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- Mar 15TH 2023 11.00 - a.m. Kochi, Kerala - God's own country
I would be surprised if it wasn't.
I believe it couldn't be better somehow, more distinct.
It was on my mind for a few years, I gathered much info during the last years, so I knew what I was looking for.
Got a good portion of what I expected.
Kerala, Fort Kochi - 17th March, 2023 "Sitting at the docks of the bay ..."
.. comes to my mind.
Watching the ships roll by....

Today - 17th of March 2023.
Here I am in Kochi, Kerala, Southern India.
Completely overwhelmed by impressions collected
on this visit to India.

I find almost everything to my very utmost liking.
The people are friendly, openminded, polite.
The occasional attempts to make money from you
coming from Northern India mostly, Kashmiris.

They are the shopowners who want to sell you
their, albeit precious items - at European prices.
Inox wool stolas, shawls, scarves. For 100 Euros and above.

Yes, the Inox has certainly the finest hair that nature
produces. Amazingly light, exquisite, sensitive to the last.
Finer than Cashmere goat, Vicunja, Alpacca, Mohair.

But - do we really need this? My question.
So ist the Laddakh Temple hand made - gong.
I was fascinanted by the sound this handmade gong produced.

300 Euros. Not a cent less - so the Guru.
A wonderful item at a not so wonderful price.
Then the various carpets for 10 - 20
and more of thousands of Euros.

Yes I saw - they were unique pieces.
Silk carpets - all throughout hand produced.
Some patterns take more than 3 years.
Yes I know. My major : Textiles manufacturing.

I know all the process from fiber to fabric.

But : It is a lot of money. And the middleman is
the one earning. Not the weaver itself.

It is like my own art: One buys and one sells.
And these things are two different things.

---- There I am invited to sit with the headman of the Ferryservice.
Friendly people I meet here.
They are as they are : friendly to foreigners.

Inspite of centuries of colonialization.
A World the Portuguese established 1501 here -
and started the spice trade.
For spices was the gold of Kerala and still is to a large part.

I see Star Anise, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cardammoms, Nutmeg,V and the various curry leaves, numerous others I can't remember.

What is difficult is to say no since
I can't take anthing else in my baggage. Weight restrictions are my concern.

I saw Nutmeg in Penang Malaysia.
From the fruit to the seed to the flower.
Drank nutmeg juice daily for almost 2 weeks.
Incredibly invigorating
, the taste I love.

The flower I consumed.
Red in colour, Distinctive flavour of Nutmeg, Anti Oxidants galore.

However I did not buy any, something I probably regret later.
----- The ships roll by,
passenger ferries, trawlers, fisherman on smaller
jettys, larger cargo vessels.
A colourful, busy traffic on the bay.

The calming and soothing wind that touches me to the soul.

I don't count the hours I sit and gaze, and enjoy the view
the people coming and going, greeting the Master of the ferry,
who now and then smiles an inviting smile towards me.


Yesterday the cruise liner arrived in the port.
I saw it passing. Its huge white body attracted the local sellers
and Tuktuk dirvers, who apparently need a ticket to be able to pick up
passengers who are interested to explore the city.

Fort Kochi is the center where all takes place.
The beach, Chinese fishing nets ( huge nets standing on stilts in water )
as the name suggests, these are Chinese built models.

I stroll amongst 350 year old " rain trees " as the locals call the huge, Mimosas,
planted by the Portuguese, the seeds originated from Brazil,

Nobody then imagined these trees to thrive so well in Southern Kerala.v Yet here they are, magnificent, respectful towering over the city in all parts.

Indians love trees, one can see, they understand their value, and mostly the
spiritual powers of trees that have grown for 3 and half centuries.

So do I - I hug them whenever possible. They have outlasted generations,
and will outlast us too.

---- I walk on - after thanking the headman for his kindness to let me sit on his
chairs. The man holds authority as I noticed watching the people greeting him.

Coming after a 3 mile walk from Weli junction, my respected laundry place,
where everything is washed by hands just like centuries ago.

The iron is a charcoal heated prehistoric model. But the laundry comes folded,
with a paper sheet inserted after pressing.
All Hotels send their laundry there too I am told.

For 25 Cents my shorts and Tshirts as well as jeans appear like new again...

