We have a great hotel surrounded by water on both sides! It's fun to watch the tides. Kiribati seems to be a shellfish paradise. There are so many different shellfish. Some shells are so large you can comfortably sit inside them. Leaving South Tarawa and heading towards North Tarawa, life becomes considerably quieter. The number of thatched huts also increases.
A curious country in many ways. There is only one airline (Fiji Airways) that flies to this country, and it only flies five times a week. Life revolves around the airport... Before entering the country, I had to exchange enough Australian dollars, as there's only recently been an ATM. It doesn't accept international cards. Furthermore, there's a 15-minute snack bar every evening from 6:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. We had to stay on the street and weren't allowed to move. The whole thing is under police surveillance!
Finally riding a motorcycle again:::))) In return, I got several free showers. When even my beach towel was soaked, I continued shirtless. As a reward, I was able to swim in a swimming hole. In the evening, there was a Fiafia event with a really cool fire show.
Unfortunately, the trip to Mount Yasur didn't work out due to a lack of transportation. Instead, we went swimming in the Blue Lagoon and enjoyed the jungle at Eden Paradise. The country is still suffering from the effects of the earthquake in December 2024. Fewer cruise ships are docking. This is, of course, a blessing for independent tourists.
We’re boarding a small boat to Tulagi Island. There, you can find an interesting shipwreck — the MS World Discoverer, a German cruise ship that was deliberately grounded here in 2000 after a crack appeared in its bow. Today, it lies in Roderick Bay, just 20 meters from the shore.
The Solomon Islands are also known for the battles fought here during World War II and are still visited by veterans today. The Japanese and Americans engaged in fierce combat in this area.
It was our big goal to celebrate the country's 50th anniversary of independence, and we had to plan our trip accordingly. The extra effort was worth it. We visited the stadium twice for the celebrations; once we even received tickets as a gift from the wife of the Prime Minister's assistant. We also met the Bougainvillean ethnic group, probably the 194th country in the world. Negotiations are already well advanced.
Papua New Guinea, with its diversity, was certainly one of the highlights of our world trip! I think the pictures speak for themselves.
In three months, our world tour will already be over. We will visit Fiji more often, as it is the hub in the South Pacific. Therefore, this time we will focus on botany.
The main attraction in Tonga is underwater! Swimming with whales. Seeing a whale with its babies was a truly unique experience. The image of me looking eye to eye with the baby whale will remain etched in my memory! It was the most wonderful experience of our world trip.
We'd arrived in paradise! The beaches, the water, and the hosts were all fantastic. Our hosts treated us to lobster, banana cake, and jewelry. But the hinterland also had a lot to offer: beautiful waterfalls and off-road trails for scooters.
An unexpected beach paradise, especially the island of Aitutaki, which I would rank right at the top of the world in terms of beaches!
Visiting friends in Perth. Then a visa run for Papua New Guinea in Brisbane. And the crowning finale: the Sydney Opera House.
Beach holiday in the Maldives!:::))
We've now arrived at the water destinations. The beach at Anse Source d'Argent is considered the most photographed beach in the world. Another special feature is the world's largest coconut – the Coco de Mer! The nut is native only here. The export of the seeds is strictly prohibited.We've now arrived at the water destinations. The beach at Anse Source d'Argent is considered the most photographed beach in the world. Another special feature is the world's largest coconut – the Coco de Mer! The nut is native only here. The export of the seeds is strictly prohibited.
The Sesriem desert is always impressive! You'll gladly trudge up Dune 45 to see the sunrise. The hike to the White Lady petroglyphs was quite a challenge in the sun. Finally, we visited the Himba people, who showed us their customs.
Animal paradise!
The highlight is definitely Victoria Falls. Our personal highlight was the hike through Matobo National Park, where we came face to face with four rhinos just 10 meters away. In the Mana Pools, we loved seeing an elephant having its evening meal just a few meters from our house.
