Off the map with the Intermania

Europe 

First Maarten and Jorn will tell you something about Bordeaux and the region surrounding it. 

Maarten: 

Bordeaux, the French coastal city renowned for its great wines. Located on the southwest shores of France, this city is situated at the confluence of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. It is precisely this geographical landscape that cultivates the world-famous wines. Aside from this, Bordeaux also has a rich history. Being a major roman city means that it has been relevant for more than two millennia. Sprawling vineyards and old castles therefore dot the landscape around the city, between which lively marshes and wetlands are the home of rare species of birds, small mammals, and a host of other critters. Of course, with the ocean being close one is never far away from the fresh silty air that wafts over the city, whether you enjoy surfing or napping in the sun. The Bordelais and Bordelaises also do not shy away from culinary masterpieces. One of the finest pastries, the Canelé, finds its home here. This is a sweet pastry, prepared with vanilla and rum, and then baked. A lovely crispy and caramelized outside, which gives way for the sweet and soft pastry on the inside is unavoidable in the city and its surroundings. With the sun high in the sky during the summer months, the soft ocean breeze walks through Bordeaux, and the smell of freshly baked pastries fills the air. Enjoy one! perhaps with a glass of wine on one of the many small city squares, or with a picnic in a meadow outside the city centre. 

Jorn: 

The destination this time is Tabanac, located in the south of France by the Garonne river, only a 30 minute drive from Bordeaux. I expect Tabanac to be a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of student life. With its charming stone houses, narrow streets, and a peaceful atmosphere, the commune portrays a sense of tranquility and rural charm. The population barely exceeds the 1000 mark, adding to the peace and quiet of the region.Tabanac is particularly celebrated for its winemaking heritage, and visitors can immerse themselves in the world of Bordeaux wines by exploring the local vineyards, wine cellars, and tasting rooms. Since Tabanac is far from densely populated, it is also a great place to simply be outside in the nature. With the Garonne river as well as a lake close by and even some cycling trails to go on. I am very excited to go to a place where I can both get my rest as well as envelop myself in the local wine culture of France, and what better place than rural Bordeaux. 

If France is not your cup of tea, Marjolein has another European suggestion for you. 

Marjolein: 

Although it might not be the most student friendly destination, I feel compelled to tell you about my first love (don't tell my boyfriend): Switzerland. Obviously, I have not been everywhere, but the Jungfrau region in the Bernese Alps is the most beautiful place on earth. The region is located in the middle of Switzerland and has something to offer for people of all ages (my first time in the region was when I was 1,5 years old and my grandmothers first time in the region was when she was 90 and we all enjoyed it equally). There is a large variety of activities to partake in. Looking for a nice relaxing walk? Take a look around Interlaken and walk along the river Aare. Looking for more of a hike? You can do this on pretty much any mountain you see. Interested in looking as far as possible? Take the train up to the highest train station in Europe (3.463 m) at the Jungfraujoch on a clear day and enjoy the views of the Aletsch Glacier on one side and the valleys of the Jungfrau region on the other side (you can also go sleighing in summer here). Are you a real adventure seeker? You can go paragliding, do one of the cliff walks along the edge of a mountain, go on a big zipline, or go as fast as you can on a toboggan run. Is it important for you to travel sustainably? The Jungfrau Region has got you covered with a dense network of trains, cable cars, and buses, which allow you to go anywhere you want. There are even some villages such as Wengen and Mürren where there are no cars allowed. Are you excited about visiting a film set? The Schilthorn was the backdrop for the James Bond movie On Her Majesties Secret Service (1969). Bonus: this is a revolving restaurant on top of a mountain, so your view will change continuously. Maybe you are looking for a more cultural activity? Every week there are open air performances about the story of Wilhelm Tell (you know, the guy that shot the apple of his sons head). To sum it up, everyone will be able to enjoy themselves in this beautiful region, so if you have the money, you should definitely go there some time.  

Outside of Europe 

If you wish to travel a little further than Switzerland or France, Quincy and Jasmijn both have something to tell you about beautiful destinations in Asia. 

Jasmijn: 

This year is the first time in my life that I will be flying outside of Europe to Kuala Lumpur. I got stabbed with more vaccines than anyone can imagine, I paid 77 euro's for a passport and another insane amount for the airplane tickets (SI people don't come after me), but it will all be worth it. My best friend is from Malaysia, and she will be guiding me through the streets of South-east Asia and will take me to try the best food I have ever had. One of Malaysia's national dishes is Nasi Lemak, which is a rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves. Personally I am most excited to go to the Batu Caves, which are Hindu temples inside of a mountain. The 272 steps to the cave are vibrantly colored and are also frequently visited by monkeys as well. Even though the monkeys are really cute, they do have a reputation of taking peoples belongings. So don't let your eyes deceive you... Selamat bercuti musim panas! (Happy summer vacation!) 

Quincy:  

As summer vacation and exams are getting close, I won’t bore you with more facts to a, if you are in the same situation as me, unending list of course materials. I want to tell you a bit about the myth of the Vietnamese origin. 

