Lisi Lake + Vake Park in Tbilisi, Georgia

Back in Tbilisi, Georgia. Went for a swim at Lisi Lake yesterday where this dog ruled the territory. It’s nice to come back to this lake. Afterward, my drivers asked me if I had a place to stay in Tbilisi. So they drove me from Lisi Lake to Vake Park, where they know people with whom I’d supposedly have things in common with. I am sleeping in Vake Park in my tent. There is a small community of travelers and people who protest the building of a new hotel there. Vake Park is apparently one of Tbilisi’s last green spacesContinue reading

Tusheti Hills: Beauty and Hospitality in Omalo + Dartlo, Georgia

As you can see from this photo, the Tusheti region in the north of Georgia is pretty fabulous. I just spent a few days here at altitude in Omalo and Dartlo. To the north, the mountains form a natural border with Russia’s Dagestan and Chechnya—both places I’d absolutely love to visit. There are several hostels here and the owners of one just invited me to stay for free. That’s how huge hospitality is here. I encountered some young Georgian women here who were excited to hang out with me and show me around. They travel the difficult road to OmaloContinue reading

Kayaking to Île aux Fous, Îlot Hollandais, and Île aux Diamant from Port Mathurin, Rodrigues

We did this paddling trip on Monday the 23rd of May, 2022. The route went from Pointe Monnier in Port Mathurin to the artificial Îlot des Hollandais, Île aux Fous, and Île aux Diamant. All these islands are located in the gigantic lagoon of Rodrigues, Mauritius. Contents1 The Idea to Paddle to Île aux Fous2 Where to Rent a Kayak in Rodrigues?3 Kayak Time!4 Paddling to Îlot des Hollandais5 Paddling to the Main Objective: Île aux Fous6 Hiking to the Beacon of Île aux Fous + Lunch7 Paddling to Île aux Diamant8 The Cave + Peak of Île aux Diamant9Continue reading

94 Things to Do in Rodrigues

We spent several months in Rodrigues checking out a lot of different corners of this compact island. Many Mauritians and Rodriguans asked us if we didn’t get bored here. The answer to that question is a resounding no—and there are even things we didn’t do yet but are saving for a return trip. Many Rodriguans we spoke to weren’t familiar with some of the places we’ve been to. So here’s a monster list of more than 90 things to do in Rodrigues. And a map! Learn kitesurfing in Mourouk. Ask for Drany – a local and national champion – ifContinue reading

Qazaqstan // Kazakhstan

Qazaqstan (aka Kazakhstan[note]The country switched over to the Latin alphabet in 2017. The official latinization would be Qazaqstan instead of the Russian colonial Kazakhstan.[/note]) is a country I haven't traveled to (yet). I came quite close in 2021 when I was traveling in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, but the visa-free regime was not available, and paying a lot of money for only a 30-day visa seemed too steep. I'm eagerly waiting for Qazaqstan to open up again and hope to spend quite a lot of time in this huge country. I hope that in the future, you can find posts about Qazaqstan on this page. For now, perhaps read about other countries in Central Asia, such as Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan? Things I’d Like to Do in Qazaqstan Hitchhike some crazy long distances with locals Explore the capital Nur-Sultan. I quite enjoy the architecture of planned cities Also, explore the former capital of Almaty. I'd love to go up the Almaty TV… Read more >

Arrábida Natural Park Scooter Trip + Learning Portuguese (the Hard Way)

These events happened on Tuesday the 8th of January, 2019. While staying almost two weeks in Campo do Ourique neighborhood in Lisbon, Portugal, we did many day trips. This trip to Parque Natural da Arrábida was the biggest one. Contents1 Preparation + Travel to Setúbal2 Renting the Scooter in Setúbal3 Portinho da Arrábida4 Pedreira do Jaspe5 The drive to Sesimbra6 A Hard Lesson in Portuguese7 Sesimbra to the Convent of Our Lady of Arrábida8 Driving back to Setúbal + Facing the Consequences9 Bus from Setúbal to Lisbon10 Map of Arrábida NP Scooter Trip11 Learned from our mistake? Consider buying meContinue reading

Grenada

Grenada is a Caribbean country I haven't been to (yet). Though I've dipped my pinky toe into visiting Caribbean islands, I haven't had the chance yet to do a big trip. I'm fascinated with its history and its location at the edge of the Grenadines island chain, and the Lesser Antilles island group. Luckily, EU passport holders can stay visa-free up to 90 days in Grenada. I'd like to visit Grenada as part of a big Caribbean islands trip one day, with hopefully lots of sailing! Perhaps there are some other countries I've already been to and written about that interest you, such as Colombia, Mauritius, and Spain? Things I'd Like to Do in Grenada Hitchhike with the locals. There are some fun mountain roads on the island where it will probably make sense to catch a ride here or there while circling the island Visit the capital Saint George's. There are tentative world heritage sites, such as St. George… Read more >

Bete Amanuel, Lalibela: Wonder of the Ethiopians

We visited the wonder on the 7th and the 10th of February, 2023. Bete Amanuel is a spectacular church carved out of a single rock in northern Ethiopia. It makes an appearance in the video game Age of Empires II as the wonder of the Ethiopian civilization. Contents1 One of the Reasons We’re in Ethiopia2 Want to visit Lalibela with Mas?3 First Visit to Bete Amanuel4 Second Visit to Bete Amanuel5 Bete Amanuel as Represented in Age of Empires II5.1 AoE2 Bete Amanuel vs. the Real Deal5.2 Campaign appearance of Bete Amanuel5.3 Why Bete Amanuel and not the arguably moreContinue reading

Hitchhiking Routes, Trips and Maps

Welcome to my travel overview page! Here you can find out where I've been, which countries I've written about, and what major routes I've hitchhiked and paddled since 2013.  All with nice maps! [toc] Use the table of contents to find what you're looking for. Please be aware that it's an enormous job to keep this page up-to-date. If you have any questions, drop a comment all the way at the bottom! My Articles Projected onto a Map Zoom and drag across the map to see if I've written about a specific location. You can click a map location pin to read the corresponding article. I placed some articles on a seamount in the middle of the ocean if it's not location-based. Some generic articles about a country are placed near its center. Map markers are color-coded into topics: hitchhiking, kayaking + sailing + swimming + ferries/cruises, hiking + nature + cycling, informative, guest + collaborative posts and interviews, digital… Read more >