Asia
-
Girl on a Trail – Peterhof and Tsarskoe Selo
To Be in Sankt Petersburg without visiting the famous Peterhof and Tsarskoe Selo, it’s like the New Year’s Eve without Rossijskoje Igristoje. So, even though I was there on a tour for just 72 hours (visa requirements, you can read about it here), I had to see both places. I started my sightseeing from Peterhof which is better accessible. The complex is located approximately 30 km from St. Petersburg downtown. You can get here by hydrofoil which leaves the dock located close to the Winter Palace. Peterhof was built in the first half of the eighteenth century, at the request of the tsar Peter the Great. Inspiration for its creation…
-
Vietnamese market
Vietnamese market it’s one of these places which are must while visiting Vietnam. Local markets, stalls with various products are everywhere. The trade in Vietnam seems to be a primary branch of Vietnamese economy. Vietnamese people sell everything and everywhere and I can guarantee that every needed things you’ll find in this country always close at hand irregardless the time of the day or night. It doesn’t matter if it’s dy or night, trade here is always flourishing. Who knows, maybe somebody would have a taste for a watermelon at 2 am… There’re also a various ways of sale. Goods can be sold straight from the car, and even a…
-
Bangkok – floating market
Every time when I prepare a trip I try to find a local market because in my opinion nothing else reflects as accurately social life and people’s behavior as it. Certainly the most interesting bazaars are in Asia and Arabian countries. Besides a wide range of exotic products sold there, we could feel that unique, local atmosphere. I heard a lot of bad opinions about sellers importunity, especially in Arabian countries. Indeed some people can be really exhausted after a trip in such a place. But then again it’s really well worth trying to put aside our prejudice and open to this new cultural experience. It’s an ideal occasion…
-
Thai cuisine part II
First meeting with Thai cuisine can be very shocking especially for foreign tourist. As a matter of fact, Bangkok streets are a one big canteen but this doesn’t mean that this city smells tastefully. The number of food stalls is comparable to cars on Bangkok streets. As a result beautiful aroma of Thai dishes with predominating fresh smell of lemongrass is mixed with exhaust fumes. In a word, our ideal picture of aromatic Thai cuisine came to grief just after getting off crowded metro. But this aroma is a quintessence of Bangkok and similarly to it, one can love it or hate it. It doesn’t mean that we worn…
-
Thai cuisine part I
Cuisine is an inseparable element which characterizes the culture of the country. Nowhere else it isn’t as visible as in Thailand. The way of eating and preparing dishes reflects Thais customs and history. A lot of books and TV shows about Thai cuisine were created but none even the best recipe won’t taste the same as those courses which are prepared hastily on improvisational stalls on Bangkok streets. Street vendors specialize in few dishes so that the teste of Pad Thai prepared by elder Thai is comparable to the experience on grandma’s dinner. Four tastes: sweet, sour, salty and spicy are the base of every Thai dish. It’s impossible to…
-
Hoi An – a peaceful meeting place
Hoi An is by far my favorite place in Vietnam. Its name means “peaceful meeting place” and in a fact this translation describes this place accurately. Apart from quite a big amount of tourists, it’s a very peaceful place where you take a break from the noise of mopeds. Hoi An is an exceptional place, where influences of different cultures mix together. Between 15th and 19th century, the town was an important port on the so called “silk route”. A lot of sailors from Asia or even Europe called at this place. However, sailors from China and Japan were the largest group here, that’s why they had major impact on…
-
Russia – Sankt Petersburg
Famous Sankt Petersburg is an exceptional city. It’s a mix of everything what’s the most beautiful in Russian and European architecture. This city was tsar Peter’s the Great dreams. During his voyages through Europe he wanted to build from scratch a city – the symbol of modern Russian empire. One thing we’ve to hand to Peter, he did quite a good job! The most important historic events for the Russian empire took place in Sankt Petersburg: Bloody Sunday, the Russian Revolution or 900-day siege during WWII, when almost 640 thou. people died of starvation Sankt Petersburg is a city located on the area of at least 40 islets connected by…
-
Christmas in Thailand
Temperature above 30ºC (86ºF), exotic drinks, beach and turquoise sea, is there any better way to spend Christmas? Unfortunately, we must disappoint you, but yes… When we saw budget flight tickets to Bangkok for Christmas and New Year 2012/2013, we thought that Santa Claus finally heard our wishes and made us up the lack of Porsche or apartment with swimming pool. But how about Christmas magic which can be felt in the air from the very beginning of November, every time when we watch red truck/lorry commercial or hear White Christmas on the radio, hopeful that this year we won’t be wading through the mud on our way to Christmas…
-
Tallinn, Helsinki and Petersburg without visa – budget travel
We weren’t planning the trip to Tallinn, Helsinki and Petersburg. Actually everything started from LOT special offer for the flights: Warsaw – Tallinn and Helsinki – Warsaw. From Tallinn to Helsinki we traveled by Tallink ferry, but it’s possible to go with other companies such as Viking Line or Eckero Line. You need to check in at least 30 minutes before the departure of the ferry. Check-in desk is located at the Terminal D. Tallink shuttles 6 times a day and the voyage takes around 2 hours and definitely it isn’t boring (you can read about it here). The ferry arrives at the West Harbor. To the city center you can go…
