dipl. ing. građ. – fizika zgrade, putopisi i svijet inženjerskim okom
Vanja Keindl
Diplomirana inženjerka građevinarstva iz Zagreba. Bavim se fizikom zgrade: energetskim certifikatima, toplinskom zaštitom, zaštitom od buke i termografijom, a vodim ured KEINDL BAU. Ovdje pišem o putovanjima i građevinama koje sam vidjela inženjerskim okom.
Civil engineer from Zagreb, working in building physics and energy efficiency. Travel stories through an engineer’s eyes, in Croatian and English.
Vanja Keindl: Hong Kong me fascinira već desetljećima. Kao inženjerka koja je prije trideset godina radila u Kini i sedam puta posjetila grad, sada ga ponovno promatram kroz osobni i profesionalni pogled. Grad spaja preciznost, dinamiku i kreativnost u svakom neboderu, a vertikalni razvoj čini ga jedinstvenim u svijetu.
Kao inženjerka, fascinira me kako grad funkcionira kao živi sustav: promet, gradnja, energija i ljudi rade u savršenom ritmu. Svaka nova zgrada pokazuje preciznost i promišljeni dizajn. Povratak nakon trideset godina omogućuje mi usporedbu tadašnjeg i sadašnjeg razvoja grada.
Grad sada gledam drugačijim očima. Tada sam tražila rješenja, danas razumijem sustav koji ih stvara. Hong Kong arhitektura ostaje moj omiljeni fokus jer pokazuje spoj tehničke preciznosti i ljudske upornosti.
🎈 A sky without engines: the magic of hot air ballooning in Cappadocia
Series: Journeys in the Sky
A hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia is something special. After thousands of miles spent in aeroplanes, the balloon showed me a completely different way of travelling through the sky. No engine, no rush and no seatbelt — just trust in the wind and the moment.
A balloon flight is not just a ride. It is meditation in the air. The moment the basket lifts off the ground, everything that usually keeps you firmly on the earth — noise, thoughts, obligations — simply goes quiet. You are left alone with yourself, the sky and a view that stretches for kilometres.
Cappadocia at dawn: a silence that speaks
Cappadocia_BalloonsVanja Keindl_Cappadocia at dawnVanja Keindl_Cappadocia
In Cappadocia
A balloon does not race, it does not cut through the clouds, it does not try to shout over the wind. It gives itself over to it. It is a lesson in trust — in nature, in the rhythm of the day and in life itself.
🎈 Nebo bez motora: čarolija letenja balonom u Kapadokiji
Serija: Putovanja nebom
Letenje balonom u Kapadokiji poseban je doživljaj. Nakon tisuća milja provedenih u avionima, balon mi je otkrio potpuno drugačiji način putovanja nebom. Bez motora, bez žurbe i bez sigurnosnog pojasa — samo povjerenje u vjetar i trenutak.
Let balonom nije samo vožnja. To je meditacija u zraku. U trenutku kad se košara odvoji od tla, sve što te inače drži čvrsto na zemlji — buka, misli, obaveze — jednostavno utihne. Ostaneš sam sa sobom, nebom i pogledom koji se širi kilometrima daleko.
Kapadokija u zoru: tišina koja govori
Kapadokija_BaloniVanja Keindl_Kapadokija u zoruVanja Keindl_Kapadokija
U Kapadokiji
Balon ne juri, ne reže oblake, ne nadvikuje vjetar. On mu se prepušta. To je lekcija iz povjerenja — u prirodu, u ritam dana i u sam život.
✈️ Love of the sky: why I love aeroplanes and airports
Travel is my way of life. These days you can hardly travel without thinking of an airport.
Series: Journeys in the Sky
Hong Kong airport
For me, airports are not just places of departure and arrival, but points where the world crosses paths. In them I see the culture, discipline and rhythm of every country. I watch the architecture of the terminals, how the traffic is organised, the way people wait, move and greet each other. They are small worlds that reflect the face of a civilisation.
