Wauw almost a year since my last update.. time to do some writing again! So a new update is coming soon!

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I can’t believe it but I am back in Holland for more than a year now. And from the day that I am back my feet are really itchy about traveling again. But I can’t effort to go away for a year again, so I am trying making plans for a normal 3 to 4 week holiday this year.

Now there are many things I am thinking about, like which country to go to and what kind of activities I want to do. I know that I am a very active person that love multiple day hikes, climbing and bouldering, nature, big cities with great architecture but also a nice beach to relax.

With so many interests, so many beautiful countries that I haven’t been to, but also with many things to consider like traveling by my self and a limited budget I really have to make choices.

For a while the idea of climbing the Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is in my head. It’s the highest mountain in Africa and also the highest freestanding mountain in the world. And it’s only 5895 meters high. Man I have been on 6088 meters so this should be much easier right?

But I also read that it takes multiple days to get up there and that you shouldn’t take it too easy. Or I do this hike with an organization – including all meals, sleeping places, people carrying gear up and down, a good guide, etc – or maybe I can find enough people around me who also want to climb Kilimanjaro and try to find a guide for us. This way it would be less organized but still save. Right?

Anyway, that’s just one of my ideas for this year. Another one is Japan. No special reason for this country other than exploring the country, do some trekkings and maybe some climbing. The last thing is kinda difficult given the aspect that I am traveling by my self. So I need to find a climbing partner that I trust or find a local climbing organization.

Another country on my top list is South Africa. I really would like to rent a car and drive from Johannesburg all the way to Cape Town. Of course going into as many National Parks as possible to see the wild life. But doing that on my own is kinda risky and really expensive. I better wait with that idea and save up enough money so I can effort all the National Parks.

Then there is New Zealand. I’ve heard many amazing stories about NZ. You can go swimming and skiing on the same day. How amazing is that! But here again it would be awesome to rent a camper and drive from south to north. And for that a travel partner plus a bag full of money is needed.

What other countries would fit into my profile for this year: Borneo, Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia, Israel or maybe Australia?

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New York, USA

When you’re the cultural and financial centre of a country who cares if you’re not actually the seat of government? New York certainly doesn’t. The melting pot of theUnited States has over 160 languages spoken across its five boroughs by 8.2 million inhabitants. Visitors are attracted by skyscraping architecture that struts across the skyline like an international supermodel and nightlife that puts most actual capital cities to shame. The city is home to the UN – who needs to be the national capital when you can justifiably claim to be capital of the world?

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Sometimes losing your status as capital city can be a liberating experience. Take Rio de Janeiro which waved adeus to the national politicians in 1960 when they decamped to the jungle and newly built Brasília – and said olá to what the Cariocas (Rio’s inhabitants) do best: partying. Whether it’s two million people seeing in the New Year on Copacabana beach, or neighbourhood blocos and traditional samba schools thrilling the Carnaval crowds, locals know how to celebrate. With everyone invited, there’s nothing stopping you packing your smallest piece of swimwear and heading to the party capital of the world.

Sydney, Australia

Like its American counterpart, Sydney doesn’t lose any sleep about the fact that it’s not the Australian capital. Manufactured Canberra is a dull, suit-wearing place filled with scheming politicians, while Sydney is the kind of town that heads for the beach to top up its tan and catch a few waves before inviting a few mates round for a barbie. The original (in terms of European settlement) and still the best, Sydneysiders will happily extol their city’s virtues to the visitor. Just ask the visitor what they think, and they’ll undoubtedly agree. Canberra who?

Marrakesh, Morocco

When your name is good enough not just for you but for the region you’re located in, you’d think you deserved some recognition. But while it’s been Morocco’s capital on and off over the years and is still the country’s most popular destination, Marrakeshhas to be content with containing Africa’s busiest square, Djemaa el-Fna, and with being the burial place of the Seven Saints, Muslim holy men who brought pilgrims to the city from the late 17th century on. And if it’s good enough for saints…

Toronto, Canada

If you’ve heard of one Canadian city, it’s likely to be Toronto. The nation’s largest urban centre is like a major US city without the crime. With an amazing 49% of the population born outside Canada, this is the most diverse city on the planet. Ironically, in light of its contemporary multiculturalism, Toronto’s lack of capital status today is due to the fact that back in 1857, when the capital was chosen, Toronto was just too English for its Francophone compatriots in Québec to accept. Still, it can content itself with being the Canadian city everyone’s heard of.

