{"id":13990,"date":"2014-11-27T16:35:29","date_gmt":"2014-11-27T15:35:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/en.sma-sunny.com\/?p=13990"},"modified":"2017-12-13T16:06:09","modified_gmt":"2017-12-13T15:06:09","slug":"share-the-excitement-of-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/en\/share-the-excitement-of-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Share the Excitement of Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>You can have the most interesting job in the world doing something meaningful, as with solar technology, but the siren\u2019s call of distant lands and new and different cultures will seduce you time and again. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>In order to bring places far away closer, several employees at SMA have started \u201cwanderlust evenings.\u201d Here, people have a chance to talk about their travel experiences and share photos with colleagues. In this way, travelers can enjoy their many impressions and experiences time and again through fresh eyes. Thinking about your trips in retrospect can also be a valuable way to relive the adventures. Here we give you a taste of the most beautiful pictures and stories shared\u2014for wanderlust shared is wanderlust halved, and anticipation of one\u2019s own travels doubled.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5>Immersion in other worlds<\/h5>\n<p>Florian rode a bicycle through <a href=\"#Florian\">Japan<\/a>; Felix charged his batteries in <a href=\"#Felix\">Thailand&#8217;s sun<\/a>; Samuel explored <a href=\"#Samuel\">Borneo<\/a> with his backpack; Georg traveled through <a href=\"#Georg\">Columbia<\/a>; Bego assisted a foreign aid project in <a href=\"#Bego\">Cameroon<\/a>; Nils went on a safari in Tanzania; and Alex worked on an off-grid system in <a href=\"#Alex\">Uganda<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For most, it was not only the trip itself that did them good, but also talking about it in whatever way suited them best. Depending on personal preference, those sharing can focus on nature, architecture or culture. These employee-initiated wanderlust evenings are about intercultural exchange. The shared experiences, tips and ideas might even make it easier for people to move through new worlds with greater agility and prudence on their next trip. Bego\u00f1a Paraj\u00f3n Robles, who organized these evenings with Carmen Wulff, explained the idea behind them: \u201cWe want to expand our horizons, make people curious about other countries and take them on a trip to places such as Thailand, letting them feel the sun and the heat for a few hours.\u201d Employees from subsidiaries are, of course, also invited to present their country and their people.<br \/>\n<a name=\"Florian\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5>Florian biked through Japan<\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Florian_Soyamisaki-e1416308501683.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-43906 size-full lazyload\" title=\"Auf den Gipfel von Mt. Norikura mit Blick auf den Vulkan Otake \u2013 einige Tage nach dem Ausbruch in 2014.\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Florian_Soyamisaki-e1416308501683.jpg\" alt=\"Auf den Gipfel von Mt. Norikura mit Blick auf den Vulkan Otake \u2013 einige Tage nach dem Ausbruch in 2014.\" width=\"572\" height=\"429\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Florian_Soyamisaki-e1416308501683.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Florian_Soyamisaki-e1416308501683-262x197.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Florian_Soyamisaki-e1416308501683-450x338.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/429;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>At the summit of Mt. Norikura, with a view of the volcano Otake\u2014a few days after the eruption in 2014.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Florian_Norikura-e1416308523475.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-43907 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Florian_Norikura-e1416308523475.jpg\" alt=\"Florian_Norikura\" width=\"572\" height=\"429\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Florian_Norikura-e1416308523475.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Florian_Norikura-e1416308523475-262x197.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Florian_Norikura-e1416308523475-450x338.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/429;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Soyamisaki on Hokkaido, Japan\u2019s northernmost point\u2014when the air is clear, you can see Russia from<br \/>\n<a name=\"Felix\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5>Felix recharged his battery in Thailand\u2019s sun<\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Felix_Ko-Yao-Yai_Thai.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-43909 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Felix_Ko-Yao-Yai_Thai.jpg\" alt=\"Felix_Ko Yao Yai_Thai\" width=\"572\" height=\"381\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Felix_Ko-Yao-Yai_Thai.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Felix_Ko-Yao-Yai_Thai-262x175.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Felix_Ko-Yao-Yai_Thai-450x300.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/381;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There are many small, idyllic islands perfect for sunbathing and snorkeling in the southern part of Thailand. The island Ka Yao Yai has not yet been greatly impacted by tourism, so at the end of our trip we were able to experience secluded luxury in a beautiful resort. However, you do have to be prepared for power outages. I really missed having a Sunny Island system \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Felix_Platz-der-Demokratie_Thai.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-43910 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Felix_Platz-der-Demokratie_Thai.jpg\" alt=\"Felix_Platz-der-Demokratie_Thai\" width=\"572\" height=\"381\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Felix_Platz-der-Demokratie_Thai.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Felix_Platz-der-Demokratie_Thai-262x175.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Felix_Platz-der-Demokratie_Thai-450x300.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/381;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The big demonstrations in Bangkok began on this square in early November 2013. We only found out the extent of the demonstrations because of anxious inquiries from Germany two weeks later. When we came back to Bangkok on our return trip, it was nearly impossible to set foot in the square.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5><a name=\"Samuel\"><\/a>Samuel on his trip to Borneo<\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Samuel_PerhentianIsland-e1416308838835.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-43918 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Samuel_PerhentianIsland-e1416308838835.jpg\" alt=\"Samuel_PerhentianIsland\" width=\"572\" height=\"381\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Samuel_PerhentianIsland-e1416308838835.