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Liverpool: Cultural metropolis on the Atlantic coast

Patrick Jullien
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Liverpool: Cultural metropolis on the Atlantic coast

The origins of the historic metropolis date back to the 12th century. Subsequently, the city gained in importance mainly due to its international port, which was long one of the most important in the world. It has also made a name for itself as an important starting point for emigrant ships to America. At the same time, the historic harbour structure is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and forms the charming face of Liverpool. Nowadays, the city is also known for its lively music scene and rich cultural life.

Liverpool is located right next to the mouth of the River Mersey on the Irish Sea and is just over 280 kilometres from England’s capital London. Economically, the financial sector, tourism and the service sector are particularly influential sectors. Thanks to its maritime location, the climate is mild all year round, with no extreme heat in summer or sharp frosts in winter – making Liverpool a great place to visit at any time of the year. The city can be reached by train or by road, including several tunnels below the Mersey. John Lennon International Airport is served by a variety of destinations around the world.

Sights

Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral, Image: Petr Vagner / shutterstock

Liverpool offers many interesting sights, including in particular the venerable harbour buildings, which are partly reminiscent of Hamburg’s Speicherstadt. In addition to the architectural characteristics of past centuries, the district is home to many museums, exhibitions and restaurants. Particularly impressive are, for example, the town hall and Pier Head on the harbour quay as well as Speke Hall, a historic half-timbered house with gardens. The city’s two cathedrals – the modern Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and the monumental, neo-Gothic Liverpool Cathedral – are also worth a visit. Other interesting cultural sites are St. Peter’s Church and the Princess Road Synagogue, but also the bombed-out church on Leece Street, which was preserved in this condition as a memorial to the bombing war.

A special feature of Liverpool is the wide range of different museums. The topics range from the less than glorious role of the metropolis in slavery to shipping in the Merseyside Maritime Museum to archaeology and ethnology in the World Museum. Some of the museums can be visited free of charge. A particularly valuable experience is also offered by the Walkers Gallery, the largest collection of paintings in the whole country. Almost as important is the “Tate” art collection housed in the port. If you want to take a deep breath, you should visit the spacious and lovingly designed Sefton Park in the south of the city. Other options for a trip into the countryside are the Wavertree Botanic Gardens and Knowsley Safari Park, which is not far away.

Culture & Gastronomy in Liverpool

Liverpool Anfield
The legendary Anfield stadium in Liverpool, Image: PhotoLondonUK / shutterstock

It is no coincidence that Liverpool was named European Capital of Culture in 2008. The first thought is usually for the Beatles, whose success story began here. Among other things, the exhibition “The Beatles Story” is dedicated to them. The city is also an excellent place to get to know British music history. Top addresses are, for example, the Philharmonic Hall, which offers a high-class concert program, or the Cavern Club, which is known above all for rock’n’roll. Last but not least, the city has many excellent theatre stages, the most famous of which is the Liverpool Empire Theatre. Special attention is paid to the theatre scene through the annual Liverpool Shakespeare Festival. Those with a more interest in sports should consider a visit to the turbulent Anfield Stadium, where the football-mad population likes to celebrate their athletes. In addition, the famous “Grand National” horse race takes place in Liverpool.

Tip for football fans: Anfield Stadium can be visited all year round. Book the tickets in advance on the web (https://www.visitliverpool.com). A visit costs 20 pounds for adults and 12 pounds for children.

Program items:

  • Enjoy stunning views of the pitch and city from the top floor
  • Visit the new state-of-the-art locker rooms for the home team and guests
  • Practice your interview technique in the new press room
  • Touch the infamous “This Is Anfield” sign
  • Walk through the players’ tunnel
  • Sit in Jürgen Klopp’s manager’s chair (coach: as of September 2018)
  • Snap photos of the playing field and the impressive main stand of the infamous Kop.

