2012

Okay so it's almost done. 2012 is almost over. Just a couple of hours left until a new year. I guess this would the right time to look back at this year and realise what an amazing year this has been. Last year I was in Austria on a skiing-trip when 2012 started. We shot fireworks into the mountains and drank a little champagne to celebrate the start of a year that was going to bring me (looking back..) one of the biggest adventures in my life. I think I can say that 2012, for me, equals travelling. Travelling everywhere, all the time. I have never travelled more in a year. I discovered the fun there is to find in travelling. And I also discovered the sweat, tears and pain that come with it. Not just from the Muay Thai but also from being homesick, getting foodpoisoning twice and having to say goodbye to some people I will never forget.

I thought I'd make a little list to all the places I travelled to this year, in chronological order:
Starting in January:
Went on a skiing-trip in Austria, stayed with my second family in a chalet in a little town called Niedernsill, near Innsbruck. This trip I decided I will definitely go on more skiing-trips whenever I get the chance. Snowboarding is awesome.

February:
Left for Asia on February 8th in the early evening. Had to say a very emotional goodbye to my family and by the time I arrived at Frankfurt Airport for my stopover I called home crying asking my mom what the fuck I was doing and if she would come pick me up.. I got myself together and decided to still get on the plane to Bangkok later that night. It would just be a waste of money otherwise and I could always fly back the next day.. When I was in the plane everything fell into place and I got my travelling/being-on-myself-mode on. Problem solved.

I arrived in Bangkok, three days later my trip around Indo-China started! February 11th, in the early mornign we took off for Poipet, a small place near the Cambodian border to get our Cambodian visas. Then we drove to Siam Reap. After a day in Siam Reap (and luckily áfter we saw Angkor Wat) I got horrible foodpoisoning. First time I had to go to a hospital for myself, got fluids through IV and a shitload of antibiotics. I took me about a week to recover..  After spending another night in Siam Reap, I travelled to Phnom Penh to meet up with my group as they left the day before. After Phnom Penh we went to Sihanoekville. The beach! Finally! But hey, Mother Nature isn't always with you so we had rain instead of much sunshine. Didn't take away our fun though. We went to visit the beautiful Ream National
Park and went through the mangroves by foot. Ended with a lovely BBQ on the beach and ate baracudda for the first time in my life.

Then our Cambodia experience was over and we set off for Vietnam. Drove to the Vietnamese border which we had to cross by foot. We got our stamps (happy like a little kid every time we got a stamp in our passport) and we walked to the other side of the border. There we got into another bus and we drove to Chau Doc. This little town gave us our first real Vietnam experience. Completely different from Cambodia but no less special. We went to watch the sunset on top a mountain and I remember feeling like a boss right there at that place, for being so far from home, recovered from food poisoning  surrounded by amazing people at the most surreal and mundane spot that could've been found in that town. I was doing it! Travelling on my own!

We only stayed in Chau Doc for one night, so the early next morning we got on the bus and went for a really long drive to Saigon, otherwise known as Ho Chi Minh City. I'd been looking forward to this destination from the beginning because my final history exam in high school was all about the Vietnam-war and we were going to see the Cu Chi tunnels. We went to Saigon, stayed there for two nights and then set off to Nha Trang, another beach town  And again: rain. Luckily we took a trip to an island called 'Monkey Island' and I got burned like a burger on a BBQ once again.
After Nha Trang we headed up north towards Hoi An, a sweet little town full of tailors and good food. Hung around for about two days, then we travelled to Hue. That's were the cold hit us. Hue is pretty far up north already and all we had packed for 'Asia' was shorts. Nobody told us Vietnam was going to be cold as shit. Shit even got worse when we travelled to Halong Bay. This was the most beautiful place I think I've seen during my adventure. Definitely something this was on top of my bucket list and we even got to kayak there. The day we were there was also my mums birthday which made it just a little more special. We went back to Hanoi after Halong Bay but by the time we were in Hanoi we were done with Vietnam. Too many motorbikes, too many people and way too cold. You can imagine how exited we were to get on the plane towards Vientiane, Laos!

