Tag: Backpacken

Day 1+2. Goodbyes & Moscow – Russia.

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Moscow: 04-04-2016 // 05-04-2016

Monday the 4th of April, time to start our journey. So excited to discover the world but also a bit nervous; what are we going to do coming year? The hardest part of this Monday was to say ‘goodbye’ to my mom. But as soon as we ended our hugging and dried our tears, I was ready to go! After a few hours we were airborn from Amsterdam to Moscow.

We booked the first part of our trip with Tiara Tours, it was easier to book the Trans Mongolia Express with an organisation as Tiara. They’ve arranged everything for us; transfers, hostels, excursions, the train, the stop in Mongolia and our VISA. The hotel they booked for the first night was Maxima Hotels. A hotel 20 minutes from the city center of Moscow. Clean, not to big and the rooms were fine – it had everything you need.

Tuesday the 5th of April we explored Moscow with our guide. She took us with the metro to the heart of Moscow. I truly recommend to travel by metro when you are in Moscow. Due to the 11 million (!) inhabitants there are always traffic jams and it will take you hours to get to your destination. The metros in Moscow go every minute – seriously – and besides it is easier, it’s also very beautiful. The metro stations all look like musea – made by Jozef Stalin to impress the world after World War 2. Also to show the citizens a bright future – marble walls, beautiful chandeliers and golden decorations.

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The guide – Elena – showed us the Historical museum, the red square, the Kremlin, the St. Basil’s Cathedral and the lovely shoppingcentre GUM. The red square was absolutely impressive and I loved all the colors of the St. Basil’s Cathedral. We had lunch in the GUM, which you should visit if you are in Moscow. Besides those must-sees this city is a museum itself. The buildings are build in Barok style but all in different shapes and pastel colors.

One of the most impressive things today was passing the side where Boris Nemtsov – a very important Russian politician and criticaster of Putin – was murdered. The reason behind his dead is still not revealed. These moments makes you realize you are just a small ant in the big world.

While we were impressed by the city, we didn’t really like the people. They have a very closed personality and nobody smiled.

After dinner at the hotel we relaxed a bit and at 11.45 pm it was time to take the train. Honestly – I was a bit nervous, something we wanted to do so badly, but how will we actually experience it?

Previous: South-Africa: Kwazulu Natal – Part 2

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20-12-2014 until 02-01-2015

Thanda – Thonga Beach Lodge. 

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On first Christmasday we drove from Thanda Game Reserve to Thonga Beach Lodge in Thanda. Five relaxingdays were waiting for us.

Day 1. 


On the first day we didn’t do anything. A bit of relaxing, some sunshine, a good book and a wine or a cocktail in our hands. No problem at-all. I love days like these!

Day 2. 

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Our lodges had a view on the Ocean and we immediately saw the ocean was really rough. Swimming was possible but I prefer a bit of paddling. But today there was no paddling on the program, we we’re going for some snorkeling! It was very hard getting the boat into the water but: we did it. We needed a lot of manpower and a lot of patience, but it worked . On our way to a great snorkeling place we crossed a beautiful Dolphin family. Our guide jumped into the water to check if it was safe enough for us to jump into the water. After a few minutes she gave us the signal: free to go! It was amazing and it felt like a dream.  When you put your head under water you heard the Dolphins communicating with each other, so special! There was also a little baby who was swimming to me all the time, while mommy was picking her up. Again, and again, aind again. How special is this underwater world?
Day 3. 


The last day in Thonga Beach Lodge! It was almost time to leave Thonga Beach, but not before we’ve visited a real African wedding and not before we saw the tortoise laying her eggs.

I knew African weddings are very different then the weddings we’re used to. If we knew the Bride & Groom? No. Not at all.  We’ve never seen them before. Secretly: I felt a bit uncomfortable being there. But the Newlyweds were very happy to see us and they welcomed us super friendly. The whole village came to this wedding and I think it was the biggest wedding I’ve ever seen. I was especially very impressed because of the slaughtered cows – this was a wedding gift of the father of the bride.

In the evening we’ve got into the car to look for the tortoises and before we knew we saw one. This was so special, this animal is so huge! The process of laying those eggs is quite interesting. They come out of the water, search for a good spot, spit a hole for the eggs and they can start! Those tortoises can’t see anything when it is dark, so they are walking to the light when they are going back to the ocean – they are walking to the  light of the moon – and they are walking to the dark when they have to find a spot for the eggs – and so they are walking to the beach. I love those nature things.
Umhlanga Rocks – Oyster Box Hotel.  

On December the 30th we travelled a bit further. We went to Umhlanga Rocks – to the Oyster Box Hotel!

This was the last part of our trip and we stayed here for three nights. Those days at Oyster Box were super relaxing. We didn’t do anything else except from sunbathing and getting a tan before heading back to the Netherlands.

 

 

Previous: We have a wedding to attend! – St. Martin

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16-04-2013 until 16-06-2013 

“We have a wedding to attend!” Our trip to St. Martin started with this news. My brother and sister in law (to be) were living on St. Martin and were happily in love, engaged and were getting married on the 18th of April 2013.

Our arrival at St. Martin started a bit messy. I loan a suitcase from my friend – so I could take a bit more stuff – and unfortunately this suitcase looks a bit ‘general’. The suitcase I have is pink and is very noticeable, you will never miss it. Obviously; you can miss the suitcase of my friend.  I think you already see where I’m going.

When we did arrive in apartment – which was crazy beautiful, but later on more about this – I tried to open the suitcase but it didn’t work with the code my friend gave me. I tried it for a hundred of times but it still didn’t work… Jep. I took the wrong suitcase. Perfect! Lucky me, my mom was at the apartment too and she drove me back to the airport. I felt like the most luckiest girl in the world – they still had my suitcase. Unfortunately for the people of the suitcase I took, they had to take another flight and took this flight without their suitcase. Yes. I felt guilty. Super guilty.

Anyhow. The apartment! We were staying at Les Balcons in Oyster Pond.  It was lovely. We had a giant bed, a lovely bathroom and we had our own terrace – with a barbecue and two sunbeds. If you are planning to go to St. Martin and still looking for a good stay, I obviously recommend Les Balcons!  

The bachelor party was a huge success – for both groups. And you could notice this the next morning – especially the men were having a great hangover. We decided to take the boat to Pinel – it was a perfect day to do absolutely nothing except from eating and sleeping.

And then.. It was THE day. The day of the wedding. I love weddings, especially when the wedding is on the beach. This day was like a fairytale. Michiel & Roos were the most beautiful Newlyweds I’ve ever seen. There was a romantic ceremony, a great dinner and afterwards a big party.
The day after the wedding it was time for a big lunch at Pinel with the family – including fresh lobster, sun and sandy toes.

Together with my other brother and his girlfriend, we decided to go to Anguilla on our last day. You can take the boat to Anguilla at the French part of the Island: in the harbor of Marigot. It’s only 20 minutes by boat. The water was quite rough and it is possible you’re getting a bit seasick. Yes – we experienced this ourselves.

I can tell you: the Island Anguilla is worth it. White beaches, blue water and a lot of deserted beaches. We visited Anguilla just for the day, but if you can spend more time here – please do this. It’s so pretty!

What else did we do in St. Martin? Honestly, not that much. We slept, eat, drink – a lot, and enjoyed the sunshine. St. Martin thank you for this perfect stay – hope to see you soon!