Tips for trips

Published: 19.2.2015

Today we make a tour in the north-Slovakian city of Martin. In the first part, we introduce you to the places of public life, in the second part, we visit a historic center where we look at fascinating buildings and say something about history of institutes that reside there.

Published: 17.2.2015

I feel like I traveled to Europe couple of centuries back in time. Only coconut trees, monkeys, and thirty degree of Celsius don’t match this place. Oh, well, and there probably had not been so many dark skinned people in Europe at that time. The fortress of Galle looks more like a large open-air museum. Dutch and Portuguese colonial architecture is in almost perfect shape there.

Published: 16.2.2015

In 1516, the owner of Ostrovske dominion, Stepan Slik, founded the settlement of Udoli sv. Jachyma near silver deposits. The settlement was inhabited mostly by settlers from neighboring Saxony. When the settlement’s status was changed to the free mining town, there lived 18 thousand people n 1533. It was the second most populous city in the Kingdom of Bohemia!

Published: 14.2.2015

When we said farewell to Suzhou 苏州, the train took us to the famous Shanghai 上海. Shanghai is the name everybody things of when asked if they can think of a Chinese city. Once it used to be a small fishermen village.

Published: 13.2.2015

Sport fans probably think of Busan in relation to the 2002 FIFA world championship. Busan is the second largest South-Korean city. In its metropolitan area live 4.5 million people.

Published: 12.2.2015

Many interesting places not frequented by holidaymakers are in the Small Carpathians. These are mostly hills with beautiful vistas to the surroundings that lure tourists to climb them. Vapenna Hill is one of the three highest peaks in the Small Carpathians and it offers beautiful vistas as well.

Published: 10.2.2015

Sleepy town in the south of mountains in Sri Lanka is a magnet for holidaymakers. It offers an ideal place for trips into the vicinity, and pleasant homely-like atmosphere. There are many guest houses with great food, and great climate. When I get off the train from Kandy, I planned to stay over one night. Eventually I stayed there for a week.

Published: 9.2.2015

Would the Mining and Cultural Landscape of the Ore Mountains became a part of the UNESCO world and nature heritage. Those introduced to the problem believe it would. Yet don’t wait on the decision of the commission. Go on your own to see small towns, settlements, mining sights, and wild nature.

Published: 7.2.2015

When returned to the hostel we were decided to get up early, get on the roof and start the day with a look at Suzhou in the morning 苏州. Right with the alarm clock ringing we started cursing the idea. Because we did not want to be lame in front one of another we get from warm duvets, and headed to the roof.

Published: 5.2.2015

A place great for relax and sports is at the edge of the city of Martin. Its Jedlovina Urban Forest, longtime place for relax, business meetings, tourism, or just hike in nature. We decided to visit it as well.

Published: 2.2.2015

Unlike in the 1990s, we don’t see very often some objects or reservations in the Czech Republic to be included to UNESCO’s World Heritage list. This rare occasion is about to happen again. The “Mining Culture Landscape of Erzgebirge/Krusnohori" applies to be part of the list. Czech and German (Saxon) officials have sent the application. If the land will become the part of UNESCO should be decided in the following year.

Published: 31.1.2015

After all the information we gathered from our friends and teachers about Suzhou 苏州, everybody would look forward to see it! “Up is paradise, below are Suzhou, and Su Chang and Hangzhou" (in Chinese hang you tiantang, xia you Su-Hang 上有天堂，下有苏杭) we heard when we were mounting green city bikes, and rode through narrow streets near our hotel. The streets were crowded with various stands that lured us to stop (many of them at least). But we didn’t want to miss delicacies of Suzhou.

Published: 30.1.2015

For the third time, we go visit Japan and one of its largest castles. In Matsumoto, Nagano prefecture, the castle which is called Crow Castle is located. Unusually though, it doesn’t stand on a hill, isn’t surrounded with rivers, instead it is on a flat land. It was built in the middle of the 16th century, the era when Osaka catle was built. Hideoshi Toyotomi also played an important role in its history.

Published: 27.1.2015

Traveling by train in mountains among tea plantations is one of the greatest experiences in Sri Lanka I have. After a short break, I stepped in a blue train in Kandy. It was only 20 minutes and took me to the town of Ella in the southern part of local mountains. The ride took it more than 6 hours at average speed of 15 km/h. But it is worth it. The rails go up to 1900 meters. Along both sides you can enjoy wonderful views of the local landscape.

Published: 26.1.2015

Should you plan to do some hikes in Canada to see thick forests and green hills, and experience some adrenalin, or meet local residents – moose, bear, and there are many of them. They say you meet here more bears than people. You have to see Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Colombia.

Published: 24.1.2015

It wasn’t bad in Beijing. Yet sometimes a time comes that one just want to go somewhere else. Anywhere. The break of the first May was coming and we had already forgotten how crazy it is to travel in China, especially when even others have holidays. But this time we were bit smarter. We learned how to buy train tickets on the Internet.

Published: 23.1.2015

We stay on the other side of our planet this week. We will see another monumental Japanese castle.

Published: 22.1.2015

On a sunny day, we took a short walk in the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava. We chose to visit one of its landmarks, the memorial on Slavin.

Published: 21.1.2015

Austria is a typical mountain country mostly consisting of the Eastern Alps. Austrian Alpine terrain is typical for vast mountain ranges divided by deep valleys and mountains steeply declining to valleys.

Published: 20.1.2015

Chaos, noise, endless crowds, and couple of confused tourists. There is something to sale everywhere, people bargain to get the best prices. Tey try to rip you off as a wealthy foreigner. I try to get across the downtown as quickly as possible and reach the lake built near his mansion by the last king of Sri Lanka. I hope it will be more peaceful over there...

Published: 19.1.2015

Another great place of Jasper NP is about 29 km southwards off the town of Jasper. You will get there by following an ascending road going through dense forest. There are many turns and a parking lot at the end in 1762 m. There starts the Trail below Mount Edith Cavell.

Published: 16.1.2015

Long time ago, we published an article about one of Japan’s largest cities, Osaka. At the end of it, we mentioned its castle that is only slightly smaller than Prague Castle.

Published: 15.1.2015

The town of Vrutky is located on the meeting point of the Turiec and Vah rivers. Vrutky is not a large town but there is lot to do for tourists and it has also rich history. Lets join us to explore the town at the edge of Turcianska basin.

Published: 14.1.2015

We were excited about one of the largest museums in the world. We let ourselves go with the crowd in Louvre. It took us to the most visited and the most mysterious painting in the world - Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.

Published: 13.1.2015

It is one the most popular exotic destinations. And its popularity is raising fast. You can get the cheapest flight tickets there compared to other destinations, moreover you can stopover in Dubai or Maldives. Even the prices are affordable. It is also one of the most safest countries in the tropics, together with small island states. We land on Sri Lanka, a tropic paradise you will refuse to leave!