Some of my travel experiences in multiple places of the world have been placed in this section. Note that the articles on this site are a continuous work in progress, exactly like my travel experiences themselves. Therefore, check out the things I have learned during my travels and keep an eye on this section for more content in the future!
All by Moritz Döring
MOST RECENT POST: Check out the following audio clip of mine about the best places in and around Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, Canada!
Top 5 Nanaimo Food Places To Satisfy Your Hunger
If you’re looking to grab a bite to eat as a student or tourist in Nanaimo, there are some great choices. In this list, present my five personal favourites.
1. Milano’s Ristorante
Hardly anything beats Milano’s Ristorante when it comes to eating in a fancy-looking, yet very down-to-earth place. With its impressive exterior, friendly personnel and traditionally Italian inside decoration, I felt right at home when I went there for dinner for the first time. Even though the place was jam-packed, and I had to wait for some time until I was assigned a table, the wait was certainly worth it. Ordering a reasonably prized pizza, I didn’t have to wait long to sink my teeth into some real good food. This neatly tied up the experience and made Milano’s Ristorante a pleasure to visit during my stay in Nanaimo.
My Menu Tip: Meat Lovers Pizza
2. Jalapeños Mexican Food
As a student at Vancouver Island University, it was important to me to check out places nearby where I could refuel with a bite after a lengthy class. Luckily, Jalapeños Mexican Food is only around 10 minutes away from the Nanaimo VIU campus by foot, making it incredibly easy for even the laziest student to check out. To be clear, I enjoyed the wide variety of dishes and the flavor of the food. But what makes this tiny restaurant stand out even more is the strikingly welcoming atmosphere you’re met with when you eat there. Both the manager and the server were sincerely friendly and quickly made this one of my favourite restaurants.
My Menu Tip: Carne a la tampiqueña, wash it down with a tasty Jarritos
3. Kim’s Korean BBQ House
When it comes to how hidden and low-profile some of the restaurants on this list are, Kim’s Korean BBQ House is taking the proverbial cake. Although it’s located right next to a major street, you might mistake it for an ordinary, residential home from the outside. Once you are inside however, you’re faced with a friendly service and a comfortable location to fill your belly. Knowing that I like pretty much any foods with Teriyaki, I promptly choose the Teriyaki chicken for lunch. You already know your food’s going to be great when it is served in front of you and still sizzling. Make sure not to miss this small place, when you’re in Nanaimo.
My Menu Tip: Teriyaki Chicken
4. Nanda Chicken
Another great Korean place that I could not resist but put on this list. In fact, it was one of the very first places that I went to in Nanaimo to get some food. I ended up liking it so much, that I decided to go there again soon after my first visit. Even though the menu wasn’t the most diverse compared to other places I went to, this actually made it easier for me to choose the dish that I personally found the most interesting: Yangnyeom Chicken. While I did try out other dishes as well, the sauce of this one made me like it the most out of the entire menu. If you’re visiting, bring an empty stomach with you and be prepared for hefty portions.
My Menu Tip: Yangnyeom Chicken with Yam Fries on the side
5. BarBurrito
Looking for more Mexican meals? BarBurrito at the heart of Downtown Nanaimo has got you covered. Whether you like the classic burrito, prefer cheesy quesadillas or want a handful of tacos, this restaurant offers you all that you need to fill your belly. For the dishes that you get a BarBurrito, the price range is also very fair. Together with how quickly the meals are made, this makes it ideal for the hungry student short on time and money. For many of the items on the menu of BarBurrito, you even get to choose multiple options, giving you the opportunity to put a unique spin on your food whenever you visit this restaurant.
My Menu Tip: Ground Beef Burrito
Top 5 Places In Hamburg You Won’t Want To Miss
Finding yourself in the maritime midst of Hamburg, Germany? This list presents my personal sightseeing tips that you should visit. Take it from a Hamburger by birth!
1. Elbphilharmonie
If there is a single place that you do not want to miss out on if you find yourself in Hamburg, it is this one. The “Elphi”, as we often called, is a very new concert hall in the HafenCity part of Hamburg and was opened in January 2017. With a massive price tag of 866 million Euros, a weight of about 200,000 tons and a building time of almost 10 years, this is a very special building. This is not just due to its impressive look from the outside, but also the spectacular view from the top. That’s right, you can climb the inside of the Elphi and have a view of the Hamburg skyline, which already makes this more than worth the visit even if you’re not there to see an overpriced concert.
