Life on the right track.

The lower the speed limit, the more serene life - that seems to be the motto of Florida's west coast. With each mile of Fort Myers in the direction of the islands, visitors and residents relaxed. Until Cabbage Key is reached, everything here happens only in the pace.

 

Fort Myers - And again, a dollar in the ceiling: A guest has a thick felt-tip pen with his name immortalized on the bill, which he taped to a supporting beam fixed. It is customary in the restaurant on the island of Cabbage Key in Southwest Florida - about 70,000 U.S. Dollar already hanging on the walls.

It is lunch time, the store is rappelvoll. Kellner drag massive cheeseburger approached, the visitors sit back. They have a corridor heruntergeschaltet, because they are in a place where everything happens in pace. Cabbage Key is accessible only by boat. On the journey here, on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico along has demonstrated one thing: The slower you drive, the more relaxed people.

Three days earlier on the Interstate Highway 75: With 70 miles per hour, at least 112 km / h, is at the exit to Fort Myers. Here on Florida's west coast has spent the inventor Thomas A. Edison and automobile magnate Henry Ford in the early 20th Century regularly in winter. Your vacation rentals are among the biggest attractions in Lee County. Edison's house can be visited since 1947, and remained unchanged in the laboratory, the tourists his experiments with artificial rubber explain.

TMN
Fort Myers Region: Between the Tampa Bay and the Everglades to the west coast of Florida

The two celebrities were role models for hundreds of thousands of other Americans who are in the region have bought cottages. But some 65,000 German possess real estate in southwest Florida. Currently, many are likely to further German citizens tour, not only because of the favorable dollar exchange rate. During the real estate crisis are also in Lee County, the purchase prices have declined sharply.

Most Germans did not fly to Fort Myers in order to find a house, but in order to stay in the sun to set, in the major shopping outlets and nature to enjoy. In the year 2008 were 170,000 visitors with a German passport in accordance with Lee County - as many as from any other country outside the United States. Who's at the beach walking, hears a lot Schwaebisch addition to English or Saxon.

Starting after Captiva

Cars come without tourists hardly cope - the distances are great. From the airport to the sea, the journey lasts 30 minutes. It leads to fast-food restaurants and shopping centers over. The speed limit is now 55 miles (88 km / h) - not little enough to calm down and the daily lives behind them.

At the intersection of Summerlin Road and San Carlos Boulevard, the separate paths: Who is looking for sports and fun, runs south into the bustling Fort Myers Beach, where mainly relate neighborhood families and also some high-rise buildings were built on the beach. More offers exclusivity and tranquility, however, the journey westward to the islands of Sanibel and Captiva.

On Fort Myers Beach half of America seems to be gathered on the parking lot are cars with plates from Maine to California. Many tourists gather on the beach at sunset, and later in a small pedestrian street Times Square, where the restaurants and swimwear shops concentrate. From Jimmy B's Rooftop Bar "booms rock, under the pier, the waves roar, and further south along the coast during the twitch of a distant lightning flashes on - the thunder does not reach here.

Nature lovers continue to Lovers Key State Park, south of the island followed. The name says it all: At about four kilometers long beach is a pavilion which is used for weddings and also for marriage is popular applications. Nearby there are also three additions to the "Calusa Blueway, a 305 kilometers long water paths, which moves through the County. It is named after the once native Calusa Indians.

With kayaks and canoes, it goes through the mangrove landscape, always tick the pelicans and other large water birds the way - even the feet is one way to become slower and more time to enjoy. In the summer, but tourists should be careful: "It is important that all water sports activities in the morning hours, because afternoon thunderstorms is always a risk," advises the "Calusa Blueway," coordinator Betsy Clayton.

A huge world-mussel

From the water back on the road, the next goal is Sanibel. Six dollars (4.30 euros) cost of the bridge used for each trip to the island, a kind of entrance fee to heal the world. Sanibel is famous because of the myriad of shells to the beaches, especially after storms in the winter. Provides a good overview of the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, which includes a 60-centimeter-long world-mussel is issued, the divers near the island on a sandbank found.

On Sanibel noticed that people take more time. Many are by bicycle, because driving a car costs more here than elsewhere in the United States. Parking at the beaches, for example, proposes day with $ 2 (1.40 euros) per hour to this. The speed limit drops to the island from 55 to 35 miles per hour (56 km / h) - mainly to protect the wildlife.

A large part of Sanibel is located in an after conservationists JN "Ding" Darling designated protected area, through which a road leads, in the sixties was built. "In order to combat mosquito," as the leader Mari Hanley at the National Wildlife Refuge says, because "it was the mosquitoes Sanibel-capital of the USA." Today whir no longer plague ghosts through the air as well as elsewhere in these latitudes.

The nearly 6.5-kilometer-long Wildlife Drive can be protected by the tourists with the rental car vehicles, on guided tours, there are many interesting things to learn - for example, a bird called the Snowy Egret, whose yellow toe in the water look like worms. "That attracts fish," says Mari Hanley, "and then snaps to the Egret."

The Wildlife Drive is closed on Fridays, "so that the animals at least one day a week to rest," said the leader. Then the tourists Wildlife Clinic C.R.O.W. visit per year in approximately 4000 patients treated, from birds to reptiles. Since January 2009 there is a visitor center where tourists themselves as vets may feel. You might want to authentic cases from the practice can describe themselves and then the diagnosis and suggest treatment - for example, for a snake that swallowed two golf balls has.

"Yes, we live on the island"

From C.R.O.W. from the road leads on to Captiva Iceland, where only a small bridge from Sanibel separates. The speed limit drops to 30 and finally 25 miles per hour. Green vegetation with many palm trees and lush hibiscus blocks the view of the mansions along the streets. But again the shimmering Gulf of Mexico between the trees round. Captiva is definitely a goal for people with the necessary small. It is still lovely and relaxed than Sanibel. Ganz remains outside of the mainland but not daily, like the Starbucks cafe chain in the north Captivas proves.

On Captiva, the boat ride with the "Lady Chatwick" to Cabbage Key - with ten minutes late, because life here is so relaxed that several passengers booked late. Captain Tom Jones says on the stories about the islands at the Pine Iceland Sound, through which the vessel tuckert, and shortly after dropping dive dolphins on the starboard side to. Jones whistle on four fingers, the passengers clap like crazy in the hands - that brings the marine mammals repeatedly to reflect on the "Lady Chatwick" beaten to jump waves.

The ashore on Cabbage Key is a good two hours. There is a nature trail, also like many mosquitoes, and a viewing platform on an approximately 20 meter high water tower made of wood, since the thirties of all hurricanes has getrotzt. In the rustic restaurant with his cheeseburger plate for $ 7.99 (5.70 euros), the waiters all wear a T-shirt, on his back answers to frequently asked questions are printed guest: "Yes, we live on the island" for example or "Thanks to the bar and then left" - that the way to his toilet.

Who pays is not only a tip, but usually asks after marker and tape - for one U.S. dollars coming into the ceiling before it goes back into a world that with each mile back towards the mainland is a bit hectic.

Holland under the palms.

Dutch as an official language, high life expectancy, no beggars, Pina Colada with a pancake. And year-round blue skies. This is Curaçao. The idyll Retired Dutch know how to appreciate Klaas - only accustomed to doing nothing was difficult.

 

Klaas sits in the lobby of the Hotel Van Der Valk in Willemstad, nuckelt a Pina Colada and reads the "Amigo", the oldest newspaper of the Netherlands Antilles, 1884 was founded. Klaas could also use the "Telegraaf" read the daily arrived from Amsterdam, but there is "too much about Holland" in it. So he reads better in the "Amigo", which on Curaçao, Aruba and the other Antillean islands is going on.

For Holland, the "Amigo" just one page a day left, with the selection of messages will appear a little arbitrary. The government of the province of North Brabant has opposed the construction of a shopping center in a highly protected area in Maasdijk was the first hotel for Polish migrant workers opened, and the public-law institution NOS-TV has the broadcasting rights for matches in the Champions League acquired .

Klaas is all cold. He has the Netherlands five years ago, leaving after his software company for good money to a competitor had sold, "but not enough of them in Amsterdam to be able to live." Instead, after Hengelo Uitgeest or to draw, where the rents are cheaper, he moved immediately after Willemstad.

Because Klaas is 50, and "Seniors", which is established on Curaçao, to pay all income tax, only ten percent. So he has more of the money that he effectively and fairly sure did.

For Curaçao also speaks, "that you like here in Holland can live only under blue skies and palm trees." The official language is Dutch, and in any supermarket to get Dutch products, bales of bitter about Pindakaas until Gemberkoek of Peinenburg. "It is everything arrived, even the potatoes and oranges, because only thrive on Curacao bitter orange, from which the eponymous liqueur is produced.

Pancake, dipped in Pina Colada

Klaas has a fixed daily schedule. He is late to breakfast in the "Gouden hoekje" - always a milky coffee and a "Appelflap" - and then goes over to the Van Der Falk, in order to fully lobbying the afternoon to spend with Pina Colada and "Amigo." The Van Der Falk was once the tallest and finest hotel in Curacao, with 15 floors, it is still the highest, but no longer the finest. A few years ago, it changed owners, now it is renovated floor by floor.

The lobby, narrow and long considered as a subway station, is still a meeting place for the Dutch 'ex-Patriots ", which from time to time at his wish. Klaas has with the owner of a Dutch bakery angefreundet who have long lived on Curaçao. The more often brings "Gevulde Koek", "Cocos Koek and Eierkoek" from the previous day with.

"In Pina Colada dipped, they taste best," says Klaas. Four clock afternoon, when the heat slowly subsides, Klaas ventures out into the open again. He goes on the shady side of the Waterfortstraat, crosses the Wilhelminapark and comes on the Columbusstraat to the old market on the quay.

