Quixoticguide
Hi, I’m Maarten Van Den Driessche, a curious human, aviation enthusiast, vexillophile, world traveler, and food lover with over 14,000 days of life experience.
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Redefining Luxury: The Richness of a Simple Life
In a world where luxury is often measured by expensive homes, designer brands, and exclusive experiences, perhaps we’ve misunderstood what it truly means to live well. Real luxury isn’t always something you can buy. Sometimes, it’s something you simply notice. It’s the first cup of coffee in the morning while the world is still quiet.…
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Why Malta May Not Be the Best Destination for Pregnant Travelers
Malta is a beautiful Mediterranean destination known for its historic cities, crystal-clear waters, and sunny climate. However, if you are pregnant—or planning to become pregnant—it is worth considering one important aspect before booking your trip. Unlike many other European countries, Malta has historically maintained some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. While the…
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The Best Views Come After the Hardest Climbs
There is a reason this saying has stood the test of time: the best views come after the hardest climbs. Whether you’re hiking a mountain trail, navigating a difficult chapter in life, or exploring a destination far from home, the greatest rewards rarely come without effort. Travel has taught me this lesson over and over…
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Japan Triples Departure Tax as Overtourism Grows
Travelling to Japan just became a little more expensive. As of 1 July 2026, Japan has increased its International Tourist Tax, commonly known as the departure tax, from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per traveller. The fee applies to everyone leaving Japan, including foreign visitors and Japanese citizens, and is typically included in the price of airline…
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Just Let Them
Inspired by: Victoria Horsley’s Instagram Story on the “Let Them” mindset. Thank you for the inspiration. Every so often, a simple idea captures the internet because it resonates with something many of us have experienced. The “Let Them” Theory, popularised by Mel Robbins, is one of those ideas. At first glance, it sounds almost too…
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What Makes a Civilization
When people hear the terms “First World” and “Third World,” they usually think of rich versus poor, developed versus underdeveloped, or even civilized versus uncivilized. But history tells a very different story. The terms were never meant to rank civilizations. They were born during the Cold War. The First World referred to countries aligned with…
Where curiosity leads
Travel isn’t about collecting countries, but about understanding them.
These are places that shaped how I see the world — not just destinations, but contexts, encounters, and stories waiting to unfold
Travel Beyond Tourism
- Discover Places
- Understand Cultures
- Travel Better
- Meet the World
- Learn the Context
My Travel guides
- Not instructions, but orientation.
- These guides explain how places work — so you don’t just visit, you arrive.
“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” –
Ibn Battuta
Maghrebi traveller