The castle is situated in Germany and it was built in the style of the late romanesque period. Today I am not going to tell you the obvious, that it was Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, who decided to rebuild this castle, that is is an important sightseeing in Germany and that it is besieged by tourists all year round… I would like to mention 2 things, I liked the most about it:

• Location

To my mind it was difficult to find a better place. This region is full of mountains, forests, meadows, lakes, cycle paths… It proposes more you can ever think possible.

• Grotto and winter garden

I can’t say that I didn’t like the rest of the castle, but these two parts were the best. Just imagine a mysterious stalactite cavern just between the Living Room and the Study Ludwig II. Magnificent and charming! I can already imagine all the secret lovers sharing their love there.

And gardens… I simply adore them.

Parga is a nice, picturesque and small town on the north-western coast of Greece. I am sure, the first time you see Parga you will like it. It is located in a sheltered bay and all its houses goes up the mountainside from seaside. So, it is surrounded by mountains and their hills are covered with olive groves. What is more, it seems that time didn’t touch Parga and it is still a very genuine Greek small town. There you can taste delicious and real Greek food. Restaurants near the beach perfectly reflect the national colour, and everything there tells us that Parga is worth a visit. There you can relax and enjoy the peace and calmness of life.

Zagorian Villages and Vikos Gorge

This incredible place Zagoria is situated in the Pindos Mountains, and it is a hidden gem of northwest Greece. Small sleepy villages, valleys, a plenty of wild flowers and mountain air make your head goes round. Here you will see unbelievable old mansions in the unique Zagorian style, ancient stone bridges and the clearest rivers in entire Europe. The water is so fresh and clean here that you can drink it straight from the source.

The Pindos Mountains is a place where you won’t met big crowds of tourists, they still remain remain wild for tourism. Special attention must be paid to the Vikos Gorge - one of the biggest gorges in the world. The gorge averages 700 metres in depth (2nd place in Europe).

Enjoy Greece, especially, when you perfectly know that this country is doesn’t only about Cyprus!

1. North Yungas Road, aka “Road of Death”, Bolivia: This road cuts through the Bolivian Andes, running almost 70 km from La Paz to Coroico. It travels nearly 3,600 meters down and is comprised almost entirely of narrow hairpin curves. Unfortunately, their is no safety net below off the side of the road, and as you can see from the picture, the drop is quite severe. While you’re smart enough to read about this road before attempting to travel it, between 100-200 people a year over estimate their driving abilities, leading to their unfortunate death. Constructed in the 1930′s by Paraguayan prisoners, it would be easy to assume that they built it to be this treacherous on purpose. North Yungas Road is most frequently traveled by trucks and busses, which makes it’s span of merely three meters wide almost as terrifying as looking out the window when on it. If you still don’t fear the “Road of Death” be warned, these conditions are only what you would experience in the dry season. Let’s hope you don’t get stuck there in the rain.

2. Siberian Road to Yakutsk, Russia. If your looking to travel to Yakutsk, this is road is the only option you have. As you can see, you’ll be traveling on more mud than actual road so let’s hope you’re friends with a local tow truck driver! Expect traffic to come to a stop as many will wait for this 30 km long road to dry enough to considering driving on. But being a mud road isn’t the only thing that makes it dangerous. Many expects suspect underground gas leaks, supported by the reports from a majority of motorists who have survived car accidents on this road claiming that they can’t remember what happened. Perhaps Yakutsk isn’t worth visiting after all.

3. Guoliang Tunnel in the Taihang Mountains, China  Before May 1st 1977 the only hope of making it to the small village on the other side of the mountain was to follow the along the rock foot path. In 1972 workers began a five year process of creating this 1,200 meter long tunnel, spanning 4 meters wide and 5 meters high. Wear and tear over the years has caused this tunnel to become uneven, but don’t worry, the view from the thirty plus windows will make your journey on this road even scarier.

4. Taroko Gorge Road, Taiwan. While this road doesn’t offer the twists and turns you’ll find from those above, you’re still riding on a wide open mountain side. Although an absolutely beautiful sight to see, don’t take your eyes off the road unless you happen to have a car parachute. Your best bet to enjoy this beautiful scenery would be to take a tour bus across it, unless of course your looking for a more scenic grave.

Hello, dear Tibet-lovers, now let’s go on with our travel tips! Are you ready to get acquainted with 4 more tips? So, they are the following…

1. Entertainment Tips

   First of all – people, they are so kind, hospitable and friendly. They are always ready to open the doors of their houses to you. Just imagine, more than several hundred of palaces. Various clubs, popular sport complexes. So, there is a great number of bars and cafes in Tibet, among the most popular in Lhasa can be named:

   • Niwei Recreation City Opposite Youth Mansion;
   • Kelsang Metok Minzhu Recreation Center;
   • Salon Nightclub Near Lhasa Military Branch Region;

   Also, Tibet can be proud of a wide chain of stores, boutiques and just shops, the most interesting and worth visiting is (in Lhasa): Barkhor Street Bazar Inside Barkhor Street. So, anyway, you won’t feel disappointed!

   

2. Currency Exchange

   To tell the truth, only 2 currencies are popular in Tibet (and sometimes exceptionally they can be accepted): US dollar and Chinese Yuan. But, be careful, dollars are not used in each shop and credit cards you can use only at some hotels, moreover, the exchanging rate is fantastically low.

