tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26953627095019820422024-02-07T06:31:09.389+01:00Trip notebookNotes on the wayUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-79326172903530016612011-02-19T16:11:00.001+01:002011-02-19T16:17:31.271+01:00Calypso Cabaret, Bangkok. ThailandBangkok is an interesting place, but for many reasons can be not so fantastic for tourists. It is huge and traffic jams are terrible. Taxi and tuk-tuk drivers for sure will try to drive you to shops that are paying them for bringing clients and of course whey will ask three times more than normal rate for a ride.
But it is not all so bad. :) Bangkok is famous for its nightlife, and if you want toUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-69691617549157580242011-01-16T20:06:00.000+01:002011-01-16T20:06:28.641+01:00casino fun, MacauAccording to recent studies gambling industry of Macau is much bigger than Las Vegas. So casino visit is a must-do point for everyone visiting the place. There are several interesting casino in the center - majority of them relatively small and old. Still interesting. But if you are interested in visiting temple of gambling, you cannot miss Venetian. It's huge complex of casinos, hotels, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-17775806075105413952011-01-04T21:16:00.000+01:002011-01-04T21:16:04.452+01:00travel summary of 2010Travel summary of 2010: 21 trips, 171 days out of home, over 120000 km flown (3 times length of Earth's equator; 0.3 distance to the Moon); approx. 8 days and 9 hours spent flying, most often transiting at Vienna Airport.
36 countries visited since the beginning of journey, at least 14 more to be visited by the end of 2012. RTW trip planning in progress. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-65958225705172155702010-12-16T21:29:00.000+01:002010-12-16T21:29:43.893+01:00Tbilisi churches, GeorgiaGeorgian caapital enchanted me with its old churches. There's much more of them in comparison to capital of neighbouring Armenia, they are also very old, but much better maintained. Having panoramic view of the city it's very easy to find their high rooftops.
Visiting few famous places is sufficient for average traveller - there is nothing more to impress you in other places. Still it is worth Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-71597771142106543502010-10-31T18:49:00.000+01:002010-10-31T18:49:41.183+01:00Day of the Dead, MexicoPeople in Mexico believe that death is a transition from one life to another and communication exists between the living and the dead. Day of the Dead in Mexico is not a mournful commemoration but a happy and colorful celebration where death takes a lively, friendly expression.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-29280158202462020712010-10-18T16:17:00.000+02:002010-10-18T16:17:06.342+02:00Autoworld, Burssels, BelgiumAutoworld is a great place to visit in Brussels. Probably it is one of the biggest and the most impressive collections of oldtimers (ca. 1000 vehicles, if I'm not mistaken). The oldest vegicle is dated 1886 and visitor path is designed in chronological way.
Strangly the place is relatively empty, with few tourists and hotheads visiting it. It's a pity, because it is a great museum on tourist map Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-70675632286136907532010-09-29T15:44:00.000+02:002010-09-29T15:44:59.780+02:00astronomical clock, Prague, Czech RepublicThe Prague Orloj is a medival astronomical clock. It is located in the Old Town and is a popular tourist attraction. One can be 100% confident that will find it - just follow people to the most crowded area of the square.
Prague recently became very popular tourist destination and is overcrowded for my taste. It is impossible to walk in the center (especially in the Old Town area and on Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-68869386628666729402010-09-23T20:31:00.000+02:002010-09-23T20:31:15.661+02:00booking gorilla tracking, RwandaGorilla tracking is a thing to do in Rwanda.
Very rare mountain gorillas live in area, that is split between Rwanda, Uganda and Congo. Luckily, most of gorillas groups are currently on teritory of Rwanda. Still, there are only 7 groups of them and 8 people per day per group are allowed to visit. This makes permit booking (500 USD per person!) quite challenging.
If you plan visiting Rwanda, don't Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-3004862121658693842010-09-10T14:08:00.004+02:002010-09-10T14:08:00.391+02:00fancy procedure for leaving ArmeniaThere is unusual system of fingerprint scanning upon check-in at Yerevan airport. I can imagine, that intention was to fasten and simplify boarding control process while increasing security, but results are disputable… System is frequently out of order, which means that ground staff is checking tickets, passports and scans fingerprints (painfully pushing passengers’ fingers on the reader) -Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-69635748235278917792010-09-07T20:32:00.000+02:002010-09-07T20:32:00.517+02:00classic Petra photo, JordanEverone visiting Petra just MUST TAKE this photo - famous Treasury as seen from Siq.
So did I...
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-31166029147046984702010-09-04T20:16:00.003+02:002010-09-04T20:16:00.408+02:00National Museum, London, UKThe most surprising thing about National Museum was number of pupils visiting the place. They have been playing and learning at the same time.
Quite different from what you can see in Polish museums - everyone is expected to be quiet and walk around the place. Cannot imagine schoolchildern sitting on the floor and drawing.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-76209856037520636732010-09-01T20:43:00.005+02:002010-09-01T20:43:00.610+02:00Ostia Antica, ItalyComing to Italy I was expecting to see many Roman ruins and I was very disappointed. Forum Romamum was not impressive.
Luckily I visited Ostia Antica - large area, where riuns of first Roman colony were discovered.
