Klaus-Peter und Manu

Sayounara Tokyo

2010-09-13T08:36:00.000+02:00

Lotosblüten im Ueno-Onshi Park

It's time to say good bye.
Das waren 10 Tage Tokyo mit viel Arbeit und etwas Tourismus.
Und was habe ich dabei gelernt? Lotos ist viel größer als ich dachte,
Tokyo viel wärmer und die meisten Japaner viel kleiner und schlanker.

Tokyo Sho-Ping

2010-09-13T08:27:00.000+02:00

Akihabara und Okachimachi

Das japanische Herz für Elektronik schlägt in Akihabara.
So eine Art elektronischer Supertrödel. Lauter Kramläden, manche mit Spielen. Hier gibt es bestimmt alles, nur finden tut man nichts und ob das bei uns funktioniert??
In Okachimachi das gleiche Bild, nur gibt es hier Kleidung und Schuhe - kistenweise.
Übrigens - weiter 35°

Iluminati

2010-09-12T13:18:00.001+02:00

Für kurze Zeit ist der Tokyo Tower auch mal nicht rot-weiß
sondern blau-rot
Nach einer Stunde wird er aber wieder wie eine rostige Eisenbahnschranke

Das Bild ist übrigens aus dem Hotelfenster - toller Ausblick - oder?

Best wishes from Japan

2010-09-12T12:52:00.000+02:00

Beste Grüße aus Japan
und
manche Tempel muss man sich einfach vorstellen

Kamakura Shopping Area

2010-09-12T12:49:00.000+02:00

Kamakura
Also die Sache mit der Schöpfkelle gibt es an jedem Tempel
Dafür sind solche Fußgänger Shopping Straßen nicht überall zu finden
Ich habe aber nur geguckt - nicht geschoppt

Kamakura Beach

2010-09-12T12:46:00.000+02:00

Also es gibt nicht nur Götter sondern auch ganz normale Menschen
Und bei diesem Wetter sind die im Wasser, Pazifik
Das Wasser ist fast Badewanne (Temperatur) aber auch recht durchwachsen.
Aber bei mehr als 35° in Schatten (wo ist der nur) ist es trotzdem erfrischend

Figuren

2010-09-12T12:43:00.000+02:00

In so einem Shhrein oder Tempel findet man
grimmige und nette und armreiche Figuren

Hachiman Schrein

2010-09-12T12:41:00.000+02:00

Von außen gibt es aber keine Probleme mit dem Fotografieren
Manchmal würde ein Weitwinkel helfen

Hachiman-Schrein

2010-09-12T12:39:00.000+02:00

Auch kleine Buddhas können nett aussehen
Ob man im Hachiman-Schrein fotografieren darf? - Glaube nicht

Kamakura Buddha

2010-09-12T12:37:00.000+02:00

Der große Buddha in Kamakura
ist wohl der zweitgrößte in Japan

Lotos

2010-09-12T12:35:00.000+02:00

Lotosblüten in Kamakura

Das liegt so 50 km südlich von Tokyo...
aber heute ist auch Sonntag

German Prost

2010-09-12T12:34:00.000+02:00

German Prost
Es gibt ein Bier in Tokyo

Irgendwo in Tokyo

2010-09-12T12:32:00.000+02:00

Da liefen sie nun um die Wette
Und das mit einem Schrein auf den Schultern
Hat aber wohl Spass gemacht

Yoyogi-Kamizone Cho

2010-09-12T12:30:00.000+02:00

Yoyogi-Kamizone Cho

Hier gibt es viele, viele Touristen
Und heiraten kann man und frau auch

Kaiserpalast

2010-09-12T12:27:00.000+02:00

Die Doppelbogenbrücke am Kaiserpalast
Hier muss man sich einfach fotografieren lassen

Shiba-Koen

2010-09-12T12:24:00.000+02:00

In unserem Haustempel

Tokyo Tower am Tag

2010-09-12T12:21:00.000+02:00

Tokyo Tower am Tag
Am Fusse des Turm haben wir getagt - sechs Tage lang

Tokyo Tower

2010-09-12T12:19:00.000+02:00

Tokyo Tower
Der Eiffelturm von Tokyo

Shiba-Koen

2010-09-12T12:14:00.000+02:00

Haustempel am Hotel
Shiba-Koen

Tokyo

2010-09-12T12:12:00.002+02:00

Jetzt also Tokyo
Blick von den Landungsbrücken in Richtung Stadt

Seattle - Bellevue

2009-09-14T04:29:00.007+02:00

New ISO meetings imply new pictures and a new section in our blog. Here it is.

