Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 7 - About taking Photos

This blog continues the previous Part 6,

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_27.html

   My 'very own' road movie continued to Brussels. It might be a strange way to walk during holidays when we could move so much faster and see much more. For me travel is an experience and should never be a rush; we should never be controlled by a long list of to-do's but rather follow our own instincts.

Belgians at work... 

   My way to travel is about discoveries and for them you only a little more than you eyes, your nose and ears. I need my legs to move and my fingers to take photos which are, without doubt, an extension of my mind; a result of all the impressions around me. When I came back from this tour i experienced the for the first time that my daughter looked at each and every picture I took with real interest which was easily seen by different expression, sometimes asking questions, sometimes even laughing. For me it was a strange thing but finally she said: "You've changed, I can see it from your photos".

   For this trip I bought a new compact & lightweight 4/3 mirror-less camera with a flip-up screen.

Compact: I could easily store it in my messenger bag with enough place for a shirt or a light jacket on the top to close it.

Lightweight: A joy to handle and even handheld shots in darker surroundings were possible; I barely noticed the few grams around my neck. I could even take my lightweight tripod in my messenger bag and still beat the total weight of camera & lenses & tripod of my old SLR camera.

The Flip-Up Screen let me experiment with different angles shooting photos. This screen let me shoot from the center of my body, low shots and of course selfies which I did seldom before. I even put the camera on the cobbles and could control the photo easily with the flip-up screen. I made this shots to show how uneven the surface is.

   My aim was to record what I see or think what is interesting for me. I took photos of people around me doing all kind of things like sweeping the street, painters of fences, workers on houses etc. The camera was very capable and a great support for everything I wanted to visualize.

   In this regard I had only good experiences except once during the whole three weeks in Belgium. Preparing to take photos of the train station a young man from the Middle East indicated with a gesture and by covering his head with a hoodie that he did not like to be in the photo. I replied with a gesture from my side that I understood and put the cover back on my lens for him to see. 

   I do not stick my camera in people's faces but ask before taking a photo if possible. Entering a museum or private property I also inquire politely if it is possible to take photos. Maybe also because of my 'unprofessional' equipment I have never heard a 'no'. On the contrary, museums like the Hergé (creator of the Tin Tin comics) Museum in Louvain-la-Neuve or the the Chocolate World in Belgium rather encouraged me to take photos.

Man starting his Harley in front of Comic Pictures covering Road Work

   Walking on a boulevard it was impossible to overhear a Harley Davidson riding along the road. Just when I prepared to take a photo of two large comic pictures covering road work the rider stopped and parked his bike exactly on the same sport I focused my camera. I thought this is nice and pressed the button after the rider left the scene. But he returned immediately and discovered me and my camera, made some funny poses and I continued shooting. He sat on his motorcycle and rode away. After he left I continued my way and suddenly the rider appeared in front of me.

   "Did you take photos of me?" He asked. 
   "Yes, I did!" I nodded. 
Some people might think a lot in this awkward moment and even possibly get threatened being approached by a man in a leather jacket with a helmet in his hand but I stayed calm. 

   "Could you send me copies?" he asked me politely.

   "Of course, if you would give me your email?"
   He wrote it on my map and after my return I've send him the photos. This is just one example how easy-going the Belgians are and how photos could serve as an ice breaker between humans.

   I had opposite experiences in Japan. While Japanese travelers can visit castles in Germany freely, most parts of the Kyoto palace are off limits for foreign tourists. Just to see some gardens it is not worthy to spend time and money for the trip. Not only people do not want to be photographed but even taking pictures of temples and temple workers are off limits. 
   Once I set up my tripod in an empty 'famous' temple yard on gravel because the weather was terrible on that day in Kyoto. A female employee came to me explaining that "this is not allowed because I would' hinder other (non-existent!) visitors'. Needless to say I traveled to Japan twice: the 1st and last time!   
   Because I had the time and took it easy in Belgium I can remember each and every photo very clearly; the story behind it which made the trip so much more valuable and enjoyable. Especially I would like to encourage my Taiwanese friends not only to run to famous destinations but take the time and their own God-given senses to experience this beautiful world. This let us not to see destinations like on TV but let us create our own impressions which should be shared and lived out. It is senseless to travel but stay the same after your return.

