These events happened on Monday the 5th of August. We paddled from Tulcea to Murighiol in the Danube Delta. On the way, we said hi and bye to the Sulina Branch of the Danube and took a right to stay in the Sfântu Gheorge Branch. Departing Tulcea for Murighiol The alarm woke me but I fell asleep right away. Jonas came to wake me up at 6:00. I don’t think I’ve ever been this narcoleptic on a kayak day. I simply could not wake up. After sharing a banana, Jonas and got dressed and packed up. Then we walked toContinue reading
Kayak Trip Day 84: Isaccea to Tulcea – Entering the Danube Delta, the End is Near
This kayak day happened on the 29th of July, 2024. We paddled from Isaccea to Tulcea in Romania. We followed the Danube that forms the border between Romania and Ukraine till the split that marks the official start of the Danube Delta. The Kiliya (aka Chilia) Branch took a left, and we followed the Tulcea Branch (future Sulina and Sfântu Gheorge branches) to the right. Leaving Isaccea for Tulcea When we continued from Isaccea to Tulcea, we knew it wasn’t a long day. Initially, Jonas had miscalculated something and said that the distance between the two was 50 kilometers justContinue reading
Kayak Trip Day 65: Orșova to Drobeta-Turnu Severin – Iron Gate I Locks Unlocked!
This kayak trip happened on Monday the 27th of May, 2024. We paddled from Orșova to Drobeta-Turnu Severin on the Romanian side of the Danube in the border area shared with Serbia. We also had to pass through the Iron Gates I dam (Romanian: Porțile de Fier I – Serbian: Đerdap I). Portaging is not feasible, so we had to go through the lock with the big ships! Kayaking Through Locks: Research + Stress The Iron Gate I Hydroelectric Power Station is the 53rd obstacle on the Danube for us since 2019, but it’s the first one in 2024. SoContinue reading
A Day Trip to Houtong Cat Village, Taiwan
I visited Houtong Cat Village 猴硐貓村 with my situationship Jonas on the 18th of May, 2026. We departed by train from Taipei and continued on by train to Xinchen Taroko near the Taroko Gorge. This is part of our trip around Taiwan Planning our First Train Route in Taiwan I knew the minute I’d read about Houtong Cat Village that I wanted to visit. Jonas was also down, before our relationshit hit the fan on the 12th of May, and also after. After all, it was me who taught him the benefits of cats and how to love them back inContinue reading
Penang Cat Cafés: Get Your Caffeine + Feline Fix in George Town
All Cats Are Beautiful. That’s why I not only take care of cats while their owners are away, but I also occasionally volunteer at cat shelters, do trap-neuter-return (TNR), and show street cats much love. Still, cat cafés are also a nice way to hang out with cats without taking on a burden of responsibility. During another long stay in Malaysia, I visited Penang cat cafés (😻) and cafés that happen to have cats (☕). Here are my recommendations, a map, plus tips to make your stay in Penang impactful the many street cats CATONOMY: Weekly Cat Meetups 😻 OpeningContinue reading
How to Reserve a Flight from Taitung to Lanyu Orchid Island Airport with Daily Air
We reserved our return flight between Taitung (TTT) and Lanyu/Orchid Island (KYD) on the 19th and 20th of April, 2026. This wasn’t a straightforward process, so here’s how you can get a reservation as well Ferry or Plane to Lanyu/Orchid Island? While planning our trip to Taiwan, we hit a snag; Jonas didn’t want to take the three-hour ferry ride from Fugang Harbor near Taitung to Lanyu, aka Orchid Island. I’d planned with the reliable ferry in mind. The reason ? The online reviews say it’s a vomit rocket due to the rough seas. I tried to reassure him thatContinue reading
Bahrain Visa Guide: Visa on Arrival or eVisa?
We arrived in Bahrain from Kuwait on the 7th of January, 2026 and stayed for 11 days. We chose to opt for a Bahraini visa on arrival (VOA) instead of an eVisa. Here’s what the process is like, what documents you need to bring, and whether you should choose an eVisa or the VOA. In early 2026, the tourist visa costs between 5 BHD and 25 BHD, depending on your length of stay Bahrain Visa Online Research For most nationalities, Bahrain has two options to enter as a tourist: the eVisa or the visa on arrival (VOA). The eVisa hasContinue reading
Accommodation in Bahrain: Airbnb in Al Fateh + Manama City Hotels
Congratulations! You are in the minority of travelers considering a visit to Bahrain for more than a day trip. Here’s where we stayed for 10 nights in the capital city Manama, alternative hotels under €100 per night, and what to expect of accommodation in Bahrain as a digital nomad Al Fateh: Airbnb Close to Food Truck Heaven Duration: 11 nights (12 paid) at about €60 per night Our final choice was a spacious Airbnb in the Al-Fateh neighborhood of Manama in Bahrain. Bahrain had far more suitable Airbnb options than Kuwait. So we chose this one based on its goodContinue reading
How to Get a SIM Card in Bahrain: eSIM Options + Batelco, Zain, and STC
We traveled to Bahrain for about 10 days in January 2026. To stay online as a tourist, Jonas used his Global eSIM and I bought a physical SIM card in Bahrain at the airport. Here’s what your options are, starting with the cheapest First Choice: Global eSIM or Bahraini eSIM Just like in nearby Kuwait and the UAE, getting a physical SIM card in Bahrain is on the expensive side. Luckily, eSIM technology has come a long way. If your phone is eSIM compatible, this should be your first choice. Within eSIMs, there’s still two ways to go about it:Continue reading
Tourist Visa on Arrival in Kuwait: Our Experience + Advice (Get the eVisa)
We entered Kuwait a couple of days before New Year’s 2025–2026. On December 22nd 2025, the government of Kuwait increased its visa fees from 3 KWD to 10 KWD. This applies to both visa on arrival (VOA) and the Kuwaiti eVisa. Here’s our experience getting the visa on arrival in Kuwait Late 2025 Visa Costs Increase in Kuwait When Jonas and I reunited in the Netherlands after Christmas on the 26th of December, we rechecked the visa situation in Kuwait. I’d written down the cost of the Kuwaiti eVisa and VOA in our spreadsheet as roughly €10 per person. JonasContinue reading
Accommodation in Kuwait: Al Salmiya Apartment + City Hotels
I visited Kuwait for 10 days in late 2025 and early 2026. This is what to expect of accommodation in Kuwait as a digital nomad + some hotel recommendations in Kuwait City Al Salmiya: Lavan One Serviced Apartment We chose this condo in Al Salmiya neighborhood close to the coast and one of the places where the ferry to Failaka goes. There was one other contender, but that apartment was next to Winter Wonderland Kuwait. The reviews said that place was noisy into the night. Also, this apartment didn’t say it required proof of marriage for people to stay here.Continue reading
Staying Online in Kuwait: eSIM Options + Kuwaiti SIM Card
Going to Kuwait for more than a few days and don’t have the option to have an eSIM? Here’s what Kuwaiti SIM card to get, where to get it, and what to expect. First Choice: Get a Kuwaiti eSIM! For some reason, getting a real SIM card in Kuwait is quite expensive. That’s why your first option should be to get an eSIM. If you’ve never used this technology before, now is the time to try. Within the world of eSIMs, there are two approaches: the Global eSIM and a Kuwaiti eSIM. If you don’t use much data, are onlyContinue reading