A 1000 Day World Trip

31 travel stories and more than 1,100 photos covering 54 countries.

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2006-02-21	The Final Update In this concluding update I write about our future plans and try to answer some of the questions people often ask us about our travels. Photos: Normandy, Riga, Barcelona, Estonia
2005-10-19	Nepal, India and Arabia Trekking in Nepal is one of the highlights of our trip. We finish our trip with a whirlwind tour of the Taj Mahal, Dubai and Oman. Photos: Nepal, Taj Mahal, Dubai, Oman
2005-08-26	India and Bangladesh In southern India we visit Mysore and the cooler hill country, while an excursion into Bangladesh brings us to the Chittagong ship-breaking yards. Photos: Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty, Kolkata, Dhaka, Chittagong
2005-06-05	The Trouble in Paradise Sri Lanka and the Maldives, traditional tourist paradises, hit by the tsunami, have some homegrown problems as well. Photos: Kandy, Sigiriya, Unawatuna & Tsunami, Maldives
2005-05-09	The Unique Wildlife of Borneo Sea turtles, orang-utans, proboscis monkeys, meat eating plants... Borneo still teems with wildlife. But for how long? Photos: Sipadan, Orang-utans & Sea Turtles, Brunei, Bako NP, Kuala Lumpur
2005-04-18	Land of the Golden Temples Myanmar (Burma) is a country that left us with strong impressions, especially of its people, for whom we have developed a certain affection. Photos: Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, Inlay Lake, Bangkok
2005-03-27	Angkor, Cambodia The Khmer ruins at Angkor are amongst the most spectacular in the world, situated in a country whose recent history has been soaked in blood. Photos: Angkor Wat, Bayon, Banteay Srey, Mine Museum
2005-03-16	Laos and Vietnam We visit the historic towns of Luang Phabang, Hué and Hoi An, relax in Vang Vieng and get annoyed in Vietnam. Photos: Luang Phabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Hué, DMZ, Hoi An, Saigon
2005-02-07	The bridge on the river Kwai, caving in Northern Thailand In Kanchanaburi we look into the history of the Burma railway line. My first underwater swim in a cave. Life continues in Thailand after the tsunami. Photos: Bridge on the River Kwai, Tham Lod, Chiang Mai
2005-01-06	Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan The changes in Hong Kong and Macau since the handover to China, cruelty to animals and how Chinese economic success can benefit Europe. Photos: Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei, Taroko Gorge
2004-12-05	In China "everything is more beautiful now!" We cruise the Li river, enjoy Xiamen and Chaozhou but also see the damage caused by the Three Gorges dam. Photos: Guangzhou, Guilin, Three Gorges, Wuhan, Xiamen, Chaozhou
2004-11-09	Japan part 2: Kyoto, Nara, Nikko In part 2 of our visit to Japan, we visit the cultural highlights of Kyoto, Nara and Nikko. I meet a long lost friend. Photos: Beppu, Nara, Kyoto, Osaka, Matsushima, Nikko, Tokyo, Halloween
2004-10-30	Impressions of Japan and Nagasaki's history Returning to Japan for the first time in 12 years, I find that it is still the fascinating country it was. Nagasaki, brings up a lot of history, some of which relates directly with that of my family. Photos: Tokyo, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Aso-san, Nagasaki
2004-10-08	Another summer in Estonia, heading to Asia After spending the summer in Estonia, we visit Stockholm, crossing the Baltic sea for the first time since the Estonia ferry disaster in 1994. We arrange a great flight schedule for Asia. Photos: Stockholm
2004-Extra	Estonia This is not a travel story, but a collection of pictures of places in Estonia taken during the summers of 2004 and previous years. The leaning lighthouse of Harilaid remains my favorite. Photos: Estonia
2004-08-07	Romania, Moldova and Transdniestria I nearly got into a fight with a Romanian wife-beater, visited the last bit of Soviet Union on earth and returned home seriously ill. Photos: Istanbul, Romania, Moldova, Transdniestria
2004-06-17	Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan Georgia is surprisingly beautiful, a pearl is the Davit Gareji cave monastery. Getting around in a region where many borders are closed and some areas are still in conflict is not trivial. Photos: Istanbul, Baku, Georgia, Armenia
