train journeys

VIDEO

2006-04-10T18:26:00.001+02:00

this is a short clip i made with text from the passenger/contributors overlapped over footage of the train, with audio from one of the train journey stories.

30.03.2006 [midnight hours special]

2006-03-31T15:00:00.000+02:00

a tiny dwarf chasing a rabbit
the tiny dwarf is not that fast
so he get his shotgun and shot the rabbit in his head
then he got on a train back home
to Amsterdam, via Tootring, Liverpool Street,
Stanstead, Warwick before finally arriving in
den Haag Centraal!!
02:00 and still on my way home. I was expecting to be home
much earlier.
My friends were already waiting for me in the Monza, a nightclub
in Utrecht.
Can't wait to get there, have a couple of drinks and dance the night away
Might go on an on even if I am the only one.
And then home
Finding Sara Homes
Dreaming her all the way to Maputo, Mozambique.
Where's the boat, she would ask
I haven't got the slightest idea, but...
I'm wondering if trouble's on it's way with the
giant crab
I'm wondering if trouble is on it's way with the giant crab

25.03.2006

2006-03-26T12:37:00.000+02:00

in to a mass of chaotic relations & ambition
he started to feel good about the job
after a few days he contacted the company
he told his supervisor that his wife died but her
death wasn't natural. He told his supervisor that
he thought that his wife had an affair
she was nearly every weekend away
she didn't tell him where she was
isn't life a great mystery?
of course it is; that's what makes life
interesting, worth living and fascinating.
this journey, for instance, is one big mystery...
human life is the biggest mystery.
we are born, we live, we die and we
go out of control

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for years and finally were fed up with trains and
stories of a lot of people.
all those lives and stories on public transport
are not all connected. they differ from each other and the
people behind these stories don't know each other. still, i believe
that there must be some kind of coherence, something that keeps them together.
otherwise she was doomed to travel alone. we ran to
the train, the conductor blew on his whistle. she was
just on time, he missed it. what do we have to do now??
as peter was left behind we decided to get off the train.
at this station we called him by public phone to meet there.
half an hour later we fortunately were recruited for our trip!
with the whole family we went to
keukenhof, we loved the tulips and
the daffodils. later we had a lunch

-----------------------------------------------------

to be looked at and never touched, felt, or tasted
but were going to change that! today! at the moment
we're on our way to a nice cafe in lovely utrecht
this is what the beautiful papua woman in front of
me is up to. in an hour she will have an interview
about her hometown new guinea papua. her roots
was in africa, but during her life she already had seen
many countries, she had travelled through australia, america, and
asia, but the most beautiful country was south-africa, where wildlife
is one of the most important features. the reason i didn't
go there for my internship was the safety. i do hope that
in the future all the people will be treated the same.
but some people need different treatment,
for example stand up for elderly people in the train
and always keep a door open for a lady

23.03.2006

2006-03-24T02:57:00.000+01:00

which makes him look like an indoctrinated evangelist
his mother always thought, he's misunderstood.
all she could see, was a little sad boy without friends.
why don't you have any friends asked she
the boy went on sobbing and shrugged...
'i don't know i can't read people's minds'
so i wondered who does... well, whatever. It's too late and I'm too tired
to think about stuff like that. What I'm really interested in, right now, is
going to bed and see what happens tonight. I hope I'll have sweet dreams!
you dream that you are traveling in a train, and a girl asks you
to write a part of a story. And you write
so the girl likes to travel by train to meet a stranger in the night
and she wonders where the f*ck is her wallet?
because how is she supposed to pay the train without any cash
and how will I ever reach my destination

-----------------------------------------------------

which makes him look like an indoctrinated evangelist
Although he kept his own characteristics
He started to behave in accordance with the rules applied
so he got a normal life, and he starts working at the
Royal Navy Marine Corps and became a Drill Sergeant
But because of the characteristics he needed for the job he got
a thorough examination from various psychiatrists who
diagnosed him as a potentially obese fashion victim.
Although he kept stating that he never cared for aesthetics.
But I do. Tonight I have made with a group of people
a plan for an animal friendly garden
we planned beautiful flowers for butterflies, trees for birds
lakes and rivers for fish and nice cottages for people to live in
as we grew weary of city life. We had been commuting
for years and finally were fed up with trains and

22.03.2006

2006-03-23T13:44:00.000+01:00

Be a true individual
but is anybody really an individual?
are we not just All the same?
As we all long for the same things in life
To be young, loved and able to buy stuff
We are nothing but consumers of oxygen.
Although there are a lot of people who
do not share that opinion, serious and
knowledgeable do. Oxygen is all there is
on this planet on the other side of the solar system. So the creatures living
on this planet had to adapt to a life without food or drinks.
They had to import these things from neighbouring planets.
Because of the intergalactic tax, the thing cost more than
anyone could afford. They had to be put in museums only
to be looked at and never touched, felt, or tasted

