#109 Hiking To Skalka

Hiking to Skalka…

Hiking to Skalka…

It’s an easy hike — until it isn’t.

I’ve done it plenty of times, and every time I forget how steep that first part actually is.

You start walking thinking, “Yeah, this will be chill,”

and after ten minutes you’re out of breath, second-guessing your choices.

But that’s the thing about this trail… it’s straight up, with a couple of viewpoints that force you to stop and enjoy the moment.

I love it out there.

What makes it even better is the reward waiting at the top.

A small mountain hut, cold Czech beer, and proper food.

My favourite?

Garlic soup — every time.

Anyway…

Great trail, good company, fresh air, beer, and a warm bowl of soup at the top.

Sometimes that’s all you need.

#108 Prepping For A Hike

108 Prepping For A Hike

Over the next few days — over Christmas — I’m going to share a few photos from the Czech Republic.

While visiting my family, catching up with old friends, and walking through the places I grew up in, I took a couple of shots worth sharing.

This one is from a hike me, my sister, and my cousins did to Skalka.

One of my favourite hikes in the area.

I must have walked it a million times, but every time I’m on that trail, it just feels good.

This time wasn’t any different.

A simple, perfect way to catch up with family.

And what would it be for a hike without a good prep 🙂

#107 Snow… And Lot’s Of It

107 Lookout Tower For Hunters Hidden In The Forest

Snow.

And lots of it.

Winter is in full swing in the Czech Republic.

This was taken in the mountains up north… just a short hike from the Polish border.

A quiet, beautiful day. 

#106 Adventurer

106 Full Time Adventurer

There’s a line I read the other night that sucker-punched me right in the gut.

It said:

“How can I make sure I squeeze everything out of life instead of having life squeeze everything out of me?”

Boom.

Read that again.

That one question stopped me cold.

Made me think about all the years, all the places, all the near misses, and bold calls that shaped this wild thing I call my life.

See, when I was 24 — young, dumb, and allergic to ordinary — I looked around and realized my whole future was already planned for me.

Finish school.

Get a job.

Marry.

Have kids.

Grow old.

Die.

The classic slow death dressed up as a “normal life.”

My parents thought I’d follow the script.

Everyone did.

But something in me snapped.

I wasn’t going to wake up one day and realize that I hadn’t lived.

No… no way!

And so… I started squeezing the juice out of my life.

Lived in Africa.

Hitched across Spain.

Got lost in New Zealand.

Enjoyed rum from a coconut in Samoa.

Ditched everything and moved to the UK.

Traveled across South Africa to Cape Town.

Ended up in the Netherlands — still chasing sunrises and sunsets, still figuring it out, still learning new ways to live.

And here’s what I’ve learned…

You don’t find yourself by staying comfortable.

You find yourself by chasing your wildest dreams — by choosing the road that might fall apart halfway through and taking it anyway.

If I’d listened to the plan, I’d still be in Karviná, Czech Republic — working for some random company, talking to the same people, probably married, kids and all… pretending to be happy.

Instead, I’ve got stories that beat stuff any day of the week.

So yeah… reading that line hit home.

I’ve squeezed a hell of a lot out of life already… and I’m not done yet.

Neither are you.

We get one life.

One shot.

Don’t wait for the world to hand it to you.

Go take it.

Go see the damn world.

Go squeeze it dry.

Let’s go.

#105 Sittard-Geleen Hospital – Long Exposure Shot

105 Sittard-Geleen Hospital

I was testing long exposures near the Sittard-Geleen hospital — trying to catch those streaks of light from cars flying past.

I wasn’t using any filters. No fancy gear. Just a tripod and a bit of patience.

And as I stood there, watching headlights carve through the dark, something hit me…

Everyone’s rushing somewhere — fast, loud, and distracted.

But the magic happens in stillness… when you stop, breathe, and let things unfold.

Stillness isn’t empty.

It’s full of everything you’re usually too busy to notice.

And so, I guess what I’m trying to say is… slow down and observe.

