The city of Irkutsk was my last stop in Russia. After the tough but beautiful hike at Lake Baikal, I had one free day left to explore the city, before I would take the train to Mongolia.
Continue reading Holland to Hong Kong travel journal #6: exploring Irkutsk and leaving Russia
When my train arrived in Irkutsk on Saturday morning, I went straight to the most popular destination on Lake Baikal’s 2000km long shoreline: Listvyanka.
Continue reading Holland to Hong Kong travel journal #5: Visiting Lake Baikal in Siberia
I have to admit I was a bit sad when my train rolled into Irkutsk Passazhirskiy station this morning. Living on a train for 83 hours was everything I hoped it would be, and more. It was the ultimate way to get to know Russia.
Continue reading Holland to Hong Kong travel journal #4: four nights on the Trans-Siberian Railway
When the plans for my trip were made, it became clear pretty quickly that I would have only one day to explore Moscow. In order to make the most of that day, I planned it all out in advance.
Continue reading Holland to Hong Kong travel journal #3: How to see Moscow in one day
After yesterday’s crazy adventure, the second day of my journey to Moscow was a breeze. Not long after boarding the train, my roommate and I folded away the seats and pulled the beds out of the wall so we could sleep, setting our alarm clocks for 05:00, for the border crossing between Poland and Belarus.
Continue reading Holland to Hong Kong travel journal #2: The night train to Moscow
My journey to Moscow began a lot more chaotic than I expected. My parents dropped me off at the station in my home town and all seemed well. Until I reached Amersfoort, where I was supposed to take the train to Berlin. But that train never showed up.
Continue reading Holland to Hong Kong travel journal #1: I missed the train to Berlin
Tomorrow I begin my overland journey from Holland to Hong Kong. My backpack is all packed. It’s probably far too heavy. This is my first backpacking trip and I’m slightly nervous. This is the moment when my brain always tries to tell me I’m forgetting something important. I’ve had so much time to prepare and it never feels like I’ve done enough.
Continue reading Travelling overland from Holland to Hong Kong
If I could name just one thing to convince you to visit Budapest, it would have to be the great food. There were far too many delicious looking dishes for my three day stay in the Hungarian capital. I seem to have tried sampling as many of them as I could, and returned home with a suitcase full of paprika. If you’re on a diet, a trip to Budapest in December could ruin it, but that’s a small price to pay for this culinary adventure.
Continue reading 7 things to eat in Budapest
I love panoramic views. Whenever I make plans to visit a city, I research the most popular places with a good view. Whether it’s from a hill or a tall building, I love having a bird’s eye view of a city. There’s something mesmerising about searching for the most iconic buildings of the city and taking your time to watch the traffic.
Two and a half years ago, I travelled to the city of Prague for a short city break. Unlike on previous trips, I had not planned ahead much further than booking flights and a hotel. I wanted to make the rest up as I went along. In a way, despite the shortness of it, this trip shaped the traveller in me. It made me realise that my possibilities in solo travel go far beyond road trips in my own car. This trip made me see the traveller I want to be in the future. This planet is a big place, and I yearn to discover as much of it as I possibly can.