(to be continued @ 

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/08/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in.html) 

Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe on Blogger.com, I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/travel

Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 6 - Walking towards Brussels

This blog continues the previous Part 5,

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_26.html

Sunday, June 24, 2018

  

   After leaving Brussels airport I only passed smaller houses and small villages. The first real town I walked into was Diegem/Machelen. From the main road I took a left turn passing small and narrow roads into the center. As with mostly older European towns it seemed that they were build around a church on a hilltop, in this case the Gothic Saint Cornelius Church. The construction started around 1400 to replace a more than 400 years old church. The current church was completed and inaugurated in 1543.

   In front of the church is a big parking area so I had to try a right angle to get the shot from the front. As anyone can see the weather was cloudy but actually nicely matched the old church building. For a Sunday morning everything was very quiet, the busiest place was not the church for the Sunday worship but a bakery already open on this early morning.

Saint Cornelius Church Diegem/Machelen

Right across from the church was the interesting Château Marga from the fifteenth-century. The current building, an fortified gate, is all what remained from the original building…

The Gate or Towers of the Château Marga

After my first pictures on Belgium grounds I went back to the main road and just continued walking. This road is like all modern roads: it has only the purpose to bring people from A to B. No decoration, no designs which were worthy to mention. Occasionally there were some workshops but also some goats grazing beside the road.

   Slowly I walked to Haren, an old municipality at the northeastern edge of Brussels. The first Brussels airport was located here between 1914 and the early 1950s the site was later used by the Belgian Air Force. It is being cleared for the construction of the new NATO HQ. Between 1932 and 1997 Hare was the location of a Renault automobile factory, concentrating on the assembly of Renault 4 and Renault 6 models for sales in Benelux, Germany and Scandinavia (wikipedia).

   Walking through some narrow streets I've discovered a bakery. Not because I was hungry but more to find out more about the attitude and language abilities I went inside. In the low and somehow dark (meaning old) bakery was one young customer and an elderly sales lady. As I started in English the lady did not understand. So I pointed onto the object of my desire with my finger and with the help of the young customer I bought a kind of sweet cake. It was a whopping Euro 4.00 (!) but I tried to smile. Before leaving I thanked the translator for his help. Walking until I came a nearby park I enjoyed my first sweet Belgian morning break.

Sweet Pie with Powder Sugar

   With sticky hands I continued my trail and noticed a man carrying a lot of bread under his arms walking towards me. Not much later I ran into a Middle Eastern supermarket. I went in just to check the prices. They were very human, a whole French baguette was less than Euro 1.00. I've learned my lesson and later only went to supermarkets to buy my food and drink supplies.

   My luggage worked very well. The wheels rolled easily until I came to my first cobbles. A cobblestone is a natural material based on cobble-sized stones used for payments. The problem with the 'natural material' is that the stones are not even, between the stones there is actually only sand. Through usage, weather etc. some cobbles become loose or even got lost creating holes in the road. All these 'specifics' let the handle of my luggage rattle in my hand which not only hurt but seriously hardened the skin of my fingers. Sometimes I had to take out and use my bike gloves to soften the shaking of the handle in my hands. For me to use cobbles in road construction is not a very good idea, hence the title 'fighting with the cobbles' of my blog.

To give the Readers an Idea how uneven the Surfaces of the Cobbles are.

Ladies, try walking with high heels!

   Accidentally I passed the huge Decathlon Evere store. Decathlon it is a French sports chain store which has a great following even in Taiwan. I wanted to go in and check it out but I came here for travel...

