Tom L
What it's like to fly during COVID-19 pandemic ...

Unfortunately, the year 2020 has been the worst of all for all those who loved or had to travel. Many airlines went bankrupt as well as other travel companies. It was the first year when we didn’t travel at all until now. Recently, some flights have resumed and some restrictions eased. However, we can never be sure if that doesn’t change in the near future. In this post I will describe what it’s like to fly during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. I also want to add that the flight I took was not for leisure or vacation.

What it's like to fly during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
Tom L
How to Visit National Parks in the US if You ...

Ever wanted to visit the magnificent National Parks of the western USA? That might be complicated if you can't drive or don't have too much time. However, there is one solution - we have visited 8 of the most important National Parks in 9 days - yes it was rushed and exhausting, but the experience was unreal. Here's how we did it with all the pros and cons.

It was always my dream to see the Grand Canyon and the other exceptionally magnificent National Parks and canyons in Utah and Arizona, such as: Bryce, Antelope Canyon, Arches and Monument Valley. Finally, having had visited nearly 70 countries, I planned a trip to the USA. We didn’t have too much time - only 9 days and we couldn’t drive. So, the only option was, as a last resort, an organized tour. Something we always try to avoid. How did it go? How much did it cost? Was it efficient? What were the downsides and upsides of such a journey?

How to Visit National Parks in the US if You Don't Drive and Don't Have Too Much Time
Tom L
Best Hike in Slovenian Alps - Triglav Lakes ...

Slovenia is mostly known for the amazing lake Bled. Few actually know what this tiny country hides one of the most spectacular Alpine valleys - the Triglav Lakes valley. The purest rivers and mountainous lakes surrounded by silver rocky peaks and karst formations can be found here. Don’t miss this incredible hiking trail - stay a few days more in Slovenia and enjoy the best of what nature has to offer. Contrary to similar places of this sort in neighboring countries (Italy, Austria, Croatia), you won’t find crowds here - therefore the whole area seems even more enjoyable. In this post I’ll describe the trail and how we got here from lake Bled and continued onwards to the Soca River valley.

Best Hike in Slovenian Alps - Triglav Lakes Valley (part 1)
Tom L
What You Must Know Before Traveling to Egypt in ...

Are you wondering if it's safe to travel to Egypt? Besides the amazing ancient monuments and great fun, these are the not so great things you must be aware of before traveling to Egypt. It's better to be prepared rather than disappointed.

I traveled to nearly 70 countries before Egypt, therefore I’d had some expectations and thought I had prepared myself mentally before visiting the lands of pharaoh. Nevertheless, many things still managed to surprise me in Egypt. The following part is based on my subjective experiences and may differ from what others experienced. However, I would like to share what it was like to follow the trail of ancient Egyptians - from Cairo down to the Sudanese border. I haven’t been to the resorts, so I can’t comment on that.

What You Must Know Before Traveling to Egypt in 2020
Tom L
How to get to Uvac River Canyon, Serbia (if you ...

A couple of years back, we visited the Serbian capital - Belgrade. And to be honest, it wasn't my favorite city in the Balkans - you can read my post here. This year, we decided to go back and rediscover Serbia again. Not only did we give Balgrade another chance but also wanted to see some other places in this little Balkan country. One of them was the beautiful Uvac River Canyon - a place that can be tricky to get to and is virtually unknown among tourists outside of Serbia. In this article I'll focus mainly on how to reach the Uvac River Canyon by public transport (if you cannot drive). I will also show the exact points of the maps where to start the hike if you have your own car and where the best viewpoints are.

How to get to Uvac River Canyon, Serbia (if you don't drive)

Asia

Ancient Cave Towns of Cappadocia, Turkey

Ancient Cave Towns of Cappadocia, Turkey

The unique and beautiful region of Cappadocia in Turkey is known for its original rock formations, balloon flights and cave towns where people have lived for millennia. The soft sandstone made it easy for the locals to carve out caves large enough to create their own homes inside. Some of the ancient settlements are located in cliff walls, others in the mountains and some are even composed of a complex network of underground tunnels resembling a termite mound! In this post I'll describe the most spectacular as well as easy to reach ancient cave towns that we visited near Goreme - don't miss them while exploring the region!

Merv, Turkmenistan - A Forgotten City On The Silk Road

Merv, Turkmenistan - A Forgotten City On The Silk Road

Merv is one of those examples that clearly demonstrate how high we (humans) think about our civilization and how little we actually mean. Once, the most advanced region on Earth, the part of ancient Persia, dotted with bustling cities along the famous, historical Silk Road. Now - the few remains of strongholds as well as defensive walls that used to be the witnesses of enormous power stand silently stripped of their grandeur in the middle of nowhere and the only citizens that settle in the destroyed fortresses are some little desert rodents and herds of camels nibbling wilted shrubs

Visiting The City of Almaty - The Gateway to the Most Beautiful National Parks in Kazakhstan

Visiting The City of Almaty - The Gateway to the Most Beautiful National Parks in Kazakhstan

Almaty - Kazakhstan's largest city and the former capital. At first, it looks completely ordinary and uninteresting, and if it weren't for the world's class natural wonders surrounding it (I'll describe them all in detail soon), probably no one would be willing to come here. But if you take a second, closer look, you'll notice the uniqueness, vibrancy and diversity.  Having said that, it seems that no foreign travelers (especially from the western countries) ever make it to Almaty or other Central Asian places anyway. We didn't meet any westerners there. This is, of course, not because of the lack of attractions in the region - I suppose the mainstream media are at fault here - by always depicting the post-Soviet states as backward, grey, boring and gloomy.