Yes I like it. All - perhaps not the untidiness that is part of the subcontinent.
They manage the environement with hitches is what I can say.

Not my style but this is the country with the second largest world population
and we have no influence over that.
What the west does in terms of environmental protection is on sided.
The west cleans the garbage and cuts its last remaining forest ( Well Canada under Trudeau does - Vancouver Island ).

Here the large trees remain. For the next and after generations.
The garbage also. However ... what can we say.

---

NEW YEARS EVE CELEB

- 2 DEC 31st 2022 00.00 - a.m. Burgenland, Austria - Time to quit 2022 With the old year past we look forward
to the New Year 2023. Frankly speaking
I believe it should be better, even by a margin - than 2022.
Have you thought of your friends, acquaintances, family, what their own problems are?
Or are we only worried about our own fate.



- 2 DEC 13.37 - p.m. UGaisberg, UpperAustria - G. did it again. In times of a quagmire that befalls one
One is in need of a friend.
Never being undercautious is self assuring. It seems I found some person that fits the bracket.

Yesterday she offered to fix the buttonholes on my well described CHINESE POLICE COAT. Some were torn and some tiny holes emerged
She found a function of a strap I could not understand.
When she called me over to see. I was amazed.

Now I am able to secure my fur collar under my chin.

Now I cant wait to try it out on our next stroll through the KLAM GORGES which I hope will take place today.
- Check :
africasiaeuro.com/zen

- 25 Dec 15.03 P.m. TONGA -
- TONGA SONG

IsaLei music video
ISALEI

STORIES FROM TONGA ISLAND


This is actually very nice to listen to. Played by RY COODER. Blues virtuoso
TONGA TONGA

- 07 May 08.10 a.m. Vang Viang, Laos - The older one gets the deeper the thoughts Mist shrouded mountains surround the village in the morning, a slight chill is in the air. During the day temperatures reach to the 40 C centigrade. I sip a cup of "Lao" coffee, and enter a second.

The French left their legacies in form of "Cafe aux lait", milk coffee. An added surprise, baguette (French white bread for those who are unfamiliar with the word).

Sitting on the Veranda I order a Vegan baguette, it comes with a variety of garden fresh vegetables. Good and simple, served by the proprietress of the guest house. The hearty smile adds to the beauty of the morning.

The sun rises, with it comes the heat. The jungle surrounding us is now steaming. I rent a bike for the day, and set off to my discovered place, "MY" private jungle pool, a few miles from where I lodge.

A cave that was discovered long ago, a Buddhist temple adjacent. The hermit Buddhist monk who passed away years ago. His skull has been placed into the cave for those who want to admire it.

A small paradise in a foreign land, amidst of lush tropical foliage. The daily plunge becomes a ritual. It is an experience that leaves me refreshed and invigorated. My thoughts wander to Hungary, Budapest, where I spa in a five star property. In stark contrast to the daily underwater massages, the mud packages. A Bio Sauna, here I have it all, and for nothing. I would not exchange with Acapulco, nor with Biarritz at this moment.

Tiny fish swim curiously around me, the bottom is a few meters deep, and I set out to explore the cave underground. Deep from inside the mountain the spring has its beginning, and rushes out in powerful force. Difficult to overcome its current, swimming against is difficult. I manage into the dark, unknown cave, grabbing on the rocks that protrude from the side.

Not being exactly a cave explorer I return when it gets darker. You never know what you may encounter here.

Many years in Africa have taught me many lessons, and one them is not to take unnecessary risks. Challenging nature is unwise, in any form. I enjoy the sight and return to my fishes companions, who are playing in the current.

I could stay the whole day here, enjoying the wonder of god's creation, for it is nothing less than a wonder. So I lay back, float in the pool till lunch time. I notice by then that my body temperature must have dropped. I step out finally sit on a wooden bench nearby the cave, and drench myself in the sun.

I cycle back through rice paddies, the farmers waving friendly towards me. They are standing knee high in the paddies. Water buffaloes plough the fields, a unforgettable scene.

In another episode : Laos with its many surprises ....

AFRICASIAEURO ON WORDPRESS

OLDER ARTICLES CAN BE FOUND ON LINKS BELOW

- 21 NOV 19.51 p.m. SALZBURG - Today was different Went to Mozarts home
- 19 NOV - FIRST SNOW IN BAD KREUZEN What a difference a week makes.
WiLL HAVE MORE SOON ... ....


