Tag: travel
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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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Exploring Australia’s Gondwana Rainforest (2025)
As I’ve mentioned before on earlier blog posts & other sections of my blog, I will soon be attending the University of Queensland, Australia to study zoology. It’s crazy to think that in less than a month from now (January 21st), I will be starting on the path toward my dream major/career in a nation…
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Four Days in the Sumatran Jungle (2024)
I’ve been fascinated with the wildlife of Southeast Asia—namely the gigantic, mysterious islands of Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi—from the time I first visited Sabah at age 9. Since then, I’ve dreamt of returning to the region by myself to search for wildlife. In November of 2024, I fulfilled my long-standing dream by planning and…
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Sulawesi (2024): Nantu Forest Reserve
I spent two days and one night (Days 4 & 5) of my Sulawesi trip exploring the verdant, 520 km² Nantu Forest Reserve in Gorontalo Province, Sulawesi, where I obtained a total of one hundred million bug bites, mud-soaked shoes, and zero sightings of Babirusa, Sulawesi Warty Pig, or Lowland Anoa (my target mammals). …
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Sulawesi (2024): Hungayono Forest
Out of the three reserves I visited on my 2024 Sulawesi mammal adventure, my favorite by far was Hungayono Forest. This rarely-traversed but spectacular expanse of hilly primary rainforest, hot springs, and limestone caves constitutes part of the western section of 2,871 km² Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park, and is a paradise for Sulawesi’s endemic…
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Sulawesi (2024): Tangkoko Nature Reserve
I’m a third-culture kid raised on wildlife adventures in exotic locations. Since moving to Shanghai, China, at the age of seven, I’ve had countless marvelous opportunities to explore the natural wonders of the Far East with my family. I am incredibly grateful to my parents for fostering my passion for animals and nature throughout my…
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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…
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Costa Rica (2024): Quepos
The third and final chapter to my June 2024 Costa Rica adventure with Seba and Celia takes us from the cool, misty highlands of Monteverde Cloud Forest to the hot, steamy lowlands of Quepos, on the Pacific Coast, where we spent our last 3 full days (Day 7-Day 10) getting our final fill of Costa…
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Costa Rica (2024): Monteverde
Part 2 of my June 2024 Costa Rica adventure with Seba and Celia takes place in Monteverde, a famous montane cloud rainforest situated 4,364 feet (1,330m) above sea level in the ethereal, misty highlands of the Cordillera de Tilarán. We spent two nights (Days 5-7) in Santa Elena, a town bordering the expansive cloud forest,…
Bennett Gardner Wildlife Watching 