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beaches

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Day 187: The last day chillin’ at the Bahama’s

June 30, 2014

Today would be my last day in the Bahamas. I woke up around 8 AM feeling absolutely dreadful. Pulling back the curtains, I saw a thick blanket of clouds outside—not exactly inspiring. Deciding to prioritize sleep, I crawled back into bed and aimed for a late checkout around 10:50 AM. The tour would have to wait, but honestly, with the limited time and gloomy weather, I didn’t mind skipping it. After resetting all my alarms, I crawled back into bed for a bit more rest. By 10:10 AM, I finally woke up and got moving. I packed my small bag…

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Day 186: How a jet lag can ruin your day

June 29, 2014

Today was a day of relaxing at the Grand Lucayan Resort. I woke up feeling completely drained, like I’d spent the night partying—except I hadn’t. Groggily, I glanced at the fancy alarm clock on the nightstand: 4:30 PM. “That can’t be right. Where’s my phone?” I muttered, fumbling around until I found it on the floor. One look at the screen, and I blurted out, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I had been out like a light last night—deep, blissful sleep. The bed was just that good. Maybe too good, if I’m honest. Thinking back, I remembered another near-miss…

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Day 185: Livin’ in the Splinter’s Paradise

June 28, 2014

This morning, my adventure began with a ferry ride to the Grand Bahama Island for luxurious stay at the Grand Lucayan Resort—but first, the ungodly hour of 4:30 AM. Yes, folks, 4:30. While most people were blissfully dreaming, I was stumbling into the bathroom, toothbrush in one hand and razor in the other, trying to kickstart my day without looking like I’d just survived a shipwreck. As I debated whether to shower, the clock and my lack of motivation teamed up against me. The decision? Skip it. Who needs a shower when you’re headed to an island where the sun…

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The United States

Day 183: A walk to South Beach

June 26, 2014

Today, I planned to keep it low-key with a brief visit and a leisurely stroll along Miami’s South Beach. I woke up around 4 p.m.—insane, I know. The disturbance was caused by a staff member showing a woman into the room. I didn’t recognize the staff member, but her voice sounded surprisingly masculine. My sleep schedule had been completely thrown off by my time in Las Vegas, where I’d mostly slept during the day and stayed awake at night, largely due to the heat. Now in Miami, I was in the Eastern Time Zone, which is three hours ahead of…

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The United States

Day 172: McWay Falls and the arrival at San Francisco

June 15, 2014

Today, Phillip and I planned to explore McWay Falls, another spectacular waterfall on our global adventure. Despite my groggy state at 5 am, I roused Phillip from his deep slumber and urged him to buckle up. As I headed north on the highway, Phillip snoozed peacefully, oblivious to the journey ahead. The overcast skies didn’t dampen my spirits as I embarked on the 45-minute to one-hour drive. Initially, the road was straight, but as we approached the coast, it twisted and turned, offering a scenic journey ahead. Feeling increasingly drowsy, I realized it was time to find a place to…

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Day 171: The road towards Santa Barbara

June 14, 2014

Today, Phillip and I planned to visit Santa Barbara as part of our road trip to San Francisco. I woke up around 10 am, feeling surprisingly relaxed despite staying up late working the night before. The three UK girls—though I suspect they were actually from Ireland—joined the party last night. One of them ended up vomiting in the dorm, which was quite the spectacle, haha. I informed Phillip that we would depart at 11 am. While waiting, I took a shower, burned a CD, and headed to Subway for breakfast. Opting for a rare choice, I purchased a…

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Day 170: Californian road trip! The City of Angels

June 13, 2014

I reached Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 6 am. After stepping outside the terminal, I decided to use the restroom before retrieving my backpack from the luggage belt. However, as I approached the urinal in the corner, I was met with a disgusting sight: a large piece of feces lying in the urinal. “Welcome to Los Angeles, Maarten,” I muttered to myself with a wry smile. A few minutes later, I retrieved my bag from the baggage pick-up area. Deciding to grab breakfast first, I inquired about nearby dining options from the security officers stationed outside the baggage claim…

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Road in the neighborhood of Kailua-Kona, the Big Island Hawaii
The United States

Day 168: The last drive on the Big Island

June 11, 2014

Today didn’t offer much excitement until I reached the charming Manago Hotel. I rose around 9 am, got myself ready, and began some writing on my laptop. However, hunger soon beckoned, prompting me to stroll back to the nearby store. As I stepped outside, the lively sounds in the air hinted at a special event—a celebration for King Kamehameha. Grabbing a drink from the shop, I returned to the hotel. Shortly after, I made the impromptu decision to head towards Kailua-Kona. On my way out, I struck up a conversation with two men painting the hotel exterior. They suggested…

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The United States

Day 167: A rainbow, cliffs and a nice hotel room

June 10, 2014

Today, I planned to explore another waterfall at the Akaka Falls State Park. Around 8 am, the chatter of people in the dorm lobby, including Wendy, reached my ears, but I remained in bed until 9 am. By then, the voices had dissipated. Taking a leisurely approach, I savored some pineapple and a refreshing drink. As I indulged in my morning ritual, I engaged in conversations with friends back home, mindful of the 12-hour time difference in the Netherlands. Despite the dreary weather, which had persisted since yesterday evening’s drizzle, I found a strange comfort in it. Yesterday, the sound…

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A beautiful waterfall surrounded by green nature, Rainbow Falls, the Big Island Hawaii
The United States

Day 166: Time well spent in paradise

June 9, 2014

Today was filled with a multitude of activities in and around Hilo. Due to the uncomfortable night, I woke up earlier than planned. By 4:40 am, I departed from the campsite and headed back towards the visitor center, a 15-minute drive from there to the Kilauea crater. Although the weather wasn’t rainy, a persistent drizzle persisted. However, what truly frustrated me was the poor visibility caused by thick clouds obscuring the scenery. Upon reaching the crater, I attempted to capture some photos, but unfortunately, they all turned out blurry. The combination of fog and low light proved too challenging…

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