|
|
Welcome to my travel log! You will find here a lot more than in the travel reports, stripped from political correctness. Enjoy! 
Jul 06, 2008 02:00 PM Kyrgyzstan - no visa required?
I heard that Kyrgyzstan raised to the occasion and began re-inventing itself as a major tourist destination in the region. It does in deed has spectacular scenery with mountains standing over 7,000 meters above the sea level. A very wise decision was therefore made that the state would not require travellers from many countries applying for the Kyrgyz visa and many others would be able to obtain the appropriate label on arrival.
So, for my Siberia (Russia, Altai Republic, Altai Kray), Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan trip in August this year, I had to worry about one visa process less. But obviously the Uzbek visa application process is going to compensate for that! They require official invitation letter issued by an authorised travel agent based in Uzbekistan... I hate those.
Anyway, I read a little bit more about Kyrgyzstan and what to see there and it looks like I have not planned enough time for this country. I would need to go there again, perhaps when I descend to Tajikistan, who knows? This time, I will see the capital, Bishkek and attempt to go to Karakol (former Przewalsk), which apparently sees the majority of travellers coming into the country. I hope this will be enough to catch the glimpse of the 7,000+ meters high mountains. On the way back, I will make a stop over by the lake. I will see if I have time for more, when I get there.
|
Jun 26, 2008 02:00 PM London - Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday at Hyde Park
I cannot think of words that would begin to express my joy that I managed to get a ticket to the Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday Concert at Hyde Park. Nelson himself has given a few tickets to my employer and I with a struck of luck I got one of them. So, I might say I got personally invited by the birthday boy himself, and held a ticket he had held.
The concert was magnificent and brought many musical memories from my African travels. The Sueto Gospel Choir sand most of the backup vocals to the artists like Simple Minds, Will Smith, Leona Lewis, Annie Lennox (who sang with a children's choir from South Africa), Jamelia, Amy Winehouse, Sugarbabes. Queen performed at the end of the concert and U2 performed a very special version of Happy Birthday, and Amy Winehouse was joined by all of the artists to perform Free Nelson Mandela song specially written 20 years ago in a concert-petition to free him from prison. He was 70 years old then.
The concert was an event impossible to describe. There were entire families in Hyde Park watching. People travelled great distances to be there, and so did the artists, many, many of whom came from African countries, like South Africa, Madagascar, Uganda, Senegal. What an evening! Our Global Village in one spot on the Hyde Park's grass in the heart of London.
|
Jun 23, 2008 02:00 PM Belfast - on a rainy day
There was no surprise it was raining in Belfast. Weather often keeps Ireland washed and clean :)
I realised in the morning that Belfast is on a rise. New buildings are springing up everywhere, particularly in the gaps between the old structures and by the canal near the central train station. The city is rather pleasant. I think I could live there for a while, but not for too long. I would need more action.... :)
I could not believe the traffic! It was dead-lock all over. I could only imagine how frustrating this must haven been for the motorists. And at the other had, I thought that who'd drive to work in such a small city?
I passed near the Stormont, the parliament of Ulster. It looked really impressive, situated on a slope of a hill, with an impressive drive up the hill. I wish I could stop for a wee while and have a closer look around. But, as with the business trips, this is not always possible.
|
Jun 22, 2008 02:00 PM Belfast - the first glance at Ulster
I am in Belfast on business. The business will require me to spend one night and one day - basically 24 hours. After arrival, I took a quick stroll in the centre.
The City Hall is quite impressive at dusk. The Belfast Big Wheel is quite nicely illuminated in the evening but it does not operate at night. The hall's architecture draws from the Greek and Roman classic and its dome looks like it has been a copied of many state capitols in the United States. Or vice versa.
There were not many people around in the streets. It is Monday night, so perhaps not the best night to go out. Definitely not in Belfast, obviously. Or perhaps there is some other reason, of which I might choose to remain unaware...
Although it is considered to be largely safe in Belfast, people tell me that a Real IRA bomb could explode just anywhere. So I am sitting put in a hotel which had been bombed the most in the past. But I am happy with my warm pint of Guinness.
|
Jun 20, 2008 02:00 PM Total Eclipse 2008 - Detailed itinerary, take three
After long deliberations with myself and hours of investigations on the worldwide web, I drew another version of the itinerary. This one is number three. According to this version, I will be spending four nights in Siberia, six nights in Uzbekistan, four nights in Kazakhstan and four nights in Kyrgyzstan. The picture opposite depicts my route in detail.
I found that the Uzbek Railways introduced comfortable express trains between Tashkent and Bukhara and Samarkand, which take about four hours between the capital city and Samarkand and between Samarkand and Bukhara, and six-and-half hours between the capital and Bukhara. So, I am planning to take two of them. One between Bukhara and Samarkand and then from Samarkand to Tashkent.
The only sticky bit is the road trip between Tashkent and Turkestan in Kazakhstan. I am not sure of the connection and whether the border crossing is friendly enough. And of course, I have not yet bought the flights between Tashkent & Urgench, Tashkent & Bukhara, and Shymkent & Almaty. Otherwise I am pretty confident of my plan, which should work.
