Xiao Dan blogs...

The soldier

2012-01-08T13:10:00.000+01:00

The bullet races through the night
A laser, sharp as a blazing light
A tank is breaking through the dawn
A village is conquered with a yawn

The battle is raging violent and rough
Soldiers are dying, ain't that tough?
It is their job, it is their lives
What happens to their kids and wives

Until they die, they kill and rage
Take other lives, battles they wage
The blood runs on, the death is strong
Is that really to what we belong?

Many countries, many times,
Bullets rage in dangerous rhymes
Disaster, violence and bloodshed
For heaven's sake, is that all we get?

Ain't there nobody strong enough
To stop that mess, this deadly cough
So save the world from a deadly play
Just let our world find a peaceful way

Human Dignity

2012-01-08T13:06:00.000+01:00

Don't they know it's Christmas
It's not Christmay every day
People live in pain and distress
Often survival is no possible way

Death rages through our street
Not only in Syria, Bahrain and Iran
Militias and peaceful people meet
Death and hardship has begun

Dictators rage and use their bullet
Kill their people, destroy their life
Demonstrations try to end it
A word against tanks - no funny jive

Tanks roll over bodies, people freeze
Splash their blood, take their breathe
What happened to dignity and peace?
A whole world taken by a deadly wrath

A word, a blog, a peaceful scream
A poster, a slogan and a speech
Martin Luther said: "I have a dream"
Today, ghouls brutalize on a loose leash

Reign of terror, reign of aggression
Violence rules around the globe
Words well placed and put in session
Can put dictators on a long probe

A fly can annoy a lion more
Than a lion just the fly
So remember, what you're fighting for
Keep the patience and find your way

Often it has shown, it was seen
That patience and persistence
Can lead to realize your dream
In the end, we all join the dance

The dance of freedom, the dance of peace
That is worth fighting for
Don't resign, don't you grieve
The victory will end this war!

Nachtgefühl

2011-12-21T13:10:00.001+01:00

Jeden Abend wiederholt sich das Spiel
Ein samtenes Tuch legt sich über das Land
Umhüllt Dich, mich, hat nur ein Ziel
Frieden und Ruhe nach dem Brand

Dunkle Stunden zeigen sich nun
Ruhige Phasen sollen es sein
Erhole Dich von des Tages tun
Am Lager züngelt das Feuerlein

Mit Kameraden sitzt Du dort
Und träumst von neuen Reisen
Schwebst schon zum weit entfernten Ort
Auf der Gitarre erklingen die Weisen

Melodien so zart und bewegend
Gemeinsamer Gesang unter Sternen
Das Herz bewegt, die Seele regend
Sind große Ziele nur die Fernen?

Das Lagerfeuer in Freundes Rund
Ganz nah am Waldeshain
So soll es sein im Lebensbund
Hier wird die Seele gar rein

Die Gitarre spielt, die Stimme singt
Käuzchens Schrei erklingt gar weit
Der Geist entschwebt, die Seele klingt
Öffne Dich, jetzt bist Du bereit

Bereit für das was kommen mag
Jetzt oder auch gar bald
Was bringt für Dich der neue Tag
Wenn laut die Stimme wieder hallt

Noch denke bitte nicht dorthin
Des Tages Mühn sind noch so weit
Öffne die Seele, öffne den Sinn
Im Lagerfeuers Gitarrenklang ist kein Leid

Die Nacht sie dauert noch länger an
Sie hält die Welt bedeckt
Der Streß, die Mühn, die Einsamkeit, der Wahn
Sollen hier noch bleiben verdeckt

Schnell genug verklingt der Klang
Des züngelnden Feuers und der Scheite
Zurück bleibt nur Asche und der Drang
Auf eine neue nächtliche Weise

Nach Stunden in dem Freundeskreise
Verstummt die Gitarre und der Gesang
Man lauscht auf der Weltenweise
Seltener wird auch des Käuzchens Klang

