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