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Samuel_PerhentianIsland-e1416308838835-262x175.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Samuel_PerhentianIsland-e1416308838835-450x300.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/381;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>What we really learned to appreciate on our first big trip through Malaysia was the fact that a difficult part of a journey always needs to be followed by a relaxing part. On the beach in the Perhentian Islands, where there are no cars and almost no people, we were able to mentally process our impressions from our time in Borneo\u2019s jungle.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Samuel_Borneo.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-43917 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Samuel_Borneo-e1416308894247.jpg\" alt=\"Samuel_Borneo\" width=\"572\" height=\"324\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Samuel_Borneo-e1416308894247.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Samuel_Borneo-e1416308894247-262x148.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Samuel_Borneo-e1416308894247-450x255.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/324;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We rode the train through Borneo\u2019s rain forest at walking speed\u2014past isolated huts that were only accessible by these train tracks. Time and again people would run out of the forest and jump onto the train\u2019s cargo cars in order to get to the next village. In our trip report at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.underwaygs.com\">www.underwaygs.com<\/a>, you can find out what we experienced on this \u201cRolls Royce\u201d and how we traveled through the rain forest on a train.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5><a name=\"Georg\"><\/a>Georg\u2019s impressions of Colombia<\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Georg_Valle_de_Cocora.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-43916 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Georg_Valle_de_Cocora.jpg\" alt=\"Georg_Valle_de_Cocora\" width=\"572\" height=\"381\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Georg_Valle_de_Cocora.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Georg_Valle_de_Cocora-262x175.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Georg_Valle_de_Cocora-450x300.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/381;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It could be a completely normal Alpine landscape: temperatures around 25\u00b0 C, Simmental cattle grazing in fenced pastures and forested foothills, except for the palm trees which grow everywhere. You can even find them at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, well past the Alpine timberline. Behind the first foothills you can climb the snow-covered, over 5,000-meter-high mountains of Los Nevados National Park.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Georg_Cartagena.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-43915 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Georg_Cartagena.jpg\" alt=\"Georg_Cartagena\" width=\"572\" height=\"429\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Georg_Cartagena.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Georg_Cartagena-262x197.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Georg_Cartagena-450x338.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/429;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One of the most popular vacation spots is the city of Cartagena, with its beautiful colonial-style old town. The fortifications used by the original inhabitants to defend themselves from the Spaniards are well preserved. You can stay on the farthest-flung hotel peninsula with a fabulously beautiful Caribbean beach. If you\u2019re lucky you\u2019ll be able to see fireworks at night.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5><a name=\"Bego\"><\/a>Bego on the aid project in Cameroon<\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bego_washingclothes.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13996 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bego_washingclothes.jpg\" alt=\"Bego_washingclothes\" width=\"572\" height=\"429\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bego_washingclothes.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bego_washingclothes-262x197.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bego_washingclothes-450x338.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/429;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The well where the women of Boboyo draw water with buckets is a meeting point.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bego_Kinder.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-43912 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bego_Kinder.jpg\" alt=\"Bego_Kinder\" width=\"572\" height=\"429\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bego_Kinder.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bego_Kinder-262x197.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bego_Kinder-450x338.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/429;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>They play happily and cheerfully when they don\u2019t have to help their mothers. The older children take care of the smaller ones.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5><a name=\"Nils\"><\/a>Nils on safari in Tanzania<\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Niels_Tarangire_NP.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-43921 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Niels_Tarangire_NP.jpg\" alt=\"Niels_Tarangire_NP\" width=\"572\" height=\"370\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Niels_Tarangire_NP.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Niels_Tarangire_NP-262x169.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Niels_Tarangire_NP-450x291.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/370;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Baobabs, lions, giraffes, zebras and elephants in an area as large as all of North Hesse where the animals can wander for kilometers, unhindered by fences. In comparison to this experience, you really become conscious of the sick, reduced behavior of the animals in our zoos.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Niels_Ngorongoro_NP-Massai-Dorf.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-43920 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Niels_Ngorongoro_NP-Massai-Dorf.jpg\" alt=\"Niels_Ngorongoro_NP-Massai-Dorf\" width=\"572\" height=\"373\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Niels_Ngorongoro_NP-Massai-Dorf.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Niels_Ngorongoro_NP-Massai-Dorf-262x171.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Niels_Ngorongoro_NP-Massai-Dorf-450x293.