-----------------------------------------------------

a deadly grin, then offer you some Mini BIFIS, you accept
You don't really know what Mini BIFIS are, but you open your hands
and wait with baited breath for what is to come. She opens her
forgotten cabinet of memories and realises that ex-
periences, persons and feelings that she hasn't thought
of in years, all of a sudden come up. Does it have to do with
the pink bunny that popped up out of my hat? That
sure was a funny experience! Anyway, I better continue
what I was doing because otherwise I'll be far too late.
And that would be a real shame, because of all the
people in the room has one in there hand to
get busy with. But the trick that they pult was
very simple. The coin had to be round and licht.
So that it would be easy to carry it with him.
He looked outside the window and saw
a tiny dwarf chasing a rabbit

21.03.2006

2006-03-23T09:54:00.000+01:00

Be a true individual
I'm going to my friend tonight
it will be fun
Betting here and cooking dinner
I'm really excited going on vacation next week
After dinner tonight, I'll pack my backpack AGAIN!
Than I get on the train and go to a long trip
I want to see something new. I'm kind of bored here.
can't wait for all the new excitement that I'll go through.
Especially this night. On this train. Opposite of this woman.
Looking at the left pink sock and the right red one.
Wonder what happens in the next tunnel - here in Holland.
It's not like they have the real tunnels, because they go
underground or under bridge and not through mountains
like the real tunnels in Austria. Something always happens there

-----------------------------------------------------

which makes him look like an indoctrinated evangelist
that brings his vacuum cleaner in the train,
a train, thus, full of mystery, ready for
a lawyer, like me, preparing the case due for tomorrow
forgetting time and place, missing her station
but that's alright, because when she reaches the next station, unexpectedly...
bad for me is this the first time i am going
with the train. i find it really scary bad i
am going to the biggest station in the Netherlands i think...
That was what he was thinking of, but she never
realised that the train
had to stop. At the same time a woman decided
to park her bicycle very close to a small building.
Here she saw a porthole, that went to another world. A
world of forces & flows, where ones body was free from all
inertia. 'mmm' she thought 'no fuck it' I love it here on
earth where there is punky sluts, amphetamines & beer
I'm staying right here, even though I'm disintegrating
in to a mass of chaotic relations & ambition

16.03.2006

2006-03-16T16:17:00.000+01:00

at the end you always loose
but then, you look around
and when never expected...
Too much in life and always thing positive,
aim high, work towards your aim to achieve
what your aim and remember to set up your priorities.
Thinking whether to go study or
to put time in one of all your other projects.
Like having a drink with your friends or go work
and when you go home you sit in the train
thinking about your busy day and then you just start
talking to the nice person who sits next to you
who just so happens to be the infamous "Monster of Dusseldorf".
Renowned for their calculating murderous ways. They smile
a deadly grin, then offer you some Mini BIFIS, you accept.

-----------------------------------------------------

at the end you always loose
in this uncivilised capitalism.
So what we need is to civilise the capitalist system in order to
have a nice conversation with Mr. Bush.
Maybe we can talk about terrorism or
should we consider more important subjects like annoying
people with mobile phones. No, lets not complain. I like sleeping
in the train. It's funny how people around you start sleeping as well.
On the faces you can see what they are dreaming.
Some had a nightmare. They are
sweating and look afraid. What's wrong?!?
Oh no, the train is going so fast! Does it stop in time.
I've got to get to the next station.
Will the train stop or is it just getting farther?

15.03.2006

2006-03-16T00:39:00.000+01:00

This train tonight is empty, it's pretty boring, but
when I look out of the window it's beautiful, especially
when it's dark. I think I love the dark
But when the full moon floats
in the dark night the world
gleams in that mysterious light.
In that light I see myself. It is
a "me" that I have never seen before.
It frightens me and at the same time
I realise that I couldn't escape. There was only
one thing that I can do and that was
going back and face it.
My emotions were all mixed up
so I ran away as fast as I could
Driver! I shouted, it's you and me tonight*.

-----------------------------------------------------
*last line by Leonard Cohen

09.03.2006

2006-03-10T01:01:00.000+01:00

"Is it lack of imagination that makes us come
to imagined places,
not just stay at home?"*
I don't love to stay at home so I go out.
I love to go to the clubs and watch a movie.
I'm a very happy person and love to go out.
So aren't we all these days? Maybe
not so relevant. I'm driving reverse now
and I really love to go reverse.
That's why I always travel with
the train when you travel by plane
you need to travel with your head foreward. That's not fun.
Straight going to the place to be!
Otherwise you're going to lose me!