For culinary needs, Liverpool offers both regional specialties and a wide range of international restaurants of high class. These include, for example, the Panoramic 34 or the Roski. Traditionally, the cuisine is very potato-heavy, and these are particularly popular in the stew called “Scouser”, the “national dish” of the city. Various other dishes such as the classic “English Breakfast” as well as variants of Shepherd’s Pie or the rustic Yorkshire pudding are also known in the rest of the country. Bistros such as the “Wreckfish” are also often among the interesting addresses.

You can find more about Liverpool on Wikipedia

Saudi Arabia – a beautiful country opens its veil

Patrick Jullien
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0
Saudi Arabia – a beautiful country opens its veil

For a long time, Saudi Arabia was a country that puzzled the world because some things there felt as if the Middle Ages were still present. But the kingdom wants to open up, and while it was previously only possible for tourists to obtain a visa in the care of a group, this is now also possible for individual travellers. The restrictions that have been in place so far will also be eased in Saudi Arabia as part of the “Vision 2013” project. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants to make his country fit for the future, and by the way, this also included the lifting of the driving ban for women. On a trip through Saudi Arabia, tourists will be able to visit the testimonies from the time of the ancient Nabataean empire. This beautiful country is opening its veil, even if the holy cities of Mecca and Medina will continue to be open only to people of the Islamic faith.

Eine historische Steinfestung mit Rundtürmen thront auf einem felsigen, sonnenbeschienenen Hügel unter einem klaren blauen Himmel mit vereinzelten Wolken und verkörpert den zeitlosen Charme der antiken Architektur Saudi-Arabiens.
The fortress Qasr Za’abel, Image: Gimas / shutterstock

But some things are still very different with the Saudis than in the Arab neighborhood. And so the old port city of Jeddah is something of an exception to the rule. It is fun-loving and cosmopolitan and has blossomed into a modern metropolis years ago. Saudi Arabia is said to be a “fearful giant”. Anxious probably because the all-powerful house of the king finds it difficult to assess how his subjects assess the everyday things of their lives. When a few years ago the consumption of alcoholic beverages was to be banned as well as the consumption of smoking, there was a loud outcry of protest – by Arab standards. As a result, the request to also put nicotine on the list of bans was not pursued.

Now, it would be an exaggeration to claim that Saudi Arabia will join Western customs in the foreseeable future. Rather, this is the land of the Prophet, where millions of pilgrims crowd around the Kaaba of Mecca and where traditions are still cherished and cultivated. However, the visual differences in Saudi Arabia range from the picturesque Bedouin villages in the mountains of the south to the skyscrapers of the modern capital Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia, Mecca Royal Clock Tower Hotel
The Mecca Royal Clock Tower Hotel, Image: MAbdullah / shutterstock

Al-Ahsa is one of the most historic regions in the country. This is an area where the infinity of the desert merges into an agricultural idyll. With the metropolis of Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is considered the “largest oasis in the world”. Here, 2.5 million palm trees were planted and a sophisticated irrigation system was devised. The Mada ́in Salih excavation site is also on the UNESCO list. The place is about four hundred kilometers from Medina and is basically a huge cemetery. 111 monumental tombs have been discovered here, and they are said to be almost two thousand years old. The decorations carved into the red rock and the inscriptions in Aramaic and Thamudic are impressive.

In Mada ́in Salih you can also visit an old station building and its locomotive. These are the remains of the former Hejaz railway, which, according to the ideas of the royal family more than a hundred years ago, was supposed to connect Syrian Damascus with Mecca. However, it was never completed. Old Jeddah, on the other hand, has retained its reputation as the “gateway to Mecca” for centuries. A tribe of Yemenis founded the town more than two and a half millennia ago. In the early Middle Ages, Old Jeddah received a city wall worth seeing.

Interview with Mihael Djukic about his trip to Saudi Arabia

Even the minister responsible for tourism development, a prince of the royal family, raves about Saudi Arabia’s breathtaking natural beauty. He refers to his country as a “treasury”, but also pointed out that Saudi Arabia will never give up its cultural values as the homeland of the Prophet. This also includes the ban on alcoholic beverages, to which holidaymakers must also submit.

