ALEX HAS MOVED to Michigan!

Dear friends,

I have restructured my web-appearance to make it even easier for you to keep updated on me :-). To check out what I am currently doing in Michigan, USA us the link on the right hand side --> Alex in Michigan!

Stay tuned!

Greetings!
Alex

Shanhai!
That former opium paradise of the 1930s is today China’s engine of progress. Designed as the prototype for Chinas economic break trough, this 16 million giant at the mouth of the Yangtze River is a hyper modern, ever morphing city that make you definitely forget you are in a communist county. The mixture of the old baroque and neo classical styled houses reminding of foreign presence at the start of the last century, offset by the colourful glass towers (soon featuring the highest building in the world) of Pudong and across the river create an amazing atmosphere.
Come if you like big houses, fast trains and lots of people in one place J And Wuxi is close by so you can also visit me …
See you soon for a cup of noodles…

Xin Nian Kuai Le! ~ Happy New Year!
If you want to see real skilled fire works shooters you should come to China. These malakas here are crazy when it comes to explosives. I had a life war! There was fire work and bombing everywhere. All we do in Germany is chickenshit compared to this. After 15 min you couldn’t see your hand in from of your face anymore so much smoke was in the streets. And the fireworky go on for about one week now… thank God I am sleeping like a rock.. ;) ZaiJian!

Das erste ereignisreiche Wochenende in China ist überstanden! Nachdem gestern Kanal, Turm, Höhlensystem und meine wohnungseigene Alarmanlage erkundet wurden, sollte es heute zum Supabudda gehen. 88 Meter hoch und 88 Minuten entfernt vom schönen Wuxi.
Bin den ganzen Tag Bus gefahren und habe keine 2 Euro bezahlt! Und im Gegensatz zur ansonsten eher unattraktiven Wuxifrau, machen die Busfahrerinnen einfach nur Spaß :-)
Inklusive zur schneckenlangsamen Busfahrt gab es mindestens 10 Verkehrsunfälle zu beobachteten, wobei einer nach der Anzahl der Schaulustigen zu urteilen, garantiert mit tödlichem Ausgang für mindestens einen der Teilnehmer war… Und man kriegt einen Rausch gratis von der Mischung aus Autoabgasen und der Alkoholfahne der Mitreisen (man steht in China übrigens gerne dicht gedrängt!)
Der Budda war fantastisch und auch landschaftlich hat die Gegend hier einiges zu bieten. Der malerische Tai See (einer der größten Chinas) umrahmt von kleinen Bergen, und überall dümpeln Fischboote am Ufer.
Alles in allem also ein toller Tag. Morgen wieder arbeiten … und Kraft für den nächsten Ausflug sammeln :-)
Alles Liebe aus China!

Wuxi

My wish to go back to China was heard! I will go to Wuxi in mid January for an internship with Siemens.
Wuxi is located 120km west of Shanghai in the Yangtze River delta. Find it on a map and come visit me!

Heimaturlaub!

(Alex in Garmisch)
Weihnachten zu Hause ist das einzig Wahre. Kam als Überraschungsgeschenk. Weihnachten sehr harmonisch mit der Familie, Silverster als Knaller in Innsbruck und zwischendurch ein wenig Ski fahren. Jetzt kanns aber auch wieder los gehen :)

Beijing

(Alex, Alex & Gina rocking the Big Wall)
Four days are not enough for Beijing, but enough to make you want to come back.
Hazy like hell! Most intensive. Climbed the wall, sneaked into the Forbidden City and was shaking hands with Mao, talking to taxi drivers with hand and feet to get the directions straight, eating bull penis and frog’s uterus (eeh) and for the rest of the time: bargaining like a mad man!! Can’t wait to go back!

DMZ

(Edwin, Ilker and Alex in front of North Korea)
Being to South Korean and ready for the ultimate creepy feeling? See the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea!
After the Korean War in the early 50s both armies retreated 2 km from the front line, creating one of the securest boarders in the world. Luckily, today, one section can be visited. The place features “The bridge of no return” where prisoners of war have been exchanged,
The barracks where peace negotiations are taking place (only place to touch North Korean ground) and UN Camp Bonifas, under whose control the whole area is run.
Amazing!