Der runde volle Mond gar kriecht
Langsam über das Erdenrund
In ferner Weite das Sonnenlicht
Erwacht und steigt aus tiefem Grund

Die Sterne und der Mond neigen sich dem Ende
Ein neuer Tag zieht hier herauf
Die Romantik der Nacht verstreicht behende
So ist nun mal der Weltenlauf

Nach jeder Nacht da kommt ein Tag
Nach jedem Tag wieder eine Nacht
Es gibt nichts was das ändern mag
Kein Mensch der Welt hat diese Macht

So Kameraden vergesst es nicht
Das Feuer, die Gitarre, der Liederklang
Sie pausieren für nahendes Tageslicht
Doch abends erklingen sie mit neuem Drang

Fight

2011-12-21T13:09:00.002+01:00

Muscles are gripping tight
Blood pressure rises more
Squeezing eyes in burning light
Your breathing is like a roar

One breathe, one foot, one step
Pain explores in the muscle
You scream, you cry, you are ahead
The referee blows his whistle

Still you fight and keep it on
The line is your destination
Fight till you reach the goal
Don’t start with celebration

Years of torture, all the pain
Their reason is here today
Bite your tongue, do not refrain
Otherwise you would betray

Fight the pain, fight the war
Rock the line, keep on running
Send them back with a mighty roar
Nobody stops you from winning

Sweat pulsates down your chin
Salty sweat burns in your eyes
You feel oxygen is getting thin
Ignore the pain, ignores the cries

No pain, no gain, so they say
It’s true, you are the strongest
No friendship on the court today
Kill them all, you are the best

The line is just so close at hand
You see the prize all waiting
The end now is so close my friend
Nobody stops you from winning

You hesitate, your eyes do blink
Another predator takes the chance
You showed weakness, now sink
See him taking the dance

The game is over and you lost
Coz you were weak just once
This is how you pay the cost
Remember you are no “Lance”

Live strong or die fast
A slogan you should keep
Forget the race, you lost the best
So now don’t fucking weep

Accept the fate, accept the doom
A loss is not the end
Train more, get stronger, soon
Another race is there, my friend

Food

2011-12-21T13:09:00.001+01:00

Smelling the food in the stove
Feeling hunger in the stomach
Sensation of food is a mighty groove
Eating nothing results in ache

The smell spreads out in the room
Sweeping through all space
Food is prepared to be your doom
Desire of eating replaces the grace

Desire grows, desire raises
Hungry eyes are glaring red
Saliva spills all over places
When predators want to be fed

Feeding now, feeding all
Ripping apart the gory good
Catching teeth in tearing call
Desire is filling all the mood

Ripping apart flesh from skin
Shining bones may all appear
Cutting through steam within
Hunger makes forget all fear

Descending down to natural state
Breaking all social bond
Kicking, beating, cutting your mate
You are the first on the pond

You are the closest at the peak
Ignore the staring eye
Take advantage of all weak
Human behavior starts to prey

Forget the others, you are strong
Beat them down, they are mice
Send them back to where they belong
Remember: they are sissies in disguise

The meal is yours, you are the winner
Feed yourself, forget the rest
All the losers just get thinner
Predator you are, that is no test

The show

2011-12-21T13:08:00.001+01:00

Blood pressure rising
Eyes are lighting
People waiting, standing still
Today’s the day, strengthen your will

No pain, no gain, so they say
Fight it all, it’s just today
No yesterday, no tomorrow
Sleeping now will give you sorrow

Give it all, speed the frame
Exceed your strength, don’t be lame
Competition makes you best
You’re a soldier, that is no test

You’re a killer, you are a beast
The enemy over there is your feast
Hunt, bite, kill, destroy
Winning is your only joy

Blood pressure’s rising, so much higher
Hunt them down, you’re a destroyer
If they loose or if they die
What to care – give them your tie

They’re the losers of the game
See they were just too lame
So forget them now – your fight is lone
More enemies still waiting to take them on

The end if yours that is sure
Adrenalin of victory is so pure
A winner is in your strong heart
Be your only powerful guard

Child Soldiers...

