Below you will find pages that utilize the taxonomy term “De”
Hiking around Berlin
January 12, 2020
Doing a fair bit of hiking in the area around the capital these days.
So strange that my exploring of the world started in its farthest corner and only now am I discovering my backyard.
Böhmische Schweiz
August 24, 2019
With the border going straight through the national park, one can easily do a two-country-hike.
The Czechs don’t call it Sächsische Schweiz though, for them its České Švýcarsko. Which is unpronouncable for Germans, so they call it Böhmische Schweiz. Plenty of Swisses.
Our apartment was surrounded on three sides by national park and also just a few kilometres from the border. Many reasons to leave the car where it was and start the hike at the doorstep.
Hinterhermsdorf to Berlin
August 24, 2019
Checkout at 11:00, return of the car at 22:00. That leaves a fair bit of time for in-between-activities.
For a start, a visit to the Weifbergturm, a viewing platform towering over the village.
Looking over the village in a southerly direction
View towards Bad Schandau, Schrammsteine on the left
Next stop, while we’re at exploring the German countryside: Spreewald. We both like pickles, so that’s a must-see anyway.
The town of Lübben seems fairly relaxed and served good food and coffee.
Sächsische Schweiz Day #2, Déja vu
August 23, 2019
The April trip had shown me one of the highlights of Sächsische Schweiz: the Schrammsteine. Given that it’s a highlight and you can walk it in two directions, why not go again?
We drove the car to Beuthenfall and… discovered that we needed €5 in change for the parking ticket. The things you don’t think about when you always travel on public transport. Got that sorted though.
Shortly into the hike, we got the first “woah, nice” moment at the Affensteine range.
Sächsische Schweiz Take #2, Day #1
August 23, 2019
Already back after less than four months. Should give the dear reader an idea of how much I liked it the last time.
No train travel involved this time. We rented a car in Berlin and drove it down to the last corner of the republic: Hinterhermsdorf. “Am Arsch der Welt”, as the Germans phrase it, or “donde Cristo perdió la chancla” in Spanish.
Arrived in the early afternoon and checked into the apartment (Ferienwohnung).
Berlin Basketball
May 26, 2019
Went to see a premier league basketball game for - I think - the first time in my life. Berlin was playing Ulm in the quarterfinals.
Such a relaxed and family friendly affair. I only have soccer as a comparison, where it’s usually a lot of drunk people and heaps of police, versus… this:
Only 10,000 in attendance though, that makes a difference to the 50k+ you see in a Bundesligastadion.
Normal Airlines
January 15, 2019
6:49, push-back. On the freaking minute! I have left behind a year of delayed departures on LCCs and opted to go for a normal airline for my trip to Málaga.
It has its downsides, admittedly, a stopover in Bruxelles rather than a direct connection, but I think it’ll be worth it.
Departing from terminal A at TXL and not the embarrassing tin shed that is Schönefeld. No giddy teenagers trying to mask their nervousness with idle chatter.
Palestinians protest in Berlin
December 10, 2017
The US’ recent efforts to pour more oil into the Middle East conflict were met by a worldwide outcry. Berlin’s Palestinian community too raised its voice.
By the looks of it, very few Germans were among the protesters. I guess most of them don’t care much. Or automatically hate everything with a headscarf anyway.
CSD Berlin 2017
July 22, 2017
Berlin police recently demonstrated at their Hamburg visit, that the capital knows how to party. Today it was the LGBT(etc.) community’s turn.
Warm temperatures went along well with everybody’s desire to wear as little as possible.
Somehow… animals were quite the thing this year. I don’t think it was that prevalent in 2016.
And of course, lots of costumes and paint.
What’s the church’s current stance on gay marriage?
Airlines and Lawyers
June 29, 2017
Despite having been a frequent traveller, I never had any insurance covering things like cancelled flights, etc. The main reason for that was that policies commonly only cover ridiculously short travel times of 1-2 months. Plus, these insurances only cover if one gets seriously ill, and having that certified by a doctor could be an adventure in itself, depending on where on earth one finds oneself.