We drive up the Pamir Highway in a 20-year-old Toyota Landcruiser. The higher we climb, the more impressive the landscape becomes. At the border with Kyrgyzstan, we have to drop off our car and wait 1.5 hours in no-man's-land for our pickup...The pickup then takes us safely and without border problems to Sary-Tash.
The Citadel and the Friday Mosque in Herat feature unique architecture. Other highlights of our trip were the lakes of Banda e Amir and Bamyan Valley. The trip ended in Mazar e Sharif with the beautiful Blue Mosque. Special thanks go to our guide, Zubair, who made so much possible for us.
The Burana Tower has a beautiful tilt! Eagle hunting is also still very much alive in the country. The eagles are taken from their nests as chicks and released back into the wild at the age of 15. Near Lake Issyk-Kul, we slept in a yurt before heading to the largest animal market in Central Asia in Karakol. On the way to the ghost town of Enilchek, we met a film crew shooting a movie at 3,700 meters.
Charyn Canyon, Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes, and Altyn Emel National Park are scenic highlights in their own right in this country. In stark contrast to this is the modernity of the capital city, Astana.
For me, the highlight of the trip was standing above the rooftops of Samarkand's Registan. For a small tip, I was allowed to climb the tower all by myself, which offered a fabulous view of the square. Afterwards, I also had the privilege of sitting in the front row to watch the light show. But Bukhara and Khiva were also architectural wonders!
The gas crater in Derweze will unfortunately soon be a thing of the past. The government wants to extinguish it and has already begun the process. Its appeal has already been somewhat diminished. Ashgabat is known as the White City; not only buildings but also cars must be white!
What interested me about this country was the Formula 1 racetrack. A glimpse behind the scenes was a nice insight. I was able to marvel at the largest press center in the Formula 1 circus. Of course, a trip to the racetrack was also a must...
The Karthala volcano, with its 10 km circumference, is one of the largest in the world. We were completely alone up there at 2600 meters. Few tourists venture to the Comoros, even though they also have beautiful beaches. I only met one other tourist during my stay.
Pure adventure on the way to the Tsingy de Bemaraha. The hike through the rock formation was truly something special. I was rewarded with lemurs and chameleons. The crowning glory was the avenue of baobab trees! A country I'd love to visit again.
At Santiago de Chile's airport, you undergo a special immigration process, even though you don't leave the country.
The Moai dominate the island and are the pride of the islanders. It's impressive how they were carved from volcanic stone hundreds of years ago.
In Colombia, we only made a brief stopover with friends in Bogota. Afterward, we went to visit family in my wife's hometown of Lima, Peru. We had a wonderful time together. It's always a great pleasure for me to return to Peru. Unfortunately, I'm only in Peru very rarely. :(
This soup, which was created by a German in Guyana in the 1960s, is now also available in New York City. We had to reschedule our South America trip especially for this waterfall so that we could get 2 coveted seats on the flight to Kaieteur Waterfall. See for yourself whether it was worth it!
We went exploring in the jungle on the Upper Suriname River. The maroon was a real expert and showed us how to make a fire on the bark of a tree. The days at Menimi Lodge were very relaxing. The place exuded tranquillity! It was wonderful to sit on the terrace above the water and watch the birds.
We take a look at the rocket launch pads in Kourou. In future, up to 30 satellites a year are to be sent into space. We stop by the Salut Islands. French criminals were imprisoned here. The island is famous for Papillon. The book was also made into a movie.
It all started with a rain shower at the Caroni Bird Sanctuary before the wildlife revealed itself to us: snakes, flamingos and the red scarlet ibis. It was impressive to see them flying to their nesting sites in the evening. Then we went on to the beach island of Tobago. The final stop was the largest murti outside of India and an asphalt lake.
There was a beautiful crater lake, the Grand Etang, and lots of fauna to see. Grenada is also known for its spices. We were able to try nutmeg-flavored ice cream. A visit to the beach was also a must.
