Feels familiar? Time flies. Is it because I’m getting older? Is it because I pack too many things in one year and don’t reflect enough? Or is it just because that’s life and time flies?

I can’t remember the last time I’ve been bored. I always have something to do, somewhere to go or something to think about. Especially last year. 2018 was a year of many changes. From Canada to Belgium and Italy, from Georgia to France, and in between of that a splash of New Zealand.

1. A cold start: Canada

I’ll be honest. The year started on a low for me. New Year’s Eve plans fell through when the freezing cold (I’m talking about – 40 degrees Celsius here) decided to numb our car. We got stuck at an AirBnb in a small village with nothing around (not even a bar) and nowhere to go. After a few months in the cold in Canada you start to understand how cold it gets. Especially because at the beginning of winter we were still road tripping in our van. I’m not going to lie, it was tough sometimes.

There were also a lot of good moments, especially when we headed out to explore the gorgeous scenery. I was made sure to wear multiple layers, otherwise you will really freeze some limbs. Be prepared if you plan on visiting Canada in winter! Find some information on what to wear here:

How To Survive Winter in Canada

One of our highlights was 3 day trip to Lake O’Hara. Experiencing Lake O’Hara in winter was pretty amazing. Compared to the crowded summer, it was peaceful with almost nobody else around. Such a beautiful location!

2. Our temporary home: Canmore

For most people Canmore doesn’t really ring a bell. It’s a lovely, small town in the Rocky Mountains nearby the more famous Banff. Nico and I based ourselves a few months in Canmore, since travelling around in a van was just too cold.

I highly recommend visiting it. It feels a bit unique than touristy Banff. We enjoyed the little town and in between our freelance work Nico and I climbed some peaks.

One of those crisp and cold days we hiked up Lady Mac, the famous mountain you see from the centre.

3. Back to the sun in May

When the first magic of the Canadian winter wonderland fizzled out and with temperatures continuing to be under -15 (with peaks to -40) for more than 2 months, we decided to leave Canada. We were just over the cold and snow.

The summer in Canada had been amazing, but turned out winter wasn’t our cup of tea. At the same time spring was starting in Europe, with warm temperatures and beers on terraces. So on my birthday in April we decided to leave Canada later that month. Our trip in Canada ended after 9 months. It was definitely an adventure, but we were ready to go back to Europe.

But not without a quick stopover in San Francisco and Yosemite!   

San Francisco is kind of the city of my dreams. I’m attracted to the vibrant community, the progressive thinking and the creative scene. The fact that Yosemite isn’t too far away doesn’t hurt either.

Yosemite will always stay special to me. I just let my friends in San Francisco know I’m visiting and lucky me, they organise a hiking weekend in Yosemite. I absolutely love that about these times, that you have friends and a network all over the world.

4. Wine and cheese, please!

In May I arrived in Europe. Since cheese is quite expensive in Canada, I let myself go those first few days in France at Nico’s family home. Wine and cheese, cheese and wine, a croissant, baguette… It also felt great to feel the sun touch my face and not having to wear five layers of clothing.

I went to Bordeaux, Montpellier and Saint-Emilion. The south of France is lovely and a thought popped up: “It wouldn’t be so bad living here…”

5. Adventure in the mountains

Before choosing a place to live in Europe it was time to travel and work. I teamed up with Decathlon and Audi Belgium for a trip to the Dolomites. Nico at the same time was working with Osprey and Exped. Those two weeks in the Dolomites were amazing and a bit exhausting. The area is incredible (go visit!!), but we had a full schedule to get our shots and content.

We had so much fun. This via ferrata was one of my highlights. I like climbing, hanging on ladders and a good dose of adventure.

6. Exploring Georgia

From Italy we flew almost directly to Georgia. Yes, the country. What an experience! Arriving in a country where you don’t speak the language is amazing. It feels much more like travelling than when you go to English-speaking countries. The people were the kindest, the nature was beautiful and the capital is vibrant. I can’t wait to share my Georgia posts later this year.

7. Back to the south

You know how I said that I wouldn’t mind living in the south of France? Well, turned out that that idea would be put into action. I took an editor job at a travel company in Aix-en-Provence – a lovely little city in the southeast of France.

