Vienna Austria

Big
Originally uploaded by Arnold Pouteau's.

Yesterday I finally decided to leave Budapest for Vienna and wow. I must say that Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities I have visited. The old buildings and beautiful architecture are everywhere and it is so beautiful.

My main inspiration for visiting was to go to my Friend Rita (From Goa India) birthday party. However, I misread the email and I thought it was this weekend. Turns out to be next weekend!

So at the moment I am torn between spending an entire week here, or moving on. I will be seeing her again in a few weeks in Munich at Oktoberfest.

It is such a shame that I don't have my camera anymore, because I could easily burn through a 1 GB memory stick here in short order.

In other Ken news... My back feels damn close to 100% again, after hoofing my backpack around yesterday it was a tad sore, but when I woke up this morning it was right as rain. Thanks to all those who sent emails of concern and such during my last couple weeks, I appreciate it. Also to Dr. Eric, another blogger who really helped to inspire me to travel and who gave me medical advice via facebook LOL.

So my parents house is virtually sold. I think it changes hands on the 1st of September, so it will be weird when I eventually get home to visit and there wont be the home I am used to. Oh well now there is like three apartments in one building owned by the family.

I heard from Rita (the recent one I went to Romania with) and she is boogieing around in Bulgaria still. I am going to try and get in touch with a few Brothers that I met last year in Holland that were from Vienna and also with Kristian the Engineer I met in Moldova. I know I haven't been blogging a lot lately but quite frankly I was just laying around and going to bath houses. Not the most interesting stories.

Chisinau Moldova Information

Chisinau is the capitol city of Moldova and is actually a very beautiful little city. The downtown area of the city is quite small and walking from one end to the other takes no more than one hour, but the streets are all lined with beautiful trees and it has a really laid back atmosphere.
Most of the hotels are quite expensive but there are a few hostel options that are all run by the same family. The Central Youth Hostel is the hub for these other hostels and is generally considered to be the best hostel. It's actually a small flat with about seven beds crammed in to it. The older gentleman who watches the desk speaks about four words of English and you will more than likely be handed the telephone to talk to his daughter in English to work out the details. The hostel is located on 6 Pruncul which is about 5 minutes walk from Cathedral Park and Flower Market which puts everything in to easy walking distance. The rates at the hostel work out to about nine euro a night.

The city doesn't have a great deal to offer tourists, there is the monastery that is built in the hills about fourty-five minutes away and wine tours about twenty kilometers away. Both of the tours are extremely over-priced and I declined to go on them. The monastery can be reached via public transportation but involves a complex series of buses and minibuses.

The downtown area does have a couple art galleries and museums if you want a little Moldova culture before you leave. The Archaeological museum is quite interesting, but rather lacking in artifacts and you find yourself walking around quite quickly to the modern section which has telephones and cameras from the 1900s. The National Art Gallery of Moldova is very small and has a nice collection of religious art, but to be honest didn't really impress me much. With that said, both of these attractions only cost 15 Lei to enter or about 1 euro so it's not a big loss if you don't find yourself enjoying them.

On of the busiest hubs of the city is the central market, where minibuses converge and you can buy just about anything your heart desires. The market is surprisingly large considering the size of the city and the prices on most things are quite affordable. The food market portions of the central market are a great place to pickup fresh fruits and vegetables at next to nothing, but be prepared to buy at least a minimum of 0.5KG of each item. Wander around and get to know the prices before you approach one vendor, if you ask for the price, it'll be higher for a tourist. About half of the stalls have prices listed on them so use those as a general rule before you go to buy from other vendors.

The thing that makes Chisinau so attractive is the extremely friendly and helpful people who are always interested in chatting with you and finding out about where you are from and where you travelled.

Wireless Internet is almost unheard of here, but there are at least half a dozen "Internet Clubs" which charge about 6 Lei per hour (0,50 Euro / Hr). The connections aren't great for uploading pictures, but more than adequate for e-mails, facebook and the other common sites.

One must see restaurant in Chisinau is the Beer House Brewery & Restaurant. The prices are a little expensive, but the beer is really cold and damn good. There are four primary brews offered: BH Lager unfiltered, BH Dark Unfiltered, BH Extra Unfiltered and BH Lager filtered. All of them are about 36 Lei per half litre but it's a great place to relax and eat some great beer while swilling some of the best beer in town.

One of the most impressive things about the city is its modern and comfortable train station. There platforms are beautiful and clean, the service is quick and reasonably friendly and the waiting lounge upstairs in the station has fish aquariums and makes you feel like you are in some other part of the world. You can also store your luggage for 8 Lei a day and use an Internet cafe for 6 Lei at the train station.

If you are planning on heading to Bucharest after Moldova the train leaves daily a few minutes after 5PM. Class 3 is 380 Lei, Class 2 is about 645 Lei and arrives in Bucharest about 6AM the following morning.

Polish Phrases for Tourists

Flower Cafe
Originally uploaded by kden604.

Since I've been doing this for the past few countries, I've decided to make a little list of useful, stupid and just simply dumb phrases tourists can use in Poland. Honestly I just stole them off of a tourist map that was given to me and it just gives the phonetic way to speak the phrases for english speakers.

