Welcome to the Kwan Nyom Tour!
Yes, folks this intrepid Hapkido instructor is back on the world path for a quick lap of the globe! Today I head off to the airport for my first flight an easy hop from Sydney into Bangkok Thailand, the home of the 2025 ITS event. I am not sure if I am getting the hang of this travelling thing, you would hope so by now, it just seemed so much easier to pack my bags this time. Probably a combination of things, the bags got packed smoothly and I am ready to bring some Hapkido to the IHA family. Compared to some of my previous trips this is a smaller one with 16 flights and 9 countries.
Flight #1 – Sydney to Bangkok on QF295 (a Finnair wet leased A330-300) – 7536km
With most of my world tours the current Black Belt test group set a challenge for me to complete, and this year is the same, it is a rather easy one. Every time I eat a different ethnic type of food the spirit test group will do 50 pushups. Now to be fair I will only count each country type once, but have added a bonus system around Michelin stars, a 1-star restaurant gets 10% more pushups, 2-star 20% and the amazing 3-star 30%. This challenge applies to all Spirit test candidates for this year. I have also created an open challenge for all other IHA members (Coloured Belts and Black Belts), it is the Badge quest. Each time I post an interesting picture featuring my ID badge there are 10 Hap Ki Do’s to be done. The Challenge is open for students to accept and be part of whilst I travel. I will keep a running tally of both quests as I lap the globe.
The flight into Bangkok went smoothly and I had to remark on how excellent the inflight team from Finnair were. I take a lot of flights, and this team had to be in the top 10 of the hundreds of flights I have taken. Proactive service with a smile, always happy to help, friendly and professionally, exactly the way to make a flight so much better. To make sure they get some recognition I made sure to send positive feedback to Finnair and Qantas, excellent efforts need to be celebrated.
Badge Pic #1 – 10 Hapkidos
What was the agenda for my brief break in Thailand, it actually turned out to be quite busy. A meeting and visit to the ITS hotel, hotel reservations will be open from November team. I dropped in on my dentist, that turned out to be a little more work than planned but done smoothly as always. In the name of completing my challenge tasks I enjoyed some very nice meals, pictures and challenge count coming up.
Suhring Restaurant (German 2 Michelin Stars) = 60 Pushups
Badge Pic #2 – 10 Hapkidos (Total 20)
ITS Training Centre Entrance
ITS Hotel Check In Area
Badge Pic #3 – 10 Hapkidos (Total 30)
Is your Dim Sum stronger than my Dim Sum?
Villa Frantzen (Swedish) = 50 Pushups (Total 110)
Le Du (Thai 1 Michelin Star) = 55 Pushups (Total 165)
Badge Pic #4 – 10 Hapkidos (Total 40)
Affordable airport hotel.
Isao (Japanese) = 50 Pushups (Total 215)
It was an early morning leaving Bangkok with a 7am flight, this time on Finnair into Helsinki. I chuckled when the Finnish pilot had to humble brag a couple of times about how we were going to be a hour early on our arrival. The flight was a smooth 11+ hours and the service was good, a quick clearing of customs and my bags came off early so I was out the door to meet a couple of the local Black Belts for the ride into town and my AirBnB for this visit. I am not normally in Finland at this time of year so the first thing I noticed was the extra greenery and the weather, a very pleasant 21 degrees Celsius. Tomorrow I have a free day, signatures, trip report, and a nice meal before the fun begins.
Flight #2 – Bangkok to Helsinki on AY142 (a Finnair A350-900) – 7887km
Helsinki 9pm at night
I enjoyed the day around Helsinki, and especially the warm weather. Finland is experiencing a unusually warm period and this is the first time I have ever been able to wear shorts. It makes for a good time to walk around and enjoy the sights. Dinner tonight is in one of the finer Finnish restaurants that was recommended to me by SBN Jaakko’s Chef brother Eero. It was an excellent meal and of course I enjoyed it even more knowing that the Spirit test teams would be celebrating this fine meal.
