The Journeys in the 2nd Half of '25

On 30.6.2025, the Weltreisebär set off into his 10th year of life. In the first half of it, he'd already clocked up 4 whole new countries. Here's a quick overview:

#104 – Kyrgyzstan (with Sophie from Berlin)

28.8.-18.9.25

in the picture you can see the Weltreisebär in front of the Lenin statue in Bishkek. More pictures on Instagram at @tobi.50301

here's a quick rundown of the pictures:

1: Alamedin Waterfall,

2: in the Tien Shan near 42.48648 – 78.90117

3: Burana Tower

4: glacial lakes near 42°27'48.8"N 78°59'09.2"E

5+6: National Museum Bishkek

7: Government building: Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (Правительство Кыргызской Республики)

8: Marx+Engels statue

#105 – Madagascar (with Christian from Altenburg)

28.9.-12.10.25

Off to Madagascar with Christian at the start of October. The island – the 2nd or 3rd largest in the world, depending on how you count – is home to a number of endemic species found only here, as the landmass used to be part of the Indian subcontinent.
In the picture you can see the Weltreisebär in the lemur park. Here's another picture with a baobab tree:

#106 – Colombia (with Johannes and Judith from Goslar)

12.-24.11.2025

This trip had also been in the works for a while, since the bear had already had several chances to visit Colombia. This time he travelled with Judith and Johannes from Goslar (we actually know each other from the parish in Freiberg). Huge thanks to you both, especially for the lovely little gift :)
In Colombia they visited Judith's host family, as well as the artists' village of Raquira (picture in the middle), before finally heading north to the Caribbean coast.
More pictures on Judith's Instagram too: @jm_15.11

#107 – Saudi Arabia (with Florian from Freiberg)

It was well overdue, really – my brother Florian is joining the Weltreisebär family! Last year he and the bear happened to be in Taiwan at the same time, though (for logistical reasons) quite independently of one another; this year they travelled together. Florian, though, is only passing through Riyadh (the capital of Saudi Arabia). From there he's heading on with our cousin to Kochi, Kerala, India, to visit my uncle, who runs an art project there. Rather fitting, really, since I myself know at least three Indians from that very state who are studying in Germany. My uncle Andreas and our cousin Isidor, by the way, are already part of the "Weltreisebär family": back in 2017, they were among the very first the bear got to travel abroad with! A huge thank you to the three of you!