The Plasa Bieu "is the Antille alternative to all varieties of Nouvelle Cuisine. Seven-calorie food stall serving local food on large plates at small prices. The guests sit like in a beer tent at canteen tables, eat and communicate with each other. The waiters wear smocks and aprons plastic hood over the hair. "I had only tuned accustomed," says Klaas, "this is not fine, but it tastes like."

Klaas took more than a year to adapt to the idleness of the effort to acclimatise. He has a large collection of DVDs brought from Holland, "Casablanca," "High Noon," "Psycho", new movies, he borrows in a video store in the Jupiterstraat from. "There is everything here."

Good separation in the

Some, however, does not exist, such as beggars. Atypical for a Caribbean island is that prices have not negotiated. Neither the market nor in the shops. There is hardly illiterate, more than 95 percent of the adult Curaçaoaner can read and write. The life expectancy for females is 73, for men at 77 years. About 300 years the Dutch have many positive presence left.

It was not until 15 May this year the Islanders in a referendum for a large degree of independence from the Netherlands voted: 52 percent were in favor, 48 percent against: Curaçao is the end of 2010 an independent state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands will.

The neighboring island of Aruba in the West has this status since 1986, wants to Bonaire in the East as a "community with a special status" with the mother country remain. It separates the good - and find each other again.

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Klaas Papiamentu now wants to learn the language of the natives, a mixture of Spanish and Portuguese with Dutch and English Einsprengseln. It sounds a little sandbox and nursery school, but is highly developed and not easy to learn. On Aruba and Bonaire is also Papiamentu spoken, but there are other dialects.

"You can stand it here," said Klaas, the temperatures throughout the year at 30 degrees Celsius, the rainy season is short, the humidity is bearable. The best are the people: descendants of colonists and slaves, which have mixed together, Christians, Muslims, Jews, animists - "and no one tells the other how he should live."

In fact, it seems Curacao evidence to be that multiculturalism is possible and that pragmatism is a virtue. In order to prostitution out of the city to ban, one has near the airport village joy, like a family wellness facility looks: Campo Alegre.

Colorful bungalows stand among palm trees and cacti, each of the 150 rooms has air conditioning, a House Rules governs what the customers and the girls may not need. Every Tuesday is Damentag because men may come with accompaniment, some use the occasion to their wives to show how well it is received in the Campo Alegre.

Also Klaas was ever here, but only, he assured to get a Wet T-Shirt Contest view.

Red against yellow.

It is a bizarre mixture of ethnography, and policy book: The German businessman leads the other in Thailand unusual book "White Lotus". In a country where press freedom is limited, it is sometimes a risk.

 

Again nothing but trouble. Four printers have already been canceled, the fifth will probably make it. But who knows! Thailand is unpredictable. And people are afraid. Diethard Ande knows das Since 39 years the publisher has already lived in the former Siam. "But as bad as at the moment it was never," he says.

It is his concern harmless. A new book, he wants to bring out, one that deals with the political turmoil of the last few months busy. But what in most democracies is a matter of course, in Thailand is sometimes described as foolhardy: a political book, for example.

"Red vs.. Yellow, Volume 1: Thailand's crisis of identity" should read, 160 pages thick, more than half of these images. The author is the German photographer Nick Nostitz, whether he lives a long time in Thailand. He has like hardly any other foreign journalist pursues the unrest, the occupation of the airport, the overthrow of the government, the riots between Rothemden and yellow shirts, like the political parties mentioned. Now he has an impressive compendium of shocking pictures and impressive reports on the chaos presented. And hardly a printing ventures, the time to reproduce the document.

Ande is still the thing through. He has a penchant for beautiful books and, of course, one for business. By Nostitz project he encounters in any case in a gap in the market, because in Buddhist Thailand, there is currently something like the silence of the lambs.

The king is silent

Hardly a day goes by without journalists critical of the government are silenced. Number of Internet sites were blocked because ads Majesty insult adopt radio stations are facing closure. Major opposition politicians sit in prison or exile.

LAST EXIT ...

In the South Seas, the Caribbean or the Pacific? Reaching the Cape of Good Hope or to Koh Lanta? In the Moloch of Bangkok or Beijing? German emigrants to make their dream of a new life true.

What drives them? What do they want in the distance? Issues facing blogs correspondent Thilo Thielke in his column "Last Exit ..." after it.

Recently it was even an Australian locked up for months, because it is in self-publishing a novel was published in which the amorous entanglements of a son named King mentioned. Again and again, there were outbreaks of violence between government opponents and police. Now it continue bubbling under the surface. The king is silent.

Such a use of energy in the global information known only from countries like Burma, North Korea or China. Especially the Thai Minister of Justice is considered the driving force, he would prefer the maximum sentence for insulting the royal family from 15 to 25 years to increase, they say.

From a veritable "panic which currently prevails," wrote the blogger of "Fact" ( "Freedom Against Censorship Thailand"). Thus, on 14 January 2009 the oil workers Suwicha Thakhor arrested. The three family man had been accused of "disseminating material which is insulting the monarchy". He was released in April to ten years imprisonment for insulting Majesty convicted.

And as the beginning of December 2008, at the height of the occupation of Bangkok airport, the British weekly magazine "Economist" a story about the role of the royal family and published in Thailand was the whole issue is not available. Under the heading "A right royal mess", the anonymous author claims that "Thailand's policy of endless conflict" did with the "taboo of his monarchy" to do, and from another indexed work ( "The King Never Smiles") cited.

Security Halber have Nostitz Ande and her book previously submitted to the police and checked. Nobody has so far been little noticed Offensive. That will not mean much. It is courage to do it in any case, in such a country which is in the midst of political and social upheaval is to publish a book.

Retired paradise of Huay Yai

2005, Diethard Ande with his publisher "White Lotus" and the four employees in the village of Huay Yai, a good two hours' drive south of Bangkok, withdrawn. Previously, he was in the capital. But the other is now 71, he has enough of the noise, congestion, the stench - the many nuisances, which are in the Thai capital incessantly exposed. In Huay Yai is opposed to contemplative.

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Ande is on the terrace of his building and Publisher looks on dragon fruit plantations. Later characterized the silhouettes verkitschter pretty villas from. They are used by Germans and Englishmen populated, settled here and the dream of a fairytale castle did. The sea runs a three-quarter hour. Few in this retirement paradise get with what the rest of the country is going on. Early June in the south have a few fanatics, a mosque gestürmt and ten people in prayer shot. And in the north to prepare new government opponents battles against the establishment in Bangkok before.

"Thailand could be nearing a civil war," says the other, in its Southeast Asian home some election coups has experienced for the first time, the power struggle on the flat land extended for the first time, the economy of the country under attack: This is no longer with the coups of the past comparable. "

The northern Ande, born in Hamburg, Germany, grew up in Flensburg, came like so many for the first time in Thailand: a backpacking tourist. Eight months, he was in 1966 by Asia getrampt. Four years later, he had then in Berlin finally graduated to Wirtschaftsingenieur ended. But where? Ande bought a one-way ticket to Thailand. And stayed.

The first two years he worked as managing director of German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, but then resigned, the President, had brought him from, "and there was an asshole." Ande announced. But as a jack-in-all-trades, he found a quick way out. In 1972 the company "White Lotus" and imported from Europe, so what was hit in Thailand: Auto Parts, specialty lubricants, Teflon. Eventually books came into range: book for hotels and their traveling customers.

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The thing with the books like the other: "You hardly pay duties and has interesting things to do." Ande imported art books, antiquarian works, but mostly, what exactly was needed. " The early eighties he read of the Yao, the Lao People's whose inhabitants during the Vietnam War abgedrängt been to Thailand and, influenced by the missionaries, their ancient cult objects sold. Others interested in the topic, but there was still nothing about it. So he decided to become publishers themselves, and enthusiastic expert Jacques Lemoine for the project. "Yao Ceremonial Paintings" became the first academic success of the publisher. "Until today it is considered a standard work," says Ande proud.

The big hit was the history book. Today, "Hello My Big Big Honey. Love Letters to Bangkok Bar Girls" best people can bring. But we must be flexible as a publisher. In Andes range are now Nick Knatterton next Tiziano Terzani (Saigon 1975 ") and books about the Burmese puppetry alongside those concerning paramilitary groups in Thailand.

At the moment the business is not so good. Most "White Lotus" customers are travelers, and in times of economic crisis in Thailand are also many hotels empty. But who knows. Maybe yes Nostitz the book on the political skirmishes of the presence of a blockbuster - if it is not anticipated by the censors of the new government from the circulation.

Felsbogen on the Great Ocean Road collapsed.

From the rock Felsentor Two: One of the most famous rock formations, Australia, Iceland Archway is broken. For a chain of limestone formations on the Great Ocean Road, including the Twelve Apostles.

 

Sydney - The Archway Iceland is past. The more than 25 meters high arch in front of the southeast coast of Australia collapsed. The unusual rock formation is on the fifth continent as well known as the Long Anna on Helgoland in Germany and was a tourist magnet.

On Wednesday were only two high pillars at the Great Ocean Road to see. The zerborstenen pieces of connecting piece were below the water surface in the sea. "We got on Wednesday morning, a report from one of our helicopter pilots that the formation was broken," said Natasha Rangerin Johnson of Port Campbell National Park in the Australian news agency AAP. "There were a lot of dirt in the water. The arch had collapsed, and now we have two islands."

As early as 2005 was nearby stone tower from the "Twelve Apostles" series is also on the coastal road west of Melbourne collapsed. It is relatively soft limestone, which each year by wind and weather to lose weight. "This shows how fragile the coast," said Peter Abbott, who lives nearby, on the radio. "If this falls into the water once, it probably solves almost like sugar."

