twikga stories about life, travels and other passions
What you love is what you cherish. We believe that opening your hart to the small wonders of life will make you appreciate what you have and passionate about preserving the world around you. Sadly, in times of climate change the urgency of wildlife conservation is brought right to our doorsteps. We realize how privileged we are to travel the world and hope that by sharing our pictures with a broader audience, through our websites, exhibitions and social media, that we may contribute to the protection of the places we were fortunate enough to visit over the years…
Burn the Ivory – Save the Elephants
The creative Team was back in Amsterdam. We used the opportunity to pose with our "Burn The Ivory I Save the Elephant bracelet". This picture will be added to the growing gallery of elephant ambassadors of the Burn the Ivory initiative. They are trying to bring global awareness to the elephant poaching crisis. The destruction of confiscated ivory stockpiles worldwide would ensure that illegal...
The killing of elephants has to STOP – you can HELP!
While making Tata&Squack - Mission Elephant, we realized that chances are small that wild elephants will be part of our children’s future. One elephant is killed every 15 minutes. At this rate none will be roaming wild in 2025. The killing has to STOP - we have to ACT - you can HELP! Make a difference, be an elephant ambassador. There are a lot of great organizations that work with elephants. To...
Freek Vonk dé avonturier van Nederland
Jong Nederland vindt Freek Vonk dé avonturier van Nederland. Dit werd deze week In de “Wereld draait door” bekend gemaakt en wij kunnen ons helemaal in deze uitslag vinden. “Freek Vonk is bioloog en gespecialiseerd in slangen en kan als geen ander zijn vak spannend uitleggen aan een groot publiek, tegelijkertijd is hij een zeer gewaardeerd wetenschapper. Hij publiceert in wetenschappelijke...
Prince Harry fights elephant poaching
While researching our new book "Mission Elephant" we met the Royals, an Elephant Family, in Samburu National Park in Kenya. We decided that the name of our main character would be Harry. Therefor it was fun to meet a lifelike wax figure of the real Prince Harry when I visited London with my daughter during the summer holidays. Prince Harry of Wales is an extremely sincere, witty, big hearted,...
Duvel and the 3irds keep on digging
"Duvel, stop this stupid digging of yours! It is too hot to dig. I am trying to enjoy my shade and you keep on ploughing sand into my face. Why don’t you go swimming?" "Funny Bird, I will not go swimming, I never swim. You are so selfish. Look at you, you are alone under that parasol. Poor little bird is nearly melting in the sun. And where is big bird? Oops, I must have buried him." "No problem...
Verlagshund Duvel auf Wanderschaft
Verlagshund Duvel liebt das Wandern. Da ist man den ganzen Tag unterwegs und kommt keine Langeweile auf. Die Murmeltiere sind allerdings halb so wild. Sie machen zwar viel Lärm, rennen aber nicht weg. Deshalb springt bei Duvel ein Glück der Jagdinstinkt nicht an. Hunde die versuchen die Murmel auszugraben sollen schwere Verwundungen an der Nase davongetragen haben, autsch! Kühe machen nach wie...
Sommer am Elbstrand für Verlagshund Duvel
Verlagshund Duvel liebt den Elbstrand im Sommer. Dann duften die Grills aber auch die Botschaftern der vielen vierbeinigen Besucher. Mit Frauchen am Strand essen ist toll, da fällt oft was unter den Tisch, wo sowieso schon einiges liegt von vorigen Besuchern. Von dort lassen sich auch unauffällig Kumpel belauern die ihm sonst nicht so geheuer sind. Und dann gehts zum Strand. Am liebsten kurz vor...
“Second gear Papa”
Driving through the Namib desert was a great experience, an art which we as "town clowns" do not master. It does not always bring out the best in people, but when you do succeed to cross this sea of sand as a team, after getting stuck many times, it feels like quite an accomplishment. To begin with you have to be patient and take your time to decide which route to take or you might end up in a...
Ponton Op ‘n Bulln
Das Schöne am Wohnen am Elbufer ist dass es viele nette kleine Restaurants gibt. Auf dem Anleger am Blankeneser Elbstrand gab es einst eine Würstchenbude. Inzwischen ist dies mehr als ein netter Imbiss. Wir haben dort oft ein Glas Wein getrunken, Fisch gegessen und die Schiffe an uns vorbeiziehen lassen. The pictures below were taken with the Hipstamatic app on my phone. The app uses software...
Adventurous drive along skeleton coast
During our recent trip to Namibia we drove up all the way to Angola, along the Skeleton Coast. Due to the cold Benguela Current, the coastline was blanketed by mist most of the time, making the remains of the ships of the poor souls who stranded there even more eerie. Although the area is desolate, the wildlife is amazing. We saw seal colonies and predators, like jackals and brown hyena. We even...
