Over the years, that passion kept growing as I searched for my ultimate dream off-road vehicle. Before long, I stumbled across videos on the early days of YouTube about an event called Abenteuer & Allrad. Literally translated, it means “Adventure & All-Wheel Drive.”

For years, I followed the event and its community from afar. In 2022, I finally decided it was time to visit, but unfortunately I had broken my ankle and had to cancel those plans.

Last weekend, it finally happened.

After years of waiting, I made the trip together with my friend Jeff. He brought his camper van, and I brought my tent. After about four hours of driving, we arrived in Bad Kissingen, Germany, on Friday, June 5th, around 10 a.m., where the event was being held.

The first thing that surprised us was the sheer size of the camping areas. There were four different campgrounds, and the first two were already full. We ended up on Camping Area 3, which was roughly the size of five or six football fields.

The campsite was packed with every type of expedition vehicle, camper, van, truck, and overland rig imaginable. Different sizes, heights, and designs everywhere you looked. We couldn’t stop staring.

Before long, we found a spot, parked Jeff’s self-converted camper, rolled out the awning, and set up my tent. After that, we enjoyed a late homemade brunch while taking in the view and admiring the countless custom-built vehicles surrounding us.

And let me tell you… Germans are incredibly passionate and dedicated when it comes to overlanding and camper travel.

Despite the enormous number of vehicles and visitors, the campsite felt remarkably peaceful. It was something I hadn’t expected.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing and wandering around the campground, admiring everyone’s creations and gathering ideas for my future camper project. That was one of the main reasons I came. But we certainly weren’t the only ones. Everywhere you looked, people were strolling around for exactly the same reason: to admire, learn, and get inspired. It was fantastic.

The next morning, we took it easy. I made breakfast, and afterward we jumped on one of the free shuttle buses heading to the exhibition grounds. The moment we entered, we were speechless.

The scale of the show and the amount of things on display were almost impossible to describe. Everything was there: from bolts and construction materials to camping accessories, vehicle upgrades, and fully built expedition vehicles.

We spent five hours walking non-stop and still didn’t manage to see everything.

I’m a complete nerd when it comes to this stuff, but even for me it became overwhelming at times simply because there was so much to see.

The day couldn’t have been better. The weather was perfect, the atmosphere was incredible, and everyone was genuinely excited to be there.

You might assume that an event like this is attended mostly by men, but that wasn’t the case at all. Plenty of women were there too, enthusiastically exploring vehicles, discussing solutions, and searching for accessories and upgrades for their own camper projects. It was genuinely great to see.

The exhibition was every bit as impressive as the campsite itself. Everywhere we went, people were friendly, helpful, and sincerely interested in each other’s vehicles and travel stories. We both absolutely loved it.

Jeff was incredibly happy and grateful that I introduced him to this world. The experience only made him even more excited to continue improving his camper. As for me, I was simply grateful to finally experience Abenteuer & Allrad after all these years. Sharing it with a good friend made it even better, and it has given me a fresh boost of motivation for my own future self-build camper project.

So stay tuned… it’s going to be epic.

One thing is certain: next year, we’ll be back.

Thank you, Abenteuer & Allrad, for an unforgettable weekend!

Last Friday, the time had finally come. We set off for Barcelona to pick up Nacho from storage. At the end of my previous trip, I had left him there and flown back to the Netherlands. The plan was to continue traveling from Barcelona… but plans changed.

A good friend of mine, Jeff, had just finished converting his van into a camper, built to carry his motorcycle. Together with his brother, Marlon, they joined me on this trip. We left on Friday, March 27 at midnight and drove non-stop to Barcelona. Every three hours we switched drivers, stretched our legs, grabbed a drink, and occasionally refuelled.

The weather was terrible. Through Belgium and France we dealt with heavy rain and even wet snow. About three hours before reaching the Spanish border, the weather finally cleared up. It was obvious we had entered the Mediterranean region. But then came strong wind gusts, so we could not maintain high speed. We arrived in Barcelona around 9:30 PM after about 21 hours of driving.

I had saved a few parking spots on Google Maps, but the first one failed immediately. No vans or campers allowed, only trucks. We had to find another option. Parking security suggested a spot 8 km away, which was not practical. Two of our phones were dead, and the third had only 6%. My phone, with the saved locations, was also dead.

In the back of the van, Jeff had a large battery, but we needed the key to open the side door to access it. At the same time, we were afraid to turn off the engine. Earlier, during a fuel stop, the van would not start, and when it finally did, the battery warning light came on, indicating it was not charging. Still, we had no choice. We turned off the engine, opened the side door with the key to reach the battery, and quickly started the van again. Everything worked fine. It turned out heavy rain had caused a temporary connection issue. Relieved, we charged the phone, found the saved parking spot, and drove there.

If you know Barcelona, parking is difficult, especially for tall vehicles. But this spot worked. It was just behind Las Ramblas, so we carefully navigated the narrow streets and parked safely.

That gave us an instant energy boost. The Barcelona effect.