Seattle - that is first of all the Space Needle, build for the 1962 World Exibition. The needle is the small white something close to the church.

Coming closer the Space Needle gets bigger and bigger - look at the size of the elevator

There is a great 360° view from the Needle. Do you recognize Mt. Rainier in the dust?

Well - here it is again, still very dusty

View from Space Needle towards Bellevue.

Seattle Pike Place Market - Peperoni art

Seattle Pike Place Market - all kinds of fish

Bellevue skyline from Downtown Park

Bellevue downtown

Sculptures in front of Bellevue Square - a huge shopping mall

More pictures will follow.

Home of the indians

2009-05-24T14:51:00.008+02:00

After such a long time in the US I have asked myself - where do all these inidians come from? How do they really look like? How do they travel? Well, here are some answers.

That's how they look like:

That's how they are travelling:

That's where they came from:

Indians (warrior) in Red Fort

Indians at India Gate

Indians at Humayun's Tomb

Indians at Qutub Tower

Guess where

2009-05-14T07:04:00.003+02:00

It ends where it had started. Tomorrow we are flying back home :-(
We are looking forward to seeing you again and telling you our wonderful experiences (only if you like). Bye bye USA!

Reaching the Pacific Ocean

2009-05-12T07:30:00.003+02:00

Aren't they doing great?

Feeling Tiny between the Largest Trees in the World - Sequioa

2009-05-12T07:21:00.003+02:00

You're feeling absolutely tiny among those giants, 400 ft and higher. You can see, they are twice as high as the firs. They don't grow as high as Redwoods but they are much thicker. Alessa, this time we proudly present the most famous and smallest American tourist who accompanied us even down into the GC and almost anywhere else.

Antelope - the most marvellous slot canyon we ever saw

2009-05-08T05:52:00.003+02:00

It was awestrucking, unbelievable. We took about 100 pictures but we won't bore you.

Looking for Mushrooms (Steinpilze) - still near Lake Powell

2009-05-08T05:47:00.002+02:00

Aren't they funny? But we decided not to pick them. They wouldn't have fit in our cooking pot anyway ;-)

Glen Canyon Area - Lake Powell

2009-05-07T06:52:00.003+02:00

We are now at Lake Powell to explore the wonders of this area, to relax and to take care of the blisters at our feet from hiking.

The famous Horseshoe Bend - Gisi: do you recognize this view?

All around the Watchtower

2009-05-07T06:51:00.001+02:00

Hiking the Canyon

2009-05-07T06:44:00.007+02:00

Done - reaching the rim after 6h uphill climbing. Do you remember all the creeks to cross, steps and slopes?

Sunset at Colorado Beach

Again - our campsite

Next day - enjoying, relaxing, looking around at the Bright Angel Boat Beach. The Colorado River is quite cold - about 45°F. Swimming is forbidden due to the strong current.

This is the creek

Done - what a wonderful campground just beneath the Bright Angel Creek

The campground is just around the corner - behind the Silver Bridge

But suddenly - water: reaching the Colorado River. But still two miles to go ...

These slopes are called the Devil's Corkscrew - nice name for the steps into hell

Stay on the trail - crossing creeks

Never look back - that's for the trip back

Step by step by step by ....

Slope by slope by slope by ....

Here we go - downhill to Indian Garden

Looking out for next day's target - so far away ... 9.5 mi to walk and about 4000 ft below - and back again. What a challenge.

This and that

2009-05-01T04:55:00.005+02:00

Here are some things that I think are remarkable. Americans maybe will find it strange that these things are remarkable to Germans. But anyway:

People:

People are much more open-minded and friendly than in Germany. If you meet someone who doesn't say "Hi" you may pretty much be sure he is German. Americans are always nice and helpful and interested. Maybe there are exceptions but we didn't meet any.

There are more people that are really fat here than there are in Germany. They won't fit in their chairs in a restaurant and you may think they won't even reach the table with their arms because of their bellies. But there are also a lot of very sportif people here - hiker, biker, jogger.

Traffic:

Most American people drive cars with four wheel drive, and that's not so bad, because we missed some very nice places because we could not get there. Once we tried and had to be towed by an American with a four wheel drive out of deep sand.

Of course trucks are so much bigger here and you get passed by a big truck uphill on the highway.

