Uncategorized

The Grachtengordel of Amsterdam

Anyone flying from above would have a clear view of the interwoven image that the city of Amsterdam displays. It looks like a spider’s web from above, but is a system of streets, canals, quays, bridges and residential houses. The lots show an identical picture of equal length and width, and they have more or less courtyard gardens.

The Primeval Canals

The inner city of Amsterdam runs along four major ones, namely the Singel, the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht and the Prinsengracht. The canals all run toward the Amstel River, but do not end there. At later times, these canals were further extended with the new Herengracht, Nieuwe Keizersgracht and new Prinsengracht. They then run from the Amstel to the Muidergracht in the northeastern part of the area. The uniqueness of this ring of canals is that it is centuries old. It is an ironclad painting and urban planning concept and gives the picture of the development of the area at that time, the prosperity that was there. It has no been altered over the centuries, proud other larger structures have been erected around it. It is therefore not surprising that it is on INESCO’s World Heritage List. It is one of the city’s main tourist attractions.

The Canal Museum

To highlight the genesis of the canal district, an interactive and multimedia exhibition has been created in the museum. Through models, animations, 3D and wall projections, the old-time image is created. There is also a dollhouse, where you can view the rooms of the canal house through the Peppers Ghost technique. In addition to the exhibition, you can also view the period rooms on the bell floor and thus the garden. The museum was opened, following the inclusion of Amsterdam’s ring of canals on the World Heritage List in 2010, set up in 2011. The museum is located at Herengracht 386 in an ancient building designed since 1663. It is a building rich in the history of the time in terms of trade that was conducted within that building. It even had international trade. It also developed strong ties with the United States of America here. Even during the American War of Independence from 1775 to 1790, Americans were supported from here with credits and shares by Dutch bankers.

Floating Amsterdam
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 30a
1012 GD Amsterdam

https://www.floating-amsterdam.nl/en/

Travelling tips

Fotokunst nog bijzonderder!

De ontwikkeling van de eerste fotocamera heeft een enorme impact gehad op ons dagelijks leven, helemaal in deze moderne tijd zijn we haast geobsedeerd door het vastleggen van alles dat we beleven. Van de kleine tot grote momenten die ons geluk brengen, ons inspireren of ons motiveren. Fotografie is een ware kunstvorm geworden welke een steeds grote plaats heeft ingenomen. Mooie natuur foto’s van landschappen, bossen en de zee en foto’s van steden en architectuur herinneren ons op een elegante of kunstzinnige manier aan de wereld die buiten op ons wacht. Gelimiteerde oplagen zorgen er voor dat je iets unieks bezit, een foto welke gemaakt is met passie en met liefde nog bijzonderder gemaakt door de druk van de foto op plexiglas.

Laat de foto tot leven komen!


Een moderne en zeer elegante manier om iets speciaals toe te voegen in huis óf in kantoor is het ophangen van een prachtige foto dat is afgedrukt op plexiglas. Maar waarom op plexiglas? Plexiglas is een kunststof die eenvoudig behandelbaar is om iedere foto een passende afwerking te geven die de foto écht tot leven laten komen. Zo kan het plexiglas een matte, glanzende of glossy afwerking gegeven worden die bijdraagt aan het verhaal dat de foto vertelt. Daarnaast is plexiglas ook eenvoudig te onderhouden en blijft het zijn hoge kwaliteit houden bij goed onderhoud. Verder biedt het veel mogelijkheden voor verdere afwerking, bedrukt van rand tot rand, een transparante of donkere border behoort tot de mogelijkheden en ook zijn foto’s op plexiglas in verschillende diktes te laten maken. Zo hang je een mooie foto, gedrukt op dun plexiglas mooi aan de muur maar kun je deze ook als mooi kunstwerk op een dikker stuk plexiglas laten drukken die je mooi op een dressoir kunt neerzetten.

Zo werkt het.