"It is very sad," said Johnson, "at the same time I find it very exciting." The collapse was a very good example of the forces of nature. "The coastline is developing more and more? And will be redesigned." The Iceland Archway will most likely retain its name, but probably will go with a documentary explains how the formation originally looked.

Fanclub on Robinson Island.

The Philippine Island Boracay is only ten kilometers in size - and home to a "FC Bayern Fan Club". 9882 kilometers away from Munich suffer and rejoice members. Especially now that the Klinsmann era past.

 

Actually, says Haxe, be it a small miracle that Peter is not got the stomach ulcer - then, under Klinsmann. Den he had eaten properly and already at the very beginning, when the Schwabe Saeb street at the Buddha pieces still had a great champagne breakfast for the case of awards that the unloved coach before the winter break would be dismissed.

Klinsmann, however, remained and stayed - and Peter suffered. Only in April, he was relieved, after ten months of torment. Now they are easier: the Haxe, 44, of Peter, 49, of René, the resort includes Pinjalo, and Andy, 41, and collide with a "San Miguel Pilsen" at the new time. Should calm once the other masters and DFB-Cup will be. The main thing this season horror is finally over.

Although much of the misery they have dahoam not exactly mitgekriegt. About the "Picture" and "kicker line, clear, and on weekends at night they sit before the laptop via the Internet and listen to German radio. Just as it did when they were small: conference call, the gateway to Munich, Hamburg Pass. Only on moving images must be the guys from "FC Bayern Fan Club Boracay" refrain. In paradise will not division. Not yet anyway.

But instead - what a view! Outside, on the shimmering turquoise ocean front Boracay, the Philippine island of Panay next, consider passing sailors. Strolling on the beach the beauty of the village, and the bar of "Sundown" is decorated in the club colors besides red scarves from Linzer ASK. "If that's not a dream", jubilates Haxe. With his left hand he holds a cold Pils and with the right Schatzi, his Filipino girlfriend. Then there are "hot stone" with Brazilian steaks, Käsekrainer, Bernese Sausage and apricot brandy. From the DVD player scheppert: "Hey, hey you there! Are you perhaps a little bitch?" G. G. Anderson. Can life be better?

From the "Europe" in Boracay

The sand is warm and flatters Haxes bare feet. It blows a gentle breeze across, and sea and sky merge into a violettrotblauen colors miracle. This can also soften hardened hearts Allgäuer. "This is the most beautiful place on earth," he says, and also Andy from the Black Forest, and of course Peter Packy thinks the same. Finally, he is now 22 years since the owner of "Sundown Restaurant & Cocktail Bar" and incidentally, also head of the FC Bayern fan club, which is based on the Philippine island home, and has 33 members. Founded 1999.

LAST EXIT ...

In the South Seas, the Caribbean or the Pacific? Reaching the Cape of Good Hope or to Koh Lanta? In the Moloch of Bangkok or Beijing? German emigrants to make their dream of a new life true.

What drives them? What do they want in the distance? Issues facing blogs correspondent Thilo Thielke in his column "Last Exit ..." after it.

For six years, the Austrians Peter Packy from Linz on the Danube to the sea driven as steward on the "MS Europa". He was with 15 torn from home, had been in the catering to the Black durchgeschlagen, and he now led a life of Hans-Albers-sailor romance and ZDF Traumschiff kitsch. St. Pauli, the South Seas, and at the bar of the luxury liner was sitting for years the entrepreneur Günter Mast by Jägermeister. Each week he let loose thousand marks Tipping jump.

The people of Paradise steamer saw the wide world, and sometimes they saw in the depths of humanity. "Life on the ship consisted only of Essen, Essen, Essen," said Packy, average age 60 years. " Schee wars yet. At four months followed by ten weeks ship vacation. It would go on endlessly as you can. But then, 1987, sometime between Rio and Shanghai, between Bali and Hawaii, the "MS Europa" in Hong Kong. Peter and a few mates went to the country, opted for a vacation on the Strip, the Philippines and landed on Boracay.

As Robinson on his destiny island

Boracay was still not very developed. It was a beautiful paradise, the northwest tip Panays upstream Badeinsel, "enthused DuMont, for example, the guide of 1986 and praised the" gentle rural idyll "with" dschungelüberwucherten hills "and" milchpulverfeinem sand. "

After the luxury boat full of seniors klunkerbehangener must Packy as Peter Robinson on his island is alleged his fate. "There was no telephone and no electricity," said Packy, "the beer was chilled Gas, initially with the local Petromax lamps lighted, and the music ran through a car battery." For Peter started a new life.

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From the DVD player schallt Bavaria has become a battle song, "FC Bayern, German Champion, so he says ..." "Am i narrisch," says Christie. Christie is the Angetraute Peter Packy. The two have 22 years ago on the island know and now three children in common. Christie has in the meantime a little bit and Austro Bairisch learned and an excellent how to roast pork, goulash and schnitzel makes.

Of course, the Philippinerin also a member of the Philippine situation rather odd-looking costumes football club, with its Peter a few years ago founded. For the group photo on the beach she wanders the dark blue away jersey on. And if Oktoberfest is with Peter in Boracay in lederhosen served.

Andy and Haxe were ten, twelve years on the force. While more and more built around was, "Halli Galli" and the character of the discos Trauminsel changed until you sometimes scarcely knew whether to Malle, in the DR or stranded on Ko Samui was remained at the bottom of the "Sundown" almost everything in the Old .

The arrangement of red umbrellas, white plastic chairs and wooden tables with red and white-striped mats still reaches almost to the beach, and the only music that herüberweht is from its own bar straight runs "Above the clouds must be free probably be boundless, "and Haxe is a little sad that Andy tomorrow to return to Germany, and he himself in three weeks. Over his two bare arms Ellen airs are sweeping auftätowierte spiders networks.

With good humor in the new season

Four months Germany, the Philippines eight months is its current pace. And even if they sometimes get Koller island, is the farewell always difficult. Soon it is back grind and cut, and in Germany from 200 euros per month to live. Andy renovated houses, and makes everything Haxe: Landscape Gardeners, Locksmiths, agricultural mechanic and instructor at Boracay. Incidentally, he is a specialist in Kässpätzle.

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A few hours they have together now. On the plate are fragrant sausages. They were by Roland Sager, the German butcher delivered from Manila. The Roland Sager is also President of the "FC Bayern Fan Club Manila". The course fits very well. "As far Muschter in Germany jump dasst as a quality krigscht," says Haxe charm. The Philippine cuisine, well, all in love, could be more "bend": "The eating grilled chicken claws."

Meanwhile dudelt Markus with his falsetto, "I'll give gas, I want fun" from the recorder, and commends the Philippine Haxe mentality. On the 500-peso bill is "Study now, pay later", and that brings his life motto of "live today and pay tomorrow" already damned close.

If he accepts the embittered face in Germany think that says Haxe, to acquire it is sometimes right in line with the fear to do. But Klinsmann was better than the parts. And if they remember that it is now with a new coach in the new season starts, they re all in good spirits "Sundown" and cheers to. A new. Soon, when the new season starts, so they will all meet again on their dream island in front of the laptop and sit and listen to the conference call. Hopefully with a gate in Munich. While behind them the red sun sinks in the sea.

"Competitive pressure would completely block me".

What was the first woman climbs all the peaks of the planet? Four top climbers are in the race, one of them is the Austrian Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner. In an interview with blogs online talking about their rivals, the fascination of the height, and their next goal - the K2.

 

blogs ONLINE: Mrs. Kaltenbrunner, you've finally defeated in Nepal Lhotse, the fourth highest peak on earth. However, until the third attempt - which ran better than in previous expeditions?

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner: The big difference was that this time I just concentrated on the Lhotse have. In other experiments, I have one other peaks climbed before, once the Kangchendzönga, a very high and difficult mountain. And the second time the Dhalaugiri. I also have this much patience and the best weather conditions maintained.

blogs ONLINE: What do you mean by "good weather" on 8516 meters above sea level?

Kaltenbrunner: The wind speed was only 30 to 35 km / h, the temperature at minus 26 degrees. These are very good conditions for an eight-thousand.

blogs ONLINE: The Spaniard Edurne PASABAN, in May the Kangchendzönga ascended, is now next to you the only woman, the twelve thousand Eight summit is reached. Is there a fight about who was the first woman in every 14 created?

Kaltenbrunner: For me this is not a race. Mir is true no matter who the first is. Because it really is quite different values.

blogs ONLINE: To what?

Kaltenbrunner: The nature of their large and powerful diversity to experience the indescribable views from the peaks to enjoy, that is me. And finally after a long preparation and dreams but the ambitious goal of creating its own power, which fulfilled me. Would I feel a competitive pressure, I could turn it all in the form of non-experience and record. I would be totally blocked and I would be a very big risk.

Photo: DPA www.amical.de
Video: TV blogs

blogs ONLINE: You are still missing K2 and Everest, Edurne PASABAN needs to Annapurna and Shisha Pangma defeat - who has the lighter residual program?

Kaltenbrunner: The Shisha Pangma belongs in any case, the less difficult to eight. The Annapurna is not as high, but very dangerous. This is the only peaks that I in no way wants to return. I hope that the Edurne as well through. For me, the K2 and Everest, among others by the amount of course very difficult, because I always without artificial oxygen and without carrier am.

blogs ONLINE: On both mountains, you were already in place, but had to cancel the ascents. Why are you the motivation, it has always been to try?

Kaltenbrunner: If the K2 before him, he exerts an incredibly strong fascination. This is a not going to get it done either has or knows that it simply does not work. Technically, the mountain is very demanding, but until 8200 meters, I know the route already. That makes me very confident that it will work someday - perhaps even this summer.

