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Timeless charm of Asia
Cheow Lan Lake
The Scariest and Most Beautiful Moment on the Thailand Journey in Two Days One of the most unusual adventures in Thailand was the trip to Cheow Lan lake. They explained to us that it’s one of the largest wild lakes in Asia and that we were going to spend a night there. We packed our backpacks with the most necessary items, while still unsure what to expect. Sui, one of the tour guides, who smiled in anticipation, was wearing an olive-green hat, big backpack on his back, waterproof vest and bulky running shoes for walk. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————- In a traditional long-tail boat there was a shady looking man resembling a movie character. He seemed experienced enough so we didn’t worry even when he, five minutes after departure, turned the engine off and slowly steered the boat through a labyrinth of gigantic rocks protruding from the lake. The rocks looked so powerful during the quiet night on a shiny lake. Unfortunately, we had to put our cameras back into our bags quickly. We were moving very fast and we felt so cold and wet before we managed to put our rainbow-coloured raincoats with hoods, which were provided by Sui. We all looked […]
Golden Cylinder – Shangri-La
The Place Where the Sun Rises First The legend about a hidden Tibetan paradise travelers have supposedly brought to Europe in the 16th century. The story has originated in ancient buddhist manuscripts and talks about a place in Tibet where man lives in total harmony with nature and where all the wisdom of mankind is kept. In the book “Lost Horizon” from 1933, British writer James Hilton named that magical kingdom “Shangri-La” (which means “the Sun and Moon in one’s heart” in Tibetan), and the word has become a synonym for Paradise on Earth and has encouraged explorers to start searching for utopia… The local people of Zhongdian county, in the Chinese province of Yunnan, have decided to provide one.
The Colours of Differences
The Colourfulness of Differences Have you ever had an impression that you are at the right place at the right time and that you cannot understand where that place is and how you ended up there? It seems that a lost tourist is the best tourist. Throughout history, Yunnan province has been considered a remote and unfriendly area. Therefore, local ethnic minorities were able to maintain the characteristics of their culture, making them different from the Han Chinese. Over the past several years, cultural differences in Yunnan province have become a very interesting and remarkable phenomenon for tourists, but also an important component for tourism development in China. When you go astray at certain places and notice your surroundings, you get the impression that time has stopped, but you need to know that the feeling is deceiving. Tourism development in Yunnan province has led to social and cultural interaction between local minorities and people of other cultures, which has resulted in drastic differences in the way of life for several nationalities.
The Growing Flower of Yunnan
The Growing Flower of Yunnan Yunnan province is very interesting in every aspect, but if you plan to stay in Shangri-La only, without visiting the surrounding area, you are bound to leave China culturally impoverished! Enrich your soul, bring home the landscapes that are difficult to describe in words, and be part of the culture that has not changed for centuries. If we had mentioned Baishui Tableland you would have probably rolled your eyes and seriously considered not to leave your hotel. You would have asked if the distance of 100 kilometres (62 miles) was going to be too much trouble just to spend some time at the tableland we had mentioned! Maybe you think rationally, but are you right? No, you are not! Let’s start from the beginning! During autumn the surrounding area of White Water Terraces is covered in bright colours of different flowers and leaves, and therefore the water cascading down the terraces creates white contrast in the middle of the mountain. The picturesque scenery is the result of continuous calcium carbonate deposition from the spring water of Haba Snow Mountain. If you look at that natural phenomenon from the foot of the mountain, you may not […]
The Gold Dust River Stone
The Stone of the Gold Dust River When you plan to spend your vacation in China, be conscious that some tourist attractions can be very far, up to a few hundred kilometres, from the place you will stay at. We sincerely recommend that your visit to China be precisely planned. If you think that you will get organized as you go… that will cost you money; more important, it will cost you your valuable time. China is the country where you always have to go forward, forward and only forward. That is the only way to fulfill what you have planned, and then you will have an opportunity to pay close attention to details which you will not find in any tourism brochures, books, and travel guides, printed or online. Another valuable thing: make sure that you read firsthand stories about different travel experiences from other tourists who have already visited the localities and tourist attractions that you have marked on your maps. Bring dried fruit, some nuts, and plenty of water. Layer your clothes to stay warm, and wear rain-resistant clothing and waterproof shoes. It is not that we make plans on your behalf, but the recommended things will […]
The Flower City
The Flower City A visit to Yunnan province starts and ends in one of the cities whose history can be traced 30,000 years back. The city was named by the Yuan dynasty, which reigned from 1271 to 1368, the time when Kunming became the political, economic, and cultural centre of Yunnan province.
The South Gate of China
[su_service title=”The South Gate of China” icon=”icon: thumb-tack” size=”16″][/su_service] When we mention any city or town in China, we often think of traditional buildings, temples, silk dresses and ornate parasols with different motives, but also its unavoidable Asian Cuisine. In essence – yes, that is just a fragment of China. Regardless of how well prepared you are for a trip to, or across China, you are going to be surprised how many new and unexpected things you are bound to discover. To put it simply, be curious when it comes to China. Guangzhou is the administrative centre of Guangdong province. When we mention the name of that city, you could say that there is nothing extraordinary about it and that it is just one of many places which we can, but not necessarily have to visit, when we speak about China. If someone mentions Guangzhou to you and if you do not know where it is and what it represents… then we suggest that you play dead in order to avoid any hassle that comes along with the subject matter. Of course, it is not necessary to go to extremes, but if the whole contemporary world recognizes that name, although […]
On the Wings of a Dragon
[su_service title=”On the Wings of a Dragon” icon=”icon: thumb-tack” size=”16″][/su_service] If your starting point and your final destination is in Europe, every trip can be an adventure. Usually our budget dictates what mode of transportation we use, but we will agree that there are other parameters which guide us when we talk about our vacation. We believe that most of us have similar experiences with bus, car, and train travel. When it comes to air travel – yes, not so many people use charter flights for summer vacations. Anyhow, when we take everything into consideration we become aware that certain destinations are simply not affordable, unless we travel by an airplane.
The View from a Wallet
[su_service title=”The View from a Wallet” icon=”icon: thumb-tack” size=”16″][/su_service] Can some people from Europe imagine that, instead of banks or licensed exchange offices, the money is exchanged on the street according to a different exchange rate? Fine… some people can imagine it. For example, that was the case in the former Yugoslavia in 1993., although there had been other examples prior to that, due to hyperinflation – Germany, Hungary, and Greece. However, the definite currency devaluation champion outside Europe has been Zimbabwe. China. Do not fool yourself with that information and do not abandon your plans for a visit to that country. On the other hand, do not stop thinking about the safety of your money and whether or not to watch your pockets at all times! Foreign currency exchange, foreign currency exchange, foreign currency exchange… upon arrival in China you will definitely not hear that kind of advertising, or at least it will not be done in such an indiscreet way.
Paths of NLF
Greeting and Introduction
Greeting and Introduction Hello to all people and fellow bikers, regardless of what type of motorcycle you ride. And hello to all the people who don’t drive motorcycles but love to hear and see something new. First of all, let me introduce myself… My name is Predrag Jelenić and I am a video producer who currently rides a 1991 Honda XRV-750RD04 known as Africa Twin. The idea for visiting memorial parks dedicated to the local people’s fight against the occupation during World War II has been on my mind for a long time, however I only recently got a chance to do it. Since I have been working in the media from 2001, I came up with the idea to turn this ride into a story in the form of a photo-reportage, which has nothing to do with any ideology nor politics, but rather a subjective experience on the road, reflecting the places I go through and visit.