*Questions of Travel by Elizabeth Bishop

08.03.2006

2006-03-10T00:34:00.000+01:00

"It was time for us to move on.
Our money was now running quite low.
We lugged our wretched baggage through the station."*
It was so old and used we had to watch nothing would fall out
otherwise we'd be in real big trouble.
Jennifer was already complaining of hunger.
She wondered how long they could keep on walking.
In two hours the sun would be high on the horizon.
By then, they would have to find some way to hide from the sun.
But it was almost impossible, and they were running
out of time. They also hadn't much water and energy left
so they had to make a plan to hide from the sun.
and they searched for a banana tree to collect
the leaves of the tree and use them as an umbrella.
But unfortunately they couldn't find an appropriate tree, so they
came together and had a meeting. The leader said:
"the youngest of the group should pick a tree". After
choosing the kick off was made of a great tree-house. On the
other hand a tree house really sounded well. Sitting
in a high old oak would be nice. Better than
sitting wet in a crowded train. It would be so nice
to be able to come to my work with my car
I wish that I hadn't take that job
If I hadn't I would probably be very happy.
But then I realised, having done it, I'd better learn to cope.
So I went to see a couple of people.
i had been told they had suffered similar problems.
My problem is that I'm tired.
I like to sit in my chair with a bottle of wine.
I like to dream about the future.
Sustainability is life.
Together Everybody Achieve Work = TEAM
Nature is the place to be!
But it's raining outside. I don't like this
weather. Can you boy an umbrella for me?
I don't think so!
Why don't you think so!
I think that she is right.
So just get over it.
That's why I made some new plans for the weekend.
First there will be a big party on Friday
and after the hangover on Saturday, I'll prepare a dinner.
I guess I should try to make something fancy
That's usually a good way to impress the crowd
Nothing like a little Jamie Oliver
But nothing like a Big Oliver
Oliver like nothing but the big Jamie
Jamie like nothing but little Oliver
Then Oliver suddenly remembered he had a
champions league match to watch with his friends.
What should he do? Watch the match or go on the date?
To ease his nerves, he went to the fridge for a soda
but the highly spirited sparkled juice did not do the trick this time.
Oh why not, he left his front door and walked to the zoo.
Touring the zoo, he enjoyed the giraffes the most. Walking
around through all the separate areas he was watching
the families with their kids and wondered what would be one day.

-----------------------------------------------------

*On the Road - Jack Kerouac

07.03.2006

2006-03-08T06:54:00.000+01:00

"and as many hours the beauties of traveled sleep
secret passageways opening into misplaced
paradises, I came here to meet you [...]"*
But after all you didnt' show up...
Why? I realise we only met once
But is that a reason not to be here?
But to be there
Away from our loved ones
Who we miss so much
How are you?
Where was you?
I'm glad to see you!
Although the superficial sense of seeing alone,
will not be enough to stick around in my memory.
The hint of a smile, or twinkling of an eye will last much longer.

*On Waking - David Brinks

-----------------------------------------------------

"Is it lack of imagination that makes us come
to imagined places,
not just stay at home?"*
But what's wrong with staying home
Once in a while
What's wrong with staying home?
There is something wrong with it: you will not become inspired.
If you meet strange people. They offer innovative ideas.
What is your contribution with regard to the society?
I need to vote.
Make a movie.
What time will you eat?
I eat this evening at a birthday party at 20:00.
I'm wondering why the boy opposite me was not asked to fill this form...
That's why I give it to him.

*Questions of Travel by Elizabeth Bishop

02.03.2006

2006-03-04T14:10:00.000+01:00

"Is it lack of imagination that makes us come
to imagined places,
not just stay at home?"*
if home is
where we feel at home
why go people travelling?
Because they want to go from A to B
Is travelling by train their favourite option?
It depends on if the NS let their trains depart on time.
If it departs on time, you will get there.
If not, you will stay here and wait on the next.
So tell me what you are going to do?
I'm going to Amsterdam.
There I hope to have a good night sleep.
To be fresh & fruity the next day.

-----------------------------------------------------
*Questions of Travel by Elizabeth Bishop

01.03.2006

2006-03-02T11:09:00.000+01:00

"pinda zat op spoorwegbaan
daar kwam juist een treintje aan
pinda keek niet uit helaas"*
kwam treintje net
niet tegen pinda aan.
Uiteindelijk keek pinda
Heel geschrokken en verbaasd.
Hij wist niet wat er was gebeurd
Hij probeerde te ontdekken wat er precies was.
In zijn gedachten probeerde hij te bedenken
wat er in haar omging op dat moment
stopte de trein en stapte ze uit
ze liep naar de supermarkt om wat
eten te kopen en at het vervolgens op.
toen liep ze verder door de lange straat
Ze was in gedachten verzonken.
Ze was vol van de voorbije 5 dagen.
Hoe hij geen aandacht had voor haar.