   Evere is a one of nineteen municipalities (a single urban or administrative division with corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and state laws) with has a roughly population of over 33,000 citizens.

(to be continued @ 

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_30.html)

Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe on Blogger.com, I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/travel

Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 5 - Leaving Taiwan & Arrival in Brussels

This blog continues the previous Part 4, 

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_24.html

   As mentioned I bought a cheap ticket from Taiwan to Hong Kong and from Hong Kong to Brussels. Why did I choose this particular airline? Because this particular airline has around 10 flights between the former British colony and the 'Beautiful Island' or Formosa. This comes in very handy in case of Typhoons, which are quite common during the summer holidays, and all other related weather problems. 

   Once we had the 'pleasure' to experience the very chaotic and slow service (someone called the personnel the 'Koalas of Asia' due to the 'speed' of the workers) when we were trapped in the Manila Ninoy Aquino Airport due to a Typhoon for three (!) days. Since then I would rather pay a premium and pay attention to a proper flight connection than to choose Philippine Airlines.

   And indeed, when I checked in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport the lady at the check-in counter told me that there is some turbulence to be expected in Hong Kong. Therefore they decided to put me on a flight one hour earlier (!) than planned so that I would not miss my connection flight to Brussels. This information might for some people be a hassle but for me it was a kind of expected and a relief.

Aircraft Museum near Taoyuan International Airport with the Taiwanese, not the Mainland Chinese, Flag!

   

   The flight went smooth without the feared turbulence' to Hong Kong but I had not only to wait one hour longer. The plane delayed due to 'late passengers' 1/2 hour! This actually happens in my experience often In Hong Kong. During both of my three flights to Australia with my family I faced the same problem: 

- we were running (!) to our connection flights due to the long safety checks and the nature of the large airport (long ways).

- a few minutes before the flight the gate changes and we had to run again.
   Before the flight to Brussels the gate changed, as the years before, to a very remote location within the airport. Some passengers did not take notice and therefore let all other passengers wait. Finally we took off, around 40 minutes after schedule.

Inside Hong Kong International Airport

   Long before I flew to from Taiwan to Europe the planes took a route over Southeast Asia across the Middle East and then into Europe; this took around 14 hours. At that night we flew over Mainland China and Russia (!) and arrived in Brussels after only 12 hours, a total saving of around 2 hours (!) over the previous route! 

   On the plane I had a nice place without any front passenger right beside the window. I had two young passengers as neighbors but we had a serious language barrier. They spoke Flemish and no English at all. I can not speak Flemish, a kind of Dutch dialect spoken in Belgium. So I had a quiet time. Thankfully most Belgians I met during my trip put some more effort to break the language barrier and tried to communicate sometimes even with their hands!

   When buying the ticket I've ordered vegetarian food. I was one of the first who got the 'special meal' with some red wine while the other passengers had to wait. When I was finished their food arrived! It feels great to be treated differently in economy class...

My Vegetarian Food on my Flight to Brussels

   It is actually a kind of strange feeling when you fly in a dark plane when outside the sun is shining before a very blue sky! 

   I started watching Henry Fonda's '12 angry men (十二怒漢), later 'Bay Watch' (海灘救護隊) with 'the Rock' Dwayne Johnson and half of Robert De Niro's Taxi Driver (計程車司機). Strangely there is not much music but many films to choose from... 

   Arriving at Brussels Airport we had a delay of around 30 minutes in the early morning. When I left the airplane I already smelled the early fresh and dry air of Belgium. I closed my eyes and inhaled the very different air! 

   I passed the customs without any problems. There were a big line for non-EU citizens and one empty line for EU citizens which I took with my German passport. The female police officer asked me where I came from and he wished me a pleasant stay in Belgium! I don't understand why people are still against the European Union! Of course there are problems but is the EU not the step in the right direction?