We arrived by plane at Vientiane and we drove around the city on bicycles. After Vientiane we took a bus to Vang Vieng; TUBING!! We were so sad about having to leave Vang Vieng. It's just a dusty small town in the middle of nowhere. But God, so amazing. You can do anything there, and everyone was just so relaxed. I could've stayed there for a really long time. But hey, travelling means moving so we drove to Luang Prabang next. A bit more of a cultural experience, got to feed the monks and visit the night market.
After Luang Prabang our Laos experience was over as well. We got on a boat on the Mekong river for about two days, stayed overnight in the smallest place I've ever been in; Pak Beng and then we arrived in Thailand once again. We arrived near Chiang Kong where we stayed a night. The next day we drove to Chiang Mai, were I had my first real Muay Thai training and after we were done in Chiang Mai we got on the train towards Bangkok again.

That was the end of my 'organised' trip, so now we we're on our own. It was March 12th by now.
Me and the boys decided to travel together some more. We wanted to go more down south. We stayed in Bangkok for two more days and then got a plane to Phuket. Phuket was full of tourist, but good beaches and we had great fun. We stayed at Karon and Kata Beach and when we were done with that I arranged a boat trip for us towards Krabi. We stayed at Au Nang for about four days, visited Koh Phi Phi and went to the beach again. After that I felt it was the right time for me to go to Koh Samui to start my Muay Thai training, which I had been dying for. I booked a flight from Krabi to Koh Samui, got picked up by the Gym's owner and I still had three months of travelling left.
Travelling got less important when I was there. I just stayed at Chaweng most of the time. Didn't really visit other places, only left the island once for my visa run to Malaysia. Staying on Koh Samui was the right thing to do. I met amazing people there. I met so many people in that first month as well, but certain people I met on Koh Samui will stay with me forever.
I had to go back home May 30th.
The were all my 'Asian-places-travelled-to'.

When I got back I was broke-ass. So I had to work again, also because I had made the decision to travel again next year. I got to go to Bretagne, France for two weeks with my family in August and after that travelling was done for 2012.

In total I already visited 11% of this earth. I think that's a fair amount for the fact that I'm just twenty years old.

This percentage will be bigger within a week, because January 6th I'm off to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to visit my good friend Jeferson. One of the special ones I met on Samui. I plan on going back to Thailand around the end of March if all goes well. Still don't really know where I want to go but I guess I'll figure that out. So 2013 will be all about travelling again, until I start University in the fall. I'm starting University for sure this year. I really will.. Just like I said last year. No seriously haha, I will study Cultural Antropology and Sociology at the University of Amsterdam. A study that will allow me to travel for the rest of my life. Sounds like a plan to me!

In case you didn't know already, I'm a person that loves to make lists. Bucket-list, Things-to-do-lists,  Places-travelled-to-lists, etc. So here's a list of things I did or didn't do in 2012:

( ) stayed single for the whole year
( ) made out in/on a car
( ) kissed in the snow
( ) celebrated Halloween
(x) kissed in the rain
(x) had your heart broken
( ) broke someone else’s heart
( ) had a stalker
(x) went over the minutes on your cell phone
( ) someone questioned your sexual orientation
( ) gotten pregnant
( ) had an abortion
(x) have a relationship with someone you’ll never forget
(x) done something you’ve regretted
(x) lost faith in love
( ) kissed under a mistletoe

OTHER
(x) painted a picture
(x) wrote a poem
(x) ran a mile
( ) shopped at Hollister or Abercrombie and Fitch
(x) posted a blog
(x) listened to music you couldn’t stand
(x) went to a sleepover
(x) went camping
( ) threw a surprise party
(x) laughed till you cried
(x) laughed till you peed in your pants
(x) visited a foreign country
(x) cut in a line of waiting people
(x) told someone you were busy when you weren’t
(x) partied to celebrate the new year
(x) cooked a disastrous meal
(x) lost something/someone important to you in 2012

I…
(x) broke a promise
(x) lied
(x) went behind your parents back
(x) disappointed someone close
(x) hid a secret
(x) pretended to be happy
(x) slept under the stars
(x) kept your new years resolution
(x) forgot your new years resolution
(x) met someone who changed your life
( ) met one of your idols
(x) changed your outlook on life
(x) sat home all day doing nothing
( ) pretended to be sick
(x) left the country
(x) almost died
(x) given up something important to you
( ) lost something expensive
(x) learned something new about yourself
(x) tried something you normally wouldn’t try and liked it
(x) made a change in your life
(x) found out who your true friends were
(x) met great people
(x) stayed up til sunrise
(x) Cried over the silliest thing
( ) was never home on weekends
(x) got into a car accident
(x) had friends who were drifting away from you
(x) had someone close to you die
(x) had a high cell phone bill
( ) spent most of your money on food
(x) had a fist fight
(x) went to the beach with your best friend
(x) saw a celebrity
(x) gotten sick
( ) liked more than 5 people at the same time
(x) became closer with a lot of people

