The End

26th-30th July

Having saying goodbye to Wannes and Nele in Dendermonde in Belgium we had a long day of travel heading towards the Alps. It was almost the end of mine and Dave's trip through Europe and the end of my epic travel adventure. Europe had been quiet exhausting with lots crammed in and the previous days had been no exception. The plan was to have one final destination in the Alps before heading back to our favourite hostel in Munich where are flight home was from. To get to Innsbruck we had to change at Munich but when we arrived we decided we couldn't be arsed and went back to the big tent a couple of days early.

Back in the tent

We still had a few days left as we wanted to chill for a few days before going home so there was plenty of time for a day trip to Innsbruck and that is what we did. One final adventure.

Heading for the mountains

Our mission for the day was to climb a mountain! After a short train ride to Innsbruck we walked through the town to the cable car station that would take us most of the way up the mountain.

Nice bridge

Half way up

Cheating

There was a second cable car that takes you to the top but I wanted to explore a little so we opted to hike the rest of the way

Almost at the top

Epic

The clouds were coming up our side of the mountain so there wasn't much of a view but when we got the top the other side was almost clear. The scenery here was epic! Dave was panicking that his heart might give out. It had been a steep climb.

Mountains!

The top!

The clouds parted

Just as we were about to head down the clouds parted briefly to give a brilliant view of the other side of the valley. It was short lived though as the clouds came back with a big hail shower.

Through the alpine forest

We got a bit lost of the way down. We just kept heading downhill without really paying much attention. We were just wandering through the wilderness. My knees were killing me by the time we got to the bottom.

What they doing?

When we did finally manage to get back to the town we did a little bit of exploration. There wasn't a whole bunch to see. It was what you'd expect from a typical mountain town.

Centre of Innsbruck

Random town

We treated ourselves to a well earned Maccas before getting the train back to Munich. The train journey itself is worth the effort as it winds through the foothills of the Alps.

Very pretty

When we got back we chilled out in the bar with a few beers and made friends with a couple of Australians. This hostel is so good for the social side. It was really easy to strike up a conversation. As we sat chatting around the campfire I remember thinking 'I'll miss this'.

The Final Night

That was it. It was all done. Time to go home!

After nearly 4 years away from home living, working and travelling in 26 different countries it was finally all over. I spent the last day going through all my pictures and videos to put together a small highlights video as some sort of finale montage for myself.

As I was going through it all I was reminded of all the amazing things I've done and experienced. The road trip up the East Coast of Australia, my two favourite jobs I've ever had at the Monsoon Bar in Franz Josef and the winter season on Mt Ruapehu, living in my car driving around the circumference of Australia and all the incredible places I went to in Asia. I'd been to 24 of the 26 in the final 7 months alone and each place had its own fascinating story and history.

I've skydived. I've bungi jumped. I've swam with whale sharks, spent the night in the world's third largest cave and learnt how to snowboard. I witnessed to full solar eclipse, celebrated New Years Eve in Sydney Harbour. I climbed to the top of Mt Fuji and I've met about a MILLION people. The Ultimate Oz group, the Kiwi Experience group, the Ultimate Thailand group, exploring Myanmar with Katie, Laos with Daimi and all the people I worked with in 11 different jobs. There's just too many things that were good about this trip, I can't even list them all!

When I watched it back just before setting off to the airport I found myself quite emotional. It was hard saying goodbye. It was certainly the end of an era and while it was really sad I also felt very proud of what I've done and so thankful that I got to do and experience everything I did. The biggest thing was all the people I'd met and the friends I've made. They're the ones that turn a good thing into something special.

I write this now 9 months after I returned and a lot has happened. First I wanted to see everyone I had missed while I was away. Then it was long overdue to get my hair cut! After that, it was time build a life for myself which I think I've achieved. I found myself somewhere to live, got a car and a job. I'm working as a travel agent which is brilliant as I can talk all day long about my travels without sounding pretentious. It also means travel is still a big part of my life and it will help me tick off the ever increasing list of countries that I want to go to.

