Hong Kong: nothing of what I expected

HKG is the city I heard a lot before coming, so I had some expectations based on it, which actually didn't came true. HKG did not amazed me with it architecture  and city-mood. All standard touristic places also made no "wow"-effect on me. But! there were other things I was happy to experience. 

Megapolis. That was the first city made me tired of its size in combination with lack of space. With all consequences: Busy people, all the time in a hurry. Crazy sell-buy- make more money culture. Like line to Channel branded shop :) In parks only tourists and pensionaries. There rest are making money or shipping. 

Lack of free space has the highest level of slim and extremely high buildings, tiny room 3x4 room with bad, bathroom and toilet. Living in it for 5 days made me crazy.

Meditation parks. The most beautiful small park I've seen. Music, waterfall, bansay trees - the moment I realized real Chinese parking culture, which smoothly were developed on Japan later. 

"no British culture". The first time when stereotypes were not confined at all. Hong Kong is not an British city at a lot. Those tiny reminders you can find - looks strange in Chinese surrounding.  was the first city made me tired of its size in combination with lack of space. With all consequences: Busy people, all the time in a hurry. Crazy sell-buy- make more money culture. Like line to Channel branded shop :) In parks only tourists and pensionaries. There rest are making money or shopping. 

tips for tourists: 

* place to leave: nearest to tsi sha tsu is suitable place, but be ready for lack of space in you room

* local and Asia food in food courts is not expensive (average lunch/dinner for two of us was up to 70, except for few places like restraunts

* 2-3 full days is more than enough to visit main attractions

* better to come on weekdays, as on weekends this area is full of citizens and tourists

* don't believe strange monks near 10000 Buddhas temple - they are bagging money and fraud by giving gift and asking for money 

Singapore: the city of tomorrow

Singapore can fantastically amaze you or completely disappoint. But it will never leave with "so-so" feelings. Personally I was surprisingly for myself charmed by this city. From first sight, it can give an impression of the city without any history or spirit, or special mood build by the centures. But it is not quite so. The only truth is that Singapore is young city. And if europian cities already have strong spirit, history behind and "stereotypes", Singapore is in the process of creating it's own, like Rome in times of Roman Empire, like Paris during French revoultions.

And Singapore has already its specific character, like futuristic city it's modern but made for people, clean though crowded, green and full of skyscrapes.

Intercultutal. It's easy to see MIX of east and west on every corner. And usualy it is reflected in the better light, interculture mix of "best" from different civilizations.

 

Green and Clean. Pretty sure that you wont be afraid of sanitary, it seems line there even pedestrian roads are washed with shampoo. Every corner is clean and repaired. Even there are a lot of building, you'll be surprised how many green spots around.

Made for people. Comfort is priority - that was my impression regarding any construction in Singapore.

 

Sportive. A lot of people running on the riverside in the evening up to 10 pm.

 

Chilling-out. Even in weekday evenings almost all restraunts are full of office-people.

 

Tips for travellers:

* food is cheap in cultural districts, but check if there is no touristic tax, than it will be even much cheaper;  

* sentosa is recommender: there we've found real paradise for two - lonely beach and palms... but there are also many crowded beaches with lots of entertainments and family places
* little India is great experience for staying at hostel in this district, Indian mood in Singapore style - colorful but modest, safe and neat.
 

Bangkok ancient and modern

Bangkok is truly exotic place for "Western" tourists. This exotic explains or even excuses Europeans' and Americans' attitude there - a will to try new, wild and forbidden. During our stay there for 6 days I made some notes and observation to share.

Proud of wearing uniform. Maybe this is only personal opinion, still comparing with our "uniform-wearers" I noted much more respect demonstrated by thai people in uniform towards the fact they are wearing it. I saw drivers and conductors of public transport, security and state servants.  Clothes are more accurate and clean. I may suppose that reason is persons proud of getting higher in job classes, opportunity to work in better conditions comparing to selling outside food under the hot sun. 

Tourists madness. On the second day of our staying in Bangkok IT began - thai new year celebration. According to the local traditions it is common to wash Buddhas statues, wear flowers, celebrate with family and water people passing by. That is true, local people are doing this - they can sluice you with the whole bucket of cold water - but at least with good wishes and smiles and the most important - making caution about their actions. BUT tourists are really going to far - water guns with freezing water just in you eyes with bad jokes and impolite at all. That is one of the example how tourists are getting crazy here, unfortunately; coz it is very bright and colorful country with beautiful places to see, except for only bars and pubs and sex tourism. Any way this city  worth to be visited at least once. 

Local cuisine. I'm not a fan of spicy food, even on the contrary - usually I'm against any kind of pepper. But for my huge surprise I liked Thai food a lot. Keeping simple rules of personal sanitarity it is fine to eat on the street - I do even recommend to do so, otherwise you won't be able to try fully the taste of thai dishes.

Work as craft. People are making any their job a real art and craft. Even street food seller makes show out of simple sausages backing, putting into the package and adding sous. his gestures and moves look like an illusionist in circus makes performance.

Health and sport. In central park in late evening (from 9 to 10 p.m.) on each corner we found big groups of people doing various types of sport activities. Plus people running, using public fitness machines. 