So here they are, some are stupid, I didn't write them or inquire about them so don't complain. =)

Polish Numbers

1 = Yeah-den
2 = D-V-ah
3 = Try'h
4 = Sty-riyh
5 = Py-inch
6 = Sh-eshet
7 = Sh-edum
8 = Osh-em
9 = D Vinch
10 = Desh-inch
69 = Shesht tish-unt D'vinch
100 = Stoh
1000 = Tish-Ontchs

Polish Phrases

Hi
Chess

Bread
H-leb

Cool
sh-vet-niah

Cheers
naz drov-ea!

Enjoy your meal
Smatch Neigh-go

Sorry I don't understand
Pshe, pra-sham Neagh Roz-uh-meem

My name is Ken, how do you do?
Mam-nah...emu-Ken, Yak let-she?

Thanks a lot
djen, koo-ye bard-zooh

You have the time?
Mash tch-ass?

Goodbye
Doh-veed-zen-yah

I don't care
Valley me NeaH toe

Large Vodka
Pull LitR Vod-key

Where is the station?
G'day yeah stat-seeyah

check please (to pay)
Ra-who-neck. Pro-Shem

More Interesting Polish Phrases

How about a kiss?
die me booshee

You have beautiful eyes
Mash Pink-neah otch-eh

Your place?
tvoy me-aye-s

Hello my dear
Vee-tie ko-han-yeah

I am your slave
Yestem tvoy-im Neah-Vol-neek-emm

This is a Polish thing, Right?
Tch to yes Pol-ski-yeah?

May I touch your ass?
Pro-Shem. Tsch-mog oun. Pog. Wad-itch tvoy Me-yen-key toh-veh-cheque?

Louna Hostel - Parnu, Estonia

Louna Hostel & Hotel
Originally uploaded by kden604.

Parnu currently offers two hostels near the city centre. Unfortunately one of them shouldn't be considered a hostel (in terms of price range) so I would say there is only one real option for the budget traveler.

That option is the one and only Louna Hostel which is located at the edge of the tourist town and the closest budget accommodation to the beach area which is roughly a 10 minute walk.

To get to the Louna Hostel from the Bus station you need to go to Ruuti Street which is the main tourist street and about 50 meters behind the bus station. From there you need to go through the tourist street which lasts about 5-6 blocks until you get to the end. There is a small park across the street with a monument to August Jakobson which will put you right in front of the entrance to the post office. From there look to your left and you will see the hostels blue sign on the second story balcony. From the bus stand to the hostel is no more than a 7-8 minute walk if you don't have to dodge too many tourists.

The hostel is actually a combination hotel and hostel, the dorm room costs 250 EKK and is a little bit drab, there are seven people per room, but they very clean and the staff is quite friendly. There is someone on duty 24 hours to open the door in the nights and breakfast is available at any hour in the morning as long as you tell them the night before. Breakfast is not included in the cost though.

There is wireless (wifi) internet on the first floor, but the dorm rooms still get a weak signal which is quite usable. There is a television on the second floor with a couch and the washrooms are shared in the hallway but are very well kept.

I definitely recommend this hostel over the other one, but that opinion is based simply on price, not on the actual quality or comparison of the two.

Happy Travels.

Welcome to Tartu Estonia

Man and Child
Originally uploaded by kden604.

I arrived yesterday in Tartu Estonia shortly after 1PM. Luckily my hostel was directly opposite the bus station and check-in went smoothly. Most people here are extremely friendly, smiley and it generally just has a nice atmosphere.

The city of Tartu is about 100,000 people, of which 20% of those are students. So as you can imagine there is a pretty decent night life, lots of bars and pubs and a great vibe going on.

Tartu is much cheaper than Tallin. For me one of the first things I do is check out the price of beer and it was around 25 to 30 EKK for a half litre, or about 2 euros. This is nearly 2 euro cheaper than almost any place in Tallinn!

There is quite a lot of things to see here in Tartu, but most of them won't take too long. If you were to take your time you could easily see everything with time to spare in two days. Honestly you could see most of it in one day, but who wants to rush around on vacation?

There seems to be some sort of Music Festival which started yesterday and runs for about a week. So this evening I'm headed over to check that out and tomorrow morning I'm on a bus to Parnu at 0745 HRS. The cost of a ticket on Eurolines from Tartu to Parnu is 120 Krooni or 7,67 Euros. Expected arrival time in Parnu, 1030 HRS.

I haven't booked a hotel a head of time and if I have a really good time tonight I'm going to consider skipping the bus and just spending one more day here, or taking a later bus. Only time will tell.

I did some checking online and there doesn't seem to be too much cheap accommodation in Parnu. I found a couple of bed and breakfast type places that say they are hostels but their prices certainly aren't. I found one place with hostel prices and I e-mailed them about a reservation or just to see if they have rooms available, still no response.

How about this statue picture? The sculptor made it of himself and his son. I think it's really cute.

Vaals, Netherlands - Countries Come Together

Vaals, Holland
Originally uploaded by kden604.

