CheckoutSam

Name: CheckoutSam
Address: Geraardsbergen, BE
Telephone: +32488244348

CheckOutSam - (Sam Van den Haute) Travelling the world full-time since 2010! Travel blogs + reviews

Laat mij jou de wereld zien met handige tips en tricks om zo veel mogelijk te genieten tegen de laagste kost. Check Out Sam wordt uitgegeven en onderhouden door:
Sam Van den Haute
Adamstraat 20/4
9500 Geraardsbergen
België
BTW BE0840 791 347

04/04/2025

Visiting the Taj Mahal was an experience that left me in awe and that was definitely not something I was expecting. I had heard very mixed ‘reviews’, so the only way to form my opinion was by going there myself! And trust me: it was so worth it!!!

Built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (she died during childbirth) the Taj Mahal is not just an architectural masterpiece, but a testament to love, loss, and the passage of time.
The monument is made of white marble and features intricate carvings, beautiful gardens, and a reflective pool. Designed by a team of architects, it blends Persian, Ottoman, and Indian architectural styles, making it an iconic example of Mughal architecture.

As I wandered through the gardens and gazed at the intricate carvings from closeby, it became clear why this monument is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The craftsmanship, the symmetry, and the attention to detail are absolutely gorgeous. The way the light reflects on this white building in the morning (and throughout the day) is truly magical.

What stood out the most was the sense of peace that surrounds the site. Despite being one of the most visited landmarks in the world, there’s a quietness that invites reflection. It’s easy to get lost in the beauty, but also in the history and emotions tied to this place.

30/03/2025

Thé reason why I came to India in March, was because they were celebrating Holi at this time of the year. We started these massive festivities in the vibrant town of Barsana. This place is Known as the birthplace of the iconic (and somewhat strange) Lathmar Holi. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to this sacred town, where women ‘playfully’ (get those frustrations out, girls! lol) hit men with sticks (lathis) as part of the centuries-old tradition — all in the name of fun and festivity! I must say that at times I felt (very!) uneasy because of the sheer amount of people, fear of being crushed (at some times your feet didn’t even touch the floor because you were being pushed forward constantly!) and the police who was a bit too rough - but… oh my gooooood: what an experience!!!

The air is filled with chants, laughter, music, and the excitement of colorful powders swirling through the air, as locals -but only very few tourists- celebrate the legend of Radha and Krishna.

Holi is a sensory overload, a unique experience where the traditions of India come alive in their most playful and colorful form. I was splashed in every hue of the rainbow, dancing to the rhythm of dhols and shocked by the intensity of this all - but most of all: I F*CKING LOVED IT!!!! 🌈💙

28/03/2025

Humayuns Tomb in Delhi! 🕌

I wrote a very short description this time, just to see if people actually read these any longer. It usually takes me a long time to write these, but it doesn’t really seem to make a difference in engagement anyway 😇. If you did read all the way until here - what do you prefer? Some background info, or are you just here for the pics? 😉

23/03/2025

Even though I’m not a big fan of Delhi, I must admit that there are quite some impressive temples in this mega city… Line this colorful one; the Laxminaryan temple.

21/03/2025

As usual, I am very late with keeping up my feed with the posts of where I currently am 😝… If you have followed my stories however, you already know that I have been exploring India for the last two weeks. It has been an… experience! 🥲😂

I still don’t know what I really think of it. I seem to hate most parts of it, but at the same time I’m completely mesmerised and in love with other parts of this huge country… The scams and Tuktuk drivers sometimes seem to completely ruin my experience, but then -only twenty minutes later- I find myself in a beautiful temple, piece of nature or experiencing some fantastic moment that you would not be able to in any other place of the world. One thing is certain: I’m very happy that I’m doing this (first) part with a good friend of mine (thank you Steven!)! It really helps to have someone around to share these (fun and not so fun) moments.

Anyway… the pics you see here are from my first stop in Delhi. In retrospect, I’m very happy that I only was there for a couple of days. It’s dirty, loud and EXTREMELY busy. But… -as everywhere in India- you also have a lot of beautiful places here. One of them is this gorgeous mosque, the Jama Masjid. It was my favorite temple in Delhi, but there are a few more that I really liked and will show you over the coming days.

What do you think? Would you love India or hate it? Let me know! I’ve had some really interesting conversations with some of you already through stories and would love to have some more 😉!

15/03/2025

As I shared in the previous reel, the Phi Phi islands are absolutely gorgeous - but it’s mainly the surrounding little islands, snorkel spots and sandbanks that are a draw for most tourists.
Therefore I recommend to take one of the half or full day tours going to some of these places. You will visit some of the prettiest and tropical places in Thailand during this trip like Maya Bay (second photo), Turtle Island and Monkey Beach (first photo).

09/03/2025

After bustling Bangkok, my mum and me left for one of the lesser known islands of Thailand. In only three hours, we reached it by taking a bus and boat; hello Koh Samet!
I had read very mixed reviews, but it turned out to be an absolutely amazing place with gorgeous beaches and amazing food! It’s a lot less touristy than most of the other islands, so that’s definitely a plus too.

07/03/2025

Ayutthaya, sometimes called the Angkor Wat of Thailand, is one of my favorite day trips from Bangkok. Here you see the old capital of Thailand in very well preserved buildings - sometimes overgrown (just like in Angkor!) by Mother Nature.

28/02/2025

As you perhaps already knew, there are a lot of temples in Bangkok. Visiting them all is simply impossible. From all the ones that I saw, Wat Arun was my clear favorite. The intricate details, beautiful colors, wonderful location and frankly - the whole atmosphere around it, are truly mesmerizing.
For the best views over this temple complex, I recommend you to go to one of the many rooftop bars at the other side of the river. Perfect for sunset cocktails! 🍸🌅

By the way… did you spot me in the first pic? 😉

27/02/2025

For me, food is a very important aspect of travelling as well. It is in fact one of the main reasons why I came to Thailand - because Thai is my favorite kitchen EVERRRRR! Of course I tried all of the curries, pad thais and other local delicasies, but I had never heard of Khao Soi before. Consider me an addict now, because this dish from the north of Thailand is DEFINITELY something you need to try out when you’re in Thailand as well!
Oh and the place where had it (NAAM1608) doesn’t only offer great food - the views and atmosphere from inside are unparalleled too!

Adres

Geraardsbergen

Telefoon

+32488244348

Website

https://www.checkoutsam.be/, https://www.checkoutsam.de/, https://www.checkoutsam.nl/, https://www.checkoutsam.com/

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