   My luggage arrived without problems and I was ready to leave the airport! I could have taken the train or bus to Brussels but I preferred to walk. I wanted to see and experience the country I would stay for the next three weeks immediately! So I decided to depend on my  own two legs and could check if the luggage (sports bag & camera bag) would work as planned. Thankfully it did!

   Leaving the airport I came immediately to notice and appreciate the road system in Belgium. Even for bikes and pedestrians there are road numbers marked clearly with signs beside the road. If you know the road numbers and the destination you would find your destination without problems. How much time and effort has gone into the system to give the citizens a better way to commute? I can only imagine and don't understand why other governments do not want to serve their citizens in the same way...

Road Signs in Belgium near the Airport

   My reservation for the hotel was for the evening; I had around 8 hours time to find it! So I was not much in a hurry and took the chance to have a good look! As I was walking I noticed a Chinese following my steps. When I took some photos he caught up and we started to communicate. He was working for DHL in China somewhere and was sent by the company to work for DHL near the airport to gain international experience. The Mainlander wanted to check out the environment and decided to walk like me. He did not depend on his instinct or sense of direction but rather relied on his smartphone and Google Maps. After some discussions and corrections that Taiwan is not a part of China and Chinese in general do not want to talk clearly and not cooperate but rather order others we not much later separated. He took a left turn and I continued to walk straight to Schaerbeek or Schaarbeek (斯哈爾貝克), already a suburb of Brussels. 

(to be continued @ https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_27.html)

Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe on Blogger.com, I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/travel

Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 4 - Preparing to leave Taiwan

This blog continues the previous Part 3

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_23.html)

Even working in my company and preparing and serving the homeless in a local Taiwan church I tried to prepare the trip as best as I could.

Take 5 during my Trekking Week including the whole Travel Equipment for three weeks

I bought a new camera with a better video quality (4K), a flip-up screen and many more functions unknown to my previous SLR. It is a mirror-less camera which much handier than my older SLR camera. As the design is different the camera and lenses are much smaller and the whole package was much lighter. I bought a good used telephoto lens in a shop with guarantee. I prepared 4 batteries but forgot one with the charger. I found out that I did not need the charger, I could reload the battery within the camera even on the go from my big extra battery (see below). I took 3 memory cards with me, 1*16 GB and 2*32 GB. When you take more videos the three memory cards would not be enough.

   My smart phone was only around 4 months old and would do the job. Important was the 'line' connection which allowed me to call my wife for free if I had a wi-fi connection.
   The most important electronic equipment was my extra 'big' battery with two outlets which allowed me to charge the phone and the camera at the same time. This extra battery included a handy flashlight which comes in very handy.    

   In Taiwan I bought an 110 V (Taiwan plug) - 220 V (European plug) adapter which had a malfunction during the trip. In Belgium I bought a 220 V European plug with two outlets for charging two devices at the same time (see above 'big battery').

Battery Plug (220V-110V) with two outlets charging both Battery and Smart Phone at the same Time on board a Belgian Train

It is not allowed to send batteries with your luggage so you must (!) hand carry them. I have a messenger-style camera bag which is big enough for the camera, the extra lens, the batteries, the adapters with the cables and space for a thin jacket. I could even put my light tripod in this bag. A great advantage it that this bag can be fixed on the handle of the sports bag which was very convenient.

Packing the before mentioned wheeled sports bag's main department I not only rolled my clothes but also put them in different waterproof bags:

- one for socks, underwear and t-shirts

- one for outerwear like trousers, shirts, sweaters.

   I have the habit to put my toiletry rather in a clear plastic 'cooler' box which people use in a fridge for storing food than in a toiletry bag. The plastic box is hard to withstand pressure, the tooth paste and the liquids would neither be pressured nor spilled out over other items.

   In the main department of my bag I also put my light tripod (for the light camera!), my small one man tent (which I bought 11 years (!) ago) and my new sleeping bag which I packed in a waterproof bag. I would use this bag later to store my 'dirty' and 'smelly' clothes.

