Indoor Camping in Belgrade, Serbia

Sometimes, I can’t stand normal-people beds. So I found a cool solution: indoor camping! I know it looks silly, but if you have a free-standing tent like this, it’s actually nice to pitch it indoors and just lounge in it. Yes, you need to roll out your sleeping bag to make it extra comfy. I just love living that tent life. Meanwhile, I’m using my stay in Belgrade (Serbia) to practice my guitar play, host people on CouchSurfing or from Facebook groups, write on the blog, and do small overall improvements. I’m hoping to make this apartment in Belgrade myContinue reading

No-Budget Travel: Why I Can’t Be Arsed to Budget

Long-term travelers receive the same questions all the time about this dreadful topic called “budgeting your trip”. I am the last person to have solid advice for you because I practice no-budget travel. I cringe upon hearing the B-word and the following nonquestions: “How do you fund your travels?” “What’s your daily budget?” “(How much) Do you save for your travels?” My answer to all of them is either “I don’t know” or “who cares?” This is absolutely the most boring topic of travel, and that’s why I’m usually reluctant to share my views. So here goes nothing: First ofContinue reading

Maltese Hitchhiking Route (Approximated)

Take a peek at my next approximated hitchhiking route, bringing me to Malta! It’s three times when I’ll have to hitch a boat: Albania to Italy, Italy to Sicily, and Sicily to Malta. How? I have no clue yet. I’ll see it once I arrive at the next step in the Maltese hitchhiking journey. I’m starting in Belgrade (Serbia), then make my way through Bosnia and Herzegovina—a new country for me. After that, it’s time for a return visit to (perhaps Croatia and) Montenegro and then I’ll see Albania for the first time. In Italy, I’m expecting to see BariContinue reading

Belgrade Marathon 2015 in Serbia’s Morning Rain

This morning, the annual Belgrade Marathon ran through my street. I woke up wondering what all the fuss was about. Turns out a lot of sweaty people were in a hurry, running through some heavy rain. It won’t stop these people! I think I already missed the professional athletes, who must have passed earlier. Perhaps these are the non-competitive runners? As you might have guessed, I’m not much of a runner. High school left me a little traumatized, though nothing was as bad as doing rugby. I’m more of a table tennis person when it comes to sports. With regardsContinue reading

Sunrise at Tašmajdan Park, Belgrade (Serbia)

I love this free apartment, this park named Tašmajdan, and this city Belgrade. It’s a city without much bullshit. It feels like I can finally take a breather here and work on a few things in peace before commencing the next hitchhiking chapter. It’s still in development, but I’m very excited about it. Those nights overthinking plans and processing my past trips sometimes result in me witnessing the first rays of sunlight hit the dome of Saint Mark’s Church. It wouldn’t hurt to sleep, but my mind goes to great lengths to avoid routine. With a cigarette in hand, messy hair,Continue reading

Belgradian Sunset—Serbian Spring

This free home in Belgrade has two balconies on opposite sides of the apartment. That makes it perfect for witnessing the Belgradian sunrise as well as a Belgradian sunset, such as this one. People on Instagram call these types of photos #sunsetporn. I’m not sure if I’m doing it right, not being great at photography but having a passion for pretty pictures nonetheless. I’m trying and occasionally improving. Mastering the self-timer is always the most important part of travel photography, methinks. Spring is here on some of the days. I’m all giddy for where I’ll travel once I leave this comfyContinue reading

Crafting Cyrillic Hitchhiking Signs (Negotin, Serbia)

When hitchhiking with a dear friend of mine in Serbia, it was time to make some new hitchhiking signs. For domestic use, it can be nice to write hitchhiking signs in the Cyrillic alphabet. Like this Београд (Belgrade) sign I was crafting at a café in Negotin. This is not really an area where you expect a non-Serbian driver to stop and pick you up. Also, I love, love, love the Cyrillic script. In the end, hitchhiking in Russia for an extended period of time is still my biggest dream. Unlike some of my dreams, I don’t think this one isContinue reading

AMA: Were you afraid of hitchhiking alone in Central and South America?

A new question for my Ask Me Anything (AMA)! This person wrote the following message about hitchhiking alone in Central and South America: Hello Iris, I guess you got million times this question but it’d be fantastic if you could help with your advice. I need to get rid of my doubts and I finally push myself to follow my dream of hitchhiking Central and South America. I’m planning to do a similar route to what you have done. However, as a solo woman, I’m concerned about safety in these countries. Were you ever afraid of hitchhiking alone? How didContinue reading

Hotel Moskva: Perhaps My Favorite Building in Belgrade (Serbia)

I don’t only appreciate brutalist architecture; it’s one of many styles I enjoy looking at. Hotel Moskva is one of my favorite buildings in Belgrade, Serbia. It’s a pretty iconic building and looks just so cozy. I’m absolutely dying to go to Moscow one day (and perhaps stay at the Belgrad Hotel over there, you know, for symmetry purposes). And no, I’ve never entered the Hotel Moskva because I imagine it to be very fancy. So instead, I’m waiting here across the street for a friend to arrive from the Netherlands. ) is one of my favorite buildings in Belgrade, Serbia.Continue reading