2010-10-25T16:21:00.001+02:00

A knife, a gun and a bullet

You’re a kid, don’t fight with it

Eight or nine years of age

What happens? Where’s the outrage?

You run, you hide, you shoot, you kill

A bullet is a razor’s sharp pill

A man goes down, you don’t know

Thinking a game, so how should it go?

The harm is implanted into your souls

Wait; soon there’ll be some dark ghouls

They haunt, they scream, they’re there

Of darkest nightmares, you should beware

Men stole all from you and your friends

Your childhood, happiness and innocence

Can’t get it back, it’s long gone

Too much happened, you all go on

You hide, you run, you fight, you kill

Knowing just that’s your masters will

He gets you if you don’t obey

Hope is gone; you just lost your way

Years have passed, you finally left

Can’t forget that unimaginable theft

The theft’s been the worst to be

Your soul has died, can you be free?

The sparkling eyes, the laugher’s gone

Where did it go? How can life go on?

You’re sitting there, begging and crying eyes

No need for words, enough for days

Your gun is gone, your commander too

What happened is just left with you

You spend the nights caught in dark hell

No help is there, no one to raise the bell

Ghouls and dead souls come every night

Screaming, you wake up, sweaty, you cried

Cried, pain is now all over your soul

Hope someday, they disappear, that ghoul

The greatest theft of all out time

Is being committed globally, just the same

Children are destroyed with no end

Don’t forget, it’s on them we depend

To destroy the children is easy enough

The world will be caught in a deadly cough

The world will choke on the misery

Soon you see: we killed our destiny!

New pix...

2010-10-07T09:03:00.002+02:00

Check out the new pix from my current trip...go to "All pix"... hope you enjoy them as much I did when taking them... ;-)

Greets from sunny Uvira on the shore of Tanganyika Lake

Daniel

First Sponsor: Majorcard / petaFuel

2010-09-09T12:30:00.003+02:00

As I will not receive any funds from any official source to finance my research trip to D.R. Congo, I am happy for having found my first sponsor: Majorcard from petaFuel. They already supported my biking tour in 2007. Now they provide me again with wonderful option of withdrawing money without debit fees! Thanks guys!

New Adventure ahead: 3 months stay in D.R. Congo with NGO Arche d'Alliance

2010-09-09T12:17:00.007+02:00

Now it is getting closer again: the next trip to an adventurous destination. On September 21, 2010 I will head out: flying from Frankfurt/Main to Kigali/Rwanda. Then some means of transportation will bring me to the Congolese border and further to Uvira - the town of my stay for the coming three months.

After having finalized the Masters Of Peace and Security Programm in Hamburg (Thesis: "Child Soldiers At Gun Point - the Ethical Challenges of German Soldiers in Military Conflicts with Armed Children"), I will join the local NGO Arche d'Alliance to learn about their projects and cooperations. One of the fields of their activities lies on the aspects of the child soldier doctrine. Mostly they try to get child soldiers out of rebel groups, implement the particular awareness in the society, act as lobbyists on political level and support the reintegration of former child soldiers into the society.

In my opinion, such work is one of the most important ones in order to reestablish a conflict-torn society. How could a society ever function again, if the children are completely messed up? How could this work, if children are used to killing, raping, beheading or other monstrous deeds? The society must learn about protecting their offspring otherwise they take away any chance of a positive future development.

For further reading on the child soldier doctrine, I like to draw your attention on the book of P.W. Singer: Children At War (non-fiction) or Ishmael Beah: A long way gone (Biography). If interested, I can provide you with my masters thesis (written in German) as well. It gives details and further information on such a terrible and frightening issue.

Reisebericht Sri Lanka in RadCity veröffentlicht

2010-03-18T12:01:00.003+01:00

In der aktuellen Ausgabe des Radlermagazins RadCity findet man einen Bericht über meine Radreise in Sri Lanka. Das Titelbild des Magazins ist an der Südküste Sri Lankas entstanden. Viel Spass!

