Tag: nature
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Holiday Season in the Austrian Alps & Central Europe (2025-2026)
My family’s first-ever snow-themed winter holiday took the entire Gardner clan through Central Europe—17 days of freezing temperatures, superb skiing, gorgeous Austrian Alps, and charming historic cities. Experiencing real snow for the first time in 6 years was exhilarating! I particularly enjoyed the snow-covered Alps—easily one of the most spectacular places I’ve visited in my…
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Birding in Jakarta, Indonesia (2026)
I spent Chinese New Year of 2026 (February 16th-23rd) visiting my girlfriend Florence’s family in Jakarta, Indonesia. Most of my time there was spent gorging on delicious food (gaining weight), sitting in traffic jams, and hanging out with Florence and her family. Whenever I had free time, I pursued my own interests and went birding…
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A Week of Wildlife in Southern Victoria, Australia (2024)
2025 was a rough year for me— a roller coaster of ups and downs that rocked me to my core. After leaving the University of Queensland in late April and scrapping my former dream of becoming a zoologist in Australia, it took me awhile to get back on my feet and feel confident in myself…
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Getaway to Bintan Island, Indonesia (2026)
Recently, my girlfriend Florence and I enjoyed a pleasant, five-day getaway to Bintan Island, Indonesia, located just one hour from the Singapore mainland via fast ferry. Our trip was a rewarding mixture of eco-tourism, luxury accommodation, fine dining, and fun outdoor sports like jet skiing. Though we weren’t focused on wildlife-spotting, we still had the…
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The Rugged & Remarkable Rockies of Colorado (2025)
If there were ever a region of the world designed for a person like me, Colorado might be it. This large, square, state in the Western US is a broad expanse of rugged, high mountains, vast prairies, lush forests, windswept steppe, and some of the most spectacular scenery I’ve ever laid eyes on. My recent…
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Scorching-Hot Wildlife Outing Through Paynes Prairie, Florida
Florida is a surprising—though perhaps not-so-surprising—treasure-trove of American biodiversity. The Sunshine State spans a 350-mile-long (563 km) peninsula that stretches into the northern Caribbean, ending just north of the Tropic of Cancer and Cuba. This region, the Florida peninsula, is the only part of the United States where the Neararctic (North American) and Neotropical (Latin…
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Iceland: A Week in Europe’s Wildest Nation (2025)
While much of Europe lures travelers with its historic landmarks, vibrant cultures, and world-renowned cuisine, Iceland stands apart as a destination defined by raw natural beauty. This rugged, volcanic island-nation captivates visitors not with castles or cathedrals, but with its natural beauty—ranging from steaming geysers and active volcanoes to sprawling glaciers and abundant marine life.…
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24 Hours of Birds and Mammals in Singapore’s Last Rural Oasis!
An overnight wildlife expedition to Pulau Ubin (‘Granite Island’ in Malay) had been a long-awaited objective of mine since moving to Singapore in 2022. I’ve been to the island a limited number of times over the past two years due to its relatively remote location and a lack of free time on my part. However,…
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Two Weeks of Fruitful Night Walks Around Singapore
It’s been great to be back in Singapore after almost four months of working and visiting relatives in the United States. Even though I was born in the US, I’ve just always felt more at home on the other side of the world in Asia, so I’m grateful to still be able to live in…
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A Recap of Adventures I Have Yet to Talk About (August 2023-September 2024)
This post serves as a rather broad summary of the nature-related adventures I’ve had over the past year that I have not touched on previously. Starting off in August of 2023, I had the opportunity to partner with a local marine biologist, my friend Sek Chuan Chua, for an internship through the school program I…
Bennett Gardner Wildlife Watching 