Landschapsfoto’s, portretten, architectuur en meer. Wanneer je iets bijzonders aan de muur wilt hebben hangen dan wil je natuurlijk alleen de beste kwaliteit! En hiervoor wordt alleen gebruikt gemaakt van de meest hoogwaardige materialen. Een belangrijke basis hiervoor is Dibond. Dibond is een materiaal dat bestaat uit drie lagen bestaande uit een laag zwarte polyetheen, een stevig kunststof en twee lagen aluminium. Foto’s worden eerst op hoge resolutie afgedrukt waarna deze op het Dibond worden gelijmd. Bovenop de foto wordt een plaat kwalitatief hoogwaardig plexiglas van 3mm gelijmd. Het plexiglas geeft de foto’s niet alleen een bijzonder mooie afwerking maar zorgen er daarnaast ook nog eens voor dat de kleurintensiteit bewaard blijft. Ook biedt het plexiglas een extra dimensie aan de foto toe waardoor je bijna vergeet dat je naar een foto aan het kijken bent! En om deze illusie nog meer kracht bij te zetten komt iedere foto op plexiglas standaard met een aluminium ophangsysteem aan de achterkant waarmee de
foto alkmaar voor de muur lijkt te zweven.

Top 5's

Top 5 places to go scuba diving

Escape the world and go scuba diving and experience true freedom. These 5 spots should be on your diving list if you are looking for the best locations.

Barracuda point, Malaysia

Malaysia has a lot of great diving spots and within the Sipidan Islands you can find Barracuda Point.  Barracuda Point is one of the best in the world, because of the great reefs it has to offer. As the name suggests, you’ll see a lot of barracuda. Your dive will start between enormous amounts of barracuda and your dive will finish with beautiful reefs and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see a white-tip shark.

The Yongala, Australia

This site is found just of the coast of Queensland. When diving here, you’ll stumble across a shipwreck that offers one of the biggest variety of sea life. You’ll find sharks, stingrays and beautiful coral reefs. This is a great location if you are looking for something different.

The Red Sea, Egypt

Egypt on its own is unbelievable and The Red Sea offers one of the most spectacular dives that can be done. At Thistlestorm, you can see a sunken British army ship, where you’ll find bikes, cars and weapons scattered along the seabed. Not too far away, you’ll find another great location. At Shark and Yolanda reef, you can witness beautiful coral reefs, sharks and anemone. Egypt is definitely one for the books!

Palau Islands, Micronesia

Here you have a variety of drop off points and every location offers a completely different experience. you can find schools of fish, big reefs and World War II wrecks. The great Jelly fish lake can also be found among the islands. The great variety and crystal clear water surely care for a memorable experience.

Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Hawaii alone is a great island to visit and the Manta Ray Night Dive offers for an amazing diving experience. Underwater lights attract a huge amount of plankton, which attracts the gorgeous manta rays. The rays surround you during your dive and it truly is a unique experience.

These scuba diving locations will care for an experience that will be remembered for a long time, so be sure to visit them

Budget trips

The city of Kualu Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is famous for the fact that you can travel cheap and still have an unforgettable experience. It’s the biggest city in the country and also the capitol of Malaysia. There are a lot of sights to be seen and great things to do.

Things to do

The most famous tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur, are the Petronas Towers. It’s beautiful during the day and night, but during the night it is a remarkable sight to see when there are thousands of light that are lit around the building. There are water shows in the evening at 8, 9 and 10 o’clock at the Lake Symphony Fountains, which are located in front of the building and the show is spectacular. Be sure to buy tickets online if you want to visit the towers. The tickets are $21. With this ticket you get a tour of the building. If you don’t want to do the tour, you can view from the surrounding park.

For a more natural experience, you can visit the Batu caves. These caves are located just outside the city. It is a big Hindu temple with birds flying high and monkeys running through the trees. This is a free sight that can be visited. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as you will have to walk a lot of stairs and wear clothing that covers your knees and elbows.

The park

The lake garden is also a breath-taking scenery in the center of the city. It is a park that is located in the city center where you can take a break from the city life. It’s free to enter the park and there are a lot of things to do here. The following can be found in the park: Bird Park, the national museum, Royal Malaysian museum and more. There is a deer park that is free to enter, but the rest have a fee attached.

Food

The food is really cheap in Malaysia and there is a food street market that should be visited. Here you can find Thai, Chinese, Indian and Malay food. A basic meal with a drink can cost about $4.50, which is not bad. The average daily cost in Kuala Lumpur would be around $30.

Where to sleep

If you are just looking for a bed to crash in for a few nights that has nothing expensive or amazing, you can find a hotel or a backpacking site for around $20 per night. Just book in time if you want to stay at a hotel to make it a bit cheaper.

Transportation

To get around in Kuala Lumpur is not that difficult. You can use public transport like the bus and the train as they go often. More routes have recently been added to the system so it goes to different areas now. Just be sure to plan your trip so you know where to go to avoid any difficulties.

