Q&A WITH PAUL RIEDSTRA
I got the opportunity to meet Paul Riedstra on a group trip through Patagonia. Like me, Paul’s life has brought him all over the place. He currently lives in Haarlem, Netherlands and has lived in both Budapest and Surinam. Our very first day hiking on the trails we got to talking and it was very clear we share a similar passion for adventure travel.
Paul might just be the first person that I have met who travels with as many gadgets as I do. In fact, he may actually travel with more – you be the judge
Paul is an all-around fun, goofy guy. Over the course of our three week Patagonian adventure we enjoyed many a trail and beer together.
Meet Paul Riedstra.
Name: Paul Riedstra
Home Town: Haarlem, Netherlands
WHY DO YOU TRAVEL?
Travel means adventure. You’re able to see amazing animals and meet great people. Traveling opens your eyes and allows you to enrich yourself in ways that money can’t buy (really corny). It also gives you cool stories. I can remember that my sister and I were on a hammock boat in the Amazon of Surinam and it took us 24 hours to get back. We were surrounded with bags full of snakes.
WHAT’S THE BEST TRIP YOU’VE BEEN ON AND WHAT MAKES IT STAND OUT FROM THE REST?
Difficult to say. Every country I’ve visit has its own charm but I think Africa was really good fun. We travelled from from Kenya to South-Africa and saw so many animals. I had a lion-walk in Zambia which was amazing (they were massive) and we went shark-cage diving in Hermanus, South Africa.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT?
I need to have music with me. So a well filled iPod or iPhone will do the trick – but these goes hand in hand with chargers. 🙂
WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 DESTINATIONS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET LIST AND WHY?
Greenland to see the Aurora Borealis, Uganda to see the mountain gorillas and the Artic to see polar bears.
WHICH TRAVEL PLANNING TOOLS DO YOU FIND MOST USEFUL?
Researching on Google and talking with people that have already been to the places I am interested in.
WHAT IS THE MOST UNDERRATED CITY YOU HAVE BEEN TO AND WHY?
Haarlem, Netherlands. Why does everyone go to Amsterdam anyway? Don’t tell anyone about Haarlem otherwise all the tourists will start to come and ruin it.
WHAT IS THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF ANY TRIP YOU HAVE BEEN ON?
While in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania both of our 4×4 jeeps got stuck. Shortly after we saw lions with their cubs pass by. 4 minutes after we saw lions with their babies in the Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL THEMED BOOK AND WHY?
Universal Travel Guide For Difficult Countries by Jelle Brandt Corstius (Dutch)
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO GET THROUGH A LONG FLIGHT?
I can’t sleep on planes so most of the time I’ll get a beer and watch some movies. A couple of times I was lucky that the passenger next to me was also in to beers and we had some funny conversations
With Norway, Sweden, and Vienna already scheduled, this year is looking to be a big year for Paul and his travels. He also tries to do at least one big trip a year. What’s in the works for 2017? Asia.
WANT TO MAKE MORE CONNECTIONS? BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MORE DOMONTHEGO CONNECTIONS TO GET TO KNOW MORE OF THE AMAZING PEOPLE I HAVE MET ON THE ROAD.
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have you been to Costa Rica? am thinking of visiting…
The only part of Central America that I have been to is Mexico! Costa Rica is one of those places that a lot of my friends have been to and rave about. Will need to plan a trip there for sure.