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/373;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>At the foot of the Ngorongoro Crater there is a village of the Maasai, who were resettled here from the crater and now also earn a living from tourism. Since their resettlement, the National Parks Agency has come to appreciate the value of the Maasai\u2019s thousand-year-old land management practices (slash-and-burn method and cattle grazing). The body of a four-million-year-old prehistoric human was found in the Olduvai Gorge, not far away.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5><a name=\"Alex\"><\/a>Alex reports from Uganda on electrification efforts<\/h5>\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Alex_Uganda3.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-43914 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Alex_Uganda3.jpg\" alt=\"Alex_Uganda3\" width=\"572\" height=\"381\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Alex_Uganda3.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Alex_Uganda3-262x175.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Alex_Uganda3-450x300.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/381;\" \/><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>The adventure began with a telephone call during a snowboarding vacation. The question: \u201cWould you like to come with us to Uganda?\u201d I didn\u2019t have to think about it for long. I had signed up months earlier when the appeal was made for volunteer helpers to set up an off-grid system in Uganda. On the same day at the ski hut, I got a call from Dennis, who was also going to be there.<\/p>\n<p>A half year of anticipation\u2014and then, in the summer of 2009, the time finally arrived. I was full of curiosity, anticipation and also a little anxiety about what awaited us on-site. After all, this was the first trip of this kind for us\u2014but not, as it soon turned out, the last.<\/p>\n<p>After this, there were two more trips to Uganda and one to Madagascar, all with the goal of bringing electricity to schools or hospitals in isolated areas.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Alex_Uganda1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-43913 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Alex_Uganda1.jpg\" alt=\"SONY DSC\" width=\"572\" height=\"381\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Alex_Uganda1.jpg 572w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Alex_Uganda1-262x175.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Alex_Uganda1-450x300.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 572px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 572\/381;\" \/><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Of course, we also always used these trips to check out the local wildlife. Seeing lions, elephants, giraffes and many other animals in the wild\u2014it was an incredible experience, every time.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5>And you?<\/h5>\n<p>Perhaps, after reading this, you too have caught the travel bug for destinations both near and far. What have been your most interesting or exciting travel experiences so far? What tips would you give for experiencing different cultures?<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5><strong>You can find similar articles here<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/en.sma-sunny.com\/2013\/09\/24\/ten-weeks-of-training-abroad\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ten weeks of training abroad<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/en.sma-sunny.com\/2012\/11\/27\/training-initiative-in-west-africa\/\" target=\"_blank\">Training Initiative in West Africa<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-auto kksr-align-left kksr-valign-bottom\"\n    data-payload='{&quot;align&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;13990&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;valign&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;ignore&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;reference&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;count&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;legendonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;readonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;score&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;starsonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;best&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;gap&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;greet&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;legend&quot;:&quot;0\\\/5 - (0 votes)&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;22&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Share the Excitement of Travel&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;_legend&quot;:&quot;{score}\\\/{best} - ({count} {votes})&quot;,&quot;font_factor&quot;:&quot;1.25&quot;}'>\n            \n<div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\" style=\"padding-right: 1px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 22px; height: 22px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\" style=\"padding-right: 1px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 22px; height: 22px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\" style=\"padding-right: 1px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 22px; height: 22px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\" style=\"padding-right: 1px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 22px; height: 22px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\" style=\"padding-right: 1px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 22px; height: 22px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 0px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 1px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 22px; height: 22px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 1px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 22px; height: 22px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 1px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 22px; height: 22px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 1px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 22px; height: 22px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 1px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 22px; height: 22px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"kksr-legend\" style=\"font-size: 17.6px;\">\n            <span class=\"kksr-muted\"><\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<div class='printomatic pom-default ' id='id977'  data-print_target='article'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You can have the most interesting job in the world doing something meaningful, as with solar technology, but the siren\u2019s&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":13992,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[666,585,685,102],"class_list":["post-13990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-company","tag-africa","tag-corporate-culture","tag-responsibility-2","tag-sma"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Share the Excitement of Travel - Sunny. 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