The Panther returns home to Cura�ao for vacation in the summer of 1998.

It felt good spending my summer vacation of 1998 home on the Caribbean island Cura�ao. I was back again with my parents for a few weeks. It was as if we were building up a lot together in my second life. With my sister and her partner I did a lot of things too: taking action-shots, sight-seeing the island and putting up this web site.

(At the bottom of this page, you will find a link to more pictures of this vacation.)

Cura�ao revisited.

I have been living in Groningen, The Netherlands, for 20 years now and it was great to visit Cura�ao again. But I had to get used to the small size of the island: about 60 kilometers long and 15 kilometers wide. The capital town Willemstad is small too. However, there are many interesting things to see. The colonial town has been put on the World Heritage List of the UNESCO in 1997 for its unique monumental buildings. Too bad, the nightlife in the city is a little dull.

All in all Cura�ao made a very familiar impression on me. People are relaxed in their work and they talk and eat a lot. Politics, as always, is omnipresent.

Cura�ao has so much to offer and there is so much to see on Cura�ao. Many different nationalities live together. The people are beautiful, the children are radiant and the music is special. Besides, it is nice and hot. I have been able to enjoy temperatures between 30 and 34 degrees Celsius - the average temperature throughout the year is about 27 degrees Celsius (85 degrees Fahrenheit).

Vacations are for training, too!

Vacations are good to really work on myself. I trained an hour a day, 6 days a week in Geoffrey's Gym, close to my parents' home. I worked consciously on the muscles of my legs, getting jumping power and balance. Also I paid attention to my abdominal muscles and to strengthening my shoulders.

I took several 6 kilometer walks with my sister and her partner in the evening on the 'Koredor' - a recreational beach boulevard. There you meet many people working on their bodies; apparently another favorite activity on the island.

TV is everywhere!

In the last week of my stay the 'relaxed' life was over. Some work came up: an old friend had asked me to appear in his children's TV-program 'Charlie the Clown'. Of course I said yes.

Whereas in The Netherlands, Europe, I always have pupils around me, who join me and assist me in showing things, this time I had to do everything alone.

All by myself I had to do a slow motion - I chose a slow kick. Furthermore I showed bits of the Monkey, the Eagle and a Stick form. For the first time since the car accident in 1995 I did a bit of the Drunkard.

A few days later I was in a talk show of Gonzalo Cuales on TV 11 chatting about my story, the accident and the rehabilitation.

For my television appearances I decided to go to a real barber again - a certain Djibi Djaba was recommended to me. Because of the thick scar across my head I had become a bit apprehensive of barbers. As Djibi Djaba was not in at the time, I was trimmed by a young latino barber who did the job quickly and professionally - evading my scar carefully.

Aikido.

Twice during my stay I went to Aikido Cura�ao. Sensei Frank Wong immediately recognized me and showed me a German Budo magazine with my picture in it. On the second day I joined the beginners' group. Wow, what patience is needed there: "tai zhe baki" all the time, falling, turning. Not just falling with your good leg out front, you should also be able to do the same thing with your "wrong" leg.

My brother Carl used to practice Aikido when he was studying at the university and I remembered how interested he was in Chin Na (Chinese subtle grasps) and Shuai Jiao (Chinese wrestling) techniques.

Unfortunately I have not been in touch with the Karatekas Dudley Josepha and Junior Millerson, as they were representing the Netherlands Antilles on the Pan American Games. Looking back I spent a wonderful time home on Cura�ao. Even though the island is now going thru a difficult time economically, the tourists keep coming; especially from The Netherlands, but also from the USA. They love the beaches, scuba diving and the scenery - not to forget the hospitality.

Salsa Music

During my stay there was a fantastic Salsa Festival. I also watched a Salsa dancing contest.

I enjoyed being with my relatives again. Simply working in the garden and doing some painting jobs. I enjoyed watching those typical Cura�ao animals like goats, iguanas and flamingos.

What an experience! I feel reborn.

The Panther of Cura�ao

29 August 1998