Finnjavel (Finnish 1Michelin Star) = 55 Pushups (Total 270)
Now it was time to hit the mats, and we had 3 days of training at the Sisu Gym (Sisu basically translates to Spirit/will/determination). Testing for the senior Black Belts would be on the last day here and then we would move to Myllypuro for the final 2 days of the seminar series.
The plans for the week of training, there might have been some fine tuning!
On the mats @ Sisu
I was walking around the neighbourhood near my Airbnb and spotted a Vietnamese restaurant, so of course I had to enjoy that as part of the challenge, some fresh rolls and a Pho later it was another 50 pushups in the bank. It was also time to add a badge picture to the collection, for those who might be a bit confused, Burana is the well-known Finnish brand of Ibuprofen.
Nom Vietnamese Kitchen (Vietnamese) = 50 Pushups (Total 320)
Badge Pic #5 – 10 Hapkidos (Total 50)
The testing was held on Friday morning and we had Teemu, Heikki and Ville testing for 2nd Degree as well as Tommi testing for his 4th Degree. It went smoothly and the candidates would find out their results on the Saturday afternoon at the end of the seminar day. That afternoon it was more seminar time.
The Senior test group at Sisu
Helsinki weather was excellent
I had picked up some supplies from the local supermarket and had noticed that all the drink bottles now came with an annoying new feature. The EU had decided that all drink bottle caps must be connected to the bottles, so if you just want to screw off the cap and drink you need to dodge the cap as its going to be in the way. I imagine I will be enjoying some crushed lips as I continue my travels across Europe.
Connected in the all the wrong places
It was time for the weekend seminars, and we moved to Myllypuro and the sport centre there, which actually was the very first place I taught in 2001. Lots of memories here. The room was basically the same, but at least there were new mat covers. KSN Eija actually brought in an old newspaper article from my first visit, she was very careful to make sure I didn’t pilfer it for the IHA library, at least I got a photo.
On the Myllypuro Mats
Visit #1
At the end of the day I had the pleasure of presenting some promotions and welcomed our 3 new 2nd Degree Black Belts, KSN’s Teemu, Ville and Heikki as well as our newest 4th Degree SBN Tommi. I also had a surprise in hand with Head Instructor recognition for SBN Pertsa, who said Finns don’t show emotion?
Congratulations Team Finland
That night we headed off to a Viking restaurant to celebrate and as I wasn’t actually sure where the food originated from it didn’t go into the Challenge list. It was a good time to relax with the local seniors and of course grab another Badge picture.
Badge Pic #6 – 10 Hapkidos (Total 60)
Sunday was the final seminar day for Finland this trip and lots of pain was shared as I wrapped up the day with a couple of my most favourite locks. It was also a chance to get yet another badge picture and recognise KSN Heikki on earning his IHA Senior Instructor promotion.
Finland Seminar Group
Senior Instructor – KSN Heikki
Badge Pic #7 – 10 Hapkidos (Total 70)
Another excellent visit with Team Finland and I was off to the airport for a short hop across to Norway.
Hmm, is that a restaurant I should try?
Flight #3 – Helsinki to Oslo on AY913 (Finnair Embraer E90) – 765km
An easy flight into Norway and SBN Erik picked me up for the ride into town, a smooth check in to what is now the official Hapkido hotel the Thon Opera and all was good. I had the night spare so a chance to wander around, get my steps done and soak up some Oslo, it was raining, and I told SBN Erik that I brought good weather, amazingly it cleared up until the day I left. Now I do get to have some amazing meals on my travels but of course more than not I am trying to find local places that are open at times that work with classes and seminars, so this trip will include some of those along with my first visit to the 3 Michelin starred Maaemo as a guest of SBN Erik.
