You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Sep 24, 2005 02:00 PM Almaty - Kazakhstan
I landed in Almaty in the middle of the night. Brand new airport terminay is very impressive. No public bus to the city. Do not try to take a taxi. They will cheat you. I have an offer for 12000 tenge (like 85 USD) for 12 km ride. I layed down in the waiting room (nobody touched me) till morning. Then I went to the bus stop - only 100 m from airport gate. They took me just for 30 teng (1 USD =134 tenge) to the city. It is hard to find inexpensive acommodation in Almaty. I went to the Zheitisu Hotel - they have few rooms with comunal shower and i got one for 3500 tenge.
Almaty is very wide with plenty of casinos in he center, nice shops, post-soviet monuments. But it is very difficult to find internet. "Internet clubs" are places mostly for games only. In the afternoon. I found service center of Kazakh Telecom. They charge 300 tenge per hour of internet. They have 4 computers, 2 of them out of order, other two are so old, slow and outdated sofware that I had not any chance to log in to the three different servers. Good luck!
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Sep 23, 2005 02:00 PM Lovely St Petersburg - but the end was poor...
Flight from Kaliningrad to St Petesburg was OK. They put me on the free transfer bus from Pulkowo I (domestic) and new Pulkowo II terminal. But in the brand new international terminal there in no single locker!!! I had 6 hours till my next flight and I wanted to go to the city.
Don't take expensive taxi - there are cheap minibuses no 213 going to the closest Maskovskaya subway station - just 17 roubles. Thn I took a subway to Ploszchad Vosstanya station. There is Railway Station and they have lockers an regular cloak room. I left my backpack for just 40 roubles and enjoyed long walk around the historical center of St Pet. I have been there more then 30 years ago! St Per still have a charm... Boat excursion through the channels an Neva river cost 250 rou.
Back at the station I was stopped by the OMON - special police. They took everything off from my backpack. It took about 40 minutes. Found nothing... -You have too much medicines in your kit!-he said. Stupid, primitive people! I almost missed my flight! Just stay away from them if you are goin there!
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Sep 22, 2005 02:00 PM Why Kaliningrad?
There is no much to see in Kaliningrad: Amber Museum located n the old fort and former cathedral with city museum inside... But this is the place to buy cheap tickets to Russia and distant former Soviet republics in Asia. Also one- ways. My ticket to Almaty cost about 200 USD.
To get to Kaliningrad use the daily bus from Gdansk-Poland at 7 am - it cost only 28 zlotys.
In Kaliningrad there is public bus (35 roubels) to the airport from the main railway station. There is also inexpensive accommodation at the station building (kamera otdyha)...
I enjoyed afternoon walk around he town and down the Pregola river - tomorrow I will fly to Kazakhstan!
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Sep 21, 2005 02:00 PM Go East... Wild East!
Uff!... It is 9 pm and my old backpack is ready... New adventure starts tomorrow... Bus through the border to Russia, then cheap flight to the Kazakhstan. I never been there... I rode different reports... Some of them are very strange. During the Soviet Union time it was peaceful there and people (including people in charge) were friendly and helpful. Now there are independent countries. There are changes, there are new leaders and new law... It is not easy to get the visas unless you pay high price and are ready to be escorted by your guide... Well, I'll see... Just please - keep your fingers crossed!
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Sep 10, 2005 02:00 PM Back in New York...
We safely escaped the triangle. End of the cruise to Bermuda. I disembarked at 9 am... I have my flight back to Europe in the evening. Lovely weather - enough time to take a pleasant walk around Manhattan. But what can I do with my pack? No lockers or cloak room in the cruise terminal! I found the solution: I went back to well known Manhattan Inn Hostel (303 West 30th Street). Just opposite to the reception desk they have automatic lockers - I paid 3 USD for 24 hours (keep your new one dollar bills ready!) and spend whole day visiting well known and new places in NY...
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Sep 07, 2005 02:00 PM Escape from Bermuda...
The third place to visit on Bermuda in King's Wharf - the former base of Royal Navy. It is not a town - it the complex of old historical buildings from the time whem they called Bermuda "Gibraltar of the America". They established there Maritime Museum and most of the buildings are converted to the shopping malls, restaurants and art workshops. It is worth to see - just 2-3 hours visit.
The authorities of Bermuda do not want us in the harbour during the hurricane so we are escaping Bermuda heading back to New York. No compensation... We will spend one more day at sea... Bye bye Bermuda! I hope we will escape safely The Bermuda Triangle!
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Sep 06, 2005 02:00 PM Hamilton - the capital of Bermuda
In the morning we entered Hamilton Harbour. The capital of Bermuda is quite a big town with some colonial buildings, nice cathedral and road traffic. Bad news from the bridge: the hurricane class 1 NATE is coming close and close to the Bermuda so our capitain decided to leave Bermuda earlier... Bad luck!
Hamilton is good place to start exploration of the wonderful beaches located in the south coast. I went by bus as far as Gibb's Hill Lighthouse. They charge 2,50 USD for entry but the view is little disappointing. Then I walked along the beaches - long ones and tiny ones hidden between the rocks. You will find them soon in my photo gallery - enjoy!
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Sep 05, 2005 02:00 PM Saint George - Bermuda
I woke up early. I is worth because the ship is entering Saint George Harbour through the narrow, rocky gap - very spectacular place! Saint George town is in my opinion the most picturesque of three Bermuda ports so if you will have a choice - go to Saint George. It if not a problem to reach from here the rest of the islands - they offer very efficient bus system and also ferries. The best deal is to buy at the tourist office one or three-days unlimited ride pass valid for buses and ferries... It comes with map and timetable... Buy, plan and go!
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Sep 04, 2005 02:00 PM Backpacker on the cruise ship...
The day at sea. Strong sun and the navy-blue ocean around. There is no window in my last-expensive, inside cabin but I have TV with 24-hours transmission from the camera placed at the bridge so I can always check if it is sunrise or sunset out there... Unlimited food... It is good to take the cruise after tiring voyage across Sahara! You can use self-service or stay in the lines to the restaurants... NCL offers free-style cruising - so toys and suits are not obligatory (but no jeans in the restaurants in the evenings!)
What is the best on the ship? - The AMAR band! They play old, good standards... And I an very proud because they are for my country!
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Sep 03, 2005 02:00 PM Sailing to Bermuda...
After lovely morning in the New York I embarked inexpensive Norwegian Cruise Line ship. I made a choice of "Norwegian Crown" - because during one sailing it is visiting three ports in Bermuda one by one: St George's, Hamilton and King's Wharf. Yes, I would like to see as much as possible. First surprise on the ship: apart from your cruise fare they will charge you automatically 10 USD per day for the tips. But you can avoid this - going at the end of the cruise to the reception and writing in the form why you dont want to tip the crew...
Departing from the New York at 4pm we enjoyed just wonderful view of the Manhattan skyline...
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