Janis, kitesurf instructor traveling the world with Kit

“Oh, how beautiful is Panama,” Janosch knew that early on and with this story shaped the reputation of this paradise. After a very entertaining car ride, during which our driver Ali raved about his beloved Panama and greatly extended my to-watch list, I arrived at our spot. It was night; I felt the 20 knots blowing around my nose and saw that surreal starry sky for the first time.

Early the next morning, wide awake from jet lag, I left my room and stood right at the spot. The sun rose, the wind blew, and I set up my 12m kite and enjoyed my first session in this heavenly lagoon at sunrise. A little exhausted from kiting and lack of sleep, I sat down in the beach restaurant and recharged with coffee, an açaí bowl, and a dreamy ocean view. “Not too shabby,” I thought in true German fashion and understood why the Panameños love their country so much.

After a few days I found my perfect daily rhythm: early-bird session at sunrise, two hours of teaching, a sensational Arroz Chaufa for lunch, then a short siesta and back on the water in the afternoon when the wind picked up again. On weekends, when the locals came to show their skills, we usually did a small downwinder to a deserted lagoon and ended the day at sunset with a beer.

Since joining KiteWorldWide I had never been on the water so much or learned so quickly. Flat water, steady wind, and a great team made it possible.

My first Christmas at 30 degrees felt unusual, but with a Santa hat while kiting, “Feliz Navidad” on the speakers, and a festive menu, the mood set in quickly.

New Year’s is usually just another day for me, but not here… A six-course menu kicked off the evening, and the live music and good vibes of our singer Cesar got the place buzzing. After dinner, the DJ conquered the dance floor under the open starry sky with a mix of reggaeton and electro. Feliz Año – that’s how to start a new year… If there was ever no wind, we grabbed a driver and headed to a hidden waterfall or canyon for cliff jumping. The sunrise hike up the mountain of Punta Chame wasn’t a first choice for a self-confessed night owl, but once at the top, with views over Panama, the early alarm was instantly forgotten.

Food to me isn’t just sustenance; ideally it’s an experience of seductive fresh-spice aromas, bold roasty notes, varied textures, and lots of love. Panamanian cuisine is primarily fried fish, patacones, rice, and beans. Not really a highlight in my eyes. Luckily, the station’s owner, Florian, took inspiration for his kitchen from his travels. If a menu in Germany listed Phad Thai, wraps, Arroz Chaufa, pasta, pizza, fish, Thai curry, and risotto, I’d usually be skeptical. But chef Franklin and his crew season and prepare every dish perfectly—I was in culinary heaven. THANK YOU!

Food trucks are yesterday—fruit trucks are the hit in Panama. Giant passion fruit, juicy pineapples, sweet bananas, and soft mangoes roll in when Juan rounds the corner honking in his old truck. Coconuts are cracked by the roadside, pineapples grow in the forests, and cashew fruit and mangoes drop from the trees. Now I get Janosch and say: “Oh, how beautiful is Panama!”

At the end of the season I had to admit my to-watch list was overly optimistic with almost 90% wind days. Looks like I’ll have to come back. Well, there are worse fates.

Bye-bye, Panama – thank you…

Hardly was the season in Panama over when the wind on Kos started blowing.

Mastichari was my first station with KiteWorldWide, and I instantly fell in love with this little fishing village, its people, and the incredibly empty spot.

After a long drive through Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, I finally reached my destination by ferry. My first stop was the Aplo Bar, where Giorgos greeted me with a big smile and a warm hug. It was supposed to be a quick coffee, but as so often in Greece, that didn’t happen. After a fried feta, shrimp saganaki, and a great chat, I left my favorite bar and my favorite Greek.

My stroll through the picturesque village was repeatedly interrupted by warm greetings: “Yassu Jani, kala?”, to which I could only reply with my few Greek phrases. Everyone laughed and invited me for a coffee. It felt like coming home. The incredible warmth and hospitality won me over from the start.

Unlike Panama, days here started later and more relaxed. After breakfast we’d check the flag at the spot each morning and decide whether to hit the water or enjoy another coffee with that dreamy sea view.

For me, Mastichari is the perfect mix of kite, relaxation, and adventure. A beautiful beach with only one kite school is rare. Add the luxury of great cafés and restaurants right nearby for a quick refuel. If there’s no wind in Mastichari, there’s usually some in Marmari. Then the fire truck gets loaded with kites, boards, and all the essentials—and off we go.

Besides jumping and wipeouts, watching the many huge sea turtles cruising off the beaches was definitely my favorite pastime. After a great kite day, tradition called for one or two Mythos at the station at sunset to kick off the evening. After a quick refresh at the accommodation, outstanding Greek food awaited. Traditionally, the table fills with many small dishes (mezedes) and everyone eats what they like.

What every hip restaurant in Germany tries—brutally local—Savvas has been doing for decades in his Traditional House. He’s on his farm in the morning tending vegetables and animals, and in the evening he’s in the kitchen conjuring traditional dishes. That’s how the KiteWorldWide night was celebrated too. Once a week EVERYTHING was ordered, from stuffed zucchini blossoms to the homemade tsipouro—that’s Greece.

But even the best season ends sometime. In early November it was back to Germany.

After a short break back home, the next destination is already waiting for me: Sri Lanka.

When KiteWorldWide asked if I wanted to go to Sri Lanka, I said “yes” before they could finish the question. The radiant island is my absolute favorite destination and still a nearly undiscovered gem in the Indian Ocean.

Arriving in Colombo and escaping the cold German weather, I was warmly welcomed by our driver Lakshita and a pleasant 28 degrees. On the way to the station we stopped for a bite, and I finally got my long-awaited rice & curry.

The welcome at the KiteWorldWide Lagoon Lodge and the kite station was as overwhelming as the view. Small fishing boats among the mangroves and a few kites shared the water. I soaked it in until I dozed off peacefully in my hammock, realizing I’d arrived in paradise.

On the first evening, the incredibly friendly cook Lucia asked if I was hungry. “A little,” I said—but that seems subjective here. Dal curry, papaya salad, tuna, rice, and papadam—that’s a small bite here… Luckily, the wind was good the next day to burn off the calories.

I’m excited for a year at this dreamy kite spot, with these wonderfully friendly people—and plenty of rice & curry!