Trains are never-ending. We counted five locomotives and 125 wagons on a train.

Restaurants:

Can you imagine what someone would do in Germany if he were offered a cold beer and an ice-cold glass, so cold that the beer freezes the moment you pour?
Beverages are served too cold here for my taste.

You may consider the prices comparatively low here, but - you have to add the tax to the prices on a menu and you have to add 15-20% tip. Waiters and waitresses don't earn very much and depend on your tip. You better read the prices as if they were Euro.

Do you know this bird? It's a hummingbird (german: Kolibri).

On the road again

2009-05-01T04:44:00.003+02:00

This was a pretty long day to drive, but there was also a lot to be seen on the way.

There is only one point in the US where four different states meet. So you're able to be in four different states at once but not at the same time (because of different time zones), in Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.

Then there are the world wide unique "goosenecks" of the river San Juan. 1000 feet deep and several of these loops one after the other.

And last but not least we drove through Monument Valley. You all know this from the "Marlboro" advertisment. But most of the time we drove through - nothing - desert. Many idian people are living here and you can't imagine how they make their living. Most of them seem to be very poor.

Now we're back in Arizona.

Mesa Verde - tracing the ancients

2009-04-29T05:13:00.004+02:00

Now we have reached Colorado state. Today not only nature but culture.
In the 13th century the ancient Anazasi built these dwellings high up in the cliffs.

Canyonlands - where the mountains are upside down

2009-04-29T05:08:00.003+02:00

You don't look or walk up here, no, you are on top and look or walk down. Canyonlands is where the Green River meets the Colorado River before it turns into Lake Powell. And again there are huge arches to be found.

Goblin Valley and Sandstorm

2009-04-26T00:37:00.003+02:00

In case you know where the Little Wild Horse Canyon is located - Goblin Valley is just around the corner.
Many small goblins are "living" in this valley and sometimes they suffer from sandstorms and thunderstorms - like us.

Arches - nothing but huge Arches

2009-04-26T00:32:00.002+02:00

Double, Landscape, and Delicate Arch with tourist(s) - much more arches and rocks to be shown offline.

Hiking the Little Wild Horse Canyon

2009-04-25T23:48:00.003+02:00

A marvelous slot canyon - guess where it is located.

Bryce National Park

2009-04-25T23:43:00.002+02:00

Bryce Canyon - a huge amount of Hoodoos shining in all variants of red - especially when the sun is shining and you are on the right sunrise, sunset, overview spots. The white stuff is called snow.

Happy Birthday

2009-04-22T05:30:00.002+02:00

To a very special dad (-in-law) best wishes to your birthday from far, far away. Have a great day!

Zion - simply gigantic

2009-04-21T07:44:00.002+02:00

Zion National Park makes you feel what you are, tiny and unimportant. Inspite of the size it's kind of claustrophobic, vertical rock walls, several hundred yards high.
The uppermost picture is a riddle. Manfred, can you make out what is hidden there at the wall? Maybe you have to click into the picture and zoom. If you find them you may have an imagination of the height.

Valley of Fire - Red Rocks in the late afternoon

2009-04-21T07:42:00.001+02:00

Hiking to Colorado River and Hot Springs

2009-04-21T07:39:00.002+02:00

A rather strenuous hike to Colorado River and to Arizona Hot Springs, especially back upwards, 3 miles through deep gravel.

Hoover Dam

2009-04-21T07:35:00.002+02:00

Hoover Dam a wonder of architecture, but also amazing the bridge under construction, not yet connecting Nevada and Arizona.

Las Vegas - City of Gambling

2009-04-21T07:27:00.005+02:00

We had to go through this, so you also have to go through it ;-)
And these picture were requested from a special young lady. Hey, would you ride on the roller coaster up on the 300m high top of the tower?
No further comment.

Entering Nevada

2009-04-18T01:46:00.004+02:00

Red Rock Canyon, nice to look at. And this little Chipmunk is a special greeting to Gisi ;-)

Today we arrived in Las Vegas, awful at first sight, but let's wait 'til tonight.

(We appreciate any comment)

California, a state with so many faces (part3)

2009-04-18T01:37:00.006+02:00

Death Valley - not dead at all, even blooming in spring. And such a variety of nature. Spectacular, awesome, gorgeous!!!
And eventually we don't have to feel cold anymore ;-) In fact the temperatures have been comfortable in the desert. Our "summer" vacation has begun.