This year I also discovered the true value of many and how hard you have to work for it to get some. Ever since I came back I have been working my ass of to save money. I start work really early, get home, sleep, train and work again the next day. And it just goes on and on. It pays off, I'm saving money. But I'm learned that not everything in life is worth paying for and sometimes it's better to keep the money in your pocket instead of spending it. You want everything all the time, but it's not always worth it. So better be wise and think about the consequences of spending it now or saving it for later. Most of the time 'saving-it-for-later' will be the right thing to do. I definitely learned that one. Money doesn't grow on trees. 

Some other things I also did and learned this year:

Collected about €460,- for children with a disease

Learned how to make an origami-dinosaur

Won my fight by K.O 

Trained my ass off

Partied with some of the most amazing people

And had the best trainers one could wish for

2012 was an awesome year and if 2013 only will be half as good it will still be great as fuck. I have no expectations for next year, I just want a good health, lots of travelling, great people around me and not too many struggles.. I was able to conquer this year, so if all goes well I should be able to conquer the world.. Or at least next year. I wish everyone all the best for next year. Let's make 2013 a great one, one to remember, just like last year. Be thankful for all we've had, and grateful for all the things that will come. And if I can make one last wish for 2012: PLEASE LET ME WIN THE LOTTERY TONIGHT, 30 MILLION EURO'S WOULD BE JUST FINE! Amen.

This year will go out with a bang at a great party tonight accompanied by my sister, everyone; have great evening and don't do anything I wouldn't do! 

See you next year. 


(for more pictures and stories about Asia, you can visit my blog about Asia: click here to go to blog , it's in dutch though..)

AMSTERDAM & UNIVERSITY

 This saturday me and my sister had to go to Amsterdam to visit an introduction day at the University of Amsterdam. Eventhough I love travelling, there is no escaping University. So next fall I will start studying. Only problem is that I don't have a clue yet what to study. For seven years I said I would go to Lawschool to become a kickass-lawyer but after getting back from Asia I lost all motivation for that study so I withdrew my application (jup, I already applied before I left to make sure I'd get in) and I had to start all over again thinking about what I would like to do with the rest of my life. This gave me headaches and I thought I'd never find something. Until I read about the study: Cultural and Social Antropology. Everything fell into place. I could still travel, mean something to a lot of people in the world and in general it's something that I just love to know more about. Reading stuff online is not everything so yesterday I got to take some classes and talk with some students that were already in their 3th or 4th year of this study. The study sounded just as good in real life as it did online so I guess I finally found something I want to do! It feels like a weight just dropped of my shoulders. My parents couldn't believe it at first when I told them I wanted to study 'Antropology' because this study always comes along as old-fashioned and boring. But it has changed so much compared to thirty years ago. Nowadays it's a really interesting study and I can't wait to start. Guess my plans to conquer the world are starting to get shape. Watch out. Oh and did I mention how much I love Amsterdam? I freaking love Amsterdam.

Back to school, it felt weird to be sitting in a classroom again and to have to listen to a teacher telling me things. This is going to be fun next year..

Temperatures were freezing yesterday and it rained almost all day but that didn't keep me and my sister from having a great day. Wednesday we get to go to Amsterdam again, sweet! 

Nothing finishes a cold and rainy day better than a cup of hot chocolate and some newly purchased books. 

