Coming Home

Die Fremde (Outland)

During the first few days of my journey I wrote in my diary: “Is that all correct? I could be stoned on my sofa and could relax without worries. But human beings grow with their quests. Homesick and Lonely…The next few weeks won’t become easy, but I was aware from the beginning that my trip would not be a sunny walk at the beach. I want to see more from Life, I want to see how the world looks like outside my own personal world and understand what is important to other people. […] Perhaps that is the charming challenge about the Otherness: Am I successful to understand, to figure and to conquer the unknown…?”

Me traveling so long and this far means I did something I only dreamed about and NEVER thought it would ever happen. I always wanted to go beyond the conventional, to encounter the difference and be a global traveler. 

 -Well I went around the world in 119 days via 12 different airports and flew a total of 41.844,71 km (26.001,1 miles), got 2 new tattoos, smoked 1 cigarette and a few spiffs, wrote my diary in 6 notebooks and posted 34 Blogs (including this one), attracting 1349 visitors. I grilled marshmallows on active volcanos, swam through underground-rivers, relaxed in Hippytown, made out in the Castro , learned Spanish and how to surf, helped to deliver a baby, ran through coffee fincas, participated in talks about genocide and exploitation of the rural population in Latin America, went for meetings with a delegation from the Worldbank through the slums of Manila, hiked ancient rice terraces, saw the sunrise from Central America’s highest point, did participatory research with the Urban Poor, experienced first-hand the aftermaths of colonialism and Western foreign policies, ate Dim Sun in San Francisco’s China Town, survived a Typhoon, traveled via the back of a Pickup through the highlands of Guatemala, got to know the strong women of some of Manila’s relocation sites, got several times awfully drunk, watched hummingbirds, fireflies and rainbows, incredible sunsets and almost felt in love on the first sight. I went for snorkeling with the most colorful fishes over tropical reefs, saw 8 movies in the cinemas of three different countries, went on a safari in the rainforest of Borneo and observed orangutans, crocodiles and gigantic lizards, met new friends and visited old ones, visited a Buddhist monastery, saw the symphony of lights in Hong Kong, collected six new stamps in my passport and have lost my heart in so many places with so many amazing people!

However, after having experienced every day as an adventure and challenge I’m looking forward to reestablish a cozy everyday life –at least for the moment.

Die Heimat (Home)

I have asked myself thousand times what would that trip do to me, what would be the outcome, would I be able to have somewhat an enlightment and find the answers or new questions? I hoped the trip would change me, and I mean not only the two tattoos I got. But I didn’t know how those changes would look like…

But slowly, and with me being for the first few days back home, I figure some of the processes I went through during the last 4 months. 

First of all I made one of my deepest wishes come true: traveling the world. As long as I can think of I wanted to travel by myself as far as possible, see things, meet people and learn what you didn’t know it would even exist. Making it short: I have become a traveler! That group of people had always a specific attraction from my side, but I was never brave enough to try it myself. -And now- looking back to the countless memories of the trip, I have went further and did more than I could have ever possible expected or dreamed of. 

On the other hand I did not only live the life of a traveler, I have also learned about the things which come along with this lifestyle. You are not only traveling foreign countries, you are also traveling foreign places of yourself. You are not only seeking for geographical places, you are also looking for places in yourself; Places you haven’t been yet or not understood yet. Or places you have only heard about but never encountered. Essentially I did not only travel Guatemala, San Francisco, the Philippines, Malaysia and Hong Kong, I also did an important trip to myself. A trip so important to me since I needed to reflect myself and therefore understand better what I wish, hope or work for. 

I know- it sounds a lot like one of those cabalistic journey reports, but actually there are similarities: you are traveling to a foreign place to meet in the end no one less than yourself. I never understood the saying “The journey is the reward” until now! I figured it’s not reaching the goal which makes you understand yourself better- it’s the pathway which teaches you who you are!

In the end I found during my trip, in the weeks of being by myself, forced to adjust, rethink and reconsider, through all the fun and the heartache I have been through, nothing less than what “Home” means to me and where to find it! For years I was wondering and searching, looking around, trying out and make myself believe. But in the end “Home” was always right in front of me, here in Berlin- where my friends and family live, from where I can go easily abroad again to encounter new adventures and to meet my friends in the world.      

In that sense I understood a quote by T. S. Elliot in one of my most favorite books (-which also provided me company in many nights abroad: “Mary Ann in autumn” by Armistaed Maupin) as essentially important and true: 

We shall not cease from exploration, 

And the end of all our exploring, 

While be to arrive where we started, 

And know the place for the first time.

Thank you everyone, in Berlin, Cologne, Xela, San Francisco, Manila, Kota Kinabalu, Hong Kong and all the other places for your ongoing support, interest, motivating words, open ears and empathic understanding. I just had the biggest ride of my life – and I am proud that you all have been part of it!

Even though I am a little bit sad the trip is over it’s a complete new experience in my life to be back here in Berlin without the feeling I’m missing something, actually it’s the opposite: knowing that I am exactly where I want to be right now! However, the end of my trip does not mean the end of my journey:  I am ready to move on and seek out for new quests and challenges and I hope that you will be a part of it in the future as well!  

In that sense I want to dedicate a song to you, actually it’s a little bit older but not only that I always liked it in the first place, once back in the times I lived in San Francisco, they played the song in the End Up therefore I think it’s somewhat more “transnational”.

 THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!

Take off

Finally

Sitting here at Terminal 2 from the Hong Kong International Airport. My flight to Berlin via Doha is taking off in a few hours. Travel time: 20 hours (3 hours layover).

After 119 days of traveling I AM COMING HOME!

