Road Trip in Karakalpakstan

By |September 5th, 2014|adventure, Central Asia, Featured, Journeys, Off Road, Outdoor, Uzbekistan|

"Where the f** is Karakalpakstan?" I wonder when I hear about it the first time. It doesn't have anything to do with Pakistan, the country. Wikipedia explains: "Karakalpakstan is an autonomous republic at the northwestern end of Uzbekistan. It has an area of 160,000 square kilometres (62,000 sq mi)  and a population of about 1.7 Million. The [...]

Girl vs. Slurry Pump

By |May 11th, 2014|Europe, Off Road, Outdoor, Switzerland, Tough Luck!|

The opponent is a spiral slurry pump by the Swiss manufacturer Stöckli,  six years old and actually a lightweight. Nobody expected any problems and, as long as my boss is around, there are none. In the morning everything runs smoothly: We brought the hoses to the fields and picked up the pump from the neighbors. [...]

Riding a Motorbike in the Icy Rain

By |August 24th, 2013|Asia, Featured, Journeys, Mongolia, Off Road, Outdoor|

The first time we stop because the gear chain is loose. I climb off the motorbike, Basa does, too. He sits down behind the bike and pulls a wrench from his Deel, the traditional Mongolian coat. The colorful garment has no pockets, just a fabric belt that's wrapped around the waist. Basa keeps the tools [...]

Olkhon, Lake Baikal

By |August 7th, 2013|Asia, Horseback, Journeys, Off Road, Outdoor, Russia, Trans-Siberian Railway|

  "You want to travel all alone? Wow, you are so brave. - That's what they said at home," says Johanna. Ruoyin and I are laughing: "Same here." The three of us met on the bus to Olkhon. This is the island in Lake Baikal - a hot tip by Sasha, my "couch [...]