Jeff had the idea to bring our bicycles, so we all brought our own. Once parked, we grabbed the bicycles and rode to the Airbnb. That gave us an instant energy boost. The Barcelona effect. We were exhausted but happy to have made it.

After checking in, we dropped our bags and bicycles and went out for food. Despite being extremely tired, morale was high. We walked around the city and ended up at Marula Café for a drink before heading back. We fell asleep within a minute.

The next day, Sunday, we woke up slowly. No tight schedule. After breakfast, I played tour guide and showed them around Barcelona by bicycle. The weather was perfect. Sunny, not too hot, not too cold.

We visited the gothic neighbourhood, Cathedral de Barcelona, admire the Pont del Bisbe, Casa Batlló, Arc de Triomf/parc and the finally finished Sagrada Familia, where we sat on a bench for almost an hour just watching people. Then we rode to Barceloneta and relaxed by the beach. After that, we had an amazing paella at Bar Cal Chusco, a traditional restaurant in de La Barceloneta neighbourhood 3 minutes from the beach.

Later, after some resistance, I convinced them to ride to Plaza de España to catch the golden hour from the steps of the National Art Museum. It was a long ride, but the view was worth it. They complained, but now they have a story to tell.

Monday was the day to pick up Nacho and head back to the Netherlands.

That morning started chaotic. Someone tried to steal our bicycles parked outside the Airbnb. Jeff heard it, confronted the thief, and suddenly all three of us were outside in our underwear chasing him. He managed to escape, which was probably for the best. Meanwhile, we stood there half-naked, frustrated and disoriented, in front of a hotel restaurant full of people having breakfast. Not our finest moment.

After that, we laughed it off. We checked out, had breakfast, and rode back to the camper. Loaded everything up and headed to pick up Nacho.

It was close, but with Barcelona traffic it took about 20 minutes. At IMTBike Barcelona, they recognized me immediately and guided me to Nacho. There he was, happily waiting. Or maybe I was the happy one.

We loaded him into the van, secured him, talked a bit with the staff, great guys, very friendly and helpful. Then it was time to head back.

The return drive went smoothly. Dry weather allowed us to keep a good pace. We left around 1 PM and arrived home in the Netherlands at 7 AM. About 18 hours of driving, but it felt much faster.

That was the journey to pick up Nacho. Long, exhausting, but full of laughs. Barcelona always gives energy. Now I have also infected two of my friends with the Barcelona virus, I am sure they will go back again.

In the coming days, I will give Nacho some attention. Oil change, new filter, and a few small fixes. Then he goes up for sale so I can upgrade.

Thanks for reading.

HPPY TRVLS

So in 2026, I can finally move forward with my plans and dreams.

After my Euro trip in 2024, where I truly tasted the freedom I aspire to, something shifted. I did not change my plans. I refined them. I sharpened the focus and committed harder to making them real, exactly the way I want them to be. And for that, I need to go into monk mode for a while.

That means working and saving with intent. Fuck status! This is about building real wealth and real freedom for myself. At 50, designing my future life matters more than ever. Let’s be honest. If money were not an issue, nobody would work. I wouldn’t either. But that is not the reality. So for now, I hustle with a clear vision, consciously and sustainably, to build the life I aspire to. Think freedom. Motorcycle adventures, Hikes, Traveling. Doing things that bring me joy, when I want, where I want, and for as long as I want.

It is ironic. I have to temporarily give up freedom to reboot freedom later.

That is where monk mode comes in. Focused. Quiet. No distractions. With a little help from AI, I even created an image to capture the feeling. So if you do not hear much from me for a while, now you know why.

When the plans move from vision to execution, I will document them on video. Until then, stay tuned.

Are you working on your future life?

HPPY TRVLS

When you travel the way I did, on a motorcycle and sleeping in a tent as often as possible, you start living at the most basic level of life. Where am I sleeping tonight. What am I going to eat. Do I have enough water. When will I wash my clothes. Simple questions, yet they shape your entire day. Not calendars, not notifications, not the constant noise we have normalized at home.

Modern life is built to remove friction. One tap and food arrives at your door. One button and your laundry disappears from your awareness. Convenience everywhere. Comfort everywhere. And without noticing, we lose touch with the value of simple actions.

On the road, that comfort fades. Cooking becomes a conscious act. You feel the ingredients, the heat, the time it takes. Washing clothes by hand is no longer a chore you outsource to a machine, but a moment of presence. Water matters. Time matters. Effort matters.

I noticed how these basic rituals brought me back to my core. There was clarity in repetition. Calm in simplicity. A quiet satisfaction in taking care of the fundamentals yourself. No rush. No shortcuts. Just doing what needs to be done.

That is the magic of basic living while traveling. It reminds you that happiness does not come from speed or abundance, but from awareness. From being involved in your own life again.

When everything is reduced to the essentials, you start to feel grounded. Alive. Connected. And you realize that the simple things were never small at all.

This experience was something I truly needed. It did not happen instantly. It took time, about three to four weeks, before I fully dropped into that rhythm. But once I did, it was gold. A real return to the foundation of who you are.

