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Treading Through Gaia

Treading Through Gaia

Leaving footprints around the world, one step at a time. Les mer🇯🇵Tokyo
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    • Treading Through GaiaTreading Through GaiaFrance

      Paris II

      2. oktober 2021, Frankrike ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

      This day was going to be a bit difficult, I was going to be lugging my bag around the whole day. My first stop was the Covid Test Center again to get my test. It went without a hitch though it did hurt my wallet. Afterwards, I went to Trocadero Square to see one of the popular views of the Eiffel Tower but ended up getting caught by the security for using child tickets and getting a fine of 30 euros which was also my last ticket too. So close to being homefree, ouch. The view was even obstructed by walls so after that I went to Champs Elysees to see the Arc de Triomphe which in a bizarre coincidence was all but covered in white cloth. I was under the impression that it was under construction but turns out it was a limited time art exhibit called Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped. After seeing both those spots, I went to Montmarte for brunch. I walked around these very picturesque roads and was able to get really good photos. I stopped by the Sacre Cour which was one of the main spots of Paris, hearing someone play La Vie En Rose on the accordion seemed to really complete the whole Paris experience. It was definitely one of the most crowded places I've been to, the smell of weed as a guy lit up, performers standing on the stairs and trams going through the crowds. It definitely wasn't the best place to be, but the views of Paris was amazing and right in front of the stairs where I was sitting was a lovelock bridge.

      I was supposed to meet with Juliette today but she was busy and directed me to the Generator Hostel where she wanted to take me for some rooftop views of Paris. I went up and the views were indeed very much worth it, it was for free and I got to see Sacre Cour again from afar with a very light blue sky. After resting for a bit and using the wi-fi, I felt the familiar feeling in my stomach that my trip was finally going to be over and it was time for me to start heading to the airport to which I did, but not after dropping by the testing center only to realize that it was now closed once again. Long, long walks back to the train station, it was crowded and hard to find the right train as nobody seemed to have any idea which train was going where. An old man started to ask me for directions out of all people, but I somehow did find the way so I brought him along with me. Dr. Karla, he introduced himself, a scientist. We talked a bit on the train as I helped him carry his bag. On the way, our train stopped and we had to change mid-way to which I guided the old doc to the next bus that was taking us to the airport, reassuring him throughout that we were gonna make it. We passed by a huge sunflower field along the way. When I got to the airport, I spent a lot of time just helping the guy finding his check-in counter and his boarding gate to which we ended up going around in circles, wasting a lot of time, my time to be exact. We did make it just in time for his flight which was good, I gave him some of my melatonin as he was afraid he wouldn't get any sleep and I got on my plane to Istanbul. He wanted to talk to me some more but I told him there really wasn't time anymore, I promised to send his nephew a postcard from Japan to which I did when I got back.      Les mer

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    • Treading Through GaiaTreading Through GaiaFrance

      Normandy

      1. oktober 2021, Frankrike ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

      Woke up extra early today just before the sunrise and made my way to Gare Du Nord station to catch my train to Mont Saint Michel. I was able to grab some breakfast and got on the train just in time. It was an opportunity to just relax and unwind after days of walking around. It was a very long ride taking more than 3 hours. It fell asleep for a bit and woke up to the sunrise before drifting back to sleep. I ate my breakfast and watched as the scenery of Paris switched to the French countryside. The weather was cloudy and rainy even, I was a dreading it a bit the day before but turns out the weather added a lot of drama to my shots and I learned to embrace it instead of working against it.

      After arriving at the station, we got on a tram that took us all the way to Mont Saint Michel. The views were absolutely stunning. There were some Japanese girls on the bus seated in front of me, and I switched seats with another person so they could all sit together. Mont Saint Michel loomed larger and larger until we were dropped off a few meters away from it. Instead of going straight it, I went around the castle instead, it was low tide and its surroundings were just barren land whereas it would otherwise be surrounded by water. The backside of the castle provided amazing shot opportunities as well, it was my first time incorporating strangers to my shots. The landscape shots were particularly amazing because of the cloudy rainy weather.

