Hot Air Balloon festival in Myanmar (Burma) – balloon crash episodes

Hot Air Balloon Festival and contest happens in Taunggyi, Myanmar (Burma) each year between 27 October and 1st November. Balloons are made from shan paper. To fly they need some 50 kg of firewood burned. It is attached to balloon in special basket. Imagine paper balloon with 50 kg burning firewood flying above 10 – … Continue reading Hot Air Balloon festival in Myanmar (Burma) – balloon crash episodes

Old American cars of Cuba (latest travel report)

Last new car in Cuba appeared in 1958. Until 1958 Cuba was tropical casino of U.S. with hotels, restaurants and, of course, top class American cars. Then revolution of Fidel and Che changed everything, Batista left country, relationship with U.S. crashed and Cuba’s car industry got frozen as it was until 1958. Except few donations … Continue reading Old American cars of Cuba (latest travel report)

Pamukkale natural pools and around – travel report

And so 1001 Milez Expedition in Turkey has reached marvelous Pamukkale. From ancient times springs have washed out calcium here. Yes, yes, not salt but calcium. From Roman times this hill was used as SPA and thermal resort. Nowadays its under UNESCO protection. See how it was looking during Roman times – with main street … Continue reading Pamukkale natural pools and around – travel report

Ballooning over 2200 temples of Bagan – all times best adventure

At sixth day of our Myanmar Expedition we arrived to Bagan. Bagan (Pagan, Arimaddanapura) was one of ancient capitals of Mandalay. This is surreal place – between 11 and 13 sanctuary here, in Ayeyarwady river valley, they built more than 2200 temples and pagodas. To explore this wonder, you have to cover around 41 square … Continue reading Ballooning over 2200 temples of Bagan – all times best adventure

When Planets wildest animals walk around your car.. in Germany

Serengeti-Park Hodenhagen, Germany. We could not believe Africa and its wild animals will come so close to us in middle of Germany. Automatic gate was closing, sharp spikes crossed the road and we appeared in trap – four of us against hundreds and hundreds of wild safari animals. Our only protection was thin sides of … Continue reading When Planets wildest animals walk around your car.. in Germany

Vang Vieng, Laos: karst mountains, caves, underground rivers and much more…

Route 13 lead our bus for hours through steep, jungly mountain ridges. From Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng were only 231km, but the continuous road serpentines took almost 8 hours to get there. Out of boredom we decided to study the guidebook . “In a February 2003 attack on Route 13, twelve people, including two … Continue reading Vang Vieng, Laos: karst mountains, caves, underground rivers and much more…

Canary Islands: Volcano Teide and La Gomera

    Kopš mūsu iepriekšējās vulkānu pieredzes – seškilometrīgā El Misti vulkāna Peru, bija pagājuši jau veseli seši mēneši. Sāka jau pietrūkt tuksnešaino un pēc sēra smirdošo kalnu .. tomēr, kad virs mākoņiem iznira Teides perfekti piramidālā smaile, jutāmies atkal savā elementā. Tenerifes sala, ko virs okeāna izcēlis Teides vulkāns, no putna lidojuma izskatījās pelēka … Continue reading Canary Islands: Volcano Teide and La Gomera

Egypt: Red Sea near Hurghada and below sea level

    Ēģipte ir tik dažāda. Te, Sarkanās jūras krastos, tā aug nenormālā ātrumā. Kamēr zemes cenas vēl tikai kāpj, daudzu aizjūras ieguldītāju nauda tiek iesēta šajā tuksnešainajā zemē. Desmitiem kilometru garumā no cietā māla izspraukušies spocīgi ar betonu pielietas armatūras asni. Nekur neredz nevienu strādnieku, liekas, investori mudīgi iezīmē savu teritoriju ar pamatiem vai … Continue reading Egypt: Red Sea near Hurghada and below sea level

Egypt: desert, Nile river and impressive temples of Luxor

    Decembris. Zem mums slīdošie tuksnešainie kalnu labirinti liecina, ka lidojam virs Sinajas pussalas. Tieši šeit savulaik Mozus, saņēmis atklāsmi no paša Dieva, sacerēja savus 10 baušļus. Aha, tur jau tālumā arī Sarkanā jūra, aiz kuras mūsu galamērķis – Hurgada. Nolaižoties var riktīgi pasiekaloties, veroties tirkīzzilajos rifos. Būs jau laikam tur arī jāpapeldas. Pilsētā … Continue reading Egypt: desert, Nile river and impressive temples of Luxor

Sahara: seaside, Atlas mountains, Medina, El Jem, on the way…

    uz Sahāru! Augusta sākumā nolaižamies Āfrikā. Apkārt viss tik zaļš, ka sākam bažīties, vai neesam sajaukuši kontinentus. Mums jānotrāpa tajā laukumiņā starp asajiem niedru lietussargiem. Dažiem no tiem ir uztīti pamatīgi pīķi, kas tā vien sagaida kārtējo kontinenta viesi. Vai nevajag palmu? Nē, nē, paldies, pašlaik vēl ne. Bet ļoti lēta un labas … Continue reading Sahara: seaside, Atlas mountains, Medina, El Jem, on the way…

Rovaniemi, Lapland: visiting real Santa Claus

  Nebija viegli turp nokļūt Sākumā bija  ledaina jūra, tad gandrīz 800 kilometru baltu šoseju Temperatūra krita pa 1 grādam ik pēc 50 km Uz ceļa beigām saulīte teju pacēlās virs horizonta pat pašā dienas vidū, bet naktī bija visi trīsdesmit grādi sala Un tomēr, otrās dienas pēcpusdienā, līdz ar pēdējiem saules stariem, mēs iesoļojām mežā, kas patvērumu sola –  arktiskajā zoodārzā, bet galdiņi te tukši… Tad glābiņš – uzdūrāmies … Continue reading Rovaniemi, Lapland: visiting real Santa Claus