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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Apr 01, 2017 08:00 PM Singa, Singa, Singapore!
I have been to this scrap of Europe in Asia three times within 30 years. But it changes fast and I have good opportunity to refresh memories.
From cruise terminal where we are docking it is like 4 kms to the centre of the city. Cruise line offers shuttle bus for extra fee - 4 euro each way. But I decided to walk - just turn right from the terminal and then follow Central Blvd. On the upper floor of the terminal there is info office with good maps and free wi-fi...
Walk was not easy regarding the temperature and high humidity, it seems that I was the only walker :) - my fellow prefere to walk around the ship...
Well, for the first time I saw this extravagant Marina Bay hotel - saying the true I do not like such a architecture... Merlion still is surrounded by the crowd of tourists. Streets perfectly clean... I crossed Singapore River to Bencoolen Street - once it was oasis of the cheap accommodation for backpackers. No longer! The little Chinese hotel where a stayed during my first visit to SIN does not exist...
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Mar 30, 2017 08:00 PM Steamy Phuket - Thailand
I have been several times to Thailand, but never to Phuket Island... So it is new place to me... Our old ship anchored in Patong Bay (zero info about this from the ship - they want you to buy expensive excursions they sell onboard) Such a excursion around the island costs 59 euro.
They took us by mororboat to primitive jegtty on pontoons. Then we were welcomed by the crowd of the smiling taxi and tuk-tuk owners.
They offer same tour for 20 $ per person or if you decide to take open-z air tuk-tuk you can bargain to 15 $ pp. That's what I did with the 5 Italian friends.
Phuket island is lush and hilly. After the night rain it was sunny, but I felt like in the team bath. We visited thwo beautiful thai temples and some nice beaches. And this was the best solution because local transport is scare and it is hard to hitchhike on the roaring motorways - the island is well developed... The end of the trip was on the southern cap of the island where you can see great panorama of the rocky islands from the platform near the fancy lighthouse.
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Mar 26, 2017 08:00 PM Back in Colombo - Sri Lanka
For the first time I arrived to Colombo by ship. The view of the port is miserable... We are docking in the middle of commercial port with industrial landscape around. On the pier there is no cruise terminal, no information desk - just few souvenir stalls taxi rank (they ask 80 USD for 4 hours city tour) and a stop of the complimentary bus taking independent travellers to the port gate no 3. It is a long way - more then 3 kms and they do not allow to walk...
Once you are at the gate 3 you will be attacked by the crowd of taxi and tuk-tuk drivers, guides and similar guys. Be resistant and wath your pockets! They accept payment in USD (1 USD is worth 150 local rupees).
I took a walk to the colonial Fort quarter. Gently and elegant man started talking with me - introduced himself as ministry office worker. He offered me a tuk-tuk ride with him to the lake temple I wanted to visit. OK. Then at the temple... he wanted to be my payed guide... You never know... I think I am experienced traveller, but maybe I trust the people too much...
The temple is worth to see - they charge from foreigners 2 USD entry fee and you will see there 1001+ Bhudda statues - some very valuable - like ruby one...
Cloudy but still very hot day. In the evening we are departing to Thailand... What a trip! (Aboard I like most Italian ice cream!)
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Mar 24, 2017 10:00 PM Sunday on Maledives
After some 20 years I am again on Maledives. It is Ismamic Republic and the main mosque -see pictutr - is still the most impressive building in the capital city. On the small public beach ladies swim fully dressed... Main island changed a lot - more concret buildings and they still build new ones on this little piece of land. Big traffic and pollution in the narrow streets of Male. It is extremely hot and humid here and not easy to find internet access - it seems they are undeveloped. The next port on my route will be Colombo in Sri Lanka - maybe I will be able to upload few pictures...
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Mar 20, 2017 10:00 PM Island tour for just 1 dollar
Yes, I am already on the Seychelles, living in the last expensive cabin of my slow boat.