PERSONAL

Ralf Dujmovits / amical.de

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner was adopted on 13 December 1970 in the Austrian hospital on Pyhrn born. The nurse was certified with 23 years in 8027 meters height on the Vorgipfel of Broad Peak in Pakistan. Since the ascent of Nanga Parbat (8125 meters) in 2003, she lives solely by professional mountaineering. With twelve gene beast main peaks of the Eight-thousand-series (it only lacks K2 and Mount Everest) Kaltenbrunner is now regarded as one of the most successful extreme mountaineer Inside the world. Together with her husband and expedition partner Ralf Dujmovits she lives in Bühl / Black.

blogs ONLINE: And the Everest?

Kaltenbrunner: Because we had to cancel in 2005 because our teammate Hirotaka Takeuchi had a Hirnödem. Especially irritating to me the ascent on the north wall, there are hardly any people on the move. It always says that it is a tourist mountain. Indeed, many climbers take a stroll in the spring Vormonsunzeit on the normal routes around. But if you have a route path less guilty, this is a beautiful mountain.

blogs ONLINE: Do you know when PASABAN their 13th and 14 Ascent plans?

Kaltenbrunner: no. Once in May of Kangchendzönga come back, I still have not spoken with her. We have a few e-mails written. You must now look over the summer that their toes back into some order, and then safely back in the autumn break. During descent, it suffered frostbite and needed artificial oxygen. She had already severe frostbite on K2, then had to find parts of their toes are amputated.

blogs ONLINE: In the year 2007, together with the Spaniard defeated a summit?

Kaltenbrunner: Exactly, the Broad Peak we climbed in parallel, because we are the last meters to the highest point along Ascended. Before this spring to Kangchendzönga is broken and I Lhotse, we have taken in Kathmandu. We have a very good relationship.

blogs ONLINE: Do you know your other rivals Nives MEROI from Italy and Oh Eun-Sun of South Korea, the eleven peaks have climbed?

Kaltenbrunner: With Nives MEROI understand me very well, Sun I do not know personally - but with their style of climbing, I can start over nothing. Your objective is to support the summit with all the means to create. Since it does not matter at what height it takes oxygen and that it has many Sherpas and support from her team, from bottom to top Fixseile for them relocated. It does not take a backpack, everything is prepared. This is a very questionable style.

blogs ONLINE: competition or not - a bit of a hurry it seems so. After only two weeks traveling in Germany, now at K2.

Kaltenbrunner: I have absolutely no hurry. This time I have for years so that in the spring, I am in Nepal and in the summer in Pakistan. The K2 offers only once a year the chance to climb it, so I will use the summer season.

blogs ONLINE: Did because enough time for regeneration?

Kaltenbrunner: After Lhotse I hineingespürt in me, as I feel I have much more strength and motivation, so do I now.

blogs ONLINE: If you are 14 peaks create - then what would be the next challenge?

Kaltenbrunner: Because like I have not even thought off. It can go fast, but it can also take years. Hans Kammerlander has four starts for K2 needed. I hope not, for me that it will last as long. Then there are some remote routes to lower mountains, which I gladly share with my husband would climb. I will certainly return year after year break - if you look at the mountain climbing has begun, which allows for a lifetime is no longer happening.

14 peaks: the highest mountains in the world

Name
  Height
  Country
  First ascent

Mount Everest
  8848 meters
  Tibet, Nepal
29.05.1953

K2
  8611 meters
  China, Pakistan
31.07.1954

Kangchendzönga
  8586 meters
  India, Nepal
25.05.1955

Lhotse
  8516 meters
  Tibet, Nepal
18.05.1956

Makalu
  8485 meters
  Tibet, Nepal
15.05.1955

Cho Oyu
  8188 meters
  Tibet, Nepal
19.10.1954

Dhaulagiri I
  8167 meters
  Nepal
13.05.1960

Manaslu
  8163 meters
  Nepal
09.05.1956

Nanga Parbat
  8125 meters
  Pakistan
03.07.1953

Annapurna
  8091 meters
  Nepal
03.06.1950

Hidden Peak
  8080 meters
  Tibet, Pakistan
05.07.1958

Broad Peak
  8051 meters
  Tibet, Pakistan
09.06.1957

Gasherbrum II
  8034 meters
  Tibet, Pakistan
07.07.1956

Shisha Pangma
  8027 meters
  Tibet
02.05.1964

Sharks up close.

Mighty tiger sharks, hammerhead sharks shy, curious bull sharks: a direct encounter with the predators of the seas for many divers is the culmination of her hobbies. ONLINE blogs shows the best dive sites - and explains when the enthusiasm for the fish is dangerous.

 

Since two hours dümpelt the small boat before the South African Gaansbai. Most of the divers on board waiting to have their stomach contents on the side already emptied miserably because it stinks of fish and the high swell proposes on mood. The fish smell coming from a large t. deck whose content from skipper portions is disposed in the sea: attractants for the king. The waiting tugs on the nerves, it is hot, almost windless. Then comes the shark.

The king of the seas is not cute. Not nice. Not friendly. His grim expression, in conjunction with some of Hollywood productions led to the cry "Shark!" still one of the fastest ways to make a deserted bay with bathers to get. But the divers on board behave differently, they want into the sea.

Once the characteristic dorsal fin cutting the water, they can glide in a cage for the Great White Shark up close to see. They observe an animal that is completely different behavior than in the movies: The shark moves slowly, carefully, almost cautiously, as he opened with a foot in the bait bites. Can a bite almost tenderly call?

With a queasy feeling in the abdomen are the divers in the cage increased, they jubilantly out again: At least as of today they are "haisüchtig", has its journey around the globe in the area between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town worthwhile.

2000 dives without Haibiss

Against the backdrop of Table Mountain take mighty Atlantic and Indian Ocean, get flogged the surf to the cape of good hope. Whales and dolphins move along the coast and on the offshore islands innumerable seals cavort, the favorite food of the Great Whites. Who comes to South Africa, will fail to enjoy the colorful coral - who appears here, wants to see sharks. The more and the bigger the better.

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AP; Linus Geschke; Andreas Hilsenbeck

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One of the most profound connoisseur of the scene is Roland Mauz, who has 20 years with his company "African Dive Adventures" shark dives below offers. The 50-year-old has its headquarters in Margate, a small town near Durban. From there starts Mauz to "Protea Banks." There are neatly flow, visibility often less than 15 meters and water temperatures from 18 to 23 degrees Celsius - ideal conditions for Haibegegnungen. "Depending on the season, we have schools of hammerhead sharks by more than a hundred animals, this sand tiger and bull sharks in South Africa 'Zambesi Sharks' called," says Mauz.

Over 2000 dives, he has already performed with sharks, all without ever bitten them. "It is a great experience with these wild, potentially dangerous animals are often close to interact and in their mid-to be accepted." A fascination that also in other parts of the world, more and more divers in its spell.

The cantor of Curaçao.

The oldest synagogue in the New World is on the Antillean island of Curaçao, a former Dutch colony. The island off the coast of Venezuela, a zone free of anti-Semitism. For the small Jewish community has the advantages and disadvantages.

 

"Excuse me, are you Jewish?" Asks the man left us. Leon wears a silk yarmulke on his head, I have a Panama hat, and we hold ourselves to one Sidur and do as we knew how to use the prayer book has. It is the beginning of Schawuot. More than 3000 years, the Israelites in the middle of the Sinai desert, the Torah and the Ten Commandments received and since the Jews are celebrating all over the world in the event as if it happened last week.

And the Jews of Curaçao Willemstad to celebrate with. It is a tiny village with just 180 members. Therefore, it is the oldest in the New World, 1651 by Sephardic (Spanish) Jews founded by Dutch settlers in the Caribbean had come.

The "Snoa" of Willemstad has a checkered history of divisions and associations behind it, it was more than 300 years Orthodox. About ten years ago, it has the "Rekonstruktionisten" connected, in the direction of liberal Judaism. This had less religious than practical reasons. For a prayer in the synagogue, there must be a Minjan give ten adult Jewish men. There were but more often before that it was not Minjan. Since the Rekonstruktionisten the full equality of the sexes practice, it does not matter how the Minjan is composed. There have only ten adult Jews to be.

A musical Kantor

On the evening of the festival Schawuot sit but only nine worshipers in the synagogue, five men and four women, so the prayer is not to start. And why does the man left of us know whether we are Jews or just tourists who want to experience something extravagant. "Yes, we are," I say. So Leon and I come to honor the Jews of Curaçao on a Minjan as possible.

"We can start," says the man next to us and gives a sign Kantor. Later five more visitors come to, including a young couple from New York. Finally, there are 16 Jews in the synagogue of Willemstad on Curaçao praise the Lord that he is not only women but also men and the West has created.

The community is too small to get a rabbi and a cantor to be able to afford. Faced with the choice of a rabbi who is not singing or a cantor, who also preach can, the Board decided to Avery Tracht.

1953 in Dayton, Ohio, was born, he has after the high school attended several conservatories and three exams passed, including sacred music and opera. After that, Tracht, whose ancestors from Prussia and Russia "had immigrated to America twelve years cantor in a small community in Brooklyn. 1986, he traveled for the first time in Germany, at the invitation to an evangelical community concerts. 1988, he joined in the synagogue Rykestraße in East Berlin, it was the time when the GDR suddenly her heart for Jews and Jewish culture had discovered. "Everything was very solemn," recalls costume, the most it has in the apartment of the former municipal chairman, the kitchen is impressive, the "completely in Delft Blue was set up."

Weddings improve the community at Checkout

In 1990, Trachtenberg is one years free to Germany after the turn to experience and in Berlin to learn German. About a colleague, he learned that the liberal community in Amsterdam is looking for a cantor. He applied, was made and remained ten years in Holland. 2001 he returned to the U.S. back to a small community in Lynbrook on Long Iceland. 2004 he read in the Bulletin of the Conference Kantor that the village in Willemstad a "Spiritual Leader" searches. "So you get an opportunity not twice." After five years in Curaçao, he knows that it is not only an honor, the oldest parish in the New World, but also an experience which can lead to frustration.