2. Alter Elbtunnel
Hear me out on this one: I am indeed recommending you to visit a tunnel. But it’s likely one of the most interesting tunnels you will ever come across. You can find it located underneath the Elbe, which is the main river running through Hamburg. Just trying to reach the Alter Elbtunnel is half the fun, since you have to take a very old-school lift to get to the entrance. This can be used for people who want to take walks through the tunnel, though taking your bike for a ride is also a possibility. Originally opened in 1911 being about 426 meters long and being designed with special maritime art on the inside of the tunnel walls, this is one is truly unique.
3. Miniatur Wunderland
Am I a fan of miniature art such as model railways? No, not really. But you don’t need to be crazy about tiny trains to appreciate the absolute masterpieces that the Miniatur Wunderland has on display. This really is another unique location you need to see for yourself. Located in the historic Speicherstadt district, this attraction is one of the largest of its kind worldwide, attracting visitors from all over the world. Nine different sections show various parts of Germany and other countries such as Italy and Switzerland, including thousands of detailed figurines. Just get your tickets real early, because this place is always busy with people, and for very good reasons.
4. St. Michael’s Church
Another real Hamburg classic, this one is also lovingly called Michel. Even if you are like me and don’t consider yourself particularly religious, the art inside this Lutheran church and the view from the top easily earns this a spot on my list. It was dedicated to the Archangel Michael, is 132 meters in height and can be found at the heart of Hamburg. Make sure to visit on a clear day to climb to the top and get another impressive view of Hamburg from up above. Also, at the main entrance you can find a giant bronze statue, which depicts Michael about to defeat the literal devil by piercing him with his spear. If this doesn’t intrigue you, I really don’t know what will.
5. Reeperbahn
If you’re looking to party hard until dawn in Hamburg, you simply cannot avoid checking out the Reeperbahn at least once. It used to be a place for ropewalks, which is also where it got its German name from. Also termed “the most sinful mile”, this cheeky entertainment district is the pulsating main artery of nightlife in Hamburg. A wild mix of people come together here to get drunk on German beer in bars, dance the night away in one of the many clubs or simply to take a memorable stroll along its length of about 930 meters. Let me advise you to be of age when you decide to truly explore this place, because some parts are not exactly for the faint-hearted.
You’re in Hamburg during Christmas? If you speak German and want to know about the best Christmas markets in Hamburg, check out the following video!
5 Great Travel Locations For Your Next Vacation
I’ve travelled to quite a few countries all over the world. The following catalog lists the best ones that I had the pleasure to be a guest of thus far.
1. Italy
If you’re looking to really plunge into a historic and often beautiful place, Italy is the way to go. It is home to some of the most stunning architecture and memorable places in Europe in my opinion. I would not prioritize the big and obvious capital city Rome, since I found it to be rather loud, hectic and not exactly clean either. Instead, I encourage you to aim for cities such as Florence and Venice. You will obviously still run into a lot of other tourists, but I found both places to give me a way better Italian experience compared to Rome. For Venice, I can recommend the famous Rialto Bridge, while I strongly urge you to take a guided Vespa Tour in Florence.
2. Australia
Home of the Kangaroos, Australia does have plenty more to offer than hopping marsupials. As the capital, Sydney is the obvious pick to check out during your time in the land Down Under. A stole past the distinctive Sydney Opera House gives you a good look at the center of this bustling city. Far up North, the city of Cairns in Queensland is the ideal place to relax at one of the beaches and go surfing. With its waterfalls, islands, camping locations and lush nature, Cairns is perfect for nature enthusiasts. My personal tip: Grab your snorkel and take a guided tour to check out the Great Barrier Reef with your own eyes.
3. Portugal
When it comes to celebrating the history of Europe, places like Italy have many of the classics. But with Portugal we have a country that would probably not immediately stand out to many as a quintessential travel location. But just its largest city Lisbon should dispel this notion. Remarkable picks include the Hieronymites Monastery, the colossal tower Torre de Belém, quaint neighborhoods like the Bairro Alto, Gothic ruins such as the Convento do Carmo and the famous aquarium Oceanário de Lisboa. Portugal and in particular Lisbon is ultimately an often-underestimated tip, but one that really shouldn’t be in my opinion.
