“Madam, do you want a Rickshaw? I can organize all tours for you, and I can guide you”. No matter where you are going- just shortly after the arrival there is a certain guarantee to be addressed in this way every few meters. This does often not correspond to our idea of a nice arrival, … Read More “Joy and burden with Rickshawdrivers” »
In Hindu temples and a surfeit of stories, gods and images. Here in Bijapur – Islamic architecture, the Agra of the South as some call it. The buildings impress with their overall concept and moods. The Golgumbaz has one of the largest free-standing domes in general and the Ibrahim Rauza is a beautifully designed mosque … Read More “Bijapur – a first glimpse of the North” »
II’m in a family restaurant (these are restaurants, which are decidedly open to women and children) as a little girl is coming towards me. She looks at me and asks me very politely: What is your name and after my answer immediately a second question about my country of origin. Another answer, and two counter-questions … Read More “Meeting people” »
There are no cozy hotels, comfortable hang out areas or similar stuff here. The village consists of a lively main street and pretty narrow, whitewashed single-storey houses. The main street – a constant honking, shouting around, buses, cows, pigs, small food stalls and small shops behind. On the other side of the village there is … Read More “Badami – the charm, that reveals itself slowly” »
The Ramayama is one of India’s central epics. It is not as long as the better-known Mahabharata (which is as long as the Iliad and the Odyssey together), but is still quite a complicated story, which extends geographically across the Indian subcontinent. Since the Ramayama plays partly in Hampi , and as I stumble upon … Read More “The Ramayama – very short” »
Hampi is a place to slow down. It radiates a serenity and beauty with its temples and the very peculiar stone landscape. I spend my days in peace. Mostly I am active for half of the day – looking at temples, going to the lake and hiking through the beautiful landscape along the river. The … Read More “Hampi – a short overview” »
A small village on the coast of Goa – a Catholic church, small hotels on the beach with cabins, a few restaurants, private guesthouses. At the beach, more cows than people and more locals than tourists. I’m accommodated in Simrose, a nice place to arrive – in a breezy beach cottage overlooking the sea, with … Read More “Silent days in Agonda” »
A brief moment of wonder as I wake up early in the morning. The weather is so warm and a gentle wind is blowing through my beach hut. It is nice to be finally back in the heat. But thrilling too – a whole new country, many strange looks when I tell that I will … Read More “Arriving” »
Whereever you go, go wth all your heart (Confucius)I have never prepared myself for a trip as well – read so many books,asked people, watched videos. And yet I have the feeling, I know nothing. India is very different from Southeast Asia, where I’ve been in recent years – that’s what everybody agreed upon. The … Read More “Off to India” »
Two days ago,I heard on the news that Austria now wants to start with nation branding. At the end of a long process, a kind of trademark Austria should be found. I take this opportunity to recycle an article about Austrias image, which I wrote in 2010. I know it already for a longer time: … Read More “About Austria’s Image” »
