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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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May 27, 2018 08:00 PM By train to Brasov
If you plan to travel by Romanian Railways CFR it is worth to buy tickets in advance on-line on their site. You will get special internet discount!
The train was comfortable, with indivifdual seats in the 2nd class but the staff was rather rude - they need a training!
After 2,5 hours on the train I disembarked in Brasov. 250000 people live here. The old part of the city has picturesque location at the bottom of the huge Tampa Mtn - cable car goes to the top. I spent whole afternoon walking around the walled old town, enjoying views of the St Nicolas orthodox cathedral, huge and famous Black Church (closed on Mondays) and market square, Then I climbed for the views the citadel hill - citadel ic closed but the pictures are worth thd effort.
Trying to find cheapest pension I booked one high on the slope of Mt Tampa. Buses do not go there, so I am forced to climb several times every day. That's budget traveller's life! :)
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May 26, 2018 08:00 PM National costumes - not easy to find!
Today in the morning I took a long walk to the Romanian Village Museum located in the big park in ths north of the city. Part of the route was along Kiseleff Alley - full of green, with elegant old villas and embassies on both sides...
In the open air museum I had a chance to see many samples of the wooden architecture taken here from all Romania. Nice churches, windmills, households... But I was little disappointed, I expected to find there not only the architecture, but also the people in the national costumes and national music. Nothing like that!
Well, I found them later in the afternoon in the old town, in the stylish restaurant - see picture...
The old town in Bucharest is not so big. Cobbled streets are crowded because they put so many tables outside the cafes and restaurants..
In the heart of the old town you will find "Little Bucharest" Hostel. They charge 50 euro per double room with bath, but only 10,50 for the bed in the dormitory... Nice, hot day...
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May 25, 2018 08:00 PM Walking Bucharest
Yesterday when I arrived to Bucharest Airport it was hot and humid day. On the lower level of the airport you will find the city bus stop. No 783 goes to the city center, old town, 780 goes to the main station. There is a kiosk selling bus tickets - for 7,00 lei plus 1,60 lei per magnetic card. They will sell you a ticket for two airport to city express bus rides... - 3,50 each...
You can upload also more money on this card and use it for public buses and trams except metro. They will charge 1,30 lei per ride - validate card when boarding the bus!
In the evening we had several spring storms.
Today I took a long walk around the center - to the University square where they have National Theatre, to Uniri Square with a row of fountains leading to the famous Parliament building - the monster block built during communist time (they say it is second largest buildig in the world after Petagon).
But the real pleasure is to visit here orthodox churches where they conduct the services - singing and praying. The orthodox cathedral is not far from the Parlament - on the hill. I have a good time in Bucharest after 41 years...
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May 23, 2018 08:00 PM To Bucharest - for free!
Yes, I have been already to the capital city of Romania, but it was in 1977 - 41 years ago, during the comunist era... So it will be nice to refresh memories... If you book accommodation via booking.com using wizz link they will send you 10 percent of the accommodation cost to your Wizzair account. I collected enough to have now free ticket from this low-cost airline. So I am flying for free! It is important to book such a ticket before the money expires... :)
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May 14, 2018 08:00 PM Hard night in the hard sleeper...
Hard sleeper car on China Rail remidds me soviet "kollhoz" - three tiers of berths, no doors, Asian "ski-style" toilets, peolpe talking and walking, kids crying...
I had a hard night in such a hard sleeper going from Lanzhou to Chengdu. But it is still better than a hard seat!
In the morning I disembarked the train in Chengdu North Railway station. If you will get of thestation turn left to the bus stands under the concrete estacade - apart from the city buses (like no. 11) you will find there a yellow shuttle bus going directly to Chengdu International Airport. They charge already hefty 17 youans per person and bags, but I did not see the better solution. After 45 minutes I was already in the airport - ready to check-in for KLM flight to Amsterdam. It was dreamliner and the service they offer now is excellent... In Amsterdam I had connection to Gdansk. In Gdansk airport I was running to catch the last city bus heading to the town. Got it! Welcome home! One more exciting journey is completed! Let's think about the next one! :)
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May 13, 2018 08:00 PM Labrang Monastery - Xiahe
You can find Tibetan religion and culture outside Tibet... From Lanzhou I took a bus (3,5 hours, 76 yuans one way) to the remote town of Xiahe.
The route itself is very picturesque and the road not so bad since recently they built freeway going partly in this direction...
