Non Stop Citylife, Seoul
May 2018

Arriving from a previous mission in China, the first thing which that caught my attention upon arrival in South Korea was the blue sky. In China I catched hot weather as well, but the sky never opended it's grey curtain, affected by the massive air pollution taking place in Qingdao.
I had a warm welcome by our sales agent, which supported our customers in the country. He also was then the entire week my driver and selected the beautiful boutique hotel in the students district near the Hongik university. From there we visited several customers during my almost two week stay in Seoul. 

My first step outside the hotel after arrival was an opening up to unknown world for me; a city which never sleeps. Basically non stop - 24/7! The small streets were always packed with people; student groups dancing choreo to K-Pop at three o'clock in the morning and a neverending mass of mostly young people flooding the small narrow streets at any time of the day or night.
Of course this was unique in that part of the city and for me the atmosphere seemed like an ongoing and neverending carnival.

I also took the change in the weekend to meet up with a friend of mine, I know here because my buddy who felt in love with Korea also felt in love with her and now they're already happily married since over one year.
That weekend I visited different ancient famous palaces, such as the Deoksugung. Those palaces were built more then six centuries ago and one more beautiful restored than the other.
All those places are for free to visit during major holidays but on a regular weekend, there are already enough people around visiting them.

All...

Russian Palms, Sochi
February 2018

My next trip to the edge of the european continent took me again to Russia, or rather to Timaschewsk; a typically small industrial town in the middle of nowhere. The residence I was planed to stay in was closed at my arrival, but I had luck by meeting another guest which opened the door for me so I didn't had to wait outside in the cold. The walk to the city centre took me around half an hour, but there's not much to see exept for some small shops and a big chinese supermarket with it's cheap products. Luckily the restaurant down the street from my accomodation had some good food to offer and I usually went there after work for a delicious hot bowl of Soljanka, a nutritious and spicy russian soup.

After my work got done till the end of the week, I've decided to take a day off for a longer weekend down in Sotchi.
I imagined hopping on one of those russian overland trains to be quite difficult for older persons, since the steps to enter where really high; but polite as russians are, everyone helped the other one or lifted some luggage for them. The ride took me till the early evening, at the right time to have a sunset walk along the beach. Despite the fact being located in Russia and on the begining of the Greater Caucasus, this small town has a mediterian flair which can be felt even during the winter season. Even the temperatures can rise up to 15°C on sunny winter days and the palm trees all around makes it for many russian a favorite holiday spot, popularly also called the caucasus riviera.
Fun Fact: The city with its almost half a million residents stretches over 140km and is listed as the longest city in Europe!
One thing which which makes the whole atmosphere weird are all the concrete Stalin and Lenin sculptures between the palm trees, left over and remembering back to the soviet era. I definitely recommend to visit the botanical garden or just walking on the beach towards the beautiful small harbor, where at almost every time of the day fisherman can be spotted.

Coming to Sotchi, I've also wanted to see the olympic village, which is located outside the town and easily rechable by train in one and a half hour.
To be honest, I was kinda dissapointed because there was absolutely nothing going on, neither to see, expect the big stadiums. I mean, we all now that those places are just build up for that specific event and mostly abadoned a few years after, but I still hoped to at least having the opportunity to maybe catch a guided tour or something like that. In any case, it was still impressive to see how big the whole area was and at least I found the offical memorial wall, showing all the participants of the olympic games.

Soviet Memories, Moscow
NYE 2018

Having the red square within five minutes of walking distance from the hotel is sure a nice thing, staying in a hotel room without window isn't; anyhow it was by far the best deal for staying right in the heart of moscow for an affordable price.