      I soon went through the gates of Mont Saint Michel, there were some people but I could imagine what this place must have been like during peak periods of tourism. I counted myself lucky as I walked the cobblestone road that soon split into several more possible paths. It was fun to explore and get lost, taking in such a unique atmosphere. The road goes up and they eventually lead to the Abbey. I wanted to take a peek but it unfortunately cost money to go in so I opted to just explore the castle grounds some more. I was able to circle around a lot of places and even saw some chickens in a nearby garden. Soon, the rain started to pour and I took refuge in one of the watch towers by the ramparts with some other people. It was tranquil, the sky was dark and the rain was pouring, nary a soul in sight. I stayed here for a long time before deciding to try to get some more shots when the rain stopped only to end up in the same place as the rain got stronger again. I dropped by an empty restaurant and got a snack and sat by the window at the back part. I took the tourist route backdown and I was able to get a stuffed bunny for Janelle. One of the shop owners was surprisingly Japanese so we talked for a bit. I walked around some more, getting some really nice shots of the moody atmosphere. After a couple of hours, I realized I should also get an early dinner as I would be getting home very late. I got an overpriced sandwich combo before going out back to the castle grounds. The weather provided better quality shots and I was able to find an excellent shot with a crevice for the foreground that led to Mont Saint Michel. It was quite chilly with the wind but it still felt pretty good, I waited for the tram to take us back to the station and I was dropped off somewhere near the visitor center instead. I asked for directions and realized the bus was still coming at a much later time, so I walked around town seeing that there were a lot of odd painted cow statues. I ended up in a giant souvenir shop. It was empty at that time as well but they had a lot of amazing objects about Mont Saint Michel. I waited for the bus for an hour or so and was now on my way to the train station. From there, it was pretty smooth sailing and I finally got to my train going back to Paris. There was a lady on the platform that seemed to be in trouble as there was no way for her to get anywhere from where she was. The train ride back was definitely tiring, I was able to rest again while reviewing the photos I took for the day. After arriving, I took another bus back to my hostel and slept like a baby.      Les mer

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    • Treading Through GaiaTreading Through GaiaFrance

      Paris

      30. september 2021, Frankrike ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

      I arrived France already a bit later than expected but I still hurried off to execute my action plan nevertheless. I started off with the Covid Center to try to get information about getting my Covid test but found out they were closed already so it was a bit last minute but I decided to just take it on the morning I was leaving. I purchased a ticket pack for the metro but it was for children to try and get a discount. It worked and I started to make my way to the locker rentals that I had pre-booked online. I put my clothes in there and carried just the essentials with me as I began my walk around Paris. I got to see the Pantheon and started off at Notre Dame and its surrounding attractions from parks and statues. The French architecture was really something else, the windows and balconies of the apartments had pretty flowers and the streets had just the right amount of greenery. I also got to see the Louvre, Palais Garnier, Sainte-Chapelle, and Hotel des Invalides. I had a plan to take a photo of the Eiffel tower from the Pont Alexandre bridge during the sunset and that is exactly what I just did. After, I headed to the park to see the Eiffel tower up close as they lighted it up. It started to get a bit chilly so I went to go find some dinner which ended up being the raw meat dish that I wanted to try in Poland, taking the bus back to the lockers area after and making a mad rush for it as they were closing soon, making it only by a few minutes, just in time to get my stuff and catch a bus back to my hostel. My hostel was pretty nice and cozy with curtains as well, it was the cheapest one around and I was pretty satisfied.Les mer

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    • Treading Through GaiaTreading Through GaiaBelgium

