Wendy wanders
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Tales of the Hobbit Land (1)
To prepare for my trip to New Zealand I watched the movie The Hobbit. Honestly, I didn’t see much of the landscapes watching it. I was mostly interested in the story and how the movie was translated to film. I should have focused on the landscapes, because in those surroundings I would have found myself a few days later. I read in the media that when the first part of The Hobbit came out New Zealand was hobbit-minded. According to locals it really wasn’t that bad, but it was good promotion for the film. Still, you couldn’t avoid all hobbit stuff when you were there. It starts with the journey…
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The time I got wings
On my goodbye-party for departing to Australia a friend told me that I am a girl that follows her heart and that he admired that. At first I didn’t understand what he meant. Now I do understand and I have for a while now. From my Australia travel journal, today 6 years ago Some things you just have to do. That is what I realized a few days ago on the beach. I am somewhere in Australia. It doesn’t really matter where in Oz, it matters that I am there. It was just after 7.30 in the morning. The beach was abandoned. It was just the waves and me. The…
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Island favorite: Kangaroo Island
When I was little all I ever wanted was a kangaroo as a pet. Strange, I know, but I always thought it would be awesome to have a pet that could hop around, and take me with it of course. So when I visited Australia I knew I would see a lot of kangaroos, unfortunately a lot of dead ones too. Then I heard about Kangaroo Island, the only question I had was not if I should go there but when I would. And then I book a ferry as soon as I arrived in Adelaide. I have to say it was one of the most wonderful places I have…
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Gone walkabout
“I arrived wanting to get back to nature. I departed not wanting to go back home. Beware, when you’re reading this I am probably on my way home. The last couple of days in Oz have been quiet. First I went to surf camp at Crescent Head (North of Sydney) to learn to stand on a board. And I did it, about twenty times. After three surfing training sessions I can stand on waves. Most important rules: having fun and looking cool. AND I LOVE IT! But it has been tiring so I haven’t been doing much on the last few days before I fly back home. Yesterday I spent…
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One of the five Dutch pearls: Schiermonnikoog
They call the Dutch Wadden Sea Islands the five pearls of the Netherlands. Last weekend I visited Schiermonnikoog and let me tell you, it will most definitely not be the last time I was there. It’s a gem and a good place to enjoy nature, the sea and some peace and quit if you want to escape the crowded “mainland”. Schiermonnikoog is the prettiest place the Netherlands have to offer, according to the Dutchies themselves. And as a Dutchie, I totally agree*. The village, also called Schiermonnikoog, is cosy with the old fashioned houses. Only 950 people live on the island. Also the island has the broadest beach of Europe.…