vietbodia 07

..........probably the last words

2008-03-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

I was asked to finish this with a last chapter. So here it is: I'm back in Marburg, Germany. Since about one month I'm reorganizing myself setting things up and heading forward to finish my studies. I'm going to write my diploma thesis about NGOs in Development Cooperation.

This probably last entry I like to start with a big thank you to all the people who supported me the last 6 month. Thanks to all Glennies who provided me a shelter, discussions, answers and questions. We had a great time. A big hug to Eva my superhero mate. I don't know how to survive without you in the jungle of curiosity, in the flood of emotions. Thank you for holding my hand in the hospital. Thank you for the great Tai Chi and Kung Fu lessons. Thanks for pushing things forward. Thanks to Oanh and her lovely niece. We had a great time in tran phu. I' m already mising our discussions and the cooking sessions. Special thanks to the guys who visited me Basti, Mareike, Carlo the tomcat and Daniel the Squid. We shared some very special moments. And of course Thanks to all of you who supported me from home. I'm done so far. :-)

Long time no see. After some petty nice days with my companion Daniel. I was kept on the idea to go to Burma. I informed myself, collected articles, I talked to my family and friends and finally I got a visa. All reasons not to go were balanced out. I got some cash and a ticket. With strange feelings I entered the plane. Against my fears it was not as complicated as expected. The securities didn't keep my camera nor my Ibook. I found a nice Guest house where the owner helped me to organize my further travel. Two days in the capitol were enough and I took a bus to Bagan. 18 hours on the most bumpy road I've ever experienced. 18 hours no sleep. Spoiled from the last weeks it was even harder but worth. I shared the rows with probably the most impressive people, monks. Somehow different than the ones I met before. Calm in their behavior, respectable in their gestures and not only friendly more kind of special in their presence. Hard to describe for me. After the horrible bone shaking but remarkable ride we arrived in Bagan which is famous for its more than 4000 temples its, an place with spirit. With horse cart we were brought to a guesthouse where we caught up some sleep. The next days we took again horse carts or bicycles to explore this ancient place. Watching Sunrises and sunsets over the temple scenery followed. We bet on slingshotcompetitions played caneball soccer with kids and ate strange food. The short schedule forced me to leave and I headed for Lake Inle in the Shan state. I can remember that I've read something about Shan state that described it as a mysterious, rebellious and mountainous region and for real so simple as that sound to me, it was like that. We found a guide, a good one. He organized a trekking tour for the next days. Kopar and his best friend Winwin lead us through the mountains, prepared amazing meals and watched our steps. The nights were spend in monasteries among monks. Another experience was the blessing from the monks in the morning. It hurt to leave each of this places. Mentally I felt strong but physically I was weak, sick. I was not longer able to count how often I had to go into the bushes. But thats probably the price for such a trip. Finally Kopar fixed my demolished body with some witchcraft medicine and I could enjoy the trip even more.
To keep it short: I was healed physically but I got a new infection, mentally. I was infected by this awesome and likewise grotesque Burma.
Unfortunately some of the regions I wanted to travel to were not safe anymore because of less friendly rebels and an increased risk of landmines. I had to change plans and besides that I was going to run out of cash and there are nor atm cash machines in whole burma. Slightly disappointed because the lack of time but full of impressions I left. I haven't regret to go there but next time I will need more preparation.

Some people asked me for travel hints because of the political situation in burma.
Questions like:

Isn't it bad to travel there and give your money to an inhuman regime?
In fact if You travel there have to leave there money but as far as it is possible you can decide to whom you gonna give it. You can avoid to support state run travel agencies or guesthouses and restaurants. The best might be to spread your spendings so you can support small local businesses. Inform yourself by asking locals. The tourgroup tourism is unlikely seen by the people because the state profits from the most of the spendings. Most of the people I met are appreciating backpackers.

Isn't it dangerous?
Last year we were witness of the brutality of that regime. People were killed on the streets by the military during demonstrations. There are informations about deported and executed monks. Thousands of people vanished. The truth is hard to find. But fact is that people, mostly monks, started a peaceful protest against high prices of food, failing social services and lack of reliable supply. The government reacted on that with violence against the population.

