A short visit to one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a bittersweet experience for me: Würzburg!

So, I've completed the first 10,000 km from Frankfurt on my way back to the Odin.

While I wait here in Guazeng/China for a few more hours for my connecting flight to Manila, from where I will then fly to the Odin in Puerto Princesa, I reflect on my first short visit to Germany in 18 years.

The reason for this trip, as most of you know, was the funeral of my friend Rudi.

This long journey was important for me to say goodbye to him.

A funeral service with only close family and friends present.

This was the wish of his wife Anni and his son Alexander, who understandably suffer greatly from this loss.

Personally, I wish his family had had the strength to give all his friends and acquaintances the opportunity to say goodbye and celebrate the memory of this wonderful person. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people would surely have come to the funeral to celebrate Rudi's life and the wonderful memories of him with friendship and gratitude.

But everyone copes with the pain of loss in their own way, and so the decision to hold the funeral service in the closest circle is understandable.

This journey to Rudi's final resting place gave me personally the strength to leave my grief behind and simply be grateful for the memories and the time we shared that this precious friend gave me over all these decades.

Always look at the bright side of life.

This trip to Würzburg was a wonderful opportunity to meet friends and acquaintances whom I have known for decades and had not seen for almost 20 years.

Despite the long time that had passed, seeing good friends again felt like meeting just a week ago...so familiar...so natural, simply wonderful.

I was almost welcomed and spoiled as a "family member" by my long-time "Partner Crime" friend Kerstin Hillecke, her husband and her kids.

The same goes for my "Tomato Andrea" and her husband.

Thank you for your friendship and wonderful hospitality. I felt completely at ease.

I also met other dear friends and acquaintances with whom I used to go out on the town, and especially after many years "my two kids" Sarah and Phillip.

It was so wonderful to be able to hug and embrace loved ones again.

Even though the reason for this trip was painful and sad, it was indescribably beautiful to feel love and affection...and for me personally to see one of the most beautiful cities in the world again: Würzburg!

Yes, I know what you're thinking...and you're right! Those eight days were far too short, but Odin is still right in the middle of typhoon territory and December is still typhoon season, so I had to get back as quickly as possible to avoid any risks.

I would have loved to meet other dear long-time friends and acquaintances and drink a glass or two to Rudi and old friendships, but there wasn't enough time.

Please forgive me, dear friends, if I haven't been in touch or had to cancel appointments... you are not forgotten.