California, a state with so many faces (part2)

2009-04-18T01:22:00.002+02:00

After driving through vineyards and fruit plantations the road lead through green meadows like "Hobbit"-land going steadily upwards, and up, and up...
over passes more than 8000 feet high with spectacular views to 13000 feet high summits (4.000-er) . And it got cold again. You're required to carry tire chains with you although we didn't need any and actually didn't carry any with us. The passes we would have preferred were still closed for the season.
On the other side of the Sierra Nevada the vegetation is abruptly dry.
Next stop was at Mono Lake with its Tuff Stone turrents.
And then at Hot Water Creek which unfortunately was still closed for swimming. The hot water was steaming in the cold air.

California, a state with so many faces (part1)

2009-04-18T01:14:00.004+02:00

Waterfalls and even more falling water - Yosemite!

cold and wet, we even had snow and hail this day but also sun. And freezing cold, brrrr! The turbulences of the falling water made the water freeze.

Winter in upper California! But so beautiful.

Thanks to our hosts in Minneapolis

2009-04-18T01:09:00.002+02:00

Minnesota Capitol

2009-04-12T01:06:00.000+02:00

Missisippi Riverwatch

2009-04-12T00:57:00.000+02:00

Downhill Minnesota

2009-04-12T00:56:00.001+02:00

Inside Mall of America

2009-04-12T00:56:00.000+02:00

Mall of America

2009-04-12T00:54:00.001+02:00

Downtown Minneapolis

2009-04-12T00:54:00.000+02:00

Skyline St.Paul

2009-04-12T00:53:00.001+02:00

Manus favourite Prague pictures

2009-03-31T16:49:00.010+02:00

And here are some of my favourite pictures of Prague.

Prague is located at the river Moldau the Czech composer Smetana composed a famous symphony about.

Prague, to me a city of towers and turrets.

Historical astronomic clock.

View across the river Moldau to Prague castle. Charles Bridge in front.

Similar view by night.

This church looks a little bit like the Disneyland castle with its towers. Easter market in front.

Impressions from Prague

2009-03-27T09:39:00.009+01:00

A beautiful street in the old city center

The famous Prager Schinken

One of our favorites: Tyn church

The very, very famous Prague Castle

Easter is approaching

Sightseeing after work

2009-01-30T09:45:00.007+01:00

Shuri Castle near Naha

Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters (2nd world war)

It never rains in Okinawa, man it pours

Okinawa Beach near Naha

That's all for today and probably the end of my business trip to Japan / Okinawa
For all who want to see more and much better pictures have a look at Doug's pictures at Flickr. Perhaps you will be able to see me at work or somewhere else.

Meanwhile in Berlin

2009-01-29T15:06:00.005+01:00

Another social event, the celebration of the fusion of two research institutes.
Everyone got a set to tinker. But what shall it be in the end? A challenge to find out. The instruction seems to come from IKEA.

Let's try. Ah! It's glowing!

And now all together:

The Social Event

2009-01-29T14:29:00.006+01:00

A social event is about eating and drinking and entertainment and having fun (local style) - here we go ;-)

My fishy dinner

My dessert
Japanese muscians at the social event

A dancing group during the social event

The city of Naha (Okinawa)

Guess what this sign is about

The singer is singing

The actors are acting

The audience is dancing

The German delegation (DIN) in Okinawa is smiling

That's all for today

Working day

2009-01-29T10:14:00.004+01:00

Have a look at the moon - doesn't it look a little unfamiliar?

Cheers - how much would you spend for such a drink? About 180 € a bottle?

Another Japanese still live

New impressions

2009-01-27T08:58:00.009+01:00

Hot town, summer in the city. Yeah, these are blooming cherries.

A Japanese menue. Even you know how it looks like you don't know what it is.

Sunset in Okinawa. Same view as on previous pictures. Only the time differs.

Just straight ahead and then turn right? The traffic lights are speaking to you, like the elevators are doing. It's a pitty that I don't understand what they are telling.

Still life at the beach. One of yesterday's pictures.

A waterfall, one of my favourite motifs. Unfortunately it is a fake.

A Japanese gambling hall - unbelievable. It is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This can't be the same people. No pics available but I have survived.

The internet connectivity is quite poor today. Thus I am uploading only small pictures.

Okinawa, Jan 26th, 1 pm

2009-01-26T05:16:00.009+01:00

First day in Okinawa. My body is still sleeping but it is high noon. The sun is shining and it is really nice and warm weather. Here are some first pictures from this strange country.