Vaals in an interesting little tourist attraction where the three countries of Germany, The Netherlands, and Belgium come together. There is a park, things for the children to do, some nice cafes and of course the silly pictures.

Just a hundred metres away from this pillar is the very top of Vaals Mount, or Vaalserberg. The highest point in all of Holland at a whopping 322.7 metres or 1059 feet above sea level.

There is a large viewing tower you can pay to get a picturesque view of the outlying area and appreciate the natural beauty of the area.

Galle Fort: Southern Sri Lanka

Fort Siri
Originally uploaded by kden604.

Galle Fort is is a magnificent tourist destination if you find yourself enjoying the southern beaches of Sri Lanka. A mere 130 km south of Colombo and within 20-30km of most major tourist beaches, it makes an excellent day trip.

Galle Fort was originally built by the Portuguese however it was soon modified by the Dutch in the 17th century. The fort is now over 400 years old and full of colonial architecture and beauty. As you walk around inside the fort you notice a distinct style and class, with high end hotels and villas. Much of the fort is still owned by Dutch families who use it as investment or vacation properties, finding homes for long term rental or several week vacations should be no problem here and signs are often posted in the windows.

This area is certainly more posh that the rest of the city of Galle located about 5 minutes walk once you exit the fort walls. Major shopping facilities, buses, and cheaper restaurants are found in the city of Galle, whereas within the walls it's geared to tourists and westerners with higher budgets.

Inside the fort walls there are several museums to see, such as the maritime museum. But most people just enjoy the walk along the fort walls enjoying the view of the city and the ocean. I would estimate it would take 1 to 1.5 hours to walk around the fort walls and I would suggest that you try to do it in the morning or afternoon. The Sri Lankan heat can really be overbearing and you need to make sure to bring a long a bottle or two of water.

Once you have had your fill of staring at miles of clear blue ocean and sky as far as the eye can see it should be time to head in to town for some posh restaurants or a little bit of culture. There is some magnificently built churches in the centre of the Galle fort which I highly suggest taking a look at.

Though the fort itself faired very well against the 26 December 2004 tsunami that raged against much of the Sri Lanka southern coastal towns. As you tour the city and the resorts in the area you can't help but notice many vacant lots where hotels, homes and businesses once stood.

One things I found quite cute about the Galle Fort is that it is quite the dating location for young Sri Lankan couples. As you walk along the fort walls you will find couples kissing and picnicking in every little secluded nook and cranny of the fort that has a view. I would have to agree this walk along the wall can make a wonderful romantic outing.

Finally, another great thing about visiting the Galle Fort is it is entirely free. There is no admission costs because it is essentially an extension of the town of Galle itself. So enjoy the scenery and take in the experience.

Happy Travels!

Herrenhausen Gardens Tour - Hannover Germany

Herrenhausen garden
Originally uploaded by kden604.

Herrenhausen Gardens in Hannover Germany are quite possibly the most beautiful gardens that I've had the opportunity to see. The garden is actually composed of four gardens: Great Garden, Berggarten, Georgengarten and the Welfengarten. With the addition interesting and rather bizarre treat of the Niki de Saint Phalle Grotto.

The ticket cost is a reasonable 4 Euros which considering the high quality of this garden shouldn't break anyones bank too hard. If you visit Germany on a regular basis, or live in the Hannover region you might want to consider buying the year long pass which offers a really great deal for repeat visitors.

The first thing that strikes you as you enter the garden compound is the amazingly beautiful fountains spraying up in the middle of an extremely well manicured garden. But as you let your eyes drift further, there is yet another, much larger one. It turns out there is more than a few fountains in this garden compound, each one with their unique qualities and beauty.

Weather you are a nature watcher or as intrigued as I am to sit and watch a beautiful white swan and it's baby, you won't be disappointed at Herrenhausen Gardens. There is a large culvert that goes around much of the perimeter of the gardens which is teaming with water foul. Additionally, you will see many squirrels and various other small birds within the gardens themselves.

Sometimes you just need a place so relax and concentrate. Thinking about how to save the world, your budget, or afford to take that hottie from the ticket booth out to dinner. You'll certainly find ample quiet areas to contemplate your thoughts in peace and harmony.

After contemplating the words troubles why not take off your shoes and walk barefoot down the manicured lawns and enjoy the scenery. Everywhere you look is lined with trees and offers you something special at every corner.

Some people always have that need for companionship while there out. No worries, you can talk to some of the most famous men in history. Though at times they might be a little untalkative. To be honest I can't really blame them, sadly quite a few of the statues have been defaced and painted and it's really a shame that people disrespect such beautiful art and buildings.

After you are tired of all the fresh air and need a little change of scenery, head back towards the entrance to the Gerrenhausen gardens and just near the entrance there is extremely interesting and somewhat bizarre artistic works of Niki de Saint Phalle in the "grotto". It's a colorful and reflective work of art with blue elephants and giant pink heads. Everywhere you look will leave you wondering what you are looking at.

But at the end of the day, for me anyway, checking out gardens and grottos only takes me so far. Sometimes you just have to pose for a stupid picture touching the gigantic stone nipples of a statue.