Kuala Lumpur is a great city that is perfect for a budget tour and also a beautiful city. Be sure to visit this city if you are looking for budget trip and a great experience.

Top 5's

City guide: Top 5 cities that must be visited

There are a lot of cities to travel to, but some are just more special than others. This city guide hosts the top 5 cities that must be visited.

New York, USA

The big apple, New York is one of the biggest cities and definitely one of the most famous in the world. This is a proper city experience with skyscrapers and a jam packed streets. This city houses the statue of liberty and central park. Don’t forget to take a classic yellow cab while you are there.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world. This city gives you the freedom that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. This is a very liberal city with beautiful cannels and friendly people. There are also a lot of museums to visit and there are great sceneries to be seen.

Paris, France

Paris is the city of love and that’s also the feeling you get when you are there. Rooms with a view of the Eifel tower just give you that special feeling. The louvre museum is another iconic landmark that is found in the city. The palace of Versaille is also a beautiful and breath-taking part of their history.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The capitol of Brazil has become a hotspot in South America. The beautiful beaches and the incredible sceneries care for a memorable experience. The Christ the Redeemer statue is a landmark that can be seen throughout Rio. You can also go to the rainforest and have a walk through the jungle.

Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is a beautiful city that gives you a classic holiday feeling. With long beaches and amazing wineries all care for a great holiday. Take a safari and witness the amazing wildlife. You can visit Table Mountain and get a breath-taking view of the city.

I hope that this city guide gave you an insight to some of the best cities in the world. Go here for more city travels.

Top 5's

Top 5 budget travels

Are you looking for budget travels, but don’t know where to go? This is our top 5 cheapest countries to visit.

1.Turkey

Turkey is one of the cheapest countries in the world, but still very beautiful. In turkey it would cost about $30 per person daily. This certainly is not a lot considering the temples and the beaches that could be visited here. The historic ottoman temple is also found here.

2. Nepal

Nepal is a country that is often forgotten about. In Nepal you can hike amazing trials and drink the freshest coffee in the world. Mount Everest is also located in Nepal and an amazing sight to see. With beautiful jungles and natural scenes, it’s amazing how you could pay as little as $3 per night.

3.Colombia

This is a perfect summer vacation with beautiful beaches and a lot of sunshine. With $28 a day you can have a holiday that would not feel like a budget trip. You can join one of the carnivals or see where Pablo Escobar lived. I would especially recommend the city of Cartagena for a budget trip.

4.The Republic of Georgia

This country was taken straight out of a medieval storybook. With green mountains, amazing wine countries and great hiking trails makes this a top contender. The people are also very friendly and welcoming and will love to have a conversation with you. With $17 per day, you can survive and still enjoy the sights.

5.Thailand

Thailand is a beautiful country that is not hard on your bank account. It’s a very tropical destination where you can visit mountaintop temples and visit beaches. Playing with elephants is also a great attraction here and for as little as about $6 a night you can sleep in a room.

These five countries might be budget travels, but should most definitely not be overlooked. We also have backpacking trips and travelling tips that can help you plan your next trip.  

City trips Uncategorized

Things do to in Amsterdam, Netherlands

There are a lot of things to do and see in Amsterdam. With a balance between crazy nightlife and a long history makes it one of the most popular cities in the world.

What to see

Amsterdam is one of the freest cities in the world. There is a lot to see in Amsterdam, but I’d recommend that you start with a walking or canal boat tour. This way you can see the beauty of the city and all its colors. If you don’t like water or walking, there is also the option to hop on a bike and ride through the city. There are a lot of places to hire a bike in the city and travelling by bicycle is very popular in The Netherlands.

There are a lot of museums in Amsterdam. The most popular museums are the Van Gogh museum and Rijksmuseum. The Van Gogh museum holds the biggest collection of van Gogh’s artwork. If you are a fan of art, you’ll find the Rijksmuseum not too far away. These are two great art museums with a lot of history. If art is not for you, you can also visit the Heineken museum where you can learn more about the most popular beer in Netherlands and how it’s made.

Nightlife

The nightlife in Amsterdam is big. The red light district is filled with tourists when the sun goes down and I would only recommend you go see it for 10 minutes for the experience and then go have a proper Amsterdam nightlife outing. There are a lot of clubs and bars in the city center that will be like you have never seen. One of the best clubs is Radion. Radion is open 7 days a week and almost all hours. They are mostly into techno, but they add variety to it. Be sure to buy tickets beforehand if there is an event.  