28.02.2006

2006-02-28T23:12:00.000+01:00

"[...]En gij stoot overal der dingen oppervlak
een spiegel van uw eenzaamheid
een teller van uw korte reis"*
alleen een beetje moe leuk om te reizen
koud en gezellig in Rotterdam Centraal Station
trein lekker op tijd geen vertraging
ik zit nu in de trein
ik ben te laat
wil nu zo snel mogelijk naar huis
maar het was me wel een dagje hoor
jammer, dat onze liefdes er niet bij waren
leuke mensen gezien en bumpers.
bumpers had degene die dit hierboven heeft geschreven
alle ouders waren weg
gelukkig leek ze zeker

*Het Dorp door Paul van Ostaijen

-----------------------------------------------------

"Is it lack of imagination that makes us come
to imagined places,
not just stay at home?"*
but why would you go home?
if you can't decide in one day
you can't decide!
still dreaming about a car
sleek, agressive, full of power
a car is a car is a car
so that's what he said to me and then I
replied:"Why are you talking about a car when the
only thing I want to know is"...
Why I'm to busy for something to pop-up
Pesei guy a tarda asina pa scibi tres zin
Hoy voy a dormir con mi novio

*Questions of Travel by Elizabeth Bishop

24.02.2006

2006-02-28T22:54:00.000+01:00

"pinda zat op spoorwegbaan
daar kwam juist een treintje aan
pinda keek niet uit helaas"*
nu is hij bij sinterklaas
in het hiernamaals
hoe com in hier weg?
ik verveel me dood!
ik moet eens nieuwe muziek op mijn mp3-speeler zetten!
ik val bijna in slaap!
nog twee stations en dan weer in amsterdam
waar gaan we dan hier?
naar huis!
ik ben op weg naar mijn broer in amsterdam
waar ik samen met mijn zus een kleine familie
reunie hoor te beleven!
elke laatse vrijdag van januari, reunie van de HAVO
op weg naar amsterdam!
mijn vriend is soldaat en gaat 6 maanden naar bosnie :(

16.02.2005

2006-02-17T01:33:00.000+01:00

"Is it lack of imagination that makes us come
to imagined places,
not just stay at home?"*
Traveling in space
go to the beach
have a baby
Eat lots of meat
don't ever be satisfied
Do what you fear.
Or act like you dare to do it
Try to listen to your thoughts
Do what you like to do!
Write love songs for your own heart
Sing it to me
Sing it to me.

-----------------------------------------------------

"Is it lack of imagination that makes us come
to imagined places,
not just stay at home?"*
Why go to the bookstore?
I'm on my way to Amsterdam
2 days later she showed me the picture
I didn't expect this. I frightened me,
because now it was clear I didn't know who she really was.
I asked her if she could tell me who she really was.
She said 'it does not matter'.
I did not agree
who she was and what she trying to tell me?
I just couldn't really understand. She was
speaking loud and clear to me and i'm
sure her pronounciation was ok. She was speaking words but no language.

-----------------------------------------------------
*Questions of Travel by Elizabeth Bishop

[15.02] rotterdam-amsterdam evening rush hour...

2006-02-15T23:34:00.000+01:00

Driver! I shouted, it's you and me tonight
let's run away from this big city
to a smaller city more suitable to the heart*,
where I can be myself
and shout when i want to
to a city with more space and kindness
where we can be free
to live life to the fullest
is to live life at its best
not a life's motto for the majority of people
that is, judging by the faces of the passengers in this train
a pretty extraordinary and amazing happening.
Over here, a man i studying his Bible
which makes him look like an indoctrinated evangelist.

-----------------------------------------------------

Driver! I shouted, it's you and me tonight
let's run away from this big city
to a smaller city more suitable to the heart,
cause it's true what they say,
size does matter!
to a place where everybody knows your name...
is what the old man kindly said
even though we both realized
that we would have to face a lot of problems getting there
every day is a day
open open open
grow or go
go with the flow
or go your own way.
Be a true individual.

-----------------------------------------------------

Driver! I shouted, it's you and me tonight
let's run away from this big city
to a smaller city more suitable to the heart,
where we can settle down for a while,
and then might discover
the true meaning of life.
And when we've found it,
not a second sooner,
everything we wanted will be ours.
ALL We Desire We Shall Take
With Might, Tactic or Thievery.
Neither strength nor tactic minds can save you
The more power we gain the more you suffer
At the end you loose.

-----------------------------------------------------
*first three lines by Leonard Cohen