Oslo #1 – A touch cloudy but it will clear up with some GM powers
Oslo #2 – Definitely not fine dining
Oslo #3 – Lots of the E scooters available here, but also a range of E bikes, all charging and ready
Oslo #4 – Looks like a clear day in Oslo
Monday was a free evening, and Tuesday I was on the mats with KJN Carlos and SBN Erik working on his requirements for the Instructors Course. We got a number of techniques locked down (pardon the pun) and wrapped up in the early afternoon with plans to meet for the 3 Michelin star dinner
Oslo #5 – Maaemo (Norwegian 3 Michelin Star) = 65 Pushups (Total 385)
Badge Pic #8 – 10 Hapkidos (Total 80)
The food was excellent, the service over the 16 courses was on point as you would expect in a 3-star restaurant. A surprise was that the head chef Jay was Australian, so we got a few chances to chat. We also noticed that we got a lot of extra wine during the evening, hey, there are times it is good to bump into a fellow Aussie. Needless to say, it was a great night, and I am very thankful that SBN Erik wanted to drag me along and tick this off his bucket list.
Mamma Pizza (Italian) = 50 Pushups (Total 435)
Oslo #6 – Fresh baked heart attacks at the petrol/e-charge station
Oslo #7 – A night view of Oslo
So during the week I got to enjoy some mat time with the local students during their normal classes on Tuesday/Thursday and spend mat time with the seniors on Wednesday/Friday with KSN Satu from Finland dropping in for the Friday class. It was a surprise to hear that the ITS Ghost KSN Tony from Minnesota was also going to be in town for 3 days as well. He planned to do 1 day of sight seeing and 2 days of Hapkido, good to see he had his priorities right. So with 2 seniors dropping in for some training it was a surprise when that number went to 3, CGN Brad was actually visiting nearby Sweden and also made the track over to join the fun, so it truly became an International weekend.
Oslo #8 – Looks like a seminar is happening
Oslo #9 – The IHA Black Belt team (4.5 countries)
Oslo #10 – One of the seminar groups
It was a good couple of days on the mats, not only with the IHA team but with the random other Hapkido and Taekwondo people who dropped in. A whole host of topics and everyone enjoyed the range of pain. SBN Erik made sure to keep everyone fed during the lunches and even put on a home cooked dinner for a casual gathering after the seminar on Saturday.
Oslo #11 – The Harbour at night
Oslo #12 – Looking across the Harbour
Oslo #13 – Evening wanderings
Badge Pic #9 – 10 Hapkidos (Total 90)
On the Sunday after the seminar wrapped up, I got the chance to present SBN Erik with his official IHA Instructor recognition. He had been working on the signatures over the last year and managed to complete them during the week. Excellent work sir!
Instructor – SBN Erik
Oslo #14 – Interesting offerings on the Breakfast buffet
Oslo #15 – A chuckle before leaving Norway
SBN Erik picked CGN Brad and I up for the early run into the airport, a smooth ride to finish up another good visit with the Vikings. Plans are already underway for 2025 as I have been invited to teach at a couple of different summer camps here. I will be working on those over the coming months to see if we can make the travels fit in with ITS #10.
Flight #4 – Oslo to Riga on BT152 (Baltic A220-300) – 1000km
The flight was smooth with Air Baltic who only fly the A220 and the service on the flight was good. My bags came out quickly and I used the local Car hire app Bolt to get into the old town for my hotel. Luckily they checked me in early, so I dropped my bags and did what you always do when arriving into a new country. Found a nearby laundromat and got some washing done. Over the next day and half I got the chance to enjoy some good meals, see some of the old town sights and get a feel for Riga. A quick but enjoyable visit. Overall Riga had a mix of old school Europe but also with tints of the Russian time, still a little of that dark cloud showing in the buildings, etc.
Riga #1 – I was looking for a coffee…
Riga #2 – Maybe they have coffee?
Riga #3 – Hmm Bacon!
Riga #4 – National Art Museum
Riga #5 – Freedom Monument
Riga #6 – I am going with its a Church
Riga #7 – Yup a church, many here, this one has a cool story, ask me about it.
Riga #8 – In case you forgot where I was.
Riga #9 – Wandering around old town
Lido (Latvian) = 50 Pushups (Total 485)
Badge Pic #10 – 10 Hapkidos (Total 100)
I am enjoying flying with a new airline Air Baltic
Flight #5 – Riga to Vilnius on BT343 (Baltic A220-300) – 275km
The flight was smooth and short, just 40 minutes in the air. Even in that small window I watched the flight attendants give business class a meal, coffee and tea as well as drinks for everyone else, as well as clean up before landing. Very efficient, all while staying friendly to the normal Airline dementia that happens when people travel. I got my bags but noticed both had dents, someone must have been tossing them around, luckily being made of the Cosmolite they simply popped back into shape no worse for wear. I quick Bolt (Uber) into my hotel and the travelling for the day was a wrap.
