It’s been a tough year. A lot of work, a lot of ups and downs, a lot has happened. The trees have lost their leaves, the fog is rolling through Regensburg and my web designer hands are chronic lollipop finger ice cubes. The last month has been a marathon of work with a dozen or so new websites completed and just as many hours of work every day. Time to travel.
I’ve been travelling a lot this year. Fuerteventura, Egypt, Morocco, Denmark and Rhodes. But none of it was really travelling. The difference between travelling and a holiday can be defined by one thing in particular: The feeling of really being in a place, in other words: the length of the trip. Making the trip yourself and accepting low-pressure areas as part of the journey.
The Philippines consist of 7000 islands and 32,000 kilometres of coastline. 100 million inhabitants speak 171 different languages. It should be difficult to get bored. The tickets are booked. On 10 November 2011, Air China will take us to Manila via Beijing within 25 hours. Air China drastically changed its baggage regulations at the end of September. Until then they wanted – verbally confirmed – an extra 630 euros for an extra 15kg kiteboard and two kites. The flight incl. 20kg luggage was and is 570 euros. Every time they say the nice Fwau on the China phone up to thirty kilos no extra costs. I only believe when checked in, I have been ripped off too often with the kiteboard. The visa is there, the flight confirmed. The first accommodation, hire car and ferries booked.
The plan: Manila, North Luzon by car, travelling through rice terraces, surfing the slopes of Pinatubo. 1000 islands, lots of kiting. Uli wants to do the Open Water Diver. By ferry from Manila to Coron, and on to Palawan to the underground rivers and criminals in open prison. Over to the Visayas, Bohol, Sibuyan and kite at least 50 beaches.
Dear customers, from 10.11.-9.12. I will definitely be on holiday for the first time in years. That means: No work at all. No updates. No emergencies. No emails. No phone calls. No counselling. I am online regularly and will forward important matters to my representative in Germany. I will continue working from 10 December. During this time, the best way to reach me is to call 0941 3816 1740, which also has an answering machine that I will check regularly.
I look out of the window. I’m sleepily working on the latest homepages. The leaves are falling and I’m already daydreaming.
Frank Woelky, born in 1973. Kitesurfer since 1998. Since 2006, I have been combining kitesurfing and web design on trips lasting several months off the beaten track.