Nachtgefühl

2009-10-03T20:43:00.003+02:00

Jeden Abend wiederholt sich das Spiel
ein samtenes Tuch legt sich über das Land
Umhüllt Dich, mich, hat nur ein Ziel
Frieden und Ruhe nach dem Brand

Dunkle Stunden zeigen sich nun
Ruhige Phasen sollen es sein
Erhole Dich von des Tages Tun
Am Lager züngelt das Feuerlein

Mit Kameraden sitzt Du dort
Und träumst von neuen Reisen
Schwebst schon zum weit entfernten Ort
Auf der Gitarre erklingen die Weisen

Melodien so zart und bewegend
Gemeinsamer Gesang unter Sternen
Das Herz bewegt, die Seele regend
Sind die grossen Ziele nur die Fernen?

Das Lagerfeuer in Freundes Rund
Ganz nah am Waldeshain
So soll es sein im Lebensbund
Hier wird die Seele gar rein

Die Gitarre spielt, die Stimme singt
Käuzchens Schrei erklingt gar weit
Der Geist entschwebt, die Seele klingt
Öffne Dich, jetzt bist Du bereit

Bereit für das was kommen mag
Jetzt oder auch gar bald
Was bringt für Dich der neue Tag
Wenn laut die Stimme widerhallt

Noch denke bitte nicht dorthin
Des Tages Müh'n sind noch weit
Öffne die Seele, öffne den Sinn
Im Lagerfeuers Klang ist kein Leid

Die Nacht sie dauert noch länger an
Sie hält die Welt bedeckt
Der Stress, die Müh'n, die Einsamkeit, der Wahn
Sollen hier noch bleiben verdeckt

Schnell genug verklingt der Klang
Des züngelnden Feuers und der Scheite
Zurück bleibt nur Asche und der Drang
Auf eine neue nächtliche Weise

Nach Stunden in dem Freundeskreise
Verstummt Gitarre und der Gesang
Man lauscht auf der Weltenweise
Seltener wird auch der Käuzchen Klang

Der runde volle Mond gar kriecht
Langsam über das Erdenrund
In ferner Weite das Sonnenlicht
Erwacht und steigt aus tiefem Grund

Die Sterne und der Mond neigen sich dem Ende
Ein neuer Tag zieht hier herauf
Die Romantik der Nacht verstreicht behende
So ist nun mal der Weltenlauf

Nach jeder Nacht da kommt der Tag
Nach jedem Tag wieder eine Nacht
Es gibt nichts was dies ändern mag
Kein Mensch der Welt hat diese Macht

So Kameraden vergesst es nicht
Das Feuer, die Gitarre, der Lieder Klang
Sie pausieren für nahendes Tageslicht
Doch abends erklingen sie mit neuem Drang

Summer in the city

2009-10-03T20:34:00.003+02:00

The sunny globe it burns the ground
to heaps of dust, the world does amount
nothing can resist the blazing heat
humans cry out in heartbreaking defeat

What happened to the summer they say
oh gosh, you caused it, that is your way
should have taken care of it before
now it is late, the world lays sore

Nature is not anymore what it has been
remember the past in your wild dream
you think you can bring it back to life
let flowers and plants dance a funny jive

Give it a try, do not resignate
giving up, accepting the fate
this is what only failures do
winners fight and go all through

It should not be too late by today or tomorrow
act quick, mightily, otherwise you'll feel sorrow
the summer night in the city was so sweet
however that was before the burning heat

Destroy the cars, stop pollution
otherwise there is no real solution
if just one is polluting more
the sun burns all in a roar

Do you remember the sweet green gras
the flowers, the trees, the landscape so vast
a deer, a wolf, a bison and a monkey
a chicken, a bird, following the big donkey

That was the glory past, which is in danger
we should act fast to avoid natural anger
flooding, blazing heat, starvation
brings us away from any salvation

No god will stand proudly at your side
to fight the evil humans did create
no higher power, the Almighty
take the chance to set us free

We are the children of the sun
why do we forget all day long?
remember we need it and cannot quit
but without us, it does not change a bit

Much more do we need the environment
without humans, the globe is free of torment
so why should it cry if humans disappear
it's otherway around what we should fear

So please listen to the voice of nature
protect them all, such a heavenly creature
do not destroy, but think at first
otherwise this world will never last

It is up to you and all of us
protect it now or ignore the fuss
however ignorance will end up in pain
so act now, if you wanna stay sane

Food

2009-09-24T10:56:00.004+02:00

Smelling the food in the stove,
feeling hunger in the stomach
sensation of food is a mighty groove
eating nothing results in ache

The smell spreads out in the room
sweeping through all space
food is prepared as your doom
desire replaces all the grace

Desire grows, desire raises
hungry eyes are glaring red
salive spills all over places
when predators want to be fed

Feeding now, feeding all
ripping apart the gory good
catching teeth in a tearing call
desire is filling all the mood

Ripping apart flesh from the skin
shining bones may all appear
cutting through steam within
hunger makes forget all fear

Descending down to natural state
breaking all social bond
kicking, beating, cutting your mate
you are the first on the pond

You are the closest to the peak
ignore the staring eye
take advantage of the weak
human behavior starts to prey

Forget the others, you are strong
beat them down, they are mice
send them back to where they belong
remember: they are sissies in disguise

The meal is yours, you are the winner
feed yourself, forget the rest
all the losers just get thinner
predator you are, it is no test

A day in the park

2009-05-21T18:08:00.003+02:00

A day in the park, that is so nice
the birds are singing, the sun melts ice
the grass is green, the flowers are red
we stay here always till sunset

the day here at the Pepiniere
forget the class, why should I care?
it`s sweet to sit in the green grass
wish, summer wouldn`t be gone so fast

children are playing in the sun
dogs of all kinds are on the run
people all wear a happy smile
summer it should stay for a while

sunshine in your heart brings pleasure
giving a smile reveals unknown treasure
sunshine has a positive outcome
so people go and enjoy the sun

I`m always longing for the sun
winter`s coldness that is no fun
it makes people ignorant and cold
sun reveals emotional features untold

just look at them you learn and see
wonder why, there I wanna be?
sunny times warm up your heart
often being pinned by Armors dart

spring and summer are full of love
young couples are rising seven skies above
enjoy their time, love is so great
sun is humans most wonderful mate

but that is gone, winter`s near
people return to their darkest fear
locking themselves in a room
waiting for their depressing doom

the winter`s wind blasts and freezes
out of hearts, the emotions it squeezes
people are depressed and quiet
waiting for next summers sweet riot

waiting in a cold winter`s night
each day fighting our private fight
please God, send the summer along
that`s our season in which we belong

March 15, 2003, Park Pepiniere, Nancy/France

RadCity veröffentlicht "Iran - Radeln im Land der Mullahs"

2009-05-07T14:21:00.003+02:00

Im RadCity, Ausgabe 01/2009, durfte ich meinen ersten Reisebericht veröffentlichen: "Iran - Radeln im Land der Mullahs". Online kann er hier nach gelesen werden, Seite 8.

Desweiteren wird Globetrotter GmbH im neuen Impfberater ein Bild meiner Reise veröffentlichen.

Eine Fabel...

2009-04-30T22:57:00.005+02:00

"Sag mir, was wiegt eine Schneeflocke?" fragte die Tannenmeise die Wildtaube.
"Nicht mehr als ein Nichts" gab sie zur Antwort.

"Dann muss ich dir eine wunderbare Geschichte erzählen", sagte die Meise.

