"Rejoined" zschachwitz's Profile

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I was born on 27th August 1945

"As always, his test of whether or not to take a photograph was to imagine the shot framed and hanging on a wall. Was it something he could live with for months, years, without tiring of it? If yes, the shot was worth the film and effort. If no, he packed up and moved on." and "I've seen a hundred places - more than that, probably - where I wished I had a separate life for each of them and could settle down there, so i could get to know some people well, as others have done, as most have done." (Both, R J Waller, "A Thousand Country Roads").

My most recent profile picture, (before my anti-scam notice) was of me, in a helicopter that saw service in Vietnam, and now on display in the Philippines Air Force Museum in Manila; previously I used the cartoon character, Arthur, and before that, there was one of my wife and me on the Schrammstein, overlooking the River Elbe, about a mile downstream from the border of German and the Czech Republic

I was originally a member from November 2002 to February 2011, but rejoined after about 5/6 weeks away, as I missed the company.

Good job I don't throw anything away, and I've reconstituted my home page Mark II, and slightly revised it.

Since I retired from full-time work in 2005, and finished my part-time job 47 years to the day since starting work, I must finish my USA travel blog, and then start, (and hopefully finish) an Asian blog, probably to include all three trips, to date. I was hoping to have another trip to Asia this year, 2011, but for a variety of reasons it hasn't taken place; it's unlikely that I shall be away in 2012, but 2013 beckons, and I'm seriously thinking about going to Indonesia. Having seen, at first hand, how detailed some holiday stories are, I have stretched back into my memory, and have also started to reconsitute my travel history, which so far as I can remember starts around 1948

Up to 2005 I had only travelled in Europe, and was not, admittedly, over keen on flying. However, 2006 saw me undertake an ambition I’d held for nearly 50 years, and that was to travel along part of Route 66 in the USA. I read Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath" around 1959, and said "one day, I'll follow that route". Yes, that meant getting into a plane and flying. So I did – and haven’t looked back

2007 saw me off to Asia, where I spent three happy weeks in the Philippines, and as I sat in the Departure Lounge at Tacloban, en route for Manila, Hong Kong and home, I realised that not only was I looking forward to the flight(s), but that I was like a child eagerly and anxiously waiting for Santa. I am hooked on flying, and am now wondering where to go next.

2008 saw me on the Airbus A380, (an awesome beast) to Singapore, and then onto the Philippines - Manila, Vigan, Bohol and Dumaguete; 2010, to Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Singapore (by overnight train), and then Manila, Baguio, Puerto Galera and Iloilo

Another long-held ambition is to visit South Africa as I have some photos of Cape Town that my grandfather took in about 1910. I would to see how much it has changed. I also wish to return to the US: California again, but also to Lightning Alley in Florida. My daughter tells me that the storms really are awesome, (and she now has plans to marry in the US)

My favourite cities and places? In alphabetical order: Dresden, London, Metz, Nancy, Prague. Two more added in 2004, Leipzig and Potsdam, added in 2006: Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, and the West Coast of California from San Francisco to Carmel. 2010 Kuala Lumpur

Smaller places: again, in alphabetical order - Annecy, Contrexeville, Guthrie (Oklahoma), Iloilo, Pont-a-Mousson, Roscommon, and Selestat; 2007 Bohol, 2008 Vigan, 2010 Iloilo.

I'm very fond of Alsace, Lorraine and the Vosges; am basically a “Mountains and Lakes” person, and don’t care all that much for places that are aimed at tourists; I wasn't one for beach holidays till I visited the Philippines - I STILL can't believe that beaches like that exist.

Extra bits

I tend to not write reviews or tips; there are several reasons, and one of them is that whatever I have experienced on my travels has already been written about many times before by existing members. To be honest, I really don't think that there will be anything new that I can add, certainly very little, if anything, that will be up-to-date.

Likewise, I now very rarely add photos, (only 19 so far) and those pictures destined for a wider audience are on flickr (where I get rather better viewing figures....); quite apart from anything else, I use flickr for photos that are not travel related, sport, transport, "adult themes", etc.

I am on Twitter, but not Facebook

Here is a map of my home/work history: please let me know, preferably by email, if it is legible, sensible or whatever; in fact ANY comments will be appreciated. Thank you.

Intro Updated May 12, 2012
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Comments (27)

AngMimi 3 hours ago Report Abuse

Thanks for visiting Penang. Keith
See you in 2013. :-)))
wise23girl May 11, 2012 at 12:45 AM Report Abuse

I thought of you as a friend anyway...from before
nhcram May 2, 2012 at 11:21 AM Report Abuse

Nice to see you online.......Hope you are well and enjoying the rain!
suvanki Apr 30, 2012 at 12:44 PM Report Abuse

Hi Keith! Looking forward to meeting you at Rich's London meeting on the 14th May.
angiebabe Apr 24, 2012 at 7:18 PM Report Abuse

Hi what was your previous VT name? anyway nice to see your page here from 'meeting' you in the deletion post in the miscellaneous forum. Alsace is one of my favourite places in France and Europe too....have enjoyed your write up here. i love looking at photos though...so will probably have to go find you on flickr!?...though you dont have a link here
tropicrd Apr 13, 2012 at 2:16 AM Report Abuse

Hi Keith,don't leave the vt pub please.
We really have heaps of no nonsense fun each Friday.I for one am looking forward to having a good laugh with you.
Much respect, Dorrise
asiantraveler Mar 11, 2012 at 12:50 AM Report Abuse

Hi! welcome back to vt ...thanks for the nice comments ...ya! the shoe museum is interesting ...i salute you for being so well traveled and still doing so ...you've been traveling since 1948 ...wow! that's what i always wanted o do "live life to the fullest" cheers!
lisa85202 Feb 25, 2012 at 9:11 AM Report Abuse

Nice to hear you visited Albuquerque! It has a lot to offer, but you have to look for it- it's not an obvious touristy destination, and not good if you like professional sports and major nightlife, but great for the outdoor enthusiast! Definately not much to look at from the freeway, but the city is making progress...
London-Calling Dec 24, 2011 at 9:25 PM Report Abuse

Hello there, on this 25th of December. If you celebrate Christmas, all your London friends would like to wish you a very happy one. For those of you that celebrate Chanukah, a similar message. If you have just celebrated the winter solstice, we hope you are enjoying the season and if you do not celebrate any festival, wherever you are, all your VT friends in London wish you the very best and hope you can come to visit us soon in this wonderful city. We will do our very best to make you feel welcome here.

Lesley, Sarah, DAO and fergy.
Babcia Dec 21, 2011 at 10:56 PM Report Abuse

Hello Keith - thanks so much for the birthday wishes - much appreciated!!! Sending you warm wishes for a wonderful and happy Christmas, and all the best in the New Year 2012!! ~Alicja~