Burma still has hard times. The Burmese people are poor by law a lot of them are opressed by the governement and some by the non governmental armed groups. More than 30 different ethnic and rebel political organizations, with an estimated 45,000 combatants, ]exist within the country. According to the the informations of landmine monitor several parts of the country is contaminated by landmines and the army and the rebels as well are still laying mines to “defend” their territories.
The only pragmatic answer you can get is be aware and listen to the locals. I was glad to had such a good guide and people around who could give me advices and hints. Nevertheless you will not be the only tourist there you will meet other western people there some of them are more or less aware. Balance it out, anyway its worth to go.
So enough smartassing for now.

Thank You for reading..............................

Bangkok same same---pingpong-show? I told you, I hate racket sports!

2008-01-04T22:21:00.000-08:00

christmas survived, new years eve shipped through

2008-01-03T23:28:00.000-08:00

before i'll start to explain how gros and even how sad the last days were. i give u some of my memories of a more calm place on earth. some people said its a forgotten place i'd like to see it as a place meant to stay in memories and should never be lost. if this leads to an opposite perception this is it. may other people see it different because they like to do so. despite travellers passing through laos is probably something what you may not search for but if u open eyes, walk off certain roads and go further u find taht something. for everybody esle it could be one of the "i made it". up to you. when u find people who seemed that they've never seen foreigners before and they are and you aswell a kind of scared or just confused, then that's something to remember. never had a kolao motobike before, never will have again. we stuccked in the middle of nowhere seeking for a magic monkey forrest. well equipped with 3 kilos of bananas and enough fuel but on the wrong ride. motobike brakedown in the dessert of translation. with handsigns we found a sort of mechanic and a more or less warmly welcome in the village community. after the workshop they sent us in the completely wrong direction. maybe it was not their purpose. probably they tried to told us absolutly not to go in that direction the whole crowd pointed at. so under broad laughter we left further to nowhere....

city of angels

2007-12-23T03:32:00.000-08:00

After more or less relaxing weeks in lao the city of angels opened its gates to the exhausted pathfinder. In my perception its anything els than a city of angels, more a bowl of deepfried devils. brainlost farangs seeking pricey adventures. but hey nevertheless there are some things left to soak up. take a busride, a boat and never forget the sunscreen, hit the beach on koh samet, do nothing except nothingness, read a book, grill fish, swim and get a sunburn anyway. now christmas is at the door, same same kitschy but thats the buizz and never care when thes best oft the best wil join u.

but now some of the past.. melancholies sister is sneakin around, thank u so much, cam on nieu, kop chay, khawp kuhn khrap for that great company on the sea in vietnam vietnam****** halong bay

I wish all of u a merry christymas and hope youre doing well and bear these days without me, myself and the grinch