Having our base in Aix we were able to discover the region little by little. Less than half an hour away you find Marseille, the Calanques and the Mediterranean Sea. We also did a hike in Gorge du Verdon, a climber’s paradise.

I’ve never experienced such a nice fall and winter as I have in the south of France. Those sunny days and warmer temperatures really make a difference.

8. New Zealand bound

In October Nico flew two months to New Zealand to work on a big project. The lucky bastard… But actually this was for me the perfect excuse to visit New Zealand too. One year and a few months after leaving New Zealand I was ready to visit it again. I had my list of hikes ready and people I wanted to see.

It was a busy (and unfortunately short) trip, but I loved every second of it. It felt like I had never left. The people were still as lovely and nature still as amazing.

9. Ending 2018 with a bang

Back in Europe the editor work came to an end and I got a new exciting freelance project for a Belgian company. Sometimes life runs so smooth. The project was (and is, because I’m still doing it while I’m writing this) mostly remote, with a few project meeting in Brussels. This tied in perfectly with the timing of the year: Christmas! I’m a family person and deeply enjoy spending time with my amazing family.

For New Year’s Eve I wanted something different though. We checked if any of our European friends wanted to do something different for the end of the year. Check! We ended up meeting friends in Cologne for the perfect end of a busy and interesting year.

As you can see, I didn’t sit still in 2018. I’m already excited and curious about 2019.

Bring it on 2019!

How was your year? Did you go on any adventures? Let me know in the comments!

The post My 2018 highlights in photos! appeared first on The World is a Circus.

I was 26, quit my job and got on a plane with destination: other side of the world. I was ready for a new adventure: a 1-year trip to Australia and New Zealand. I wanted to travel by myself and explore the world.

That year turned into many more. Although I promised my mum to not fall in love on the other side of the world, I couldn’t help it. When I visited New Zealand I met Nico and I ended up staying more than 3 years. Sorry mum…

Seeing new places, meeting people, doing fun and crazy activities got me writing and sharing those experiences on my website. I can’t believe it has been FIVE years.

More than I expected

My travel blog developed into something bigger, which I never expected or which wasn’t even my goal. I just wanted to share moments and places with family at home. Not only has my knowledge of the world improved, my photography got a great deal better too.

My blog has brought me many places and I am so grateful for every single moment. I ended up working with many companies and brands and can’t believe what I got to do. Flying in helicopters over the New Zealand mountains, discovering Belgian quaint villages, driving through the Italian mountains, staying in luxury lodges in the Canadian parks, going canyoning and documenting a kiwi release are just a few of them.

Sometimes I pinch myself or tell Nico how lucky we are to be able to experience these things. We’re so privileged, but we know it.

If I would die tomorrow (but let’s hope not), I can say that I have truly lived. I have no regrets and gave it all to get everything out of life.

Want to get inspired? Here are a few links to some of my favourite adventures:

A Week in Mount Assinboine National Park – Canada

Visit Dinant: Belgium’s little gem

Everything you need to know to hike to Liverpool Hut – New Zealand

How to spend a romantic weekend in Queenstown? – New Zealand

Hiking Roys Peak in Wanaka – New Zealand

Before I end this little bloganniversary I wanted to say thank you. For being there and for following my adventures. I hope you all get inspired and start thinking about your next adventure. Thank you.

And as always, if you have any questions or want to get in touch: flick me a message.

Love, Lieselot

The post 5 Years of Travel, Outdoor & Fun appeared first on The World is a Circus.

After 8 months of mountains, beautiful sceneries, clear blue lakes, sun and lots (and lots) of snow I left Canada.

From hot summer to ice cold winter

My story in Canada started last year, in August 2017, with hot temperatures in Vancouver. I welcomed them, since I was coming from winter in New Zealand. The temperatures and dryness was so intense that there were some serious fires.

For four months the boyfriend and I travelled around in our van, hiking our way through British Columbia and Alberta, two gorgeous provinces. We hiked Garibaldi Lake, Assiniboine Provincial Park, Iceberg Lake and many more.

Then winter arrived… The hard and cold winter really did a number on me. I experienced cold I had never felt before. Going outside in -40 degrees Celsius (-40F) is not something I’d recommend. Luckily it was generally around -20C or higher, but that’s still cold. I did learn how to dress properly for this winter weather!