The view through the window – my favourite screen
The view from the aeroplane
While others on the plane look for a film or some sleep, I look out of the window. I love the moment when the plane slowly picks up speed and the ground disappears beneath us. Watching the clouds from above, knowing you are between two worlds — that is an experience that never gets old.
Flying has taught me patience, observation and trust. Above all, it has reminded me how small we are, and yet how able to reach incredible heights when we believe we can take off — literally and figuratively.
The next chapter – a sky without engines 🎈
Vanja Keindl: Balloons
And when I want to experience the sky in a completely different way, without noise and rush — there are balloons. I will write about that silence and the magic of a balloon flight in the next post.
✈️ Ljubav prema nebu: zašto volim avione i zračne luke
Putovanja su moj način života. Putovanje je danas nemoguće izvesti a da ne pomislimo na zračnu luku.
Serija: Putovanja nebom
Zračna luka Hong Kong
Zračne luke za mene nisu samo mjesta polazaka i dolazaka, već točke presjeka svijeta. U njima vidim kulturu, disciplinu i ritam svake zemlje. Promatram arhitekturu terminala, organizaciju prometa, način na koji ljudi čekaju, kreću se, pozdravljaju. To su mikrokozmosi koji odražavaju lice civilizacije.
Pogled kroz prozor – moj najdraži ekran
Pogled iz aviona
Dok drugi u avionu traže film ili spavanje, ja gledam kroz prozor. Volim taj trenutak kad avion polako ubrzava, a zemlja nestaje ispod nas. Gledati oblake s visine, znati da si između dva svijeta — to je doživljaj koji nikad ne zastari.
Letenje me naučilo strpljenju, promatranju i povjerenju. A iznad svega, podsjetilo me koliko smo mali, a istodobno sposobni dosegnuti nevjerojatne visine kad vjerujemo u mogućnost uzleta — doslovno i metaforički.
Sljedeće poglavlje – nebo bez motora 🎈
Vanja Keindl: Baloni
A kad poželim doživjeti nebo na potpuno drugačiji način, bez buke i žurbe — tu su baloni. O toj tišini i magiji letenja balonom pisat ću u sljedećem postu.
Vietnam may not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think of luxury, but its coastal resorts surprise you with a mix of opulence and simplicity.
As I promised in my previous post, I’m now adding a few beautiful photos that can make us forget everything I’ve written about so far.
Among experienced travellers it’s well known that when you go there, you stay somewhere nice. (a luxury beachfront resort.)
Vanja Keindl: resort
Vanja Keindl: resort
Vanja Keindl: resort
A sea that smells of freedom
Vanja Keindl: a beach in Vietnam
Here the sea is more than scenery – it sets the rhythm of the day. Gentle in the morning, full of energy at noon, and in the evening it turns into a mirror of colours. Luxury isn’t only the sunbeds on white sand, but also the feeling that time stands still.
Culture and warmth
Behind the shiny resort façades lies what makes luxury in Vietnam special – the smile of your hosts. The service is attentive, but never intrusive. As a guest, you really feel part of the story.
Vanja Keindl: lobster
Still, real luxury isn’t the five stars above the entrance, but the five moments you take home with you – the morning quiet by the sea, the smell of a dish you’ve never tasted before, a smile that turns your day around, the feeling of being completely present somewhere, and the realisation that you need less for happiness than you thought.
Vijetnam možda nije prva destinacija koja pada na pamet kada se spomene luksuz, ali obalni resorti iznenađuju kombinacijom raskoši i jednostavnosti.
Kao što sam najavila u prošlom postu, sada dodajem malo lijepih fotografija, uz koje možemo zaboraviti sve o čemu sam do sada pisala.
Poznato je, naime- među iskusnim putnicima- kada se ide tamo, ide se u lijepi smještaj. (luksuzni resort uz obalu.)