"There are all businessmen, and they are not interested in something new to learn." Costume complains about a lack of "intellectual curiosity", which he tries to stimulate the simplest means. Once a month he leads at home "Jewish film" to classics such as "Sallah Shabati" by Ephraim Kishon from the year 1964, new productions like "The Band's Visit" from 2007. "The last time four people came." And if it gets wegfährt, then nobody is there, "the would be the service to take over." It may opt for a lack of tasks not complain. "I am a teacher, Kantor, Chaplain, I konfirmiere the children and the trust Ehewilligen." Some come from America and Europe arrived to Curaçao to marry - kosher and under the palms. This is good for the community fund, because the sun and the blue sky, there is nothing, everything must rest to be paid.

Anti-Semitism Free Zone Curacao

In the 17th Century, Jews lived on Curacao 2000, more than in all of America. The oldest bank in the island, Maduro & Curiel, was founded by Jews. About half of all Curaçaoner estimates costume has Jewish ancestors. Therefore it may come that no anti-Semitism on Curacao there. This, in turn, räsoniert costume, "is both good and bad." Well, because no Jew feels threatened, bad, because "the Jews over their Judesein not need to think about." The lack of challenges was an enjoyable, but leads to apathy.

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So, everything has its pros and cons. Curacao is an anti-free zone, but were at the synagogue in the heart of the city, recently, surveillance cameras affixed. Because many Curaçao visitors come from nearby Venezuela, where President Chávez, a Linkspopulist who likes his country's Jews as scapegoats for all makes, he will not succeed.

Anecdotes and sweet wine

Of these things is the "Schawuot" prayer nothing to feel. The only thing the visitors to create, then the heat. The windows of the synagogue are wide open, 16 large ceiling fans swirl the air in confusion. Avery Tracht is as always well prepared. He explains the meaning of "Schawuot", goes on the book Ruth ", which from the first Konvertitin to Judaism, and has his audience with anecdotes, like that of Oprah Winfrey, whose mother after she Moabiterin" ORPA " wanted to call, but at the baptism promises.

The whole service lasts three-quarters of an hour. More like costume does not expect his listeners. Quite to the conclusion, he quotes the poet Norman Allen: "Lord, I do not ask for a faith that would move Yonder Mountain. I can take enough dynamite and move it, if it needs movin '. I pray, Lord, for enough faith to move me. "

And afterwards there are remaining in the souvenir shop a "Kiddush" - sweet wine and "Challe" Flechtbrot, by a Dutch baker was delivered on Curaçao. Trachtenberg says the blessing for the bread and the wine. And nobody bothers to fact that neither the one nor the other is kosher.

Land of shining water.

Here are beavers and moose good night: In Ontario, enjoy nature, the remoteness of the Canadian wilderness. Some locals, however, for the strange behavior of Großstädter leave little understanding.

 

Wabatongushi / French River - only now and then breaks into the distant past surrender motorboat silence. The small wooden boat for a while still fluctuates, but otherwise it is quiet on the Wabatongushi Lake. Adam Madahbee stares focused on the lake in the north of Canada's Ontario province wasserreichster. "Sooner or later must be a fish to bite," he says - even if the two hours waiting Mitangler its no longer like to believe.

But actually, in one fishing rod wobbles. The 25-year-old hechtet across the boat, zückt a network hievt and the next moment a greenish-silvery fish on board: a zappelnden, about 25 centimeters long Walley, the lunch will be enrich.

Like sturgeon, catfish and other animals shed, this North American Zanderart in the Ontario waters of countless frequent. Nevertheless, Adam is disappointed when it goes to the bank - more than one Walley has not angebissen. Also his grandfather Ivan in checkered lumberjack shirt and blue vest has today no luck.

The 75-year-old Angel holds even into the glistening water, as his grandson, the boat ashore already firmly made. The old man acknowledged his failure with a toothless smile and shake of the head.

On a small island in the lake conjure Adam and Ivan instantly a richly covered table with brought fish, crispy potato columns and Bannock Indian bread made of corn - everything fresh for over a crackling wood fire. Also, the only catch of the day landed in hot fat, after Adam quickly than it has. Can be sold the fish caught here not only for their own consumption are the fishing allowed.

The largest game reserve in the world

The narrow Wabatongushi lake stretches about 30 kilometers from north to south and is located in the secluded "Chapleau Crown Game Preserve. The largest game reserve in the world is not far from the shores of Lake Superior, the largest inland waters of Canada and with 82,103 square kilometers, nearly 144-times as large as the Lake.

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Here, the parents of Al Errington, head of Ivan and Adam, in the mid-seventies, started in the wilderness to build a lodge. Meanwhile provide Al and his wife Doris five months a year, a haven for stress-ridden Großstädter the absolute solitude on the water looking for.

Canada has about ten percent of the global freshwater deposits, most of them in Ontario. The Iroquois name meaning "land of shining waters". In the south, the province borders the Great Lakes and on the north by Hudson Bay. One sixth of the country's area consists of lakes and rivers - more than 400,000 water should there be, of which some 250,000 sparkling lakes and 100,000 kilometers rushing rivers.

Accordingly, many remote regions: The resort is approximately the Erringtons only by seaplane or by Bummelzug the Algoma Central Railway Company to reach.

The guests of Al and Doris live either in apartments adjacent to the main house or in a wooden hut on the neighboring island, which has a curved wooden bridge to reach. Who does not want to walk through the undergrowth for food in the main house to beat, travels with his own boat before - each cabin has a private jetty with its own barge. Not only are anglers, many nature lovers. You relax on the terrace, paddling in the sea or look out for elk, beavers, otters and black bears, or hummingbirds, ice diving and white-head sea eagles.

Destruction by motorboats

The bird watchers are Adam and Ivan, however, rather suspicious. "The stay a whole week and do nothing else, the fish do not even" outraged that Ivan and then grins. Ivan is very early with his grandson Adam to fish, to gather blueberries and elk gone. Both live by and with the nature and see it with a shake of the head, therefore, if a city dweller with a motorboat into a tributary of the lake heats. "The waves are too many low-lying and bird nests in the reeds wegschwemmen," says Adam.

The two men belong to the tribe of Anniishnabek. He is part of the Ojibway, one of the larger so-called "first nations" - the Canadian aboriginal. They come from a region, the Chapleau Game Reserve is very similar: Manitoulin Iceland. The roughly two-hour flight from Lake Wabatongushi remote island in Lake Huron and has approximately 2800 square kilometers and a coastline of more than 1600 kilometers of the world's largest island in an inland sea. Of the approximately 15,000 residents is about one third of Indian descent.

The island lies off the Georgian Bay at the former Pelzhandelsroute. Their path was preparing the first of the French explorer Samuel de Champlain. In the first third of the 17th Century, it arrived from the Canadian east over the Ottawa River, Lake Nipissing to the Georgian Bay to Lake Huron. Even today, the people in the region to the historic route.

White spots on the map

Eileen and David Quinn about stress like that of the channel between the small village of Killarney and its upstream George Island has the fur good protection from the storms in the Bay offered.

The couple is twelve years sailed through the Caribbean. Whole country wanted to return to the former musician and former journalist not. Therefore, controlling the two for nearly three years since the sailing yacht "Stormy Night" by the bay and the waters around Iceland Manitoulin. The boat glides past ankernden motor individual rowers and canoeists in the sunset. The sky over the gentle green hills, dark and a white lighthouse, the shape of a pepper mill, is in intense pink-blue dipped.

Three times a week, the Quinns tourists hidden corners of the island world. An insider's tip for a day trip from Killarney was from Fox, for example Iceland, says David. "This is only to sail the locals, because the bay is a white spot on the map." The Cartographic Society of Canada had not yet taken into account. For example, few know the way to the Frazer Bay to "Indian Head", a rock formation from quartzite in the form of an Indian face, which from afar looks like the profile of a Native American.

The sailor's paradise has its pitfalls. Not only the weather is changeable, and the fairway. "It looks very wide, but actually it is very narrow to navigate," says Eileen, the hand is almost always firmly on the steering wheel. She holds out for barely visible rocks that are in the boat the way could. "We know not every stone in the bay, but it helps if you know where the majority of stones are," she says.

Hardly a sailor's paradise, but even more suitable for white water rafting, canoeing, fishing and swimming, the nearby French River Provincial Park, the Lake Nipissing with Georgian Bay connects. Times more, sometimes close, the 105 kilometers long river between cliffs of gray-white granite and tree-lined hills round. He was the French discoverer of the last stage before the Georgian Bay and still live here many Franco-Canadians.

The area is not quite as lonely as outlined in the north around the Chapleau Game Reserve. Replace wish Madahbee Adam still can not - even if it sometimes bothers him that he will never eat in fast food restaurant around the corner and friends can get only in the winter at home on Manitoulin Iceland meets. "But if you think this is great area to see here, then you lack nothing," he says and looks lost on the glittering water.

Prone to the world.

He drove through 41 countries - and once around the Earth: The Berlin Tom Richter was the first German with a recumbent circles the world. More than 42,000 kilometers of roads and gravel roads, an adventure very close to the people: Sometimes he attracted more attention than he was loved.

 

It is a steep uphill, the air is thin at 4500 meters, and two recumbent bikes are heavy as ever. On the lagoon road in Bolivia is experiencing Tom Richter perhaps grueling section of his total 42,160 kilometers long bike ride. In the pockets on his vehicle, he has food for ten days and water for three days, a total of 70 kilograms, it shall send a strong wind with the help of his girlfriend up the mountain slide. Then walk back and the same procedure with her bike

Richter was the first German on a recumbent circles the world. In 803 days, he traveled through 41 countries, lived in the Andes Eisstürme and heat waves in India. In Tibet, he crossed 5013-meter-high pass and drove in the Red Sea in Jordan to 418 meters below sea level along the embankment.