best wishes out of dirty bangkok ***basti

Laos land der schlafenden hunde

2007-12-12T05:33:00.000-08:00

sabadee
lange zu lange stand hier nichts. das ding sei tot sei zu vermuten. doch ein kleines lichtleim glimmt noch auf. die letzten wochen waren viel wie immer. viel getan, viel gesehen, viel erlebt. Halong Bay, Sapa und noch von Hanoi Abschied genommen habe ich. Das Projekt mehr oder wenig zufriedenstellend zum Ende gefuehrt. Ein Resumee soll noch folgen, doch nicht hier und jetzt. Jetz bin ich im land der schlafenden Hunde. Nach Hanoi ist Laos etwas voellig anderes. Kein Laerm, kein Smog, man kann die voegel wieder hoeren. und die menschen sprechen eine lustig freche sprache, kein schnattern. "Sabadee" heisst hallo und servus "kopchay lei lei" vielen dank und der schnaps heisst "laolao". ich muss nicht handeln, nach einem meiner zoegernder blicke gefolgt von einem laecheln bekomme ich faire preise und laechlen gratis dazu. kein kampf um die strasse zu uberqueren. hier kaempft niemand, nicht mehr. auf den strassen liegen hunde und schlafen in aller seelenruhe. warum auch nicht weit und breit kein hupender Vietnamese der ihnen an den kragen wollen wuerde. hier ist man bodenstaendig, hier isst man eichhoernchen. und selbst diese fallen wahrscheinlich ganz mir nichts dir nichts und freiwillig entspannt auf den holzkohlegrill. Christian Kracht hat die Laoten in einer seiner wunderbaren Geschichten mit den Schweizern verglichen, und ja ganz unrecht scheint er nicht zu haben. Das Voelkchen lebt so in den Tag hinein ist, laesst sich nicht aus der Ruhe bringen. Warum auch nicht. Man verdingt sich so das Warten. Warten darauf dass es mehr Wasser vom Himmel regnet, Warten dass die Rueckbleibsel des so ungeheim geheimen Krieges der USA nicht nur vergraben sondern auch weggraeumt werden um den Grossteil des Landes wieder bestellen zu koennen. So warten alle auf irgendetwas aber jenseits von Ungeduld und ueblicher Hast am Ende langen Wartens. Ein gutes Warten eben. So warte ich auch, darauf das mein Schnupfen sich verzieht und die Atemwege frei geben moege....soviel heute, vielen Dank fuers lange warten!!! Alle die beleidigt sind, es tut mirl leid, mensch moege mir verzeihen.

kick me out or let me in

2007-11-10T22:14:00.000-08:00

Viel gibt es zu tun, manchmal zu viel. Diese Sache hier dabei aufrechtzuhalten faellt, wie man sieht, nicht ganz leicht. Krank bin ich. Scheinbar undefinierbare Bakterien oder Viren oder beides wer weiss das schon? Aber nach den ganzen Mutmassungen der lieben Kollegen und Freunde hier, keine Malaria und mit ziemlicher Sicherheit auch kein Dengue Fieber, so der Krankenhausbefund. Jetz sitz ich hier waehrend die anderen ins Gebirge gefahren sind. Aber was war bis dahin?
Nachdem wir einige Kommunikationsprobleme mit unseren lieben Kollegen hier bewaeltigen mussten, sind wir nach auf eigen Kappe nach Hue gefahren. Dort, so glaubten wir, andere geschichten zu finden als in Hanoi und Umgebung. Unsere Kontaktperson, ein tschechischer Soziologe, organisierte nahezu alles fuer uns und so mangelte es an nichts bis auf die Gunst der lokalen Autoritaeten. Nur mit viel Geschick und dem Charme Jirkas bzw. seinen unglaublichen Sprachkenntnissen gelang uns der Zugang zu den community healthcarecenter und zu den Bewohnern der Community. Dennoch meinte es der liebe Onkel nicht gut mit uns. Nachdem ein Tag recht erfolgreich schien und die anderen nur auf sich warten liessen, war es das Wetter welches uns zur Aufgabe zwang. Hue ist wohl die duemmste Stadt. Wenn es einmal anfaengt zu regnen hoert es nicht mehr auf, zumindest in dieser Jahreszeit. Und Schluss mit Regen ist erst wenn der Onkel es will. Bis dahin laufen die Strassen ueber und die Ratten gehen baden und die Fuesse werden umspuelt von dieser "Bruehe". Wir fahren Motorrad auf Strassen die nicht nach solchen aussehen, vielmehr schwimmt unser Motorrad dahin und wir gehen unfreiwillig Baden. Vietnam Vietnam. Nach vier Tagen in denen wir nicht nur rumsitzen sondern eben tun was wir koennen, fahren wir dann zurueck. Anstelle noch mehr Geschichten und Bilder fuer unser Projekt zu finden besuchten wir eine BlindenSchule, Rehabilitationszentren fuer Behinderte und fanden letztendlich neue Freunde.
Zurueck in Hanoi lassen wir es uns gut gehen. Wir folgen der Einladung der Tschechischen Botschaft zu einem exclusiven Konzert im Melia Hotel, wohl einem der teuersten am Platz. Dort essen wir massenhaft haeppchen und trinken guten echten Bordeaux. Das hilft ein wenig um die Blessuren zu heilen und unsere Kraefte wieder zu sammeln. Am folgenden Abend folgen wir wieder einer vietnamesischen Einladung. Diesmal sind wir Zuschauer in einer Fernsehshow im einzigen Open Air Studios Vietnams. Die Show ist gefaked nur Playback und der Aufnahmeleiter war wohl betrunken. Jede dritte Einstellung muss wiederholt werden. Das Publikum friert und wir verstehen nichts von alldem was sie singen aber wir stimmen mit ab fuer den und die Beste(n). Vietnam sucht den Superstar mal anders.
Den Montag wach ich mit Fieberschueben auf und fuehl mich alles andere als grandios. Bin zu nichts faehig und lass es auch dabei. Auf Anraten unserer chefin Oanh und wegen der verdaechtigen Symptome gehe ich dann doch lieber ins Krankenhaus, diesmal ohne Kamera. Nach drei Stunden erfahre ich nur was ich wahrscheinlich nicht habe aber nicht was ich habe und woher ich es habe. Ich koennte jetz ja ne liste mit Vermutungen posten, lass es aber. SOS Hospital ahoi, dafuer habe ich ne Packung bunter SuperAntibiotika und bin um 260 Dollar aermer. Ich liebe Vietnam.