Sorry Herrenhausen Garden staff, I just couldn't help myself.

Palolem Beach, Goa, India

Goa. Palolem.
Originally uploaded by Masha Dubrovskaya.

Palolem beach is by far one of the most magical beaches in India and certainly the finest in Goa. Several kilometers of beautiful soft sand beaches lined with coco-huts, palm trees and beautiful women. If there is a closer place to Heaven in India, I haven't found it yet.

I liked to start my mornings by getting up around 7AM then throwing on a swim suit and heading for a nice relaxing swim in the ocean. You will see a few early morning types, enthusiastic joggers and people practicing yoga on the beach. But for the most part Goa doesn't really wake up until 8:30am.

There is a lot of different kinds of sleeping arrangements in Palolem, but if you have travelled all the way to India you might as well set yourself right on the beach. Or at least within a few meters of it. For between 250-600 rupees a day you can find yourself in a nice little coco-hut. They really range in quality, but the average ones come with a rudimentary washroom, a double bed and for goodness sake make sure there is a mosquito netting over it.

After finding some cheap places to sleep the next thing on your agenda should be to have some great food. While your waiting for your food, why not take the some to enjoy covering a dog in sand, Why? Why not?

The beach is lined with restaurants and seafood is always fresh. If you aren't really in to experiencing the local foods then Palolem offers a really large selection of foods to suit the western palette. One word of advice for those with food allergies, nuts and seafood touch nearly everything in a kitchen and it's a constant concern when you are eating out. Make sure you let the staff know that you can't eat certain foods or you might regret it!

A walk down the beach is always a great way to burn off all that energy from drinking beer and laying around in the sun. There are more than a few people trying to sell you things as you walk and it's a bit annoying. Be warned there is quite a few beggars and scam artists but for the most part it is quite safe. Watch out for the "ear cleaning men" they are well renowned pick-pockets, not just in Palolem but around India.

Palolem is a great place to just relax and chill. Most people, including myself, plan on staying a few days or a week, but miraculously end up spending 2-3 weeks or more enjoying the scenery.

If you get tired of laying on the beach and swimming then I would suggest heading down south to the next couple of beaches, North and South Pantem. It's another beautifully long beach with a more quiet charm of it's own. The South Pantem beach (two beaches south) takes about 25 minutes to get to but has some really wonderful waves which are amazing for body surfing or boogy boarding. Unfortunately there is an expensive hotel who monopolizes this beach and you need to bring your own food and drink, or risk paying outrageous (near western) prices!

If body surfing isn't your thing, dolphin and finish tours can be quite affordable. You really need to bargain with the boat owners because they will take you for all your worth if you let them. If you are a group of 4, don't pay more than 200 rupees each. If you try hard you should be able to pay 100 per person. Some owners give you a boat rate which you can divide by as many people as you like, or a per person rate.

After a day of fun and excitement in the sun, why not relax and watch the cows enjoying the sunset. The cows are very interesting in Goa, quite often I've gotten up very early and just before or during sunrise they walk down to the beach from "somewhere." Then ritualisticly just after sunset they reverse their procession and head back away from the beach. I was often tempted to follow them, but I am easily distracted by beer and women.

Once you have had a bit of an early evening siesta, it's time to wake up, have some dinner and about 10-11 PM head down to one of the many bars and clubs. At the far south of Palolem beach there is a rock bluff which houses the Dancing Shiva club, a wonderful party will break out several times a week. Normally someone will pass around flyer's on the beach if something is going on.

For the average night though, Cuba's has a really great feel, lots of people and friendly staff. You can smoke some Sheesha (water pipes) and drink some cold ones.

One criticism of Palolem is that there is music laws. The loud music stops at 1AM. The Dancing Shiva really cools down in a hurry and most people decide to migrate to a pub or restaurants with quieter music but they keep going to 3-5AM.

Palolem is a pretty safe place, I can't recall any stories of people getting robbed or things stolen. If someone is going to take your money in Palolem, it's because you have agreed to a ridiculous price. There is a shady side of Goa too, you can get drugs galore, especially hash., if that is your thing, it's not hard to find and reasonably priced.

More and more Palolem is turning in to a family destination, with higher end accommodations and beach huts that are more acceptable to families with small children. Sadly this increase in quality reduces the cheap accommodations and the backpacker and budget crowed get pushed away to newer, cheaper locations. As the world grows these locations are becoming less and less and the all mighty dollar is taking it's toll on once affordable hot spots.

My advice is not too wait to see the world. Get out there and travel, experience things today in an eco-friendly way, because it just may not be there next year.

Buying Train Tickets in India

Train Guy
Originally uploaded by kden604.

There are multiple ways to buy train tickets in India, some easier than others. There is one rule to remember in India, if you are willing to spend money, someone else will do it for you.

Options for buying tickets:

1. Buy it at the train station
2. Tourist ticket office (at the train station)
3. Buy it from a broker
4. Pay "someone" from your hotel
5. Last minute tickets

Buy it at the train station

If you have ever been to Victoria Station (CST) in Bombay, or one of the large Indian train stations it's more than a bit overwhelming. Odds are you will never see so many people in a single place ever again. Right in the thick of it is the ticket booth, fill out the white slip of paper and wait... and wait... and wait...