   Remember, official and profitable operation you can make only in the Bank of China, it has sub-branches in Lhasa. Sometimes, you can think, that it is no use to go to the official representative office, but you are not right, because making exchanges on the black market, you can be cheated. And this mistake can spoil the rest of your holiday and leave awful impression about this country.

   

3. Tips for Photographers

   I don’t know a single person, who hates making photos, while travelling to new countries. So, I believe, you are not an exception, but before taking your paper or digital memories with you, find out how to make it and not to provoke an international scandal. So, the following travel tips are useful for photo-lovers:

   • general preparations, such as taking batteries, taking more films, spare balconies, equip the camera lens with UV lens;
   • it is forbidden to make photos inside the chapels, as a rule, you can use a camera in monasteries (unless, lama didn’t tell you not to do so);
   • do not offer money to a person you asked to photograph you, better give him or her a small present;

   

4. Various cultural taboos

   There are a lot of them, but let’s just specify the most popular and sometimes harmful, because very often your behaviour can lead to misunderstandings:

   • Taboos on social courtesies

     So, it is better to forget of naughty words usage, add “la” before a name of a person. Show your respect in everything: take the gift only with 2 hands, while giving wine, tea or other drink, don’t even dare to touch the bottom of bowl. Before drinking a cup of tea or a glass of wine – dip your ring finger in it and flick the wine three time, thus, you will show, that you really respect the heaven, the ancestors and the earth.

   • Taboos on behaviors

     Do not: step on the threshold while entering the house, use paper with Tibet characters for your personal needs, cross any musical instrument, that is used in the Buddhist mass, enter the house if you see the sign (hanged in front of the house: a fire, for example), touch other people head, come in before the elder people, clap your hands before Tibet people and etc.;

   • Taboos on diets

     As a rule, people of Tibet, do not eat fish, shrimps, eggs and chicken. As to meat, they do not use monkey, dog and horse.

   • Taboos on Belief

     While arriving to mountains, do not make rackets (they considered to be provocateurs of rain and storm), do not touch the statue of Buddha, be quiet in a monastery and don’t even dare to kill an animal near a monastery.

Good luck!

Tibet! I think everybody wants to visit this country and to feel its spirit, but before this, you have to find out more about it, to get acquainted with main travel tips in order to be prepared…

1. So, the first of 8 travel tips can be named – Best Time For Visiting

   Climate in Tibet is the typical downy special climate. And don’t feel upset, but, it can vary throughout the day and different places in Tibet. Pay attention, you can visit Tibet at any time, but the best time is from April to October. From May to September (especially July and August), as a rule, comes a rainy season, so don’t forget your umbrellas.

   

   You need only 4 documents to visit and travel freely in Tibet: the Chinese Visa, the second one is Tibet Permit, the third one is the Travel Permit when you are planning to travel to the closed areas in Tibet which you can obtain it after you arrive in Tibet (So, the 1st question what travel permit is? This paper is also called Aliens’ Travel Permit (A.T.P) and it is required to visit closed areas), and the fourth document is the Military Permit (not always, only if are going to visit some special areas: Ngari, Nyingchi, and Nagqu). Also, you need a visa and a passport (valid for at least six months).

   

2. Mountain Sickness

   Yeah, I am not mistaken, there is not only an air-sickness, it is another kind of disease, that is very popular among Tibet tourists and it presents a great risk to their health! When at high altitudes, people are lack of oxygen, so symptoms vary, but the most widespread are: dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea, shortness of breath, loss of appetite and insomnia. As a rule, in the course of acclimatization your health condition will become better and better. Before going to Tibet, visit a doctor and be sure that your heart, lungs and other organs are healthy! But the following precautions will help you to avoid Mountain Sickness: drink as mush as possible, before visiting Tibet and in the country: don’t smoke, don’t drink alcohol, eat more chocolate and fruits. If you already feel sick, don’t even think to go higher.

   

3. Packing Things

   Remember! Tibet is just another place to visit, it is no use to take the whole wardrobe with you. Moreover, it is a remote place, so choose as comfortable things as possible. Nevertheless, you can always ask your travel advisor. But, don’t forget:

   • documents (ID card and Travel Permit);
   • a folder or a small bag (in order to put very important papers);
   • bag (in order to put things, you are going to take with you, while visiting some place of interest);
   • lotions, creams, sunglasses and other things in order not to get sun burns;
   • cold-weather clothes. Sounds strange? Because, it is so unbelievable to put lotion with SPF and a warm sweater in one bag, while going to catching sun. But, facts are stubborn thing. As you already know, weather in Tibet can changes in a very quick way, so be ready! Walking shoes, rain coat, woolen socks, hiking boots, long-sleeve shirts… all these things are a must!
   • torches: be ready to power cuts. Very often the electricity can be cut after 10 PM. It is so romantic!
   • oxygen bag: it will help to facilitate the symptoms of mountain sickness and in Tibet it is a useful thing, because it  (Tibet) is situated very high;
   • travel bag: who knows, may be you will decide to spend a very romantic night (in the case, if the electricity will work);
   • and, of course, medicine: tablets for water purification, chrysanthemum tea, pain-killers, medicines for diarrhea, nausea, colds and fever.

To be continued…

Second part >>>