forests

Day 133: Abel Tasman National Park, part I

May 8, 2014

Today, my itinerary includes exploring caves and captivating sacred springs within Abel Tasman National Park. I rose early at 7 am as the two women in my dorm needed to depart. The initial lady, who had snored loudly yet elegantly the previous night, left in silence. However, the other, Birgit, attempted to be discreet but wasn’t successful. Her frequent entrances into the dorm, a total of 20 times, were quite disruptive. Once she finally left, I managed to catch some more sleep and woke up around 9 am. I indulged in a lengthy and refreshing shower, enjoying the solitude of…

by Maarten

Day 126: The Chasm and The Divide

May 1, 2014

Today’s agenda included a visit to The Chasm and The Divide near Milford Sound. The alarm went off at 9:30 am, prompting me to get up and head to the toilet block for teeth brushing. Yvette was also awake and preparing to leave bed. I noticed I was much quicker, getting ready by 9:45 am while she went, presumably, to the toilets. Check-out time was before 10 am, and as I held my pillowcase, the cleaning lady directed me to dispose of it in a bin nearby our dormitory. She expressed gratitude, as if it were the kindest…

by Maarten

Day 124: Arrow River and Queenstown

April 29, 2014

I woke up early around 8:30 am in the chilly morning, knowing that a visit to the breathtaking Arrow River and Queenstown awaited me. The night had been rough; it was bitterly cold. I regretted not heating up the car before going to sleep last night; the cold woke me up four times. Each time I was awake, I started the engine and turned on the heater. While waiting for the car to warm up, I rolled up my sleeping bag and took a moment for a quick bathroom break. I left immediately, planning to brush my teeth later…

by Maarten

Day 122: Chasing the Lord of the Rings movie locations

April 27, 2014

Today I would visit a Lord of the Rings movie location. I woke up around 10:30 am, having purposely turned off my alarm set for 8:30 am to enjoy a bit of extra sleep. After getting up, I took care of my morning routine—brushed my teeth and applied some gel to my hair. A group of friendly New Zealanders arrived at the site, using the toilets and exchanging cheerful greetings with me. Intrigued by their enthusiasm, I joined in and decided to take some pictures of the river. To my delight, the river turned out to be…

by Maarten

Day 106: A rainy day on the road

April 11, 2014

I roused around 10 am with a mission to reach Cann River near Australia’s southern coast by the end of the day. Anticipating a dull and rainy day, my first order of business was to head to the library and charge my laptop. As I began my day, I planned to grab breakfast at the rest area. There, I struck up a conversation with a friendly Australian couple—a retired duo currently exploring Australia at a leisurely pace. With an abundance of time on their hands, we exchanged some Dutch words, discovering a shared connection as the man had previously…

by Maarten

Day 102: The Three Sisters and the Giant Stairway

April 7, 2014

I woke up a bit late, around 9 am. The plan for the day was to visit The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains. Feeling surprisingly refreshed from the comfortable hostel bed, I got dressed and promptly checked out. After retrieving my belongings from the refrigerator, I headed to the Blue Mountain National Park, conveniently just 1 kilometer away from the hostel. The Blue Mountains Backpackers Hostel offered excellent value for money, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to others. I parked my car near the lookout and attempted to pay at the parking meter, but it didn’t work despite putting…

by Maarten

Day 101: Wentworth Falls

April 6, 2014

I woke up around 9 am, ready for a day trip to the Blue Mountains and Wentworth Falls. My phone automatically adjusted for the time change, evident when my watch showed it was an hour later. Swiftly, I got up and left the hostel. Today, I had to make the solo trek to the car, unlike yesterday. New Beach Road was approximately 2 kilometers away. Making a quick stop at Coles supermarket for some bread, I then drove the car back and parked it in front of the hostel. At the hostel, I purchased a 30-minute parking pass and retrieved…

by Maarten

Day 82: Feeding dolphins and the arrival in Noosa

March 18, 2014

My plan for the day included feeding wild dolphins in Tin Can Bay and then exploring Noosa. I rose at 6 am and departed from the backpacker’s street in Rainbow Beach. The previous night had been challenging, and I hadn’t gotten much sleep. At a nearby gas station, I purchased some food and a drink from the bakery. Fortunately, the bakery was open, as all the other stores in the vicinity were still closed. I left Rainbow Beach and headed to Tin Can Bay for the wild dolphin feeding. A few days ago, the ladies at the information center in…

by Maarten

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…

by Maarten