#104 Stadspark Panorama Sunrise

104 Stadspark Panorama Small

Stadspark, Sittard. Sunrise.

Panorama made with a Sigma Art 19mm — 9 shots stitched together.

One of those mornings that makes you forget everything else. The kind that reminds me why I always carry a camera.

You never know when the world’s about to put on a show.

#102 The Shit We Collect

DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Mechelse Heide

Something hit me recently.

I read this line:

“All the shit we collect throughout our lives means nothing. We come with nothing. We leave with nothing. The shit you buy will get sold, given away, or scrapped. It makes more sense to take that money and travel.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Never in my life have I felt happier than when I was on the road.

There’s something about it.

I believe every gadget, every upgrade, every “thing” we own — big or small — eventually ends up in someone else’s hands or in a landfill.

But the memories?

The places you’ve been, the people you’ve met, the moments that burned themselves into your mind — those stay forever.

They become you.

You’ll take them to your grave.

That’s why traveling should be high on your list of priorities.

I once saw a video of a guy walking the streets, asking older people what they’d do if they were young again.

And every single one of them — without hesitation — answered the same thing:

Travel more.

#101 The Sky Just Exploded

The Sky Just Exploded

This shot wasn’t planned.

I was walking home — tired, head full of noise — when the sky just EXPLODED.

Everything around me was dead silent.

The water didn’t move.

No people.

No traffic.

Just me and a sky that looked like it was on fire.

One of those spontaneous moments you can’t predict.

Pure magic!

#100 Shots Later

100 Shots Later

This one’s special.

My 100th shot upload. 

And it’s Monday!

So… here I was… no crowd. 

Just me, a headlamp, and about 10 km of pure hiking trail ahead.

I needed it to unwind. I needed to get lost in nature.

Each shot is a quiet reminder that progress doesn’t happen overnight. It happens when you show up… even when it’s dark and no one’s watching.

I’m printing this one as a milestone… personal micro-achievement.

What’s one thing you’ve kept doing long enough to finally feel the change?

#99 Autumn Walk – Keep Going

Autumn Walk Keep Going

The path bends, but it doesn’t end.

You can’t see what’s around the corner… but that’s where the magic usually hides.

This shot’s a reminder: keep going, even when you don’t see the destination yet.

I turned it into a print for that exact reason — so I don’t forget what it feels like to trust the road.

What’s one thing you’re walking toward?

#98 Mushrooms

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are no joke.

If you do them right… you’ll walk through a door most people don’t even know exists.

If you do them wrong, you’ll meet the devil himself.

There’s a fine line between revelation and ruin… and mushrooms don’t forgive carelessness.

Respect them… and they’ll open up a world you never knew was hiding inside your own mind.

#96 Morning Walk Sittard

Morning Walk Sittard

A shot taken on a quiet morning walk through one of Sittard’s side streets. Somehow the shot looked better in Black and White.

#95 Not every day’s Sunshine And Rainbows

95 Stadspark Bridge In Sittard

I pulled this shot out of my archive for one reason…  

To remind you that the weather isn’t always sunshine and rainbows… and that’s a good thing.  

Once you accept that, and head out anyway, you’ll realize even the “shit” days have something to offer.  

Some of my favorite shots were taken when I could barely see ten meters ahead.  

Like this one, heavy fog, early morning in Stadspark Sittard… completely swallowed by mist.  

I love days like that.  

I love photos that look like they were ripped straight out of a slow-burning horror movie.  

You can “feel” them. 

The silence. 

The mood. 

The weight of it all.  

Every day’s a practice day… but the messy, unpredictable ones?  

That’s where you grow. 

I pulled out this shot from my archive and want to share it with you for one reason… 

…as a reminder that the weather ain’t gonna be always sunhine and rainbows and once you accept that, and head outside even though it’s shit, you still might come home with great shots.

Me? 

I love foggy days like this one… I love shots with atmosphere, scenes that look like they were ripped out of a horror movie. 

Every day is a practise day… Let’s put it this way.