In the beginning we still cooked dinner and slept in the van. But when we realised that this ice cold snap wasn’t going to end after a month we rented a place.

While having the luxury of a warm house and shower, we explored the region. Our home: Canmore, a lovely little town in the mountains and 20 minutes away from busy Banff.

At the same time New Zealand was experiencing a very hot summer and we were getting a bit jealous. Some upcoming trips to Europe in summer and celebrations in our families made us decide to leave Canada.

It wasn’t an easy decision, as Canada really is a beautiful country, and there is so much left to discover. But I’m so happy with what we got to explore those 8 months, and I’ll definitely be back one day! There are still a lot of blog and Instagram posts in the making, so stay tuned for more snow stories, cool hikes and dorky smiles.

Different roads and mountains

But now it’s time for… Europe! I have the urge of getting to know my own continent a bit more. These next months you’ll see me and Nico going on some European adventures – yes, we still love mountains, so that’s where you’ll find us.

First destination on the list, after our original home countries France and Belgium, is Italy! More especially: their beautiful Dolomites in the north.

A few years ago I spent a week over there and it left an impression. The impressive mountains, picturesque villages and cool roads are some of the prettiest around. I can’t wait to explore the area a bit more. We’ll be road tripping, doing via ferratas and taking lots of pictures! In July we have another big trip planned, a bit more remote, but more about that later!

Now I have a question for YOU! Is there a place in Europe that you’d recommend? Something beautiful, special and worth a visit? Let me know!

The post Different Roads and Mountains appeared first on The World is a Circus.

Although I had a good year, in 2017 the world wasn’t always a safe place, with terror attacks, hunger and the ongoing climate change. We definitely have a lot of work to do in 2018, but let’s not loose hope. I suggest we start by being nice to each other and take care of our planet.

My love for our planet grows with every moment I spend outside, whether that is in New Zealand, Canada or Belgium. Of course with my camera by my side to capture it all.

Below you find my 2017 highlights in photos! 

1. Weekend Adventures in Wharariki – January 2017

I spent a lovely long weekend at one of my favourite places in New Zealand: Wharariki Beach. Me and some photography friends had a lot of fun capturing sunsets and sunrises. It’s a wonderful feeling when everyone is on the same page and just loves being out there with their camera.

2. West Coast Heli Flight – February 2017

I’m a lucky girl, I’ve seen quite a bit of New Zealand from above. My flight over glacier country with West Coast Tourism though was by far the best. Sometimes I have to pinch myself by the amazing things I get to do with The World is a Circus. This helicopter flight almost got me emotional, as it was incredibly beautiful to see the glaciers, the crevasses and patterns from above. If you want to do one flight in New Zealand, do this one!

3. 30^th Birthday at Liverpool Hut – April 2017

2017 was also the year I turned 30… Yes, I’m starting to feel (get?) old. Just think about it, the year 2000 is almost 20 years ago! I still remember being in high school, and don’t know where the time went. To make the transition less painful Nico and I decided to hike to Liverpool Hut, in Mount Aspiring National Park. I spent my last day as a 29-year old in the mountains, and that was a great decision. At least I could tell myself that my ‘old’ legs were still able to climb high

4. Romance in Queenstown – June 2017

My boyfriend and I often go shooting (photography ) together in the most beautiful locations. That’s pretty awesome, but you’re mostly busy with your own stuff and not with each other. So I got the idea to focus on romance one weekend in Queenstown. You’d be surprised how many romantic activities are available in the adventure capital of the world! In need of some ideas? Get some inspiration: Queenstown romance. 

5. Jane Goodall Talk – June 2017

After years and years of admiring and following anthropologist and activist Jane Goodall, I finally got to see her speak in Christchurch. She’s 83 years old and still radiates inspiration. Her work is so important for this world, and I hope she has a good influence on you too. Visit the Jane Goodall Institute if you want to learn or do more.

I took some pictures that night, but unfortunately can’t find them anymore. I still wanted to mention it, as she is a kick-ass woman!