Vanja Keindl:resort
Vanja Keindl: resort
Vanja Keindl: resort
More koje miriše na slobodu
Vanja Keindl: plaža u Vijetnamu
More je ovdje više od pejzaža – ono diktira ritam dana. Ujutro nježno, podne donosi energiju, a navečer se pretvara u zrcalo boja. Luksuz nije samo u ležaljkama na bijelom pijesku, nego i u osjećaju da vrijeme staje.
Kultura i srdačnost
Iza sjajnih fasada resorta krije se ono što luksuz u Vijetnamu čini posebnim – osmijeh domaćina. Usluga je pažljiva, međutim nikad nametljiva. Gost se tamo uistinu osjeća kao dio priče.
Vanja Keindl: lobster
Međutim, pravi luksuz nije u pet zvjezdica iznad ulaza, nego u pet trenutaka koje ponesete sa sobom – tišina ujutro uz more, miris jela koje nikad prije niste probali, osmijeh koji prelomi dan, osjećaj da ste negdje potpuno prisutni, kao i spoznaja da vam za sreću treba manje nego što ste mislili.
Central Vietnam is a short flight from Hong Kong. Long sandy beaches stretch along almost the whole coast.
Central Vietnam seen from the plane
Hoi An – my gateway to Vietnam
The old town along the Thu Bon River in Vietnam
I chose Hoi An as my gateway to Vietnam. I was looking for what China has lost today – an inner sense of freedom, lightness and room to grow. And I really did feel all of that being born in me (again). With its rhythm, its river, the sea and everyday life, this small town makes room for calm, reflection and inspiration.
A town between the river and the sea
The town lives between the Thu Bon River and the South China Sea. You can feel the Vietnamese energy: motorbikes are everywhere, carrying everyday life. It’s hard to imagine Vietnam without them.
The river is full of boats. The round ones interest me most. They are also called “basket boats”, and clever fishermen came up with them during French colonial rule to avoid the tax on boats. They are also easy to carry on your back. Fishermen still use them today, and tourists love them too.
Vietnam_Hoi An
Vanja Keindl: Hoi An
History and culture
You can feel history in every corner. Once an important trading port in central Vietnam, for centuries the town was a meeting place of cultures and peoples – Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, French and local Vietnamese. Its streets, pagodas and wooden houses tell the story of a rich past. But the town isn’t static – it lives, mixing tradition and everyday life.
Chinese temple in Hoi AnThe Japanese Bridge in Hoi An
The magic of lanterns and a sense of freedom
With the river, the boats and the motorbikes, I felt the particular rhythm of Hoi An. Everyday routines and rituals, like lighting the lanterns in the evening, create a fairy-tale feeling. The lanterns swaying above the river give a sense of intimacy and magic. That’s how the town feels both energetic and meditative at the same time.
Vanja Keindl: Hoi An
Local life and the expat experience
Today the town is also home to a small but active expat community. Many come looking for a slower pace of life, to work on creative projects, learn to cook local dishes or start small businesses. You often find yourself chatting with one of the expats in a café or a co-working space. That gives the town extra energy and a sense of connection.
Women meet every Tuesday in the same place
In short, Hoi An isn’t only something to look at. The town invites you to slow down, feel and observe. That is exactly what I was looking for when I came to Vietnam – a place where the sense of freedom, creativity and room to grow comes back.
What is it like in a luxury resort? – read in the next post
Središnji Vijetnam dostupan je kratkim letom iz Hong Konga. Duge pješčane plaže tamo se protežu duž gotovo cijele obale.
Pogled na središnji Vijetnam iz aviona
Hoi An – moja vrata u Vijetnam
Stari grad oko rijeke Thu Bon u Vijetnamu
Odabrala sam Hoi An kao svoja vrata u Vijetnam. Tražila sam ono što je Kina danas izgubila –unutarnji osjećaj slobode, lakoću i prostor za rast. I uistinu, osjetila sam kako se sve to (ponovno) rađa u meni. Taj mali grad svojim ritmom, rijekom, morem i svakodnevnim životom otvara prostor za mir, refleksiju i inspiraciju.
