The Philippines Tarsier Foundation (PRFI) does great work preserving the habitat of these small gremlins.

The Dutch occupied the island of Curacao in 1634, founding the capital city Willemstad. Until 1954, the island remained under Dutch rule, after which it became an independent member of the Netherlands Antilles. As of October 2010, the Netherlands Antilles were dissolved making Curacao a full autonomous nation of this world.

Looks like Paris, feels differently familiar

The streets of Riga remind me somewhat of Paris but instead of true romance, there is true comfort. The one and the other are of course often intertwined but no one leans more to one other side than the pearl of the Baltic. I often wonder what the buildings would have looked like 100 years ago, 200 years ago or maybe even 500 years ago when the cathedrals were still copper colored and the pavements filled with carriages.

What if the copper colors were still there?

The best view is given from the St. Peter’s Church. It might only be 72 meters high, a height that many city lovers laugh about. But it’s more than enough.

St. Peter’s Church

What cities defied your default settings on what you love and what not? 

As flowers are so typical Dutch, there are some blossom events held every year. One of Europe’s greatest events takes place at the end of August every year in a small Dutch village called Zundert. Known as the Bloemencorso, this parade of flower decorated floats is amazing! I had a chance to visit it this year when showing around some friends from Russia. Check out some amazing pictures I shot there! Can you believe these amazing constructions are covered in real flowers?

Snap!

I found a dead beetle once in Malaysia, this looks rather alive!

Let’s fly out of here! Let’s start anew in a place when we travel there covered in flowers!

It’s really amazing how the floats in this parade reach above the houses. There is definitely no lack of creativity to be found as well. The below float won the price this year. It’s ingenuity lies in the hairs that go in and out of the monster’s ‘skin’ and the nails that grow, transforming the man into a beast.

Doesn’t sound so scary when you think about it. What? Yeah, a giant flowery man! Real scary!

What’d you think? Would you visit the Bloemencorso?

Here’s the thing. We write about our top 3 travel memories. The baton was passed on to me by A Chinese Nomad. So now I present to you, my top 3 travel memories!

Bronze: Thanksgiving in New York City

Many bloggers are American, so many might not find this so special. However, as a European mainlander, I find Thanksgiving a very intriguing holiday. For me, it’s something like Christmas, but a little different.

Thanksgiving in New York. To the locals, the skyline might seem like a skyline. To me, its lights are a sign of comfort

Why was this my number 3 experience? Well, for starters I had never experienced Thanksgiving before and to celebrate it in such a great city as New York was a privilege. Secondly, I had just broken up with my girlfriend and the heartwarming comfort of an upcoming holiday seemed to only depress me more. But New York, New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of, you have something that can heal any broken heart. There’s just something in the friendliness of New Yorkers, making you feel like you belong. And not to mention, the amazing lights of the skyline as seen from Brooklyn Bridge Park. Making you know you are meant for something great and that you are a part of something bigger.

Silver:. London Olympics 2012

You might now Jerick from 25travels. Well, he organized something amazing for me! The chance of a lifetime; to be a part of a sports event that’s global! And I love to be a part of something that’s global! Well, not a part of it, but to experience it.

Old Trafford. Amazement!

It was in Manchester where we saw the football match Japan – Egypt. And it might not sound like much, you wouldn’t guess the Japanese were kicking ass! Of course, the fact that you could be in Old Trafford is also something you have to experience! Unless of course you absolutely resent Manchester United, which I as a football fan of Feyenoord Rotterdam can totally understand. Please don’t make me go to the Amsterdam ArenA!! 

1. Junglerailway, Malaysia

This has to be the most epic adventure of my entire life! There’s nothing like embarking on a journey from the capital Kuala Lumpur, one of the most crowded places in the world, to the northern rainforest. As you embark on this journey, you pass by stations that are getting less and less sophisticated. After a while, all that’s left is a sign… You can read all about this adventure here. I wonder if the trains are still operational. When I went in 2009 they were already replacing some of the older trains, which I took of course, with express trains.

Well, there you have it! My top 3 travel experiences! I’m glad I could write these as I haven’t been as active as I was before. As my previous posts often indicate, I’m currently employed fulltime. Yes I know… So much for the travel… Not at all! I’m actually saving money for a next big trip and I will definitely let you all know how it’s going.