To be more relaxed on your night out, you can visit a variety of bars by just walking through the streets and looking around. Canvas is a great bar where you are on a rooftop and a sunset over the city can be seen. It’s not exactly in the city center, but is easy to reach with public transport.

Transportation

There are a lot of ways to get around Amsterdam. You can take the tram, bus, walk or ride a bike. Walking would be the best as you can then see all the sights and beautiful buildings.  There are also hop-on, hop-off buses that allow you to see the whole city. Just be sure to buy tickets these buses.

Foods to try

Amsterdam has a lot food that should be tried and most of them can be found while walking through the streets. At almost any street take away shop, you can buy patat. This is potato fries that are fried, topped with sauce of your choice and really good. There are different sauces and combinations to choose from, but you will surely buy this more than once where you can then experiment for yourself. If you are having a beer and a little hungry makes bitterballen the perfect snack. This is a deep fried meaty snack that’s served with mustard or mayonnaise.

Amsterdam offers a lot of things to do and once you’ve seen this city, you will realize why it’s so popular among the rest of the world. This is one of the best cities that I have ever traveled to.

Backpacking trips

Visiting the Pyramids of Egypt and more

Egypt has a lot to offer, from the pyramids and ancient statues to snorkeling above the corals reefs in the red sea. The only way to see everything in Egypt is by backpacking.

Cairo

Obviously the first thing that you would want to visit is the pyramids of Egypt. The great pyramid of Giza and the great Sphinx of Giza are the most iconic places to see. Since you probably will be landing in Cairo, it’s a good idea to stay in Cairo and visit the pyramids in the morning. They are located just outside the city and are easy to reach. In Cairo is also where the great Egyptian museum can be found. Here you’ll find all antiquities and they can be viewed here. The Khan el-Khalili is a major bazaar where you can buy souvenirs and handmade crafts. Camel riding is extremely popular here and can be done in most of the cities in Egypt.

Luxor

Another great city to visit is Luxor. To get to Luxor from Cairo can be done with an overnight train. What more can you want as a backpacker? The train drives next to the Nile river. A day train or bus can also be used to travel to Luxor. In Luxor you will find the largest open-air museums in the world. Luxor is home to a lot of ancient temples and tombs that can be visited.

Dahab

If you want to go snorkeling or diving, it can be done in Luxor as well as Dahab, but Dahab is more popular among divers. No matter which location you choose, you will have a great experience. With the beautiful coral reefs and clear waters is easy to see why it’s so popular. In Dahab you can also visit the St Catherine monastery and if you don’t like camel riding, you can go on a horse riding expedition in Dahab.

Train, bus and metros

The public transport system works well and they have buses, trains and metros. There are also taxi’s, but are not needed that much. The roads are not very safe and people drive very recklessly. Egypt has the highest number of incidents per mile driven in the world. Therefore you should be careful when walking in the streets and also try to find a good taxi driver if you might need one.

Don’t underestimate the heat

Do not forget that Egypt is a desert. Therefore it is extremely hot. During the summer times temperatures can rise to 45 degrees Celsius. In the winter months it’s colder, but still fairly hot. In the evenings the temperature drops significantly and in the winter it can even get 0 degrees.

How much does it cost to sleep ?

If you are just looking for a dorm room that might have AC, you’d be paying $6 at most per night. For a decent hotel you would be paying about $20 per night. Either way, it is not too expensive.

The Egyptian diet

Their diet consists of a lot of legumes, vegetables and sometimes fruit, but a lot of spices. Kushari is a dish that simply must be tried when visiting Egypt. It is a mixture of rice and pasta filled with a variety of vegetables and topped with thick tomato paste. Alexandrian liver and sausage is a classic street food that can be bought here. It is a bit spicy as they are both the liver and sausage are topped with spicy pepper and both are served with a pickle. But a great serving of kebab can be found everywhere for the meat lovers.

Egypt offers a lot more than just the pyramids and should therefore be visited. This is the ideal country for an unforgettable backpacking experience.

Looking for more backpacking trips? Be sure to visit the Fijian Islands. If you want to visit more in Africa, be sure to visit Cape Town, South Africa.

Budget trips

The walled city of Cartagena, Colombia.

The city surrounded by a wall and oceans. In Cartagena, Colombia you can have a great time without having to spend a lot of money and is definitely one of the most beautiful cities to travel to.