Wild Camping under a big Linden Tree with my Equipment on the Table

   In the upper separate department of the bag I put my 'hardware' like the padlock for the locker of youth hostels, my spare keys, my outer bag for the bottles.
   The lower separate department was for my 2nd pair of shoes which were sport sandals. The come in handy strolling around the hotel or the campground but also give tired feet in trekking shoes some more 'energy'. Asking Toms Hank's advice when directing a movie he answered: "Change your shoes once a day gives you an extra boost!" He was right!
   In the separate department designed for a computer or tablet I put my clothes in case it becomes too hot or too cool!

   Currently my wife and daughter travel in Germany using the above same equipment for three weeks. For travel most items are an investment not only for the trip but also for daily or longer use.

My whole Travel Gear with the different colored and sized waterproof bags

(to be continued @ 

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_26.html

Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe on Blogger.com, I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/travel

Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 3 - Introduction of Belgium

This blog continues the previous Part 2, 
https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_19.html

Introduction of Belgium

   The 30,528 square kilometers (11,787 sq mi) Kingdom of Belgium is bordered by France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. Its over 11 million citizens are home to two main linguistic groups: the Dutch-speaking, mostly Flemish community which constitutes about 59 % of the population, an the French-speaking, mostly Walloon population, which constitutes about 40% of all Belgians. There is a small group of German speakers, numbering around 1% who live in the East of the country close to the German border.

   The name 'Belgium' is derived from the Roman province Gallia Belgica (Belgic Gaul), a province of the Roman Empire which today is primarily Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. From the end of the Middle Ages until the 17th century the area of Belgium was a prosperous and cosmopolitan center of commerce and culture. Between the 16th and early 19th centuries Belgium served as the battleground between European powers, earning the moniker the 'Battlefield of Europe' which continued through both World Wars. The country emerged in 1830 following the Belgian Revolution when it seceded from the Netherlands.
   Belgium is one of the six founding countries of the European Union and hosts the official seat of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European Council, as well as a seat of the European Parliament in the country's capital, Brussels.
   Belgium is also the founding member of the Eurozone, NATO, OECD and WTO and a part of the trilateral Benelux Union and the Schengen Area. Brussels hosts several of the EU's official seats as well as the headquarters of many major international organizations such as NATO (based on wikipedia).
   Why so many smaller countries (like Taiwan) complain about the treatment of their 'bigger' brothers (like Mainland China) the small country of Belgium should be regarded as an example. Located between powerful countries like Germany, the Netherlands and France the nation of Belgium maintained not only their own country but even took steps in the future (like attending the EU as a very active member, attending NATO to secure their safety).
   In Taiwan there are only two big parties taring the country with their own agendas apart. One party wants to unite with Mainland China while the other want independence. In this constant political struggles there is so much wasting and inefficiency, together with the very evident stubbornness to look at a problem from different, not only your own, angles there is no way that a society (a large group of people who live together in an organized way, making decisions about how do do things and sharing the work that needs to be done) could work. 
   The world is a big place full of many different influences; everyone should open their eyes, look inside him- or herself, evaluate and than make a careful step into the right direction in the future as a united (!) country...It is strange that Taiwan wants to be American or European, stuck in the relationship with Mainland China but does not find their own way...

Economy

This small country is surprisingly the world's largest exporter of diamonds and carpets but is more known for its chocolate, beer and waffles. Some people might argue if the French or the Belgians invented the 'French Fries' which are called 'Chips' in Belgium.

Chocolate:

Belgian chocolate is a major industry since the 19th century, following facts:

- The Belgium chocolate industry is almost 400 years old.

- In 1912 Jean Neuhaus Jr., a Swiss migrant, invented the praline, the first chocolate with a soft filling.

- Belgium can produce up to 600.000 tons of chocolate a year.