"Ich saß auf dem Ast einer Fichte, dicht am Stamm, als es zu schneien anfing, nicht etwa heftig im Sturmgebraus, nein, wie im Traum, lautlos und ohne Schwere.
Da nichts Besseres zu tun war, zählte ich die Schneeflocken, die auf die Zweige und auf die Nadeln des Astes fielen und daran hängen blieben.
Genau dreimillionensiebenhunderteinundvierzigtausendneunhundertzwei-
undfünfzig waren es.
Und als die dreimillionensiebenhunderteinundvierzigtausendneunhundertdrei-
undfünfzigste Flocke niederfiel, nicht mehr als ein Nichts, brach der Ast ab."

Damit flog die Meise davon.

Die Taube, seit Noahs Zeiten eine Spezialistin in dieser Frage, sagte sich nach kurzem Nachdenken: "Vielleicht fehlt nur eines einzelnen Menschen Stimme zum Frieden der Welt."

www.amnesty.de

An das Publikum

2009-03-26T11:20:00.001+01:00

O hochverehrtes Publikum,
sag mal: Bist du wirklich so dumm,
wie uns das an allen Tagen
alle Unternehmer sagen?
Jeder Direktor mit dickem Popo
spricht: "Das Publikum will es so!"
Jeder Filmfritze sagt: "Was soll ich machen?
Das Publikum wünscht diese zuckrigen Sachen!"
Jeder Verleger zuckt die Achseln und spricht:
"Gute Bücher gehn eben nicht!"
Sag mal, verehrtes Publikum:
Bist du wirklich so dumm?

So dumm, daß in Zeitungen, früh und spät,
immer weniger zu lesen steht?
Aus lauter Furcht, du könntest verletzt sein;
aus lauter Angst, es soll niemand verhetzt sein;
aus lauter Besorgnis, Müller und Cohn
könnten mit Abbestellung drohn?
Aus Bangigkeit, es käme am Ende
einer der zahllosen Reichsverbände
und protestierte und denunzierte
und demonstrierte und prozessierte...
Sag mal, verehrtes Publikum:
Bist du wirklich so dumm?

Ja dann...
Es lastet auf dieser Zeit
der Fluch der Mittelmässigkeit.
Hast du so einen schwachen Magen?
Kannst du keine Wahrheit vertragen?
Bist also nur ein Griesbrei-Fresser-?
Ja, dann...
Ja, dann verdienst dus nicht besser

(Kurt Tucholsky)

Augen in der Großstadt

2009-03-25T11:19:00.002+01:00

Kurt Tucholsky, 1930, (1890 - 1935)

Wenn du zur Arbeit gehst
am frühen Morgen,
wenn du am Bahnhof stehst
mit deinen Sorgen:
da zeigt die Stadt
dir asphaltglatt
im Menschentrichter
Millionen Gesichter:

Zwei fremde Augen, ein kurzer Blick,
die Braue, Pupillen, die Lider -
Was war das? vielleicht dein Lebensglück...
vorbei, verweht, nie wieder.

Du gehst dein Leben lang
auf tausend Straßen;
du siehst auf deinem Gang, die
dich vergaßen.
Ein Auge winkt,
die Seele klingt;
du hast's gefunden,
nur für Sekunden...

Zwei fremde Augen, ein kurzer Blick,
die Braue, Pupillen, die Lider -
Was war das? Kein Mensch dreht die Zeit zurück...
Vorbei, verweht, nie wieder.

Du mußt auf deinem Gang
durch Städte wandern;
siehst einen Pulsschlag lang
den fremden Andern.
Es kann ein Feind sein,
es kann ein Freund sein,
es kann im Kampfe dein
Genosse sein.
Er sieht hinüber
und zieht vorüber ...

Zwei fremde Augen, ein kurzer Blick,
die Braue, Pupillen, die Lider -
Was war das?
Von der großen Menschheit ein Stück!
Vorbei, verweht, nie wieder.

www.beijingbiking.com is off line!

2008-12-09T12:03:00.004+01:00

Hi out there...

as my cycling tour "Da simma dabei 2007" is already some time ago...the website www.beijingbiking.com has been taken off the web. However, step by step I will try to set up something new, most likely on this blog here. So just be patient and check it out every now and then. We will see what is going to happen here...