Thus early this year, when I wanted to cancel a return flight Berlin - Bangkok for personal reasons, I saw myself confronted with a rather hefty cancellation charge by the airline (Turkish).
Nakba Day
May 13, 2017
Nakba is an Arabic word, translating to “Catastrophe”. It refers to the begin of the occupation of Palestine in 1948 and “Nakba Day” commemorates that event every year.
Earlier today I joined a demonstration that had been organised by the local Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) chapter and a couple of other groups. The participants gathered on Richardplatz, surrounded by heavy police presence.
A handful of counter-protesters showed their blue-white apartheid colours, but stayed behind when the march started.
Winter in Berlin
January 23, 2017
Moving in and flying out
November 6, 2016
There seems to be a pattern. I move into a new flat and then days later I’m on a flight out of the country. That’s how it was in 2014, and yesterday again I sat on an outbound flight, not even a week after receiving the keys to my new place.
This time the destination is much closer than 2014’s Philippines though. It’s Lisbon, where Web Summit 2016, one of the biggest internet conferences of the world is taking place.
Three Months Berlin (and counting)
October 28, 2016
There’s a big change ahead! On the 31st of this month I’m expecting to receive the keys to my new place in the borough of Pankow. By then it’ll have been more than 15 months since I moved out of the last place in Stuttgart.
Since arriving in Berlin, my priorities have changed a fair bit. Initially I was after accommodation in a flat-share, as I had grown quite accustomed to living communally.
Berlin Break
September 4, 2016
Berlin is nice. I like the city, I like the people. Housing market is a pain though, still haven’t found a proper permanent residence.
Taking a few days off, visiting a Danish island with my family.
It was 34 years ago, that I first set foot on that island.
CSD Berlin
July 23, 2016
Between Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain
July 21, 2016
Final Destination: Berlin
July 13, 2016
Final for now, no next move planned.
Staying in the… alternative part of the city.
Making Plans and Berlin Retrospective
November 17, 2015
When travelling, a strict plan is really counter-productive. It takes away all the flexibility that makes travelling so much fun. Still, it is good to have an idea of where to go (and what to see).
I had making plans for Myanmar on my list of things to do when I was in Berlin. However about the stay in Berlin I can say two things: It’s a cool city and: I’ve worked too much.
Colombo Bandaranaike
November 12, 2015
$3 for a teabag in a cup of hot water - bit excessive for an airport in a Third World country but at least the wifi is good. General free wifi at the airport is a bit on the unusable side and what would modern day man do - all unconnected for a whole 2.5h stopover.
I had left Berlin a day before my flight departed, not wanting to trust Deutsche Bahn to get me to Frankfurt airport in time.
Thai Picnic
November 8, 2015
Every weekend, Berlin’s Preußenpark hosts the “Thaiwiese”. It’s a rather informal gathering of street food merchants who dish out amazingly good and authentic Thai food to the grateful public. With €5 a plate it’s a little more pricey than Thailand but still a very good deal for the capital. Oh and did I mention that it’s authentic and good?
Autumn in Berlin
November 4, 2015
Northern Germany
October 28, 2015
One of my safe havens on this planet: My family’s place. It’s already been more than a week of relaxing, recharging and getting my mind of things.
Back in Berlin
October 18, 2015
Ok, that came a bit earlier than expected. Thought I wouldn’t be back in Germany before some time 2016…
Leaving Jerusalem went smoothly this morning. The shared taxi picked me up right in front of the hostel and after a little sightseeing tour across the city, dropped me off at Terminal 1.
Pre-Checkin-Security was curious about my Moroccan entry stamp but didn’t bother with asking me any questions about my stay in Israel.
Changing Capitals
August 6, 2015
There is a Kebab joint in Berlin that is supposed to serve the best Kebabs in the city. People wait for an hour and more (sic!) to get their fix. When a friend told me she did that, I told her I’d never wait an hour for food.
Then came yesterday evening and dinner in Friedrichshain and we did exactly that: waited an hour for food. That wasn’t voluntarily though, the kitchen just completely crumbled under their load.
Working Traveller
August 5, 2015
Big difference to the last trip in 2010: I fully intend to earn a living from day one on. Being a freelance website developer, I don’t need much besides a laptop and internet access to get work done.
