As the landscapes of Lithuania rolled past, a song echoed in our car—verses from Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s poetry, specifically from the legendary tale of Momal Rano
By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden
Lights, Legends, and Last Goodbyes: Vilnius to Kaunas
Monuments and Memories by the Cathedral Square
Outside the Vilnius Cathedral, in its expansive square, stood the equestrian statue of Grand Duke Gediminas, one of Lithuania’s most iconic figures. Close by was the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.
We descended to its lower level, where there were some archaeological remains, likely part of a museum that required tickets to enter. Since we hadn’t planned a museum visit, we admired the structure from the outside and continued walking.
Eventually, we reached the National Museum of Lithuania, a large, off-white building, in front of which stood a statue of King Mindaugas, Lithuania’s only crowned king. Children were riding bicycles around the monument as the weather grew noticeably colder. Alongside other languages, we could even hear our beloved Sindhi echoing in the air. We slowly made our way back toward the hotel, once again crossing the Neris River via the same Mindaugas Bridge we had used that morning.
An Unexpected Reunion with a Fellow Sindhi
Back at the hotel, we made some tea and enjoyed the cozy weather. As we chatted, I received a call from Muhammad Zulqifal Soomro, who had just arrived in the hotel lobby.
Soomro, originally a student in Rome, Italy, was spending a few months in Vilnius as part of a student exchange program. We had a long conversation in our hotel room. Interestingly, he didn’t seem to enjoy Vilnius much—though he didn’t explain exactly why.
A Turkish Dinner and the City After Dark
After spending some time in the room, we decided to go out for dinner and enjoy the night. Dr. Imran Jamali, who had visited Vilnius earlier, had recommended a well-known Turkish restaurant named “Mangal Men”, saying, “If you get the chance, have dinner there.”
So off we went again—crossing the Neris River via the same Mindaugas Bridge, walking past the Cathedral to find the restaurant just behind it.
As soon as we entered, it felt like we had stepped into Turkey itself. The ambiance, the wall decorations, and the cultural detailing truly impressed us.
Dancing Fountains and Glowing Reflections
After dinner, we stepped out into a city lit like a sea of stars. The Cathedral and its bell tower were glowing under architectural lights, making them look even more beautiful at night.
Zulqifal bid us farewell, and we wandered through Vilnius University and around the Presidential Palace grounds. Suddenly, we noticed something special—a dancing fountain! It moved rhythmically to the tunes of music. Though water is colorless, the blue lights gave the illusion of a glowing blue fountain—truly magical.
Nearby, there was a giant public chessboard laid out with black-and-white tiles, complete with large chess pieces for people to play with. We couldn’t resist taking several memorable photos.
We tried entering a bar to relax, but it was fully packed. Only two seats were available, and since there were three of us, we decided to skip it and keep strolling through the night. Eventually, we made our way back toward the hotel.
Reflections by the River: Lithuania at Night
As we walked, the National Museum, the Neris River, and the illuminated Gediminas Castle Tower above the hill created a breathtaking scene. The reflections of the tower and trees on the river’s surface—glimmering under the lights—looked surreal.
It felt like poetry in motion. Everything was tranquil, still, and yet alive with beauty.
Back at the hotel, we spent a long time chatting in the lobby. Other guests were also relaxing, sipping wine. Eventually, we retired to our room. We continued talking for a while before sleep finally took over.
That night, it seemed to be our last in Vilnius—but as they say, man proposes, God disposes.
Same Morning, Same Rituals—But With a Farewell in Mind
The next morning followed the same rhythm: same teapots, same seats. We had breakfast in the same hotel dining room. The student from Madras (Chennai), whom we’d met earlier, was also there, busy with his weekend shift. He greeted us with a wide smile.
We told him that we would soon check out and leave for Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city, and by evening, we’d fly back to Stockholm from Vilnius Airport.
We enjoyed our breakfast and the pleasant conversations as if savoring the final moments.
Digital Roads and a Sindhi Song for the Journey
After breakfast, we packed our bags, brought them down to the reception, and began checking out. While Riaz and I were checking out, Sunil went to get the Bolt Share car he had booked through the app. It was parked nearby.
One great feature of these car-sharing services is their flexibility. The cars are parked all over the city. You book via the app, receive a code, unlock the car, drive it, and then park it again at a designated spot. The entire process is digital and trust-based. We never met anyone from the company, and they never met us. The world now runs on mutual trust and transparency.
Soon, Sunil pulled up the car. It was lightly drizzling outside.
We set out on our journey to Kaunas, about 104 kilometers northwest of Vilnius. The drive was scenic, and we filled it with good music and conversation.
On Lithuanian Roads, Echoes of Shah Latif
As the landscapes of Lithuania rolled past, a song echoed in our car—verses from Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s poetry, specifically from the legendary tale of Momal Rano: A melodious kalam sung by Saif Sameejo.