BKK tourist's tips:

* it is rational to book hostels in two different districts (historical and business) to explore both parts deeply

* food out on the street is tasty and cheap - don't be afraid to eat it

* you can share one plate for two

ASIA TRIP. Beginning

Совсем скоро начнется долгожданное и долгопланированное путешествие в Азию по маршруту 11.04 Бангкок - 15.04 Сингапур - 19.04 Гонконг - 24.04 Бангкок.

Частые передвижения и сам по себе характер поездки обусловили необходимость принять challenge #1 - никакого багажа - только рюкзак, до сиз пор не понимаю как там осталось еще место, при этом я понимала, что в доге прийдется провести 18 дней.

Выбор дат не был ключевым фактором при планировании поездки. Именно из-за этого мы неожиданно получили сюрприз - оказалось что в дни пребывания в Бангкоке мы попадаем на таиландский Новый год. Challenge #2 - адекватно реагировать и воспринимать местных жителей желающий обливать всех водой и мазать тальком и enjoy it.

Самое главное уже сделано - маршрут обозначен, рюкзак собран, хорошее настроение с собой!

Подробный отчет об изучении Бангкока - в течении нескольких дней!

3 cities made me think, reinforce and inspired

6.09 – 9.09  ::  Warsaw “Think!”

As I spent those 3 days totally alone, I really had time to think about everything in my life. It was kind of moment, when you are in a new place with only your inner voice, with no option to call someone to share things happening in your head. Believe me, there were a lot of different stuff )) Beginning with analysis of this summer and crossing from one important area of my life (as AIESEC, university, etc.) to another, and realization of “So, I’m 21 and…” till answers to myself “so who am I and what did I achieve till so far?”.

First time of travelling in Europe made special mood for me of these thinking-thinking-thinking days. Thanks God, my inner GPS-navigation helped me, so I was using intuition in proper way to see the city and not to get lost there alone.

Visited: Old city & old market, New town, Churches/Cathedrals, Opera, Royal castle, Lazienki Krolewski, Ogrod Saski, Wilanow Palace, Palace of culture and science.

Impressed with the approach for history (everything reconstructed, but not new-plastic buildings on the same place) and friendly approach in the museums, you can touch, try, play some parts with video – interactive, so it is really interesting for students specially. E.g. Museum of the Warszawa Uprising.

Results: nice pictures, shopping, self-analyze.

3.10 - 4.10  ::  Budapest “Reinforced”

The city in the day is beautiful and impressing with all its Parliament building, Churches, Squares, Castles… and really attractive for photo camera. The night view was so amazing that it seemed it’s not real and is only decoration is the theater, so if you come to touch – it would be just paper with professional paintings. Though, in fact all that was true moment and I we were really there. In good company (with Vicky, Sandrina, Marja, Elisa) we travelled from Brno to Budapest and spent around 24 h. exploring the city.

Being alone on the bank of Danube-river with this night view in front of me, I got such an energy to put all goals and dreams finally in right order, so that puzzle from separate pieces became nice unified picture + logical connections between each other.

Visited: Palace, Parliament, Chain Bridge, Castle Hill, Matthias church, Heroes square, Fisherman bastion, Buda castle.

Results: amazing night pictures, 5 years goals and life-vision.

5.10 – 6.10  ::  Vienna “Inspiring”

You don’t need any map, just get out on any central metro-station and explore this beauty – it’s everywhere. Personally, I had an impression of intelligence and aristocracy in every little thing.

 On the second day in Vienna I had an opportunity to visit the exhibition of Monnet and Picasso and all my adorable artists of XX century that was totally perfect. With this not-planned visit I got chance to see the most favorite masterpiece of Monnet – dreams come true ))

Visited: Gallery “Albertina”, Sconbrunn Palace and endless beautiful architecture.

Results: inspiration for achieving my goals and realization of simple “tools for happiness” (see it in next posts soon).

Traveler's notes

Any journey is about:
1. new places with new tastes of food and drinks,
2. strange speech and sounds,
3. unfamiliar colors of views,
4. unknown flavor or smells,
5. you skin has weird feelings
all five senses are working in unusual way.

And only smart journey has the "sixth sense", which brings deeper sense. By this 6thS I mean some components usually hidden in simple "cross-the-boarder" procedure. I called it smart because of following:

LEARNING. One of the ways to grow (in any area) is to take as notes good-cases-practice (GCPs) - something that is working well and brings expected results in another country, company, whatever. By travelling it's easy to get such GCPs and bring home (for sure it should not blind copy-paste), but our country still has a lot of things to learn how to do and we all need to learn. They say, we learn from each other, indeed, it's possible to enrich your personality with how many useful tips - different attitudes and habits.


EXAMINE yourself. You never had and will never have such an exam at school or university, as you is examined of being in status of alien-tourist. It's more life test on all subject than any ЗНО/ЕГЭ/ SAT/etc. From simple language test (and English is not the way out for taxi-drivers or elder generation in majority of countries). Logic; navigation, negotiation and analytic skills; math to convert cross-rate)); memory training,  ans so on.

ANALYSE yourself.  Walking around the cities, staying alone or being in the company, in new conditions - it's possible to take a look on yourself, review you goals and values for your life. Find some additional internal power to grow.

And all this "smart travelling" about development, exploring and learning is only possible if you are ready to bring home knowledge in addition to standard "for-social-media" photo album.

To all this things I'm going to dedicate this page in my blog. So welcome and enjoy it.