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road trips

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge, view from Marin Headlands, San Francisco
The United States

Day 173: Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge

June 16, 2014

Today, Phillip and I had plans to explore Alcatraz Island. Later in the afternoon, we intended to embark on a road trip to Marin Headlands, crossing over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. The alarm blared, jolting me awake. It wasn’t mine; it belonged to Phillip. Chuckling, I nudged him, realizing his slumber was undisturbed by the noisy alarm. After rousing him, I quickly freshened up, brushing my teeth. Within 15 minutes, we were in the car, ready to embark on our early morning adventure. As the clock struck 4:50 am, we arrived near the pier, eager to see if…

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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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The United States

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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The United States

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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Kealakekua Bay in the distance, Hawaii
The United States

Day 163: Giving up on a strenuous hike

June 6, 2014

Today, I had planned to hike to Kealakekua Bay, but ultimately, I didn’t complete the hike. My alarm sounded at 5:30 am, prompting me to rise and pack the last of my belongings quietly, so as not to disturb the others in the room. I waited for what felt like a long time at the bus stop for the airport bus. Finally, around 6:30 am, it arrived. Despite my skepticism, I checked Google Maps to confirm our route and direction after my experiences with unreliable buses. Fortunately, everything went smoothly. By around 7:15 am, I had reached…

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The mess at the dorm from a night of partying
The United States

Day 162: Regaining strength

June 5, 2014

I was stirred awake by Neema’s urgent voice. “Maarten, the rental car! It needs to be returned before 10 am,” he exclaimed. I had totally forgot the car returnal. Glancing at my watch, I realized it was already 10 am. Neema swiftly dialed the rental company, reassuring them amidst the traffic delay. “We’ll be there in 15 minutes,” he assured them confidently. I couldn’t help but smile at Neema’s quick thinking. Truly a hero in the moment of need. Neema suggested I stay in bed, but I insisted on accompanying him. I didn’t want him to feel burdened with the…

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New-Zealand, World Journey

Day 143: One morning in Hobbiton

May 18, 2014

Today, I’m set to explore a fantastic movie location from The Lord of the Rings—none other than Hobbiton! I rose around 9:00 am, a bit later than planned. Despite the chilly night, I managed to sleep well with my jacket on. After a quick bathroom break to freshen up, I headed out swiftly, en route to Matamata, or at least somewhere in its vicinity. Initially, my GPS was functional, but later it failed, causing some anxiety. These roads stretched for 20 kilometers without any safe spots for a u-turn. I decided to keep going and relied on the…

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New-Zealand

Day 136: Chasing the movie locations, part II

May 11, 2014

Today, I planned to explore more than one Lord of the Rings movie location on New Zealand’s North Island. I woke up at 7:45 am feeling tired but knew I had to get up. The plan was to buy a parking ticket for two hours, then return to bed. By 8:15 am, I hadn’t been asked to pay yet, which seemed odd. Since I couldn’t insert any coins, I chose to go back and catch some more sleep.At 9:40 am, I woke up, feeling refreshed after some much-needed sleep. The bed was incredibly comfortable. After checking out…

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