tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:17:50 +0000"The journey is my home."<br><i>(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muriel_Rukeyser">Muriel Rukeyser</a>)</i>http://blog.jeger.ch/noreply@blogger.com (Reto)Blogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-3050479945533742370Sat, 23 May 2009 13:31:00 +00002009-06-30T17:19:03.762+02:00RwandaOne of the surprises for this trip was presented to me by Evgeny just before we left Moscow: We would visit four instead of two countries in East Africa. So I came pretty unprepared to Rwanda. Evgeny's Lonely Planet guidebook served me to have a quick glimpse at visa procedures which seemed to be no problem at all. Like most other African countries, Rwanda also grants the so-called "visa on http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/05/smuggling-plastic-bags-to-kigali.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-4342216184619483354Wed, 20 May 2009 07:27:00 +00002009-06-12T09:40:23.554+02:00EthiopiaThis is a slideshow of our pictures from Ethiopia:View allhttp://blog.jeger.ch/2009/05/more-pictures-from-ethiopia.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-6509713795376909706Fri, 15 May 2009 19:18:00 +00002009-06-30T17:26:02.338+02:00EthiopiaHaving read the excellent sci-fi novel "My Soul To Keep" by Tananarive Due, I was familiar with the town of Lalibela which featured as "the city of priests and rock-hewn churches" in the story. As much as I had trouble to stop reading this great novel, I found it difficult to stop visiting the "holiest town of Ethiopia".Almost forgetting to feed ourselves, we pivoted between rock-hewn churches, http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/05/lalibela-and-my-soul-to-keep.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-3674922525166593616Wed, 13 May 2009 19:04:00 +00002009-06-30T17:29:55.953+02:00EthiopiaA visit to the Tigray region, in the northern part of Ethiopia is a must for any visitor on the historic circuit through this country. This region is bordering Eritrea and Sudan.Although the travel advisory of the Swiss government did warn about visits to this area, Evgeny and I found it to be very safe here. Maybe we were just ignorant and lucky, since we spotted numerous abandoned, rusty tanks http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/05/de-birring-tourists-at-rock-hewn.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-6334044503585280394Mon, 11 May 2009 20:09:00 +00002009-06-30T17:34:00.972+02:00EthiopiaStill confused about the last posting about traveling back in time using the Ethiopian calendar? Well, then let me stir a bit more the possum: Ethiopia uses a 12-hour clock system. The first cycle is from dawn to dusk, the second one dusk to dawn. This means, that the start of the day is dawn (not midnight). Consequently, 7:00am on a tourists' watch corresponds to 1:00 in daylight hours in local http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/05/dawn-at-high-noon-in-aksum.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-8012273718207793306Sat, 09 May 2009 19:48:00 +00002009-05-25T16:18:09.639+02:00EthiopiaA journey through Ethiopia means traveling back in time. For example, the date of May 1st 2009 becomes actually August 23th, 2001 in the Ethiopian calendar, which has thirteen months. Twelve of them have 30 days each, the thirteenth month has five days (respectively six days on leap years which occur every four years without exception). There are several other facts that involve the calendar datehttp://blog.jeger.ch/2009/05/sins-and-punishment-in-gondar.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-4029721711833286806Thu, 07 May 2009 21:39:00 +00002009-05-21T02:07:09.871+02:00EthiopiaAfrica is another beast of travel - technology-wise. Either the Internet connections were painfully slow, computers were not functioning - or in most of the cases - there was simply no electricity at times. This is why I am posting the articles about the journey through East Africa a bit late.My Russian friend Evgeny, whom I met back in Patagonia, did invite me to join his "expedition" through http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/05/on-fast-lane-at-bahir-dar-and-lake-tana.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-8207698022684968899Wed, 06 May 2009 13:32:00 +00002009-05-06T15:55:00.568+02:00EthiopiaRwandaHaven't been able to update my blog for two weeks. Simply because the Internet connections in Ethiopia were too unreliable. In Kigali (Rwanda), the connections have somewhat improved, which enables me to blog this short posting.You will read much, much more about the exciting trip through historic Ethiopia (Bahir Dar, Gondor, Aksum, Tigray, Lalibela and Addis Ababa), Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya as http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/05/from-rwanda-with-love.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-473024919569064263Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:52:00 +00002009-04-18T14:29:30.019+02:00Here are the results and the winners of my quiz "Guess the countries of my SIM cards". Obviously, the questions were quite hard and a good portion of luck was necessary to know some of the correct answers, according to the list below:SIM CardCountryCorrect AnswerArgentinaClaro AustraliaTelstraBoliviaentel movílNo SIMBrazilno SIMCambodiamfoneChileENTEL (PCS)ChinaChina Mobileno SIMKazakhstanno http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/04/sim-card-quiz-and-winner-is.