- Belgium chocolate maker still use 100% cacao butter

- The top seller of chocolate in Belgium is the Brussels airport

(https://brussels-express.eu/7-facts-about-belgian-chocolate/)

Chocolate Portrait of Jean Neuhaus Jr. at the "Birthplace of the Belgian Praline" 

Chocolate Portrait of Jean Neuhaus Jr. at the "Birthplace of the Belgian Praline" 

Beer:

Brewing in Belgium dates back at least to the age of the first crusades in the 12^th century. Some facts:

- As for 2016 there are approx. 224 active breweries in Belgium

- Belgians drink 84 liters of beer each year, down from 200 liters in 1900

- Belgium export 60% of its beer

- Belgian beers are often served in elaborate branded beer glassware in specific glasses.

- In 2016 the UNESCO inscribed Belgian beer culture on their list of ‘intangible cultural heritage of humanity'.

(based on Wikipedia)

Lindemans 3.5% Cherry Beer with at least 20% cherries popular with women!

Waffles:

Waffles were first made in the Middle Ages and sold as crispy and rich street-side snack by vendors outside churches in Belgium. There are, in fact two types of waffles which are known as Brussels and Liege waffles. The Brussels waffle is what is most commonly known as Belgium waffles in the U.S. The Liege waffle is more common in Belgium, known for its rich, sticky texture that is accentuated with every bite.

(https://gounesco.com/the-history-of-the-belgian-waffle/)

Waffle Shop near Manneken Pis Landmark Small Bronze Sculpture

(to be continued@ 

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_24.html)

Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe on Blogger.com, I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/travel

Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 2 - Preparing the trip

This blog continues the previous Part 1, 

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in.html

  

 'The biggest competition is myself, I am not looking to follow others or pull them down. I am planning to test my own boundaries.'

Rain, South Korean musician

   With all the small and big disasters created by the current president of the ‘big’ country United States came with me a change in mind. If you would countries like Russia and China their ‘pride’ and ignorance for world standards come, for me, from the simple fact of the size of their countries and the quantity of their citizens.

   China does copy illegal trademarks and designs; have their ‘own’ standards in human rights and working conditions, rigorously protect their own market etc. and still everyone runs and invests there because of the sheer size of the market. Russia votes in a not real democracy but still many international companies go there because of the huge size of the country which is simply too big to ignore. The current president of the US is ignorant about, for example, agreements and the history and reasons why they were made in the first place and this ignorance comes in part from, in my opinion, the big size of the American market.

   Smaller democratic countries like Taiwan, Switzerland and Belgium simply cannot afford and from their historical background do not have this ‘arrogance’ to treat their neighbors or break agreements with their partners. I cannot help but I prefer honest fighters over arrogant punchers; prefer hard workers over conceited managers, prefer open arguments over backstabbing. Therefore above mentioned ‘big’ countries make for me a much less preferred tourist or travel destination.

   To support and understand more about these small European countries was one of the reasons why I choose Belgium as a tourist destination this year (2018).

   In the digital age it is very different to buy a ticket. Until the development of the internet the customer had to visit a travel agency, they helped to chose the flight and made the reservations after the paying in cash. The traveler would receive a confirmation for each flight which has to be confirmed at least three days before the flight. When you did not confirm, your seat is gone…

   Buying my ticket was a very interesting experience. I’ve checked the airline’s homepage for flights and prices, went afterwards to a travel agency on a Sunday morning after my weekly worship. The lady named me a price of NT$23.000. I could not decide and would not like to pay immediately so she told me that she could not keep the seat. I went there again the following Wednesday and, to my surprise, the ticket was offered me NT$2.000 cheaper than three days ago. With the payment I had the reservation on the last day before the summer holiday prices would go up to around NT$35.000 for a return ticket to Brussels.
   The luggage allowance was 30 kgs. This would be enough to take a bike, my clothes and my camping gear with me but I decided against the bike. One reason was the return. I did not have any experience with Belgium and did not know if I could get a bike box to pack it. 
   So what luggage should I use? After some research I did not decide for a backpack which I had to carry permanently on my back. I did not want to take a traditional suitcase because I worried about the quality of the wheels. So I chose the Decathlon Away 65 liter wheeled sports bag – black/red (https://www.decathlon.tw/en/teamsports-c126108.html). The bag was roomy, great designed with a set of two great wheels similar to in-liners. They would be a great support over the very ‘rough’ cobbles permanently shown on the roads in Belgium.
   I will surely continue to use it over and over again. In part 4 I will write more about how I packed this bag.

