A steady pace is mandatory on a world trip. We therefor leave Asia (for now) and fly to the American continent. First stop: Guatemala, where I meet up, flying east, with Gustavo, flying west. A 16Read more
Jun 14, 2022, 8:01am · 🌧 20 °C Altitude: 609 m
201 years ago in 1821 Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador gained independence from Spain. Although all countries have developed differently, going through the rains of different dictators, military generals, civil wars and drug cartels they share a common Mayan and Spanish heritage. You will often come across people in indigenous Mayan clothing (especialy in Guatemala lesser in Honduras) while they wear a Christian cross necklace simultaneously.
Our short stop in Copan led us to ancient Mayan ruins (a central spot of rule in the past) and a wonderful hot spring in the jungle, where already Mayans used to meditate at (a heavy tropical rainfall accompanied our session there to complete the experience).Read more
Jun 12, 2022, 10:59am · ⛅ 20 °C Altitude: 1,531 m
Departamento de SacatepéquezSan Pedro Las HuertasZanjón Santa María14°31’49” N 90°44’24” W
A steady pace is mandatory on a world trip. We therefor leave Asia (for now) and fly to the American continent. First stop: Guatemala, where I meet up, flying east, with Gustavo, flying west. A 16 days adventure with him and a travel group ensues.Read more
Jun 4, 2022, 1:01pm · ☁️ 28 °C Altitude: 188 m
BaliBanjar KetiklantangTukad Siapsiap8°30’52” S 115°15’40” E
Daily massage, meditation, book reading, yoga, hiit workout, manicure, pool relaxation and vegan food await in Ubud. This place to be for yogis and the self concious has a wonderful athmosphere to it. People are extremly respectful and empathetic here. I wanted to stay only 3 days but extended to six.Read more
May 30, 2022, 6:32pm · ⛅ 28 °C Altitude: 8 m
After learning to surf only at 31 it was also high time to learn diving. And I have to admit, the experience of weightlessly floating in another mysterious world, one that is much vaster than the one we wander, one that is silent and loud at the same time, pristine and crumbling, dark and yet so colorful, has left a deep awe in me. More so than surfing.
My diving friend michael (Irish) and Carla (German) shared these fantastic moments with me and the exstacy we felt when a giant manta ray or turtle passed us in full majestic presentation swimming effortlesly past us. We just all couldn’t stop smiling for the rest of the day after those dives.
We had a great guide (Emi). He made so many jokes and gigles constantly, which he continues to do under water by gestures, which calmed me down. His previous job was searching for corpses in Jakarta on river beds and he once almost perished to the sea when he dived after his gopro down to 60m, lost proper brain function, made it to 30m, was pulled out by his colleagues and resurfaced (NO2 decompression sickness), where half his body was temporarily paralysed.
__Sir horsealots research diaries 🐴🔬🧪__
Hello dear research community! Just checking in. I was observing Tino from above snorkeling with my horse snorkel kit and made some life extending conclusions:
i) Diving is a safe sport when the safety rules are regarded
ii) Always dive with a partner, never alone, as she/he can help you and give you oxygen in case of an emergency
iii) Dive your plan and don’t divert from it
iv) Never stop breathing
v) Use the air volume in your lungs to control bouyancy and not the bcd (bouyancy control device aka inflatable jacket)
vi) Keep close and check with your partner regularlyRead more
May 22, 2022, 3:54pm · ⛅ 30 °C Altitude: 10 m
The time before heading to America had to be bridged with some actually real time in the water. Bali was the obvious choice after seeing the prices in Hawaii and the political turmoils in the Phillipines.
The thing is you really dont take your phone to the beach to surf. So not a single picture of me with a surf board exists but I could easily proof to you I have been on the board every day with the bruised legs, knees, blue ribcage and squashed elbow (never fall into the water arms first).
The Indonesian have made there way up high up on the list of most friendly and forthcoming people by the way, people I met here seem to celebrate each day as a gift.Read more
May 16, 2022, 8:54pm · ⛅ 28 °C Altitude: 22 m
Central Singapore Community Development CouncilKampong BugisKallang Park1°18’9” N 103°52’36” E
In the short span of 15 years hwa chong international school (where I studied one year), went from 230 to 1’000+ studens. I have such intense memories of this place, the arm wrestling session with professor Reddy, the great canteen food (shanghai noodles) and then challenging each other to pull ups at the playground, street soccer (daily activity including kicking not only the ball but people you didnt like), “petty gang wars” within the school and morning assemblies singing the national anthem.Read more
May 14, 2022 · ⛅ 32 °C Altitude: 25 m
If I had to direct an alien visiting this planet to a single city where she/it/he can taste the worlds food, it would be Singapore. A cultural melting pot combined with very high number of expats from all around the world and being an international shipping port all contribute to a fantastic food selection.
The venue range from hawker centers (4-10$), food court (6-12$), luxury food court (7-20$), restaurant stalls (12-35$) to restaurants (15-40$) and high end (30$-unlimited) (in SG$).
If you want see how the locals, students and retirees fill their tummies, head to a hawker center! They might even talk to you in Chinese (or Hokkien, as some early immigrants were from Fujian).Read more
May 11, 2022, 9:33pm · ⛅ 28 °C Altitude: 19 m
Central Singapore Community Development CouncilBugisFort Canning Hill1°17’25” N 103°50’44” E
I was finally able to catch up with my relatives and long lost friends!
In Singapore I have discovered what another world traveller once warned me about, sticking around too long. Needing a break, mentally and physically, after travelling for a few weeks is natural, but staying statically at one very comfortable place (which sg surely is) can make it a cozy home from
home, where you stay for much too long.
Therefore I went ahead and booked a Gadventures tour in central America for June with a friend 😎Read more
May 5, 2022, 2:50pm · ☁️ 31 °C Altitude: 18 m
Central Singapore Community Development CouncilGeylang1°19’3” N 103°53’35” E
Korean Pop Star, yes. I believe this would have been my ideal profession. At 16 I was dancing, singing, making weird faces and wearing white pants on repeat. I just missed to audition for a kpop studio!
To reminisce in this missed past opportunity I shall dye my hair with some highlights!
If you’d like a taste of my KPOP projected self and idol when I was 16, check out this video:
https://youtu.be/_s5JQkJ6t6IRead more
One says that Singapore can be seen in a few days, thats partially true. What cannot be tasted within a few days are the culinary delights of this country. Because Singapore is a melting pot of cultures, religions and ethnic backgrounds, almost every single food, drink and even restaurant style can be found here! Yes, this includes Rösti or cheese fondue. You have good old street food, hawker centers with competing michelin or non michelin 10sqm food stalls, restaurants in malls, food court chain (yes, chains of food courts with 20 stalls in them), normal restaurants, high end lavish dining venues.
The marina bay sands (Yes, it comes from las vegas sands, which owns the casino), is an unbelievable edifice, built in 4 years after the decision to built it (unfathomable anywhere in the western world), has 2’500 rooms, the longest infinity pool, is the most instagrammed hotel on earth and is set to add another tower in 2026.Read more