Still, if you wish to see impressive Romain ruins, much better places are in Middle East. :)
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-161141286330175192010-08-30T14:05:00.007+02:002010-08-30T14:05:00.464+02:00extending Armenian visaMy e-visa to Armenia had one obvious disadvantage - 21 days validity. My schedule changed and I had to extend it in immigration department. I was lucky to enjoy assistance of local colleague, otherwise I wouldn’t succeed in extending it for several reasons.
First, immigration department has no customer center, which means walking around the office and looking for appropriate room. Of course Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-67100980593556310842010-08-28T19:57:00.001+02:002010-08-28T19:57:00.189+02:00Pirámide del Sol, Teotihuacán, MexicoI climbed up to the top of piramide, enjoyed the view and realized, that I'm crazy afraid of walking down. There were no proper trails and stairs are very steep.
Thanks God for a kind Mexican, who volunteered to hold my hand on the way down. :)
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-7841791444892634202010-08-27T19:52:00.002+02:002010-09-08T17:12:11.305+02:00Japanese challenge, JapanSimple things can be surprisingly complicated. AC remote controller with manual kept me busy for quite a while.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-7196454844217814652010-08-25T14:02:00.001+02:002010-08-26T21:08:18.758+02:00luggage ownership proofLuggage ownership check is a surprising procedure for many foreigners. Passengers need to show luggage sticker - otherwise airport security will not let them exit the airport. I noticed it is a common practice in former Russian federation countries. But is probability of luggage theft really higher than everywhere in the world? I don’t think so…
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-46554574641747056382010-08-23T13:58:00.010+02:002010-08-26T21:08:09.049+02:00entering ArmeniaI came to Armenia with my online e-visa, not really believing that it will be accepted at passport control desk. I paid for it extra 10USD and duration was only 21 days (instead of regular 120 for visa issued at consulate or at the airport).
There were tens of people in front of passport control. It looked like 2-3 planes arriving at the same time early in the morning (it was around 4:30, IUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-77968448667651273432010-08-21T19:35:00.002+02:002010-08-26T21:07:56.057+02:00planning your safari in KenyaKenya has many National Parks, that are worth visiting while having safari. Very popular routes are taking tourists to parks on the South. Mombasa and Nairobi are considered starting or ending points.
I took it as well and from my experience I strongly recommend starting the trip im Mombasa and visiting Natipnal Parks going West: Tsavo, Amboseli, Nakuru, and finally Masai Mara and Nairobi. Why Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-28605252373544684972010-08-19T19:34:00.003+02:002010-08-20T09:33:18.860+02:00Via FrancigenaVia Francigena is one of Europe's longest pilgrimage routes. It's 1610 km long, starting in England and ending in Rome.
Few people are aware, that you can take this route as pilgrimage or just trekking. Thanks to EU funds the route was upgraded and equipped with information boards and marks.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-62059941061427514672010-08-16T12:39:00.003+02:002010-08-26T21:07:40.320+02:00inside Atomium, Brussels, BelgiumAtomium is a huge construction built for EXPO held in Brussels. Nowdays it is interesting spot on a city map. Most of it is accessible for visitors. You will find inside elevator, escalators and stairs. Taking escalators can be compared to entering deepest metro stations in Moscow. Not recommended for people suffering from claustrofobia! :)
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-5039233800084758222010-08-15T12:00:00.007+02:002010-08-26T21:07:31.839+02:00safety instructions for safari, KenyaWhile entering Tsavo National Park, safety instructions are communicated in a very straightforwad manner. Major rule is: stay in the car. And sometimes it is also better to close windows and roof, as angry animals could try to get some food (meaning you) from the can (meaning car)...
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-74631046579595063002010-08-14T14:13:00.002+02:002010-08-26T21:07:24.214+02:00Stained-glass windows in castle hill cathedral, Prague, Czech RepublicI must admit that first time in my life I saw such a spectacular effect of stained-glass windows. All columns in cathedrals were covered with colorful lights. Dark and serious interior got completly new look and spirit.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-68629519037653662472010-08-13T14:07:00.003+02:002010-08-26T21:07:14.260+02:00Budapest by night, HungaryI arrived to Budapest late in the evening, and already on the way to my hotel I felt in love with it. This city is exceptionally beautiful by night. And for sure is aware of its charm. :)
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-3810898031738600462010-08-12T13:24:00.002+02:002010-08-26T21:07:05.782+02:00Finding your way in Seoul, South KoreaI suppose, that reaching some places in Seoul without GPS is almost impossible.
First, I realized that all maps in subway ignore completely world directions - matching them with guidebook maps is quite a challenge. And source of serious confusion.
Second, some streets seem not to have names. But they are there. :)
Third, buildings are numbered according to building permit approvals, whichUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695362709501982042.post-23042425340539367992010-08-10T13:55:00.005+02:002010-09-08T17:14:52.687+02:00Mount Nebo, JordanMount Nebo was the first and the last place I visited during my long stay in Jordan.
There is something magic there - maybe a view, maybe silence and a wind, maybe mystic atmosphere...?
It's one of places, that I would like to visit once again in my life.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0