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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…
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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…
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Temples of Bangkok
„One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster” Murray Head sings about the capital of Thailand. In fact this place attracts like a magnet a lot of tourists who want to experience unforgettable night. Famous district Pat Pong, illuminated by red lanterns, massage parlors (not only this traditional), ping pong shows or the sight of young, sometimes even juvenile Thais going arm in arm in the accompany of foreign tourists. Actually it’s hard to judge equivocally who is supported, girls who barely standing on a mountainous heels or old chaps. In a word every possible taboo in this Buddhist country seems to be broken. On the other hand in…
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Cappadocia
The value of Cappadocia for Turkey is the same as Rome for Italy. However in distinction from the Eternal City which was built by a man, this fabulous realm was created by forces of nature, especially volcanic processes. Varied Cappadocia landscape is made of tuff (volcanic ashes morphed into rocks), which has been being eroded by water and wind for a long time. The effect is surrealistic almost moonscape scenery. There you can see interesting rock formations, glens and caves. Popular Rose Valley, called also The Great Canyon of Cappadocia fascinates with its pastel colors. Early in the morning, a lot of balloons fly over it which makes this view unforgettable.…
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Recipe – How to prepare Vietnamese coffee?
To prepare Vietnamese coffee, you need special coffee maker called Phin, but you can also use coffee filter. Phin is a very simple device. It consists of a jug where coffee is placed, lower land upper lid. We also need Vietnamese coffee and sweet condensed milk. Fill the cup with small amount of milk. Warm the phin up in hot water. Then add 4 teaspoonfuls of coffee. Coffee should be very strong so this amount is for one cup. Next screw the lower lid. Pour boiling water but only to the lower lid. When coffee soaks, add the rest water and put upper lid on it. Coffee percolates form 3 to 5 minutes.…
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Vietnam – paradise for coffee connoisseurs
Coffee is mainly associated with countries like Brazil Or Columbia but in fact Vietnam is the second largest producer of coffee in the world. Being a hopeless case of coffee drinker I could write about Vietnamese coffee endlessly. It’s a very thick and aromatic beverage with inimitable taste which combines a little coffee bitter taste and the sweetness of caramel and chocolate. But it’s not the end… The process of roasting is unique. Sweet, chocolate taste is the result of adding butter or vegetable oil. Beans roasted in this way have a little bit greasy, glistening texture with intensive brown color. Taste can be intensified by adding sugar, vanilla or…
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Real Saigon… How to survive on Vietnamese roads
Our funny story with the hotel wasn’t the only attraction which we had during first day in Vietnam. Starving and exhausted after long journey, we decided to go out for a delicious Vietnamese meal. As experienced drivers, we thought that we had seen every possible thing on the road but as it turned out later crossing Vietnamese streets is a real challenge. Vietnam is a real traffic jungle in the literal meaning of this world. Just imagine agglomeration with at least 7 million people and no traffic rules. Crossroads with traffic lights and pedestrian crossings are thin on the ground. When they exist they can look like this… During watching…
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Vietnamese alcohol…
Vietnamese beer is connected with colonial times. Then the first brewery was established in Hanoi. Its products were intended for wealthy elite. Before the beer was introduced to Vietnamese bars people had drunk mainly rice wine, which was popular till 1960’s. During the American War, its production was banned in view of depleted rice production. From that time beer was getting more and more popular. Additionally close cooperation with Czech Socialist Republic (which was the part of USSR) popularize traditional brewing methods. Vietnamese beer – Bia hoi is brewed every evening, matures through the night and it’s delivered to nearby bars in the morning. Unpasteurized beer without any preservatives is…
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Bangkok – not so American City of Angels…
I always make a picture of my destination during preparing itinerary. Sometimes reality disappoints me, sometimes surprises. Bangkok perfectly fit in the second option. I could use a lot of words to describe this city most of all it’s a very diverse place with a lot of contrasts. Here you can find amazing beauty connected with surprisingly “organized” chaos and splendor mixed with simplicity. This is also the place where tradition meets modernity and Buddhist austerity coexists with consumerism. The original name of this city can make everyone dizzy. Proper name of Bangkok introduces as follows: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan…
