Taiwan: Hualien (#throwback)

The news just came in: a strong earthquake on the east coast of Taiwan!

I was shocked when i learned it happened at the city and region of Hualien. It was my base for a trip into the Taroko Gorge only a few weeks ago.

Actually i’ve hardly seen anything from the city. A walk along the coast before a storm came in and some snapshots from the still ongoing lantern festival. The Chinese year of dragon just started. People were full of hope and seeing towards a strong year coming. Might the strength of a dragon overcome these rough days and gives hope and comfort for the victims of this natural disaster.

My thoughts are with the people of Hualien!

The Beach Of Mozambique In Times Of Corona

The waves crashing to the rocks at the shore. Uninterrupted, everlasting energy of mother nature. It’s the first sound I hear when I wake up. The cool breeze brings me to the sandy beach. A tractor is pulling a boat for a fish trip to the sea. Those fishermen are early birds too, or are they called ‚early fish‘ then? 

At the end of the beach the sun rises between the rock and the ocean. Very slow and deliberately the first rays hit the rocks, caress the waves and finally warm my skin. Beautiful colors unfold and pushing the dark of the night aside. The day started just now.

It’s weekend and since Maputo isn’t too far away from Ponta Do Ouro, many weekend visitors are expected. Loads of pick-up cars with picnic-families, sun-seekers and partygoers falling into town and beach. There’s just one obstacle: the beaches are closed for swimmers and sunbathers due the covid pandemic. It is allowed to walk on the beach, though. 

Couples, families and groups of friends are moving along the beach. Among them are police forces watching no one steps into the water or even dare to swim. As soon a few dove their toes too deep in the water a sharp whistle brings them back to dry sand. But this is not stopping them from chitchatting, playing in the sand and making photos from each others.

With my camera in hand, I notice the gazes of three friends making selfies. Do you want me to take a photo of the three of you, I asked. A quick answer confirmed it. And so begins the first of many spontaneous photo shoots. There are kids, jumping around, friends want to immortalize themselves in the picture, families enjoy an image as souvenir. Other photographer showing proudly their camera, while girls showing me their best beach poses. I can’t tell when I saw last time so many smiling faces, so much laughter by jumping for the photos. 

Only when the sun sets, the last light was fading, the beach emptier from the day visitors. The silhouettes of the last group disappears in the dark and the hidden crabs taking over the beach again. In the distance party music echoes across, but soon even this ends due the curfew. The last thing I hear are waves crashing to the rocks. Uninterrupted, everlasting.

.

Motorradtour 2018 – Marokko: Überfahrt

Mein Motorradkumpel wollte schon von Anfang an eine Kabine für die Überfahrt buchen. Ganz der Preisbewusste, entschloss ich, dass ein Pullmannsitz reichen sollte. Vor dem Einchecken checkte der Kumpel aber nochmals die Preise und ich checkte erst jetzt richtig, dass wir zwei lange Nächte auf dem Kahn verbringen werden. Das Glück war uns hold. Von 2000 möglichen Passagieren buchten deren nur etwa 300 auf diese Überfahrt. Somit bekamen wir für bescheidene 25€/person je ein Bett in einer 4er-Kabine, die nur von uns zwei belegt war. Was für ein Luxus.

Die luxuriösen Tage hatte aber die Fähre hinter sich. Vielerorts nagt der Zahn der Zeit in den Ecken und an den Kanten des Schiffes. Reparaturen scheinen nur halbherzig durchgeführt worden zu sein, oder man nimmt es einfach hin wie’s ist. Die buntgemischte Crew hingegen ist ein Lichtblick auf dem düsteren Kahn. Lachende Filipinos dürfen natürlich nicht fehlen, genau so wenig wie die Damen an der Information mit künstlich aufgesetzten Lächeln. Echt war hingegen das Lächeln von Albaner, denen ich berichten durfte, wie sehr ich ihr Land in Erinnerung habe, oder das aufrichtige Lachen der ägyptisch-italienisch stämmigen Dame an der Kasse, als ich erwähnte, das Kairo vermutlich den schlimmsten Strassenverkehr der Welt hätte. Der italienische Barista hingegen sollte wieder mal auf Heimaturlaub geschickt werden, wo er die Kunst echten Cappuccino und Macchiato zu produzieren lernen würde. Den kleinen, starken Schwarzen brachte er dann aber ganz ordentlich hin, und bei dem blieb ich dann auch.

Unsere Mopeds waren in der Zeit gut im Schiffsrumpf verstaut. Nur ein paar wenige Minuten, als die Fähre doch etwas mehr schlingerte, zweifelte ich kurz an das alte Seil, an dem meine Honda mehr notdürftig fest gemacht war. Dann aber schwenkten die Gedanken wieder zum nächsten Essen rüber, oder an ein Bier an der Reling, von wo aus das weite Meer den Duft der Freiheit rüber wehen liess. 

Turtles On Prison Island

The officially name is Chumbuu island, but everyone knows it as ‚Prison Island‘. Originally slaves were kept on that island, before they’re sold to Arabic destinations. The British forbidden the slavery. Although there was built a prison after that era, it was never used as such. Instead it became a quarantine island in times of yellow fever epidemic. From the buildings are not much to see anymore. A holiday resort with big nice pool opened and the main attractions is the turtle sanctuary with Aldabra Giant Turtles, brought from the Seychelles.

A Stroll In Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a pleasant town for many activities around, but even more for a day off. Doing some shopping, having a coffee in a nice cafe or just stroll around the streets with plenty of well-maintanand colonial buildings.