nature Archives - Splinter's Paradise

Gullfoss Waterfall, Golden Triangle Tour, Iceland

Day 205: The Golden Triangle tour

July 18, 2014

Today, I was set to explore the Golden Triangle, visiting Þingvellir National Park, the Gullfoss waterfall, and the geothermal area in Haukadalur. I woke up on time and began my day. After having breakfast, brushing my teeth, and styling my hair, I packed my bag with food and a drink. Despite the gloomy weather, I had my raincoat, so I was prepared for whatever the day would bring. I expected the bus ride to take about an hour, so once I found my seat, I settled in and started listening to music. I drifted into a sort of “slumber mode,”…

by Maarten

Iceland

Day 204: Relaxing at the Blue Lagoon

July 17, 2014

Today’s plan was to visit Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon, a geothermal marvel that tops most must-see lists. I woke up late, around noon, to find the dorm empty once again. Despite being fully booked every night, the hostel seemed to attract travelers who didn’t stick around for long. Clara, the German girl I met yesterday, was one of the rare exceptions—she was staying in Iceland until the upcoming Sunday, making her one of the few who planned a longer visit like me. I began my day with a simple breakfast-turned-lunch in the kitchen, using up the last of my bread…

by Maarten

Iceland

Day 203: The arrival in cloudy Reykjavik

July 16, 2014

Today, I planned to take it easy and explore Reykjavik a bit. We landed at 3 am, but the local time was 6 am—three hours ahead of Pacific Time. The flight from New York was smooth, but I couldn’t sleep a wink. Disembarking was quick, as Keflavik Airport is small. I expected immigration to be a hassle, but it was surprisingly smooth. I handed over my passport, and the officer simply asked where I was from. “The Netherlands, sir,” I replied. “Oh, okay, here you go,” he said, handing back my passport without even glancing at the photo. I walked…

by Maarten

Canada

Day 200: A wet day at the Niagara Falls

July 13, 2014

Checked off a bucket list item: Niagara Falls, and wow, they’re even more spectacular in person! Woke up around 7 am, sneaked out of my bunk like a ninja, and got ready. Brushed my teeth, grabbed my bag, and headed downstairs for breakfast. And let me tell you, the hostel breakfast at the Planet Traveler Hostel? Hands down the best I’ve ever had. They had 15 types of cereals (yep, you read that right) and 10 different bagels, plus milk and all the usual spreads. I went for bagels with peanut butter and packed some extras for the road. At…

by Maarten

Canada

Day 198: The Biosphere and Mont-Royal

July 11, 2014

After yesterday’s failed attempt to visit the Biosphere, today I was determined to find the architectural building I had been looking for! I woke up around 10 a.m., enjoyed a lovely breakfast, and relaxed. We had to wait for the healthcare person before we could head out. Around 11:30 a.m., we left for Tim Hortons to get some wifi, as the connection at Gopal’s parents’ house had stopped working the day before due to an issue with the telephone line. Gopal, being the problem solver he is, had already called the company to schedule a fix. Today, Gopal had to…

by Maarten

Leave a comment

Canada

Day 197: The Biodome and the Botanical Gardens

July 10, 2014

There was a mix-up, so today I ended up visiting the Biodome, followed by the Botanical Gardens of Montreal—an absolute must-see in Montreal! I woke up around 9 am to begin the day, took a shower, and headed downstairs. As usual, Gopal (someone I befriended back in Malaysia) was already up. He made me some toast, which I slathered with peanut butter. I poured myself a glass of milk and drank it eagerly, as it had been ages since I last had some. Today, Gopal had to go to work since he had been away for two days. His job…

by Maarten

Leave a comment

The United States

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…

by Maarten

Leave a comment

The United States

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…

by Maarten

Leave a comment

The clouds reflected in the water—beautiful! Everglades National Park.

The United States

Day 184: The Everglades National Park

June 27, 2014

Today was an incredible adventure as I soared over the waters of Everglades National Park. It was a wild and unforgettable experience! I woke up around 10 a.m. thanks to a kid who barged into the dorm early in the morning, blasting his gangster R&B music while taking a shower. Naturally, the whole room woke up. Annoyed, I decided to give him a taste of karma. When he needed to access his locker, I took my sweet time at mine, pretending to rummage around just to make him wait. Karma really is a bitch. In the morning, I called a…

by Maarten

Leave a comment

The United States

Day 180: Visiting Hoover Dam

June 23, 2014

After flying over the Hoover Dam yesterday, I decided to visit the massive structure today. I overslept and woke up around 11 am, cursing myself. I had planned to visit a special national park, but now there wasn’t enough time. So, I stuck to my usual routine: grabbed breakfast at the 7-Eleven across the street, ate in the hostel’s air-conditioned kitchen, and made a new plan for the day. Frustrated with myself, I decided the Hoover Dam would be worth a visit. I had really wanted to see both national parks, but now I could only manage one since they…

by Maarten

Leave a comment