Following the local lifestyle, I set up camp in a cafe next door. Fitting in didn’t work 100%, as my Lenovo was sticking out of the Apple crowd and my beverage of choice was a black coffee and not some Latte Frappe Machiwhatever.
Berlin
August 4, 2015
It’s the first time I’m coming to the capital to see the city itself. Previously the occasion was either a soccer finale or a departure from Tegel airport. But not this time! Although I’ll still depart from Tegel…
The friend, who’s providing me with a couch, lives in Prenzlauer Berg which is a rather hip/gentrified part of the city. Might not be the best thing for the long-time-back residents but brings the advantage of countless bars, cafes and restaurants.
Off to new Adventures
August 3, 2015
So what do you do when your boss offers you a new position, more money and more holidays? My choice was to quit the job.
That decision had been in the making for a fair while though and it has now been around six weeks since I left a job that didn’t mean much to me any more. My mood has improved, I smile more often and I’m not any longer on the road to becoming a grumpy old fart (hopefully).
Kiel and Surroundings
July 25, 2015
Family weekend trip with north-easterly bearing. Nice area, if the weather plays along.
Stuttgart bye bye
July 23, 2015
It is official now, I have been exiled from Swabia for not being miserly enough.
One has to know that in Swabia, money is the highest good and has to be valued above all else. Financial status is of utmost importance and the average citizen is so tight, you couldn’t pull a penny out of their arse with a tractor.
As it happened, I have split restaurant bills evenly (“just make it twenty for each of us”) on too many occasions.
Hohenzollern Castle
June 23, 2015
Nice day-trip to the area of the Swabian Alps with a ~10km hike from Bisingen to Hohenzollern Castle. The route lead mostly through foresty grounds with quite a lot of up and downs. Bit slippery due to recent rain but good fun.
Fischereihafen-Rennen
May 25, 2015
How often do you get the chance to see a street-racing event up close? For me the answer is: not very often and thus I was keen to watch the annual event in my hometown.
It’s certainly not for everyone but if you happen to have an interest in motorcycles, racing AND photography, it’s plain awesome.
The whole event has a laid-back spirit and the paddock is open to visitors. Actually if one wants to walk from A to B during the event, it’s pretty much inevitable to walk through at least one paddock.
Scenic Train Ride
May 21, 2015
Thanks to (another) strike of Deutsche Bahn train drivers, I ended up on a different connection on my trip to the north. Took only 1.5 hours longer and provided some nice views along the river Rhine valley. Small cities, vineyards and a castle every kilometre or so. Definitely one of the most scenic rides I had in Germany.
Reflections of Fireworks
May 16, 2015
Best thing about Stuttgart Volksfest is the closing fireworks.
The river was very quiet with hardly any wind going. Made for some interesting shots.
Fernbus
May 13, 2015
It’s been a while now since Deutsche Bahn’s monopoly on long distance transport was chopped down and the emerging bus market has shaken things up considerably. Bus operators are massively undercutting the train fares and are often charging around a quarter of what a regular train ticket costs.
With my train discount card expired (no need to renew it for a year if I’m leaving in two months) I decided to give the cheap bus option a try for a short trip to Karlsruhe.
Frankfurt Main Tower
January 5, 2015
187m high, €6,50 admission, 15 minute walk from the main station… more info
Monte Scherbelino
December 13, 2014
Overlooking Stuttgart from the west is Birkenkopf, a 500m high elevation. It grew by 40 metres in the years 1953 to 1957 when 1.5 million m³ of rubble were cleared from the bombed city and moved to the hill. Most locals know it by its unofficial name “Monte Scherbelino” which roughly translates to “Mount Shards”.
Autumn
December 11, 2014
For those who would like some food for thoughts for the festive season: Your Lifestyle Has Already Been Designed (The Real Reason For The Forty-Hour Workweek)
Cannstatter Wasen
October 14, 2014
“Cannstatter Wasen: prepare for overcrowded trains, delays and maladjusted people” - that message was showing on train departure displays at main station last weekend. The comedian in charge got into trouble with his superiors. Personally I think he should have gotten a commendation but there is no arguing with the wimps in charge of political correctness.