In between, he in Nepal a few weeks of leave, to a dozen five-thousand and climb to the Everest base camp to be. Two and a half years he was en route to sections in the company, a total of one third of the distance he managed alone.

"The motivation was, countries and people and with my own eyes to see the world," says Richter. In addition to circumnavigate the globe, it is already the target, but not the most important thing was. "You see a cross section of countries, controls not only the tourist highlights," he says about the thrill of traveling in the bicycle speed.

As he looks out but is not: "I am with my life before was clear and it will continue to enjoy once again to be settled." During the trip, he usually slept in a tent, now and in cheap guesthouses. "With all the transfers, the approximately 13,000 euros."

In comfortable supine position, with their feet ahead, he fought to his high-tech recumbent progressing. "This is much more comfortable than a normal bicycle," says the 31-year-old engineer, in an outdoor shop in Berlin is working. "The seat is large and comfortable, you have the landscape in the view without constantly to dislocate the neck. The seating position is much more pleasant." Only in urban traffic is the recumbent riders at a disadvantage, because it sits lower and thereby more easily overlooked. And because he is with the feet in advance crossings and thus leaves a worse point of view.

Guest of honor in the village

For the world was the unusual mode of transport but an invaluable advantage: Wherever people met at Judge, Ethiopia and Bolivia, in China or Tanzania - the attention of the locals was certainly him. "No sooner had I risen from the wheel, have any people on it is set," he remembers little about the cautious Chinese.

ONLINE blogs, Google Earth
Around the world in 803 days: The route from Thomas Richter

Even in India, he was permanently in the cities surrounded by people. "Privacy is not an issue," says Judge, whose rampant red hair in some regions of Asia for much the same stir as likely to have his vehicle.

7000-In the Indian village residents experienced judges Varshi veritable celebrity worship. When Krishna festival, he was guest of honor on the stage, asked a priest to a flower wreath umzuhängen. Apparently breached his interpretation of the religious ritual of the Protocol. Hundreds of spectators laughed when the priest finally grabbed the crown and even umhängte.

The faux pas on stage, however, gave the village superiors not refrain from the whole day to compete about who is next to him as the tea was allowed to invite. For the farewell ceremony was recumbent on a pedestal in front of the temple by a priest wrapped judge an orange turban around and painted a red dot on his forehead. Only after a few laps of honor in the village square, the people let him go. Of course, only after he had promised return.

"India was for me perhaps the most exciting country - it is colorful, loud and full of constantly different cultures," says Richter. At the same time, however, it was not easy to navigate because of many bad roads, "it stinks, there is much poverty, and I had in me up to 44 degree heat fighting ahead." As the perfect destination for cyclists, it recommends, therefore, South America: "The land is relatively cheap. You can choose the difficulty, because it is basically a good road network exists." It does not equal the lagoon stressful road to Bolivia.

The speeder-delusion of the valley

If one listens to judge how it objectively and without any fuss for information about his trip there, you might think he is talking about a Sunday outing to the river Spree. And actually ran the world tour, without really dangerous margins. For a couple of falls won judges abrasions, but of serious health problems, he remained spared.

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On the first 11,000 kilometers, he had no plates. He spent a total of only two front and two rear tires, and had never advanced specialty parts replaced. "Several wheels are already broken, and when the porter kaputtging, I had to improvise, to be appeared." In China and South America fell in some regions of the hose several times a day is broken, again and again, the repair kit is used.

In Nepal, judges had to abandon his plan, each country-kilometers on the bike deal. Because the route to Lhasa is taboo for individual travelers, with a Chinese-guided tour was in jeeps in the Tibetan capital. Also another record was denied him on an almost countless twisty mountain descent in Bolivia grabbed him the athletic ambition in the speeder-Wahn mad he reached 97 km / h, but the magic 100 he does not.

But a trip around the world by recumbent, which is before him only one Austrians succeeded: Joachim Hager was from 2001 to 2006 almost nonstop route, judges met in the beginning of his own journey into Mitterlaab in Austria.

At the end of April 2009, after two and a half years on tour, he received friends at the Berlin Alexanderplatz, right under the huge Weltzeituhr with toponyms also major cities. A champagne baptism did not exist. "First, I have eaten an ice cream," says Richter.

Last refuge of the forest people.

It is fighting an almost hopeless struggle: Ulrike Clear Mengden rescues woman for more than 50 years in Indonesia, orang-utans. Despite the passionate use of Prussian is the survival of great apes under threat - "it is a disgrace."

 

Actually, probably the old lady did not understand - for the noise. The monsoon rain crackles like a barrage on the roof, the monkeys scream like spit, and the almost federlose Kakadu zetert again loudly around. That Ulrike baroness of Mengden still noisy against the competition, which in addition to romp 19 orang-utans still at least three dogs and eight cats socialize, can enforce, is located on the casino and Prussian Kommandoton and their holy wrath.

For once, it can really upset about the "corrupt Bagasche Janze" animal hater, the bureaucrats, politicians, unscrupulous bonze. It's about orang-utans, which urged ausgewildert be, but for once no one is interested, the neglect of the zoo, to the destruction of the Indonesian rainforest. "This country does not love animals," complains the Prussian petite lady, "it is a disgrace."

Ulrike von Mengden, Ibu Ulla called, lives in a small bungalow in the middle of the "Ragunan Zoo" of Jakarta, their refuge. She sits on the covered patio and fruit juice can be served. Behind her stick a poster of an orangutan displays, along with the admonition: "I'm not a monkey, I am your great-great-great-great-grandfather." The screaming monkey is calm again. Ulla not. She is a fighter. She is an officer's daughter from Labiau. The not so quickly capitulated. "The moral of the weaker defender shows so boldly must be the attacker." Did Clausewitz said. Ulla, Prussian, Protestant, keeps it. "I know no mercy."

Largest Regenwaldvernichter the world

Their use is the unique fauna of Indonesia, currently almost quickly as nowhere else will be decimated. Especially since Europe approaches of Ökowahn shows go on with the Orang-utans, the "forest people," rapidly downhill. Because the European Union as the target output has nearly ten percent of its fuel needs from biofuel also cover to try to shoot in Borneo Palm oil plantations out of the ground. Hourly rain forest in Indonesia is in an area which corresponds to 300 soccer fields, cleared.

LAST EXIT ...

In the South Seas, the Caribbean or the Pacific? Reaching the Cape of Good Hope or to Koh Lanta? In the Moloch of Bangkok or Beijing? German emigrants to make their dream of a new life true.

What drives them? What do they want in the distance? Issues facing blogs correspondent Thilo Thielke in his column "Last Exit ..." after it.

As the largest Regenwaldvernichter the earth brought it to the government in Jakarta, even in the "Guinness Book of World Records." Indonesia, one of more than 17,000 islands existing paradise, is being systematically plundered. "These bastards" complains the free woman, "especially the ones who suffer great apes: Still to be about 50,000 Borneo orangutans live, but if the forest is not curbed, it will soon just type in zoos can survive."

In the Zoo of Jakarta Ulla lives of Mengden now since 1968. At that time, the zoo moved from downtown to the south in order. She has to live here for life and built a station here, the orang-utan orphans absorbs aufpäppelt and then helps them auszuwildern. This work is her life's work. Ulrike free woman of Mengden was curator of the zoos. She wants to stay here. Despite all the problems with Zoodirektoren ignorant, corrupt bureaucrats and rapacious killers rainforest. Meanwhile, Indonesia is their mother country, while Germany is always their homeland still, she says. True is hardly surprising. Finally, she lives here already since 57 years.

"A paradise on earth"

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At that time, the early fifties, she came with her husband, Hans Mengden Mary of Clovis, after Indonesia. In Java, the family had owned a cattle farm. Why not? The two were young, they had nothing to lose, Europe lay in ruins. Still fresh were the memories of the great war. Ulla was a nurse is always just behind the front was in Dunkirk, in Norway in the U-boat hospital, where she got scarlet fever, which is why she still sounds bad. Then in Russia on the Eastern Front. Near the Romanian border, she was away with the troops of the Red Army was eingekesselt, Hungary, they had rescued. "I was Halbverhungert finally arrived in Germany."

The future, of a part of the war years in captivity was spent in the Himalayas, they had while studying in Bonn met. He was in Indonesia more than in Germany. The family already existed since 1896, even as Indonesia was Dutch colony. Lang hesitated not both, as they call the wilderness seized. Ulla and fell instantly in the exotic country. "It was a paradise here, and this zoo is the largest and most beautiful in the whole earth," says the mother monkeys.

But then it slowly went downhill. In particular, under the dictator Suharto of Indonesia from 1966 to 1998 reign, the country fell under the robbers. "Anyone who is honest, is your own fault, and who is not corrupt, it is done - that's been the motto," says Ms. von Mengden Free.

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Way they still do not wants. Where too? Her husband died a long time ago, now it is an "old widow," she says. And the animals need them of course, more than ever. Between 300 and 500 orang-utans are now gone through their station. And it is increasingly difficult for newcomers to find any seats. Almost impossible, it is still what auszuwildern. The rainforest areas, the redheaded apes to survive in the wild need to shrink ever faster.

"Right raving" could they be when they hear something complains Ulrike free woman of Mengden. And to their words to be emphasized, it proposes the robust bony fist on the table. But then she says still something conciliation. That they love this country indefinitely, because it is so rich, so complex and so alien that "a real wonderland."

In the brain of Lady Liberty.

Then, the masses of tourists in New York waiting for: On U.S. Independence Day is the interior of the Statue of Liberty re-opened - including access to the tiny crown. blogs ONLINE correspondent Marc Pitzke got by the authorities have been granted a preview.

