Have you ever wondered where Gaudí got his ideas and inspiration from? Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had travelled around New Zealand, checked out the area around Wellington and stayed at the beach house for a creative retreat at some stage in his life.

The Putangirua Pinnacles remind me sooo much of „Sagrada Familia“ in Barcelona, it’s impressive. If I didn’t know the „Sagrada Familia“, I would have thought I landed somewhere else in the universe.

It was just one of these week-end road trips…

Read  more about the Putangirua Pinnacles and the Clay Cliffs.

Most people drive past on their way through NZ. From the motorway it actually doesn’t even look nice.

Far from it! Going for one of the multiple runs, or a loop, through the park takes you through all types of views and landscapes. Through dry, dusty hills, you suddenly arrive in dense bush with typical NZ palms on the side of a little lake with wetlands, through hourse riding and training terrain, up a dune, and end up being surprised by the most breathtaking view over the beaches, the Kapiti coastline and Kapiti Island ever. Read more about Queen Elizabeth Park.

This article is about nature, poo and the front extension of a man. Well, kind of. 😉

It’s about my favourite run a five minutes drive from home. It allows me to switch off completely, especially after a day at work. Now after that introduction, you wonder how that run manages to do this? Well… 😉 Imagine many years ago I would have had to take the boat to go running there!

Following the track, you are exposed to a different view every minute you go ahead. Through native, dense bush, with views over Cook Strait, the harbour and Evans Bay, the airport, until the track opens to Seatoun, back passed by cute little houses along the bays, little blue penguin (korora) watching, and more native plants. Not to forget historic sites and Lord of the Rings scenery!

Read the whole article about Pass of Brenda.

Typically my kite gear is the most important part of my luggage when travelling to Sardinia. As usual, upon arrival, I still don’t have a clue where in Sardinia I will end up this year.

I like the idea of discovering the Wild West (I already wrote about most of the other coasts during a Kite-Safari). But will the wind conditions be good to kite there this time? Mostly Mistral is working on the West coast. I’m looking forward to finding the exceptions, together with the less-known spots.
Like never before I am in a mood to draw every moment of this trip, somewhere in no man’s land, in the middle of past and future. Sardinia is exactly the right place for such an adventure. More contemporary is not possible. On the first night, I don’t feel like sleeping within four walls and I choose to sleep on the balcony. A night spent under the stars.

In the morning I wake up with a breeze around my nose and the buzz of the Sardinian neighbourhood. Taking in breaths of the upcoming wind, I can’t wait to get down to some kiting. And yes – the wind conditions point towards the West. Read more.

The German version of this article can be found on pecora-nera.

Al-Gharb – so called by the Moors – means “land in the west”.  Once upon a time, the Algarve even had “the End of the World”; Stormy Cabo São Vicente next to Sagres, in the very Southwest of Europe. Looking for sun and wind guarantee in July and August, where else could you find it than at nearest European distance to wind-star Brazil? Mr. Wind definitely speaks Portuguese.

By the way: Thanks to the Moors, many village’s and region’s names in Portugal start in rather Arab style with Al, like Al-bufeira, Al-tura, Al-jezur or Al-entejo; with Alentejo wines being among the best besides Douro and Dão regions.

But before starting the after-kite programme, back to Mr. Wind, or is it Ms. Wind? Princess Nortada; an anti-cyclone over the Azores added to a thermal low and local effects. Shaken, not stirred. Read more here.

In the past, traders used the so-called trade winds along the Mozambican coast to make business. From April to October, the trade vessels and dhows followed the southeasterly Kusi, and then made their way back with the northeasterly Kasikasi between November and March.

Today, more and more kitesurfers are spotted along the coast, stepping into their shoes and being attracted by the turquoise water and sandy beaches. They prefer Kusi, though: Kasikasi comes along with the rainy season and is less consistent. Estimations of locals as of October 2011 count up to ten kitesurfers living in the Pemba area, one on Ibo Island, two in Nacala, one in Beira, 40 in Maputo, three in Tofo and two in Ponta d’Ouro.

Getting excited? Yey, exactly! You have the ocean all to yourselves – there is not a strong trading competition and you can go ahead with trading all goods you can easily take on a kiteboard. Read more.

“There is loooaaaads of wind! For sure!” “But there are no other kites over there on the other side!” “Just take a 14m, you’ll be fine.” Just: Why didn’t anybody else have the same idea to take a 14m? Hmmmm….this was when I met “Orisina”, the even lighter sister of “Ora”. If you ask the Lake Garda supporters, you might get the impression that there is storm every day. Yes, e-v-e-r-y single day because of the thermal wind in combination with the nozzle effect. In fact, it’s not. At least for the lighter afternoon wind, the “Ora”, you should be prepared to take a bigger kite. The morning wind, called “Vento”, “Peler” or “Suér” is mostly stronger and often brings more swell. Its little brother is the “Peleri”, its stronger brother called “Pelerot”. The weather system at Lake Garda is very unique and complex. Read more.

It’s not the German Autobahn. But Italy does have motorways. You can make it pretty quickly southwards through the Alps to South Tyrol, direction lakes and Mediterranean Sea. This time, I don’t want to arrive quickly, it’s silky-way day – let’s discover. On my way to a wedding in Bolzano, I turn left at Bressanone, five and a half hours way round via the Dolomites. Fantastic skiing area in the winter, I decide to have a look during the less touristy-packed season. Scenic and – windy – roads. At the end the reward: Lago di Santa Croce in the Belluno area – and it stays: windy. Read more.

I’m driving. Flat countryside, wearing sunglasses, beautiful weather, direction seaside. No, it’s not Southern Europe this time, it’s Germany. Unusual for me to write an article about Germany as I feel more on travels when abroad. But actually, Germany is very different in all parts, and its diversity well worth discovering. And yes, there is a lot of kiting here, too. The North of Germany has quite a bit of coast line along the North and Baltic Sea, and lots of charming islands. Another incentive: It’s KB4girls week-end with world champion Kristin Boese again. Home base for her, too. Read more.

10 a.m., I’ve been on the road for the last 6 hours. Suddenly red lights, the road opens skywards. No, this is not Tower Bridge. Much more nature here, much more water. Coastline, lots of coastline. And heaps of windmills. Old Zeeland. Yes, silky-way has travelled far around the world again. Roughly 600 km.

Old Zeeland? Yeah, it’s good old Zeeland, the Dutch region, which has given New Zealand it’s name. As usual: If silky-way doesn’t travel to the other side of the world, there is enough of the world to be discovered in Europe. So it’s the Netherlands this week-end. Kamperland in Zeeland. KB4girls calling, a non-profit worldwide clinic tour for female kiteboarders.

Getting started  – 9x world champion Kristin Boese is organizing arrivals, not-yet-arrivals, KB4girls-T-Shirts. Read more.