A few years ago I visited Malmö for work. It was my first time in Sweden however, you probably know it’s often difficult to have some spare time to explore a city when going on a business trip. Then finally in 2016 I made my first trip to Stockholm for leisure. I was quite excited and didn’t really know what to expect. I only had a slight idea of what Sweden looks like through travel programs. Or films like Millennium and my previous supersonic visit to Malmö. Yet Stockholm still remained a mystery to me.
Biking in Stockholm
Let me introduce you to Stockholm by taking you around the city by bike! Using the excellent system ‘Stockholm City Bikes’ was a cheap and easy way to explore this stunning Scandinavian highlight. Enjoy our travel video and don’t forget to scroll down to my personal tips for your perfect Stockholm citytrip.
Hong Kong is a cool city, but it can also get crowded and overwhelming at some point. So if you book a trip to Hong Kong, consider visiting at least one of its beaches. I read a few blogs and browsed through the Lonely Planet and it brought me to the idea to take a little trip further south. After two full days of sightseeing in Hong Kong we were looking forward to enjoy beach life in Stanley, one of the oldest villages in Hong Kong Island.
Hong Kong has been on my travel list for years. This year, we were finally able to visit this far away destination from which we heard many positive things. Most of all, we couldn’t wait to taste the famous Hong Kong style food! Or take some amazing photographs of the illuminated skyline which we’ve often seen on travel programs and postcards.
With over 2,8 million inhabitants, Osaka is Japan’s third largest and (after Tokyo) second most important city. The city is only 30 minutes away from it’s refined little brother Kyoto, however there is a world of difference between the two. Osaka is a modern, big and flashy city, with huge neon lit buildings, elevated highways, interesting architecture and… beautiful green parks.
We really enjoyed Osaka (maybe because there are many similarities with our hometown Rotterdam?). Therefore we’d like to share our favorite areas with you!
Five years ago I packed my bag and left home. Free of expectations, I took off to live in Hong Kong. In first instance, the city was overwhelming. But during my stay I started to love Hong Kong. When I left Hong Kong after six months, I knew I would return to this amazing place. And that is what I did. My partner and I went on holiday to Hong Kong. There we had a lovely meet up with Natalie and Geerard. For them, and for Orange Spots, I jotted down a shortlist of my favorite spots in Hong Kong.
There’s much to say about Japan and its ancient culture which has left many traces in the form of remarkable temples, arts and crafts, customs, traditions and an excellent cuisine. Traveling through the country has been a true delight. I’ve left each city or village with a pleasant feeling. However, I must admit that I found Miyajima – a small island located in front of Hiroshima – to be one of my favorite places I’ve visited in Japan!
With a bit over 1 million inhabitants, Hiroshima does not make the top 10 of Japans biggest cities, however it is in my personal top 3 of places to visit in Japan. Hiroshima’s inhabitants are friendly and outgoing, the local food is excellent and the atmosphere in the city is buzzing and upbeat.
There are so many things to do, see and eat in Hiroshima. I compiled a top 5 of must do’s.
Kyoto is by far one of the highlights of Japan. We loved its temples, beautiful gardens, colorful shrines and the savory food we tasted at local restaurants and the Nishiki market. Furthermore, there’s this special ambiance you sense in the old quarters which throws you back to Japan’s ancient times.
Let us share with you the beautiful sights we visited in Kyoto, from a colorful market to impressive shrines and lively quarters with gorgeous Japanese handicraft. Enjoy our blog!
When traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen, you will pass the city of Nagoya. Though many tourists skip this city, we decided to schedule in a day at Tokyo’s and Kyoto’s less known brother: Nagoya, the hometown of Toyota.
Shinjuku – electronics and entertainment area in Tokyo
A couple of months before traveling to Japan, we watched a travel program which inspired us to visit Shinjuku ward in Tokyo. We were immediately intrigued by the abundance of electronic shops, entertainment spots, neon lights and busy streets. This was the right place to indulge ourselves in the Tokyo madness, at least for once!
The first stop of our journey through Asia would be Japan. And so we arrived in Tokyo Haneda Aiport on September 1st. What a joy! We felt excited, we were full of energy and we had a pretty good flight!
This article appeared in Livin Magazine (edition 9, June 2015, a magazine about lifestyle and health). Published in Trujillo, Peru. Translated from Spanish
Are you craving for adventure and looking for experiences different than those offered by traditional tourism? Then consider choosing for community based tourism which offers you exotic and authentic experiences that favor personal growth.