The whole trip started already with a fun part driving from the airport to the city by the newest version of Stadler-train (swiss made). They city of moscow just recently buyed a bunch of those new really nice and also fast trains to connect the surrounding airports to the city metro lines. Because of that big thing there where infinite loops of advertisement videos for that specific train on all the screens, where you usually expect being shown the route including it's next stops. Watching all those facts about how fast and capable those trains are and how proud they're to have them was not really corresponding with watching trough the window outside, realizing the train runs around max. 30km/h.
There are always two sides necessary to have a proper transportation; first of course the train itself but second the infrastructure as well. Those tracks were in such a bad shape that we were chugging along all the way to the city.

Entering the metro in the centre of Moscow is a whole different story; listed as the most beautiful metro lines around the world it opens a world of a surreal appearing underground spreading system full with marvelous marble hallways, sculptures, golden chandeliers; pompouser from one station to another. It's like walking trough an ancient noble castle and every station's surprizing me again with it's different look. Beside that I have to mention that Moscow is probably the cleanest big city I've ever visited, no trash on the ground neither cigarette butts.

I highly reccomend visiting Moscow over new years eve, because since the orthodox christmas is after the ending of the old year, there's is still the traditional christmas market going on at the red square. Next to it you'll find the big famous shopping mall GYM, which is delightfully decorated in that time of the year. Also in many other places such as parks, different momuments and sculptures are festive illuminated.
The only thing irritating me, was the lack of snow; I was used to be shown pictures of a snowy Moscow during the winter.

Visiting the Kremlin is an obligation when coming for the first time to Moscow, however it wasn't that spectacular as expected. Basically it's a big square with a bunch of old cathedrales, monasteries and goverment buildings protected and surrounded by the giant red wall. Walking around the Kremlin's wall trought it's following parks i found more interessting and indeed it's quite fascinating to see how big the whole residence is.

As an avowed fan of aeronautics, the day trip to the cosmonautic museum was probably the most intriguing visit during my stay in the city. The museum is located under a small hill whose top is covered by the stunning memorial, erected in 1994 to celebrate the achievments of the soviet people in space exploration. Different rockets are shown outside and also a full size Buran which was the counterpart to the american space shuttle back in the days. Inside, the time seemed to stand still but seeing relicts of the first space races, such as the Sputnik sattelite and original landing capsules, was quite a thing for me.

I usually've let the days fade away in different steak houses, which Moscow is also famous for and finding a good glas of vodka for a nightcap was never a problem as you may can imagine.

White Sand, Oman
November, 2017

One of the most common stopovers when travelling intercontintental towards south east are the arab emirates, also so did I earlier, but this was the first trip where I actually stayed in a country which belongs to the arabian gulf. My stopover was in Maskat, where I easily got my bussiness visa right at the desk, ready to head towards Salala. The town is located on the south west corner of the country, just a 100km away from the Yemen border. As already known from earlier travels to arab countries, hospitality is highly valued, so everything was arranged in advance by my customer.
The hotel was located in a nice neighborhood within short distance to the city centre with it's small shops and cafe's. 

Every evening I took the chance to walk towards the city centre where my walk always took me around the big mosque on the edge of the centre. I always found some tasty local food stands and due to lack of tourists in this area i was always noticed by the locals as the only foreigner walking around.
As i mentioned earlier, the whole stay was organized in advance by the customer. They made an agreement with the hotel that all my expenses would be covered by them. Therefore I was asked every morning how my dinner in the hotel was, what I never could answer since I always looked out for some local food outside in the area. The project manager at the plant could not understand my behaving not to eat dinner there and having everything paid by them. To calm him down, I once had my dinner in the hotel just to tell him the next day how it was; it was not bad but everything I tried outside was way tastier so far.

One evening I took the change to visit a local tailor who made a traditional omani dress for me called Dishdasha. There is a small difference compared to the other known arabic versions of it and that's the small cord on the neck closure, which comes in different colours and styles. By knowing that small detail, you can always tell an Omani from other arabic people. For me as a foreigner it's not permitted to wear that dress in the sultanate of Oman, only local Omani are should wear those.