Travel information Saudi Arabia

Capital Riyadh
Form of government Monarchy
Absolute monarchy
Currency Saudi Riyal (SAR)
Area approx. 2,149,690 km²
Population approx. 31,742,308 (2016 est.)
Languages Arabic
Electricity grid 127/220 volts, 60 Hz
Area code +966
Time zone UTC+3

 

Cyprus – the goddess of love in a divided country

Patrick Jullien
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0
Cyprus – the goddess of love in a divided country

Cyprus – This island has always aroused desires. For centuries it was not good intentions that came with the foreigners, but since vacationers have populated the sunny shores, the Cypriots are happy to be “conquered”. Income from tourism is an important source of well-being in the still divided country. The Republic of Cyprus comprises the southern part – the rest is under the Turkish flag. And there are no signs of a solution to the conflict. A United Nations buffer zone is a restricted military area and may not be entered, but there has been a kind of standstill agreement between the warring powers for years. As a result, Cyprus is largely pacified and an ideal travel destination. It is the island where, according to legend, the goddess Aphrodite emerged from the waters of the Mediterranean and where there is now an “Adonis Trail”.

An einem sonnigen Tag liegen drei Boote neben einer historischen Steinburg vor Anker, im Vordergrund ist klares, türkisfarbenes Wasser zu sehen, und über ihnen erstreckt sich der blaue Himmel.
The Kyrenia Fortress in Northern Cyprus, Image: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

On the southern shores, the so-called “Rock of Aphrodite” rises from the shallow waters of the sea. It is always the destination of young couples in summer temperatures, because those who swim around the rock tower three times are said to secure eternal love. A nice idea, and those who have managed the triple circumnavigation make a pilgrimage to the temple of Aphrodite near Kouklia, even if there are only a few ruins left. The goddess of love and beauty has enchanted entire regions of Cyprus with her charm.

A citadel protected the port of Famagusta for a considerable period of history. It is part of the historic city wall and has been called “Othello” since the British colonial era. This was and is to be understood as a bow to William Shakespeare, because the English playwright let his “Moor of Venice” wreak havoc in the harbour fortifications of Famagusta. Cyprus is full of stories and legends. This is an island where tradition and hope for a common political future mingle, and where Nicosia presents itself as the last divided capital of the world.

Ein beschaulicher Yachthafen bei Sonnenuntergang auf Zypern, mit Booten, die am ruhigen Wasser vor Anker liegen, einigen Gebäuden entlang der Uferpromenade und der Sonne, die nahe am Horizont untergeht und die Szene in ein warmes Licht taucht.
A beautiful harbour promenade in Limassol, Image: f8grapher / shutterstock

But the brothers, who have been estranged for a long time, have recently become closer, and the “green line”, the line between north and south, has become passable again for the people of Cyprus. Ledrastraße, which used to be the most beautiful boulevard in the city, is now the transit point for pedestrians. If you visit Nicosia , you should visit the Cyprus Museum with its archaeological finds. The old town is still surrounded by a Venetian wall, and the most beautiful panorama is from the upper floor of the observatory. The Greek part of the old town is dominated by the façade of the Archbishop’s Palace.

If you are looking for the most beautiful beaches in Cyprus, you are spoilt for choice. In the south there are extensive sandy beaches, while the bays in the north are rather rocky. Almost all areas suitable for swimming have been awarded a Blue Flag as a sign of cleanliness and service. It is said that there is a suitable bay for every type on this island.

In addition to water sports, golf is the number one holiday activity in Cyprus. Especially in the south, between Limassol and Paphos, sympathizers of this sport will find places close to the sea and among orchids and fruit trees. With good visibility, you can even see the Taurus Mountains on the Turkish mainland from here. A holiday in Cyprus is synonymous with a wealth of impressions. There is the silence of the monasteries, the humming of the cicadas in the trees, the olive groves on the slopes of the mountains, the ruins of former temples, the picturesque alleys of the wine villages in the Troodos Mountains and, last but not least, the kindness and hospitality of the people who live here.

