About me
Hi there! I'm Jasper, a thirty-something Belgian bloke living in the mesmerizing city of Ghent. Despite always having been a city kid at heart - close to my loved ones, always something to do - I am constantly planning a next escape into nature.
This contrast has also been present in other aspects of my life. While embracing the simplicity in grabbing a pair of hiking shoes and a camera to dive into nature, I have a keen interest in technology as well. I hold a PhD in computer science and I am currently working at the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, at the intersection of biotechnology and artificial intelligence. Thanks to this career, I have been fortunate to travel a lot, and living in South Korea for four years during my PhD was a particularly transformative experience.
While traveling the globe, I developed a passion for photography. Combining this with my love for hiking allows me to express how I see the world and the emotions that come with pushing boundaries, embracing solitude, exploring countries and meeting people.
The last two years have been especially tough for me, as a football accident led to surgery and a long, still ongoing stretch of recovery. For twenty-one months already now, I have not been able to do any multi-day hikes or to run more than 100 meters without pain kicking in - having me step back from the physical activities I love, and having me miss out on a world trip that would've led me to Nepal and New Zealand. Sometimes doubting whether I would ever return to full fitness, all the supportive people around me have helped me on getting back to what I love most.
In the spare time that freed up - this website was one of the main projects that came about, and I hope it can be as much of an inspiration to anyone else as it has been to me. Enjoy!
