Sluuuuuurp shlop. Sluuuuuurp shlop… the sound of my mud laden boots sucking and slopping my way across the North Sea flats.
Wadlopen is a most famous Dutch activity in the summer months. There are few other places in the world where you can leave an island 10km’s away and walk back to the mainland. This is the north sea wilderness (more…)

‘Bloody tourists!’ I swerve as another person steps blindly out onto the cycleway and fly on by. Two weeks in, and I’m no tourist anymore; I’m an Amsterdamer and lovin it! I’m feeling rather well settled in Amsterdam and sampling all this vibrant/crazy/cool city has to offer. I’m proud to call Amsterdam home. (more…)

Antwerp? ‘I thought you were in Amsterdam’, I hear you say. Ah, this is true but here is how my story goes… Indeed I did arrive jet-lagged in Amsterdam, as did the lovely Lana soon after, passing through on her own intrepid travels. I did my best to orientate myself in Amsterdam that first day (cheese shop beside the canal, another one! doh!) but my update from Amsterdam will have to wait till the following post. You see Lana and I had the bright idea to skip the expensive weekend rates of Amsterdam and hop on a train for Antwerp for a few short days. Little did I know of the risk that I could end up running away with a circus… (more…)

Touchdown Japan! I could feel the buzz of the week ahead, the anticipation of bowing to everyone, the tingle of wasabi up my nostrils… And of course my friends, my good friends who I had left in Japan! Oh it was good to be back.

I gathered my luggage and feigned super-gaijin strength as I lugged 30-something kg’s through Shinjuku station, catching the coos of ’sugoiiii! yabaiiiii!’ in my wake. Folks, it was heavier than I made it look, but in those bags was my entire life which I would bring to Amsterdam the next week. At the station Mike was waiting, what a dude. I was home.
(more…)