One of the most beautiful and life changing trips I have ever been on!

So… here I stand, stretching out to the line, taking a look at my next teammate. I swiftly hold the baton forward to pass it on and as I rush to the line I hand it over. I hand it over to nobody less than Charlotte of Blonde in the City. Good luck! And may Team Purple do great!

Every now and than I hate that I can’t go out for fried rice in the afternoon. Or that I cannot go to a mall after work because everything here closes so damn early. Sometimes, I get annoyed, irritated. And all I want to do is blow off some steam by going the weekend to Singapore. Maybe it’s all a luxury problem. But maybe my home country needs to learn something from a place where luxury is reduced, but people are a lot more happier and care-free. Here are some things I miss the most.

1. 24/7 Lifestyle

I already mentioned the going to the mall at night part. I know that my country is unique in its opening hours and they come from a ‘social’ time period. In this time somehow we decided that it was okay to have shops opened until 6pm. And on Sundays, shops are only open in major cities. And it’s not just the shops that are affected by this, it’s everything. Bars close at around 3 or 4, if open anyway. And you can only seem to get out of the house on Thursdays to Saturdays. My country revolves around the nine-to-five. How I miss that in Asia you could go out any day of the week. How you could still get a haircut at 8pm. It’s the little things. I would still be Skyping with home in a cafe with midnight approaching and I would always have enough energy to go to work the next day. Why doesn’t this work here? I don’t get it.

2. Beautiful Nature 

Listen to me Holland. Planting trees in a straight line might be good for our sustainability programs, but it’s not real nature. We have this program now where we create our own ecological foundation and let nature do the rest. The results are some crazy natural works of art, but they will always be partly man-made. It makes me miss the rain forest. Look at the picture above, that’s what I call real nature! It’s so beautiful and tranquil, and the greatest part is that wherever in South East Asia you are, it’s always very close!

3. Mountains

Drawing further on the beautiful nature of South East Asia, I also miss its hills and mountains. Of course, I miss mountains in general as The Netherlands is quite flat. Think flat like an outstretched farmland with nothing on the horizon but cows, windmills and blue sky. Oh yes I find this one of the most beautiful things of my country, but every now and then I wish I could just see a mountain in the distance.

4. Cultural Tolerance

Especially Malaysia has done this really well. It has a certain tolerance towards other cultures that make diversity so great! The mixed cuisine of Malaysia is the perfect example of this. It’s like different cultures respect each other through their food. Whenever I hear someone talking about burqa bans I miss that open mind. Holland used to be famous for its tolerance, now it just bashes on everything that could chance our surroundings. There are people who dislike everything foreign. Sometimes it makes me feel like they want apartheid back.

But South East Asia you do this so much better! Wherever in the world you come from, people are actually interested in your culture. People are interested in your country and your roots! Martin Jacques says this tolerance comes from the fact that unlike the West, these countries are not on top of the world ‘foodchain’. So to speak, the West has always been the economical power of the world, which has given us some denigrating looks toward the rest of the world. I really feel this needs to change because the feeling of trusts towards other people is so much higher in Asia than it is here in Europe.

5. Laidback & Care-Free

Laidback is often considered lazy. I tend to disagree. You can still get your work done if you do it a little more calm and with less stress. Sometimes, this actually works better on the tasks you need to perform. The constant rush and fear of deadlines, doing tasks well and whatever other people think of us is embedded deep within our way of being professional. One of the advantages I have experienced was working in Malaysia. Here I learned that by having faith in your own ability to do tasks well, you can do them calmly and with better result. And if you make a mistake, there is no need to worry about it because every problem has a solution. Confidence and staying calm was the key. In Holland, my confidence is constantly undermined and I feel more rushed than catching a subway in New York City… Side note; there is a difference between making fast decisions (thinking fast) than rushing into decisions! The latter is what we often tend to do here, the first is what is being done if it needs to be done in South East Asia. Or so is my experience.

Please, someone… Take me back to Asia. I notice that it might not be just South East Asia I miss, but it’s the fact that I’m getting irritated by being in my country for far too long. I have made myself a promise that once my current job hits the I-have-worked-here-one-year deadline, I’m going out. And with whatever money I have saved I will search for a better world out there.

