If you only have limited time, which of the three Gili’s should you go to? Will you choose the party island of Trawangan, the almost uninhabited Meno, or something in between, Gili Air? I visited Trawangan and Air, and ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got a winner.
I love learning about other cultures, but there are some things I would rather not have known. For example, in Bali, I sometimes watch with horror how animals are treated. Monkeys, bats, birds, and other animals are poorly treated as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Shhhh… it’s Silent Day in Bali. The streets are deserted, the airport is closed, the shops are closed, the lights are off, and the ATMs are unavailable. Bali welcomes the new year with Nyepi.
I collapse on the narrow cabin bed of the Balearia boat from Barcelona to Mallorca. I can barely hold back the tears. Getting on the boat with my dog felt like entering a battlefield, and luckily no one was injured. But, for our return, I have a different tactic! Getting on the boat with my dog felt like entering a battlefield, and luckily no one was injured. But, for our return, I have a different tactic!
A few years ago, we all went hiking with alpacas. Now you can also walk with donkeys. Is the donkey the new alpaca? I don’t know, but I do know I really like the donkey walk!
I’m very lucky: I live in Amsterdam. So I get home quickly after an evening concert in the Ziggo Dome or AFAS Live or after a late football match in the Johan Cruijff Arena. But a hotel nearby is quite nice if you live a little further away! So these are your options near the event venues.
Not far from the famous Mont Ventoux is the French village of Mollans-sur-Ouvèze. You probably won’t find it in any travel guide. So don’t expect an endless supply of activities and sights, but you can count on infinite peace and quiet (assuming you’re not going to climb Mont Ventoux).
The Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen are between Zandvoort, Aerdenhout, and Noordwijk. Not far from Amsterdam. You can go on beautiful walks in this unique nature reserve. There are walking routes, but you can also go off the trails in many places. And hopefully, you will encounter the deer and foxes!