some times they’re lucky

2007-10-18T21:32:00.000-07:00

Lu is everything they have besides themselves. Since thirteen years they share their small house on the red river. Their are not allowed to spend their lifes on the shore. Nobody wants them there. They know what they want, it’s what they need. Everybody in this so called fishery village, where nobody is fishing, has dreams. They need to work to survive. Therefore they first wish to be healthy, to have one day without diseases and weakness. Second wish is less rain, a reasonable wish, not more than better weather. From one day to next the red river can take everything from them. If the weather is good and the aches of their tired bones are bearable, they can follow their work. What does work means here? Somehow they are specialized, like everbody here in the neighbourhood. They’re fishing plastic bags out of the red river, they recycle them and sell them. If they’re lucky they can get one dollar a day. The river feeds them. If they’re lucky ist enough for some tobacco and green tea. Thats all what they can offer you. The neighbour is expert on plastic bottles another one on cans, these are the big fishes. They’ve seen a lot since they are living there. In thirteen years people came and left. Once the neigbour family built a house 15 meters further in the wrong direction. It’s anything else but safe to built a house on the shore. Some people didn’t want them to settle down. The same people could be the reason that one day the house burnt down. The river is nomansland and the only safe place to stay. Floods or fire what is harder to stand. Some times they are lucky. Lu ist the name of the dog, everything could come but nobody should ever take hands on him. Lu is there with them and sometimes he gets small left overs, if they’re lucky.

hue and ba trang

2007-09-30T06:00:00.001-07:00

Sleepingbus to hanoi

Hue tombs

Ba trang, hanoi - pottery village

busy busy busy

2007-09-30T05:22:00.000-07:00

the last two weeks were full. full of "work". Yeah our work became more concrete in its shape. so far i can say. lets call it rethinkin Healthcare system in Vietnam. like every delivered service here the healthcare system is full of co**uption. there is a public system but ask people how it works. 80% of the xpenditure on healthcare comes out of pocket. so if u would get sick here you can be sure to pay only to get into the right queue in front of the hosital reception. somehow things go like this. but eva and I will change it. So if anybody has an idea how to raise patient awereness, just give me a hint. So far we're studying the current system and working on a report for funding a future project. And so far I ve found cool guys here to discuss, to hang out and party. Eva and I are a dreamteam, still working on our superhuman skills for savin the world. But with a perspective on success, I guess.
After fighting my hang over from last night ( great party in the suburbs, drum n' bass, reggea, ragga and indie classics) so after that i had my first Kungfu class. But for today i Strted with tai chi. A good way to work on hang overs. :-)
Besides that I still didn't take any new pictures. Till now i avoided to clean my nikon and the lenses. So you only get some pictures from Hue and oh, of course from ba trang, a pottery village close to hanoi. Sorry for my absence. But thanks for the feedback. if u would give me more feedback, maybe ( thats one of the most important words in vietnam) i would update more often. So far.....I luv u all