 

New York - The Lady of the brain is hollow. A low, crooked, humid room. 22 floors above the water, held together by a narrow steel beam skeleton, riveted and clad with ultra-thin copper skin. The visitors reached via a steep spiral staircase, 354 narrow steps.

The 25 windows that highlight the crown, open to the harbor, and who is inclined to the vertical wall courageous vorlehnt may even left a piece of skyline view. Down below is a tiny keeper, like a toy soldier.

At least the windows are now glazed. Previously, they were not. As the first and only crawls 1929 Mr. Ralph Gleason called through to to commit suicide. Then he changed it, tried to reverse, but slipped out, "shot down and crashed it on the chest of the statue from", as the New York Times reported. He landed 90 meters deep in the dead grass.

As two helicopters low vorbeiknattern vibrates the claustrophobic enclosures, in which ten people just fit. The sloping ground is buzzing under our feet. The stuffy room in the crown is not for people with fear of heights.

The bend head for a look at the crown

Man hangs diagonally on the port, whose toot and sail through the muffled clatter only 2.4 millimeters thin copper layer penetrates. The fragile veins of the right Statuenarms are up close to see, even the handle of the torch, and when the head bends, one of the seven-pointed crown of the seven continents and the seven seas represent - depending on whom you believe .

"If you were a terrorist want to put a sign," ponders Darren Boch hosted by the National Park Service, "the Statue of Liberty would be certainly a good goal." Purely hypothetical of course.

Almost eight years, it was closed, the interior of the mythical statue of Liberty - that "the most important landmarks of our nation," as Boch says, a brawny man, himself something of the rise pants. After the attacks of 11 September 2001 it was simply considered too risky, especially since the only access to the head and crown - two small, interlocking intricate iron stairs - no longer fire demands. Here comes in the case of emergency as soon not go.

On 4 July, the National Day, this highest vantage point in the middle of the New York Harbor is now reopened. A date so symbolically as the monument itself: The statue was a gift from France on the centenary of the independence declaration of the 1876th The podium is already since 2004, reopened after a 20-million-dollar renovation. The alcove in the crown remained closed until now. The National Park Service had blogs online, but now rise up the stairs.

In 214 cases in New York

A Coast Guard boat named "Lady Liberty III" promoted early in the morning a handful of workers and employees of the Park Service, National Park of the competent official, from Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan across. First stopover is Ellis Iceland, until 1954 the main focal point for immigrants, now a museum island. From there it's only a few minutes to Liberty Iceland, where the Statue of Liberty greets incoming ships.

This island, then still called Iceland's Bedloe and location of a fort, the French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi 1871 at the first visit as the home of his mammoth statue chosen. After some back and forth and some Fehlentwürfen - a version of the statue held the torch in his left hand - the project was finally underway.

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Legend Editor Joseph Pulitzer gathered a large part of the funds for the US-funded, 50-meter-high sandstone plinth. The rest came through, inter alia, lotteries, and a poetry competition. When the pedestal was completed in 1886, the masons threw silver coins into the still wet mortar.

The statue itself - 46 meters high, 204 tons, "shoe size 876" (Boch) - was assembled in Paris, then again in 350 parts disassembled and in 214 crates shipped to New York. The right arm with a torch was already on the 1876 American Century celebration came to Philadelphia. U.S. President Grover Cleveland - who as governor of the financing had resisted - the monument was opened on 28 October 1886.

"Take breaks if you do not get more air"

"This place has for me a very personal significance," said Darren Boch. "My grandparents came to Ellis to Iceland, from Sicily and from Germany. The statue was the first thing they saw their new home." Four out of ten Americans, they say here, its pedigree can be physically connected to Ellis Iceland and "Lady Liberty" sign over.

These memories can be found today in a museum at the base of the statue immortalized. From there it's steep upward, step by step. A park medic gives a brief introduction. "Watch your head on," he says. "Look where you are. Take breaks if you do not get more air."

Initially, the staircase is still wide, it soon narrows, finally it is used for narrow, steep, dizzying spiral. Slowly it climbs through the scaffold high, between the deeply anchored in the foundation, curved, winding, kreuzvernieteten steel makers through which the bronze outer wear like an oversized cake baking.

Previously it took two hours until it had reached the top, as hundreds of visitors while in the narrow ascent ballten. Who had even started, could not go back. "That," recalls Boch, "were not all always overwhelming."

Controversy over the steep victory

On the contrary. The reopening of the crown met with fierce resistance of the Park Service. At a 2007 hearing Congress said its Deputy Director Daniel Wenk, Bartholdi's statue had "never intended as something that you could climb." When the statue in 1933 in the custody of the Park Service went Liberty Iceland had fewer than 200,000 visitors a year. 2006 was more than 2.5 million - even though the spiral staircase to the statue, so Wenk, only to maintenance personnel thought was, "not for ongoing, everyday ascent.

The only way to climb safely to the disaster, would be considered by the Park Service, a new, 22-storey tower next to the statue, with a gangway at the top. This keeps the office of course for "unacceptable". But Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner - the next year, perhaps for the New York mayoralty candidate will - drummed relentlessly for a public access to the steep staircase.

So now, a compromise was found: From 4 July is the crown only in groups of ten can be climbed, the participants are using the online reservation selected. "This is a very intimate, safe experience," Boch hopes. "Random group of people, when climbing on the freedom to talk."

Interior, U.S. Ken Salazar announced the reopening of the crown in early May for a visit in person at Liberty Iceland. Previously, he had even completed the 354 levels. His breathless, enthusiastic Conclusion: "Fantastic!"

Good times for bargain hunters.

Falling Rates in New York, Seven-day cruises for 300 Euro: A holiday in the U.S. is as cheap as ever. With many discounts and free extras to the industry at home and entice foreigners to relax - you need only track the bargain.

 

Miami - An acclaimed new president, an overall improved image, and a further weak U.S. Dollar: In other years would be the best conditions for an influx of international tourists to the United States. But the worldwide recession provides the opposite: 2009 expect the United States eight percent fewer visitors from abroad, said the new trade minister Gary Locke now at the Pow Wow travel trade show in Miami.

In the crisis is for many tourists but also an opportunity: To flights, hotels, cruise ships and amusement parks to fill, offers the travel industry in the U.S. so many special than ever before.

The price-performance ratio in the U.S. by German holidaymakers will present "as an incredibly good" perceived, is the observation of Tilo Krause-Dünow, chief organizer of the CANUSA and board member of the German Visit USA Committee (Vusa). "Increasingly, there are extras such as breakfast, dinner or spa applications in the field now for free, especially in the high-quality hotels," said the head of California Tourism, Caroline Beteta, in Miami.

And the cruise lines currently reflected great discounts: Seven nights on board with all meals are now available for 350 to 400 dollars (converted from 260 to 300 euros) to have. Since it was "for many people even cheaper to make a cruise than to stay at home".

New York's room rates have fallen

A year with great savings potential "is 2009 for George Fertitta, the CEO of Tourism New York City. The "Big Apple" had in recent years attendance record after another record, which led to sharply rising hotel prices. Now that the room for some 20 to 30 percent better position, "even though the utilization of the hotels is expected to remain high." The average room rate is now at 220 instead of $ 280 per night.

Much encouragement is hoping that New York in the saving action of "The Real Deal", in which more than 90 hotels, museums, theaters and tour operators participate: Who tourist services for two people online on the portal www.nycgo.com book gets a 50 percent ticket discount.

Miami, on the other hand is a summer action under the slogan "Four nights stay pay only three" start Sponde Suzie announced from regional tourist office while at the Pow Wow - "almost all of our members are involved." The city in Florida this summer, has a particularly large number of beds to fill, following by new openings and expansions of approximately 10,000 hotel rooms to come.

Similarly, the challenge for the Orlando theme park stronghold, where, according to the regional tourism association currently attractions and hotels for 2.2 billion U.S. dollars (1.65 billion euros) are under construction.

Foreign visitors to play on the U.S. travel market a rather small role - most tourists come from their own country. According to a forecast of U.S. travel, the American Association this summer, but 7.2 million domestic business trips less than 2008: Instead of 329.1 were 321.9 million trips are expected. In this situation, international guests are more important.

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One positive is likely that many visitors to the gasoline in the U.S. feel in the summer of 2008 at about $ 4 per gallon (about 3.78 liters) were. In Minnesota, for example, they are now back at $ 2.40 arrived, said Cheryl Offerman from the Tourism Office of the State. Car Hire-Tours were made to the German organizers are also in great demand, said Krause-Dünow. In contrast, the motorhome bookings somewhat restrained, it says: Here are the petrol prices from 2008, when many tourists with their travel plans for 2009 have started to appear after.

Fewer business travelers from Germany

In the major German broadcasters are the bookings for 2009 over the Plus has Vusa Board Krause-Dünow determined. That according to the U.S. Department of Commerce in January and February but a decrease in the number of entry from Germany by 12.1 per cent were either with the lower business travel to explain, said the German president Vusa Rita Hille.

In the main holiday period May to October these statistics will be different again: the holiday minus the figures compared with the business traveler then. Help, that shopping in the U.S. remains a strong theme was travel, "and also the 'Obama Effect' will help us still."

Whether the interest of the Germans on holiday in USA even 2010 will remain stable, but it is difficult to estimate. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke sees the number of international guests in total then again with three per cent plus. The German organizers on the other hand, pushes the question of whether the "Obama effect" nor even 2010 can be perceived and how the rising impact of unemployment in Germany.

Relatively cheap to stay, many transatlantic trips, however: At the Pow Wow, the vendor now spoken with hotel chains, their prices for 2010 reduced by at least ten percent, and in addition, there are offerings such as "Free breakfast" on top, "said Krause-Dünow . "Things that have never been possible, one sees everywhere now - from Hawaii to Miami."