In the end of my first week there was a local holiday because of the birthday of the holy prophet Mohammed. I took the chance of that longer weekend to go to the beach, the city centre of Salala is not located direct on the beach so it took me roughly around one hour to get there. I was definitely not prepared to see such beaches down there! It was that breathtaking mileslong view which pure white sand beaches as I only knew it before from pictures I saw from the Carribean. During the day I was almost there on my own but in the dusk more and more locals showed up with there pickup trucks to do their evening picnic at the beach.

On my way home to the hotel I passed by a small shed which i only figured to be a food place by the chairs standing around outside. Watching inside, there were only older men with long beards which looked quite strange at me, stepping in there which my shorts and shirt. No knowing what the chef has to offer, I somehow managed to order using my "hand and feets". He made fresh flatbread in a deep hole in the ground, where on the bottom a fire was heating up a round stone to put the dough on. It was served together with a really spice hot soup with chicken in it and was the most delicious thing I tried there. That's exactely why I always avoid the hotel cuisine; local food outside are always way tastier and that whole meal cost me not even two bucks!

After my install at the customer plant, the project manager took me for an afternoon trip to the northern part of Salala. It's the only part of the whole country which greens up during the short rain season in the summer and really gives the experience of being in an oasis in the middle of the desert. The area is basically one long green hill strip in the north of the city and on our way we passed several herds of camels who are brought there for filling up their water tanks. They can drink up to 200 litres in just a quarter of an hour and belong to those rare animals who can also drink salt water to stay alive!
In that wonderful area small lakes such as stone caves can be found which attract the local people for chilling out during the hot days of the year.

After all it's also worth to be mentioned that the local goverment set it's goal to come more away from the fossil income and will focus to become a sustainable tourist place in the coming future. Political wise the sultanate of Oman has it's special role in the gulf states since decades and it's quite impressive to read into it for those who are interested.

Ancient City, Plovdiv
February'17

In the last week of February, i flew for a few days to Plovdiv in Bulgaria.
The work went forward very well so every evening i had time to discover the city.
Before i've never heard about that glorious town in the heart of Bulgaria. On the second evening, i walked up to the hill behind the old town. From there i had a good view over the whole town, which is lain between many different hills, like Rome is. Many parts of the hills are from stone and there are many small routes to walking up or down. On the top was an old building, which looked like to be in use for television transmission. 
There i met some locals who hanged around up there, enjoying the free time by drinking some beer. As i talked with them, they told me that in the summertime many young people go up there to spend their evenings. By walking down i mentioned many people siting on the rocks and it was just February. 

The last evening i walked trough the old town which has a really large pedestrian mall. In the middle of this long area is a small part of an original roman stadion which can be visited. The small part is just the end of the stadion, which extends under the pedestrian zone by a lenght of 180 meters. There is also a small tunnel and a lot of old exavated pieces exhibited in there. 
I really started wondering, that i've never heard about Plovdiv before.
It is on rank eight of the world oldest cities and the third oldest continously inhabited city in Europe. The history about the first inhabitants of the town goes back to 4000BC.

I passed the rest of my freetime in the old town, where i had some interesting conversations with locals.
In the last years the tourists took more and more notice of Plovdiv but it's still an insider's tip. 

Chapter 3, Casablanca
-Hurry Closing-
December'16

The last day at the customers plant was very successful; the target was reached and til the evening, we still had time for a trial batch. 
On the way back to the hotel, i asked my driver, if it's allowed to visit the mosque. He offered me, that we can go there together. Unfortunately at nine o'clock the mosque was already closed, so we've decided to make a short walk along the coast. This part of the city was completly different, to the quarters next to my hotel, because it's the touristic quarter of Casablanca. Everywhere around you can see many hotels, clubs, bars and restaurants situated direct at the cost. I also found a surf school there. 
At this time of the year, that places are almost deserted, but during the season they are crowded as nothing else. 