Before I start to tell you about this myth, you will need a bit of backstory; According to Vietnamese legends the world was created by a primordial god called Thần Trụ Trời ("heaven-pillar god"). This god built a stone pillar to separate heaven and earth (hence the name), and once he was finished, he destroyed the pillar, which resulted in the creation of landforms such as mountains and islands. After Thần Trụ trời divided the world into Heaven and Earth, other gods appeared to follow in the work of building this world. Bringing us to the Vietnamese origin myth. 

Lạc Long Quân, the son of a mountain god and a water dragon, was given the land of Lạc Viet by his parents. He built two palaces, one in the mountains and one in the ocean. He fell in love with a beautiful fairy, Âu Cơ, and transformed himself into a handsome young man to win her over. They married, and a year later, she laid a hundred eggs that hatched into human babies that quickly matured into adults. 

Unfortunately, Lạc Long Quân remained in his water palace while Âu Cơ lived on land. She became lonely and pined for her homeland, so much so that she took her hundred children to visit it. It became obvious that the couple should separate. They agreed that half the children would go with their father to the land next to the ocean, and the others would follow their mother to the mountains, creating the Vietnamese race – the dragon and the fairy’s grandchildren. 

Today, the story of Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ is told to promote the idea of unity and shared origins amongst Vietnamese – the ‘children of the dragon and the fairy’.   

Netherlands 

If you wish to stay in the beautiful country of the Netherlands, there is also plenty to see and do. Wouter and Morris will tell you all about it.

Wouter: 

As everyone is telling wonderful stories about places all around the world. One important location is easily forgotten. The wonders that can be found within our own beautiful country “The Netherlands” *add sparkling noise*. 

I hear you thinking: this guy is probably gonna talk about Texel, sailing in Zeeland, or Hunebed hopping in Drenthe. These things might be interesting, but I will give you a perspective filled with Dutch culture: Music. We are known for our great parties, DJ's, and amazing festivals. This year will be my first year going to a weekend festival in the Netherlands. (I know, it is quite shocking). But I will definitely not go to a basic bitch festival with pop artists which just sound the same as on spotify. This year I will be going to Liquicity which is one of the biggest Drum and Bass festivals of Europe. Drum and Bass is an amazing music genre which was introduced to me this year. For me, it is a perfect combination between a good bass to dance on, but still having lyrics and/or melodies. Techno gets too repetitive and hardcore can be very exhausting after a while. Drum and Bass just finds a sweet spot for me where you can get in a flow with subtle build ups and then end in a drop that gets you going for the night. Combine this with people that you love and you have an amazing festival. The people I will be going with are great and 7 of them are part of Intermate ?. Drum and Bass is still a relatively small genre which makes the festival affordable with a weekend ticket for 150 euros. The location is just above Alkmaar in the middle of nature which creates a great vibe. I really hope that liquicity will be the best weekend of my summer holiday, but it definitely looks promising. 

Here are some of my favorite DnB songs which you can listen. If you want to know more about Drum and Bass then talk to Charlotte while she is the expert which taught me Dnb's ways.  

https://open.spotify.com/track/5yq19i8dWxy09NaDkHw3dX?si=7d45685ba8434d3f 

https://open.spotify.com/track/2rCM9E5gZK2YRiIClGsGpu?si=44c8f752c75f4f42 

https://open.spotify.com/track/5EeEPxyY3X7JtraHeaOFHq?si=a966897eae644b7c 

*these artists are all coming to liquicity summer 2023 

Morris:  

This summer I will be visiting the charming village of Holten, located in the Netherlands. If you're searching for a destination that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, captivating legends, and warm hospitality, look no further than Holten. So what are the highlights of the enchanting village of Holten you might ask? Welll… Holten is blessed with the breathtaking “De Sallandse Heuvelrug”, a forest that will leave you in awe. Put on your hiking boots and embark on a scenic adventure along its breathtaking trails. Immerse yourself in the vibrant colors of the summer scenes, capture stunning photographs, and breathe in the fresh, crisp air. But be aware, in the forest, fairies roam around that are rumoured to catch naughty children. They are called the “mischievous Holten Pixies” and are not afraid to use violence. Besides the beautiful nature, you can embark on a journey to the beautiful village centre.  Admire the picturesque houses adorned with colourful flowers, creating a postcard-perfect setting. Have a chat with the friendly locals, who will warmly welcome you to their community, but don’t be scared if they tell you they want to cut you up in pieces and eat you alive! They are just joking hahahaha ;).  Within the village you will also find the famous wishing well of Holten. Drop a coin into the well, close your eyes, and make a wish. Experience the thrill and anticipation as you wonder if you might survive this trip. All in all, a great place to visit with your friends and party like it’s the last week of your life! See you soon . 

Maybe some of the stories in this article have given you new ideas for upcoming holidays and trips. In any case, we at the Intermania are very excited to finally have some time off studying and be able to go out and enjoy the summer, hopefully you are too! We wish everyone a nice holiday and hope to see you back in September! Bye!