Blogs from North Brabant, Netherlands, Europe - page 5

In the afternoon, we left for the airport of Bali, Denspasar. This two flights went everything than comfortable. The first flight was fine, but then slowly the problems started. Yesterday evening, I had a chat with an Australian backpacker. He was already in Ubud and wanted to go with a friend to Kuta. His friend, should come out of Australia, but all flights to Bali from Australia and returns were cancelled. This was due the activity of a Volcano at Bali. The Volcano released Volcanic smoke which is dangerous during the air flights. Therefore, all flights were cancelled to and from Australia. When the wind changes and the smoke will to the direction of North Asia and Europe, it means that our flight would be cancelled as well. Which means that we could not leave Bali. ... read more

It was a short walk to the Begijnhof, that served as a home or shelter for women starting in 1535, with habitation going back about another 300 years. The Begijnhof is a walled complex set in two connected courtyard squares with gardens, small museums, and a nice central church built in the 1800s. The nice church built in the 1800s really stood out in the in the back of the courtyard. It was another short walk to Valkenburg Park. The park has some very nice trees and flowers, and a nice canal with a nifty red foot bridge. From one side of this City Park is a view of a Large Red Building, that I could not find any information about. This park is a good (free) place to hang out. It was not far outside ... read more

Arrived after the Johannesburg tour, with the memories still fresh in our mind, I had to prepare for my fight. I took a fast shower, my backpack was mostly been packed. Our flight would leave around 23.55, and Bheki would like to leave around 19:00. It was a drive of 45 minutes. However, the two girls of the Soweto cycling tour were not back at 19:00. They came in a hurry at 19:15. They took a fast shower, pack their bags and they were finished at 19:30. It was time to go, to leave South-Africa and to go back to home. In 45 minutes we were standing at the airport of Johannesburg. And it was time to say farewell to Manda and Bheki. I found this quite hard. They took a very good care for us ... read more

The weather has continued hot and fine and wonderful, and at times, very unlike Holland, with little wind. On the Sunday Paul’s brother and sister in law arrived – at 0900!!! Having had a good over-night crossing. The task was then to move cars such that they would have a car at the end of our next 3 days journey and so we didn’t have to do another circular trip. This meant – and here you will have to be patient – a trip in their car to Sneek, a return journey to Naarden for lunch in 2 cars and then 2 cars to Drimmelen followed by our car back to Naarden. Heather pleaded a problem with her head so stayed behind- a cynical person may have thought it showed a lack of problem with her ... read more

Bijna vertrekken we! De laatste dagen zijn we vooral aan het wachten tot we gaan vertrekken. Afscheid hebben we van bijna iedereen al genomen, alle inkopen hebben we gedaan en de koffers zijn bijna gepakt. We hebben er beide ontzettend veel zin in, maar het is toch ook weer ontzettend raar dat het na anderhalf jaar regelen ineens zo ontzettend dichtbij komt. Via dit blog zullen we beide zo nu en dan iets plaatsen over wat we zoal meemaken in Bangkok, of een van de andere plaatsen waar we heen willen gaan. Aan iedereen de groetjes en tot over een half jaar! Jasper & Manon... read more