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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Jan 01, 1970 12:00 AM To Norway on a cheap...
When I started traveling the world some 40 years ago nobody was dreaming about low-cost airlines. Now there are a lot of them to make happy the budget travelers from many countries. Can you imagine: I bought a round trip air ticket from Poland to Oslo-Norway for just 55 zlotys (less then 20 USD)? Well... The Ryan Air plane landed in the Rygge airport - some 70 kms from central Oslo so you have to add an extra cost of the transfers to the bill... From Rygge airport there is a free bus to the nearest railway station (4 kms ride) and then you have to pay 123 Norwegian crowns for the train. After 50 minutes you are in the Oslo downtown.
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Jan 01, 1970 12:00 AM Guanyin Goddess Statue - 33 m-high!
There are many temples on the Putuoshan Island. Those on the green mointain ridge are connected by the path - I was going from temple to temple enjoying the views and the atmosphere of the sacred places... Eventually the path took me to the main Puji Temple - biggest on the island. Ponds full of the lotus flowers are there and huge statue of the Buddha of the Future. Crowd of pilgrims inside...
But the best-known place on the sacred island is the huge, open-air terrace with the 33-m high statue of the Goddess of Mercy - they call her here Guanyin... Well, with hundereds people around it is hard to contemplate the landscape. But this is China - 2-mln city is recognized as small one... It is very hard to find the place to be alone!
Back on the mainland I plan to take the train to Huangzhou - another historic place... Cloudy, rainy evening - I pray for the better weather!
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Jan 01, 1970 12:00 AM Republic of the Monks - day one
(posted four days later)
It was still dark at the Ouranopolis jetty when I was looking there for somebody with my travel permit to Mt Athos. They are not well organized... Finally I found a gentelman in the car speaking with the people through the window. We (all men) were staying in the long line. He checked my passport, asked for 30 euro fee and gave me this valuable paper...
I embarked little ferry "Agia Anna" they charged from me 9,80 euro for the trip to Agia Anna jetty and we departed soon. Everybody was waiting for the sunrise to see the scenery. After an hour I saw the first monastery on the coast. Few people including the monks in black disembarked and we sailed onward. Second monastery, the third. Some of the like castles on the coast. The main port is Dafni - all suppy for the republic goes this way. But I sailed further, knowing from the literature that the most picturesque landscapes and monasteries I can see after Dafni. It was true...
Disembarking at little Santa Anna jetty I was surprised. -Where is skete (sub-monastery) Agia Anna I am booked for the night? They showed me a little chapel up on the hill some 250 m above the sea level. Uff... It was sweaty walk up and up. But at the little monastery courtyard friendly monk treated me on traditional way: I got a glass of spring water, glass of ouzo (local alcohol), lukumi cake and a little cup of the strong coffee! I got my bed in the 6-bed dormitory and in the afternoon I took a walk to the monastery of St Paul. Back in Agia Anna we attended the service in the church and then we got a simple meal. What a view from this eagle's nest!
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Jan 01, 1970 12:00 AM To the Caribbean! By ship will be cheaper!
Could you believe? The one-way flight from Europe to the Caribbean is more expensive that the voyage aboard the ship! Of course you have to know when and where buy your last-expensive inside cabin, and have the companion... :)
So I set out on another voyage! You know how much I like the islands, particularly those ones in the warm climate zone. It will therefore travel to new, unknown islands. At the beginning I fly cheaply to Malaga, Spain. There, I get on the ship, which with stops in Madeira and the Canary Islands sails across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. It will be great chance to escape the wet and cold European autumn, but I also know that I am going to the Caribbean in the hurricane season :) Please keep you fingers crossed! Thank you!
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Jan 01, 1970 12:00 AM How to camp in the paradise :)
Do you dream about living just 20 m from the tropical beach? You can do it here... Take 2-dollars ferry to Culebra Island. Pack your bacpack and your tent to Will's van - he will take you to Flamenco Beach. Then they have there 6 or 7 campsites under the trees just 20 m from the sand. Every site has a table and big water tank. Shower and toilets are shared.