On Mahe island I used public buses to go around the island. Each bus ride costs just 5 rupees. For 1 USD you can have 3 rides to enjoy paradise beaches like Takamaka and to get to the panoramic view points. Hitchhiking also works. In the evening I depart to Male Maledives - it will be 3 days at sea. Hot, humid, sweaty but happy - Wojtek
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Mar 17, 2017 10:00 PM Again on tropical Mauritius
They did not care about the weight of my carry-on baggage when I was embarking Eurowings flight in Cologne. OK. I made the right choice of the seat 41G on their airbus 330-200 plane - this seat gives you little more space. The plane was almost full. And there were another unpleasant surprises: you have to pay extra not only for the movies but also for the musis. Bring your headphones! 11 hours on flight.
It was still dark, when we landed at 5 am on Mauritius.
Fast immigration and health control. Customs just say -go on! Then there are money exchange counters. No commission. But the clerk was surprised when I changed jus 1 dollar = 35 local rupees. It should be enough for the public bus going to the distant (43 kms) Port Louis - the capital of the island.
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Mar 16, 2017 10:00 PM Will they check the weight of my pack?
It was cloudy morning when, after 20 hours on the bus I arrived to CGN airport. I am first time here. CGN is well- organized. From the long bus platform you walk just 50 m to the terminal building. I have award ticket for Eurowings flight to Mauritius. They have their counters in the wing C. Eurowings is an inexpensive daughter of Lufthansa. But I did not expect that that award ticket from Miles and More program is so poor... It does not cover any meals except poor water. Bring your sandwiches with you! And it covers only 1 piece of cabin luggage up to 8 kilos. Yes, I have just one piece, but it has 12.... I printed my boarding pass on-line This did not give them a chance to check the weight at the check-in counter. Will they check it at the gate? So far at the security control they sent me to the special, separate line for detailed screening. Why just me? I passed through. Okay, In the waiting room I prepared for me a big pot of coffee (do you know how?) :) and I am ready for 11 hours flight. Please, keep your fingers crossed!
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Mar 15, 2017 10:00 PM First stage - by bus...
I was waiting long time (like long 3 months!) for this day... Finally I am on the road again! From my house in Zaspa quarter there is convenient direct tram no. 4 going to the main bus station in the centre of Gdansk. Sunny but rather cold day... I need to take an international bus to Cologne, Germany - my flight to Mauritius departs tomorrow from Koln-Bonn airport. Lucky me! There is a direct bus of Sindbad company going to that airport. I boarded the bus at 1.40 pm. They have even wi-fi on board. Let's go!
After an hour of thravel I already know that Sindbad bus is not so sweet. First of all it is not direct bus. My bus goes to the border town of Swiecko where at midnight I have to change to other Sindbad bus. Second - yes, they have tea and coffee onboard, but you have to pay 0,5 euro per small cup.
Midnight. Cold. I wait for the new bus...
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Mar 14, 2017 10:00 PM New voyage -"By slow boat to China"
I set out on a new journey! I call it jokingly: "By slow boat to China" - do you remember this cute song? It will start with the journey by bus from Gdansk to Cologne, Germany. From there, using the award ticket - prize for previous flights with Star Alliance I'll go up to the distant Mauritius.
There - in Port Louis I will embark the cheap ship sailing so unusual route to China. Travel experience paid off: I was able to find a ship sailing for the renovation in the shipyard in China! Such occasions happen really rare. Along the way, we will call at many ports. Almost all of them I know from previous trips, but it will be nice to look at them from a different perspective - again after years.
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Mar 11, 2017 10:00 PM Travellers Festival in Gdynia
Every year in March in Gdynia, Poland they organize a huge (biggest in Europe - they say!) Festival of Traveling, Alpinism, Sailing and Spelunking. Crowds are coming to the big Gdynia Sport's Hall - also because it is free. The place has 4000 seats andnumber of young people also lay on the sleeping bags on the ground.
I was invited there to give the first lecture 10 years ago.
Today I was invited to give my second slide-show. The title was "50 years with the backpack". They promised me 50 minutes of time, but for unknown reason it was reduced to 30 min. Never more!
I will say true: I was unhappy jumping fast slide to slide. But still I got an applause and many people after the show wanted to have the picture with me. They bought also all my books brought to the place. "-Did you really managed to travel 12 times around the world?" Yes, I did!
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