Вообще

Собирался я в те края несколько лет, но всё не складывалось. Год назад вместо Индокитая уехал в Индию, например.

Индокитай - это полуостров, на нём есть страны: Таиланд,  Мьянма (Бирма), Лаос, Камбоджа, Вьетнам. Привлекал он тем, что невелик, в нём несколько стран, в которые можно попасть или без визы или с визой на въезде. Разумеется, местный колорит: кухня, язык, буддизм, тепло, мартышки.

Из необычного для себя могу отметить то, что ездил расслабленно, крайне расслаблено: компания захотела на пляж - можно пляж. Рынок? Можно и рынок (это уже с изрядным душевным скрипом). Я даже не доехал ни до Мьянмы, ни до Вьетнама. Можно было, конечно, рвануть к границе, провести ещё пару дней в переездах. Но было лень, и лень была прекрасной. К тому же, в Мьянме и Лаосе делать нечего (кроме того, Лаос - перевалочный пункт для опиума, что делает его опасным). Вьетнам интересен, но крайне долго пришлось бы тащиться через Камбоджу: лишний день-другой провести в автобусе было как-то очень лень.

Continue reading...

I would like to say some words about Vilnius city where I spent some pleasure days during Harlem'2011 swing festival. Holy smokes, the festival was great and overcrowded. We found that Russian dancers were not used to dance in the real crowd, so there is something to investigate: others danced well and peacefully.

The bad news is that my camera broken in the beginning of my trip, so I rather speak about the city than show you photos. The good news is that I had more time for walking and looking around.

First of all, the city is fairly small, calm and nice. There are few people living (10 times less than in Saint Petersburg, for example). Many flowers, many nice courtyards (but you can be sent away by angry residents).

The other is its food. Mostly, it is much cheaper that in Saint Petersburg. For example, a main meal can cost 10€. It seems that food is tasty. Especially, I would recommend the vegetarian White Elephant (41 Vilniaus gatvė ). It has its own court, good beer, nice interior and many dishes.

You can travel around by foot, the Old City is not very big. There are small streets, museums (be aware: mostly closed in Mondays), churches. By the way, I would like to recommend their basilica of Saint Paul & Peter (1 Antakalnio gatvė). This basilica is a bit distant, but its interior is just awesome. The funny point: there are heads of elephants amongst moulding. Yes, heads of elephants (I am not sure they are mentioned in Bible, but they look lively).

The bad point about Vilnius is this Russophobia. It is great, it is huge, it is crazy and full of sick fantasy. They even have the museum of genocide (yes, they mean the genocide of Lithuanians). I hope, they will finish this strange practice someday.

I got a car for the travel to the South of Morocco, across the Atlas Mountains.

I planned to see the ocean, Sahara and the Atlas Mountains.

Thanks for all people I had met!

Continue reading...

We drove to the Atlas Mountains wondering about some waterfall (I missed something; the waterfall is far away). There was the beautiful autumn, the mountains and the narrow road.

Continue reading...

Some photos without any categories.

Continue reading...

It is called "holiday of sheep" here, one of the most important celebrations.

If a family can, it buys one or more sheep. Traditionally, the meet is divided to 3 parts: for the family (big family, i.e. with relatives), for indigents, for the man itself.

The holiday is really huge, cities get empty for 1-2 days. Butcher's are closed for a week.

The most photos can be found cruel. In fact, if a person is not vegetarian, I have nothing to say to console him.

Continue reading...

Just to remember: do not make photos of local people, they do not like it very much. I asked about the reason, but they told me different things.

If you travel by car, you can find it interesting: the road goes by shore, you can stand everywhere. Mostly, the shore is rocky (very rocky), with rare (beautiful, empty, huge, clean) beaches. Notes:

1. You can easily leave the road and drive to the shore. The ground is very plain. For example, I slept in car: the ocean, beautiful sunsets, dark sky full of stars.
2. The shore is full of strange fishermen with their huts. It is recommended to avoid them (I had some strange problem, too).

A am speaking about the souk, the market behind Jemaa El Fna square. The things below are very obvious:

1. It is the biggest market I have seen in Marrakesh. And many souvenirs are really worth and remind about Morocco.

2. The first prices are as 1.5-2 times more as real prices to buy.
3. Do not argue, do not shout, do not rush. Nobody likes it. :)
4. There is a common rule that 'if you have spoke about the price, you should buy it'. Maybe, it is a common rule for Arabic markets, but it is just a trick for tourists here.
5. The same with the rule 'not to cheat with food'. They can cheat you here sometimes. Too many reach tourists.
6. If you ask local people about real prices, they can support the seller.
7. Do not be too clever bastards, yeah? I saw some group of tourists trying to bargain for fresh orange juice whereas the price was printed above and it was tiny (4 dirhams for a big glass of ambrosia).

Oh, the last advise. I thought about that many times: please, do not look like you have returned from a deadly fight, with cold and haughty eyes. It is your vacancies and the people around is friendly. :)