Dinged Bags
Vilnius #1 – The hotel was once a monastery
Vilnius #2 – I had to chuckle at the coffee brand
Nineteen18 (Baltic) = 50 Pushups (Total 535)
Vilnius #3 – Gothic church around the corner from my hotel
Vilnius #4 – Another church across the street from my hotel
Vilnius #5 – Sight Seeing, and guess what, another church!
Vilnius #6 – The main square
Vilnius #7 – A look from the old town tower 1
Vilnius #8 – A look from the old town tower 2
Vilnius #9 – A look from the old town tower 3
Vilnius #10 – A totally automatic store, the ultimate self-service market
Challenge Combo! – Calo do Porto (Portuguese) = 50 Pushups (Total 585) & Badge Pic #11 – 10 Hapkidos (Total 110)
Vilnius #11 – The KGB Museum
Dziaugsmas (Lithuanian) = 50 Pushups (Total 635)
Vilnius #12 – Too early to be going to the airport, but the hotel grounds look good
Vilnius #13 – Dyson, the integrated water/dryer is smart – Vilnius Airport
I enjoyed Lithuania, the style was a little more on the Baroque style and felt quite different to Latvia. The people seemed friendly that I dealt with, the food that I had was all good and walking around to check out the sights was easy and felt safe. Like Latvia it is a small country, Latvia has less than 2M population and Lithuania just under 3M. So time to wave goodbye and grab the somewhat early Bolt to the airport for my next flight into Amsterdam. Back on the Hapkido road this weekend with Team IHA Netherlands.
Flight #6 –Vilnius to Amsterdam on BT961 (Baltic A220-300) – 1370k
Netherlands #1 – It is always easy to know when you are flying over the Netherlands, Windmills galore
Netherlands #2 – The sign seemed to show efficiency in how they handled baggage
Another good flight with Baltic, the last one for this trip, and I take the walk to baggage claim where the sign tells me the waiting time, one bag pops up very early and then, then, then… Well then the conveyor belt stops and the sign says all bags delivered. I load up the Samsung Smart Tag tracker and my bag is in the country sitting somewhere near the tarmac, after talking to the lost luggage lady and having her forward my tracking picture, the bag is located, and I meet up with CGN’s Ron and Jelle for the drive to Eindhoven.
Bombay Street food (Indian) = 50 Pushups (Total 685)
Netherlands #3 – Another nice day, this time in Eindhoven in the south of The Netherlands
I grab lunch with the local Black Belts before we meet up for the night’s Sun Bae training and I get a chance to spend some time with the local senior-coloured belts. In the morning I found a nearby café that purported to have stolen/learnt how to make good coffee in Australia, it was also my chance see if I could find some good Freakin’hell (Fikandel), well that was my nickname after some previous attempts. I was pleasantly surprised, the coffee was some of the best I have had in Europe and the Dutch snack, quite tasty, a good start to the day.
Zwartwit Koffie (Dutch) = 50 Pushups (Total 735)
After a good start to the morning it was the turn of the local kids and they get a chance to play with some of the Flex weaponry skills (Belt). I think some like being launched across the Dojang into the crash pad, not sure the parents watching did, or maybe they wanted to do the launching. In the afternoon I had the chance to visit a nearby Army Museum, this weekend was also the local anniversary of liberation when the American paratroopers had helped the locals get liberated from the German occupation during World War 2. During the whole visit there were different planes flying over and lots of shows, light displays and people dressed up.
Netherlands #4 – Some of the local kids who survived the launchings
Badge Pic #12 – 10 Hapkidos (Total 120)
Netherlands #5 – Army Museum 1
Netherlands #6 – Army Museum 2
Netherlands #7 – Army Museum 3
Netherlands #8 – Army Museum 4
Badge Pic #13 – 10 Hapkidos (Total 130)
Netherlands #9 – The Dutch team found some cheap no frill flights to the ITS!
