Recently writing about a movie, I felt forced to smile when I was thinking about the title of my todays posting.

You’ve got mail!

Another one of my favorite movies and another "couple" of my favorite actors for sure ….

But what I’m really talking about,  is some postcard I’ve received recently coming from Japan. Not that I really would know someone there! But finding it in my email box, it needed just seconds to find out about it was sent by a friend actually being there for vacation

Last time I’ve heard from him, he was right back from Madagascar and full of impressions about to share. It is a very special friendship we run after we both hugged up first, back in 1994 during a common trip to China. Since then and for my feeling he must have visited nearly all countries around the globe and whenever I see him, he is right back from one or actually already planning another new trip.

Even his cards are special, like the one I’ve got now: "Actually I’m being at Tokyo for one week, then heading on to see Kyoto. Regards Klaus-Dieter" 

Looks like I’ve made a mistake once not going to work for a bank like I could have done - and he did.
Today now he is harvesting and enjoying the benefits out of his decision, while I still have to deal with bits and bugs instead ….

Lately I made effort to improve my mobile internet connection possibilities. Reading about some offered worldwide hotspot flatrate at 10 Euro/month I couldn’t resist anymore. Especially after I recognised that for example at Boston airport even internet friendly Americans insists in you having some additional carrier contract for sure.

Now travelling the last two day in trains I was for sure keen to test my new connection possibilities while travelling, but even I directly discovered an access point within the ICE my brand new login credentials got refused.

Ok then I thought and tried the good old UMTS card instead. But also no luck!
So we build spaceships, highspeed trains and stuff … and really are not able to provide some stable and working internet access while driving? Strange, isn’t it?

During the evening then my flatrate did work for the first time and later on in the hotel internet was for free anyway.
Today now back in a slower IC even the UMTS card works fine again. And it seems to be all about speed at the end.

So technique itself seems to work. It just depends on where you are and for sure on the several different contract it needs to have. At the end it seems to be all about money for sure.

When I speak about ‘Gates to the World’ I’m not speaking about that fancy Stargate stuff (although I really would enjoy being allowed to use some).

My gates to the world are airports. Now I’m not travelling that often that travelling itself would become boring routine. And heading to one of those gates always promises new and exciting stuff.

Each of them is individual for sure and a few I ‘was allowed’ to use even weren’t really worth to be called airport. More some longer straight road somewhere in the bush with a few facilities close by.

But over the years a few of them have become more familiar than others and a few of them really feel like well know locations now.

First of all there is Fraport …. my very own starting Gate for nearly every trip I do. Now not being aware about the ranking list of airports, Frankfurt is certainly one of the biggest in the world and therefore starting there often makes you wonder about some small and ‘provincial’ appearing airport somewhere out in that world close to some famous and well know town.

Now there were also some really fancy airports I’ve visited once like Beijing Capital International Airport or Kai Tak Airport at Hong Kong (the old one) where aircrafts had to fly across the skyscrapers and landing and finally touch down nearly appeared like going down directly within the sea.

Singapore Changi International Airport is special for me as for I was already there several time and never left the international area of the airport as for I was always in transit …. strange as for I have even customers there.

And finally a few airports have become special to me as for they are my Gates for visiting friends.

Now I will make it a bit difficult for you only giving you the airport short name for guessing …. there is YYZ, SYD and finally PER. You are informed now?!

Years ago when i headed out into this world first, even phoning home was some adventure.

What will this call going to cost you? Does is need 2 or 3 leading "0" and the country code to dial home?
But today with everyone is carrying a cell phone this is no longer an issue anymore. We are used to pick our phone and dial whoever and whenever we want right away.

Now travelling some less occupied areas of the world it can happens that you reach the end of mobil phone coverage even these days.

Last this happened to me while traveling the outback of Australia. No one living out there …. no need (at least no commercial) to make effort covering this area for mobil phone usage.

But curious this time being over in the USA I’m running into similar situations. No cell phone network access since days … at least not with my european mobil phone. But knowing about there is no phoning anymore, it is impressive to see that nearly each Hotel/Motel does offer Wireless Internet connection for free …as a reason to exactly choose them and no other business instead.

Yes, world seems to be far more connected than once at the time when I headed out into it first.

But … tell me … how can they know, that today I far way more often communicate and write emails with international friends around the world … than calling folks at home and telling good old mum for example that I’m fine?

Yeah, things have changed dramatically …. but I couldn’t say I don’t like it.

As already mentioned,, this week was filled with a lot of work issues. A bit of travelling, meetings, phone calls, chats and generally chances to pick up information. At the end a time, keeping my brain very busy by permanently processing all incoming info.

Since weeks - better lets say month - I had the feeling that there is something in the air. Some chance, some possibility or perhaps just an idea I wasn’t able to get instantly.

By knowing my brain likes to work as some information collector permanently storing away all input for later use, I’m aware that I’m not always be able to see the ‘real’ point instantly. But it is the unconscious part of my mind taking care about me being able to remember person and context within I got an information.

Some talking here, some info there and my brain constantly fitting it together … and suddenly I could see this week!

The occasion, the opportunity and the way to "speak" it to happens. Sitting in a meeting on wednesday, talking with the right guys, about the right topic, exactly at the right moment and it was there. Finally and clear for me!

I really appreciate situations like that, when I have the feeling about being me finally seeing things clear!
Sure there is still an ‘if’ and a ‘when’, but the idea is born. And perhaps in a few weeks I can tell more … and then, then I’m sure about it will become a very interesting time for sure! We will see.