Go into the city

Cartagena is divided into two parts. The one part is modern and filled with skyscrapers, while the other side is old and rich with history. Beaches are not hard to find, but not all the beaches are good. If you travel to Colombia for a good beach, then Cartagena is ideal. A good beach to spend the day at is Playa Blanca, where you can snorkel at the beautiful beach. If you are not in the mood for swimming, you can get lost in the old city by walking through the little streets and clear your mind. In the old city you’ll see extraordinary colorful old houses, little plazas and street art. If you decide to walk in the old town, be sure to start in the morning, because it gets really hot in the evenings.

If you are a party goer, you must visit Media Luna on a Wednesday night. Every Wednesday they host a party that is open for anyone. Just be sure to be one of the first ones to arrive, because it can get a bit hectic.

Volcano El Totumo

You can have an extremely unique experience at El Totumo volcano. El Totumo volcano is a volcano that has no lava, but that is filled with mud. If you go there you can have a refreshing mud bath or just have a dip in the skin cleansing mud. A tour will cost you about $15 which is a good price for the tour that will last a day.

Time for a snack

The food is not expensive and you can get a good plate of food from a street vendor or the market. A lunch would cost around $4 with a drink and $13 for dinner for two people at a local pub.

Where to sleep

You will unfortunately not be able to sleep in the city center on a budget, but rather just outside the city. A group would be better off to rent an apartment than staying at a hotel. To stay in a hotel will cost about $25 per person per night.

Will it be raining ?

It will most definitely not be raining. November and December are the busiest months, but the weather stays above average 30 degrees throughout the year. The raining season is between Maya and December, but it does not rain a lot. April to May and September to October is the off-season, therefore the cheapest times to go.

Transportation

With the new public transport system, you can travel through the city and it is the cheapest way to get from A to B. If you want to get anywhere around or outside the city, you’d have to take a taxi, but there are enough places accessible on foot.

If you consider of visiting Colombia, Cartagena is the best option for your travel is the best choice. The happy locals, good atmosphere and cheap living makes Cartagena a perfect location to travel to on a budget.

Looking for another underrated city ? Visit Helsinki and see why it’s one of the most underrated cities in Europe.

Backpacking trips

Travel to the Fiji Islands

The friendliness of the people and crystal clear water with golden beaches. The Fiji islands are the most perfect backpack destinations that offers a lot. Located in Oceania located in the South Pacific Ocean, makes it the perfect country to just get away from it all.

To Do

You can do a lot in Fiji and its tropical beauty. The best way to spend your time, however is on the beaches. You can bask in the sun and forget about your troubles, but don’t forget your sunscreen. While you’re there, you can snorkel between the beautiful coral reefs and witness the colorful ocean life. For the surfers there is the island of Tavarua that offers one of the best surf spots called cloudbreak and more spots for people that are not yet that advanced.

When you are tired of the oceans, you can take a hike through the jungle with a group or alone. You can witness the beautiful wildlife and wide range of exotic birds. It’s also a great opportunity to visit one of the local villages and take part in one of their many traditional ceremonies.

Where to stay

In most of the cities you can find a hostel or camping site very easily and inexpensive. It also is not a rare for people to go and live with a Fijian family in a village. There are several volunteer expeditions that you can contact and join to have a true Fijian experience.

Weather

The best months to visit are between May and October. These are the so called winter months, but with temperatures still rising to about 28 degrees, I would not complain. During the summer months, you go into the raining season and you might get caught in the tropical storms and cyclones.

Transport

Travelling through Fiji islands is not difficult or expensive. The public transport works well and you’ll be able to get around the island with buses. To get to the neighboring islands you can make use of a short boat trip. There are also taxis that are easy to find, but you will have to pay more.

Food

The food in Fiji is typical island food. Everything is fresh, healthy and a lot. They traditionally eat with their hands and they enjoy sitting on the floor while doing so. The most popular meals consist of fish or chicken, sweet potato, rice, coconuts and cassava. Cassava is a natural root that is prepared as a side for most meals.

The people

If you are thinking of staying for an extended period of time, you will have to link up with the locals. At least that is the easiest thing that you would have to do during your trip. Fijians are extremely friendly, open minded and stress free. They’ll help you whenever they can, but don’t expect them to be on time if you set a time to meet up with someone…

Fiji is a paradise and you’ll see how calm and laid back life can be, just be careful not to fall too in love , otherwise you’ll never want to leave.

To visit another destination with nice weather and great beaches, check out Cartagena, Colombia