I am increasingly excited about Kyrgyzstan. I will not have much time there, since my flight schedule was brought forward. I saw a few phenomenal pictures of Kyrgyzstan's lakes, valleys and mountains. I have recently began desiring to see Karakol, former Przevalsk, as it is probably the closest I could get to the Jengish Chokusu (Pobieda Peak) standing at 7,439 meters above the sea level with a prominence of 4,148 meters. Well, we will see how successful I will be getting there...
|
Jun 19, 2008 02:00 PM Total Eclipse 2008 - New Route
Typically, snoozing with tickets booking kicked me in the proverbial ass. The tickets from Novosibirsk to Irkutsk, so I could see Lake Baikal have gone. The only seats available after the total eclipse were for 3 August 2008, which was too late. The flights from Irkutsk to Tashkent are infrequent, so it would not give me enough time for visiting the lake. I had to drop the idea altogether. So, I am no longer going to Irkutsk, not without a miracle. I have now bought the ticket to Tashkent from Novosibirsk. If I manage to make a round trip to the lake somehow, then perhaps I will. As of today, it is off the plan.
With total eclipses of the sun, routing is not easy. One cannot change the timing of the astronomical (celestial) phenomenon. And therefore I was anchored to one specific timing on a particular spot. That is the difficulty.
Apart from domestic flights in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, all other tickets have now been bought. I will now have to get the visas. Russian and the Kazakh should not be too much trouble, as allegedly can be done in a day, each. Kyrgyzstan does not require visas or visas can be obtained on arrival. The only tricky one is the Uzbek visa. They still require invitation, which is a gravy train for tour agents in Uzbekistan, which require $50 for writing a letter of invitation, and insist that one books accommodation through them. This does not give much choice, however. I found about them through the internet, of course and contacted one of the agents. So, I am unfortunately planning to reply to their email and ask for assistance. My budget may break!
|
Jun 07, 2008 02:00 PM Berlin - live jazz in the sunshine
At the end of Bergmannstrasse, at the other end of the Marheineke Halle, there was a small square (Marheinekeplatz), where live jazz was played. Free of charge. The square was complete with great fountain (giant stone jugs pouring water onto the shallow pool) and a small cafe Matzbach. The cafe served called Erdinger Hefe from tap.
In the Neukoelln district (infamous for its level of crime and a large immigrant population - I am sure this is not connected), there is this delightful little park - Koernerpark, where there is a small art gallery and a cafe (Cafe im Koernerpark), which put live music shows on Sundays. This Sunday, it was modern jazz, performed by artists from... Poland. It was an interesting event, given that later that night Poland was playing Germany in their first football match for the Euro 2008. The cafe was serving typical German dishes and snacks like the grilled pork sausages.
|
Jun 06, 2008 02:00 PM Berlin - beach bars and perfect weather
The German capital is at its best in the summer. Although it is not summer yet, weather was superb. I heard it actually cooled down from thirtysomething to high twenties. A perfect temperature. There is no way one would want to spend time indoors. And Berlin is famous for its miles and miles long strings of cafes, restaurants, drink bars and beer gardens. I went for a small snack to the Bergmannstrasse and stopped at the cafe called Bergmann 103, specialising in various national breakfasts. This place's menu clarified that eating from mum's and dad's plate was free. :) Then, I also stopped at Turandot drink bar for a quick beer - they had a hefe beer from tap that I did not try before.
For a number of years, Berlin has been setting up a number of beach bars along its waterways (canals). This year is not different. I went to check the Oststrand by Eastside Galleria. I had been there two or three years ago. It is now under new management and no longer do they play loud music. So it is calmer but in the evening, when the sun sets, it can get a little dull. But they drink measures are very generous...
In the night I met with my friend, who took me to Q-Dorf a large club in the Ku'damm area. I have been to many clubs in Berlin before, but I never went to this one. It was great. It had several bars, a few dancefloors and an artistic programme at the larger one. The door policy was not very strict although everyone is searched for weapons, etc. There is a good mix of crowd - local and foreign.
|
Jun 05, 2008 02:00 PM Berlin - I'm coming. Again.
Tonight I am leaving for the capital of the federated German republic. I will stay for a weekend. I have been in Berlin a few times in this fascinating city, but this will be the first time I will pay attention to practical traveller's information, so I could post some useful tips and take some 'useful' photos. I never did that, since I have family there and I did not need to care about hotels, restaurants, etc. If I retain some discipline, I might even put in a report this month as well.
I am hoping for a good weather, and I expect that the beach bars by the canals will be open and lively.
|
May 25, 2008 02:00 PM Armenia - Yerevan cafes
So, we called Edgar, and, as he was a great fun of cognac, we told him that we were just ordering some samples. For Yerevan was home to a brandy distillery. Apparently, it was making rather good one. I had to try, of course. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the labels I tried, but I will find out. I will need to call Edgar.
Yerevan is great for cafes. Around Opera there were a few great ones, but only one of them was open in the winter. The only one that I did not visit was Jazzve. It was super to see people relaxing and having a good time. Hopefully, all will go in the right direction in Armenia, and people will remain happy, and the cafes will continue serving cold beer and yummy brandies.
So, we sat down at the Magnolia cafe and had some drinks. We had beer and brandy. Edgar brought some friends and the party started. Almost all of them spoke English, and for the first time in my life I had an opportunity to switch from English to Russian every few sentences. It was indeed fun. But the cafe was closing down in the middle of the night. We just managed to hop across a neighbouring one for one drink, and then we again went for a search of a place to party. In vain again. So, we went to the same shop, bought a few drinks and snacks and went to sit at a bench by the Cascade, right in the front of the statue of Yerevan architect. The same that stripped the city of the majority of the historical buildings, graciously leaving a couple of old churches.
After a couple of hours, we had to call it the night. The lads had to go to work in few hours. At if I did not have to go all the way down to near to my hotel to drop one of them off only to turn back and put down the other at a completely the other end of the capital and then drive all the way back, paying the taxi man almost twice as much as it later cost me to go all the way to the airport... Not a big deal, of course - just an observation what people may do when they are very tired.
|
Page:
52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62
|
|
|
