Retrospective Part 2

Feb 16, 2019 | After The Great Journey, Photos, Thoughts, Updates

In retrospective, last year seemed to be all about visiting every corner of Germany and some of Europe even.

How to better kick off a year than going skiing? Part business trip, part skiing adventure, we had a blast in the Dolomites!

Around Easter I brought some pictures back from the northwestern shore and even from the Netherlands. One remarkable trip that was!

A little later I had the chance to properly visit the German capital and learn a great deal about its history. Old and full of significant sights it stayed in my head.

For the first part of the year, it has been a ride and I remember it dearly.
Main ingredient of the best experiences are people. It adds flavour, when you recall ‘the old times’.

Retrospective Part 1

Feb 12, 2019 | After The Great Journey, Photos, Thoughts, Updates

When we returned from Denmark, you’ll remember or go look for that soothing entry, it was time for the stage.

It should be the last stage play I did yet, because I wanted to concentrate on the apprenticeship. The stage has its demands and I had other priorities. But no one said I didn’t enjoy it! In fact I did leave my comfort zone in certain ways for this.

I left out grooming to appear the lost and found and still loved son. Cut out of a whale, full of wisdom and grim views of the world, unafraid and out-of-his-mind, returning home just when the world is about to end. A comedic, yet forceful and crazy play it was. Not last thanks to the dear ensemble. And don’t y’all fear: I will go there again. Honour the black planks and assume yet another character.

Just before the year came to its conclusion, two events stood out: Autmn in all golden glory. Why do I mention that season? Because there were about one or two occasions I went for some pictures. But I would say those capture some of the atmospherical essence appropriately.

The other occasion was that I discovered another place to publish. On a platform that has gone beyond photographic interest I started to post stand-out pictures alongside some moody captions and those cheesy hashtags. It is fun, check it out.

Up North it goes!

Jul 25, 2017 | After The Great Journey, Photos, Trips

I often tell people that I come from the North of Germany. That is as true as it is relative. Because last weekend I went north.
My mission: Relaxation, experience, reuniting with friends.

One of the nights I spent inside a lovely caravan of the old make and the other one amongst my friends in Hamburg. Mission relaxation I could carry out well at the caravan’s and some experience I was presented with when having breakfast inside the ecological convenience store next to it.
Hamburg itself, for two half days, offered next to the fundamental relaxation a number of experiences. We looked at the Elbphilharmonie close up, we posed as spectators at a track and field competition, we walked much and we talked even more.

I would change nothing, maybe only the amount of time spent.

At the moment I am in Frankfurt. After the High Impact Presentation course from Dale Carnegie I have a little time left before my train arrives. Or before I arrive at the station. 🙂 This time I used to complete this article.

Content of two demanding days: Analyzing the own presentation skills and improve on it. On different kinds of presenting something we were filmed and coached alongside.
A great way to succeed! Now I know exactly where my strengths and weaknesses lie and after seeing myself, I can now begin to see others see me.

Long Weekend with Friends

Jun 11, 2017 | After The Great Journey, Photos, Trips

Even though this blog post has more pictures than words in it, the actual weekend has been full of experiences.

Do you remember Tina, with whom I had the ‘Adventure Couchsurfing’ and the ‘Authentic Kiwi Day’? 🙂
Exactly the same and her boyfriend I visited. So I went for a long weekend to Franconia.

The most amazing hosts in one picture!

One day we went into Swiss Franconia, from where I brought you some pictures of a dragonfly, mainly:

 

 

Bamberg. Just as the pictures show, a multi-layered city. She rewarded our visit with sun and a feast for the eyes and the belly.

 

 

One special attraction was so-called ‘Lesser Venice’.

 

 

As a highlight the visit of the ‘Teegießerei’  stood out. Tina went for a hot chocolate with chili and I wisely chose right, ordering some China Milky Oolong. A tea, fermented by using milk and being all deliiiicious! Including the second brew. 🙂

 

 

After Bamberg we strolled along the meadows around and the pavement inside Erlangen. And, oh well; it looked all very beautiful once more:

 

 

I am Groot.

Have you ever wanted to know what a Ferris wheel looks like through long exposure? Tadaaa:

 

 

A breeze of New Zealand came up, walking through the botanic gardens. Of course, those are to be told apart by their very plants…

 

 

 

 

As many pretty pictures arose, as many enjoyable moments there have been.
Friendship made them possible, in the first place.

One Year Home

May 10, 2017 | After The Great Journey, Thoughts, Updates

Not at all an unusual day, today.

We had our more intense school day of the week, then I got somewhat busy with my online freelance job, ordered parts for the car repair, read through scripts for the upcoming stage plays, made some wondrous guacamole with mum and dad, listened to a lot of music, looked forward to going to work and being with my colleagues and still. Still, this day is a special one.

Today, exactly one year ago, I arrived. Back in Germany. After 17 months. Long months, well lived.
In all the everyday struggle you hardly get to thinking back.

In this past year I ‘arrived’ in many ways. Have not only found a cool new job in shape of the apprenticeship, but also a company that I can call myself a part of.
I picked up some hobbies, got to know anew and to value some aspects of live, have traveled (smaller style) and kept on sharing it all with you.

Of course not as high frequented as back then, as every other day there were new things to experience. These days, my routine and also my plans have become more long-term-ish. And it wasn’t to be expected otherwise.

I want to make it about a picture, which illustrates my trail of thought well:

In the middle of December 2014 I stood in this exact place for the first time.

Back then I walked up Mount Victoria in Wellington and always marveled at the fantastic view you got when surpassing a crest on your way up.

As are these days not always made from sugar, but there are plenty of these crests along the way, after which you are presented with a splendorous panorama. And I want to rise up, want to see more of them and to go up the mountain to the very summit.
Up there, you can stay for a while, take in the view and enjoy. And from that point, you can look out for the next mountain you want to climb…

You will hear from me. 🙂