Anecdotes aside, the bi-yearly mass intoxication that gets tourists and every farm boy in a hundred kilometre radius wasted beyond believe came to an end this Sunday.
Glemseck 101
September 6, 2014
Glemseck 101, the annual motorcycle event near Stuttgart on the former Solitude race track. Loooooots of motorcycles.
Some of them quite… unusual. Anybody remember that Mel Gibson movie, Mad Max? This bike seems fit for the post-apocalyptic road-trip.
Others featured a more morbid outfit. How many times does one get pulled over by the cops on a thing like this?
Apparently some vendors have discovered little girls as their target group.
Estas Tonne
July 27, 2014
Elemental sounds of the universe, that’s how Estas Tonne describes his music. I had seen some of his performances on youtube and liked his unique and dynamic style a lot. His album “Internal Flight” has become one of my favourite tunes to listen to while sitting in a train and watching the countryside whip past.
Today Estas played in Crailsheim at the “Kulturwochenende” and I went to see his performance. Some time before he went on stage, I came across him in the streets, apparently both of us looking for the stage he was supposed to climb.
Around Stuttgart
April 21, 2014
A couple of pictures from a recent walk/hike in the hills surrounding Stuttgart.
Leaving, on a jet plane...
March 3, 2014
15kg total luggage. Can’t believe I’m traveling that light. The half full backpacks constantly made me think I forgot something. Left early and stopped for a coffee at the main station. Sorted my head, went through my documents but it seems I didn’t leave anything important behind.
Really happy and excited to go on a trip again. It’s been two years and the last one was the really big one. Right now I just have a fat smile on my face.
Castles
June 22, 2012
The weather was fine today and thus I saddled my steel horse and rode to see some old castles in the Pfälzerwald.
The area is filled with castles but one of the main attractions is castle Trifels. It was build about 1,000 years ago (!) and is known for having been a prison to Richard the Lionheart (of England) during the 12th century.
It is still well conserved and open for (paying) visitors.
How to register a Motorcycle in Germany
June 12, 2012
Since of earlier today, my motorcycle is once again registered and ready to (legally) drive around on Germany’s roads. It hasn’t been easy though. This is the story.
It started last Wednesday when I got the bike out of the basement - equipped with a nice new battery - and went to get a safety certificate. These certificates are mandatory and need to be renewed every two years. Mine was thus long expired.
Sunset at the Harbour
May 31, 2012
Fischereihafen-Rennen
May 28, 2012
When I was younger, I never had much interest in watching any kind of road-racing. WRC was ok for me but Formula 1 was incredibly boring and Nascar even worse. Things changed when I started to develop an interest in motorcycles. Suddenly there was the world of MotoGP, where riders were fighting fierce battles, sometimes overtaking each other several times a round.
Since the 1950s, my hometown hosts an annual motorcycle road-racing event. For that, part of the local harbour is closed down and turned into a racetrack. Admission is cheap and the whole atmosphere relaxed.
So far I haven’t been in town when the race took place but this year I was. Not only was I interested in watching the event, it also promised to be a great photo opportunity.
Sank joo for travelling wiz Deutsche Bahn
May 16, 2012
Getting around in Germany is an easy thing to do, thanks to a railway network that is considered to be one of the best in the world. On long distance trains one doesn’t even need to speak German as the conductors announce all stops and connections in English as well. Usually with an accent that is so thick it’s almost a new language.
The most fancy way of travelling by rail are the ICE trains connecting the major cities.
Heidelberg Hike
May 11, 2012
While staying with my friends in Heidelberg earlier this week, we went for a little hike on mount Königstuhl. Actually we only hiked down and took a bus to get up there - a tribute we paid to the unstable weather. We arrived atop the mountain to sunny weather and could enjoy a nice view down the river valley.
The walk down to the city leads through the forest via numerous walkways and paths.
The End of the Nomad Life - or is it?
May 7, 2012
June and my return to the world of work are getting closer. I decided to become a contractor which has two big advantages for me. I don’t have put up with the crap of idiotic superiors for too long and get more money on top of that.