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-2295887785750630694Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:20:00 +00002009-04-13T00:37:15.866+02:00One of my picture sorting tasks consists in assembling - using software - various "special scenes", which I've been shooting during my round-the-world trip. Fiddling with "High Definition Range" (HDR) photographs and panorama shots is a good past time while waiting for the necessary visas required for my next trip to Ethiopia.Here are some of my random HDR and panoramic pictures. I hope you like http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/04/high-definition-pictures-from-trip.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-4116904706139464683Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:00:00 +00002009-04-03T19:58:11.843+02:00Ten days ago, I arrived back in my home country from an exciting round-the-world trip. Partying with friends and family here seems to be like an extension of this trip and this is why I'm a bit lagging in updating this blog.Moreover, aside of celebrating, there's not much going on worth mentioning here - unless you are interested in random numbers I deem important...101'706 kilometers (63'197 http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/04/umb3s.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-1703229453832137020Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:18:00 +00002009-03-25T17:38:37.415+01:00By clicking on the respective album pictures below, you should be taken to a small selection of exclusive pictures which I have taken during the month of March while traveling through Bolivia and Eastern Peru.BoliviaEast PeruOlder monthly reviews:February 2009: Paraguay, Central & Northern Argentina, Western Peru and Northern ChileJanuary 2009: Southern Chile (Patagonia), Southern Argentina (http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/03/march-in-review-more-pictures.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-9191295444627160422Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:31:00 +00002009-03-20T02:09:16.197+01:00Peru"It was in July, 1911, that we first entered that marvelous canyon of the Urubamba, where the river escapes from the cold regions near Cuzco by tearing its way through gigantic mountains of granite. From Torontoy to Colpani the road runs through a land of matchless charm. It has the majestic grandeur of the Canadian Rockies, as well as the startling beauty of the Nuuanu Pali near Honolulu, and http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/03/grand-finale-at-machu-picchu.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-6644605038353415757Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:25:00 +00002009-03-18T23:58:50.969+01:00PeruCusco is the tourist capital of Peru. This city boasts with tour groups, hawkers, nice restaurants, cafes, hotels - and: splendid sights in and around town.Although prices are obviously more expensive than in the rest of Peru, it is still possible to maintain a budget. I splurged a bit on the hostel, but I wanted to ensure that there was hot water for the showers at any time of the day (which is http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/03/cusco.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-3196310712091411520Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:24:00 +00002009-03-15T21:40:52.198+01:00Now for something completely different. The cheapest way to stay online during my trip was by using local, prepaid SIM Cards in each country. The cheapest one was the the SIM card in Laos, which did cost a mere US$ 10 (including a calling credit of US$ 9)! I topped up this card with another US$ 10 and was happily surfing and checking daily my emails during my whole 26-day stay in Laos.More http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/03/guess-countries-of-my-sim-cards-until.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-788555144525381607Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:01:00 +00002009-03-14T23:06:11.487+01:00Peru"Puno is a hole." This is the answer I've got by a weird traveler when I asked him the smalltalk question "Have you been in Puno?". Honestly, I did hope to get some information about this town situated at Lake Titicaca - or at least get into a casual conversation. Because I got bored during the two hour border stop waiting for our bus - going from Bolivia to Peru - to be cleared by the officials.http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/03/puno-for-embarrassed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-234388819768806456Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:03:00 +00002009-03-10T02:15:43.871+01:00BoliviaLa Paz is Bolivia's administrative capital city. Don't overlook the word "administrative", as this country is one of the few one's being able to finance two capitals (the other being Sucre). There is one major road leading into the center of town, which is located at the bottom of a crater-shaped canyon. Winding steadily down from the suburb of El Alto (at 4150 meters altitude) to the heart of http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/03/dangerous-roads-in-la-paz.