Pimut Puolassa

Viisi meidän suvun naista viettämässä kaupunkilomaa ulkomailla. Uhka vai mahdollisuus? Sanottakoot, että ennen tuota reissua olin ehkä aavistuksen epäileväinen, mutta hyvinhän meillä  loppujen lopuksi meni. 

Tällainen asetelma oli meinaan meikäläiselle varsin erikoinen, sillä aiemmin reissannut ympäriinsä pääasiassa yksin. Tai korkeintaan kera yhden ystävän. Tällä kertaa mukana oli kuitenkin niin monta muuttujaa, että pisti pakostakin hieman jännittämään. Mitä siis tehdä kun enää ei voisikaan mennä paikasta toiseen (siis kierrellä ympäriinsä) täysin oman mielen mukaan, vaan sitä tulisi kuunnella muun matkaseurueen toiveita ja mielenkiinnon kohteita. Entä milloin meistä kullekin yllättää nälkä ja mistä löytää jokaiselle kelpaava rafla juuri ennen kuin kenenkään mahdollinen nälkäkiukku astuu estradille. 

You must learn to let go. Release the stress.
You were never in control anyway.

- Steve Maraboli

Nooh, kyllä noita hampaita tuli aavistuksen verran kiristettyä, mutta ei onneksi kaiken aikaa. Kelloon tuli erilainen ääni sen jälkeen, kun asennoitui olevansa sellaisella matkalla, jossa seura on se tärkein. Muulla ei niin väliä, kunhan vain hengailtaisiin kimpassa ja tutustuttaisiin kaikkeen mitä Gdańskissa  olisi ihmeteltävää. Jaettiin porukka jossain kohtaa kuitenkin osaksi aikaa kahtia, niin se jos jokin toi oman helpotuksensa päivän etenemistahtiin.  

Gdańsk on aika pieni kaupunki ja jonka näkemiseen riitti hyvin tavallinen viikonloppu. Siis kolme päivää ja kaksi yötä. Ja meitä kun oli sen verran monta, niin oltiin varattu huone huoneistohotellista, jonka ikkunnasta oli näkymät tuolle ekassa kuvassa näkyvälle maailmanpyörälle. Toki ikkunasta sai ihastella myös aika ajoin ohi lipuvaa merirosvolaivaa! Oi kumpa olisin vaan ollut vuosia nuorempi, niin olisin niin mennyt kyytiin.   

Yksi asia kuitenkin jäi vähän nakuttamaan. Nimittäin se, ettei ollut riittävästi aikaa kiertää museoissa tai muissa sen sellaisissa. Ja pelkästään siis tämän vuoksi voin todeta, että ompahan yksi syy käydä samaisessa kaupungissa joskus tulevaisuudessa uudestaan. Niin ja toisekseen ne kulmapuodin lämpimäiset munkit! Ai hitsit kun ne oli nannaa.

Kulttuurin jäädessä lähes olemattomaksi, niin tällä reissulla käveltiin, otettiin erittäin lyhyt, mutta yksi hauskimmista taksimatkoista ikinä ja shoppailtiin yllättävän paljon. Niin ja siis tämä viimeksi mainittu ihan omaan normiini nähden. Mutta sitten taas toisaalta, jos kerran olet pienehkössä kaupungissa syksyllä, jolloin säätkään eivät välttämättä ole kovin kummoiset, niin shoppailuhan on varsin mainio tapa puuskuttaa menemään. Syömistä ja juomista unohtamatta!

Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges.

- Bryant McGill

Trip to Cambodia part. 3

Our second island hopping destination was Koh Rong Samloem. After arriving to Saracen Bay by a speed ferry we started to look for a place to stay. It was much more quieter beach than Otres and we actually had to walk a while before we found some desk that looked like a proper reception.

If you're travelling outside of the actual high seasons there's no need to book every accommodation beforehand. There's always some free dorm bed or room at somewhere. At least if you aren't that picky about standard frames or luxury services. 

This longer voyage was a bit safer than the earlier boat ride to Koh Ta Kiev.

     

We managed to book us a double bed from a dorm which was kinda wide open. So, the space itself was again all open and also a little breezy (as it were air-conditioned) 'cause there wasn't any doors etc. When going to sleep we just pulled down the tarp (suom. pressu) to block the rain for coming straight to our drying clothes. And regardless of all the nightly voices and unknown crackles I slept strangely good during our entire trip. Thanks to the refreshing weather of Southeast Asian climate.  

Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.

- Josh Billings

At Samloem we could finally read some books and properly ease up our pace for few days. Before this we had only fled from horrible hucksters and looked up to some monumental sights of Angkor. Now our main task was to take it easy and enjoy some early morning swims and overall silece.