Pure Caribbean. 2 sailing trips from Bequia to Mustique and Cays Tobago showed us the Caribbean from its most beautiful side. The highlight was certainly swimming with sea turtles and rays.
Mountains and beach in harmony par excellence. Then it was off to the healing mud. The country is also very proud of its first Olympic champion, Julien Alfred.
We go on a diving trip with the Atlantis 15 submarine and on Friday evening we take the overcrowded bus to the legendary Oistins Fish Fry. The floating horses in the sea are the crowning glory.
It is a very green island with lots of jungle. So this time the focus was more on inland water: Trafalgar Falls, Emerald Pools and Titou Gorge. At the Gorge, you could swim very close to a waterfall. I had to be careful that the current didn't push me against the wall.
We visited English Harbour and Nelson Dockyard. Ships were once built here. Today, it serves as a marina, among other things. The next day, a Sunday, we faced the challenge of taking a bus to Stingray City. We were rewarded by about 60 rays swimming in the water, sometimes touching us.
The smallest Caribbean country has many beautiful views to offer. There are even thermal springs where schoolchildren can use the water for free during recess.
Admittedly, it was only a stopover. But we had long enough to comfortably walk to Maho Beach and watch the planes take off and land. And finally, I had a fresh salad!
This was the country we were most concerned about before setting out on our trip. Porte au Prince, the capital, is currently a no-go due to gang violence. Cap Haitien in the north has been spared so far. We received a friendly welcome at the airport with music. Afterwards, our landlord showed me his battery storage system in the kitchen! This allows him to be completely independent of the public power grid. The next day, we went to the largest fortress on the American continent, the Citadel of La Ferriere. The traffic in Haiti also presented me with considerable challenges, especially since our vehicle broke down twice.
The Bahamas delivered on their promise: Dream beaches. There was even a Pink Beach, Pink Beach on Harbour Island... Then there was the gigantic Atlantis Hotel with the largest private aquarium I've ever seen.
It was all about visiting my host family Herbst, where I was an exchange student in 1987/88. Now, finally, after 35 years, a reunion. Retracing the footsteps of the past, we first went to basketball, then to my high school, and finally to the ice cream parlor. But also something new: the Harley-Davidson Museum.
16. Jamaica country: The country has many different things to offer. Bob Marley, glowing water, waterfalls flowing into the sea and of course beaches.
15 years ago I couldn't travel to the country. It was considered the most dangerous country in the world. Now it's safe again. Our highlights were street art in Ataco, lakes and volcanoes.
From Sao Tomé to Accra, then to Lisbon and on via Miami to San Salvador. We really enjoyed Lisbon in February in sunny weather and finally saw the grave of Vasco da Gama.
The best thing is known to come to an end - a West African trip. I'm giving away a real secret tip here. At the risk that it will soon be no longer a secret. A very original country with overwhelming nature and world class beaches. The Caribbean was right with the last 10 euros.
It is not so easy to go from a dictatorship through a military government to democracy. In other words, Equatorial Guinea was going via Gabon to Sao Tome. Afrijet makes it happen. There was even time to visit the beautifully tiled church.
Because of a photo of a church, there was a handshake with a soldier, but it ended well after some discussion. A certain unrest is felt all over the country. 45 years of dictatorship have left traces. But the country also has very beautiful nature to offer.
Wir besuchen den Fetischmarkt in der Hauptstadt Lomé. Es ist der größte Voodoo Markt der Welt. Die Marktbetreiber stammen aus Benin. Beim Rundgang steigt häufiger ein unangenehmer Geruch in unsere Nasen. Es werden hier allerhand Tiere getrocknet, die angeblich nicht gejagt wurden, sondern von den Behörden übergeben wurden...
Cape Coast Castle was only a turning point for timber and gold trade before it was used for slave trade. At the end of the sightseeing tour, we had a good coffee from Ghana. The cafe operator went to school with former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
A long-held wish comes true. Visiting the largest church in the world, Notre Dame de la Paix in Yamoussoukro. It was built in just 3 years. Rumor has it that 6 percent of the state budget was built over the years.