6. Mount Cook Goodbye – July 2017

I’ve visited Mount Cook many times, but this was a special visit, as it was my last New Zealand weekend before going to Canada. It was hard to say goodbye to New Zealand, because it is the most amazing country. Nico and I wanted one last roadie, and of course we went to Mount Cook.

7. Garibaldi Lake Hike – August 2017

In August we hopped on a plane to Canada. It felt quite nice to go from New Zealand winter to Canadian summer. August was all about hiking. It was the end of summer, so we had to make the most of it. And we did. Our first longer trip once the smoke cleared was Garibaldi Lake, with a sunrise hike to Panorama Ridge.

8. Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park Week – August 2017

I spent a week in nature, when hiking in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. A week without phones, computers or civilisation is something that everyone needs once in a while. We hiked, laughed and took many photos. The only thing we forgot was a bottle of wine. Beautiful area and on the list to return!

9. Multi-Day Maligne Lake Canoe Trip – September 2017

Canoeing Maligne Lake was one of my highlights. I discovered that I didn’t like canoeing, but still absolutely loved the experience (if that makes sense?). We got wind, snow and most of all insane scenery.

10. Family Christmas in Belgium – December 2017

I ended an amazing 2017 with some long overdue Christmas time in Belgium. It had been four years since I spent it in Belgium. The previous years I was in Australia, India and New Zealand, so 2017 was the year to have a winter Christmas with lots of presents!

I also spent a lot of time with family and friends and even explored my own backyard a bit (including spending a night in a castle in Wallonia!). My Belgium trip was the cherry on the cake of a memorable 2017.

Time has flown by, when I look at all these amazing things I’ve done. I’m ready to enjoy 2018 and can’t wait to see what it has in store.

What were your 2017 highlights? Tell me about your favourite moment!

The post My 2017 highlights in photos! appeared first on The World is a Circus.

Not what you’d think though. I haven’t explored much nature yet, but I have been very productive. Among many other things, Nico and I bought a car, pimped it, arranged insurance, opened a bank account, got a Canadian phone plan and learned about the tipping system.

For those of you who don’t know what I’m doing here: I left New Zealand after almost 4 years, and am ready to explore and live in Canada. A new country, new nature, new adventures and … bears. The latter is actually not something I’m looking forward to (I’m a wimp, remember).

Hot hot heat

Arriving from the New Zealand winter to Canadian summer was a bit of a shock, and left me sick for a week. Temperatures here have been between 27-33 degrees, very hot for a girl used to New Zealand weather.

On top of that, British Columbia has been having lots of wildfires due to the hot weather. There has been smoke in the sky for the entire time… until today! It rained, and it is the first time I’ve seen blue sky. Believe me, it is weird to not see any sky. It felt like the apocalypse had arrived.

The smoke didn’t bother us too much, as we had to get everything sorted before heading on our road trip. Between all the preparations we did find some time to visit Vancouver cafes, go climbing and do a little hike to Cabin Lake in Cypress Hill Provincial Park.

Cypress Hill Provincial Park is in North Vancouver, and easy to reach. There are supposed to be nice views on Vancouver, but we didn’t see anything because of the smoke. The hike to Cabin Lake is still very worth it though!

You hike up 45 minutes and arrive at a beautiful, peaceful lake. It was the perfect refreshment after a hot hike up.

We also visited the Brandywine waterfalls, south of Whistler. The photo at the top of this page is taken by me at the falls. I’ll write an article about the impressive falls, and how to get there, later!

Love Wagon

So we bought a car… It’s a white van with blue interior and a mirror on the ceiling. Because of the mirror we baptised it the…Love Wagon. I love it!

It has an electrical seat which turns into a bed. Because we’re both quite tall we didn’t fit in the bed, so we threw two seats out, extended the bed with boxes, put a mattress on it and now we’re sweet. It also has lots of little storage areas, which I love! Perfect to loose all my stuff. I’ll share the result of the makeover one of these weeks in a video!

What Now?

I’m writing this in Squamish, an hour north of Vancouver, and we’re getting ready for our first overnight hike to Garibaldi Lake. I am very excited, because the smoke has gone and the views will be superb.

It’s a three hours hike to the campground at the lake. We’re staying two nights, so we have time to explore other peaks and views. One of those is Panorama Ridge, which we want to do for sunrise. This means hiking in the dark and hoping not to see any bears!