Friday morning i left at two o'clock in the morning from the hotel to the airport. There, i had some difficutlies to pay my extra baggage, because they didn't accept credit cards. After a while, i found a exchange at the terminal two and was able to pay the price.
I arrived at the airport early enaugh to not have stress there, but at the end; i had to run to the gate to get my flight. 

After all, i didn't saw much of Casablanca. But for me, i've got a lot of impressions about the life and the daily routine of Marocco. The people and their hospitality was really great and i hope i'll have the chance to travel again to that impressive country!

Here's a picture of the mosque "Mohammed the second", "Hassan II" by night. That is the biggest mosque in Marocco and it was build direct on the the level zero above sea level. To have a perception, what it looks like during daytime i also add a picture from the net.

Chapter 2, Casablanca
-Dacia Alleyways-
December'16

After my third day in Casablanca it also beard out another fact about the traffic situation here. Romania, where i lived for more than one year, as is well known the land of the car make Dacia. As well the production of them is also based there. Till now, i've not seen the whole world, but from the parts which i've already discovered, i can say now;  Marocco is the land number two when it's about the accumulation of Dacia's.

Yesterday evening, i decided to venture a short walk trough the alleyways near my hotel. As i entered, directly some guys came and want to sell me some things. I just ignored them and walked further. The first few minutes i felt a little bit uncomfortable, because of all these people, walking crowed together trought the small lanes. After a quarter hour i tried to find an exit of this labyrinth, but it took me another half hour to find a way out to a normal street. 
After a while i found the technic to not became adressed every hundred meters: dissapearing in the crowd as beeing one of them, just like in "Assasins-Creed". 
One time, i almost walked direct into a house; when i saw the family inside trough the entrance, i realized that i'm on the wrong way.
The alleyways with the markets by itself were just untold!
So many different things on so small markets. 

Today i went trough the alleyways again an made some nice deals! What was also very nice, that all the dealers were very friendly; on almost every market stall i stopped, i had interessting conversations with the local guys.

Maybe i'll have the chance to see also a mosque till my leaving here. Direct at the beach is a really big one, called "Mohammed the second", "Hassan II".  Although Marocco is very westerly oriented, religion still has a big influence to the daily life. At my customer's plant they make also breaks at work to pray together and not just to eat lunch.

In schā'a llāh!

Chapter 1, Casablanca
-Traffic Madness-
December'16

As i left from home today morning, i never thought that i will get so much insane impressions in only one day.
The flight down to Casablanca over the strait of Gibraltar was just fantastic. Next to me sat a old man which lives since two years temporary in Marocco. During the trip, he "teached" me a lot about the behaviours and conventions of this country. This was really informative for me, because it's my first travel to a muslim country.

Two guys from our customer picked me up at the airport and drove me to the factory. When we had our meeting in the afternoon i asked about the common working times. This was the moment when i realized, that i'll just have the opportunity to discover the city during the nighttime. Because of their long lunch break (two hours), they work till almost seven o'clock in the evening.

At the evening, one of the guys drove me to my hotel in the center of the city.
From my one year life experience in Romania, i used to know that sometimes traffic just has to flow. Maybe there are some rules and signs on the streets, but at the end it just has to run.
What i saw here was just pure madness!
For a distance, which normally can be driven in twenty minutes, we had one and a half hour.
All over the streets were people walking between the cars. We stuck in a traffic jam for half an hour on a roundabout, because there happened an accident. On other roundabouts we crossed, cars drove from the opposite direction.
One time, two men run into the street between the cars, one with a big stone in his hand, trying to attack the other one, who was defending himself with an umbrella! An other guy on a scooter drove direct into them, descended an started to fight with them too. At another time, a big sheep flock crossed the whole street.
I asked my driver, if this is ordinary and he just answered: "During the rush hour, Yes!"
At the end i was really relieved, that i arrived in one piece at the hotel.

What impressed me most, was that everywhere people crossed the streets without taking any visible notice about the traffic around them.