HoliDaze Archive

learned something new

The Weird Things New Zealand Has To Offer

Ginger Beer Bar in New Zealand

Slowly it’s getting winter over here but the sun is shining every day. In Holland, I heard it should be around 30 degrees but despite that I am enjoying everyday here in New Zealand. Enjoying the kiwi culture and the country that has his own will, including some very special weird things New Zealand has. … Read More

What Is Your Travel Personality (Quiz)

Contact Derek Freal, founder and head traveler of The HoliDaze

I’ve traveled to nearly 50 nations, lived and worked in six different countries and combined a long term career break with shorter adventures, holidays and weekend escapes. As a result my own travel personality, style and preferences have evolved with each experience and I have met many other travellers (and travel personalities) along the way. … Read More

25 Lessons I’ve Learned From Traveling

Travel off the beaten path with the HoliDaze

Having the opportunity, freedom and desire to travel has created endless opportunities for me to visit countries outside of my own, explore different cultures and meet a variety of diverse and interesting characters. Over the years I’ve lost count of the all the profound, inspirational and sometimes most basic of lessons learned from traveling, but … Read More

Japanese Lodging: Try Something Different

Tokyo I love you!

Every country has hotels and hostels…what does Japan do differently? Just because Japan is constantly looking towards the future does not mean they have forgotten about the past. From traditional ryokan to modern capsule hotels and love hotels, Japanese lodging comes in several unique forms that I could not help but test out. The best … Read More

How To Get A Job In The California Marijuana Fields

Did I ever tell you about the time I worked on a California marijuana farm?

Worth over $2 billion annually, California‘s world-renowned wines used to be its number one cash crop. They’ve been surpassed — err…blown away — by the marijuana industry, which according to a 2011 report is worth $14 billion, a whopping seven times that of the vineyards! And it’s growing every year. Analysts at Cowen & Co. … Read More

Water Wars: Growing Tension Between Bangladesh & India

Have you ever heard of Bangladesh? It’s okay to say no, you won’t be the first one…and I’m sure you won’t be the last. It’s a small country, originally part of Bengal until 1947 when India gained its independence and Bengal was divided along religious lines into East and West sections. West Bengal merged with … Read More

Random Travel Facts That Will Blow Your Mind

The view from an airplane window is quite nice. Nothing beats air travel.

Did you know that Europe is the only continent without a desert? Or that American Airlines saved $40,000 by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first class? Throughout my journeys I have learned a lot of staggering travel facts that will blow your mind — and now I’m sharing them with you. Enjoy … Read More

The 7-Colored Sands Of Chamarel, Mauritius

7-Colored Sands of Chamarel, Mauritius

Ever visited the African country of Mauritius? It is an island nation east of Madagascar in the southwest corner of the Indian Ocean. It was the only known habitat of the now-extinct Dodo bird. And much like that ill-fated avian species, the colored sands of Chamarel are also unique to Mauritius. Nowhere else on earth … Read More

Now Museum, Now You Don’t: Strange American Museums

Road sign in the Valley of Fire State Park, Overton, New Mexico, United States

I love checking out the random cool, quirky or confusing museums that I stumble across while traveling. Some are educational, others are laughable, but most all are enjoyable for their own reasons. The next time you pass by a museum, I encourage you to stop in and have a look around. Here are some of … Read More