I guess I finally found my study, my future got a little bit brighter yesterday. Exiting times are ahead. Brazil in January, Thailand by the end of March and University in September. Big decision-making in progress and I'm just happy things are falling into place bit by bit. Okay, thanks for reading and take care! More posts will come soon! :)

Life and all its struggles

Life is not easy. That's something I found out quite some time ago already. Life is throwing things at you and you just have to make sure you catch the rights and duck from the wrongs. You learn by making mistakes and you grow from experiences. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I travelled to Asia on my own last year. The first picture below is that very first picture that was taken of me when I started my journey. The second picture is the last picture that was taken of me at the end of my journey. There are exactly 111 days in between, and I still can't really believe how much I have changed. On the first picture we had just landed in BKK and I was so happy I survived that long flight on my own. I was so tired of all the impressions and I guess I didn't really realize yet that I would be on my own for about four months. I didn't have a clue of what was coming for me at that time. 

The second picture was taken by Matteo when Arjen and me were at Koh Samui Airport to go home. By that time I had seen 5 Asian countries, gained a pretty sweet tan, improved my muay thai skills, spoke some Thai, learned to eat rice for breakfast, decided not to go to University after summer and most importantly I got so much more independent and confident. I was still alive! I found out being on your own isn't as hard as it sounds. Yeah of course, I struggled at times, but looking back now, this was probably one of the best decisions of my life. I gained so much of this trip. I met so many new people. It really makes you think about how big this world is and how many people are living on this planet. I feel like I met the whole world while really I haven't even met 1/100 of it. I met some nice people and I met some not so nice people. I met some people I'd rather not have met and I met people that will stay with me forever. I quickly found out not to trust everyone but also figured out that most people are willing to help you if you are in need. Everyone is human. That's for sure. I guess Asia made me grow up. And made me a little more the person that I am right now. 

Like I said, life's not easy. I'm still young, I'm still learning every single day and for now I'm just catching the things life throws at me and I'm trying to make the best of it. I read this quote one day and every time something isn't going as planned or when things turn for the worse I think of this quote.

'Even if you fall flat on your face, you're still moving forward'

Life wasn't made to be easy. Life was made to be worth it. I decided not to go to college yet. To travel some more before starting another chapter of my life. I thought I'd only be going to Asia again. Those plans changed already. I'm going to Rio as well now. Things change. Change isn't always a bad thing. I can say I'm not really good with changes. But sometimes change is what a person needs. So Rio in January, Thailand in March, University in September and after that, the rest of my life. 

People, we can conquer the world. Don't ever let someone tell you you can't do something. Prove them wrong. And remember, Karma's a bitch. Do good, get good. What goes around comes, around and when life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life you've got a thousand reasons to smile. I could go on in quotes for about on hour more but I'll leave it here. I just needed to get this of my chest. Had my mind going for a while. Okay, now go and enjoy the rest of your day. Carpe Diem. 

Early Bird

Got up early this morning to drive my sister to the train station because she had an introduction day at one of the possible universities she might be attending next year. The temperatures keep reminding me of the fact that winter is getting extremely close. I really don't like this time of the year. I like either a hot summer or a really cold winter with snow and ice. Not this wet-cold-inbetween stuff. Can't wait for the temperatures to finally drop below zero. 

It was also really foggy this morning. I love what fog does to the world, it makes it so mysterious. Feels like you are one of the only persons on this world, just because you can't see the rest. Call me crazy but that's how I feel haha. I can really enjoy getting up early some days. I don't like getting up tó early, but wake up just around 7.30am and go for a little stroll can do me so well. The little things in life I guess.

They See Me Rollin', They Hatin'

 If, for some reason, my career doesn't work out in my future life I can always consider becoming a cab-driver. This Tuesday I got to drive my entire family around. First off I had to drive my mom to the hospital for minor surgery, then had to take my dad to another city, drive home to pick up my sister to take her to yet another place, wait there for over an hour, drive myself and my sister back to the hospital to pick up my mom and last but not least training in the evening. I drove about 200km this day and for Holland, that's quite a big amount. I didn't mind though because I freaking love driving.

One thing that I really don't like when driving is getting stuck behind one of these on a small road with no option of taking over. We were stuck behind this truck for about 15 minutes. I guess that's what happends when you live in a bit of a farmer's country. We tried to make the best of it of course, cranked up the radio and let the good times rollll. Haha no just kidding. Well, we were 'rolling'.. Haha okay, enough. 