I walked there, lots of steps! Made sure I brought enough water at the time, although I would make a mistake later on in life. The Batu Caves are an amazing sight and a holy pilgrimage for yourself. I always love walking stairs up a Thai temple. Or taking my legs to the next level at Hong Kong’s Peak. And what about the grottoes in The Philippines? Somehow, getting to a holy place always works best if you are a hiker. And just for these attractions, I am!

272 steps to the top!

The caves at the top look amazing, but are a bit overrated. Some nice shots can be taken especially when it’s crowded. Even though I agree everyone who goes to KL should visit the Batu Caves, don’t get too excited for its interior. Get excited for walking the stairs, the statue and all the monkeys! Monkeys are always fun.

The best time to visit the Batu Caves is during Thaipusam, a Hindu festival for which many people make a pilgrimage to these caves. Sometimes, the event draws more than a million people and is definitely not to be missed! Most famous for its heavy piercing creation! I haven’t been yet, but have an outstanding promise to return during Thaipusam some day.

I felt like I was getting old, like I wasn’t used to this lifestyle anymore. But I thought to myself, come on your 22 years old! This should be nothing! And nothing it was. It had nothing to do with getting old. When I got home I went to bed immediately. I slept through the day and the night. No food, no water, no nothing.

Then, it was Tuesday morning. I stepped out of bed and everything was turning. Hangover? I didn’t drink anything yesterday. My lips were rough and I saw the red around them. My stomach was empty so I decided to eat breakfast. It didn’t help, it made me feel even more miserable. Now I wasn’t just tired, I also felt nauseous. I needed to go to work but I was in no condition to drive my car. I decided to call in sick.

That day went terrible. Fights with friends and worries about the future. I slept through the day, again without eating and drinking. I had a cup of tea later which felt like heaven! When I woke up with a huge headache I realized something. I had been drinking alcohol all weekend. I was in Hungary, where Palinka and heavy foods rule the menu. I didn’t drink any water on Sunday night. Neither did I on Monday. Flights have the tendency to suck all the fluid out of your system as well. So suddenly I realized what I did wrong. Normally I traveled with lots of water bottles. This time, I traveled with none.

Alcohol dehydrates, planes dehydrate. Always make sure you got water with you!

I had minor signs of dehydration, compared with being tired (maybe I am getting a little old). Let this be a lesson to myself the next time I go away. Always drink some water! Wherever you are, don’t think you can handle another minute without it; ALWAYS drink some water. Now it’s Wednesday and my lips are dry, I’m still lightheaded, but at least I can walk again. Lesson learned!

Hungarian food doesn't always help with the next day. It's delicious! But it can give you a heart attack.

Three things you should always keep in mind when you travel short term. And with short term I mean the kind of travel you have no time recovering from afterwards.

1. Always drink enough water, especially if there is alcohol involved

2. No matter how expensive water is on a flight, get it if you feel like you’re thirsty. The air in the plane is conditioned in such a way it’s pressure is good for all of us. But it dehydrates you fast.

3. Always keep a bottle of water with you!

Kota Bharu is one of the bigger cities of the state Kelantan, notorious for being a place without alcohol. At first sight Kota Bharu seems different. It’s an older place and it’s maintenance looks bad. But underneath this all lies a sparkling beauty. The people of the town are more exotic than in most of Malaysia, and so is the architecture. Nonetheless, Kota Bharu made me think I was in a whole different country! I didn’t recognize the Malaysia I’d known, and I mean that in all the good ways possible.

Streetsigns here are in both Malay and Arabic! A pretty neat bilingualism

Kota Bharu is a lot more than I have seen, mainly because I had only been there for a day. I would come back later at the end of the famous junglerailway, but I’ll get into that in a different post. We stopped at a mall which had many modern shops. My favorite still remains the audio shop I found on the 3rd floor. It has amazing speakers I’m only beginning to see in Holland now. The radio tower in Kota Bharu is quite famous too, but what you should really be here for, is the Central Market.

Kota Bharu’s central market is one of the largest of the country and you can get practically anything here! Walking through this may smell a little odd but how can it not. Exotic fruit everywhere mixes with Islamic and Malaysian delights. Delicious!

The Central Market

A day in Kota Bharu is not long enough to truly understand this place. But it gives you a nice little insight in a different Malaysia. There’s not much else to do than sightseeing, so be sure to bring along some fun friends. I know I did and we had a blast!