Tag: wanderlust

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Villa Augustus – My Secret Garden (Well, Not So Secret Anymore)

As soon as the first warm rays of sunshine peek through the clouds and the buds dare to bloom, I too emerge—like some sleepy bear stepping out of hibernation. I always say it, loud and clear: I do not like winter. Full stop. But spring? Spring gives me wings. Literally. Like in that famous energy drink ad—but prettier and more poetic.

The sun lures me outside like a mischievous child waving a secret, and I can’t resist. I toss a book into the basket of my bike and start pedaling. I cross the Merwede by ferry, that charming little detour, and lose myself among the narrow streets of Dordrecht—a town that’s been around since 1220 and proudly holds the title of the oldest city in South Holland.
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China – Horns, History & a Hint of Chaos – Part 1

Ni hao, Communist nostalgia!” – My First Days in Shanghai

The moment you land at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, you feel it. That vague, stiff air of communism—like a flashback to a different era, especially if you’ve lived through one. The border agent looks at you like you’ve just been caught with a suitcase full of secrets, eyes sharp, posture military. Maybe it’s just the uniform. Maybe it’s my 17-hour flight-induced paranoia. Either way, I found myself wondering if I’d accidentally broken a law just by blinking too often.

One thing’s for sure: do not take photos in the airport. I made that mistake with the enthusiasm of a clueless tourist and was swiftly, politely-but-firmly shut down by the Chinese police.

Welcome to China, land of dragons, dynasties, dumplings… and very clear rules. Read more

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Thirty-five

Postcard from the Airport

Thirty-five! I made it so far.

Here I am—on my way to Paris. Airports have always fascinated me. They’re chaotic, colorful micro-cities where stories pass through like wind. I always feel like an ant in an anthill—buzzing, moving, waiting.

Me and my Starbucks coffee, parked on a chair in Terminal Whatever. Watching people. Observing lives in transit. Everyone here is carrying a story. Some wrapped in silence, others bursting at the seams. The airport is just a pit stop in their life’s journey, but oh, what a diverse parade of humanity! Read more