者分批進場後先看介紹紙板的用途的短片。原來紙板上有數個感應貼紙,而場內有不少展覽是用短片形式介紹,當參觀者把紙板平放在投射機下,紙板便搖身一變成為平板電腦,只要把紙板向左或右傾側,人們便可隨自己喜好選擇看哪短片。筆者的紙板為英語紙板,所以所有短片也是英語播放。
除了用科技令參觀者更加投入,德國館內的展覽也十分貼題。有介紹德國農業如何引進新科技來生產更多食物和减廢,亦介紹了一些德國農民與科學家如何保護瀕臨絕種邊緣的蔬果和重新種植古代蔬果品種。亦有展覽是喚醒大家如何能盡地球人的責任去保護地球,減少浪費不必要資源,例如城市人如何利用極少的空間去種植一些沙律菜。
本來很想參觀一些亞洲國家的展館,如中國、日本、越南等,但日本館的輪候時間高峰時達兩小時,根本沒可能花那麼多時間排隊,只好放棄。雖然世博場館關門時間為晚上十一時,但不少展館在傍晚七時便陸續關門,當筆者終於有空走到中國館已吃閉門羹。晚上遊人是疏落了一點,但只能參觀那些還沒有關門的展館,幸好也有意外驚喜,例如阿塞拜疆展館。在阿塞拜疆展館內學到原來這個位於歐亞兩地的前蘇聯小國,除了有豐富石油和天然氣資源,原來不但不用依賴進口食品,其食物產量還足夠出口呢。
走了一整天,在關門前半小時,筆者拖着極度疲乏的身軀離開世博場地,和眾多遊人一樣乘搭地鐵回市中心。回到米蘭站已差不多半夜,幸而米蘭中央站附近是商業區,不像一般歐洲中央火車站那樣龍蛇混雜,走路回酒店也只是五分鐘路程,回房間後洗個澡便呼呼入睡。
A string of visitors came to visit over summer, so I was flat out hosting and showing friends and family around London. When the last of my summer visitors finally left, there was a sudden void to fill - a bank holiday with nothing planned. Scouring the web I managed to find a bargain last minute deal to Milan and booked it without thinking twice. Being a last minute deal there wasn't a lot of flights to choose from, so I had to fly into Milan Linate Airport and fly out of Milan Malpensa Airport. To make life easier, I picked a hotel near Milano Centrale station, as there are direct shuttle buses to/from both airports.
I have been to Milan several times, but never rated the city highly as it gives an impression of being a dull soulless industrial city with very few interesting sights. However, as the 2015 World Expo is being held in Rho, a northwestern suburb in Milan, the spontaneous trip was definitely an opportunity to rediscover this city, and boy am I glad that I did go.
Milan World Expo has "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life" as its core theme. This year, some 140 countries, a dozen of so multinationals and handful of charities participate in the expo. Most countries have erected impressive pavilions to show off what they have achieved to feed an ever-growing population and plans for the future. There are also pavilions set up by the host country on several food staples such as vegetables, cereals and tubers etc. The host Italy has several pavilions devoted its produce, and in addition there is an arena for performances.
The Expo site is absolutely massive, measuring some 3km from one end to the other. With so many pavilions and ten of thousands of people visiting a day, it is impossible to see everything in just one day. The day I visited was especially crowded as it was the weekend before school resumes, so I only managed to visit about a dozen pavilions. Even though I arrived at the expo site right at opening time at 10am, it was already packed and there were queues everywhere.
Of all the pavilions I visited, the one which made the most impression on me is the German Pavillion. While queueing staff ask each visitor the language they speak, and each is given a foldable cardboard. Everyone was baffled at first, but it soon became clear when we made our way in and were shown a short video on how to use the "seedboard" (that's what they call it). There are several sensor stickers on each seedboard, and when held under a computerised projector, the board instantly becomes a little tablet that plays videos. Inside the pavilion there are many projectors near each display, by holding the seedboard and tilting it, one can choose which video to play. The best thing is, each person has control of what to watch, and in the right language!
Another reason why I enjoyed the German pavilion is because I felt they really have fulfilled the brief of showcasing what they have done or are doing to feed the planet, reduce waste and providing energy all at the same time. One learns about what scientists, botanists and even farmers are doing to help preserve old species of plants for future generations. Also, they have set up displays on how city dwellers can utilise even the smallest of spaces to grow their own vegetables.