Nepal 2008 - first pictures online

2008-12-09T09:54:00.004+01:00

Namaste!
about 7months too late, the pictures are on the web...but how is the saying? "Better late than never".

So enjoy them, and check them out...wanna add more soon...so come back again

Hamburg Marathon April 26, 2009

2008-12-08T17:09:00.005+01:00

It is done...it is signed...after the amazing experiences I could make while running the Marathon (my first one!) in October in the fantastic Bosporus City of Istanbul, I enrolled again for one. This time, basically my home-marathon. It will take place here in Hamburg. Some months to go...a lot of kilometers to run...first I take a winter break and then early next year, I gotta start heavily again...running, running, running...I wanna break the 4hr mark (if possible)...

Oxfam on tour with German punk band

2008-11-26T13:35:00.005+01:00

This year the Toten Hosen (German commercial punk band) are doing their tour. They agreed to let Oxfam join them and put information stands etc in their concerts. This tour started in Mannheim on Nov 21 and they are here in Hamburg today, Nov 26, 2008.
For more information check it out

2008-11-25T17:07:00.001+01:00

welcome to Istanbul. This building you can see on the right is one of the most amazing buildings ever made...its the Sultan Ahmed Camii, also known as the Blue Mosque...

Hello world...!

2008-11-24T14:43:00.005+01:00

just got that blog here without a real clue what to do with it...anyways...let us wait and see whats going to happen with it...

2008-11-24T14:23:00.000+01:00

After nearly four years, I am finally back in this amazing city: Beijing! Nearly one week, I am here already. When first driving to the center from the airport, many things became selfevident…so many changes in comparison to the last time. No, the Olympic stadium I have not yet seen.

When driving on the highway, the first idea is: wow, I remember kinda more cars on the road. Yes, this has slightly changed as only half of the existing cars are always allowed on the road. Day 1, 3, 5, 7: cars with uneven numbers, and day 2, 4, 6 cars with even numbers. This is one of the projected means to achieve a cleaner air for the Olympics. If it works? Who knows…the sky is still not often blue…Another funny thing is: on some parts of the highway, there is a “Olympic Lane”: which can only be used by official cars linked to the Olympics. Of course, as for any major event of that size, the security has severly been tightened. This time, the first checkpoint made quite a fuss of me not being registered yet with the local police. However, since my registration, those checks are really fast and easy.

So far I have only seen the office headquarters and the foundry. Around the office, there were also mere major changes. Last time, the roads were still dusty and in construction. All the huge appartment blocks were covered with hundreds of building workers with shovels, hammers, etc carrying mud, bricks and whatever was needed. Today, all those blocks are filled with people living there. The roads are finished, the people sit on clean pavements, playing cards, eating, waiting or whatever. So yes, I can see a lot of development already.

A funny thing, which is kinda strange. A country as China, which I never kinda linked to having dogs as pets, started a new trend (well at least here in Beijing): people walk with their dogs. But not dogs like in Europe (big ones, rough ones, mixed ones,…). No, here it seems that everybody has a clean-race dog directly from a dog-hairdresser. Some of them, you better believe it, have painted ears!! Yeah, I seen it. A white dog with light green/pink/red ears. Well, it is not up to be to decide if this is really beautiful.

Yesterday I had a wonderful dinner with a friend of mine. In a nice Japanese restaurant. One of the special treats were Shark Figs. Very interesting taste. If you got the chance, do not avoid, but take it!

Ok this is about it from the City of Olympics 2008: One World, One Dream!!

This is the Olympics in Beijing. Nicolas Kiefer is fighting hard to get the points on the match against some South African guy. He fought hard, he played hard, and we supported him, although the sun was glaring hot and burning down on us with no mercy!

2008-11-24T14:19:00.000+01:00

This is the end of Eurasia Istanbul Marathon 2008!

2008-11-24T13:59:00.001+01:00

“As the traveler who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own”