From the bus station in Xiahe I was walking half an hour up the main street to get to the Labrang Tibetan Monastery. In fact it is a separated town with the maze of the narrow streets, temples and walls. 3 kms long wall with prayer wheels encompasses the monk's town. You will see many of them in their red clothes not only here, but also in Xiahe. Information is poor...
It is worth to start from climbingto the top terrace of the pagoda to have orientation view (20 yuan entry fee) or to climb the hill opposite the pagoda. Most of the temples are located under the north slope - only few are open during the day. If you need in depth study you have to pay for the guided tour in the kiosk on the main square. But even solo walk around with entering the courtyards will be unforgettable. It is the doorstep of Tibet and one of the biggest Tibetan monasteries... I had tiring but lovely day...
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May 12, 2018 08:00 PM Yellow River or Huang Ho
Lanzhou, China. I miss you, dear Tibetans! Here the people do not smile and do not look for the eyes contact - so sorry...
Lazhou is a big city - like 6 millions people or so. It has nice promenade along "coffee with milk" color Huang Ho river. Along the promenade they installed few huge, ancient water wheels - used in the past to bring the water from the river to the upper canals - for me that's something new!
Ii is worth to go upstream the river to the cable car which will take you over the wide river to the hill on the other side where White Pagoda stands (35 y one way or 45 for RT) The views are really great! zFrom pagoda I walked down through many stylish pavilions to the old iron bridge converted to the walking zone and nearby Chinese White Cloud Temple. Imagine that id the center of the city there you will see more huge mosques than Chinese temples! Strange....
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May 11, 2018 08:00 PM The highest railway....
I spent fantastic day in the train enjoiing the views of Tibetan plateau...
After two controls in the new-built Lhasa railway stationI boarded the soft sleeper car. This is the highest category on China Rail. But I must tell you it is disappointing... Except the big, panoramic windows I was not impressed. They do not offer any soap or towel. Bring your own toilet paper. There is one European toilet in the car but for some stupid reason they are closing it on every station. Yes - there is an individual screen for every berth, but they do not offer ANY program. There is a hot water distibutor in each car but the offered water is only warm, so your tea or coffee has no full value... The conductor is rather rude and does not speak any English. They do not give ANY announcements through the loudspeakers and any form of the timetable is available so print one for you in advance...
Well, for me it is just the part of the adventure, but let you know in advance what to expect.
But yes, I spent a great day going through the Roof of the World, enjoing sunny wearher and the landscapes of the snowy mountains, pastures with thousands of yaks, remote settlements. It was 3.40 pm when we passed little and completely deserted Tanggula station - the highest Railway Station in the world on the level 5068 m. Why they do not stop here or just slow down for the pictures? Chinese are not proud of their record?
Then we started the slow descend, but still riding on the level 4500 - 4600 m - till the evening. I saw many wild donkeys an Tibetan antelopes... And the long chain of lorries climbing up the parallel road G109 to Tibet...
In the late morning our thrain reached big city of Lanzhou in Guansu province. Different world!!!
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May 10, 2018 08:00 PM Last night in Lhasa
Yesterday I had a chance to visit again famous Potala. It is more like a castle than a palace. Do not expect any bright luxury of the palace inside. They charge already 200 yuans for the entry and there are two security controls on the way... Do not bring the water. Passport is necessary. Be prepared for long climb 13 floors up...
Nowadays Potala is brightly illuminated after dark - mabbe the view is even nicer than during the day! - see my picture...This was my last night in Lhasa. Cold morning, no hot water in the hotel.
Today I am boarding the highest railway of the world - going down to Lanzhou - it willbe 25 hours journey. Let's go to the station!
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May 09, 2018 08:00 PM Lamas, monks, monasteries...
I am in Lhasa - the capital of Tibet. I had a chance to visit two significant monasteries built centuries ago on the outskirts of Lhasa. The first was Deprung, the biggest Tibetan monastery once housing 10000 monks, now only 480. It was nice to climb up to the temples, to crawl the labirynth of corridors and courts... The statues of lamas create very special atmosphere in the dark halls. Monks in the red clothes are very friendly... In the second monastery Sera I had opportunity to see the debate of the young monks - very funny from our point of view... In the afternoon I was walking the narrow streets of Bakhor Bazaar with many little shops selling yak butter and cheese, barley for the porridge and other traditional products. The bazaar is surrounding famous Jokhang temple... Strong presence of the police. But at the same time it is great theatre - thousands people are going around the temple with prayer wheels. Exotic faces, smiles, voices...
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