Even though I was keen on visiting some pavilions by Asian countries such as China and Vietnam (as they look pretty spectacular from the outside), time was not on my side. Some pavilions have queues up to two hours, and by dust many pavilions start to shut for the day despite the expo having a closing time of 11pm. By early evening I was struggling to find ones which were still open. A little pleasant surprise was the Azerbaijani pavilion, not only was it still open, it was actually quite interesting! I suppose not many people have been to this little ex-Soviet country which lies right between Asia and Europe. So it's good to learn that not only is this country oil and gas rich, but because of its geographical location, it has all sorts of landscapes that they are able to produce a wide variety of produce. Not only do they not have to rely on food imports, in fact they are increasing their food exports year on year.
Just shortly before closing time, I slowly made my way out of the expo with thousands of fellow visitors. Everyone was tired from the heat and all the walking, and the metro journey back to Centrale station seemed to take forever when it actually only took about 35 minutes. After getting back to the hotel I jumped into the bath for a good soak and hopped into bed straight after. It was definitely a memorable and fruitful day.
I have been to Milan several times, but never rated the city highly as it gives an impression of being a dull soulless industrial city with very few interesting sights. However, as the 2015 World Expo is being held in Rho, a northwestern suburb in Milan, the spontaneous trip was definitely an opportunity to rediscover this city, and boy am I glad that I did go.
Milan World Expo has "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life" as its core theme. This year, some 140 countries, a dozen of so multinationals and handful of charities participate in the expo. Most countries have erected impressive pavilions to show off what they have achieved to feed an ever-growing population and plans for the future. There are also pavilions set up by the host country on several food staples such as vegetables, cereals and tubers etc. The host Italy has several pavilions devoted its produce, and in addition there is an arena for performances.
The Expo site is absolutely massive, measuring some 3km from one end to the other. With so many pavilions and ten of thousands of people visiting a day, it is impossible to see everything in just one day. The day I visited was especially crowded as it was the weekend before school resumes, so I only managed to visit about a dozen pavilions. Even though I arrived at the expo site right at opening time at 10am, it was already packed and there were queues everywhere.
Of all the pavilions I visited, the one which made the most impression on me is the German Pavillion. While queueing staff ask each visitor the language they speak, and each is given a foldable cardboard. Everyone was baffled at first, but it soon became clear when we made our way in and were shown a short video on how to use the "seedboard" (that's what they call it). There are several sensor stickers on each seedboard, and when held under a computerised projector, the board instantly becomes a little tablet that plays videos. Inside the pavilion there are many projectors near each display, by holding the seedboard and tilting it, one can choose which video to play. The best thing is, each person has control of what to watch, and in the right language!
Another reason why I enjoyed the German pavilion is because I felt they really have fulfilled the brief of showcasing what they have done or are doing to feed the planet, reduce waste and providing energy all at the same time. One learns about what scientists, botanists and even farmers are doing to help preserve old species of plants for future generations. Also, they have set up displays on how city dwellers can utilise even the smallest of spaces to grow their own vegetables.
Even though I was keen on visiting some pavilions by Asian countries such as China and Vietnam (as they look pretty spectacular from the outside), time was not on my side. Some pavilions have queues up to two hours, and by dust many pavilions start to shut for the day despite the expo having a closing time of 11pm. By early evening I was struggling to find ones which were still open. A little pleasant surprise was the Azerbaijani pavilion, not only was it still open, it was actually quite interesting! I suppose not many people have been to this little ex-Soviet country which lies right between Asia and Europe. So it's good to learn that not only is this country oil and gas rich, but because of its geographical location, it has all sorts of landscapes that they are able to produce a wide variety of produce. Not only do they not have to rely on food imports, in fact they are increasing their food exports year on year.
Just shortly before closing time, I slowly made my way out of the expo with thousands of fellow visitors. Everyone was tired from the heat and all the walking, and the metro journey back to Centrale station seemed to take forever when it actually only took about 35 minutes. After getting back to the hotel I jumped into the bath for a good soak and hopped into bed straight after. It was definitely a memorable and fruitful day.