At smaller stations this process isn't too bad, but the bigger the city, the bigger the headache.

Tourist ticket office (at the train station)

The great thing about larger cities in India is the fact that their train stations have Tourist Ticket Offices. This method of buying tickets is reserved for Tourists and non-resident Indians. It's clean, it's quick, there are nice chairs, English speaking staff and very little hassle.

There are however a couple things you might need. They will ask for your passport, and they also say that you should provide bank slips for currency if you are paying in Indian Rupees. I've never been asked for the slips myself, but it might be a good idea to save one or two just in case.

Buy it from a broker

Just outside of almost every train station in India you will find about 20 or more travel agents and ticket bookers. If it is really busy at the train station and you can wait a day or two to receive your ticket then these can be a really great option. For 50-100 Indian Rupee surcharge they will go and buy the ticket for you. It saves you the headache of standing in lines and wasting hours of your day.


Pay "someone" from your hotel

Quite often hotels will offer to sell you tickets at inflated prices. You'll see the real cost when they give you the ticket, it's printed in the lower right corner. Normally they just buy it from a ticket broker but add their surcharge on top of the brokers. Alternatively if you find a person working at the hotel who you trust you might be able to pay them individually to go stand in line for you. But then you risk them running off with the ticket money and whatever tip you offered them.


Last minute tickets

If you are a lazy ass like myself, or just decided to change your plans at the last moment, then you might find yourself in the last minute ticket line. Normally in all but ticket class trains you need to buy your ticket well in advance. Most ticket offices stop selling tickets about 3-5 hours prior to the trains expected arrival time. However 1 hour prior to the trains arrival they have the last minute ticket counter which you "might" get lucky and score a ticket. Normally you will be stuck buying a more expensive class because the cheaper ones are sold out. Shatabdi Express tickets are generally quite easy to get at the last minute counter, but better planning is a better option! :)

Getting a seat in Sri Lanka

Crazy Train Guy
Originally uploaded by kden604.

Train travel in Sri Lanka is very effective. Not only the long haul trains, but the short trains from town to town. They can get very busy but generally they are "reasonably" clean.

I have two pieces of advice for riding trains in Sri Lanka. The first is to buy a first class (chair car) ticket. The cost is really dirt cheap. I had a 4+ hour ride for under $2 USD. Yes I could have saved $0.50 but I prefer to have a little bit more person space.

Now getting a seat is a special topic. Sri Lankan trains are very busy. It doesn't matter if it is a local train or if it is a long haul train. When you purchase your ticket they do NOT reserve seats for you. From what I gather you cannot reserve tickets or at least I was never able to explain what I wanted.

The key to getting at seat on a train in Sri Lanka is to wait at the platform and the moment is slows down enough to jump on... Get on and run at full speed to a seat and lay claim to it or multiple (for your friends). This is MUCH easier to executed by a team of two or more people.

Trying this with a large backpack can be difficult as it often gets caught or slows you down at doorways. Have one person play defense at the train door to slow people from entering and then have a person with NO-BAGGAGE do the mad seat dash. I would estimate that if you don't procure a seat within 20 seconds you are totally out of luck.

Even the good compartments will be quite full of people. As you can see from this picture there is people sitting out all the doors. This is partly from over-crowding and partly due to the amazing summer heat.

Food and Drink is available on the trains from people walking up and down the train selling stuff. The price is quite reasonable.

Egyptian Train Quick Tips

Wheres the Train!
Originally uploaded by kden604.

Train travel in Egypt can be a special experience. First I will make a short list of suggestions, then I will explain them.

1. Wear Shoes (not sandles/slip-ons)
2. Bring bathroom stuff
3. Lock-up your bag
4. Buy tickets in advance
5. Splurge on your ticket
6. Meals on wheels
7. Trains running on time
8. Tourist trains

Wear Shoes (not sandles/slip-ons)

If you are going on a train for more than 1 hour I would highly suggest that you were actual shoes and not sandles or slip-ons. There are two reasons. One, the less important of the two is you might get your feet stepped on in the crowds. The second and far more important reason is that bathrooms on Egyptian trains are often disgusting and trust me, you don't need someones fecal matter and urine on your feet.

Bring bathroom stuff

Expect to be squatting while in the train and unless you are skilled at the art of squatting on the move you are going to have to touch that disgusting stabilizing bar. Yes, everyone who has ever shat there has done the same. There is generally a chained up water bucket to wash off your behind and there probably won't be soap. Carry soap, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer.

Lock-up your bag

If you are planning on snoozing, resting your eyes, or going to the washroom make sure your bag is locked up. Buying a chain and securing it to the overhead bars is a good method. This is especially important if you are on an overnight train. You don't need people stealing your goods. Don't trust other backpackers implicitly either.