      Bruges

      30. september 2021, Belgia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

      I had planned on stopping by the famous Bruges, often compared to Venice. It was a short daytrip and I must admit it was very rushed, just for the sake of getting that flag. I got on the bus that took me to the city center. I walked briskly with my whole backpack and was able to see most of the spots on my list as Bruges was small. Starting from the famous Belfry to its bridges and canals, its cobbled streets and the gondolas cruising around. It was really as romantic as they say. I had Belgian fries for a quick lunch and went to walk some more, I got the shot I needed in Rozenkai so it was definitely an amazing time all around still. I waited for my bus back to the train station, accompanied by an older lady that helped me a bit. I got on my next train to Paris.Les mer

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    • Treading Through GaiaTreading Through GaiaNetherlands

      Kinderdijk

      29. september 2021, Nederland ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

      For Kinderdijk, I had to take a train ride to Rotterdam to board a boat that takes me to a harbor near Kinderdijk. I found the way to the pier and waited to get on the boat which made for a pleasant ride before I had to transfer to another smaller boat. The smaller boat took me to Kinderdijk. I got off and started at the visitor center to go to the bathroom and use the wi-fi for a bit before I started my walk into the Unesco Heritage site. It was peaceful, devoid of any people which gave it the area this forlorn eerie feeling yet the overall emotional state was of jubilation. There was a stream flowing beside the path and from almost every direction stands a giant looming windmill. There were also other trails going in and around the area that led to even more amazing views of windmills. The edible I took was already hitting pretty well and I found myself enjoying the walk even more. I took frequent breaks to take photos and just absorb what I was seeing. I went to most of the windmills I could go to, doubling back to check out some more here and there and in order to not go off to far from the trails. I somehow ended up on a walking trail that seemed to extend to nearby farm fields and from then on the grass grew taller and acted as walls to both sides, changing the atmosphere completely. I knew I also had to catch the last boat leaving so it was hard to tell just how far this trail extended so I decided to head back as the skies grew a bit darker, it started to rain. On the way back, the rain caused a rainbow to appear, not just one but a double rainbow that arched over a windmill. It was a beautiful shot. I was able to catch the last boat on time and head back to Rotterdam for my train to back to Amsterdam.Les mer

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    • Treading Through GaiaTreading Through GaiaNetherlands

      Rotterdam

      29. september 2021, Nederland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

      I had to drop by Rotterdam from Amsterdam to catch a boat to Kinderdijk. As I got off, I stopped by a Chinese restaurant to get lunch out of all places. It was quite nostalgic and comforting to be in a Chinese environment and taste Chinese dimsum though the prices were of course still expensive. After eating, I dropped by another coffeeshop to purchase an edible for Kinderdijk. The walk to the pier was pleasant and chilly but I found my way and waited for my boat.Les mer

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    • Treading Through GaiaTreading Through GaiaNetherlands

      Zandvoort

      28. september 2021, Nederland ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

      Zandvoort beach was just a few minutes away from Amsterdam, it was an amazing place. It was quite cold that day, the clouds hid the sun which made it even cooler. A bit windy too since it was at the beach but still very beautiful. I ate some of the truffles waited for it to hit. The trip started off smoothly until it was apparent that I was tripping but not too strong, maybe because I wasn't able to refrigerate it properly or it just wasn't up to par with my experience. It was still a wonderful time and I was blessed to see one of the most beautiful sunsets yet. It truly was an amazing time. I remember feeling quite envious of the Dutch as they have all these things just at the palm of their hands, such a beautiful country. I went to a nearby coffeeshop to buy another joint as I couldn't find mine. I had trouble lighting it up with the wind but I was eventually able to get it and smoked while watching the sunset. At night, the beach lights were very vibrant, I went home shortly afterwards to rest and reset as I was going to Kinderdijk the next day.Les mer

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    • Treading Through GaiaTreading Through GaiaNetherlands

      Zaanse Schans

      28. september 2021, Nederland ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

