2011: Summary + Outlook

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Hey together!

We write the Christmas season 2011, the year draws to a close - what a year! It’s time for a little summary, including an outlook for 2012, some selected photos from the past 13 months and of course a big Christmas greeting. :)
I’m sitting in my cabin on a container ship from Taiwan to Australia. Time enough to think a little about the experiences and do photo-sorting. Although I had no time to write detailed reports, I’ve captured all moments in a diary. The detailed version of my travel will follow – certainly after my return home. Surprises are guaranteed. ;)
My journey has nothing to do with vacation and it was not my intention when I started. I wanted to see the real world with my own eyes and learn more from it – if positive or negative in all its forms. In the last 15 months and more than 70,000 km on land and water, I met hundreds of people from all social levels. My path often contained insomnia, effort, fatigue but also excitement, adventure, fun and limitless. Whether in crisis regions, risk areas or the most peaceful place on earth, whether poor, rich, dangerous or safe areas, whether alone or together - more than once I was simply stunned by what happens around me. I have met extraordinary and ordinary people as well as remarkably limited individuals – I could almost always learn something from them. Very often I experienced true hospitality, deep sincerity, unselfish helpfulness and got many, many good friends.
My curiosity led me often …into let’s say unique situations and thereby expanded my intellectual horizon enormously – often with the „crowbar“. More than once I got to know my personal limits and was pushed all too often beyond. But because of this I learned feelings and moments in its purest form: love, leisure, grace, anger, fear, pain, beauty, pleasure, joy, inner peace and satisfaction, to name just a few, and especially freedom and true happiness. Although this is just a series of words, but the experiences I associate couldn’t be more extreme in their expressions. I’m grateful for everything I could learn –whether it was positive or negative. It’s a gift to see the life in many different facets and thereby learn to appreciate it.
I get a deep insight into the real world (not comparable to most media reports!). Often far from the beaten tourist track and close to the local population. My current path consists in particular of learning but also teaching. Not many can go on such a long and intense journey – whether for private, financial or health reasons. Therefore, I give my knowledge, received inspiration, experience and happiness in all honesty. Whether in discussions, private conversations, lectures, travel reports, e-mail or as a volunteer teacher in front of large and small school classes – only if we openly spread our education / knowledge / information we can change, sustainably improve and protect our world.

Outlook and Finales 2012

For many such a trip might be a dream and seemingly far away. Well, nothing is impossible – it depends on the attitude. With no backpacking-experience at all and only planned till Beijing, I spontaneously fell into this adventure and learned: The world is not nearly as bad as suggested to us – it’s quite the contrary! On the way I experienced a lot of joy, hope, wishes and humanity – all these things I want to give back out of inner conviction, so as to contribute to our society. Whether in interviews, online or in printed form in the future – I like to let family, friends and people from all over the world participate. To create understanding, expand the intellectual horizons, give hope, joy and show new ways and possibilities that there’s always a way.
People who know me, know that I don’t do things by halves. So it’s with this trip. I arrived in Australia and now put myself on the „way back“. A special return with a special route. I want to finish to circumnavigate the globe without airplane, including to touch ground on the remaining four continents Antarctica, South America, North America and Africa. To complete this project, there are at least 60,000 no-airplane-km in front of me. This project has a lot similarities with a thesis: „doing experiments“ and collect more information and experiences. Although there are some smaller reports in between, but the real „analysis“ comes at the end. So far I already got a lot of “data”: >26,000 images, >100 GB of video footage, GPS data, detailed daily diary transcripts and two video projects, which certainly spread a lot of happiness out in the world. ;)
In summer 2012, I’d like to arrive back in Germany. But until the finale it’s literally still a long way. Although I’m mostly alone on the road, this special trip around the world including the intended projects is without support simply not possible.
I need your help to successfully complete this journey and to overcome the last major section. If you can help me or know people who’d like to be part of this project – an investment in this trip couldn’t be better: no devaluation, no decay, no inflation. Your investment is definitely timeless and you’ll be part of an unique journey – a memorable project which shows, that with the right attitude, good friends and support everything is possible – even a without-aircraft-world-trip across all continents. [For more information please click here.] :)

Next step: Just scroll down to the photos.

Quick-Links: [Top] – [Introduction] – [Outlook 2012] – [Photos] – [Greetings]

Photos

A few impression from the last 13 months in a chronologic set of photos.