Travel information Cyprus

Capital Nicosia
Form of government Republic
Presidential system
Currency Euro (EUR)
Area de facto 5,896 km²
de jure 9.2511 km²
Population 848,300 (2015, de facto)
1,179,551 (2017, Cyprus)
Languages Greek and Turkish
Electricity grid 240 volts, 50 Hz
Area code +357
Time zone UTC+2 Eastern European Time
UTC+3 Eastern European Summer Time

 

Ukraine – at the interface between East and West

Patrick Jullien
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0
Ukraine – at the interface between East and West

It is with great horror that we see the sad images from Ukraine. We have decided to leave the following article from 2018 unchanged for the time being in order to present the beauty of Ukraine before the outbreak of the war. Our thoughts are with the families on site.

Behind the slightly pale windows of the train, the meadows glide by, and the rays of the early sun of the day sparkle in the dew on the grass. Carriages can be seen on the narrow paths that lead to the old villages and, of course, the many nests of storks on the electricity pylons at the edge of the railway line. A trip on one of the last narrow-gauge railways on the continent is like a trip back in time. This is possible in Ukraine, and this country is not really as medieval as the fleeting images of a train ride convey. After all, Ukraine was once considered a pioneer in Europe. The people of the country fondly remember it as their Princess Anna, who was once married by her father, Grand Duke Yaroslav, to the royal court in France . And it is precisely this Princess Anna who is said to have complained about “backward Paris” after her trip from Kiev . Charles de Gaulle also raved about the metropolis: “I have seen many parks in cities, but never a city that is located in a park…”

Eine traditionelle Holzkirche in der Ukraine mit mehreren Schindeldächern steht inmitten üppig grüner Bäume, umgeben von einem Holzzaun und einem Tor sowie einem Kopfsteinpflasterweg unter strahlend blauem Himmel. Rechts ist ein kleiner Holzschrein zu sehen.
The Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life in Lviv, Image: Ruslan Kalnitsky / shutterstock

Kiev’s golden era is still evident today in the impressive Art Nouveau facades in the city. The city was a cultural and economic center at the interface between East and West. The city on the murky waters of the Dnieper cherishes and cultivates its nimbus as a worthwhile destination for holidaymakers who are not only enterprising but also thirsty for knowledge. Because there is a lot to see in Kiev, although Ukraine as a modern state has basically only existed since 1991. At that time, 91 percent of citizens pleaded in a referendum for the independence of their country.

If you look around Kyiv’s surroundings, you will discover amazing things. For example, the Mezhyhirya Palace, the former residence of President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia in 2014. Today, this house is also open to visitors, and during tours you will even be shown the golden toilet bowl of the ex-dictator.

Ein zugefrorener See in der Ukraine mit sichtbaren Rissen im Eis, umgeben von schneebedeckten Bäumen und Bergen unter einem teilweise bewölkten blauen Himmel.
A frozen lake in Ukraine, Image: Standret / shutterstock

The Sophia Cathedral and the Lavra Cave Monastery are world-famous. Both can now be found on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Once upon a time, the caves on a hill on the west bank of the Dnieper served as a domicile for hermits. Later, the monks were buried here. Those God-fearing people who are revered as saints by Ukrainians today. Incidentally, the memory of Grand Duke Volodymyr, who made Kiev a Christian city, is also cherished as a saint. He is said to have given the order for the construction of four hundred churches. However, many of them disappeared during the Soviet occupation.

As for Odessa, the port city on the Black Sea, the residents of Kiev claim that it is a little “crazy”. Odessa certainly reflects the somewhat different Ukraine. It is casual here and not a few see this city as a pearl of the south. With the famous Potemkin Staircase, which leads over exactly 192 steps from the Old Town to the harbor and has become the visual symbol and landmark of Odessa. This is a city on the move, where the colors of the legendary tsar’s daughters dominate the streets: Russian green, lilac blue and yellow like the butterflies in the park.

The city of Lviv with its extraordinary cultural program is also recommended.