hanoi - no film. no entlightenment but bia hoi and ak47s

2007-09-16T02:34:00.001-07:00

.....no no no. I'm back with my reports. Not that u would think I'm lazy, doing nothing except sleeping and eating. Since one week wer are in Hanoi. For Traveller to long and for the foreigners besides the traveller we are recently arrived. so what does that mean, recently? The first days we've stayed in one of the volunteers house of solidarite jeunesse, a ngo working on social developement with the youth. We had a free stay, a good company, fun and a lot of moskitos. Last monday we had our first day at the isds ( institute for social developement studies). There we met our Boss Mr. Suanh and Ms Hong the for us responsible. For all those who might forgot what our so far supposed project should deal with. It should have been about documentary filming on the topic hiv and stigma. but by now we've realized that different sometimes different means. so far, no camera, no film, only hiv and stigma. Instead of that we've started a research on corruption in public health sector. isds is a nongovernmental institute and runs mostly from funds and suppot from different foundations. The topics they work on reach from sexuality in society, gender, hiv stigma and prevention to other health related topics. For those who are really interrested in the topics of the isds check http://www.isds.org.vn/home.asp
Our jobs now are kind of scoutmissions to figure out what kind of surveys already exist on corruption in the health sector. we will see. Our collegues are very kind even if we are not able to understand what they are talking about during lunchtime. We have our own cook there, our own office with ac and adsl. so far so good nothin to complain about.
On thursday we moved in our new home which is close to the center more than comfortable, especially if u are used to share a room with 4 other people. So now we have a pretty nice place ( i won't write that we are proud to have a house for our own) with everything we need to feel spoiled and we only pay for electricity, totally weird. And indeed, since our arrival in hanoi i didn' take one picture. By now I'm pretty exhausted because of the hang overs of the last two nights. Only to scratch on the surface. The nightlife her is limited. Because of the law Bars and Clubs use to close at midnight. But if u know the rigt people (thanks niels) u might have party untill five and later. The so called lightouse may probably not enlight u but flashs u with its bad djs. But its the only place where the barowner is keen enough to bribe the police. after that experience, u only have to find your way home and you should be able to explain yourself to the guy with the ak47 who probably thinks you would try to brake in your own house. so far my vietnamese is still bad but I'm trying everyday. Next time i will post some pics, maybe maybe not. all of u take care and i go out for dinner bye

Und alle die jetzt noch weiter lesen koennen habe ich besonders gern. das beste gegen hangover ist kophoerer auf und sich durch die stadt cruisen lassen, sich an den see flanken und nichts tun wenns regnet spart mensch wasser. danach palaver auf der strasse und der tag ist fast vorbei, waere da nicht noch ein grossartiges essen. wer mich besuchen kommen will auf ein bia hoi und einen videoabend( ich schaetze hier sind 253 filme un ein dicker fernseher), sei genauso willkommen wie der oder diejenige die sich mal richtig selbstverlieren wollen. Ich habe den HAKEN (danke dafuer) an der sache noch nicht gefunden, zoegere es hinaus ihn zu suchen. so diese blogger backding/ das heist wohl dashboard) is nur in vietnamesisch, wenn eineR von euch weiss wie man das umstellt, ich weiss wer euch dankt. machts gut und demnaechst kommt mehr.