(Ilker, South Korean MP, Alex and Edwin guarding the door to North Korea)

Expand the diet!

(Tino, Alex and YoungLim simulating characteristic movements of the to-be-eaten Octopus)
After having dog stew a little while ago, it was about time for a new challenge!
We chose an inhabitant of the sea for our culinary experience.
The chosen one is quite small, extremely flexible (especially when put in chilli sauce) and has 8 legs: the octopus! Because of the sensitive ones among us I won’t get to much into detail here, just this: they cut the octopus alive and you get a whole plate with moving legs. The challenge is to pick a piece up from the plate, then chew and swallow it without it getting stuck in your throat.

Scary I tell you!

PostCM Seoul

(Alex-ssi; KL, Ilker-ssi; Istanbul and Edwin-ssi; Osaka representing Asian devices of matter)

The last week, the city of Seoul saw a premier! The first ESTIEM event ever held in East Asia was taking place in town. After a very successful CM in Istanbul (Turkey), a delegation of 3 pioneers was send to Korea to from LG Seoul. :-)
The program included, next to excessive palace hopping in Seoul, a shopping marathon at Yongsan Electronic Market for 2 digital cameras, a visit to Samsung Electronics and an adventure trip to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ); separating North and South Korea, of cause great parties. All over all a great success. Cool impressions, I'd vote LG Seoul for Observership.
For my birthday on the 15th Nov Ilker and Edwin came over to visit and celebrate with me. It was a crazy week! Thanks guys. Had a fantastic time. See you again soon!

Andong!

We took a short weekend trip to Andong. It terms of land area it is the biggest city in Korea unifying many small towns. The tour was organized by the foreign exchange office and include highlight such as a tradition wedding (see pic above) and traditional folk village called Hahoe still inhabited by the same family as 1000 years ago.
Even Queen Elizabeth II was here before – must be a wonderful place then :-)

Hiking in Odesan National Park: In Korea, the best time of the year is supposed to be fall. The weather is wonderful; the trees are getting beautiful colours: best time to go hiking. We found a perfect spot in Odesan National Park located in the North East of South Korea. Big hiking. Only problem: many Koreans also knew that this is a good spot to come to. The one who peacefully wants to relax and enjoy nature is definitely in the wrong spot. It’s more like a long caravan through the park. But I can't wait for the next trip!

GyeongJu

During my stay in Busan I had a chance to visit Gyeongju, 1h north from Busan. Gyeongju is one of Korea’s most popular tourist attractions: the city was the capital of the Silla dynasty for about 1000 years from 50BC till 1000AC. In the 7th century the Silla King Munmu conquered the neighbouring kingdoms and Gyeongju became the capital of the whole Korean peninsula. Today the city is like an open air museum featuring tombs, temples, places and fortresses. Most impressive are the grass-covered burial mounds called Tumuli (see pic). Really interesting place. Learned a lot about Koreas history.

Indian food is the best food in the whole wide world, right?! Abhi took us to his favourite Indian place in town where we could enjoy real Indian food. Unfortunately they couldn't play Panjabi MC :-) From the bottom left: JinKyong, Alex, Sagiko, GeeJong, Mark, Alex, Anhi, ByongSoo and Tino.

Wonderful sunset from the roof of my apartment building. Let’s have cocktail parties!

Tino, Mrs. Kwon and Alex practising cooking with Mrs. Kwon to get ready for the international food festival. Germany will be represented by Schwäbischem Kartoffelsalat with Fleischpflanzerl. Drückt uns die Daumen!! :-)

Riding Seoul's Subway

Eating DOG with JungMin, Sagiko, Alex, Martin, ByongSoo, Alexandra, Daniel and Tino

Korea's Nr. 1 Haeundae Beach in Busan