Buy tickets in advance

There are several ways to buy tickets in Egypt. You can go to a travel agent and pay too much, or you can go to the train station and go to the lines and buy your tickets. In Egypt they normally have a line for tourists to buy their tickets, but guides also buy their tickets there and you will find people very pushy. They will walk in front of you and you really need to aggressively push them out of the way or you will never make any forward progress in line. Normally you can buy tickets one or two days in advance without any problem, but holidays and tourist high-season can often lead to full trains. As soon as you know when you want to go somewhere, I suggest you buy your tickets right away.

Splurge on your ticket

Being a budget traveler means saving money. I know that it seems like a great idea to save that extra 3-4 dollars and travel second class, but let me tell you... There is a MAJOR difference between first and second class. If you are traveling for over an hour or two just spend the extra few dollars and you will be a much happier person for it.

Meals on wheels

If you are on long haul trains and you haven't brought food with you (why not?) then you are about to be ripped off. My "average" meal in Egypt would be about 1-2 dollars for a good meal. On the train if you get breakfast with coffee or tea in pre-made plastic container you will be looking at about 5-7 dollars.

Trains running on time

Most of my time waiting at trains stations was caused only because I am always early and over-estimate the time it will take me to arrive at places. Trains in Egypt normally run "on-time" that is to say that they start or arrive within about 15 minutes of their scheduled time. Only once did I have to wait 3.5 hours for a very late train.

Tourist trains

One frustrating things about Egypt is the fact that tourists are only allowed to travel on certain trains, certain buses, and are generally assigned to sit near each other or in the same cabin. I inquired about this at they said it was for security reasons, additional guards are placed on the trains and they take the protection of tourists very seriously as much of the Egyptian economy relies on tourism.

It is possible to buy tickets from neglectful clerks at the ticket counter, but normal trains and buses get searched at security check-points and not only slower but you will be pulled off the train and asked many questions about why you aren't on a "tourist" vehicle. You will probably have several armed guards questioning you.

Adventure Bratislava Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia
Originally uploaded by kden604.

I arrived quite tired at the bus station in Bratislava Slovakia. As with most times I travel without a map, or I rip a crappy one out of a travel magazine. It was before noon when I arrived and the bus station was quite busy.

The money exchanger on the bottom floor of the bus terminal was closed for a break or lunch and I had to spend about 30 minutes waiting for them to return.

I walked out the front door of the bus station and had no idea which way I should be heading. I hate that first moment when you arrive in a new city and you are totally clueless. I walked across the street to the bus stop because it had a large map of the bus routes and I hoped it would shed some light on my location.

Really it just confused me more. I asked a 70 year old woman for help but she didn't speak a word of english but she did smile a lot. She recruited a younger gentleman to help me, but he didn't understand what I was talking about either. Oh well.

I decided to take a chance and walk down a street. For the record, should you ever find yourself walking out the main entrance of the Bratislava Bus Terminal, you want to turn left and look at that busy street. Walk to the street and turn right. Keep going for a while and you'll get to "down town."

Bratislava is quite a charming city and almost anyone under the age of 25 speaks reasonably good english. I had a bit of a bad feeling when I arrived in the country, I saw a guy running down the street chased by a shop keeper. I guess he ran out on a bill at a restaurant, a guy standing next to me on the sidewalk tapped me on the shoulder and said, "You know I've lived here all my life and I've never seen that before."

He seemed quite ashamed and wanted to make sure that I didn't get a bad impression of his city. He was on his way to an appointment downtown and was kind enough to go a few blocks out of his way to take me right to the tourism office. How great is that?

One thing I quite enjoyed about Bratislava is all the statues they have in the "old downtown" area. There is statues of people hiding around corners with their camera looking at you, statues leaning on park benches and realistic statues doing everyday things. There is also this really great laser beam that shoots over your head, goes around corners, and it just really neat to stare at after a few beers in the evenings.

One thing that you shouldn't be too disappointed at in Bratislava is the night scene. There are some great bars and nightclubs but and are at neat locations like an old submarine base. The party stops well after sunrise and stating there is an abundance of alcohol would be a drastic understatement.

For the day time tourist activities I found it a bit dull. My day normally started with breakfast and coffee at a local cafe, followed by a hike up to the Castle on the hill. After I got tired from walking up hills stairs it was to look around the Presidents Palace, shopping or heading across the river to where "real" people live.

I didn't check out most of the country, but I heard from other travelers that getting in to the mountains and smaller cities is really beautiful. There is several UNESCO world heritage sites worth checking out!

Adventure Sarajevo

Sarajevo, Bosnia
Originally uploaded by kden604.

Sarajevo was a really great city to visit, the low-season slump that many tourist destinations didn't bother me one bit. I was there in the middle of November and though the mornings were chilly the afternoons were quite warm. There certainly wasn't any shortage of coffee shops to sit down and warm up in too!

One of the best things you can drink in Sarajevo is Turkish Coffee. I don't know what makes it so good, but a Bosnian Turkish Coffee is a hundred times better than a Turkish coffee made in Turkey or any other country. Give it a try!

Sarajevo is still a city working slowly to fix up the scars of recent wars. Everywhere you look there is bullet riddled buildings, graves, bridges and pock-marked sidewalks where grenades have exploded. Despite the still fresh scars of war most people will tell you they still love Sarajevo and get along with all the other religious groups.