Some tips and information for newcomers to Canada:

• Canada – or at least Vancouver, is very expensive.
• Be prepared to pay a lot for car insurance. We paid over 2000 dollars for a year. Apparently it is cheaper to buy a car and insurance in other provinces.
• The cheapest supermarket (we’ve found so far) is Canadian Super Store or Walmart.
• There is wifi everywhere (cafes, supermarket, restaurants).
• Cars drive on the right.
• A data plan for your phone is very expensive. Expect to pay at least 50 dollar per month for 1GB of data (+unlimited texting).
• Book your hikes in advance, and do some research. Sometimes you have to call, some you have to book 2 months in advance online.
• Talk loud to each other or sing to scare away bears while hiking.
• For the girls: having your period doesn’t attract bears more (we don’t want to get eaten first, right?).
• Park passes are required for entry into any national park in Canada (this year they are free though, to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday).
• Toilets are called washrooms.
• Tips are expected in Canada. Tip 15% for good service, and 20% for really good service. No tips necessary in chains like Starbucks or Tim Hortons.
• Taxes are not included on the price tag, so on the displayed price you have to add taxes and tip.
• In B.C. foreign drivers licenses (in English) are valid for 6 months.

Have you been to Canada? How did you experience it? Any tips for a newcomer like me? 

The post Welcome to Canada: part 1 appeared first on The World is a Circus.

(get ready for a bit of history of my life)

Three years (and a few months) ago I arrived in New Zealand, planning to stay only two months to travel. Then I would head back to Australia where it’s hot and where I had a Working Holiday visa.

Things changed course when I bumped into a charming Frenchman and decided to stay for a while in New Zealand instead of Australia. A while has now turned into three – and a bit – years.

Life in New Zealand has been incredible. I’ve had the chance to work full-time in social media, do freelance videography and work with tourism boards and companies with my blog.

But even better, I’ve had the chance to discover this vast and beautiful country. It had been my dream to visit New Zealand since I was a young girl, and I could’ve never guessed I would end up living here. Young me would be proud.

The New Zealand chapter is over (for now). Time to go somewhere else.

I hear you thinking: Wheeeereeee the heck are you going?

I’m going to Canada.

Canadaaaaaaa. I can’t believe it, even when writing these words. Do you have that sometimes? That life doesn’t feel real? In August I will fly out of New Zealand, but I’m not realising it. It’s like I’m looking at my life as a bystander.

I’m not going to Canada because New Zealand sucks, because it obviously doesn’t. Many articles on my blog are proof of that.

There are a few reasons why I (and my boyfriend, aka The Kiwifrog) are going to Canada.

1. It was the last chance for me to grab a Canadian Work Travel visa

I found out I had a chance to apply for a Canadian working holiday visa (called International Experience). It was my very last chance, because Belgians can only apply until they’re 30.

As you can read in my ‘Thoughts on turning 30‘ -post I turned 30 in April. I applied a few months before D-day and to my surprise I got it! Only a certain amount of Belgians get the visa, and I was one of the lucky ones.

This was my last chance to experience a working holiday worldwide, so I could not ignore it. For all other countries I’m either too old, or I’ve already used the visa.

A year for me is perfect. It gives me the chance to live, rather than travel in a country. I can taste the country, see where I like it and stay longer and work in one place. This way you experience a country from the inside, you meet locals and you discover the culture.You really getting to know a country and for me that’s the best way of travelling.

2. Apparently Canada is beautiful

The things I’ve heard about Canada are nothing but positive. People are nice, the mountains are amazing and the lakes are as blue as the bluest eyes. Almost sounds like New Zealand – only bigger.

I can’t wait to share the Canadian beauty on The World is a Circus. Let me know if there is anything I definitely can’t miss out on!

3. A bit closer to family and friends

This might look funny to some of you because I will still be living and travelling far away, but it’s already closer to home, right? I always say to my family and friends back in Belgium: it’s halfway back already! On a serious note, this destination is easier to fly to than New Zealand, because New Zealand is really really far away from Europe.

I decided my trip to Canada is also the perfect opportunity to visit my family in Belgium. So I booked a little side trip to my lovely home country in December. I’ll experience Christmas again in the cold! That will feel weird, after having it in Australia, India and New Zealand for the last 4 years.