There is drawbacks as well though. Once the step into self-employment is made, the unemployment money will stop coming in and I have make ends meet myself.
Sail away
May 2, 2012
My current home is a very maritime place and as it happens with such, there is ships coming around quite often. Last weekend the sailing ship ‘Alexander von Humboldt II’ (the first is still afloat as well) was one of them. It was built less than a year ago in nearby Bremen as a training vessel for traditional seamanship.
My brother has spent weeks on the ships’ predecessor and eventually became a regular in the crew.
German Food
April 27, 2012
To whatever place I carried my backpack so far, I always wrote about the local food. My home country shall be no exception to that.
One of the most unsual (visually) dishes prepared in northern German kitchens is Labskaus. Basically unknown to the south of Germany, this traditional seaman’s dish always creates a raised eyebrow when served to somebody who hasn’t savoured it before. “I haven’t eaten it before but it sure looks like I did” is a common remark.
Old Stuff
April 23, 2012
Asking people from Australia for their reason to go to Europe, a common answer is ‘To see old stuff’. As the country had no influence from the western world before the 18th century, they lack all those castles and picturesque villages the Middle Ages brought forth in Europe.
One of these old places is Bad Bederkesa, which has been around for some 900 years now. When the place grew, the need for a castle arose and building such a castle was always a lengthy endeaveour.
On the Way to a regular Lifestyle
April 20, 2012
Two weeks after my return I am getting used to being back in Germany. Culture and climate shock are mostly resolved and I feel more comfortable than I initially feared.
My tenant contacted me, telling me he’d leave my flat by the end of May. That’s a bit of a bummer as I’ll be living out of a backpack for another six weeks. I was hoping to get settled a bit earlier.
North German Plain
April 11, 2012
Germany, north of Hannover, is pretty much flat throughout. On stormy days the North and Baltic sea are more bumpy than the shores they are bordering. Formed by glacial advances a really long time ago, this part of Germany is now in strong contrast to the mountainous South.
Today my dad and I went for a little trip around the area. I reckon it’s a good thing that even back in my home country I feel the urge to get out and take pictures.
Culture Shock?
April 9, 2012
In the train I overheard a man saying he needed a new TV. And I thought: You have shelter, healthy food, clean water and some of the best medical care on the planet. You don’t need anything. I met people who don’t even have toilets and now I’m in a country where every second car is an expensive one and people do their best to look and act absolutely immaculate.
Back in the Cold
April 7, 2012
As-Salamu Alaykum, that’s how our captain greeted us in the morning, two hours before arrival in Germany. The crew served breakfast, offering a choice of omelet and chilli prawns on rice. I went for the chilli prawns and a last taste of Asia.
At 6:45 we touched down in Frankfurt. First thing I saw when embarking from the plane was a mobile heater and a big bucket of grit. Winter hasn’t left Germany yet and when I had my luggage I headed to the next toilet to change thongs and shorts for boots, jeans and a fleece.
Back in the Heat
September 8, 2011
Wednesday morning starts early for me. I don’t want to take a gamble with the railway and decided to take a train that takes me a couple of hours early to Berlin. All connections are on time though and I arrive in Berlin around noon. The central station in Berlin is impressive, trains on two levels and heaps of shopping possibilities.
I spend some time with my cousin and his wife at their place and it’s nice to see them again.
Off to new Adventures
September 6, 2011
There it is, all the stuff that is (most likely) going to accompany me in the next couple of months. Two backpacks, cloths, bathroom stuff, electronics (heavy), books (even heavier, especially those illegal copies of the LP), documents, credit cards, cash in four different currencies, etc..
Let the games begin!
Vietnamese Sticker
September 2, 2011
On Monday I paid the Vietnamese consulate in Frankfurt a visit. The address: Villa Hanoi, Kennedy-Allee. That sounds awfully wrong but at least Kennedy was kinda pre-war. The consulate was pretty busy and I had to wait a while before I could hand in my paperwork.
‘Ok, come back next month to collect passport’, I was told. ‘Ah hang on mate, I’m only in town for today, any chance you have an express handling?