Unique: Flying with birds of prey at the Himalaya.
Pokhara, Nepal

From Buddhas birthplace on the bus-roof to India.
Lumbini, Nepal

Never boring: Indian trains, second cheapest class (7th class…).
near Varanasi, India

Two stroke engine and hand gear change: Tuktuk driving fun.
Driving an auto rickshaw, Agra, India

A big bunch of marble at sunrise: World-famous and indeed worth seeing.
Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Magic M is back: “Floating” at a 1050 m cliff.
World’s End, Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka

Sunset.
Mirissa, Sri Lanka

Healthy snack during a scooter tour along the south west coast.
On the road to Galle, Sri Lanka

Christmas Eve 2010 in Goa – all rumours are true…
Anjuna, Goa, India

New Year’s Eve 2010 on a 3-day-ferry with >1200 lively Indians.
In the empty ferry-pool on the Indian Ocean

Pure luck: A genuine piece of Dresdner Christstollen on a tropic island!
Neil Island, Andaman Islands, India

Paradise: Deep jungle, white sand, crystal clear water and an hammock.
On an empty lighthouse, Little Andaman, Andaman Islands, India

This Gecko exists only here and crawled from my foot to my head by himself.
Cit of the natives: “WOW! This means you have legendary luck at your side!”
Little Andaman, Andaman Islands, India

Lung infection from Calcutta, 15 kg weight loss (>20%), coughing blood,
alone and without help three days almost continuous unconscious. I learned a lot…
near Kulna, Bangladesh

In the bengali jungle after detection of fresh tiger scratch marks,
a tiger hair ball and fresh footprints of an adult tiger with child.
Sundarbans, Bangladesh

Invited for meal & tea: Hospitality and heartiness in Bangladesh.
Poor region near Dhaka, Bangladesh

Curious kids in a tribal village.
Tripura Tribal village, Srimongol, Bangladesh

Lucky there: Spontaneous elephant ride after escape of an attacking monkey group.
Lawacheera National Park, Bangladesh

Fun and motivational speech “YOUR Future and education” with uncle Mathias.
village school, rural area near Srimongol, Bangladesh

Sightseeing with a 610-mm-narrow-gauge-railway: Historical and functioning.
World Heritage Toy Train, Darjeeling, India

After months the successful getaway from the Indian subcontinent again across Tibet.
On around 4500 m altitude somewhere between Mt. Everest and Lhasa, Tibet, China

Unbelievable but true!
DMZ-border with view to South Korea in North Korea

A rare smile.
Pyongyang, North Korea

Sneaked out at night: Exploration without overseer.
Pyongyang, North Korea

Freedom and Fun.
Sokcho, South Korea

Surrounded by thousands of smiling faces.
South Korea ;)

Hiking to the top – straining but amazing: A moment of happiness.
Seoraksan National Park, South Korea

Refreshing rain: On top of an extinct volcano.
Jeju-do island, South Korea

Japanese hospitality.
Fukuoka, Japan

Japanese Fashion. ;)
Hiroshima, Japan

Floating during a several day lasting stay at a true Zen-monk.
Shikoku island of the 88 temples at temple 12, Japan

It’s possible: Raw chicken – and I survived. :D (Delicious!)
special Izakaya, Kobe, Japan

Culinary highlight: Kobe-Beef – an orgasm on the tongue.
Kobe, Japan

Amusing discussion with curious school-children.
Kiyomizu-Dera temple, Kyoto, Japan

Smart Japan: Economic way of locomotion. ;)
Kyoto, Japan

Soaks, sunburned and pretty exhausted: Unforgettable hitchhike to Tokyo.
freeway service area near Nagoya, Japan

Find me in the picture…
Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Too difficult to find me here: Hidden among hamsters.
Fuji-Q Highland, Japan

First a visit of the only propaganda museum Chinas (see bag), then it’s world today…
100th floor, Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China

Good friends.
West Lake, Hangzhou, China

YMCA? No, just a scooter tour around the island.
Matsu island, Taiwan

After a sudden heavy rain during a mountain hike, warm up at an active volcano.
Siaoyoukeng, Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan

Who cares about the weather? Happy time with the Monsoon-rainfall.
Taipei-Zoo, Taiwan

Cheers from King Kong Matzilla.
Taipei 101 (highest office building in the world), Taiwan

Education-fun with uncle Mathias.
NTMB Junior High School, Taipei, Taiwan

Basic rule of life and my maxim – not only in 2011. :)
Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Comfortable to lean on…
Skyline, Hong Kong

More than just gambling.
Macau-Tower, Macau

Paddling into the sunset.
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Unusual but veeery helpful to get some quite sleep.
Bus in Vietnam

No hamster cave: On the tracks of the Vietcong.
Cu Chi tunnel system, near Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam

Underwater-fun.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Hardly tourists: Scramble-fun and exploration of ruins of the ancient Khmer-era.
Beng Mealea Temple, Cambodia

Sunset-jump into the largest lake in South East Asia.
Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia.

:)
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Loaded weapons and ordnances: In the crisis region with the special forces chief.
Preah Vihear temple, controversial border region between Thailand and Cambodia

Khone Falls: Up to 50.000 m³/s water at the world’s widest (10 km) waterfall (18 m).
Khone Phapheng Falls, Laos

Laos’ locals: Spontaneous invitation for dinner and fun with the kids.
Don Khon, Four Thousand Islands, Laos

Best location, great food and nice people.
Koh Samui, Thailand

In the spotlight in the popular entertainment restaurant “German Brewery”.
Bangkok, Thailand

Traditional dance in front of 61 tons of gold – a word for word dazzling moment…
Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar

A common point among the many ethnic groups here: A good temper and happiness.
near Inle lake, Myanmar

Impressing: Temple, temple, temple, temple… >2000 on 36 km².
Bagan, Myanmar

I tried to push back the rock but it’s just too heavy.
Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock), Myanmar

From the jungle in the city…
Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

…to the real jungle incl. shortcuts on overthrown trees.
Jungle area near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Eating, Shopping, Eating, Shopping, Eating, Shopping… and here during special breakfast.
Singapore

After they took their more or less “hidden” photographs of me, a nice group picture. ;)
Ferry in Sumatra, Indonesia

In the eye of anger – Mosquito at work (…not for long…).
crappy hostel, Pekanbaru, Indonesia

Wild-flowering Rafflesia arnoldi – an highlight for every biologist!
Jungle near Bukittinggi, Indonesia

Then let’s take a look on the other side of our discworld.
Equator line, Sumatra, Indonesia

Teaching fun with uncle Mathias.
Village school, Sumatra, Indonesia

Hot, loud, unforgettable: Feeling the power of the earth next to the active Krakatau!
Krakatau volcano (between Sumatra und Java), Indonesia

Primates among each other: Attracting of free living Orang Utans.
Tanjin National Park, Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia

An unforgettable trip (!) across through “No, you really cannot pass overland”-region.
In the middle of nowhere, Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia

Moped driver, my backpack and me during a more than painful 7-hours-horror-ride.
In the middle of nowhere, Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia

Wild Borneo is passed, now the earned recovery in one of the richest countries world-wide.
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

Celebrating with the crew on a pretty special ferry incl. 355 deportees.
Ferry from Sabah (Malaysia) to Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippines

Not as bad as the rumours say but still in some parts …let’s say “special”.
Manila, Philippines

No, this is not New York, San Francisco or Paris… ;)

During rough sea surprised by a big wave. There’s no need to pull a long face. :)
On the Hanjin Pretoria container ship between Taiwan and Australia

Up to 77.658 tons and 55.890 PS on 282 m steel under my control.
On the Hanjin Pretoria container ship near Papua New Guinea

…to be continued… ;)

This is just a tiny selection of images (0.003%). Breathtaking photos of boundless landscapes, awesome nature, impressive world heritage sites, local people, wild animals and especially some very unique snapshots are ready and just waiting to be processed along with my notes. That you’ll feel the feelings of astonishment, joy and the experience itself is guaranteed. :)

Merry…

I wish you and your dear ones a Merry Christmas and above all the leisure to realize and enjoy the beautiful things of life.
Furthermore, I wish you with all my heart a fantastic start into a successful and especially memorable New Year 2012. It’s your time!

Thank you for all the good wishes and especially thank you very much for every support!

I’m looking forward to see you safe and sound again!
Mathias :)

English Quick-Links: [Top] – [Introduction] – [Outlook 2012] – [Photos] – [Greetings]