(to be continued@ 

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_23.html)

Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe on Blogger.com, I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/travel

Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 1 - Some reasons...

  

   'Writing is a journey of discovery because until you start, you never know what will happen, and you can be surprised by what you do - expect the unexpected!'

Mini Grey, British illustrator and writer of children's books 

   Welcome back to my Blog! I hope you have a good and informative time travel with me. If you should have any comments, suggestions, ideas or criticism let me know! I am very glad to receive your opinions…

Pulling my Sports Bag through the Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan

   As a German foreigner living in Taiwan for quite some time it is sometimes still very annoying to get used to or fight the customs in this Far Eastern country. We have cable TV but, honestly, never watch Taiwanese, Chinese or Korean TV dramas because they typically have a very traditionally contents with the aim to teach Taiwanese to be traditional. The stories are most time the same, a ‘good’ daughter in law is fighting the mother in law ‘dragon’ or it’s a about power struggles in families connected with money issues. As good as they might be but they are pretty much the same. The low point of entertainment came with the arrival of South Koran TV. Handsome and beautiful as a result of extensive beauty surgery with very limited acting skills and local issues directed boring to death. But most Taiwanese like dreaming of this perfect world and copy their hair styles, clothes; they even long for the same ‘plastic’ lifeless skin and opt for the same shaped noses as their idols readily available from the local plastic surgeon.
   Thankfully there are other international programs like news, BBC, National Geographic channels etc. Since the beginning of this year our cable provider cooperates with Eurosport which shows cycling nearly every day. Writing about cycling everyone immediately thinks about doping, the dark Armstrong area and the confusions within the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and the UCI (Union Cycliste International, the governing body of cycling sport) about doping which is still alive today.
   ‘Confusion’ I would call the absence of clear, understandable rules and the same treatment of all. For example a Tour de France winner with proven (!) too high levels of Salbutamol (a medication that opens up the medium and large airways in the lungs) is cleared after several months of investigations while a lesser known Swiss licensed Italian rider gets a nine months ban for the same ‘offense’. I don’t get it and know that many other cycling fans don’t get it either…Anyway, I am very interested in the sport and even attended some bike challenges by myself.
   On Eurosport I watched the cycling Spring Classics, like the Tour of Flanders or the highlight Paris-Roubaix, which mostly take part in Belgium. When watching them occasionally my wife joined. I understand that she is not very interested and sometimes she even asks: “Did we not watch the same race last time?” Actually not, but as the races are held predominantly in the same country they look very similar indeed.

http://www.skysports.com/cycling/news/12040/9732750/the-classics-a-dummies-guide-to-paris-roubaix-milan-san-remo-and-other-one-day-races

  
   Watching the Spring Classics I noted that the races are very family friendly, many children stand beside the roads watching their heroes with their parents flying by. The other thing I've noticed it that the environment and road system in Belgium is quite different from Taiwan’s. Here in the Far East everyone is fighting for his own space on the busy road while in this small European country the bike paths and walkways are clearly separated from the motorcycle, car and truck traffic. This makes the roads a seemingly slower but much safer place to share for everyone. 

   Discussing my next holidays I showed my anxious wife this road design during the races and some persuasion she finally agreed that I could go to travel in Belgium…

(to be continued@

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_19.html)

Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! 
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