- 18 NOV - MEDICINE HAS ITS PERKS A WEEK IN VIENNA
GREAT OR MORE NOT SO
- 09 NOV - A SUCCESS STORY
- 05 NOV - A FREEZING HALLSTADT
- 04 NOV - ( 06.10.2022 ) INTERSPAR AUSTRIA QUERY
- 1ST NOV - ALL SAINTS DAY IN KLAM UPPER AUSTRIA
- 30TH OCT - TOUCHDOWN TO BASE - UPPER AUSTRIA
- 29TH OCT - A BURIAL NOT UNEXPECTED YET SAD EVENT
- 21ST OCT - OEBB NIGHT TRAIN MOTHER OF ALL TRAINS
- 20TH OCT HERE I COME GRAZ CITY
- BEEN OUT AND ABOUT within AUSTRIA
- FIRST DROP OF SUN IN A WHILE, walk in nature
- ANOTHER DAY IN NOT SO PARADISE Took another train
- AMAZING EXPERIENCE A heavenly experience
- SEP. 15 2022 | TODAY IT WILL RAIN AGAIN. Days are passing by
- SEP. 22 2022 | AND YET, NOT A DAY NOT EVEN HOURS




AMAZINES ARTICLES PUBLISHED


  • (VENICE AND A SHOWER)

  • (NIGHT SPENT IN THE BUSH WITH A THIEF LURKING IN THE DARK)

  • (FREETOWN SIERRA LEONE, DURING CIVIL WAR)

  • (NIANI, MALI, WEST AFRICA ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSING)

  • (KANGAROO COURTS DECLARE VERDICTS)

  • (MANDIANA)

  • (KANPUR, UTTAR PRADESH, A TRAIN CROSSING LIKE NO OTHER)

  • (ABOUT TEA)

    • (HOW TO MANUFACTURE JEANS)

  • (MANDIANA, GUINEA CUSTOMS SCAM)

  • (ENCOUNTER AT DUSK - ODIENNE FOREST)

  • (PRECIOUS MOMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY)

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    CAMP MAUTHAUSEN UPPER AUSTRIA

    MAUTHAUSEN




    • MAUTHAUSEN

      THE GREY SINISTER LOOKING BUILDINGS APPEAR IN THE HORIZON, AS I HIKE UP THE TRAILTO THE ONCE INFAMOUS PLACE OF HORROR.
      A CLIMB OF ABOUT 20 MINUTES TILL I CAN CLEARLY MAKE OUT THE DARK GREY GRANITE WALLS, CUT FROM THE QUARRY BELOW THE NOTORIOUS CAMP.
      ONE CAN SENSE THE TRAGEDIES THAT WENT ON HERE EIGHT DECADES AGO. TO COME SOON : A TRAGEDY OF UNIMAGINABLE DIMENSIONS SEEN ..

      MAUTHAUSEN (2)



      THE MAUTHAUSEN CAMP PUTS EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE SHADOW

      September 9th, 2022 MAUTHAUSEN UPPER AUSTRIA


      • MAUTHAUSEN1

        THE FIRST THING ONE NOTICES ARE THE LARGE WATCHTOWERS OVERLOOKING THE WHOLE AREA.
        THERE IS MORE TO COME. ONCE YOU ENTER THROUGH THE HUGE GATE, WHICH IS STILL INTACT (WITH THE NOTORIOUS METAL LETTERS ARBEIT MACHT FREI NOW REMOVED).
        THE LARGE TRANSPORT YARD WITH GARAGES FOR TRUCKS ARE VISIBLE, THERE MUST BE THIRTY OR MORE OF THEM. IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH IMAGINATION TO FIGURE WHAT THE TRUCKS WERE USED FOR, INCLUDING THOSE WHO WERE CONVERTED WITH EXHAUST PIPES LEADING TO THE CARGO SECTION OF THE TRUCK .




    DEC 26, 2022 | 13:53 PM
    AFRICASIAEURO
    OCT 2022 ..
    2022 marks a milestone in my life. No other event has been more dramatic and significant.
    #VIDEOS





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