The Pearl of Asia

Hong Kong- where East meets West

My travel plan didn't include Hong Kong in the first place. But again, because of the rearrangements necessary I saw the little time window opening for a brief visit in that magnificent city.
Without knowing much about the city, history or culture I just wanted to check the place out- feel the vibe of the city and try to get a glimpse of what it is about. Well- that worked out perfectly!

The city is just this gigantic melting pot: where Asia meets the world, where commerce, tourism and Buddhism friendly coexist and monks between the skyscrapers perform their prayers. I only saw a little piece of the city: the Big Buddha, The Hong Kong Museum of History, the Symphony of Lights, the Peak Tower and some parks, local restaurants and bars. But what I saw just made me aware that this place needs further exploration from my side.

I am glad I celebrated my big travel finale here and not somewhere else. Having time to reflect on what has happened, what I experienced and on all those wonderful people I have met was necessary to be ready for tomorrow when my flight takes off from HKG in the night from November 11. to the 12...

 

Destination: BERLIN!   

Malaysia, Borneo and KK

With my initial travel plans my visit here in Kota Kinabalu (KK) was more accidental and only based upon the fact that I would have needed to leave the Philippines after 59 days. So I asked a friend: “John- where can I go for a few days?” and he suggested KK. The flight was cheap and I trusted his judgment, so I booked it not even knowing where exactly KK is…

Malaysia

Malaysia has its origins in the Malay Kingdoms present in the area which, from the 18th century, became subject to the British Empire. The first British territories were known as the Straits Settlements, whose establishment was followed by the Malay kingdoms becoming British protectorates.

The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, which plays a large role in politics. The government system is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and the legal system is based on English Common Law. The constitution declares Islam the state religion while protecting freedom of religion. The head of state is the King, known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He is an elected monarch chosen from the hereditary rulers of the nine Malay states every five years. The head of government is the Prime Minister.

About two thirds of Malaysia is covered in forest, with some forests believed to be 130 million years old. There are around 14,500 species of flowering plants and trees.

Nice surprise

After I had to cut some of my travel time the trip to Malaysia became more important for me and in the last few days before I took off from Manila I became really excited about my visit: me in Borneo- aa picture I have never dreamed of.

Since in the meantime I know with the right Hostel your stay will be a lot of fun I invested some time to look for a good place in advance and reserved a bed in a dorm prior to my arrival. Thanks again to Lonely Planet I decided to go for “Lucy’s Homestay –Backpacker’s Lodge” and I must say- that was the best decision possible: the place is cute and clean, the other travelers’ fun and Lucy is the mother you wish for. She is in the middle of her 50ies, a little bit smaller than me, short black curly hair, round glasses, a lovely humor, is strict when it comes to the breakfast or putting off your shoes before entering the house and has just a huge heart.  

So after I arrived in KK, put down my stuff and went for a shower I was sitting down to check what I could do here with my limited time of 5 days. Lucy must have sensed my disorientation so she sat down right next to me, looked at me over her round glasses and asked with her high but slow voice: Sascha- what is it you wanna do here?”  So I told her a little bit of beach would be nice and since I have never been to the rainforest I would love to check it out somehow. So she handed me over a voucher for boat trips to some of the islands in front of KK which belong to the maritime national park “Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park”  –with huge beaches and possibilities to snorkel and showed me further a flyer for a 3-day safari I could do. In that moment I thought Lucy is just the perfect women to run a hostel- like a good bartender who knows what his costumer wants to drink even though they don’t know it themselves Lucy just knew what I was looking for.

The Islands of Manukan and Sapi

The national park of consist out of 5 islands in total. Lucy recommended I should go on the biggest one called Manukan and Lupi Island, one of the smaller ones since they would not only have several beached but also a trail through the islands where I could get a first glimpse what the rainforest is going to be. 

The beaches turned out to be amazing: the sand was white, the water warm and turquoise, palm trees in the back and a coral reef right in front. When I snorkeled I saw the most colorful fishes possible, some tiny, others huge, some shy- other actually curious and they followed me. I saw see urchins as well as and clown fishes and became just the perfect tan! 

When I hiked the little trail I came across hundreds of geckos, vines and palm trees.

The rainforest of Borneo

I know I repeat myself when I write that I did something I never thought before I would do. But that is just what happens when you are traveling: you will encounter things you didn’t plan in advance. The same with the safari- If someone would have told me 4 months ago when I started my travels that I will go on a safari in Borneo to see the wildlife in the rainforest I would have most probable declared that person as mental. But that is just what happened: I went for three days deep into the jungle to watch Orangutans with their babies, hike through the rainforest at night to see “Ghost Monkeys” and be just stunned by the beauty of a sunrise in the wildness. 

The camp I stayed in with some other backpackers was right next to the river Kinabatagan which is the longest river in Malaysia and the second biggest in Asia. It is a huge river- clay-colored and its shore is just covered with trees, bushes and flowers. Each single plant is fighting for a little piece of soil and light. The air is filled with the smell of nature and sounds from animals I never heard of. In the branches are monkeys jumping, over your head birds are flying and in the river banks crocodiles waiting for their dinner. It felt like being in the very heartbeat of nature.

I don’t think I have ever been so close to Mother Nature and have never understood better why it is our obligation to save the environment. Seeing all the sensitive wildlife I have only seen before in zoos and school books made me more responsible and appreciate what I was able to see.

Next to all that I had just a wonderful company, met wonderful people and enjoyed the exchange with the other travelers.

To sum up – my experience of Borneo went beyond everything I expected and I am happy to got to see that little piece of the picture. I will definitely come back and explore more of the unique nature, get closer to the friendly people and understand better the amazing culture.

Tomorrow I will leave Malaysia already- and will hit my next stop and my last destination during my trip: Hong Kong!