Netherlands #10 – The signs say no bikes, but it is a purpose build bike lane = confused Dutch
After the museum and a walk around the area, I have been dragging the locals into my stepping, with a mission to do 10k steps every day, which can be challenging with travelling. I was also surprised by SBN Marcel and CGN Ron as they had planned a very nice meal for the evening at a local Michelin level restaurant, even better that it was a food type I had yet to use for the Challenge. It was a very nice meal combined with good company for an excellent evening.
Odille (French) = 50 Pushups (Total 785)
The next morning it was the seminar day, and we had some of SBN Marcel’s students along with a visit from Master Henrie, BSBN Andre and one of their students. On the topic list was an overview of how weapon concepts work across all types, adding strikes to locks using the release motion, how to kick, kicking and striking reflex drills and reversals. It was a small group, but they all worked hard, wrapping up the day with a nice meal at a local restaurant. During my visit I also got the chance to talk with a few of the locals about the ITS and it looks like a team of about 10 will be joining us from The Netherlands. The next morning I grabbed the Intercity train from Eindhoven to Amsterdam airport for my first flight into Madrid, with a 5 hour layover I got the chance to get the trip report up to date before the Spanish visit.
Flights #7 & #8 –Amsterdam to Madrid on I2 3723 (Iberia Express A320) and Madrid to Seville on IB 3948 (Iberia A320) – 1858km
The flights were smooth, my luggage arrived, and I headed out to be met by the Spanish contingent, it was good to see a few Black Belts at the airport to say hello, it always kicks off the visit well, especially when one is holding a fresh coffee. Sometimes it is the smaller things that make a difference and yes, I realise Coffee is not one of the smaller things, it is simply a requirement of life, lol.
Seville #1 – Airport team
From the airport we headed into the city to grab a team dinner and catch up. This trip I was getting a treat with a much nicer hotel, staying in the Eurostars Torre, for those who went to the ITS it is the tallest building in Seville near the mall where we all met at Starbucks.
Seville #2 – Eurostars Torre Hotel
Seville #3 – The view from my room on the 28th floor
The next morning it was time to enjoy some original Spanish food with Churros from Breakfast, there are a couple of types here, we tried both, of course dipped in thick Hot Chocolate. Not sure it is what I would normally have for breakfast, but as a change it was worth the visit. This shop is a local institution being in the same family for 80+ years. After breakfast it was time for some walking and a chance to visit another tourist spot I hadn’t before. The Torre del Oro or Golden tower of Seville, built in the 13th century it sits on the river’s edge.
Kiosko de Churros de la Macarena (Spanish) = 50 Pushups (Total 835)
Seville #4 – A view from the Torro del Oro
Seville #5 – Another view from the Torro del Oro
Restaurant Moon (Korean) = 50 Pushups (Total 885)
Lunch was at what is the only real Korean restaurant in the city, before the drive out to start the seminar training. Over the next week I would be teaching several classes in 4 different Dojangs, the little kids, the middle kids, the senior kids/adults and eventually a class for the parents. It met some driving time in between as sometimes the classes would be at different locations on each night, still a good way to meet as many of the local students as possible. Some of the provisional testing group would be tagging along to complete their pushup challenge as well as help out with coffees and being crash dummies. KJN Jose had asked the parents what topic for the little kids and Belt self defence beat Mediation by 1 vote, so a Poh Bak Sul it was for the younger kids. On the first night after the Sun Bae I also had the change to run a senior test for CGN Julian as he tested for 2nd Degree, he will get to enjoy the wait over the week and find out his results at the final dinner.
Badge Pic #14 – 10 Hapkidos (Total 140)
Seville #6 – Colourful kids’ group
Seville #7 – A view of the wonderful weather and river
Now being on the road means dealing with all types of challenges but today I was faced with a new one. Local café con leche (coffee with milk) can be hit or miss, so I resort to Starbucks for my morning hit, well I got that hit in spades this time. As I stepped out of the door sipping my coffee I was rudely interrupted by a young local on an E-scooter doing about 20kmh. Let’s just say my coffee tried to go into orbit, my face met the earth, and a moment later as I stood up the local left the area as fast as he could. A few abrasions, knee, chin, nose and a quick check to see if anything was bleeding before quickly walking to meet KJN Jose for seminars, no time to enjoy the injuries.
