Around the world in 80 gardens
By Lu Feiran |
March 17, 2013, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AN 18-year-old German student, Catalina Langer from Hamburg, is traveling around the world in 80 days to promote a flower show featuring 80 gardens.
Langer, who is traveling alone, stopped in Shanghai this week in the fourth stop on her 18-city tour that began February 23 in Hamburg. She is promoting the six-month International Garden Show in Hamburg that begins in April. Her father is a supplier.
Though some young Chinese travel during a "gap" year before college or during career breaks, not many travel around the world all by themselves.
Traveling on a shoe-string, paying her own way and blogging, Langer visited Istanbul, Dubai and Dar Es Salaam before landing in Shanghai. She left Friday for 13 other cities in Asia, Australia, North America and Europe.
"I don't think Phileas Fogg (protagonist in Jules Verne's 'Around the World in Eighty Days') learned much about the countries he crossed, as his intention was to travel as fast as possible," Langer said. "But my goal is to travel around the world and learn about the places I visit."
After graduating from high school last year, she worked as a shop assistant for half a year and sold second-hand handbags and garments on e-Bay. In October she plans to go to college and study journalism and media.
Langer received financial support for the journey from her family as a birthday or Christmas present. Airfare cost around 5,000 euros (US$6,508).
"I save as much money as I can during the journey," she said. "I stay at friends' homes (she has Facebook friends) and if I don't have a friend in a city, I stay in hostels, where I meet more people, which is good for me."
"I mainly visit gardens and green spaces, talk to people about my travel experiences, and promote the garden show," Langer said. In Istanbul she met a Canadian urban planner who discussed creating a livable city; she called that discussion "wonderful and inspiring."
She also visits places she has always wanted to see.
Traffic in Istanbul and Dar Es Salaam was chaotic but the cities have pleasant botanical gardens, where residents can escape, she said. She found Dubai very "artificial" and she was at a loss in the vast Dubai Mall with "too many stores."
Her best experience was with the Dubai Garden Group. She was impressed by gardens in the desert where people grow their own food.
Langer said she herself is not a gardener, though her mother has a green thumb. The upcoming Hamburg show will be international, multicultural and cosmopolitan, she said.
She blogs at 80days.me, mostly in German. She shares pictures and stores on her Facebook page.
Langer will return to Hamburg on May 14 - after 80 days on the road.
"Before going to university, I want to get some real-life experience and work as a writer," she said.
"I hope the journey will improve my journalistic skills."
Langer, who is traveling alone, stopped in Shanghai this week in the fourth stop on her 18-city tour that began February 23 in Hamburg. She is promoting the six-month International Garden Show in Hamburg that begins in April. Her father is a supplier.
Though some young Chinese travel during a "gap" year before college or during career breaks, not many travel around the world all by themselves.
Traveling on a shoe-string, paying her own way and blogging, Langer visited Istanbul, Dubai and Dar Es Salaam before landing in Shanghai. She left Friday for 13 other cities in Asia, Australia, North America and Europe.
"I don't think Phileas Fogg (protagonist in Jules Verne's 'Around the World in Eighty Days') learned much about the countries he crossed, as his intention was to travel as fast as possible," Langer said. "But my goal is to travel around the world and learn about the places I visit."
After graduating from high school last year, she worked as a shop assistant for half a year and sold second-hand handbags and garments on e-Bay. In October she plans to go to college and study journalism and media.
Langer received financial support for the journey from her family as a birthday or Christmas present. Airfare cost around 5,000 euros (US$6,508).
"I save as much money as I can during the journey," she said. "I stay at friends' homes (she has Facebook friends) and if I don't have a friend in a city, I stay in hostels, where I meet more people, which is good for me."
"I mainly visit gardens and green spaces, talk to people about my travel experiences, and promote the garden show," Langer said. In Istanbul she met a Canadian urban planner who discussed creating a livable city; she called that discussion "wonderful and inspiring."
She also visits places she has always wanted to see.
Traffic in Istanbul and Dar Es Salaam was chaotic but the cities have pleasant botanical gardens, where residents can escape, she said. She found Dubai very "artificial" and she was at a loss in the vast Dubai Mall with "too many stores."
Her best experience was with the Dubai Garden Group. She was impressed by gardens in the desert where people grow their own food.
Langer said she herself is not a gardener, though her mother has a green thumb. The upcoming Hamburg show will be international, multicultural and cosmopolitan, she said.
She blogs at 80days.me, mostly in German. She shares pictures and stores on her Facebook page.
Langer will return to Hamburg on May 14 - after 80 days on the road.
"Before going to university, I want to get some real-life experience and work as a writer," she said.
"I hope the journey will improve my journalistic skills."
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