Grad između rijeke i mora
Grad živi između rijeke Thu Bon i Južnog kineskog mora. Osjeća se vijetnamska energija: motori su posvuda i prevoze svakodnevni život. Teško je zamisliti Vijetnam bez njih.
Rijeka je puna čamaca. Mene zanimaju oni okrugli. Nih zovu još i “basket boats”, a osmislili su ih dosjetljivi ribari u doba francuske kolonijalne uprave kako bi izbjegli porez na plovila. A lako ih je i nositi na leđima. Ribari ih i danas koriste, a jako su atraktivni i za turiste.
Vijetnam_Hoi An
Vanja Keindl: Hoi An
Povijest i kultura
Povijest se tamo osjeća u svakom kutku. Nekada važna trgovačka luka u središnjem Vijetnamu, grad je stoljećima bio mjesto susreta kultura i naroda – Kineza, Japanaca, Portugalaca, Francuza i domaćih Vijetnamaca. Njegove ulice, pagode i drvene kuće pričaju priču o bogatoj prošlosti. Međutim, grad nije statičan – živi, miješa tradiciju i svakodnevicu.
KIneski hram u Hoi AnuJapanski most u Hoi Anu
Čarolija lampiona i osjećaj slobode
Uz rijeku, čamce i motore osjetila sam specifičan ritam Hoi Ana. Svakodnevne rutine i rituali, poput paljenja lampiona navečer, stvaraju bajkovit dojam. Lampioni koji se njišu nad rijekom daju osjećaj intimnosti i čarolije. Tako grad djeluje i energično i meditativno istovremeno.
Vanja Keindl: Hoi An
Lokalan život i expat iskustvo
Grad je danas i mjesto gdje živi mala, ali aktivna expat zajednica. Mnogi dolaze tražiti mirniji tempo života, raditi na kreativnim projektima, učiti kuhati lokalna jela ili započeti male poslovne pothvate. Često se možete zateći u razgovoru s nekim od expata u kafiću ili radnom prostoru. To daje gradu dodatnu dinamiku i osjećaj povezanosti.
Sastanak žena svaki utorak na istom mjestu
Ukratko, Hoi An nije samo vizualni doživljaj. Grad vas poziva da usporite, osjetite i promatrate. Upravo to sam tražila kada sam stigla u Vijetnam – mjesto gdje se vraća osjećaj slobode, kreativnosti i prostora za rast.
Kako je u luksuznom resortu?- čitajte u slijedećem postu
After seeing Hong Kong again, I didn’t feel the need to go back to China. As I wrote earlier, I knew it was no longer the same country I once knew, so I decided to look for something else. Vietnam!
Choosing Vietnam
It wasn’t unexpected – I knew in advance that what I was looking for, what I had written about quite a lot before, I would no longer find in China.
The foreword Stipe Božić wrote for Vanja KeindlAn award to Vanja Keindl for her story about China
Instead, I decided to travel to Vietnam. Vietnam today is like China twenty-odd years ago. Not like thirty years ago, when I lived there, but still “better” than what China stands for now.
Vietnam today – energy and authenticity
The streets in Vietnam are full of life, and the smells of food and the sounds of everyday life bring back the spark I found in China long ago. It is a place that still carries a spirit of authenticity and simplicity.
Cities living to the full
A walk through Vietnamese cities shows a constant buzz – markets, streets and local restaurants have a special energy.
People and culture
Vietnam’s greatest treasure is its people. Their warmth, their smiles and their simple approach to life make a traveller feel welcome and safe.
Conclusion – travelling with a new perspective
Sometimes we don’t need to go back to places that once mattered to us. Time changes them, and we change too. For me, Vietnam became a new perspective, a country that reminded me of what I once loved, but in a new, fresh form. And so I leave old memories behind and set off on new adventures – read about them soon!