However, nothing will ever compare to this trip. The scale, the freedom, the adventure. A holiday is a holiday but this was a journey! As cliche as it sounds, it has changed me as a person. I learnt a lot about myself and a lot about the world. I feel like I see things differently now, with a different perspective. There is no normal, just different.

I miss it a lot. I miss my tan! But I made the right decision to come home. Its time for the next chapter of my life to begin. Whatever that might be...

My new wall hanging

City Hopping Around Belgium

22nd- 25th July

After yet another hungover train journey we arrived in Belgium's Capital Brussels where we had around 24 hours to explore. We were pretty broken so we didn't walk around for too long. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot to see in the centre of Brussels so we didn't feel too bad for not spending longer here.

City Hall

Our first stop was the Grote Markt which is the big square in the middle of the city surrounded by big fanciful buildings. One of which, the City Hall, has an interesting story. Its immediately obvious that the tower is not in the centre of the building and the main door is not in the middle of the tower. There are more mistakes I was informed but I couldn't spot them. The story goes the architect, having realised these mistakes, threw himself from the top of the tower.

Grote Markt

Manneken Pis

The most visited landmark in all of Brussels was the little peeing boy. He is little. I thought this might be a big statue given how famous it is but its life size. It was very underwhelming.

Palace of Justice

The last place we visited was the Palace of Justice which is a huge building set on a hill. It gave a good view over the city. This is where we really noticed the presence of the army. Four army trucks were parked outside it, each with a couple of personnel with machine guns.

Army's in town

We had noticed them a few times around the city, especially in the train stations. It was more unnerving than reassuring. It hadn't been that long since the suicide bombers that killed 32 people in Brussels so it was understandable but it does put you on edge. I prefer to walk around blissfully unaware of any threat.

Cathedral in the distance

We chilled out at the hostel for the rest of the day recovering and gathering our energy for another big few days. My friends Wannes and Nele, who I'd met many times in New Zealand and Australia after we had worked together in Ohakune, had invited me to stay with them over the weekend in which was very generous. They lived about an hour from Brussels in Dendemonde. Nele had to work for most of it which was a shame but Wannes became our tour guide for the weekend.

Menin Gate

The first place he took us was to Ypres which has significant World War 1 history. During our trip in Europe I had learnt a lot about its history (having forgotten most of it from school) but I hadn't even scratched the surface regarding WW1. I had completely forgotten that Belgium was even significant in it until we explored the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing which is dedicated to British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the battles here.

Dedication

It was the invasion of Belgium by German forces that forced Britain to enter the war. It was a key strategic area for the Allied forces and many battles were fought here. Even the poppy came from Belgium! It couldn't believe I had no knowledge of this but after we spent most of the day looking at war stuff and can consider myself educated!

Over 50,000 names

We spent a few minutes exploring the memorial and looking at the 50,000 names on the wall. There were no Fletchers on there.

Ypres

We walked into the small town to have a quick look around. Its a pretty little place with lots of cafes and a massive tourist attraction for the older Brits.

Chilling during the war

Our next stop was the memorial museum a little out of town. There was quite a bit to read through on all aspects of the war. Towards the end was a full replica of a war bunker and trenches.

Bunker

Trenches

Rest in Peace

The memorial is devoted to the 500,000 men who died in the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 for only an 8 kilometre gain. It was a very sombre place.

Real Poppies

I've never actually seen a real poppy. It was nice to see that they were still growing here 100 years after the battle.

I'm in Bruges!

Time for a mood changer, later on in the day we went to Bruges. I've never seen the film In Bruges but I've been told its very good. It must have increased the tourism here a little bit but it doesn't need much encouragement, the place is stunningly beautiful.

Famous canals

Dave, Wannes and I being tourists

Crammed 'relaxing' boat ride

We walked around the canals and the narrow streets. It was all very pretty but extremely busy. I suppose it was the weekend in the middle of summer but it did get a little frustrating at times. I'd love to come back here when its quieter and explore a bit more. Also when I've seen the film!

