Grenzgang: Travel Slam

In the organizer's words:

Presented by Grenzgang

Moderation: Alexander Königsmann

The Travel Slam presents its Night of Champions for the seventh time in the open-air cinema in Cologne.

You can expect an inspiring evening with three previous winners and their fascinating presentations - with a view of the screen and Cologne Cathedral.

At the Travel Slam, three speakers/duos will each talk about their travel experiences for a quarter of an hour with lots of photos. The presenter and audience can ask questions afterwards. At the end, there will be a winner with five bonus minutes. The focus is not on winning, but on the shared joy of traveling.

Travelers of the Champions Night

Michael Koopmann (Georgia), Barbara Lanyi (With German Doctors on Samar / Philippines) and Max Lehrke (Outdoor extremes from -30 degrees Celsius to +1100 degrees)

+++

Barbara Lanyi

Samar - at first glance, dreamlike tropical landscapes, picturesque villages, friendly people. They work hard, squat in front of their huts or sing karaoke with schmaltzy songs from morning till night - the Filipino people's hobby. What seems so idyllic to us Westerners is a barren life - thatched huts that offer little protection from insects, rice fields with dangerous pathogens, tropical rain that turns everything into brown mud. Laundry hangs everywhere and is washed in the river or at the water points in the village, usually including body washing.

With a team of five local helpers and another medical colleague, we will be traveling for six weeks in April/May 2023 for German Doctors to provide basic medical care to the indigenous population in remote areas and to train local health workers. Using the most adventurous means of transportation and even on foot through the jungle, we spend hours on the road with our Rolling Clinic visiting people, some of whom have never had any medical contact before. We eat and stay with them, spend our time together and so I am able to immerse myself in a completely different life, am right in the middle of it and would like to share these unique experiences with you.

+++

Max Lehrke

Maximilian is a photographer from Cologne - with a special focus on nature and landscape photography. He discovered his passion for photography in 2015 during a city trip to Budapest. Since then, he has never let go of his camera. With his pictures, he wants to make the vastness, depth and uniqueness of our natural environment visible - and raise awareness of what we are in danger of losing. After all, the destruction of rainforests, the extinction of species, plastic waste in the oceans and illegal hunting are no longer marginal phenomena, but global challenges. Maximilian's photographs show the beauty and diversity of our planet - as an urgent invitation to preserve our natural world.

+++

Michael Koopmann

Georgia is a breathtaking country between Europe and Asia with a fascinating mixture of culture, history and wonderful nature. Nevertheless, it is still a relatively unknown destination. Michael Koopmann took a 'short trip' to this great country in September 2023 and tried to capture a bit of the atmosphere here with his camera and preserve it in many pictures for a lecture.

He met a wide variety of people on his way through the country. For example, at the lively markets, where the warmth and hospitality of the locals is particularly evident. Here, people always met him with a beaming smile and a friendly "Gamarjoba": whether enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the city or the quiet serenity of rural life - the people of Georgia like to welcome strangers with open arms and give the gift of some wonderful encounters. A few of these will certainly be on show at the Travel Slam and will whet your appetite for this country in the Caucasus.