But the truth is, everything happens exactly when it is meant to. No sooner, no later.

I deeply value that I allowed myself the time to go through that process instead of rushing it. Even today, I still feel the calm it brought into my life. A lasting sense of inner quiet that stayed with me long after the journey continued.

Looking back, I could say I should have done this much earlier. But the truth is, everything happens exactly when it is meant to. No sooner, no later.

Disconnecting from the world, work, noise, and expectations and returning to the core is something I would recommend to anyone. Step away from it all. Strip life back to the basics. It will do real wonders.

HPPY TRVLS

While organising my photos, I came across fun memories from the past. There were also sad ones, pictures of people no longer in my life and family members who have passed. The photos from my 2024 Motorcycle Euro Trip truly make me happy. That trip was the best thing I could have done for myself, and I cannot wait to hit the road again… to be continued.

Now I have more peace in my life, which gives me space to focus and enjoy the things that truly matter.

Going through the photo’s of my trip reminded me of all the places where I worked on content for my vlogs and blogs. It gives me a deep sense of fulfilment. It is exactly what I was looking for, freedom. With every mile, I felt like shedding my old self like a snake. All the pain, frustration, and limiting beliefs fell off my shoulders. Now I have more peace in my life, which gives me space to focus and enjoy the things that truly matter.

These photos represent that feeling every time I look back. I often revisit my vlogs just to enjoy the memories. I highly recommend making videos, taking photos, and writing blogs or journaling. The future you will be thankful. Today it’s Friday, the perfect moment to write a blog and share some of the weirdest, most memorable places where I worked during my 90-day Motorcycle Euro Trip.

Now I am curious, are you also a nerd like me who archives everything on a self-made dedicated server? How do you do it? How do you archive your photos and videos?

HPPY TRVLS

A Mix of Backgrounds, But No Sense of Belonging

My heritage is diverse: my mother is Venezuelan, my father is Surinamese, and I was born on the island of Curaçao. At the age of ten, I moved to the Netherlands. For many, this would create a rich cultural identity, but for me, it never felt like a foundation. Instead of feeling at home anywhere, I always felt like an outsider, not because I was excluded, but because I never intrinsically belonged.

For a long time, I questioned why. Why didn’t I feel the same emotional attachment to culture as others? Why didn’t I have the deep-rooted need to hold onto traditions or collective identities.

After much self-reflection, I realized that my identity is not defined by culture but by something much deeper, who I am on the inside. To me, culture is just a variable; it can have an influence, but it does not define me. While others find security in traditions, dogmas and group identities, I seek my own truth. I gather knowledge and experiences from different sources and shape my own ideology.

This has always made me different. In a world where most people need a collective identity, encountering someone who thinks completely autonomously can be unsettling. And that comes with challenges.

Because I don’t conform to group thinking, I’ve often noticed that people feel uncomfortable with my way of thinking, expressing and living. Society is built on communities, on the idea that you belong somewhere, think certain way and share the same imposed beliefs. But what if you don’t? What if you choose to carve your own path?

Over the years, I’ve seen that people I met both in friendships and romantic relationships, eventually gravitated back to the safety of culture, the system, and dogmas. And every time, a disconnect formed because I simply didn’t feel the same need. This led to many relationships, both platonic and romantic, falling apart.

In the past, this made me sad. The feeling of rejection and misunderstanding was painful. But as I grew older, traveled more, and gained wisdom, I became stronger. I learned that my path is one I must walk alone. Not necessarily because I want to, but because it’s simply the reality of who I am.

Cosmopolitan: The Only Label That Fits

If I had to place myself in a box, I would call myself a cosmopolitan, a world citizen. Not because I have no origins, but because I refuse to be defined by them. I don’t feel at home in one culture but rather in the world as a whole.

Perhaps there are people out there who truly resonate with my way of thinking, who view the world as freely and independently as I do. But so far, I haven’t met them. And that’s okay. For now, this is my solitary journey not loneliness, but a conscious choice to stay true to myself. Because in the end, that’s what matters most to me.

Have you ever felt like you don’t fully belong to any one culture? How do you define your identity?

HPPY TRVLS

I hope you’re having an amazing weekend. It’s been 5 months since I got back from my motorcycle trip through Europe and about 3 months since my last vlog/blog post. Time to catch you up!

Things are moving along here, and I’ve been busy working on recordings that I’ll share with you next year.
It’s a podcast, don’t tell anyone, okay So, keep an eye on the site or my Facebook page or subscribe to my YouTube channel if you haven’t already!

For now, I thought it’d be fun to share two older short travel videos with you.

The first one is from Barcelona in 2015—my very first visit to this amazing city.

The second video is also from 2015, and it’s about my first time in Venice—another incredible city.

I’d say, sit back, enjoy, and let me know what you think.
Did these videos inspire you to visit one of these cities yourself?

HPPY TRVLS

#spain #barcelona #valencia #motorcycletravelvlog #solotraveler #europe #motorcycle #vlog #papiamentu #yudikorsou #antiano