This trip log gathers all of my live Facebook posts from my trip to the Society for Ecotourism Conference in South Korea, Stockholm, and through the Netherlands.
(c) ABR 2017
Day 1-3:
The past couple of days have been so busy! I flew from LAX to Seoul (13 hr flight- omg way too long). The next day I presented at the International Society for Ecotourism conference. And then today I spent the whole day touring the wetlands and ecotourism projects of Ansan, S. Korea.
One of the biggest tidal power plants in the world! Ansan, S. Korea (c) ABR 2017
Day 4:
Lots of times people tell me to “let go of my fears” and “stop worrying.” But today all that anxiety saved me. See, I was worried that Ansan was too far away from the airport, so the first night I was here, I booked another place two train stops away from the airport for my last night. That meant that today after lunch, it was time to get in a taxi and move to my new place. Only every taxi refused to take me! It was too far for them. It took me at least two hours by train to get over here. Thank God I didn’t need to do this tomorrow or I would have surely missed my flight.
Day 5:
No picture with this post, because you don’t even want to know what I look like right now. Hahaha. Anyway, I am in the middle of trying to get from Asia to Europe. I had a 5 hour flight from Seoul, a 12 hour (!!!) layover in Bangkok, and once that is over an 11 hr flight to Sweden. Thank goodness for transit hotels, that is all I am saying right now.
Day 6:
I finally made it to Sweden yesterday! We didn’t do too much (besides taking an accidentally long nap). Went close to downtown for some amazing vegetarian food, and stopped by the photography museum. It is beautiful but cold here!
Beautiful Stockholm (c) ABR 2017
Day 7:
We hiked through 9 verdant miles of forest in Tyresta National Park today and then rewarded ourselves with some delicious dinner in Stockholm. Now I’m falling asleep to the sound of rain on the windows.
(c) ABR 2017
Day 8:
Today we explored Stockholm. First, we stopped for some delicious chai before going to the open-air museum, Skansen. This place has lots of cultural exhibits, but due to how quiet it was, we hung out in the zoo section of the park. There were lots of active animals here, with great enclosures and lots of enrichment. Then we got lunch at the Spirits Museum where I tried some alcohol that “wrinkled my tongue” with its bitterness. Finally, because everyone said we should go, we went to the Vasa Museum to see the giant boat (it was worth it).
The famous Vasa (c) ABR 2017
Day 9:
We arrived in the Netherlands and in true Nightborn style we went straight to the Dunes of Loon and Drunen National Park. Really cool to see dunes in the middle of the forest.
(c) ABR 2017
Day 10:
I went to the high point of the Netherlands, visited downtown Tilburg, and saw the Van Gogh bike trail in one epic, mini-road trip. I’m ready to sleep in tomorrow!
(c) ABR 2017
Day 11:
Today we explored the “Little Venice” of the Netherlands (Giethoorn) in a little blue and white boat. We had to navigate through a reedy jungle of a national park, and survive boat jams in the town waterways. It was quite the adventure.
(c) ABR 2017
Day 13:
We’ve done a ton in the past two days. We walked through Amsterdam yesterday and stopped by the Van Gogh Museum. We attempted to see the Anne Frank Museum as well, but we weren’t able to go because we didn’t have reservations. Today we rode bikes through De Hoge Veluwe National Park (saw more Van Gogh), and went to the beach at Noorwijk. The Netherlands is an amazing place. There are still things I wish we had time to see, but tomorrow we begin the long journey home.
Free bikes come prepared for families! (c) ABR 2017
Day 14:
We drove the 1.5 hours to Eindhoven this morning, said farewell to our trusty car, Sasha, and hopped on the plane back to Stockholm. We enjoyed an evening walking around the city, and finally got the waffles we have been craving this whole trip at a beautiful cafe in the old city.
