"[America] is a small isolated island in the middle of the ocean"

Have you ever wondered how Europe looked like in the 18th century for someone travelling a far way?
Well, as you can see from that quote: "[America] is a small isolated island in the middle of the ocean", not every assumption was correct, yet very interesting to have a look at and create one's own view on how much has changed here in the past 200 years, or not...

Please follow that link.

Invest in China! Really no news...

...as you can find out on the webpage http://www.china-institut.org/gedanken-zum-heute/sparbuechse.htm, there was a China-boom, before we thought about China's boom for the past years:


"Jetzt habe ich soviel Geld in das verfluchte Ding hineingeschmissen, und es kommt nichts heraus!" [Early frustration of a German investor in China: "I have put so much money in that damn thing, and nothing comes out of it!"]

(Der chinesische Automat, Karikatur von Th. Heine, Simplicissimus, 1901, aus: Thomas Brandt, Asia in those Days - A Glimpse Into the Past)

Dazu muß man wissen, was die Studie China and the World Financial Markets 1870-1930 (Yale School of Management), kürzlich herausfand:

Early in the 20th Century, China was one of the hottest emerging markets for global investment. One estimate of total foreign capital invested in China in 1938 put it at $2.5 billion, third behind India and Argentina ... and not dramatically less than the $7 billion of foreign investment in the United States at the time.

Dutch - a lovely language!

Some things must be said in every language, that's for sure. The Dutch have a very nice collection of this kind of language. Whenever unhappy about your behaviour, they might call u a "scrotum" or even more delightful a "cock". You don't believe me?
Well there are two ways to find out that I tell the truth"
1. Piss off the nearest Dutchman around you.
2. Click on the video below and have a look for yourself.

Scandal: German flag in Leiden seen from outerspace

I just discovered a big scandal:
Between the historical city of Leiden and the nice upper-classy village of Oegstgeest (both in the province Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands), some supporters of the Federal Republic of Germany's football team flew the German three stripes, black, red and gold!
Scientistic approval has shown that the visual evidence is clear and no doubts can be stated about this scandal. Sociologists argued that this 'flying of the German flag' might have some connection to the recent successes of the German national football team (in spite of the great disgrace against the Czech national team) and be a reaction to the enduring weakness of other national teams. Some sceptic tried to spread the rumor that the 'black' stripe of the German flag is a shaddow, this has to be denied strongly and even the Queen asked those sceptics to denounce their theories.

Dagje uit...Vlietland recreatie

Nice daytrip close to Leiden! The canoes can be hired for 3 Euro per hour! More info here: Watersportcentrum Vlietland

More from Shanghai

The development of Chinese script, shown in the Shanghai Museum of Sciene and Technology

Masses of people in the Shanghai Metro System

Modern Shanghai (as seen from the Museum of Science and Technology)

A little nap in the Museum of Science and Technology.

Relaxing on the marble floor

Chinglish, can still be found...

...and enjoyed in a lot of different situations.

Pictures below: Shanghai Metro

深圳之早餐店

He, She and You

在国外,介绍不认识的人的时候要叫姓.

今天,朋友去Amsterdam机场接新同学.

我这个朋友姓 尤.

接一个男生姓 佘

接一个女生姓 何

在机场海关外面,一个荷兰工作人员拦住他们三个人，要求察看他们的入境卡。拿到卡后，工作人员用英文大声念:

So, He is She (他是她)

She is He (她是他)

朋友马上接话：Yes, and I am You（尤）! (我是你！)

海关工作人员顿时疯掉.........＂

邓丽君 - 甜蜜蜜

Some thoughts on Global Warming

Where the hell is Matt?

Funny idea of a guy dancing around all over the world. According to his webpage a travelmate gave him the idea to make videos dancing, wherever he travels to. I turned out to be a great success. For the next world trip he even got paid...funny video with nice music in the background. Enjoy!

More videos can be found on his website.

台灣紀念片

我爱的中国

Alte Zeit

Video Leids Ontzet

It rained in Shanghai (08-04-2007)

CHINA - pics

The most expensive brand name world-wide, also well-known in China - ENJOY!

Another very famous product from another famous brand - unlucky us, this product cannot be ENJOYed as often as we might wish to. (Porsche in Shanghai)

和谐号 - Harmony a very important goal for the Chinese government to reach for the Chinese society. With this train they are on a good way. 330 km/h from Shanghai to Suzhou! Worthwile being ENJOYed!

From the mud underneath the water, through the root, grown to be the most beautiful flower of the Chinese perception. The famous and most ENJOYable lotus flower. Is the lotus also a symbol for the development of mankind?

外国人！ A foreigner in Shanghai. A great sight, at least for me, as he is ENJOYing his bread while riding a bike.

ENJOYing a cigarette? Neighbourhood watchers in Shanghai. What a great life...

'Which one safes on gas?' A taff question for the growing Chinese economy and the new wealthy class. Why should they safe on resources, while others used to and still spoil a lot of resources? Don't we all just want to ENJOY life!

Metro in Shanghai, the best way to ENJOY modern city life's traffic.

Another shot of the Metro in Shanghai. High-speed for a better future.

Thinking about a lot of things going on around him? A man standing besides the road in Shenzhen.

Anyone ever seen that font type? I don't think so, and even if any Western company has a patent on that font type, didn't your forebears colonize China and steal a lot of wisdom through the force of violence?

China is moving fast. Not everyone is moving at the same pace, but the direction is set: Straight ahead into a better future for the next generation.

ENJOYing the sun in Zhuhai. But why do you protect your skin from these UV-rays? So uncool! Don't all of you want to be nice and tanned as your Western idols are? Stop caring about things like health...

Here we are, some stars, but no stripes! Does China make a difference?

More from the 'Leids Ontzet'

3rd of October is 'Hutspot' time! A real Dutch experience in Leiden

Tasting a real Dutch dish

Video in 'driver' perspective of the bumper car in Leiden



No Limit

Harm's birthday party!

Leids Ontzet

Today is the famous festival 'Leids Ontzet', the historical anniversary of the end of Leiden's siege by the Spaniards in 1575.
The 'onzet' is the greatest party in town and the 3rd of October is even a holiday only celebrated in Leiden. That means that most stores and all public institutions stay closed during the 3rd of October, no matter what day of the week it is. The celebrations started yesterday and the whole city got transformed into an amusement park, with a lot of stalls selling food, sweets and other things, whether needed or not by human kind.
As you can expect it from a festival in Europe, also a lot of alcohol is being consumed all around and, as you can expect from a Dutch festival, the smell of wheat is also noticeable wherever you go.
I tried the most challenging fairground ride with three other friends, as you can see further down in one of the videos. For the ridiculous price of 8 Euro per ride you actually do get a quite exciting ride, going 360 degrees and a massive speed.
Check out below for pics and videos: