Holy tulip

It's about 2am back home and 8am here in Namibia. we are just about to hit the road and do some much needed grocery shopping for our 2 week adventure. of which 7 days will be primitive camping. Let me start with our quick trip through Amsterdam and catch up.

We landed in Amsterdam yesterday (I think, time has all mushed together so I'm not really sure what day it was, or is now for that matter!) and headed straight for the train station after locking up some gear in a airport locker (thank God for those). We took the train to Centraal Station and walked to the nearest bustling area. We were so hungry we ended up springing for an irresistible dessert before eating lunch (whoops).

Essra's excellent photo

After we strolled around checking out the dessert and coffee shops we grabbed lunch at a pub and then headed back to Schipol Airport and caught a bus to Keukenhof Garden. We arrived in Holland just in time for the famous tulip season (which I've always wanted to experience).. 

Thanks for the photo idea, Devin

The flowers were incredible and the smells, divine. As Essra put it "I feel like I'm in Alice in Wonderland." I can't imagine the kind of care that goes into keeping these things alive and in tip-top shape. I have a brown thumb, you see, and folks like me can barely keep a cactus alive....so I'm very impressed. None of these images have a filter or have been edited, the flowers are just that pretty.

We had a lot of fun just walking around, picking up massing blocks of Beemster (one of my favorite cheeses) and being silly.

Don't mind Devin the bench

So thankful for our strong and handy men

After we had enough, we found a sunny spot on the lawn and took an hour nap. We were exhausted and happy to have a place to rest our heads (the grass in Holland is seriously amazing). Then we headed out to Schipol Airport for the long journey to Namibia. 

And now I remember why I've never blogged...it takes so much time and I'm too busy doing to write about doing. Gotta go, I'm being rushed...off to Etosha Park. I'll catch you up later but just know that we lost Dmitry in Africa! Don't worry, we found him...

Well it's about time!

Testing 1,2. 

I think I created this blog over 3 years ago, with good intentions, yet today is my very first post (I'm both embarrassed and entertained by that). Sadly, that probably tells you a little something about me...and not the best of somethings. However, what I hope to show by keeping up with this blog is that I'm anything but a lame-o. As cheesy as this sounds, adventure really should have been my middle name. Adventuring and, furthermore, traveling are my biggest passions in life. Running right alongside those is photography (or should I say taking pictures, because I still have yet to take the time to truly learn the camera...re-enter slacker). Luckily for me, all the above passions go hand in hand. 

Through this blog, I hope to take readers along with us/me on our/my adventures. We ALWAYS get into some pretty spectacular stuff and I find myself wishing that we could truly share the adventure with people in a way that they could laugh with us, at us, and experience the incredible journey without having to be there physically. We would also love to provide folks with the information and tricks/tools necessary to do the trip or the adventure themselves, should they dare to take it on. Facebook doesn't seem to fully let everyone in that way (mostly because I have been horrible at taking the time to write and post pictures about things!). 

Our international road trip adventures (taken as a couple) of the past include the following countries (perhaps I'll blog about them in the future because they're chock full of good ideas and information). In fact, friends often reach out to us for help with planning their upcoming international trips and adventures...which we LOVE. Our independent travels are quite extensive as well, I've listed those too. 

Kostian and Mel International Road Trips and Adventures:
Belize
Canada
Egypt
Guatemala
Honduras
Ireland
Latvia
Mexico
Nicaragua
Russia
South Africa
Swaziland
Thailand

Turkey

Mel Solo International Trips 
Argentina
Aruba
Barbados
Brazil
Canada
China
Colombia
England
Ethiopia
France
Guyana
Italy
Jamaica
Kenya
Mexico
Netherlands
Scotland
Switzerland
Trinidad
Tobago
Uruguay

Kostian Solo International Trips
Bahamas
Belize
Brazil
Chile
China
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Dubai
England
Falkland Islands
France
Greece
Guatemala
Israel
Latvia
Lebanon
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Russia
Singapore
Spain
Switzerland
Thailand
Qatar


So...without further introduction, I bring you our first and upcoming blog trip:

NAMIBIA!
We leave Saturday, April 1st for a fun-filled, 2 week adventure road trip through Namibia, which will involve a lot of off-roading and camping. I'm so stoked for this adventure. It's the first time that we have invited a few friends to join us (usually our international road trips consist of just the two of us) and we couldn't be more excited to experience it with wonderful friends. I hope they're ready for an adventure a la Kostian and Mel style!

So tune in and take notes if you dare to adventure through Namibia ...or if you just enjoy a little danger, excitement, and what will undoubtedly be amusement. I'll see you soon friends (because I WILL blog on this trip...wait, as long as I can find internet!).