The country was in a transition. We liked the nice people. We need to come back again.
we are taking a trip to the jungle. Going to a municipal project to Tiwai Island. We are delighted with the dreamlike landscape. Taking us a little boat to camp before we go exploring. It's just nice to enjoy the peace of the river while watching the monkeys in the trees.
The path from the border to the Sala waterfall near Labe was challenging. But we were rewarded accordingly:::)
over hill and dale through the countryside.
Then take the ferry to visit the magical island world of Bijagos.
It is only a short 20-minute ferry ride from Dakar to the island of Gorée. We visit the slave house, as Barack Obama did before us. It is a Unesco World Heritage Site. I am almost speechless as the guide explains how 20 people had to live in a room of less than 20 square meters. The door to “no return” is particularly impressive. This is where the slaves were loaded for a 3-month boat trip across the Atlantic.
Many of them died on the crossing and some of today's visitors stand at this door in tears...
So, now the time has finally come! The great adventure “all countries” can begin tomorrow, January 1st, 2025. 45 countries in one year. We won’t stay in around 15 countries for long, so there’ll be enough time for the remaining 30 countries. The last few weeks have been hectic and stressful. I worked until December 17th, 2024. At the same time, from November 18th, 2024 (when I returned from my trip to Japan), I had to get hold of 7 visas for West Africa..., rent out and empty an apartment, sell a car, and of course a lot more...The preparations ended on the day of departure, December 19th, 2024, at 1 a.m. Before that, we had eaten one last kebab and picked up a Kölsch from the kiosk. So the 2 weeks in Cape Verde were actually supposed to be a vacation... but our plane had to make an emergency landing because of a sandstorm. Nothing could happen now. They wanted to fly us back to Düsseldorf. Never, ever. And so we were already in the middle of an unwanted little adventure. We had to look for a room and quickly buy two ferry tickets. Thank God the ferry left the next day at 11:59 p.m. It then left at 5:30 a.m. on December 21st, so we arrived at the hotel 45 hours late. The relaxation could begin.
On November 24th, 2021 at 8 p.m. I'll be holding a time-out evening at the VHS Cologne and on November 30th, 2021 at 7 p.m. I'll be at the VHS Monheim with the lecture from Cologne to Vietnam.
I'll be stopping at the VHS Monheim, Tempelhofer Strasse 15 in Monheim, on Thursday November 19th, 2020 at 7 p.m. with enough safety distance! my presentation 111 countries. A safety distance of 2 meters is maintained between each chair to ensure the standard of hygiene. The number of participants is limited to 15! Please register in advance by email! I look forward to your coming.
The question is simply answered - in Germany!
There were many little trips to places that I always wanted to see:
Husum, Flensburg, Wismar, Bad Doberan, Wilhelmshaven.
Hidden champions. But that was exactly what made it so charming.
Hardly any tourists. Cheap accommodation prices. No crowds. It's easy to come into contact with the locals.
I can only recommend these places!
Let's see how many hidden champions I will visit in 2020...
You can access the report from the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger directly here:
"North Korea is a safe travel country"
in the Cologne-Nippes town hall, Neusser Str.450 on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 5 p.m. I look forward to your coming!
During an exciting and enjoyable "wine world trip" of a special kind, foundation founder Joachim von Loeben, at the Jacques Weindepot on Aachenerstrasse in Düsseldorf at the end of January, let the participants "travel along" and "empathize" with his unique experiences and impressions from his world trips.
Vorstellung, stelle Dich kurz vor
Weltreisender, Banker, Abenteurer, mehr über Joe in der Folge 006 vom Banker zum Abeenteuer und zurück ins normale Leben.
Warum besuchst Du solche Länder?
Ein bisschen der Nervenkitzel, Interesse an Ländern, die nur in schlechten Nachrichten vorkommen und ein eigenes Bild davon