Our trusty car from the Netherlands, Sasha. <3 (c) ABR 2017
kage2015
We liv d in the Netherlands for several years and enjoyed seeing the country. Haven’t had opportunity to visit the other places yet
aprettypotato
Wow, it looks like you had an amazing time! I’d love to go see’ Little Venice’, it looks so peaceful <3
Tizzy Says
I would have been exhausted by day 5. It looks like an amazing trip, and you got some really great photos.
Erica
I can’t believe all the destinations you visited within that short period. of time. I’ve always wanted to go to a foreign place and just bike around and see the local sights. I’m sorry that you didn’t get to see the Anne Frank museum. I hear such amazing things about that.
waitingforrain28
It was a whirlwind trip! That was for sure. XD I never would have planned it that way if I hadn’t found some really cheap tickets.
Marcie
OMG I’d be so wiped and jet-lagged!
waitingforrain28
I was definitely tired at the end! But it was worth it. 😀
The Chocolate Mommy
You are awesome to deal with those super long flights! I used to be so good at being on a plane for a long time, but lately I have to break them up in 4 hour brackets just to make it. Giethoorn looks amazing!
waitingforrain28
Yeah, it is really difficult. :/ It is my least favorite part of travel. Giethoorn was really lovely! Especially tooling out in the national park where there were less people.
Medha Verma
Wow that’s a lot of travel for 14 days 🙂 I get so tired when I am moving from one place to another constantly, the transit (by air or by road) can get sort of tiring, isn’t it?
waitingforrain28
Omg. Yes! Particularly the plane. I don’t mind driving so much, as I enjoy it, but sitting on planes is killer.
supermillennial
Looks beyond amazing! Great photos for sure 🙂
waitingforrain28
Thanks!
Sondra Barker
This sounds like an amazing experience. You are GOALS!!
Sondra xx
prettyfitfoodie.com
waitingforrain28
*thumbs up!* It was really special!
thediystyle
That is an exciting trip. And you went to off-beat places too which makes it more interesting.
http://www.thediystyle.com
waitingforrain28
I agree! TRLT is the best.
tinahogangrant
I’m exhausted just reading your post. Wow! you accomplished a lot. Great stamina. Thanks for the share.
waitingforrain28
I was tired writing about it and revisiting the memories. Hahaha. It was definitely worth it though.
Frank
wooow thats amazing, the road looks awesome and the water makes it even more.
waitingforrain28
Agreed! The canals were amazing! Besides the boat jams.
Cassandra Rose
I can’t believe you were able to travel that far in two weeks! I love the idea of taking a trip and dedicating each day to a new place. If you had to choose your favorite place to see, which would it be?
waitingforrain28
Fast travel is my preference, but usually not this extreme. Roadtrips are the best for that. XD My favorite place…. that is so hard. Probably Stockholm actually!
Blair Villanueva
Wow, i admire the places you’ve been also your energy to travel longer. Kudos for your journey.
Where are you heading next?
waitingforrain28
I am camping out at home for a while! I will be defending my PhD soon, and who knows what will happen after that.
Annette Dattilo
I love the journal style of this post. My hubby and I have been talking about going to the Netherlands next year. It looks beautiful.
waitingforrain28
The Netherlands is a great place! You will not be disappointed. 😀
Andrea R Warren (@WaldorfFries)
I have always wanted to travel to the Netherlands! You can really hit a lot of places in a short time( I need to know your energy tricks)
waitingforrain28
Lots of sleep! I am always in bed by 10 at the latest. Hahaha. That and exercise.
Agnes
What an experience to have! Looks like you had a fun too. Netherlands is definitely on my list of places to visit.
waitingforrain28
It really was! And you will love the Netherlands!
Words of a Texas Nerd
You mean its possible to beat Phineas Fog and his flying contraption? haha but seriously, this is quite the trip! I’m most intrigued by the Vasa Museum. I’ve never heard about it before, but it looks quite amazing.
waitingforrain28
Vasa was surprisingly cool! We did not know what to expect, but it surpassed what we imagined.
Jake Ferrer
You must have such great trip and experiences. Hope you enjoyed. Thanks for sharing
waitingforrain28
It was wonderful! Thank you!