      I got up the next morning and grabbed my stuff, turns out I wasn't able to put the truffles in the fridge unfortunately. I got to the train station and made my way to Zaanse Schans first to see some windmills, I had a nice Dutch breakfast before heading into the site. It was really pretty, with windmills built by the waterside and a small village inside that also had connecting canals. Supposedly, there should also be tulips if I went on the right season. I looked around for a bit and made my way to Zandvoort beach afterwards.Les mer

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    • Treading Through GaiaTreading Through GaiaNetherlands

      Amsterdam

      27. september 2021, Nederland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

      When I got to Amsterdam by train, it was still raining a bit when I got out. A bit chilly as well, I made my way to find my hostel, aptly named This Hostel. It was a capsule pod type of hotel and it was very pricey but it was smackdab in the middle of the city center which made it a very convenient place to use as a base. I checked in and chilled out in the room for a bit before heading out. I took a peek at the dancing houses of Damrak, and took a walk around the city. It wasn't crowded and it was really beautiful. Walking around the streets, bridges and canals was an amazing experience. I stopped by one of the famous coffee shops, Prix D'Amie, and got a OG Kush joint and their own brand of lighter. Of course, my main goal was to try out their magic truffles so I made my way to Azarius to purchase their strongest one, Psilocybe Valhalla. There was a line outside and I met some funny dudes who were also keen on trying it out. I was dismayed to hear that they ran out but the lady checked again and there was still some stock. I bought a pack and put it in my bag before I dropped by another coffee shop to buy an edible. I ate it on the street and made my way to the gardens where I relaxed for a bit to take in the scenery, I walked around a bit more until the edibles started to hit. I was walking all around the garden until I made it back to the entrance and started to make my way home. I stopped by a burger restaurant to eat dinner but wasn't allowed to go inside as I had no vaccination certificate. I ate outside in the cold but it was a pretty good meal. Afterwards, I made a lap around the red light district, it was definitely an interesting place. After passing through the barrier that separates it from the rest of the town, everything else started to turn red, the signs and its associated shops. The ladies of the night were just there by the windows, it was a very unique experience. I got back home just in time to catch a shower and go to sleep.Les mer

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    • Treading Through GaiaTreading Through GaiaGermany

      Berlin II

      26. september 2021, Tyskland ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

      One of the most magical moments that happened to me while traveling in Europe was this day in Berlin. Originally Evie and I had wanted to go to the bridge in Kromlau but seemed like destiny had other plans. We went out to eat some Croatian food while these brave wasps would just straight up land on my food. We got back to her place but she was having problems with her stomach and ended up being out of commission for the rest of the day. It seems like I had also missed the bus going to Kromlau and I was just honestly pretty tired after traveling for so long. I decided to go on with plan B which was going with Yoko to the flea market. Turns out it was a pretty good decision, the flea market was awesome filled with so much spiritual, cultural, and artistic craftsmanship. I had a lot of fun just going around and even bought Janelle a plant hanger. I bumped into Yoko a couple of more times before going to the area where there were a bunch of people doing Conga drums. It was definitely a sight to behold, people of various color, origins, age, and bodies were all dancing in an almost drunken stupor. Yoko smoked me up again and we were passing around joints left and right. A funny old man named Robbie was just so pissed drunk, he was hilariously doing the silliest things. There were obviously some people on drugs as well. At one point it became too unbearable to just watch and despite my tired legs, I danced my heart out with everyone, even busting out some breakdancing moves. We stayed here until the sun set and the cops had to come over and break up the group. Yoko and I went out to find some food, he bought a grinder from this Rasta vendor that I helped pick. We got home pretty tired and I went to bed pretty satisfied. I think Evie was staying at her boyfriend's that night so I had the room all to myself until morning.

      In the morning, I went inside Yoko's room to get my laundry and packed my things. I wasn't able to say good bye to Evie as she was nowhere to be found. I headed to the main station to catch my train to Amsterdam but ended up getting on the wrong bus which already gave me a bit of anxiety but I was able to make it just fine.      Les mer

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