When we arrived to the hospital we had to bring a wheelchair to pick up my mom because she isn't allowed to walk for a couple of days. I work at the hospital as well so I know my ways. We tried to behave, as much as possible. But yeah, haha you probably already figured that thát is something that isn't going to work with me and my sister. She ended up driving me around like a crazy person and we had a blast. Don't know if the nurses were all that happy with us, but at least my mom could hear us coming from the other side of the building. All was good and well and I had a great day. So maybe yet another future career prospect, we'll see!

2013

I bet my 2013 is starting better than yours. Why? I'm going to Rio, that's why! I took another year of for travelling and I realised travelling didn't only have to include Asia. So I decided to pay a little visit to one of my close friends living in Rio. Can't wait! After Rio I will return back home again, work some more and then I'm off to Thailand again by the end of march. Sweet times are coming up. I just really love the fact that I'm young, free and able to do stuff like this. Just chasing my dreams, a thing everyone should do. 

Luxury Problems

My head has been going like crazy the last couple of weeks and one of the reasons for that is that I have to start thinking again about what I'm going to do in Asia. This is giving me a headache big time. I don't know where to go. This is a problem I never expected to have. It's a luxury-problem. I want to train and I want to learn more about the culture. I'm done with all those partying tourists. I have seen enough of that last year. Also I don't necessarily feel the need to travel around that much. I don't mind being in one place for a long time. I've done that before and I actually enjoyed that very much. I'm asking you guys for help. If any of you has any suggestions of what I should do or where I should go, please message me (facebook, email, whatever). Oh and if someone has a ticket to Rio or a shitload of money in the very near future, and wants to give that to me, that would be highly appreciated too. 

Another one of my luxury-problems is the fact that I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace, which is great of course. Except for the fact that is only has touchscreen. I always use my phone when I'm riding my bicycle and as temperatures in Holland are starting to freeze, I find myself no longer able of using my phone during my bikerides just because my hands are freezing off. I either had to choose between warm hands, or using my phone. That was.. until yesterday! Because yesterday I found the best solution for this problem ever. They made gloves which allow you to use your touchscreen without freezing your hands off! Made my day. So although I might still be a little bit bummed because of all the other things going on in my mind right now. This is one less problem I have to worry about.

For now I will just enjoy the rest of my free saturday. I'm literally working my ass of lately to save money for travelling. My budget is coming along pretty well but this hard work is wearing me out some days. I just have to keep my focus, remember what it is that I'm working for. It'll pay of eventually. Just need to get there. Tomorrow I have to start work again at seven in the morning, not that bad. I hope next week will be a good week. We'll see what a new week will bring us. 

I'm slowly getting into the whole blogging-thing again. Ideas are always welcome. I'll put up a link to where you can contact me. Take care!

Regular Wednesday

Everyday I get to ride my sweet-ass bicycle. Got it for over two years now and still love every minute of riding it. Except for those ten times a month when it has a flat tire, but we're working on that.. 

 Went for lunch with my friend Iris today, we sat down at 1.00 in the afternoon. Before we knew it it was 15.30 already. Time went by so fast, guess we had a lot of catching up to do! It's always a blast. I love my friends. And I got to enjoy a nice ride to the city. The weather was actually kind of nice today. I guess fall has really started..

Next to Impossible

I'm back, and with that so is my lovely cat. His name is Felix and when he's around I never get anything done. Had to do some studying this afternoon, guess how that went. F to the Ailure. We did have some good quality time though. 

Sib Baht

I will be going back to Asia in less than five months so for that I should probably start planning again. I was kindly reminded by that today at work when a customer tried to pay with ten baht. As this has no value in Holland or whatsoever, my boss let me keep it. This soft touch of Karma really got my mind going again on my plans for when I go back. Still don't really know where I want to go, but I am going haha! Train Muay Thai, teach English, work with elephants. Man I can do anything! Can't freaking wait.

I AM BACK

I decided to start a new blog. I kept a blog for over two years but I couldn't keep that one up to date any longer. And now I just miss the connection between me and my old blog. It was a different life I was living back then. Everything's different now so I figured a new blog would probably be a wise idea. I will use this one to just post stories about things that are on my mind, that keep me busy or thinking. I hope I will update daily of course but we all know how that went with my old blog.. I'm really glad I can start posting again though. I guess I kind of missed this. The one big change compared to my old blog will be that this one will mainly be English, simply because of all the people I met during my Asian Adventure. Couldn't let them down of course. So people, be prepared. I might just start bloggin' again!