On the most wonderful days I spent in Sarajevo was walking up in the hills around the city. Old fortifications and bombed out homes looking down on the city is where the Serbs surrounded the city. If you decide to go hiking in the hills, stick to main paths and watch out of landmine warning signs. The Canadian Government website still warns of landmine hazards in remote areas around the city.

Sarajevo is an amazing city with passionate people who really love to meet the tourists. Every single night we were invited to drink beer with various people and though the language barrier was sometimes a problem it was still good for a laugh.

There are a few movie theatres near the main tourist area which often play Western Movies. Generally the are dubbed over or they have subtitles. I recall watching Borat at laughing my ass off, but it's amusing how things I found funny didn't illicit a response from the locals.

Did I mention that I scored VIP tickets to a Fashion Week? It was an amazing experience and the VIP after party at Incognito night club with 100+ beautiful models didn't hurt either!

Places I've Visited

Neat Places I've been that lots of people haven't:

1. Northern Greenland
2. Northern tip of Ellesmere Island (North Pole)

Countries I've visited:

1. Canada (Citizen)
2. America
3. Costa Rica
4. Greenland
5. France
6. Belgium
7. Holland
8. Germany
9. Denmark
10. Czech Republic
11. Slovakia
12. Hungary
13. Serbia
14. Bosnia
15. Croatia
16. Montenegro
17. Albania
18. Greece
19. Turkey
20. Egypt
21. India
22. Sri Lanka
23. Thailand
24. Switzerland
25. Estonia
26. Latvia
27. Lithuania
    
28. Poland
29. Ukraine
30. Moldova
31. Romania
32. Austria
33. Italy
34. Portugal
35. Spain
36. England
    

Places I've spent more than one day in and in the order I traveled to them:
(On World Trip 2006/2007)

1. Toronto, Canada
2. Paris, France
3. Brusells, Belgium
4. Ghent, Belgium
5. Antwerp, Belgium
6. Amsterdam, Holland
7. Berlicum, Holland
8. Maastricht, Holland
9. Heerlen, Holland
10. Hannover, Germany
11. Lubeck, Germany
12. Copenhagen, Denmark
13. Hamburg, Germany
14. Berlin, Germany
15. Prague, Czech Republic
16. Bratislava, Slovakia
17. Budapest, Hungary
18. Belgrade, Serbia
19. Sarajevo, Bosnia
20. Mostar, Bosnia
21. Ulcinj, Montenegro
22. Tirana, Albania
23. Durres, Albania
24. Vlora, Albania
25. Saradana, Albania
26. Corfu, Greece
27. Athens, Greece
28. Delphi, Greece
29. Thessaloniki, Greece
30. Istanbul, Turkey
31. Ankara, Turkey
32. Cappadocia, Turkey
33. Konya, Turkey
34. Denizeli, Turkey (Hierapolis)
35. Selcuk, Turkey (Ephesus)
36. Canakkale, Turkey (Troy/Truva)
37. Istanbul, Turkey (2nd Visit)
38. Cairo, Egypt
39. Luxor, Egypt
40. Aswan, Egypt
41. Abu Simbel, Egypt (Ok, I didn't spend the night)
42. Suez, Egypt
43. Nuweiba, Egypt
44. New Delhi, India
45. Agra, India
46. Jaipur, India
47. Khajuraho, India
48. Jhansi, India
49. Sanchi, India
50. Bhopal, India
51. Mumbai (Bombay), India
52. Calangute, India
53. Anjuna, India
54. Palolem, India
55. Negombo, Sri Lanka
56. Kandy, Sri Lanka
57. Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka
58. Negombo, Sri Lanka (2nd Visit)
59. Bangkok, Thailand
60. Vechta, Germany (between Osnabruck & Bremen)
    
61. Maastricht, Holland (2nd Visit)
    
62. Maasmechelen, Belgium
63. Luzern (Lucerne), Switzerland
64. Munich, Germany
    
65. Hamburg, Germany (2nd Visit)
66. Tallinn, Estonia
67. Tartu, Estonia
68. Parnu, Estonia
69. Riga, Latvia
    
70. Vilnius, Lithuania
71. Krakow, Poland
72. Warsaw, Poland
73. Kiev, Ukraine
74. Odessa, Ukraine
    
75. Chisinau, Moldova
76. Bucharest, Romania
77. Constanta, Romania
78. Suceava, Romania
79. Heviz, Hungary
80. Budapest, Hungary
81. Vienna, Austria
82. Venice, Italy
83. Milan, Italy
84. Lisbon, Portugal
85. Madrid, Spain
86. Cologne, Germany
87. Maastricht, Holland
88. Munich, Germany
89. Hanover, Germany
90. Vancouver, Canada
91. Frankfurt, Germany
92. London, England
    

Adventure India

India is land of mystery and confusion. It's technologically advanced in some places and primitive in other places. Massive poverty, heavy pollution, lots of cows, parades, weddings, parties and crowded trains and buses.

I would say that if you have never been to somewhere "really" busy and about as far away as you could possibly be from "Western Culture" India would take some getting used to. People will try to scam you all the time, but at least they do it with a smile.

