Here, have a million dollars.

"You have to give away a million dollars."

Wow. That's easily answered you would think, right? Well, at least I thought so in the first instance. But then, when I started to think about the details I couldn't exactly figure it out. Of course you start thinking "I have to give to charity". After all, people look at you and your answer and most probably expect that. But then it get's difficult: what charity? But then again, what do I care about others? It's my money supposedly and I can decide what I do with it.

Suppose there are no restrictions in how I give away the money:

What I knew right away was that I would split the amount: Of course I would give some of it to my parents. Then another part would go to my friend Katja. Many years ago I made a deal with her: should I ever win the lottery I would give her part of that. I made the same promise to my lilbro, he would get a significant (bigger than Katja's) amount as well. I would also make sure a small part would go to my ex Klaus, he is a great guy but always short of money. For him a monthly transfer of a certain amount over a longer period would be nice. Then, of course I would make sure there is a big amount for my hubby. I would want him to have a financial safety net. A little is left now for charity. I don't exactly know what charity it would be but I think I would like it to be some gay project. I would have to investigate what kind of gay projects I would consider worthy receiving some money. So I wouldn't save the planet, environment, kids or animals with it. No, it should be something to help other gays.

So, here's how I would split it up:
Mom and Dad 200000
Katja 100000
Lilbro 200000
my ex 100000
my hubby 300000
charity 100000

Well, it's definitely not spectacular but I like the idea that I could give some money to my loved ones. They are dear to me. I could see the money go to a good cause and not disappear in an anonymous giant charity organization.

Suppose this split up of the money and giving it to family/friends would not be allowed:

I can see this alternative: I would set up a trust that gets the full amount. The members of the trust who decide what charity receives money from it would be (guess who) my mom and Dad, Katja, lilbro, Klaus and Jelle.

So this would be my million dollar spree. How would your's look like?

Trip of a lifetime: going to Japan with Dani.

Dani and me in a typical yukata provided by our hotel during our stay.

Beginning of March I had the privilege of taking a trip to Japan with my beloved lilbro Dani. Let me give you a short trip report of our holiday. I can summarize the overall impression of this trip in one word: unforgettable!

A few months ago we had the idea of making a short visit to Japan. After all, it's Dani's passion and if you know him you know how much he loves the country, the language, it's culture. When going to work I passed a small advertisement stand at the airport which was of the city of Tokyo where I picked up some info material, amongst it a flyer of the Tokyo Anime Fair. Around this event we would eventually build our little trip which ended up being two weeks long. ;-) We also soon decided this would be a trip just for the „brothers“ that we are, the soulmates, without our beloved hubbies. They would stay at home this time.

Dani and Sera saying Goodbye at the airport in Madrid

I had been to Tokyo in 1987 for the first (and last) time but I barely remembered something of the city. So I gladly enjoyed Dani's planning for our trip, trusting his expertise as he had been to Japan two years ago – anywhere we'd go would be new for me. Dani's plan would bring us to Kyoto, Okinawa and Tokyo from where we would make excursions to several places of interest for us.

Dani onboard the Lufthansa Airbus in Business Class

So, on a friday morning, I left Amsterdam and flew to Frankfurt where I would check-in at the Sheraton Hotel right across from the terminal building, store the luggage and proceed straight to the next flight, one from Frankfurt to Madrid where I would pick up my lilbro in the afternoon. We both returned to Frankfurt the same evening and stayed at hotel. The next day, saturday, our Lufthansa flight would take us to Osaka (of course we travelled in style in business class) and from there we took our first train ride during this fabulous holiday to get to our hotel for the next days, a traditional japanese Ryukan in Kyoto.

One of the Shinkansen trains we travelled on.

From our base at Kyoto we made fantastic and very interesting excursions with trains (either local or one of the many variants of the Shinkansen) to Nara, to Hiroshima, to Osaka, to Miyajima and to Fushimi. These places were all different and yet so fascinating. If I had to name a favorite, it would be really difficult. For some reason I tend to like Fushimi very much, I can't really tell why. But Miyajima was also very beautiful and it is also considered to be one of the three most scenic spots of Japan. On the other hand, very impressive was the visit to Hiroshima. It touched me deeply, especially our visit to the museum dedicated to the memory of the desaster that hit the city with the deployment of the atomic bomb.

Me in Hiroshima.

