Journal — Impressions, snapshots and drawings from random travels

Ready for my first sabbatical

I'm about to embark on a long trip to Asia without a return ticket to Berlin.

Swayambhunath's monkeys

Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple, towers above Kathmandu with breathtaking views and centuries of Buddhist history.

Kathmandu from above

From a rooftop at Durbar Square, Kathmandu buzzes with color, sound, and life.

World heritage Baktapur

Three wild days in Kathmandu, cycling through chaos, before a 21-day trek to Annapurna.

Annapurna circuit: Kali Gandaki Valley

I’ve finally had a chance to let you know that I’m safe and sound.

The Annapurna Circuit is over

I just finished the Annapurna Circuit, and the 16 days in the Himalayas with Carsten were absolutely unforgettable.

Annapurna Circuit – Manang

I took a break from the trek in Manang to soak in the Buddhist culture

Annapurna Circuit – Thorung La Passage

By far the hardest day of the Annapurna Circuit. Pushing through to 5,416 meters.

The craziest place on earth?

I've arrived Varanasi two days before the start of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. I had no idea what was in store for me.

Hungry for Agra

A fellow travel I've met in Nepal suggested Agra as a stop over en route to Delhi. Visiting the former Indian capital, its fort and well-known palace? I couldn't say no.

New Delhi from the hotel balcony

While everyone in Delhi is probably out enjoying Diwali, I’m trapped inside, counting the minutes between bathroom runs.

Hello Bangkok, goodbye Bangkok

From above, people resemble ants – moving constantly in perfect synchronization with traffic lights and traffic jams.

Northern Thailand

A long bus ride, a charming guesthouse, and endless food – Chiang Mai is slowly making us feel at home.

Tens days of silence and pain

I have been quiet ove the last 10 days due a meditation retreat.

Internal dialogues in Vipassana

No talking, no books, no phones. White clothes only. Wake-up at 4:00 a.m.

Houayxai to Luang Namtha

Sitting in the longboat, getting our asses wet, we braced for eight hours of deafening engine noise, damp clothes, and freezing rapids under a sudden, dense fog.

Where the wild things are

Wandering through the jungle and a sleepover at Nam Ha National Park.

Luang Prabang je t'aime

Narrows alleys with colonial French architecture and lush green vegetation. Bienvenue à Luang Prabang.

Blue in Green

A week after parting ways with Anne, I wandered through Cambodia, rediscovering wonder in the Mekong, barefoot kids’ football, and a riverside café as the sun set.

A Room with a view

From this view out my window, I’ve watched the passage of time in Kep.

Sweet Communist, Seaweed Water

With my first breath, the smell of moisture and fish penetrates my nostrils, giving me a strong kick.

There is a light that never goes out

Riding through Angkor’s temples, I float in a neverland of devotion, mysticism, and overwhelming beauty.”

The meaning of life

A short trip to a floating village alongside curious Mr. Teh

Goodbye Kampuchea good morning Vietnam

My last morning in Phnom Penh unfolds in heat, chaos, and quiet goodbyes as I drift toward the Vietnamese border by boat.

One Zuhause in Hon Chong

I found a homestay in a remote fishing village: an unfinished brick house run by a single mother of three, with a room just meters from being swept away by the sea.

Where is Wally or the spellbound curiosity

I couldn’t walk three steps in Đà Lạt without being pulled into a family picnic for a quick photo shoot and a shot of rice whiskey.

Death, magic and farewells

My last few days in Vietnam

The Cameron Highlands

Green hills and never-ending tea plantations – bliss in the Malaysian Highlands

Perkampungan Portugis

While looking for Portuguese heritage in the streets of Mallaca, I come across some hard truths.

Back to the future

From a $22 bed in Little India to the blinding lights of Orchard Road, Singapore felt like a sudden leap into the future after months of 'Banana Pancake' traveling.

No fucking clue... moving east?

For the first time in my life, I feel completely displaced. Australia is too familiar, too Western – and after months in Asia, I find myself lost, lonely, and longing to go back.

On the road

After arriving in Australia from South East Asia, I found myself in Fremantle – bored, depressed and wondering what would be my next move. Days passed, unchanged. Until I met a bunch of young French backpackers going south...

Skinny love and motion blur

Dawn breaks cold over the van. Roger sleeps; I stare at the white ceiling, unsure what day it is. I crawl to the front seat and blast The Strokes – Is this it? Roger curses in German. We laugh. Later, the red road unravels before us, Bon Iver on the speakers, the world a blur of dust and blue. Two strangers, singing into the endless morning.

Silent instants

Crossing 2155 km of flat, tree-less desert across Australia, aboard the Indian Pacific train.

Your head will collapse, but there's nothing in it

I set out for a pub gig in new clothes, ending up soaked, mildly accosted, and walking home alone.

The Great Ocean Road

Melbourne to Sydney. A few snapshots from a cheap relocation car and a long, open road.