4. It’s not a goodbye from New Zealand

I’ll have been three years and a half in New Zealand when I’ll leave to Canada and there is still so much I want to see. New Zealand is seriously an amazing country to live in.

We love it here, so it is definitely not a goodbye. We’ll be back!

Have you been to Canada? Do you have any tips for this excited newbie Canada-explorer?

The post From kiwis to maple syrup! appeared first on The World is a Circus.

I have multiple homes now. Belgium, where I was born and raised and New Zealand where I’ve been living the last three years. Travelling does that, making the world your home.

When I was 16 my mum asked me: “Do you have an idea what you’d like to do after high school? I’m so curious.” She didn’t mean to pressure me, she was just very curious. I smiled at her and said: “I’m curious too! I have NO idea.”

Have you ever felt that feeling of excitement, adrenaline and slight nervousness? Your heart beats faster of happiness, but joined by a little bit of fear? That’s what I felt at that moment. I had no idea. I wanted so much, but quickly realised that wasn’t possible. First I wanted to be the new Jane Goodall (see here), then an artist and then a radio presenter.

At that age already I realised that there was a whole world out there and that I’d had to find my own path. And oh man, I was so excited for all the possibilities and I actually still am. Never would I have predicted though that I would move to New Zealand…

I remember being exciting about my future, because I saw all the possibilities. I was looking forward to see and get to know the ‘me’ in five years. What would my future me decide and make out of life?

I think I can say I’m quite happy how life turned out so far. There have been ups and downs, as everyone experiences, but I’m truly happy about my path. I ended up studying communication and a second degree in Journalism. Afterwards I rolled into a job at a production company and then got my second job as a journalist at one of the biggest Belgian TV channels. Life was almost going too smooth!

Luckily my parents always had my back. They supported my choices, even if they didn’t understand them. I was lucky. This way I was able to quit my job in Belgium to travel, and to move to New Zealand in the end. Sometimes there are people who remind me that I’m thirty now and I can see they don’t understand my life choices. I know I’m not twenty anymore, but everyone has their own path, and that’s the beauty of life. You can be totally different people, with different goals and a different life, but both be happy.

Because of my choices I was able to say good bye to my twenties on a mountain in New Zealand, far away from civilisation and with no cellphone coverage. Just the mountains and beautiful Kiwi nature. Who would say no to that?

Life is good. And that house, the kid and the cat will come, one day.

The post Thoughts on Turning 30 appeared first on The World is a Circus.

It has been a bit quiet on the blog lately because of a few reasons: I was working hard on a new design (I hope you like it!) and my car broke down. Our hearts broke a bit when saying goodbye to that beautiful old van. It was also weird to be a few weekends stuck in Christchurch, but now we’re back on the road! Our beloved van would turn in her wreck grave knowing we found a new car after three days…

I’m so ready for my dose of adventure. And man do I have some adventures planned.

In less than a month I will jump on a plane to Australia to discover Victoria State. I’ve been before to Melbourne – which I adore – but now I will be discovering the area around it. On the programme so far is the Great Ocean Road, where I’ve already been but without a good camera and then I’ll be checking out some national parks and coastline. If you have any recommendations, let me know! Anything that is pretty, impressive and mind blowing sounds good! No pressure

But first: plateau hut! This is a magical hut in Mount Cook National Park. Tomorrow a helicopter is dropping my talented friends and me off at the hut, 2200 meters high.

We’ll spend two days taking pictures, filming, climbing up a peak, chasing the stars (and hopefully the aurora) and of course… drink beers at sunset. High up in the mountains sounds like a perfect location for this.

Yes…there is more. At the end of the year the boyfriend and I will travel around the North Island. It’s already a luxury that I can explore the South Island every weekend (if the car doesn’t decide to die), but now we’ll be able to explore the North Island. And man, am I excited! We already planned one activity including a boat and… an active volcano!

The post Ready for a dose of adventure? appeared first on The World is a Circus.

And I have no idea what’s still there, what’s cosy and delicious. It’s a very weird feeling, as I used to know the newest spots in town. Now I need to rely on Google..