2007-09-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

2007-09-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

same same - but different

2007-09-06T07:41:00.000-07:00

same same - but dependent

nachdem wir das laute saigon verlassen haben, sind wir nach 8 Stunden Zugfahrt im sitzplatzabteil, exotischer fuer unsre mitreisenden als fuer uns, in nha trang angekommen. Nha trang kann, so meine einschaetzung, auf jeder reiseroute ohne bedenken ausgelassen werden. wagemutig wie wir sind verbringen wir in diesem alles ander als beschaulischen badeort den unabhaengigkeitstag. zwischen inlaendischen und allen anderen auslaendischen touristen verbingen wir so zwei viel zu ueberteuerte tage strandurlaub. alles andere als unabhaengig liegen wir gelangweilt in liegestuehlen im lousiana relax resort. und nur fuer wenige stunden kann ich mich davonschleichen um andere menschen als betuchte koreaner, chinesen, ja sogar vietnamesen, und die westler nicht zuvergessen, zu sehen. und noch mehr. am public beach lerne ich mr. funny than kennen, 64 jahre alt englischlehrer, uebersetzer fuer weiss gott welche botschafter und das militaer. zweite frau, 10 kinder insgesamt aber immer noch very strong. er laedt mich zum lobster essen ein gibt mir vietnamesich nachhilfe und ein super tourguide sei er uebrigens auch. seit seiner pensionierung, sein job oder mehr noch seine bestimmung. ueber gott und die welt reden wir nur ueber seine zeit beim militaer als uebersetzer fuer us-operationen will er mir nichts erzaehlen. wir essen reiskuchen und rauchen mentholzigaretten. thans frau ist schatzungsweise 20 Jahre juenger, sein aeltester sohn 43 und sein juengster 10. letzterer ist vernarrt in meine behaarten weissen beine. same same but different. wir wollen braun sein und die wollen weiss sein. Mr funny will seine gitarre holen und mit mir singen. Aber ich muss zurueck zu den anderen weissen an den anderen strand wo alles seinen preis hat und der lobster sogar steuern zahlt. hurra auf die unabhaengigkeit.

die flucht erfolgt mit einer zwoelf stunden busfahrt ueber den highway No 1., die fuckin bumpy road, und eine motorpanne machen die fahrt nicht ertraeglicher. schlafen ist was anderes. aber der naechste tag wird mit dem beschaulichen hoi an belohnt. eine altstadt gibt es, mit unzaehligen schneidereien und gallerien. Da wird mensch schon mal schwach und laesst sich was schneidern. ein mini angkor wat gibt es auch. zu den cham tempeln my son faehrt man einen halben tag und sieht dort das was noch nach den us bombings uebrig gelassen wurde. Gross aber vielleicht nicht grossartig. Haben es die amerikaner nicht geschaft das gesamte tempelreich zu zerstoeren, so schaffen sie es immer wieder meiner laune einen knacks zu verpassen. Awesome but nothing to compare with angkor in siem riep. Alles wird verglichen und auf der awesome scale festgehalten und gewertet. hier fuer ein same same. der strand ist menschenleer nur ein paar kinder teilen ihn mit mir. Mein fahrrad ist in einem grandios miserablen zustand, nur eine nicht ganz funktionierende bremse und nachts erahne ich, dank fehlender beleuchtung, die schlagloecher. Dafuer kann ich es ohne es abschliessen zu muessen ueberall stehen lassen. Die locals finden es haesslich und fragen ob ich es entsorgen will. Da trink ich doch noch ein red bull drauf und tret in die rostigen pedale. sorry i fellt like wirting in german. next time ingles

siem riep + ho chi minh

2007-08-30T05:21:00.000-07:00

So far so good. the days in siem riep were exhausting. so many temples in a short time. we had nice cycling trips to the countryside, thanks for that tiger. people on the countryside are so kind and warm in welcoming us to their villages. siem rieps nightlife must be developed even when youre sitting in the rooftop x-bar which is that location where you can stay longer than 1.00pm. expectations are not allowed. go there, wait there and fall asleep, the hang over is the same with or without partypeople. beware of the ladyboys and the female snooker champions. best wishes to nick ray the author of the lonely planet. By the way I hate u!
Now its ho chi minh what keeps me awake. saigon blue, cheers. tomorrow were heading for a shorttrip to the cu chi veitcong tunnels.