Mumbai, India

If population size, cultural importance and financial clout were gauges to judge what makes a capital city then Mumbai (formerly Bombay) would be up there with the best of them. Remnants of British imperialism, such as the Gateway of India, contrast with slums that house many of the city’s 13 million inhabitants. Bollywood, the world’s biggest movie industry is here, and the city controls most of India’s booming economy. Not bad for a city that’s a relative latecomer in terms of India’s history.

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul has had a hard time coming to terms with the fact that it’s no longer the Turkish capital, and who can blame it? The centre of two world-class empires (Byzantine and Ottoman) which lasted over 1500 years, it holds an embarrassingly large number of monuments worthy of any great capital – embarrassing, that is, forAnkara, the dusty Anatolian town that became the nation’s capital in 1923. And today it’s those same monuments – the Aya Sofya, the Blue Mosque – that continue to convince tourists and locals alike that the real heart of Turkey is still Istanbul.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

OK, we’re cheating a bit here as Amsterdam is kind of joint capital city of the Netherlands. But that doesn’t mean it’s full of dreary parliamentarians. Oh no. While they’re discussing the political issues of the day over in Den Haag, Amsterdamenjoys all the splendour and culture of a capital but without the boring governmental stuff. One of the city’s great draws is its laid-back attitude to most things, best demonstrated on 30 April every year when Queen’s Day sees the whole place go wild.

Auckland, New Zealand

‘He’s a JAFA, mate’ is something you hear a lot travelling round New Zealand and it’s easy to see why the rest of the population refers to the inhabitants of the country’s largest city as Just Another F***ing Aucklander – they’re jealous! Auckland has the best weather, the fanciest restaurants, and the coolest bars. So what if Wellington has the famous Beehive parliament building and an internationally acclaimed film industry, Auckland’s got the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. So there!

Cape Town, South Africa

Take a magnificent setting at the point where the Indian and the Atlantic Oceans meet, a suitably impressive backdrop of one of the world’s most famous mountains, a vibrant mix of nationalities from around the globe, and a range of architecture, cuisine and nightlife second to none in Africa and you’d think you’d have the best darn capital in the world. Instead you get Cape Town which, though South Africa’s legislative capital, has to share the title with Pretoria (administrative) and Bloemfontein (judicial). We know which one we’d prefer to visit.

Source: LonelyPlanet.com

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Amsterdam is one of the jewels of Europe and, although it may have lost some of its lustre over the years, it is still bright enough to draw visitors from all over the world. The variety of sights and activities is staggering and this is what accounts for the diverse cross section of visitors that stream into the city each year.

The main attraction for me is the architecture of the Old Centre, where it is possible to see and even feel the passage of time which has moulded the city around you. Thankfully the city escaped the worst of the damage caused by Europe’s many conflagrations of the last five hundred years and so, like a fossil record, presents visible evidence of the evolution of the city, with most of the best examples now preserved. In addition to the buildings the canals and bridges which give Amsterdam so much of its unique charm make it a great place to take a relaxing walk, soak up the atmosphere and lose yourself in another time.

Perhaps one of the most famous and tragic former residents of Amsterdam was Anne Frank, and her house is now a museum dedicated to not only demonstrating the terrible conditions of the Frank family when they lived in the attic here but also the bravery of those who protected and fed them. The museum has some interesting exhibits on the persecution and discrimination that is still going on today which is a powerful addendum to the history of the holocaust.

The Rijksmuseum is one of the great traditional museums in the world and anyone who loves Dutch painting should make it their first port of call. Even casual visitors will greatly appreciate a visit as there are so many originals seen almost every day in reproduction along with interesting background on the genre and artist of each. The museum also has collections of art from the former Dutch colonies in South East Asia which give the museum a fresh feel and contrast well with the old masters.

Visitors may want to save the Van Gogh Museum for a different day than the Rijksmuseum so that you don’t feel ‘arted out’ but it is worth a visit when you are in the city. The museum is well presented and informative and it sometimes feels that the only thing not on display is the famous ear, to the disappointment of hordes of visiting youngsters.

Finally, any list of the sights of Amsterdam is incomplete without a mention of the famous, or infamous, Red Light District. It is tacky, tawdry, coarse and crude and is fascinating and repellent in equal measures. The easily offended should probably stay away but anyone with a sense of adventure or passing interest in human nature should stroll through one evening and see what’s happening in there.

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