After almost 1,5 years in New Zealand it’s finally time to visit my lovely home country, time to inhale the history of our cities, eat good mussels and fries, go to Ikea, drink the best beers and most of all catch up with my friends and family!

Rollercoaster 

I am so nervous and I don’t really know why. I’ve been looking forward to this moment for months and now it’s here. I guess that would make everyone nervous, right?

Besides the nervous feelings I’m also very excited. Although I’m away every weekend on a little New Zealand adventure, it’s been a while since I took a long flight. And it’s a loooong flight.  Four planes in about 36 hours. But that’s all easy peasy thinking that I will see my family and friends soon again.

This week my little brother (11) told my dad out of the blue: “I am so happy dad”.  Dad: “Ah, why is that son?” – “Because my sister is arriving Saturday”.

That makes me melt like an ice cream on a hot day. Mix that with the sweetest emails from family and friends saying they’re so excited that it feels like they’re expecting a baby and it’s almost like I’m being ‘reborn’ (I love my weird family); emails that they’ll spoil me like crazy and can’t wait to go shopping with me (YES!); people taking time off for me and messages to plan some bubble cava time – and you find me with a big smile even thinking about all that love!

I’m also curious how it will feel to go on a holiday in Belgium. Will it feel like a holiday? Or will it feel like New Zealand was just another life and Belgium is still my home? That’s for me to find out and I will keep you posted!

I think it’s obvious there is a rollercoaster of emotions going through me

What I know for sure is that I will behave like a tourist when I’ll be visiting Belgium. I’ll go to cities, cafes and restaurants to feature them on the blog. There is just too much beauty in our little country to ignore that.

Have you ever been on a holiday in your home country? How did it feel? Any advice for me?

The post On a holiday to… home? appeared first on The World is a Circus.

You never imagine it can happen this close to home – or let’s say home.

Although I live fulltime in New Zealand, Belgium is still my home. Belgium is the place where all my friends and family live. Luckily none of them got hurt during the explosions on 22nd of March, but 32 other people were less lucky and died.  And I didn’t start yet about the hundreds who got wounded.

It is horrible. After all these attacks I hear more and more people talking about cancelling their trips to Europe, or to Turkey or Egypt (it’s a long list). And that’s horrible too.

Should we let terrorists dictate our life?

No.

To all the scared parents out there who aren’t happy to see their kids travelling to ‘dangerous’ countries: Instead of being afraid, be proud of the strong individuals they’ve become. Individuals who aren’t afraid of being out there, of facing the world.

I know, we all know, it happens, terrorist attacks. We hear horrible stories in the media, people being killed, families ripped apart, but always remember: the vast majority of the people have a good heart and are more than happy to welcome you into their country.

Countries where there have been attacks see a big decline in tourism, while it is mostly those countries who needs tourists the most. So don’t cancel your trips.

Don’t let the terrorists win. Don’t let them decide what you do. Where you go or don’t go. That moment we let fear control our decisions is the moment that the terrorists win in destroying what little hope remains in our world.

Some numbers might help

If you aren’t convinced yet, let me talk to your rational side. The chance to die in a terrorist attack is negligible. You don’t have to believe me, but believe the numbers.

Drowning in a Bathtub: 1 in 685,000
Dying from a Heart Disease: 1 in 5
Being Murdered: 1 in 18,000
Dying from a Car Accident: 1 in 18,585
Dying from Choking on Food: 1 in 370,035
Being Struck by Lightning: 1 in 576,000
Dying from a Cancer: 1 in 7
Dying from a terrorist attack: 1 in 9,300,000

You are 14 times more likely to die in your bathtub than in a terrorist attack! Does that mean you should stop taking baths? In my case it is probably even higher, because I dare to fall asleep while bathing. But I still love taking baths! And I still love to travel, although the world ‘gets more and more dangerous’.

In two months I will be flying to Belgium. And I can’t wait to go. Not a single cell in my body is afraid. I want to be there to be with my friends and family and I will visit Brussels to see, feel and support my country.

Kia kaha, kia toa

In the Maori language Te Reo they have a beautiful expression for difficult times: Kia kaha, kia toa. Stand tall, stand strong. We need to remember to stay strong, even after such a horrible event. We need to stay ourselves, be strong and especially can’t allow those terrorists to get to us.

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