Author: Maarten Van Den Driessche

For my birthday, a friend wished me upgrades to unlimited flights, a lifetime supply of rare routes, and airplane cards. Honestly, it may be one of the most accurate birthday wishes I’ve ever received. Because some people wish you health, happiness, and success. And then there are the people who know that, for you, happiness…

Today, I turn 40. There is something about this age that invites reflection. Not in a heavy or melancholy way, but in a quieter, steadier sense — as if reaching 40 encourages you to pause for a moment, look back at the road behind you, and then look ahead with renewed curiosity. Forty feels less…

Few places on Earth capture the imagination of mountaineers and explorers quite like Pakistan. Hidden within the dramatic landscapes of the Karakoram and Himalayan mountain ranges are five of the fourteen mountains on Earth that rise above 8,000 meters—the legendary “eight-thousanders.” These peaks represent the highest and most formidable mountains on the planet, towering above…

Visiting Afghanistan is not without challenges, but for travelers deeply interested in history, culture, and human resilience, the country offers an experience unlike anywhere else on Earth. Few places carry such a powerful combination of ancient heritage, dramatic landscapes, and enduring spirit. 1. A Crossroads of Civilizations Afghanistan has long stood at the meeting point…

Nevado Sajama — 6,542 m Rising high above Bolivia’s windswept Altiplano, Nevado Sajama is the country’s highest mountain and one of the most striking peaks in the Andes. At 6,542 meters, this extinct stratovolcano dominates the landscape with a quiet authority, its snow-covered summit standing in dramatic contrast to the dry plains, volcanic ridges, and…

Tucked between the glittering skyline of Dubai and the vast deserts of Saudi Arabia lies Bahrain, a small island kingdom that is often overlooked—but shouldn’t be. With its mix of ancient heritage, relaxed atmosphere, and modern architecture, Bahrain offers a different side of the Gulf compared with its larger neighbors. I visited Bahrain on a…

Some countries exert far greater global influence than their population or size might suggest. Their impact comes from combinations of economic power, geopolitical reach, military strength, culture, finance, technology, or strategic geography. Below are key examples often considered to have outsized global influence. 🇺🇸 United States The United States is arguably the most influential country…

The Kalahari Desert is a vast semi-arid sandy region in southern Africa that stretches across Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, covering roughly 900,000 square kilometers. Despite its name, the Kalahari is not a true desert in the strict climatic sense; it receives more rainfall than most deserts and supports a surprising variety of plant and…

Armenia is a landlocked country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia, situated at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran to the south. Despite its relatively small size, Armenia has a rich cultural heritage, dramatic landscapes, and…

Long before satellites mapped every coastline and aircraft stitched continents together in hours, the world still contained vast blank spaces. Medieval maps showed dragons where knowledge ended. The ocean, particularly the Atlantic, was not merely water — it was a boundary between the known and the unimaginable. Into this uncertainty stepped Prince Henry the Navigator.…