49 DAYS: Peristal Singum, Berlin's Urban Legend

It was a gray cloudy afternoon in Berlin. The sun had not set yet but the sky was dim. We - Priya and I, took our chances finding the infamous salon where the legendary mysterious labyrinth dwells in the abandoned building behind it. The locals call it Peristal Singum. Peristal itself comes from the word peristalsis which means the wavelike muscular contractions of the gut. Perhaps that is what we're going to experience.

We found a small crowd of people in front of a salon at the end of Alt-Stralau Strasse. 'So we must be at the right place', I thought as I glanced at my note that said 'Alt-Stralau 70'. Susen, my roommate, appeared before us. She had been waiting as we promised to meet at 19:00. "Come," she said, "you have to line up for the gold coin." As I stepped inside Salon Zur Wilden Renate, I noticed the 'No Photo' sign but my ignorance guided my hands to reach my iPhone to snap some pictures.

The salon is anything but ordinary. A rustic wooden bar, Victorian style couches, fading patterned wallpaper and the chandelier with peculiar things hanging on it - from chains to underwear. At the corner of the bar, a short lady in an old Deutshce clothing was occupied by her customers; I was told that she is the gatekeeper. When it was finally my turn to purchase the gold coin she hesitated, "I'll come back in some minutes" and she rushed to the back of the salon. Five minutes later, she came back with a small wooden box. "How many?" she asked. "Four," as I counted Priya, Susen, Philip and myself. Each of us exchanged 10 Euros for a gold coin and a brochure. "Sit anywhere, I will find you when it is time".

Scanning the place, there was no more room for us so we headed outside for some fresh air and a beer. We didn't know how long the wait was going to last. A man said he was waiting for an hour while another claimed two. We figured it was going to be a while; thus off we went to the bridge across the street. We shared stories about what we heard regarding the mysterious labyrinth. A friend told Priya, one could be trapped inside for hours or even days; but if your mind is clear, your journey would be magical.

After an hour, we decided to head back in case our names were called. And our instinct was right, she called us as soon as we stepped into the salon. "Who wants to go first?", she asked. I grinned and raised my hand like a child, I was very excited; my curiosity was at its peak. "Do I need to bring anything?", I asked. "Bring only the things that you want to lose." My brain was processing her words in sluggish pace, "Should I not bring anything?" She nodded, "Just bring the coin". So I gave my everything - bag, wallet, phones, to Susen and Priya. The short creepy lady grabbed my hand and started to walked toward the back of the salon. I waved to my friends as they were wishing me luck and safe journey.

After passing a short hallway, she stopped in front of a giant metal door. "Welcome," she said, "this is a place of love. After you opened the door, the gold coin will lead you the the next room. Don't rush, clear your mind; it will be a wonderful journey. Good luck!" And I entered the labyrinth...

What happened next... I can't really tell you because every person has their own experience and interpretation of the place. For me personally, the place is indeed magical. I was Alice in Wonderland; I entered the rabbit hole and found another world full of illusions. It was an ethereal experience, definitely out of this world. I crawled, slid, duck, climbed throughout the perplexing maze; feel and touched every objects along my path; astounded by the maestro who created this world. I spent a good 50 to 60 minutes in there. Exploring every room; reveled in its unique beauty.

Susen, Priya and Philips got out about 10 to 20 minutes after I did. We chatted about our experience inside and each of us saw similar, but different things. The labyrinth definitely toyed with our sensory perceptions. 

In case you're wondering, this is the brochure from Peristal Singum.

I assure you, nothing scary happened here. This place is intentionally built to trigger your fear and push you to overcome it. After all, fear is relative and it's all just in your head.

PS: Moral of the story, never let fear limit the amazing possibilities in front of you. As Napoleon Bonaparte said, "He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat".

Cheers!