Big church

Beer anyone

Belgium is famous for its beer and nowhere more than at the 2be bar which has a beer wall with well over 100 beers. We obviously had to try a couple. The one I got needed its own wooden stand so it didn't fall over. Doesn't seem very practical!

Beer!

Belgium Waffle

You can't not go to Belgium and not get a Belgium waffle and Wannes knew the just the place to get the best one. Just needed some chocolate to tick of the local delicacies.

Tuck in!

The Belfry

The last stop on our trip around Bruges was the main square. I've been told that this bell tower is part of an amusing part of the film but as I mentioned, I still haven't seen it.

Pokemon Corner

One corner of the square seemed to be more popular than the rest. When we wandered over we discovered that this was the location of a very popular Pokemon Gym. It had only recently been released and we were seeing this kind of thing more and more. I must admit I was quite jealous as more phone was too old for it to work.

Beer made by monks

Back at Wannes's house Nele had returned from work so we able to have a good catch up. Wannes cracked open one of the rarest beers in the world. He told me it was made by Monks! I felt bad for not liking it. I tried to drink as much as I could out of politeness but it was horrible.

The Gravensteen

The next day was a real treat in Ghent. It was the last day of a two week festival here and it was brilliant. The whole city seemed to be involved. Wannes told us that he used to enjoy it when he was a student here and that the more boring locals would go away on their summer holidays to avoid it. There was certainly a lot going on.

Crowds on the river

The first place we went to was really strange yet fun experience. It's essentially run by a group of asylum seekers who make a joke about the whole thing. We had to queue up outside the area for a 'visa' to be allowed in. We were given a stern talking to by an 'immigration officer'. It was all in jest but it was also all in Flemish so Dave and I had no idea what was going on!

Being escorted out

I was a little bit less on edge once we sat down with a beer but then Wannes pointed out to me that we might get picked on at any moment. Normally I'd be all for it but it was all in foreignish and if you didn't cooperate then you were put in the prison and escorted out! Pressure!

Dishing out clothes

There was stuff going on all the time. At one point a van turned up with lots of clothes that had been given in donation. A man shouted (and Wannes translated) that the people who had worn them had been granted asylum and no longer needed them so they were being given back.

Speed dating

Next up was speed dating with a bunch of guys looking to get visas, no love needed.  It was all done as a joke but these guys really are asylum seekers. You hear all the time about immigrants in the news and in politics, it was even a big factor in Brexit. But when you see the humanity of it, and not in a 'help me' scenario, then it all looks a little different. This was a brilliant way of taking away that taboo and having a laugh at the whole thing. The whole afternoon was hilarious and done in such a positive way.

In prison

We had a look around at the other stuff going on. We even jumped in the prison for a quick picture but we weren't escorted out. There was a shop selling 'rock band memorabilia' such as the t-shirt showing the dates of the tour from hell. It was the guy's journey from Somalia to Belgium.

Tour from Hell

Beersies

After a fun afternoon we left and headed for one of the other many music stages for another beer. We wandered around the city for the rest of the day between the stages. There was so much going on. There must have been 4 or 5 big stages. It was a full on festival. I can see why those who don't enjoy it leave but for the ones that stay, what a treat!

Huge church

Another big stage

Lookalikes?

We grabbed some food from one of the many food stands and picked a stage for the rest of the evening. The main act seemed to have some familiar faces on there. The girl looked like Taylor Swift and the guy looked like David Cameron!

Night time

Castle at night

Very dramatic

We wandered back through the city and head home where we had one last beer with Nele before calling it a day.

Very happy selfie

It had awesome catching up with these guys. Two of the nicest people I'd met on all my travels and fantastic hosts. I've invited them to stay with me in Leeds but I don't think it has the same gravitas that Belgium does. I really hope to see them again. They've recently invited me to there wedding!

We said out goodbyes the next morning as Dave and I travelled south once more, our European trip nearly over.