Hi, my name is Margot and I live in Amsterdam, which is located in the province North-Holland in the Netherlands (so, both ‘Holland’ and ‘the Netherlands’ apply in this case). As long as I can remember, I have compiled lists and notes of everything I could think of. Amongst these notes were lists of the places I visited with tips based on my personal experiences. I was always a bit put off by writing it down and sharing it with the world after seeing the vast amount that is already available online from people who have visited way more countries and fully dedicated their lives and careers to blogging.
WHY a website?
That being the case, I did notice that most of the online content is more about the persons who travel rather than the places where the travelling leads them. I also find that in the pursuit to create short and crisp content, most online content lacks the quirky facts and places I always look for.
After quitting my job as a lawyer in the Netherlands I decided to travel through Russia and Japan for several months and finally realize what has been going around in my head for years: compiling a collection of my experiences, both in words and in images. I have written my thoughts down as if it were a travel journal I would share with family and friends, by compiling straight forward lists of recommendations on and off the beaten path. In doing so, I could not keep myself from including some fun facts and historical, cultural or geographical perspective. In addition to these lists, I will also upload my personal experiences and thoughts in a blog on an occasional basis.
Oh and to keep it as straightforward as I want it to be, all footage on this website has been shot by me, no stock photos present! This means that the objects shown in this footage are as subjective to local conditions as any traveller would be. Sometimes the weather is far from optimal, sometimes the highlights are surrounded by scaffolding or other imperfections may arise… Travelling will never lead you to a perfect world. Enjoy nonetheless.
WHY ‘the offing’?
In seeking an appropriate name, I made myself a promise to never resort to travel related names that make me cringe as much as any version that includes wander(lust), nomads or any other term that is #hashtagworthy.
Irrespective of where I am, the places where I experience the greatest sense of happiness are places involving water. Whether it is a canal or river in a city, a lake in a mountain area or the sea or ocean… Is it not the best feeling to sit down with a cold drink and watch the sunset from the shore whilst gazing into the distance? For me, the word ‘offing’ relates to this feeling.
‘Offing’ means the more distant part of the sea in view. In common English also used in a phrase by referring to ‘have something in the offing’. This means that there is something which is likely to happen soon. I can only hope to be lucky enough to experience many more moments gazing into the offing from shores all over the world.