Annapurna Range Loop Trek To Poon Hill, Nepal - Day 2 - Trek From Ulleri To Ghorepani And Poon Hill

Annapurna Range Loop Trek To Poon Hill, Nepal - Day 2 - Trek From Ulleri To Ghorepani And Poon Hill

On the second day of the extraordinarily beautiful trek to Poon Hill, we left the cozy village of Ulleri at sunrise and headed uphill towards another village - Ghorepani. Ghorepani is located at the elevation of 2750 meters and it differs from other towns with the distinctive blue roofs and houses. It is also a gateway to the most important point of the trek - Poon Hill (around 3200 meters above sea level) which offers a spectacular, 360 degree view of the Annapurna range in the Himalayas. Especially stunning in March/April when all the wild rhododendrons blossom and cover the mountainous valleys in bright red colors.

Old Bagan, Myanmar - Best Ways To Get Around And Is It Really Worth A Visit?

Old Bagan, Myanmar - Best Ways To Get Around And Is It Really Worth A Visit?

Old Bagan is one of the most famous archaeological sites in South East Asia. Often compared to the Angkor Wat Complex in Cambodia, Bagan was open to the tourists relatively recently. Although Myanmar is still regarded by some as an off the beaten path destination (for example, there are not that many foreign visitors in Mandalay or at the Golden Rock Pagoda), the magnificent temples of Bagan attract hundreds of travelers every day. Nevertheless, just like Angkor Wat, the pagodas in Bagan are spread around such an enormous area that you'll still feel the uniqueness and remoteness of this extraordinary site.

Lake Kaindy, Kazakhstan - One Of The Most Unique Lakes In The World

Lake Kaindy, Kazakhstan - One Of The Most Unique Lakes In The World

Lake Kaindy in southern Kazakhstan is one of the newest and most unique natural wonders on our planet. Although literally unknown in the West, if it was located in any European country, it would be its best tourist attraction. Especially beautiful in the fall (autumn), Lake Kaindy boasts not only exceptionally attractive blue color of water and snowy rocky mountains surrounding it but also the unique, silver trunks of dead spruce sticking out of the lake's surface. The "flooded forest" is indeed one of the natural landmarks of Kazakhstan. It all creates a fairy-tale like scenery, not seen anywhere else.

Ko Phi Phi Islands, Thailand - All The Pros And Cons Of This "Lost Paradise"

Ko Phi Phi Islands, Thailand - All The Pros And Cons Of This "Lost Paradise"

Ko Phi Phi Islands are the main landmark and the most popular tourist destination in Thailand. It's just a piece of heaven on Earth - it's exactly the way you can see it on the postcards or wallpapers featuring exotic beaches. And it really is that idyllic and full of colors - the water is perfectly turquoise and crystal clear, the sand is soft and immaculately white and the surrounding limestone cliffs create "the gate" to paradise. Nature is always flawlessly beautiful - but it couldn't be all so perfect, could it? There are, obviously, some faults in this must-see Thailand's attraction. And they are all caused by us - humans. Read on about my experience in Ko Phi Phi, find out how to avoid the scams and what's the best way to visit the islands.

Pokhara, Nepal - The Easiest Way to Himalayas

Pokhara, Nepal - The Easiest Way to Himalayas

Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal, located at the foot of the Himalayan Annapurna Range. It may be quite difficult to get to the starting point of the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek as there are no roads there from Kathmandu but that's not the case with Pokhara where you'll see spectacular mountainous peaks as if they were in front of you. It's also very easy to get closer to the Himalayas and start hiking the beautiful, fairy tale-like, full of blooming rhododendrons Poon Hill loop trail, or more advanced Annapurna Base Camp trek. If you're lucky with the weather, you can spot the most beautiful, snowy, "Fish Tail" mountain which rises almost 7000 meters above sea level (original name: Machhapuchchhre - yes, the spelling is kind of crazy) right away from Pokhara's center.

Göreme, Turkey - The Cave Town And The "Fairy Chimney" Valley In Cappadocia

Göreme, Turkey - The Cave Town And The "Fairy Chimney" Valley In Cappadocia

Cappadocia is one of the most popular regions of Turkey. The famous all over the world, weird rock formations shaped like mushrooms, pillars and even animals are scattered across the area. Clear weather conditions, crisp even in the late months of fall/autumn allow not only to hike among the most extraordinary valleys but also to enjoy the famous hot air balloon flight, which, although quite expensive, is a one of a kind event that everyone should experience at least once. I visited Goreme in November and I think it was a perfect time. The town was cozy and sleepy, I felt as if I was somewhere at the end of the world and although it is so popular I barely saw any other tourists. Moreover, the leaves that had just turned bright yellow created an excellent contrast with the rock formations making it all look even more eerie and extraordinary.

One Day in Yangon - What To See In Myanmar's Largest City

One Day in Yangon - What To See In Myanmar's Largest City

Yangon (or Rangoon), Myanmar's former capital is still the largest city in the country and important economic as well as cultural center. Comparing to Bagan, Mandalay or the rest of Myanmar, Yangon seems to be a really modern, culturally diverse metropolis with over 5 million inhabitants. You'll find Burmese, British and Chinese influences at every corner. Colonial buildings, pagodas, churches and Chinese markets are strewn around the center. Although the city is huge, you'll be able to see a lot in just one day - the most impressive monuments and sights (like Shwedagon Pagoda or Sule Pagoda) are within walking distance from one another.