After a few days we continued our journey by plane and headed a little over two hours south to Japan's „Hawaii“, to Okinawa. Here, a mild, spring like climate awaited us (after the winterly temperatures of Kyoto). We stayed in the islands capital Naha, which to me seemed like a smaller version of Honolulu, a little more modern, cleaner yet a little less beautiful. Unfortunately, to see Okinawas beautiful beaches, you better don't stay in the capital but rather head north on the island where many luxurious resort hotels can be found. We did get our fare share of natural beauty though on a self organized excursion to one of the closer outlying islands, to Tokashiki


Grotere kaart weergeven

Here, we found beautiful crystal clear waters on white sand beaches and water as blue as you'd always dream of a South Pacific sea would be like. We rented a bike and drove from one side of the island to the other and had a brilliant day on this remote, deserted spot. The weather was nice too and we managed to get a sunburn that day.

Dani in Naha, Okinawa.

After our few, relaxing days on Okinawa we again took the plane and headed north again and flew to Haneda, Tokyo's „city“ airport. In Tokyo, we again stayed at a Ryokan, the typical japanese style hotel. Of course as one can imagine the city is so large that it takes days to get at least a first impression of this fascinating metropolis.

Dani and me at night in Tokyo.

We walked through the most famous and interesting districts, at day and night, like Akihabara (where we looked for some electronic gadget bargains which in the end we didn't find). Of course we managed to visit the beautiful Ghibli Museum, a visit I can really recommend if you like the movies of Miyazaki!

Dani and me at the Ghibli museum.

We went to Shibuya and also Shinjuku, we went up on the Tokyo Tower, payed visits to Roppongi Hills to enjoy the spectacular views from the top of Japan's highest building at night, we walked through the center along the Emperor's Palace and of course payed a visit to the Tokyo Anime Fair which was very interesting to attend to! Of course we had a drink one night in a gay bar and Dani even introduced me to a gay sauna, my first visit ever – how exciting!

We visited the Tokyo Anime Fair.

Also from Tokyo we used the Shinkansens and went a little south to Hakone where we spent a wonderful day and enjoyed spectacular views of Japan's sacred mountain, the Fuji-san. We made a sightseeing cruise on Lake Ashi, rode the ropeway and took different trains and buses around the Hakone area. We concluded our day with a relaxing visit to a big and beautiful japanese Onsen. We were impressed by the beauty and the more begged for such an institution in our own countries. One can't describe the pleasance of having a relaxing bath while socializing with your friend, enjoying the soothing effect of the water and calmness on body and soul.

Another excursion took us north to Sendai and a little further to Matsushima, considered one of the three most scenic spots of Japan. We again were very lucky with the weather and enjoyed a beautiful sunny day at this gorgeous spot on the northern coast of Japan. We took an enjoyable little boat cruise around the bay of Matsushima and before returning to Tokyo paid a very brief visit to the city center of Sendai, a city that surprised us how big and clean it was. We somehow had expected a much smaller city up there in the north. Again we returned by the reliable Shinkansen in a two hour ride back to Tokyo.

During our visit to one of the three most scenic spots of Japan, at Matsushima.

Our trip to Japan ended much too soon unfortunately. We spent lovely days at all places. Dani and I got along very well. To me it felt as if I knew my lilbro for ages. I truly enjoyed his company day and night and now, being at home, I can honestly say I miss him very much – in a good, pleasant way of missing your buddy, your true friend, someone you really love and very much look forward to seeing him again real soon if possible. To me, this was a very special trip, certainly an unforgettable trip of a lifetime. It was an honour to spend it with you Dani, I feel privileged to have been your travel mate for this memorable journey. From the bottom of my heart, I deeply thank you for being that special friend that once again you proved to be. Thank you for taking me with you on this journey. I will cherish the precious memory in my heart.

All comes to an end, eventually: we are checked in for our return flight in Business class again to Munich. A kind ground staff of All Nippon Airways offered to take this shot of us at Narita airport, one day before the terrible crash of the FedEx plane that a day later would turn the airport in a chaos.

Thank you Dani, for all you did, for the great times, the wonderful holiday, for the little brother you are to me. A million kisses and just as much hugs to you, beloved lilbro. Still, that wouldn't be enough...

My first Kiss

It was my first visit to Klaus. I had met him through a common friend in my hometown and it clicked on our first meeting. I was interested in him and he in me which surprised me. He is five years older. We agreed on a visit and I went to visit him by train. I hoped to stay overnight for the first time in my life but had no idea if that would work out. After I arrived it sooned turned out he had similar ideas about my visit... ;-) We came closer to each other on his couch in the living room and that's where we first kissed and which became my first passionate "real" kiss.
I remember the days after were a bit embarrassing as I had sore lips from heavy kissing with him...