As usual our stay lasted for 3 days. So, we had already learned by now that 2 nights it's enough at one place. Within those days we had yet again just enough hours to explore the beach and to do what we liked. And what comes to food I think that we ate the most disappointing meal in Sacaren Bay. There might be several reasons for that but I bet that the biggest one is that all the dishes they served at restaurants, were modified to tourists. I mean that they had adjusted the flavors and reduced a lot of the spices.

For us foodlovers it was a real pity 'cause we had some high expectations for them. But in the end we flushed our deeply sorrow with few drinks and hoped for better luck in the future!       

My favorite spot was in that particular hammock.

And remember guys not to get sunburn over your body. It's not nice and your body is your temple.

From the island we took another speed ferry ride to the shore and headed to the bus station from where we continued towards our next destination, the city of Kampot.

God gave me a great body and it's my duty to take care of my physical temple.

- Jean Claude Van Damme

Trip to Cambodia part. 1

People asked the question why and we're like why not? So, despite everyones suspicions we decided to go to a place which had a fascinating but at the same time really outrageous history.

We planned a roughly plan for the upcoming 18 days and went through it once more before we took off one sunny Monday afternoon. At first we wanted to see the hidden temples of Angkor and to see them we headed to Siem Reap. To the city where the world largest religious monument where once built.

All glory comes from daring to begin.

- Eugene F. Ware 

To get to the temples we hired a Tuk Tuk driver for the day and bought ourselves entrance tickets or Angkor-Passes how they're actually called in the ticket office. And because we're staying in the city for 4 nights we had allowed us a plenty of time to see all the most famous spots in a good peaceful pace. We took the 3-day passes which costed $62 apiece. The last thing to do was to check that our knees and shoulders were covered (for respectable manners) before they stamped our tickets at the gate.

Views from our (private) pool. The hotel itself located in a little calmer area far enough from the Pub Streets fuss. 

The first days at temples were a bit cloudy and even after all efforts we couldn't see any amazing sunset or sunrise. But there was so much more to see than just those things. Such as the gigantic Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm the temple surrounded by jungle, the corridors in Preah Khan and many more. 

And all these things I'm going to tell up here are going to be only a short glimpses about our trip. You can ask me anything you want, but I'm not writing down every single details, timetables, names or prices. It would take days so I don't have time to do so.

The temples were well hidden in the jungle and because it wasn't yet a dry season, we got see water in some of the basins and moats.

Waiting for the sunrise at 5am with few other tourist at Angkor Wat.

The only thing missing at the moat of Angkor Thom was crocodiles.

All in all the temples were definitely worth seeing and the city of Siem Reap was nice. I had some of my favorite dishes in there and it was more likely to get food with glass noodles over there than any other places we visited. Like we afterwards learned, most of the restaurants where we tend to eat offered only "yellow" egg noodles which I can't eat, unfortunately. In those cases I just chose some rice dish and it was completely fine.

Ruins at Preah Khan.

And for those who yet don't know I've a head of Buddha on my sleeve. And even though I've had it for a few years now I had never thought that it would get me in to situations like this. More or less in abroad! To a situation where I'd have to hide it from the others just because it might be disrespectful for them. For their culture and religion. And yes I've to admit that it felt a little awkward, expecially when we saw some monks.. at least I tried to cover "it" for a second and wear some t-shirts or scarfs everytime possible. "This is me, take it or leave it. I'm here on a holiday, not to violate your belief".

Some familiar faces at Bayon.

So, luckily in Cambodia I only needed to cover my skin when visiting the temples just like any other woman in there. The only problem happened when we're in Thailand where it was almost (kinda) illegal to have Buddha tattoos (specially the heads). You could see the bans in here and there, but because we noticed the very first signs at the airport we had no choise than "smuggle" my dear piece of art through the passport controls and keep it hidden the while being in Bangkok. "This is me, take it or leave it. I'm here only for a few days with a friend of mine, I want no harm". 

People forget years and remember moments.

- Ann Beattie

Rakkaudesta ruokaan

Now that I've already mentioned diets we can switch the whole focus to food. And have a look some pictures from what I've actually eaten in my bygone trips.

Street food @ Portobello Road, London

After the fight it has been a bit difficult to return back to my "normal" eating habits and routines. Although I can finally eat what I want to, I still don't want to overeat. And for me, that's the problem. So, now I only need to find the right balance between training and nourishment. A good balance without any extra worries about weight loss (nor weight gain) or measured dinner portions.

Coffee break @ Évora

Paleo bread and dish from the local market place @ Copenhagen

Coffee, arepas and fruits @ Barcelona

For me food is more than nutritions. It's a pleasure, a source of energy, a passion and once in a while even a way to reward myself with something luxurious.