Luckily I had quite a ramp up period before coming to India. Eastern Europe, Turkey, Egypt then India made the transition in to the new hectic India very easy. The only thing that I thought was odd was the cows, but soon they just blend in to the chaos too. I hope you don't mind cockroaches and little lizards :)

• Bhimbetka Rock Shelters near Bhopal India
  
• Palolem Beach Dreams in Goa
  
• Seat classes on Indian trains
  
• Buying train tickets in India
  
• Big Waves in Pantem, South of Palolem
  
• Still in Palolem
  
• Goa Bus Adventures - Anjuna to Palolem
  
• "Hippies Cut Our Power!"
  
• Who wants to Bribe a Cop today?
  
• Anjuna Beaches
  
• Calangute to Anjuna
  
• Enter GOA
  
• Water Buffalo Steaks
  
• Food Woman and Trains
  
• Food and Art
  
• Be a Bollywood Star
  
• Elephanta Island
  
• Mumbai - Salvation Army Hostel
  
• Job Ads in India
  
• Bhimbetka Rock Shelters
  
• Thanks Bro Bora!
  
• Cheap Hotel Checklist!
  
• Return to Bhopal
  
• Colossally Fu**ing Dumb
  
• New Foods With the Bros
  
• Welcome to Bhopal, Thanks Brethren!
  
• Happy Birthday Mom, Let's Talk about Shit
  
• I'm a little bit Sanchi Today
  
• Jhansi and Sanchi - A little scooter, big bag.
  
• Khajuraho Viewin'
  
• Eww Bus to Khajuraho
  
• The Jerry Garcia Monkey
  
• Agra and Jaipur
  
• Taj Mahal Rain
  
• Bro Sunil and Freemason Gathering
  
• Presidents House in Delhi
  
• Sight-seeing in Delhi
  
• Red Fort in New Delhi
  
• No Agra, Just Aggravation
  
• Cows, Yeah, Just a few!
  
• More More Give me More (Samosa)
  
• Safe in India

Adventure Egypt

Egypt was a trip to the senses. I but once you get over the massive traffic and how to cross a street it's pretty tame. Travel is dirt cheap and it's easy to have a good time. There is so much to see historically, so many beaches to drink on and many interesting people to meet.

• Egyptian Train Tips
  
• Chow Egypt, It's been Fun
  
• Cemetery Adventures in Coptic Cairo
  
• Daniel and I are Muslim?
  
• New Cairo Mall
  
• Bedouins and Camel Riding
  
• Yep, I'm a beach bum
  
• Soft Sand Camp
  
• Child All Alone
  
• Drunk on a rooftop with a 30 hour bus ride
  
• I'm in Aswan!
  
• Luxor Temple
  
• Luxor Museum and Karnak Temple
  
• Luxor Internet Cafes
  
• Luxor hotel finding annoyances
  
• From Cairo to Luxor
  
• Cairo City of the Dead
  
• Cairo Modern Art Gallery
  
• Egyptian Museum and Mummies
  
• Camel Riding in Giza
  
• Learning Arabic
  
• I bought a plane ticket to India
  
• Hey, I'm in Africa!
  
• From Istanbul to Cairo
  

Adventure Turkey

Turkey was an amazing adventure, but not at all what I had expected. I guess when I was growing up I had this mystical middle eastern imagine of a primitive country, arid and lots of camels, tents and carpets. The truth is Istanbul is one of the most thriving cities I've had the pleasure of visiting, of course the fact it was the first fast Internet I had made it a real joy for me.

I love that Turks eat lots of meat. I love the friendly people (except the carpet dealers) and famous Turkish hospitality. Getting the hell beaten out of me like WWF in a Turkish bathhouse has an interesting experience too.

• Sleeper train from Greece to Turkey
• From Istanbul to Ankara Overnight
  
• From Istanbul to Cairo
  
• Goodbye You Turkey!
  
• Post Office Woes
  
• Bosphorus Ferry Trip
  
• A Day of Cats
  
• Raki Night
  
• Sunsets and Drugs
  
• Back in Istanbul
  
• Troy (Truva)
  
• Canakkale Hotels
  
• Islamic Call to Prayer - Translated!
  
• Efes - Ephesus
  
• The First cold Shower of the Year
  
• Happy New Years
  
• Hot Springs!
  
• Hierapolis Site
  
• Ding, Dong, the witch is dead... err Sadam
  
• Wow, It's Cold.
  
• The Whirling Dervishes
  
• Hello Konya
  
• Goreme Village
  
• Goreme Open Air Museum
  
• Christmas in a Cave
  
• Here I go to Cappadocia
  
• Turkish Sayings in English
  
• Ankara Kizilay Area
  
• Ankara Internet
  
• Hello Ankara
  
• I'm in Asia!
  
• Goodbye Istanbul
  
• Ankara Tomorrow, Pizza Today
  
• The Grand Bazaar
  
• Turkish Bathhouse WWF
  
• The Golden Horn
  
• Cheap Istanbul
  
• Blue Mosque
  
• Welcome to Istanbul - Wicked Life