That is Okinawa at night. A look out of my window. And in the morning it looks like

What a new experience - it is the control pannel of my washlet

A Japanese watch dragon?

Men at work - but don't ask me what they are looking for.

This looks like far east, isn't it?

Let's have a barbecue on the roof

Enough for the first day - more will come in case I find some time for sightseeing.

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T14:29:00.001+01:00

Now that the American parts of our family eventually arrived in 2009 ;-)

A very happy New Year to all of you!

Christmas Eve

2008-12-27T12:40:00.003+01:00

Alone but not lonesome, although there are always two empty places by our sides.
Thank you so much to very special families in Iowa and Michigan for those awesome handmade Christmas gifts. We love them.

Cologne, not only a famous cathedral

2008-12-26T13:47:00.008+01:00

Before taking us to the airport to fly back home Angela showed us the city of Cologne and of course the famous cathedral.
Angela, thank you for the wonderful weekend!

Ahrweiler, a medieval small town

2008-12-26T13:31:00.004+01:00

Angela took us to the charming little town of Ahrweiler, a medieval village with narrow streets with lovely frame houses and a medieval city wall around with old gates, unfortunately also with pouring rain.

Indulging at Angela's in Bonn

2008-12-26T12:41:00.010+01:00

We spent the 4th Advent weekend at Angela's, Manu's aunt, visiting the most famous sites in Bonn...

...first of all Haribo (= Hans Riegel Bonn), to buy lots of Jelly Bears for our American families....

.... but Bonn also has a lovely Christmas market around its cathedral and the historic town hall decorated as an advent calendar (as you may notice it was Dec 19th, the numbers 20-24 were not yet lighted)....

....and of course we had a "Kölsch", a beer that may only be brewed in Köln (Cologne) and it has to be served in small high glasses.

Refurbishing the living room

2008-12-26T12:22:00.005+01:00

Lonesome parents do everything not to be bored even refurbishing the living room. It was high time after so many years living with the same wallpaper. The master bedroom will follow...

Winter in Lichtenrade

2008-12-26T11:50:00.003+01:00

Some weeks ago we had some snow at home. This is a view from our house.

Berlin Festival of Lights 2008

2008-10-26T09:15:00.010+01:00

Let the pictures speak - no words are necessary.

Basketball Euroleague

2008-10-26T09:07:00.005+01:00

The German basketball champion Alba Berlin beats the Italian champion Lottomatic Rom in the brand new O2 World.

Birthday celebration

2008-10-26T09:01:00.004+01:00

Some pictures from the celebration of the 20th birthday of my institute.

Berlin Marathon 2008

2008-10-26T08:46:00.002+01:00

One finisher - the other one sufferd. I have still problems with my shinbone.

Silver Jubilees

2008-09-13T15:08:00.010+02:00

In the year 25, 25 (+6)

It is really amazing working for 25 years in the same company. Some colleagues have already been in the institute at our first working days. Others have not even been born. Some are still working, others are retired.

How to celebrate such a jubile? Well it starts with the preparation of the barbecue. Next come celebrations and lots of presents in and the end - party.

I have made this experience six years ago. Another place, another time but the same colleagues. And two famous young guest stars.

Lonesome parents

2008-09-03T20:28:00.011+02:00

Well, what do you think parents will do when their children are far away?

They will play the ture game.

Ture - this can be nature. We have travelled to the famous Oder-Bruch looking at trees, fields and clouds near the river bank .

And ture - this can be culture. We have travelled to Dresden, looking at old German paddle-steamers in front of the famous Frauenkirche. This time we had no snow and rain like we had last year.

And ture - this can be torture like running about 30km cross country through our Berlin Grunewald.

GB "Summer" 2007

2008-08-10T10:09:00.001+02:00

Dusk at Grand Canyon

2008-08-10T09:54:00.001+02:00

Grand Canyon

2008-08-10T09:53:00.001+02:00

March 2007 Visiting the Grand Canyon

a picture

2008-06-07T20:10:00.000+02:00

this is a picture of our baby birds

oh, it is not a bird - it's Smaller and Taller in Sedona, here are the birds

2008-06-07T11:00:00.000+02:00

Welch ein schöner Tag.
Gestern die Team-Staffel, morgen unser EM Start.
Dazwischen heute eine Blog-Demo.

2007-10-28T20:15:00.000+01:00

Jetzt kann es losgeh'n