Battambang – or Tvs are less expansive than children

2007-08-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we’ve arrived in battambang which is located in the northwestern part of cambodia. With a population of only 158.000 ist the second largest city in the kingdom cambodia. If you wanna see rural cambodia that should be your choice and so it was mine. The busride fromm phnom penh took 6hours so weh ad to get up early and catch it at seven. Naive as I am I thought it might be possible to have sleep in the bus but no way. Besides the aircondition and the nerverresting horn the karaokevideoclips kept me awake. Not that bad for watching the rural landscape passing by. Battambang iss mall, calm, friendlyand short of tourists. Drivers are offering good prices and you might not be so vulnerable for rip-offs. So far my impressions. Having Daytrips to the nearby temples are musts and so we booked drivers for guiding us into the rural surroundings. Great at all to see temples ancient housings, small villages where the time seemed to run slow. Even I am only two days here, I had almost the best sights of the cambodian countryside, my best fruitshakes, the best fish amok ( kind of curry served with bread or rice) and don’t forget the fried grasshoppers and crickets filled with peanuts ( really they use to put roasted peanuts in their asses). Besides the fried frogleggs I must say I had my best food so far. Tomoorow we will join a khmer cooking course which includes to go to the market and buy local specialities and prepare them in a typical khmer kitchen. I will tell you what that experience was.

For the patient readers the headline comes as a riddle. So please I want you to solve it. Bhat, ( don’t know to write khmer) my driver told me a lot of personal things and one of that was about tvs and having children. I love this guy and you would do either. He wasn’t that able to call my name and put it to something between tien and tiaen which is pretty similar to a khmer name. Which meaning is hard to explain, even in german and I am still figuring it out and will ask him again tomorrow. Now it’s time for Aras( only the local cigarettes) and Anchors ( the local beer).

I still have format problems and so uploading pictures is quite a challenge, please excuse for that.

monivong road

2007-08-22T08:34:00.001-07:00

monivong road
Originally uploaded by ILikeSlides

even if you are not interested, Mr. BoomBoomLong knows waht you need. Oh you are married, huhh, no prob need some opium? monivong road

repair street

2007-08-22T08:32:00.001-07:00

kampuchea krom_1
Originally uploaded by ILikeSlides

got a break down? thats the best adress, best adress in town, cheap cheap.

inhale the dust

2007-08-22T08:29:00.001-07:00

centralmarket_2
Originally uploaded by ILikeSlides

hang out on central market you can stick in traffic, if you want to. take big breath.

norodom blvd

2007-08-22T08:27:00.001-07:00

norodom blvd_2
Originally uploaded by ILikeSlides

wanna smoke for less?
feels like somebady is following me. thats during lunchtime, so not that much street gangs on the road. good time for a relaxed ride if there were not that heat.

central market

2007-08-22T08:24:00.001-07:00

centralmarket_6
Originally uploaded by ILikeSlides

that a typical scene on central market. women chatting about unbelievable strories

central market

2007-08-22T08:22:00.001-07:00

centralmarket_1
Originally uploaded by ILikeSlides

those people asked me if I could take a picture of them. It was taken near the central market.

impossible

2007-08-17T19:11:00.001-07:00

I Just wanted tu upload that first pics I shot but it seems to be impossible. because everytime I have tried to open my usb device it shows crazy hieroglyphics.
maybe i have to check another internet spot. people here kind but special because Ive never seen a sense in refreshing desktop icons for increasing cpu performance. but hey, maybe i could feed the keyboard with my coffe an it will be running like hell. sorry for beeing that sarcastic.....
well last days were still impressive. Iam actually falling in love with that noise stinky smoggie city. I was riding a lot on silkes bike and took some pictures oft that strange city with its different peeople living, working more or less breathing in. Most of the people used to wear mouthcoverings because of the smog Ive tried it aswell but didnt feel so comfortable. Yesterday my czech tandem Eva arrived from Ho chi minh. I ve picked her up and we had a mototaxi-ride through the city. When we went out for some "walking" she was , iguess, kind of shocked. Because there are not that parks and green spaces here and the city obviously wasnt made for walking ( maybe some body should write a song called "that city was not made for walking, lalalala". But as I did everyody adopted on that city and even more. nad after the very tasty traditional khmer food everything is excuseable even the dusty roads. Now i have to wake up that bunch sleepingbears from cologne and czech republic, i mean its almost half past nine and today is saturday. sleeping is so overrated.....more interesting things next and pics coming son, hopefully