2004-04-04	Brazil: Bonito, the Pantanal, Carnival in Salvador We experience carnival in the birthplace of Brazilian carnival, admire the natural beauty of Bonito, find an old Dutch fort and survive a few days in Rio de Janeiro. Photos: Bonito, Pantanal, Salvador, Olinda, Itamaracá, Rio
2004-03-12	Iguazu, Jesuit Mission ruins and the river Paraguay The Iguazu waterfalls exceed our expectations. We visit the ruins of Jesuit missions and find open coffins in an abandoned graveyard. Photos: Puerto Varas, Bariloche, Iguazu, Jesuit Missions
2004-02-09	Glaciers and fjords in the southern cone We head south to see Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, the Perito Moreno glacier, the mountains of Torres del Paine and take the 3 day Navimag ferry back up north through the Chilean fjords. Photos: San Pedro de Atacama, Tierra del Fuego, Perito Moreno Glacier, Torres del Paine, Chilean Fjords
2004-01-11	Galapagos, Nazca Lines, Machu Picchu and Uyuni Desert Observing the amazing Galapagos fauna, flying over the Nazca lines and driving over the world's largest salt plane in the Uyuni desert in Bolivia are certainly some of the highlights of our trip. Photos: Galapagos, Nazca, Machu Picchu, Titicaca, Uyuni
2003-11-10	Last weeks in Europe and travel plans After spending the rest of the summer in Estonia, where we admire the economic transition that has taken place, we are again preparing to leave, this time for South America. Photos: Tallinn, Estonia, Switzerland
2003-10-19	The Balkans, Albania, our kitten from Ohrid and Auschwitz Driving through the Balkans we go to places deserted by tourists, find an abandoned kitten in Ohrid and visit the site of one of darkest events in European history. Photos: Serbia, Riilski Manastir, Meteora, Albania, Ohrid, Skopje, Wieliczka, Auschwitz
2003-07-28	Costa Rica & Panama La Fortuna, Monteverde, Bocas del Toro, Panama City, tree climbing crabs on Isla Iguana and a rum-distillery. Photos: Costa Rica, Bocas del Toro, Panama City, Pedasi
2003-06-30	Semuc Champey, El Salvador, Granada and Ometepe We climb the Santa Ana volcano, make our way south to Granada, relax and enjoy the serenity on the island of Ometepe in lake Nicaragua. Photos: Semuc Champey, Santa Ana, Granada, Ometepe
2003-06-03	Best places in Antigua After nearly 4 months in Antigua, we are finally leaving, but not before compiling a list of the best places in this little oasis. Photos: Antigua Guatemala
2003-05-04	Copan, Atitlan's flower power colony and Semana Santa We visit the Mayan ruins at Copan in Honduras, travel on to Lago Atitlan where we discover a flower power colony and return to Antigua in time for Semana Santa. Photos: Copan, Lago Atitlan, House Pets, Semana Santa
2003-04-15	Chichen-Itza, Caye Caulker & Livingston In Chichen-Itza we learn more about a deadly Mayan football game. In Belize we fly to the islands and swim with sharks! Photos: Chichen-Itza, Tulum, Belize, Livingston
2003-04-04	Tikal, Palenque, Merida and Uxmal The Maya ruins of Tikal and Palenque are a definite highlight, especially the tomb of Pacal II, which is closed to most visitors. We also explore a cave with just a small pocket flashlight. Photos: Tikal, Palenque, Merida, Uxmal, Loltun
2003-03-08	Leaving Antigua Guatemala Finally some photos from Antigua, especially of the eruptions of the volcano Fuego. Photos: Antigua Guatemala
2003-01-27	Antigua Guatemala We experience an earthquake of 5.4 on the Richter scale. In spite of that Antigua is a cozy little town where you easily feel at home. We enjoy our Spanish lessons. Photos: New York
2003-01-05	Travel Preparations After several months of preparations, the time has finally come to travel around the world for at least 1 year. Photos: Wedding Sam and Nadia, Christmas, Moving

Previous Travels

2001-08

Komodo Dragons A photo report of our trip in August 2001 to the Indonesian island Komodo, home to the world's largest lizard. Photos: Komodo Dragons

Background Information

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• Travel Ehtics Responsible traveling.
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