We interrupt our normally scheduled trip report transmission for the following short story:
Some heroes are born as the last son of their planet, some of the loss of their parents, others through scientific experiments! But the little known El Scootaro seems to be borne of a unique trauma, changed forever, a lonely vigilante, prowling the nights streets looking for retribution on all those miscreant E scooter riders. His powers are vast but unknown, his identity a closely guarded secret but what little we know is that he is powered by caffeine. So wherever there are E Scooters be aware of the mark of Scootaro (something like Zorro) but more like an S!
Seville #8 – El Scootaro!
It seemed like my scooter incident got some traction (pardon the pun) with the locals and developed a life of its own. Now back to our normal trip report. I did have a window open for a nice lunch and whilst unable to secure a booking at either of the local Michelin 1-star restaurants did manage to enjoy the tasting menu at one of the others that were listed in the Michelin Guide. There are only 2 restaurants locally with 1 star, we enjoyed one as a special event at the ITS here. I will endeavour to visit the other one on a future visit. The seminars continued with 3-4 each day and everyone was working hard, it was a good time to visit as the weather also hovered around the low 20’s (Celsius) and it was enjoyable not just doing classes but walking around the area.
12 Tapas (Andalucian) = 50 Pushups (Total 935)
Seville #9 – The local area is known for growing Oranges & Olives, now they grow solar panels instead
Seville #10 – Simply Seville
Seville #11 – A view from the Hotel
Seville #12 – KJN Jose’s new Dojang
Seville #13 – Seminar Group
Seville #14 – Seminar Group
One of the nights after class the local students all brought in some food to share, I was lucky as not only did I get to try some amazing home cooking, Mucho Gracias to KSN Paula’s Gran, best dish I have had in Spain, I also got to enjoy my favourite desert. One of the local Provisionals has some cooking skills as well and had found out I like Lemon/Sugar crepes, so I had the chance to enjoy those on a couple of occasions, converting some of the locals as well after they tried them, Gracias CGN Toni.
Seville #15 – Parents Seminar Group
It was time to wrap up the week on a high and the last night featured the spirit test, tonight there were 4 candidates “The Four Pillars”. I am very pleased to welcome 4 new first degree Black Belts into the IHA family, and later that evening at the Celebration dinner also to promote our newest 2nd Degree KSN Julian. It was a great way to cap off an excellent week with Team Espana, and plans should see them bringing a team of 10+ to the ITS next year. The UNO challenge might return.
Seville #16 – Congratulations to the new Black Belts
Seville #17 – Congratulations KSN Julian
It was an early morning for the drive to the airport and today I get to try out a new airline, Transavia, which is the low coast offshoot of the Dutch flag carrier KLM. At the airport I was met again by a group of the local Black Belts to make sure I left, oops, I mean say bon voyage.
Seville #18 – Transavia, I read it as Transylvania…
Seville #19 – Zone 1 gets on first, maybe Zone 99 has to chase the plane down the runway to board..
Flights #9 & #10 – Seville to Amsterdam on HV 6732 (Transavia A321neo) and Amsterdam to Helsinki on KL 1253 (KLM A320) – 3353km
It was a smooth flight on Transavia, I was in the 2nd last row and ended up with a spare seat between me the next guy so a change to spread out on the 2.5-hour flight. A short connection in Amsterdam for my next flight on the totally full KLM flight into Helsinki, this flight made up for the good luck, I had one of the worlds larger human beings sitting in the centre seat next to me this time. I checked into a hotel near the airport for 2 nights to eventually meet my Finnair flight into the USA.
Finland #1 – Coffee anyone?
So with 1 free day at a Airport Hotel in Finland, which equals lunch with Master Tapio, Video signatures for the team testing in Mexico, this trip report update and then dinner with Master Adrian and BSBN Mira.