Phnom Penh

2007-08-14T22:54:00.002-07:00

Phnom Penh......Finally I am arrived in Phnom Penh. martin and silke picked me up at the airport. together with Hajni they share a flat close by the russian market. That district is more or less calm but seems to be very secure. I have started my day with cycling around loking for a nice breakfast. As you could imagine cycling here is different because you have to get into that flowing chaos. Traffic rules are very special but when you just hold your line and ride on it seems to work. never thought of cycling here but hey, lets try something new...
So gestern abend bin ich nach einem sehr langweiligen 6stundenaufenthalt am Flughafen von Bangkok angekommen. Meiner ersten eindruck lass ich mal aus. Ich komme an hab kein passfoto fuer mein visum, no problem just pay one dollar, auch gut. Man bezahlt strafe fuer passbilder die man gar nich braucht, die spinnen die cambodians. dann warte ich auf meine lieben freunde. die kommen nicht stattdessen ein taxifahrer, der ist aber gar nich so aufs geschaeft aus. und nachdem ich ihm erzaehle das ich von freunden abgeholt werde, fragt er nur ob da auch frauen dabei seien. wir unterhalten uns kurz und rauchen ein paar zigaretten zum abscheid schenkt er mir noch ne strassenkarte. ich schenke ihm dafuer ein poppeligen carabiner und er hueptf freudig davon, crazy that cambodians. Dann kommen doch noch martin und silke und wir fahren mit dem mototaxi zu hajnis flat. Schoene Gegend, scheint ruhig und unkriminell. feierabendbier gibts auch und dann irgenwann heija. heute startete ich den tag mit fahrradfahren. Hoert sich krank an sieht auch so aus. Nach anfaenglichen unbehagen, geweoehnt man sich daran nur eine kleine nummer eines grossen flusses zu sein und wird vorangetrieben. aufregend und auch zu empfehlen, nicht zuletzt weil buergersteige nicht zum laufen gedacht sind und wesentlcich gefaehrlicher erscheinen. Man passt hier auf sich gegenseitig auf, glaube ich. und kein cambodian will letzendlcih sein maschinchen aufs spiel setzen, gott bewahre. so mehr demnaechst, der fluss ruft....

first post....

2007-08-12T14:38:00.000-07:00

...all my bags are packed I'm ready to go" um es in MosDef sinne zu sagen. oder in denen John Denvers welcher ersterem jene tollen strophen wohl unterschlagen haben muss. anyway. mit großen schritten schleppe ich meine kleinen füße richtung ausgang. was jetz nicht verstaut ist, findet keinen platz mehr, bleibt zurück. noch ein mal mehr oder weniger unruhig schlafen und dann los. mein nächstes ziel ist phnom penh, cambodia (Kambodscha sieht doch einfach schei... aus)
an dieser stelle nochmal ein grosses hiphiphurra an alle die freitag mitgefeiert haben. Dank gebührt den großen wie kleinen den frühen wie späten. groß wars. abschied nehmen sagt man ja, ich sage wir haben wohl eher alles gegeben. doch nehmen heißt es wohl zu recht, denn für die nächtsten monate, so meine idee, borge ich mir einfach mal einen teil von jedem von euch. ich hoffe das hier funktioniert aber ich werde mich abgesehn von den kommata bemühen und euch zu unterhalten versuchen, besonders mit bilingualen postings und damit verbundenen wortschöpfungen...nächste mal aus cambodia schreibt

vietbodia 07

..........probably the last words

Bangkok same same---***pingpong-show***? *I told you, I hate racket sports*!

christmas survived, new years eve shipped through

city of angels

Laos land der schlafenden hunde

kick me out or let me in

some times they’re lucky

hue and ba trang

busy busy busy

hanoi - no film. no entlightenment but bia hoi and ak47s

same same - but different

siem riep + ho chi minh

Battambang – or Tvs are less expansive than children

monivong road

repair street

inhale the dust

norodom blvd

central market

central market

impossible

Phnom Penh

first post....

Bangkok same same---pingpong-show? I told you, I hate racket sports!