“Halo halo kaak taṛi, jitee ghaṛjee neeinh
Na ka raat na deenhen, jitee jhal na pal
Sab ka paasi preen khe, Raanal tu bin raat…Raanal tu bin raat
Aao Raana rahu raat, tuhinjee chaangee khe chandan chaarhyaan”
These mystical lines, about timeless love and longing, took on a new depth as we traveled through the tranquil Lithuanian countryside.
It was the perfect soundtrack to a journey of discovery, reflection, and connection.
Through the Green Countryside to the Confluence City
As we drove, lush green fields and meadows surrounded the road. Winding and turning, we eventually reached the city of Kaunas, located at the confluence of the Neris and Nemunas rivers. We parked our vehicle directly at the Kaunas Castle parking.
The sky was overcast, heavy with clouds, but it wasn’t raining. Still, there was a certain chill in the air.
First Glimpse: Hashtag Spot and the Castle
We first walked to the famous Kaunas hashtag sign, where we took some memorable photos. Then we moved toward the Kaunas Castle, constructed with red bricks.
This castle dates back to the 14th century, built during medieval times near the confluence of the two rivers. Around it was a large park, walking paths, and benches for people to relax.
We crossed a wooden bridge to reach the castle. There was a deep ditch or moat between the road and the castle—likely once filled with water as a defense against invaders. The castle was closed that day, so we strolled around its exterior.
From one spot, we saw people climbing the triangular tower via stairs, so we did the same and enjoyed the panoramic view from above, taking more memorable photographs.
Nearby, there was a monument of Vytis, a knight on horseback with a sword, built to honor Lithuania’s fighters for freedom.
Churches and Riverbanks
Close to that area, we saw a Catholic church and a statue of Pope John Paul II. We descended a little toward the bank of the Neris River, where small pools of water had collected, creating a beautiful view among rocks and trees.
Walking through the same park, we headed toward the confluence point of the Neris and Nemunas rivers. There, we saw the waters of the two rivers merge as the Neris flowed into the Nemunas. It stirred a vivid memory from 2003—my visit to Domel, Muzaffarabad—where the Neelum and Jhelum rivers meet in a mesmerizing confluence that still echoes in my mind.
Into the Old Town
After enjoying the atmosphere at the riverside, we moved directly toward the streets of the Old Town. The roads were made of stone bricks. The town wasn’t very crowded; only a few groups of tourists could be seen.
We spotted the Town Hall building, some museums, and churches. Among them stood the House of Perkūnas, a unique medieval structure, possibly functioning as a museum now.
We continued on to the banks of the Nemunas River, which offered a stunning view. There was a bridge across the river, wide pedestrian pathways, lush green trees on both sides, patches of blue sky peeking through clouds—it all came together to create a truly peaceful atmosphere.
We spent a good time there, took photos, strolled around, and eventually climbed back up a small embankment via stairs. By then, the clouds had mostly disappeared.
A Cozy Break at Alkantiečio Café
Needing a rest, we walked into a café and restaurant called Alkantiečio, run by two or three young and beautiful girls. The place was extremely cozy and comfortable, decorated with lots of flowers and plants both inside and outside.
We sat peacefully in that serene environment, had some tea and snacks, and spent quite some time chatting. The café had many visitors coming and going. In the kitchen, I noticed a woman wearing a scarf, possibly a student working part-time on weekends in Kaunas.
Unexpected Delay: Traffic Jam and Missed Flight
Our return flight to Stockholm was scheduled from Vilnius at 7 PM. Keeping that in mind, we got up and started walking toward the shopping and pedestrian street.
We explored a few souvenir shops, bought a couple of mementos, and then made our way to the parking lot.
After about 20 minutes on the highway, Google Maps started showing signs of heavy traffic, which gradually turned red—vehicles were moving painfully slow. Eventually, traffic came to a complete halt. We saw police cars and ambulances rushing by; clearly, there had been an accident ahead.
Our stress levels started to rise, and when we realized that we wouldn’t make it to Vilnius Airport on time, we decided to stay another night in Vilnius.
We called our hotel in Vilnius, informed them of the traffic situation, and they reassured us that we could keep the same room for another night—no worries.
An Extra Night in Vilnius
Once we reached Vilnius, we parked the car at the same spot. First priority was to book our flight tickets for the next day—a critical step. Sunil and I emailed our workplaces to inform them that we had missed the flight and wouldn’t be coming to work the next day.
Our friend Riaz, however, had a bit of a problem. He had appointments with people at the Pakistani embassy on Monday morning who would now be left waiting. But what could we do? It was in our fate to spend one more night in Vilnius and eat the food destined for us there.
That night, we roamed around the city again, had dinner at a Turkish restaurant on Mangal Men, laughed at ourselves, chatted for a while, and returned.
The next day, we returned to Stockholm.
Reflections: Man Proposes, God Disposes
A person’s heart may plan one thing, but the Lord’s plan is another. Still, we are grateful to the Creator for letting us see a new country and new cities—a gift in itself. (Concludes)
Click here for Part-1
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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time. A frequent traveler, he also does podcast on YouTube with channel name: VASJE Podcast.