Ice-Cream @ Rome

On the other hand, eating is an activity of daily living. But there's still enormous amount of people around the globe who doesn't have enough food to feed themselves nor the members of their families. And us living up here in the North are so lucky to have plenty of food to consume.

Lunch @ Montserrat

But this isn't something what is constantly on our minds 'cause we have taken it for granted. When we're feeling hungry we just walk in to our kitchens and stuff our greedy little mouths with whatever we may find. And afterwards we're having bad consciense 'cause we ate way too much. But if we don't eat we'll turn grumpy and then it's a serious business for everyone around us. Therefore it's more than important to have some little snacks in our pockets and handbags.

Fruity bar @ London

Another beer and food @ Prague

Pork Chop @ London

Tapas @ Barcelona

Raclette dish @ Prague

Something traditional @ Prague

So, to keep our blood sugar levels up, all we need to do is eat. It may sound simple, but have you tried it overseas? Do you how does it feel like when you're in a unkown town and you're starving? Do you know where to find the right kind of food to fit your diet? And what would you do if you can't find any? How will you cope with yourself? What's your way to survive?

Baby Squids @ Barcelona

Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are.

- Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Barcelona 2/2

If you're considering travelling around Europe, remember to do it on off-season. It's undoubtedly the best time of the year to do so. Actually it may be the one and only way to do so. It will ensure that there's fewer tourists than usual so that you'll be able to meet up with the locals and to get to know all their daily rituals. You don't need to stand in queues either just to see some famous sight. Or wait for hours to get to enter one remarkable building only to see something magnificent and breathtaking.

   

Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.

- Voltaire 

Off-season travelling has so many advantages but I'm not going to list them. The only thing I still can say about it that you've to experience it yourself. And once you've done that you can't do anything else except continue doing so. The same thing applies even to solo travelling which is my personal favorite. Each of us needs a little excitement to our lives and that because it's totally worth it.  

By losing your goal, you have lost your way.

- Khalil Gibran

During our stay in BCN I wanted to show some the most popular sights to my mother even though I'd already saw a few of them a couple years earlier. At that time I was visiting the city with a dear friend of mine. Nevertheless in this trip we did a lot of things and saw some pretty cool places. We climbed at the top of Tibidabo with this old funicular and got to see the best views over the whole city from the tower of the basilica.

Another great views where from Montserrat which is also known as the symbol of Catalonia. But first we needed to catch up a little different kind of ride to get there. And because I'm afraid of heights the minutes in that yellow cable car felt like hours for me (though I was constantly counting my toes).  

   

   

One unexpected moment was when we're walking up and down around Montjuïc and found this one outdoor bar (called La Caseta del Migdia) at the top of the park. We didn't know its existence beforehand but after two hours scrambling it tasted so damn good to drink Coca-Colas up there.  

Everything you can imagine is real.

- Pablo Picasso

Barcelona 1/2

Life is a trickly little thing. It can suprise you whenever it's in the mood for it. And when the plans you once made do change you just have to live with them. For example when I was booking my flights to Barcelona I had completely different plans for my upcoming trip. I can't even remember  the exact date when I did that but at the time I was going visit few of my friends. But when the day finally came I found my dear mother next to me. It was our first trip together to abroad and besides all the odds we manage to get through it pretty well. At least most of the time. 

Earlier when I have been travelling solo it has been so liberating 'cause I had been able to do whatever I wanted to. And whenever I wanted to. But this time I needed to listen to someone else's wishes too and kinda take care of all the rest. It felt a bit stressing at first but now I know that it's certainly something I have to work with in the future. Otherwise no-one don't want to take me as their travel companion. And even if a picture is worth a thousand words, it's the story behind all of them that tells the real truth.

Never go on trips with anyone you do not love.

- Ernest Hemingway

But at the end our trip went smoothly and we both agreed that 10 days in one city was enough. We had plenty of time to wander around and visit every place we had planned. The weather was perfect 'cause it didn't rain at all although October should be the rainiest month of the year. We even went to the beach for a couple of times just to relax for a while. And every time we did that we chose this one beach a bit further along the shore far away Barceloneta which is right next to the city center (aka full of tourists).

I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way.

- Carl Sagan

To travel is to take a journey into yourself.

- Danny Kaye

Those who have been following the news lately may know that at the moment there's alot going on in Catalonia. You may also remember that we were there just days after it all began. So, right after the first referendum. But besides the fact that folks were extremely emotional we didn't face any problems whatsoever. It means so much for the locals that it's completely normal that it has caused riots and all kind of demostrations around BCN and its surroundings. Most of the people had also stated their stand by putting flags outside of their homes.

But at least from now on I'm going to make sure that there isn't any significant political events ongoing in the city (or country) where I'm aiming next. And yes I'm already planning my future adventures.

You can, you should, and if you're brave enough to start you will.

- Stephen King