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animals

Australia

Day 73: Avoiding cyclone Hadi

March 9, 2014

Today promised to be a day marked by strong winds and rain, prompting me to swiftly head south to steer clear of the impending Cyclone Hadi. As the morning unfolded, I found myself waking up in the front passenger seat, which turned out to be a more comfortable night compared to the previous one spent on the backseat. Fortunately, the chair could be adjusted to a sleeping position. Upon waking up, I attended to my morning routine, visiting the toilet, brushing my teeth, and shaving my face. Home Hill, where I dropped off Moni yesterday, turned out to be quite…

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Indonesia

Day 65: Rice fields, a massage and Monkey Forest

March 1, 2014

I rose at 7 am, eager to explore Monkey Forest and indulge in a massage in Ubud. Glimpsing through the window, I was greeted by another day of splendid weather. Keen to start the day, I swiftly prepared, and within 10 minutes, I was heading to the parking lot. Accelerating smoothly, I navigated the tranquil, empty roads of Ubud, a welcome contrast to the bustling streets of Kuta. My destination: the center of Ubud and then northward to a charming village known for its picturesque rice fields. Despite 15 minutes of driving, my destination remained elusive. However, the scenic route…

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Indonesia

Day 51: ‘Well then I will go by myself to Bali’!

February 15, 2014

Today, the majestic Sekumpul Waterfall awaited me in blissful solitude. But before diving into the cascading beauty, let me unveil the title of today’s blog post—an exclusive dedication to my dear friends back home who doubted Bali’s allure due to flight durations or perceived lack of attractions. This one’s for you, my lovely friends winky face. Roused by an insistent knock on my door, I groggily realized I had overslept. “Mr. Maarten, are you ready?” the voice called. “Just a minute, I’ll be at the beach,” I responded. Missing another meeting marked my second lapse, and I couldn’t help…

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Indonesia

Day 48: Baluran National Park, Africa in Indonesia?!

February 12, 2014

I woke up early, around 7 am, and had a light breakfast. Today’s plan involved visiting Baluran National Park, situated in the northwestern part of Java. Having checked into the Rosali Hotel in Situbondo the previous night, my intention was to stay here for two days. After breakfast, I inquired at the reception about renting a moped. Initially quoting 100,000 IDR, I negotiated and settled on a maximum of 50,000 IDR. Fortunately, my bargaining skills paid off, and the staff agreed. Within 15 minutes, the moped was delivered. When asked about my plans, I mentioned my intent to visit Baluran…

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Indonesia

Day 31: Bukittinggi unleashed

January 26, 2014

Today, I embarked on a journey to explore the vibrant and lush Sianok Canyon in Bukittinggi. Rising with the sun at 4:45 am, I embraced the promise of an exciting day in Bukittinggi. Swiftly changing into fresh attire, I fired up my laptop, connecting with a friend in Holland via a stable Skype connection. Our engaging 30-minute conversation left me invigorated, but soon after, an unexpected bout of illness struck, prompting frequent visits to the restroom. After a brief period of recovery, I opted to catch up on some much-needed rest. By 9 am, my appetite beckoned for breakfast…

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Indonesia

Day 27: Rafting back to Bukit Lawang

January 22, 2014

I woke up at 9 am but chose to sleep in since Jamie and Maguire were still resting. We had plans for rafting to Bukit Lawang that day. By 10:30 am, I finally got out of bed, leaving Jamie and Maguire sleeping soundly, seemingly unfazed by the flat surface. Our jungle base camp consists of basic shelters with several huts. The sleeping area is a long hut, approximately 3 meters by 10 meters, providing only rain shelter. One side of the hut lacks a wall. Although the ground is firm, it is flat. I didn’t mind spending one night…

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Indonesia

Day 26: Orangutans in Bukit Lawang

January 21, 2014

Scheduled for the tour at 8:30 am, today’s plan involved venturing into the jungle to encounter the orangutans in Bukit Lawang. Conveniently situated next to the jungle entrance, my guesthouse, Thomas’ Retreat, allowed me to wait on my terrace. I opted for an early cold shower and placed an order for breakfast. The shower’s water, sourced from the river, proved limited, prompting me to cut it short after 5 minutes. As I required water for the Western toilet, I became aware of my constrained water supply for both the shower and toilet. In Bukit Lawang, a small village nestled…

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Many crocodiles in one basin at the crocodile farm in Medan
Indonesia

Day 25: The crocodile farm in Medan

January 20, 2014

I woke up around 8 am to plan my activities for the day. Surprisingly, I found out that I would be visiting a crocodile farm in Medan later. With assistance from the Kesawa hotel’s reception, I headed to a tourist information kiosk, conveniently situated just 5 minutes from the hotel along the main road. The friendly lady there welcomed me and provided a small map of Medan along with a large map of central Sumatra. Inquiring about a tourist bus to Bukit Lawang, she marked Tobali Tours on the map, located just behind the Grand Mosque of Medan. Without hesitation…

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Singapore

Day 4: A day at Sentosa Island

December 30, 2013

Yesterday, James and I made the decision to explore Sentosa Island, a sprawling haven of entertainment parks and intriguing places. Unfortunately, Yen couldn’t join us due to work commitments. Setting out from the hostel, James and I headed to Lavender Station around 9 am. Upon reaching Bayfront Station, we were presented with various options to reach the island. James suggested the cable car, asking, ‘So, Maarten, do you want to take the cable car to Sentosa Island?’ My response was casual, ‘I’m fine with anything. Do you want to do it?’ James agreed, saying, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ I chimed…

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