4. The United States
I have been to the US multiple times at this point and can only recommend anyone to give it at least one visit. The West Coast offers many opportunities for long and interesting road trips. One noteworthy sight to check out are the foaming waves of the Restless Sea, located at Pebble Beach. In general, I would suggest getting out of the big cities and bask in the natural landscapes that states such as California have to offer. Further to the East, taking a gander at the enormous Rock Mountains is essential. As long as you stock up on water and like extreme temperature, driving through the Death Valley is an experience that awaits curious travelers as well.
5. Germany
As a German, I would be remiss not to mention my home country on this list. But this is for a large part, because we have more things to draw in tourists than beer, sausages and Lederhosen. Up in the North you run into maritime cities such as Hamburg, Lübeck, Lüneburg and many others that practically overflow with chances to remember the old days. Moving towards the South, you won’t find any better castles of massive scale and stunning nature. And in between, there are many more places just waiting to be explored. Whichever part of Germany you find yourself in, I strongly believe that you won’t be far from a fascinating area that is worth the trip.
My Work & Travel Experience in Australia
In 2018, I decided to travel to the East Coast of Australia for a Work & Travel experiences. In this article, I recall some of the most memorable highlights from this fascinating trip to Down Under.
It is somewhat of a tradition for many German students to go out into the world for a Work & Travel experience after they have finished final secondary-school examinations. Very frequently, the country of choice happens to be Australia. Personally, I think this is to get away as far as possible from the everyday life in Germany and discover something entirely new. And I can’t deny that this was also my situation when I finally decided to have my very own Work & Travel experience in Australia for 3 months on my own in 2018.
My stay in Australia began with my first and biggest stop: The capital city of Sydney. As expected, this was the busiest but also the most memorable location. Checking out historic buildings such as the Sydney Town Hall, looking at the striking architecture of the Sydney Opera Hall and even just walking through the main streets number among the highlights of my time there. As a working and traveling backpacker, staying in hostels throughout my entire time in Australia was the most practical option and definitely resulted in some entertaining situations. But living with 3, 10 or sometimes even more people in one big room sure does make you appreciate the privacy of your own place. In frequently ran into other backpackers, many of which were from Germany as well. The dizzyingly fast pace of getting to know people in hostels from all over the world and spending time together is something I have not experienced ever since.
When it comes to working opportunities, Sydney offered a wide variety. Most of the time I got hired very temporarily and worked on places like construction sites, event halls, office buildings and others. One especially noteworthy instance was when I found myself at chemical facility and transported containers. Given that I had to wear protective gear, it was both a physically challenging and probably rather hazardous job. Of course, all the work I ever got in Australia was given to me by an agency and therefore everything was well-regulated. I don’t remember actively disliking any of the jobs I ever took during my stay.
Over the months, I continued to travel up the East Coast of Australia. My main method of transportation were Greyhound buses, another fundamental part of what it means to be a backpacker. I finally arrived in Cairns, the ideal place for everyone who loves beaches and crystal-clear waters. Feeding kangaroos and even holding koalas in one of the local zoos were simply a must for me. This is also where I went on a distinct diving tour to see the Great Barrier Reef, which amazed me with its many fishes and corals. I even swam close to a barracuda, which quickly swam away after noticing me. Sadly, I occasionally also saw trash swimming around, making me even more cautious not to leave my own behind or cause any other kind of pollution.
And this wasn’t my only water-based endeavor: Whilst close to Cairns, I decided to take a surfing course with other international participants. It lasted for about 1 week, in which we learned the basics, enjoyed shared BBQ’s, and had fun times in general. The waves were a lot higher than what I am used to in Germany and knocked us around pretty good. This is also where I had some more traditional Work & Travel jobs, which consisted of time spent on nearby farms. Unsurprisingly, these were jobs that were not for everyone, since they demanded a lot of fitness and physical endurance. But to me, this was a welcome change from some of the comfortable and lazy traveling parts. My journey finally came to an end when I returned to Sydney to catch my flight back home to Hamburg.
These were some of the biggest highlights I gathered throughout my Work & Travel experience in Down Under. I would say that it contributed in a major to making me more self-sufficient and open-minded to exploring what the world has to offer. It turned out to be one of the many exciting trials that turned me into the person that I am today. After having been to multiple other places, my Australia adventure still stands out as one of my favorites. Even if you decide to pick a different country, I can only encourage you to take a chance and travel to a completely new place by yourself at least once in your life – Just like me, you might learn some surprising things about yourself and stand to gain memories that could last you a whole lifetime.