Reminiscences

A chance meeting in Cambodia led me to Geelong, where a station announcement calling for “Ricardo Santos from South America” ended with me being picked up by Claire’s mother – a surprise I won’t forget.

Eat. Sleep. Read.

Ubud is yoga and Reiki, narrow streets and polite harassment, rice fields and temples. After weeks of moving, I’ve settled into doing almost nothing – sleeping, eating, wandering at dusk, and letting boredom quietly prepare me for the return.

Southeast Asia sketchbook

A collection of random sketches from my first sabbatical.

What a wonderful world

Six hours before flying back to Berlin, I find myself in a hot Bangkok hotel room, caught between a nightmare of missed gates and the reality of a journey's end. Eight months of traveling has taught me one thing: the world is overwhelmingly kind, and most people are ready to give rather than take.

Japan sketchbook

A collection of random sketches from 4 weeks traveling around Japan.

Japan Snapshots

A visual collection of random snapshots captured while wandering across Japan.

All ready for South America

Two years after my first sabbatical, I’m back on the road. With no return ticket, a copy of Galeano, and a new set of watercolors, I’m heading to South America. First stop: Colombia.

Arriving in the fridge

From the chilly Andes to the eerie silence of La Candelaria: arriving in a Bogotá paralyzed by the fever of El Clásico.

People watching at Plaza Bolivar

A collection of snapshots taken at the Plaza Bolívar upon my arrival in Colombia.

Bogotá impressions

Street art, calorie bombs, and social protests: a flâneur’s farewell to Bogotá before heading north to Villa de Leyva.

From Bogotá to Villa de Leyva

The panoramic views of the green Andean peaks were suddenly interrupted by military checkpoints. Soldiers stood in the shadows with their guns.

El Camino Real de los Guanes

If I am to be kidnapped by the FARC or paramilitaries, this is the place. Yet, the scenery does not disappoint as you descend into the spectacular canyon of the Suárez River.

Santa Marta, Bolivar and cavities

After wandering the historic streets of Santa Marta under extreme heat and with a raging toothache, I find a cool breeze on the Caribbean coast.

A deserted paradise

After wandering the historic streets of Santa Marta under extreme heat and with a raging toothache, I find a cool breeze on the Caribbean coast.

Cartagena de Indias

A collection of snapshots taken while wandering throughout the streets of Cartagena.

The quest for Palinuro

Lost in the labyrinth of Medellín I found refuge in Palinuro – a tiny, second-hand bookshop filled with beautiful books.

Afro-colombian culture of the Pacific

A small peek into Pacific Afro-Colombian culture on top of train wagons ridden by motorbikes.

The South American Rivendell

Perched spectacularly over a canyon, the holy site of Las Lajas is my final stop before crossing into Ecuador.

Frailejones and Polylepis

Surrounded by volcanic vistas and thousand-year-old trees in the El Ángel reserve, my time in the Ecuadorian paramo stands as one of the most breathtaking landscapes I’ve ever seen.

Tungurahua

Surrounded by active volcanoes and waterfalls, Baños is a tourist hub where a 6-hour mountain trek ends perfectly in soothing thermal baths.

Road Trip to Heaven

Packed like sardines on an unpaved cliffside road, our 12-hour Peruvian colectivo trip featured Bible verses, near-crashes, and stunning views.

Train to Machu Picchu

Trains have always held a magical place in my imagination. The Peru Rail ride to Aguas Calientes was no exception...

The Lost City of the Incas

A 4:30 a.m. jungle trek and 3000 daily tourists couldn't ruin it: Machu Picchu is worth every grueling, sweaty step.

Madre de Dios & The Lake Sandoval

After months in South America, only now I've had the chance of visiting a tiny pocket of it.

Lake Titicaca & the Uros

Floating on Lake Titicaca, the Uros people built artificial reed island homes centuries ago to escape rival tribes.

Wonders & Disappointments

Driving across Bolivia’s frozen Altiplano through sub-zero nights, rudimentary hostels, and surreal salt flats.

Chilling in Buenos Aires

Finally in Buenos Aires after a long 22-hour bus ride from Patagonia.

Wandering Through Urban Millennia

An example of resilience, Yazd has survived over 3000 years in one of the harshest, driest environments on Earth.

Magic and Wonder on the Alamut Valley

A visit to the 11th century fortress of Hasan-e Sabbah.

A new year, a new life

Walking along the Caspian Sea, a father recounts his son's 1979 escape from Iran. A journey through forged passports, luck, and eventual freedom.

Babak Castle

A steep climb to an ancient castle perched high above the clouds. Worth every step for these views.

A Charming Man

As I walked through the narrow streets of Tabriz – guided more by chance encounters than by maps – I realized that the most meaningful journeys often begin when you open yourself to the kindness of strangers.

Thirty days across Iran

I hope you can get a glimpse of Iran's fantastic historical heritage and wonderful landscapes (the photos might just not do these justice).

New York snapshots

A collection of random snapshots taken between 2017 and 2019.