Put you tent and enjoy the tropics!
In the morning the warden is coming to collect 20 USD fee (per site per day). The eatery/ softdrinks are 100 m away at the parking place.
Mosquitoes are present in the paradise so do not forget to bring the net and repellent! :)
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Jan 01, 1970 12:00 AM Oranje River Road - we did it!
Fish River Canyon is our next destination. It is accessible by gravel roads only. From my knowledge the nicest option regarding the landscapes is to take the paved road to Rosh Pinah mine, and then... nobody in the capital or here knows about the road condition along the Oranje river. Nobody in my country had experience to travel in this area...
We took the risk... Our little 2WD car was very brave and we passed through driving carefully on the outback road.
Oranje River is a border between Namibia and RSA. There was a lot of lovely green color along the water. We passed fords and one low bridge of Fish. Views were just great!
We reached the oasis of Ai Ais on the bottom of Fish River Canyon at 3 pm. Too hot place to stay! They say it is the hottest place in Namibia. I decided to drive onward to the Hobas Camp on the rim of the canyon. Birds were talking there all night around our tent!
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Jan 01, 1970 12:00 AM Through the Northwest Passage
We are sailing east through the Coronation Gulf - this is the main route through the Northwest Passage used by most sailors, including the first explorers.
At 11 am we reached Cambridge Bay - the main Inuit settlement on Victoria Island. Local people invited us giving the impressive show of throat singing.
Then we used zodiacs to do ashore - to the village. They have cultural center there. Nice Inuit exhibition and (thanks God) free internet terminals. That's why I have the possibility and a pleasure to send this message to you.
Sky is blue, sunny, some 10 deg Celsius. I am optimistic and I enjoy the expedition. Ahoy from the Arctic!
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Jan 01, 1970 12:00 AM Rerouting to Tobago, please...
All passengers of our plane were waiting in the line in front of the LOT airport office. Hours... When my turn arrived the lady told me: what we can do is to rebook you for the flight on next Monday because there is only one flight per week Frankfurt to Tobago! What? You want me to fly one week later? You should offer te connection around - via Miami (I know that AA flies to Trinidad) The airline is guilty because the plane returned! -No we are not allowed! End.
I took a bus to the LOT city office explaining the situation there to the management. No way! the same answer!
Even more: -We do not have agreement with the airlines flying to Tobago other then Condor and Condor flies on next Monday!
So what should I do?
-Because you bought your ticket online in the Condor website you should address to Condor Airline to get your money back. And then you can buy new ticket for your new route to Tobago! Aha!
I made a telephone call to the Condor office in Frankfurt. They said that the LOT plane was broken, so it is LOT who should send me to Tobago via USA.
Dear Friends - I am looking for the solution. Still in Gdansk.
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Jan 01, 1970 12:00 AM Gwadelupe after years...
EGwada is probably the only hostel on expensive Gwadelupe. They charge hefty 25 euro per person in the 11-bed dormitory. The toilet is downstairs... But it is on the Hill, so you have a great panorama even from the bathroom :).
They say it is in Gosier, but let you know that in fact they Re jn Saint Felix - eastern end of Gosier. On seconnd roundabout in Saint Felix turn left and after some half kilometer look for the sign on the left side.
In the morning I went to the Saint Felix beach and then - taking pictures - to the central Gosier and onward - to the fort.
It was 29 deg during the day and high humidity - it was hard walk.
In the afternoon I took a public bus to the lovely town of Saint Francois. This will be my base to explore smaller islands around.
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Jan 01, 1970 12:00 AM Vilnius - the biggest Old Town in Europe?
Old Vilnius enchanted me again after some 35 years. They write that it forms the biggest in Europe complex of old architecture. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. With many churches reopened after the soviet period, nice public buildings, fountains and monuments it gives the tourists a chance to stroll around hours and hours. I was climbing the hill with castle tower for the excellent view of the city. It is free to climb the hill. Another option is TV tower, but it is far from the center.Good tourist info. Many street cafes, the delicate green of the spring... I have a good time in Vilnius!
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