• 日1

    Jenzig

    2016年7月3日, ドイツ ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Today I was out for a late evening/sunset walk. After a rainy afternoon the sun came out promising a very nice view from our backyard "mountain"- the Jenzig. Especially with the rain cleaned air. The Jenzig is basically a big chunk of limestone with an height of 385.3 m. It is kind of a legend in Jena because it was used by generations of students to celebrate their Bergfest. Directly translated Bergfest means mountain celebration and it describes the point in time where half of the studies are over. I took my camera with me to try some new things. Alongside the trail I saw a bunch of very nice flowers. They were appreciated by an older couple aiming for the peak as well. They asked me if I knew what kind of flowers they were and I had to admit that I had no idea. We walked together for a while. They had been on a visit at relatives in Hesse and were on their way back to Berlin. They always stop somewhere else on the route and explore the countryside. I really like this kind of mindset. I was a faster so we waved goodbye and I took the steep trails to get acces to tree-free mountainside. In the meantime it was about 8.30 pm and the light had changed to a golden color. Perfect light for taking fotos. I played around with the aperture, the iso values and white balance. Then I sat down to enjoy the view and think about the events of the last days.

    My dear friend Anna had moved from Jena to Leipzig. We spent almost all Saturday and Sunday morning to fill boxes with her belongings and removing furniture. In the evening we were rewarded with the victory of the German soccer team over Italy in the Europian championship quarter final. I am very happy for Anna that she found a perfect flat in Leipzig and that she can start over. As always if there is an happy eye there is also a sad one. I will miss her very much here in Jena. Again one of my good friends left the city of our common studies to experience new places leaving a gap behind. The good thing is I am 100% sure that we will stay connected and extend our friendship with the new challenges, joys and adventures a long-distance friendship will bring. I am excited to see the growth in our personalities.

    I was startled from my thoughts by a very strong and cold upcoming wind. I smiled a last time towards the Jentower, our city´s landmark, and decided it was time to go home....
    もっと詳しく

  • 日3

    Kuala Lumpur

    2016年6月2日, マレーシア ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Surprise, surprise...I am almost alone in the aircraft. Our A330 with space for about 250 passengers is only filled with about 50 people. I had one complete row of seats for myself and so did the others. It didn´t know back then but this is going to be my first Ramadan experience. For muslims it is not allowed to travel during Ramadan only in urgent cases. I arrive at the 2nd of June in an mainly muslim country with an muslim airline and Ramadan started officially at June 6th. I didn´t complain about the excellent condition to find some sleep. After 10:40 h in the air we arrived at Kuala Lumpur with 30 min delay. That kind of interfered with my flight masterplan. I had already booked a connecting domestic flight and I thought 2 h are way enough time to get my luggage, switch terminals and check in again. It turned out to be very a very tight schedule. So I was hurrying to find the train to KLIA2, buy a ticket and take the ride. Fortunately it took only 5 min with the KLIA express train and I arrived at the check in 10 min before closure. Thats what I call time management ;). After I checked in I had enough time to check out some shops and get cash at a ATM. Then I passed the security check for the last time on this in total 23 h trip. By the way it is no problem to take water bottles into aircrafts in Malaysian domestic flights. Air Asia then transported me for incredible 25 € including a delicious tandoori chicken wrap and water to Kota Bharu. One hour later I stood at the cabrank. Groggy as I was I accepted the 30 RM offer of the driver w/o bargaining (probably a mistake but I didn´t care anymore) and tried to enter the cab. I realized my mistake when I saw the steering wheel in front of me. Malaysia has left-hand traffic as the UK so I changed to the other side of the car. With a nice conversation the driver maneuvered us through the streets of Kota Bharu: my first real impression of urban Malaysia. He brought me to KB Backpackers Lodge, a not to bad looking but at that day empty hostel..except me. It gave me a little bit the creeps when I realized the owner and me going to be the only people there but a look at the guestbook soothed me. There have been many guests the nights before so it seemed to be Ok staying the night. He gave me the big room with the double bed, fan and the windows to the street. Even though I was on the verge of falling asleep immediately I barely found sleep that night. I wasn´t used to the high temperatures and the humidity.もっと詳しく

  • 日2

    Istanbul Airport

    2016年6月1日, トルコ ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Not much to say to this footprint. Pleasant first flight and amazing food with Turkish Airlines (including menu and cook). 3 h..oh no 2 h stay due to time shift (good that I decided to write diary in front of the gate otherwise there is always a first time for being announced over the airport speakers ;) ).

    Footnote: Attatürk Airport..worst wifi ever!!!
    もっと詳しく

  • 日2

    Hamburg!

    2016年6月1日, ドイツ ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Sleeping in...there is nothing better to start a day full of traveling. Knowing that life has a plan for me today I decided to leave the comfortable guest bed and said hello to Isi. I was so happy to see her after all these years since graduation. She offered me a very good cappucino, second best thing on a new day, and we enjoyed breakfast together on their cozy balcony. We immediately reconnected making it hard to leave for my pre-flight sight-seeing trip. First I turned my step towards the Jungfernstieg and appreciated the beautiful view over the Binnenalster on the town hall. On my way to the harbour I passed some very impressive Jugendstil buildings with marine motives. To replace the lost energy I bought a fish sandwhich with smoke mackerel "to go" ;) on the "Neumarkt" market. Then I approached the first landmark St. Michaelis church which the Hamburgers :P tenderly call "Michel". Its inside is very impressive and thanks to the amazing weather this day light-flooded. I proceeded towards the Landungsbrücken (jetties) of the Hamburg harbour. I always loved the sea. Even though Hamburg is technically located at the river Elbe one can almost feel the sea at the Hamburg harbour. So I sit down and watch the ships going up- or downstream on their way to the ports of the world. I relish my sandwhich even though the filet had several fishbones. Then it was time to think about returning. I took a small detour over St. Pauli. The famous red-light district with its crowded streets, colorful people and neon lights by night is very different at noontime. The streets are almost empty except some lost punks and workers. But its never to early for indecent proposal as proven by two builders on my way ;). I decided not to react crossed the famous Davidswache and some sex shops and went around in the side streets eating my last ice for the next two weeks. I took the train towards Isi, bought some bananas for the journey and picked my stuff with todays first destination- the airport. The goodbye with Isi was very warm and I was so grateful for her hospitality.もっと詳しく

  • 日1

    Somewhere in Jena

    2016年5月31日, ドイツ ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Finally...it´s time to start for my first big journey totally on my own. I am super excited about what is going to await me in Malaysia. After telling goodbye to all my collegues Melanie picked me up and brought me to Jena Paradise. This name of the station turned out to be a promise for my next 2 weeks. But first Jena showed its best side which is the possibility to meet familiar faces everywhere. At the platform I met Friedeman a good friend heading to Berlin to start his 4 month research stay at Stanford University, California. Accompagnied by such a charming guy the time ´till Berlin passed very fast. On the train to Hamburg I had a very nice conversation with Daniel an economy student. I arrived without complication at Hamburg main station and public transportation managed to bring me to Isi and Jan´s place near the Emilienstraße station. I was kindly welcomed by Jan and I kept him from sleeping till half past midnight. I am so sorry Jan but thank you again for the very intense conversation.もっと詳しく

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