Auswärtssieg
August 27, 2011
On my first and last night in Edinburgh I wanted to see a little bit of the city and went to grab a beer somewhere. The city certainly looks better than Glasgow. I found some nice bars, had a couple of pints and was in bed before midnight.
Way to early the alarm woke me up and at 5 am I was standing in a crowded departure hall at Edinburgh international.
Scotland tomorrow
August 18, 2011
Off to the highlands for a week tomorrow. I’ll fly into Edinburgh, immediately escape the festival madness there and spend a night or two in Glasgow which is just a 1.5h bus ride away. The following two nights will be on the isle of Islay and after that some place else.
Today I paid Hamburg a short visit to get my visa for Thailand. What a pain, they changed the regulations about one-way flights and the lady working at the consulate was just plain rude (German of course, not Thai).
Soccer
August 8, 2011
German Premier League started this weekend and Bremen had a home game on Saturday. I wanted to see the match, preferably in the standing room where you can find the biggest fans/idiots and thus the best atmosphere. Unfortunately tickets for that area were sold out but usually there’s some for sale in front of the stadium.
Bremen changed its ticketing system this year and holders of a season ticket no longer get a bunch of paper tickets but a chip card instead.
Visiting the South
August 7, 2011
I feel like I should note that I just spent two weeks in the south, visiting the Karlsruhe crew. Seeing all the people again has been amazing and everybody provided the poor backpacker with food and accommodation, thanks guys!
Unlike in earlier years I didn’t take the train for travelling this time. Instead I tried the rides offered on the internet (mitfahrgelegenheit.de) which are way cheaper. Everything went well there so I’ll use the system whenever no cheaper train tickets are available.
Speyer
August 2, 2011
After a short visit to the cinema in Speyer on Sunday, I thought the city would be worth a second visit. It’s one of the oldest cities in Germany and features according buildings and a massive dome. Getting there from Karlsruhe is a bit of a pain as public transportation needs about 1.5h for the 50km ride. Worth it though, especially on a sunny day with blue sky like today.
Let it burn
July 19, 2011
The gym attached to the school I attended as a boy burned down a couple of weeks ago and the site is still pretty much untouched. Looks as dark as the near Greek future.
Also quite similar to what my Aussie bank account looks like all too often. I wanted to know what it costs to travel for more than a year and had a look at the transactions for the past 14 months.
Break Time
July 8, 2011
It’s so nice to get a break. I don’t have to worry about where I’m going to sleep or eat. I don’t have to worry about somebody stealing stuff from my room and nobody is trying to rip me off. Well actually that’s not completely true. 35 bucks for a piece of plastic that says ‘driver’s license’ isn’t exactly a bargain.
Applying for a new license and ID card was quite fun though.
Back in Town
July 5, 2011
After three times in Bangkok all my visits have been quite unique. This time it was mostly the life after sunset that made the streets very interesting. The wild mix of families with kids, hookers, touts, pimps, merchants, food stalls, moto drivers and Muslim tourists with women dressed up like tents. Here’s a video of the small lane where my guest house was.
I spent my last day walking around, sitting down every now and then and just watching the show.
Sold!
May 6, 2010
There was still an open todo on my list: getting rid of my car. It was approaching an age and a mileage where expensive repairs where to be expected and leaving it standing around for one year surely wouldn’t improve it’s condition.
For two days I visited the dealers in town and finally found one who was willing to pay almost two grand for the car. That’s a really good price.
Leaving Home
May 1, 2010
Friday 11:30 - the flat is empty, the cellar full and the car cramped. After days of packing and cleaning I’m ready to go. The last week was really nice, a lot of people dropped by to say goodbye. Gonna be a year until I see them again.
Surprisingly many people are convinced that I’ll like Australia so much I won’t even come back. So far I’ve waggered €200 that I will come back.
Ready to go!
April 14, 2010
Less than two month after the decision to go to Australia was made, most of the administrative stuff is done. The visa is granted, the flat is rented out and the flight is booked. Health insurance is still a todo but work in progress.
Aside from the bureaucratic stuff I have to decide on what to pack for the journey and remove everything else from the flat till the end of the month.