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-5437468784205548626Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:13:00 +00002009-03-06T17:05:16.893+01:00BoliviaThe constitutional and judicial capital of Bolivia, Sucre, is a small town of 200'000 people which boasts beautiful colonial buildings everywhere. The city's name doesn't refer to the sweet ingredient, but to the revolutionary leader Antonio Jose Sucre. He was one of Simón Bolívar's closest friend, who was back the most important leader of Spanish America's successful struggle for independence. http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/03/its-altitude-dude-on-road-to-sucre.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-6844013840213065189Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:11:00 +00002009-03-04T16:30:57.645+01:00BoliviaSo you have been seeing this super cool picture of your friends jumping around in a desert. And you have been amazed at the photographic genius of your best mate, who is - by using a false perspective shot - holding two of his friends in his palm while he's sitting in a desert like a Yoda. Let me solve the mystery as there is nothing really creative about it. Because anyone can do these kinds of http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/03/bein-in-high-spirits-in-uyuni-salt.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-5112896599051221749Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:50:00 +00002009-03-03T18:33:23.542+01:00ParaguayChilePeruArgentinaBy clicking on the respective album pictures below, you should be taken to a small selection of exclusive pictures which I have taken during the month of February while traveling through Paraguay, Central & Northern Argentina, Western Peru and Northern Chile.ParaguayCentral and North Argentina West PeruNorth ChileOlder monthly reviews:January 2009: Southern Chile (Patagonia), Southern Argentina (http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/02/february-in-review-more-pictures.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-4196800019178420549Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:47:00 +00002009-03-03T22:04:55.877+01:00ChileThe arrival in San Pedro de Atacama was a bit of a "déjà vu". Which was not at all unpleasant. Somehow, this town reminded me of places in Central Asia. Happy times! Within minutes I fell in love with this small town. Obviously very touristic, it still seems to have preserved in large parts the original local charm as a very relaxed and chilled spot. The many comfortable hostels and restaurants http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/02/urban-legends-of-san-pedro-de-atacama.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-5091949061488187591Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:46:00 +00002009-03-03T16:37:47.102+01:00ChileIquique with a population of 200'000, is a beautiful coastal town in Northern Chile. In fact - according to the locals - the downtown Playa Cavancha is supposed to be the most beautiful beach in Chile.Indeed, this sandy spot is scenic, with very long promenades, sunbathers and surfers. Arriving here is quite a scenic ride. Since the town is squeezed between the Pacific ocean and a 600m high http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/02/baywatching-in-iquique.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-118058116994632958Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:43:00 +00002009-03-01T17:27:28.601+01:00PeruThe plan for Arequipa was to visit the "Canyon Country", which features the deepest canyons in the world. Located roughly 100km away from the city of Arequipa, the Cañon de Cotalinas is 3354m deep. Nearby Cañon de Colca is insignificantly "higher" at 3191m depth. Since my impending flight dates leave me with little time, I tried to book the canyon trip ahead - which failed. Arriving in the hostelhttp://blog.jeger.ch/2009/02/being-in-bad-shape-among-nuns-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-781328384534992338Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:38:00 +00002009-02-24T21:33:07.473+01:00PeruNazca and its alien spaceport - called the Nazca lines - was a fun experience. Not that I honestly would believe in the alien theory. But there are so many explanations as to why these lines exist, that I just randomly picked one that I liked most. Being a series of geoglyphs, the creation of the lines is believed to have happened between 200 BC and 700 AD. The lines represent a lot of different http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/02/drawing-line-in-nazca.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207620661437049106.post-3909345997526857701Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:41:00 +00002009-02-24T21:20:04.076+01:00PeruAfter a four hour flight from Santiago de Chile, I arrived in the capital of Peru, Lima. This was a considerable change of culture. There is so much more of the good and the bad. More colors, churches and food variety. More traffic, pollution and crime.As for the latter, local people avoid the city center after nightfall. At least, this is what some of the Peruvians I met, stressed to me. They http://blog.jeger.ch/2009/02/sniffing-other-peoples-wet-towels-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Reto)0