Blue Grotto against Blautopf.

Magical Blue: On Capri and in Blaubeuren exude sparkle and mysterious waters. In the Grotta Azzurra Italian to Farbspektakel there is an "O sole mio" leader of the boat - at the Swabian Blautopf be a laughing fairy live.

 

DDP; Capri Tourist Board

Blue Grotto
Blautopf

What?

Farbwunder under rocks and German romantics yearning goal.

What?

Colorful pools and gigantic cave entrance to worlds.

Where?

On the crowd-Capri in Italy.

Where?

In Blaubeuren in Baden-Württemberg.

Attracts tourists, because ...

... still applies, what the writer Kopisch in August 1826 about this natural wonder, wrote: "You will find odd surprise, the water blue fire like the cave to see fulfilled. Each wave seems to be a flame."

Attracts tourists, because ...

... still applies, what the poet Eduard Mörike about this natural wonder, wrote: "This pond is inward like a funnel, the water color from very blue, very beautiful, probably not with words to describe."

Wen you here?

Lots of boat guide, which deals with the intonation of Italian opera arias, a contest in the disciplines of "volume" and "Echo intensity" deliver.

Wen you here?

Lots of geologists in the diving suit - they explore the Blue Cave in 21 meters water depth, which is miles beneath the earth extends. And enter the premises of funny names like "Palace of Winds," "Cloud Castle", "Valhalla" or "apocalypse".

Risks and side effects?

At the entrance to the cave by rowing boat, when a slight swell a lot at the head of the rock encountered.

Risks and side effects?

Again and again died in the exploration of the caves divers who overestimated their abilities.

Why go now?

Well, better would be a visit 100 years ago have been - in the season are now waiting for an hour before the Grotta Azzurra not uncommon.

Why go now?

Because in the summer at the shore with a stage built for jazz concerts and theatrical performances.

Stay at home only if ...

... August Kopisch you believe less than Bertolt Brecht - the Capri was already in the twenties to touristically cursed the "damned blue lemonade."

Stay at home only if ...

... You have fear of mermaids: Ms Lau, Möriken "water woman with long flowing hair and webbed between the fingers to be here today to haunt him - that at least maintains the tourism information of the city.

THE DUELL

Under the heading "The Duel" compares blogs regularly ONLINE German and an internationally renowned tourist attraction. Applies in the future, among other things: Babelsberg to Hollywood, surfing in Munich against surfing in Hawaii and the Berlin Wall against the Chinese Wall. Click here to view all past articles to read!

"A bit like suicide."

52 days were long Jürgen Kantner and his wife in the hands of Somali blackmailer. Now they are back on the Gulf of Aden. The German sailors want to try with their boat "Rockall" the pirate waters to pass through - in spite of traumatic experiences.

 

Berbera - For people in the Somali port city of Berbera Jürgen Kantner of the "crazy German sailors." "They think that I was crazy," says the 62-year-old with the wild white mane. "They just do not understand what my boat for me means."

AFP
Kantner Jürgen and Sabine Merz in Berbera, the "crazy German sailors"

Just under a year, Kantner and his wife Sabine Merz ever been in Somalia - involuntarily, as hostages of brutal pirates. 52 days long kept the pirates, the Germans in the mountainous hinterland in its violence and did so repeatedly, as they wanted to kill the two. "That was the worst experience of my life, they are constantly intimidated us," says Kantner on the abduction.

Allegedly received $ 600,000 (445,000 euros) ransom before the couple in August 2008 released. However, Kantner and Merz now Somaliland, the internationally unrecognized Republic of Somalia in the north, returned. They want their yacht, the "Rockall" retrieve.

"My boat is my life and I do not want to lose. Pirates, and governments do not take care of me," says the passionate sailor, while he was at the port of the repairs to his yacht recovered. The stocky man sip sweet tea, sit at the table with his wife and a Somali friend who speaks German.

"Sailing - I would live and die"

Kantner does not have many words. "The German officials are angry that I am here," he says, then he has blasphemed the "clumsy-Somali mechanic." The only thing that interested Kantner, his wife and the sea.

"At home I have no more friends, after 32 years on my boat, I lost contact with them. So why should I return to Germany, where I have no one to help me?" Justifies the German. "Everything I own is on my boat. Sailing - I would live and die," says Kantner, reading from his notes and looks over the sea, the Gulf of Aden. Through this strait he must if his "Rockall" is shot again.

The sailors are aware that the Gulf of Aden is currently the world's most dangerous area for seafarers is. Since he and his wife were abducted at sea, pirates kaperten approximately 50 additional vessels. "It's a bit like suicide," he says dryly. "But I pray to God that I was not the pirates grab." Kantner about to buy a gun, "but a decision I have not met".

From the international attempt to warships through the Gulf of Aden to ensure he is not much. It would be very different deal with the pirates: "If you have a catch, then hack his hand. If he tries abzuhauen, then shoot him. Islamic law is the only punishment they understand."

Kantner climbs on the deck of his yacht, on the greasy engine parts and fishing nets scattered. Nor is the "Rockall" unseaworthy, but the sailors already knows exactly what he will do if his next destination, Malaysia, certainly has achieved: a week's holiday.

Kantner himself has doubts whether it will ever come: "I really hope that the pirates do not get me, because this time no one will pay for me and all the pirates are saying: 'Keep him!"

Ãkosünden in the diving paradise.

Treacherousness reefs as a souvenir, kicks against corals on Panglao, one of the most beautiful dive sites in the world, environmental sins are not uncommon. Illegal fishing also disrupt the ecosystem of the Philippines island before - but environmentalists deal with sometimes ruthless methods of defense.

 

Soft outweigh the palm trees in the slight breeze. On the narrow white sand eels are a couple of sun-hungry tourists. Blue Pacific sparkles in the sun.

Alona Beach, on the Philippine island of Panglao is a tropical dream beach. On the horizon are high volcanoes on other islands of the Visayas to see. Small cafes and restaurants invite you to linger, with colorful umbrellas to protect against the hot sun.

Diving schools offer excursions to the coral reefs around Panglao, which
to the best dive sites in the world. The island and its on a small bridge to reach larger sister Bohol are the hottest newcomer in the Philippines-Tourism - after the mass influx of the former dream destinations and Cebu Bocaray their magic has taken.

Alone in the waters around Panglao is the species diversity is greater than in the whole Mediterranean Sea, which has four years ago an international team of scientists under the Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project "found out. The area is part of the "coral triangle" between Malaysia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Indonesia and the Philippines also. The area is about half as big as the size of the United States - and is home to 75 percent of all coral species riffbauenden the world.

But the diversity of coral reefs in the Triangle is under threat. Overfishing and pollution of the marine environment by waste and toxins harmful to marine flora and fauna. Plastic bags and cans are careless in the rivers of the islands and then disposed of into the sea rinsed.

Then there is the creeping, almost invisible threat of climate change. "We still have no coral bleaching, but we provide a number of years since weather changes," says Kurt Biebelmann whose diving school Atlantis Dive Center, "one of the many German companies in Alona Beach.

We have "bad manners Diving a bigger problem," says Biebelmann. In particular hobby divers from Asian countries like South Korea was gruff with the coral reefs around. "The breaking pieces as a souvenir or present themselves to coral, with its more expensive underwater cameras to photograph the fish can."

By speed boat against illegal fishing

Even some of the 17 dive schools in Alona Beach, a year more than 10,000 divers on the reefs send in the criticism. "Especially the bases run by locals have no sense of sustainability, but want a quick profit," complains Holger Horn of Bohol Fundivers ". "That goes at the expense of the environment and often the safety of customers." Many entrepreneurs from abroad but was not much better: "The saying is, I am perhaps a maximum of ten years here, and in time I will as much as possible to get - after me the deluge."

Horn has no understanding of the careless handling of the reefs. Already interest from business entrepreneurs need to be interested in their preservation, he says: "Without the reefs, there would be no tourism here." A square meter of coral was intact for the coastal tourism per year worth $ 40,000, he estimates.

Entrepreneurs like Biebelmann and horn set for years with local politicians and businessmen for the protection of the waters and reefs On - sometimes ruthless methods: "We have speed boats through the nets of illegal fishermen and have driven it so torn apart," says Horn.

In general, the Endvierziger conviction but rather through education. As a lecturer at the Department of Tourism of the Catholic University of Holy word on Bohol clarifies his students about the importance of the environment as a source of life and income. Moreover, the ex-officer as commander of a unit of the Philippine Coast Guard to patrol regularly rides and sees' first signs of success, for example, the containment of dynamite fishing. "

At least on paper, there are laws in the Philippines, the destruction of the environment to counteract. Only problem is their enforcement. Time is no money for projects there. Or it is there, but bureaucracy delayed the payment. A major problem is corruption, the marine, the commercial fishermen and large short-term tourism entrepreneurs in the way.

Dive with police officers

Biebelmann had a weekend in April a group of senior police officers from Manila to host in his Kalipayan Beach Resort. With them he went to dive and snorkel tour: "So they were able to satisfy themselves as to the beauty of the reefs and the diversity of its inhabitants make a picture. Anyone who has once experienced, will understand why a seahorse or a coral animal is worth protecting," says Biebelmann.

A major problem is wrangling skills. After the overthrow of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, the political power in the Philippines decentralization - local government may own laws and rules. "We have had four or five years, a number of protected areas," says Horn. But on Panglao were "three administrative units, and can not on common standards and some rules."

These problems also have the other countries in the Coral Triangle. Two years ago, the countries bordering with environmental organizations and international institutions for the "Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) together. This week, meet the leaders of the six states CTI on the first "World Ocean Conference in Manado on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. They want it in a "Declaration of Manado" a roadmap for the protection of the coral triangle set - both for the benefit of the environment as well as the millions of people in the region under the sea and fishing livelihoods are.