Arrived and warmly welcomed!

I arrived yesterday in Aberdeen which has a even tinier airport than Basel. Even though we arrived well my „flight-karma“ striked again. British Airways hadn’t put my suitcase with other 90 ones in the plane. But it would definitely come with the next flight. Anyway I could collect in the evening. After arrival we were fetched by volunteers of the Aberdeen University Student’s Union and during the ride we were given a brilliant introduction and they made us really feel welcome. University would send busses while day long to fetch students. An amazing service! The students apartments in Hillhead are very international and you get into contact with people tremendously fast. As there are only „freshers“ in the student resident halls, everyone is new and has to find out how this works. But the volunteers do a great job of accompanying us through all the process. It’s pretty warm and sunny here. Let’s how long it’s going to stay 🙂

The journey begins!

Leaving Basel quite soon. Let’s see what Aberdeen is up to!

A new journey…

Traveling has caught me again but this time in a different sense: I will be in Aberdeen, Scotland for two Erasmus semesters! This will not only beva fantastic academic experience but furthermore an enriching time meeting new people and a new step for me. As there will many opportunities to travel around in U.K. I will keep you updated 🙂 After three years back on a big journey. Let’s do this! 

Back in Germany!

Back in Germany!
To be reunited with the family after four months was wonderful. I was overwhelmed by happiness.

I arrived in the evening of the 3rd of May in Frankfurt.
Thank you everyone who made the last four months unforgettable!
I’ve learned so much. These experiences will remain my whole life!
Thank you!

 

The Royal Palace and the Emerald Buddha – last day in Bangkok

Enshin Power in Bangkok!

On my last day here in Bangkok Fritz and myself went to visit the royal Grand Palace and the Wat Kreaw where the Emerald Buddha is kept in.
A place to meditate even though there are hundreds of tourists.
The palace truly shows the former power and wealth of the Thai king and the royal family.
Very impressive constructions and art has been used to build this building complex.
I can’t believe that four months of traveling and volunteering is over.
Tomorrow morning I fly back to Germany. I can’t describe what I’ve experienced during this time but I’m very thankful to every experience and everyone.
Thanks to my fluently Thai speaking brother Fritz who made the stay in Bangkok unforgettable
Goodbye Thailand! Goodbye Asia! Hope to see you soon 🙂

 

Wat Arun and Wat Pho – the cultural birth of the Thai kingdom

Went with Fritz to visit the very ancient and important Buddhist temples of Bangkok:

Wat Pho and Wat Arun.

In Wat Pho visitors are astonished by the big golden lying Buddha.
Wat Arun which is considered as the birthplace of the Thai kingdom has an amazing view on the Chao Praya.

As Burmese invaders attacked the first capital of the Thais which was Ayutthaya the Thai kings united and made Krung Thep (Bangkok) their capital. Wat Arun and Wat Pho represent this time of the Thai resurrection.

A place of quiteness compared to the rest of Bangkok. It was fun to take the boat to these two sacred places.

Arrived in Bangkok – Reunion with Fritz

Reunion with my white Thai brother Fritz in Bangkok in the evening of the 29th of April. Discovering the city by night.

Fritz is a teacher for one year in a school for bling kids in Lopburi. He speaks Thai fluently which makes may things easier. I was very happy to see him after almost one year. He trains in our dojo and we used to sing in the Boys Choirs a little kids.

It is fantastic to see how quick the world and our lives are changing. Sometimes it is so fast that we don’t even realize.

My stay at the Muay Thai Camp ends

My stay at the Lookprabat Muay Thai Camp ended on the 29th of April.
It was a very valuable time I spent here in Phea Phuttabat.
I trained very traditional Muay Thai techniques especially clinching and knee kicks along with national champions (one won a fight in the Omnoi stadium on Saturday the 26th of April).

The people especially the both instructor were very helpful and friendly. Even though I had swollen ankle due to a mosquito bite and had to skip two afternoon classes I learned a lot by watching the others.
They helped me to cure it rapidly so I could train again in a normal state.

My father trained Muay Thai in 1989 in Thailand and he said even though it was very hard he didn’t want to quit.
He said that helped a lot to strengthen the mind and body.
He was one of the first foreigners to train at the Rajadamnern in Bangkok.

After this week I truly can understand him. I can add some more valuable information to my martial arts horizon.
Therefore I’m very thankful.

Osu!

Phra Phuttabat – a peaceful Thai city

The landscape surrounding the camp in Phra Phuttabat.
The single mountains have a touch of being unreal as the the rest of the landscape is flat.

Phra Phuttabat is very calm and peaceful as it is considered more to be a village. There’s not to much traffic and compared to Bangkok a place where you can focus and be totally with yourself. A great location to focus on your training.

Lookprabat Muay Thai Camp – a camp for professional fighters

Arrived in the Lookprabat Muay Thai Camp in Phra Phuttabat on the 23rd
This camp is over 30 years old and has brought up many champion fighters. I enjoyed watching two professional fighters preparing for the upcoming fights.
Very friendly people and very good technique. Lot of clinching techniques are being taught.
Tomorrow is my first day of training. Morning and afternoon classes each two hours.
 Very excited 🙂