The crises and wars after the secession of Crimea have cast a shadow over Ukraine as a travel destination. Although some precautions are useful for round trips and you should also be prepared for one or the other pothole on the roads, tourist stays in this interesting country are recommended to all those who are interested in culture and lifestyle. And regardless of whether you are travelling by intercity bus or train, almost everyone can easily get into conversation with the hospitable people in Ukraine.

Travel information Ukraine

Capital Kiev
Form of government Republic
semi-presidential system
Currency Hryvnia (UAH)
Area approx. 603,700 (including 26,080 AR Crimea and 864 city of Sevastopol) km²
Population 42,854,106, excluding AR Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (May 1, 2015)
Languages Ukrainian
Electricity grid 220 volts, 50 Hz
Area code +380
Time zone UTC+2
UTC+3 (March to October)

 

Tanzania – after the safari to the beaches of Zanzibar

Patrick Jullien
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0
Tanzania – after the safari to the beaches of Zanzibar

This landscape is more than just a touch of paradise. For many holidaymakers who are on safari in the savannah in Tanzania, this region with its many animals and natural beauty is without a doubt a piece of this side of Eden. Although this country was also exploited in the colonial era and the population of animals was drastically reduced because they were hunted and killed by poachers, Tanzania’s natural wealth has been preserved. Lake Victoria is one of the sources of life in this African country.

It is the “Mediterranean of East Africa” and its floods also wash the coasts of Kenya and Uganda. Nowhere else in the world can people admire such biodiversity as in Tanzania’s magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. The peoples of the world must help to preserve this paradise on earth – and tourism can also play an important role in this.

Tanzania, Safari
On a safari through Tanzania you can probably also see giraffes, Image: Delbars / shutterstock

On safari in the Serengeti and then a beach holiday on the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar – that could be a successful mix. The landscapes that a holidaymaker encounters south of the equator in Tanzania are fundamentally different. There are the subtropical zones with lush vegetation in the mountain forests of Gombe and in the Mahale Mountain National Park. This is the refuge of the chimpanzees, who proceed very carefully in their search for the sweet and sour berries, their favorite food. It was the Englishwoman Jane Goodall who studied chimpanzees for three decades. Today, the endangered primates are visited by tourists accompanied by experienced guides.

But the highlight of every stay in Tanzania is undoubtedly the Serengeti with its almost endless expanse and its huge population of animals. All this is Africa in its most original form. The Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater present themselves as a wonderland of nature. Seven thousand white-bearded wildebeest live here alone. Bernhard Grzimek has set himself a monument with his appearances on television and let the world look at this pasture of wild animals. “The Serengeti must not die” was the title of a successful film by the legendary zoo director from Frankfurt am Main. Grzimek’s urn was buried somewhere on the edge of the crater – at the side of his son Michael, who died in an accident while filming in Africa.

Luftaufnahme eines traditionellen Holzbootes, das in der Nähe eines Sandstrandes in Tansania vor Anker liegt, umgeben von türkisfarbenem Wasser, grünen Bäumen und Felsformationen. In der Nähe schwimmt eine Person.
Pamunda Island, Image: E X P L O R E R / shutterstock

The proud Maasai call this region “Siringet”, which means “Endless Steppe”. If you travel through Tanzania, you won’t want to miss out on comfortable hotels or lodges on your safari. He finds them in an astonishing abundance. And if he’s in the right place at the right time, he’ll be able to watch up close as millions of zebras and wildebeest cross the rivers in search of fresh grass, some of them becoming prey to crocodiles.

Above this spectacle towers a mighty mountain – Mount Kilimanjaro, which rises from the green rainforest. Those who dare to do so can climb to the “roof of Africa” in a route lasting several days, to the snow-capped summit of the almost six-thousand-metre-high giant. And after the exertions of this unusual mountain tour, many will look forward to the beaches of Zanzibar. The sea is almost always around 27 degrees warm and the white sand, which looks like it is made of powdered sugar, is perfect for walks and hikes. Tranquil fishing villages stretch along the coast like pearls on a string and their inhabitants are happy to welcome guests from another world. They willingly let themselves and their centuries-old culture look into the cards. The time is over when Zanzibar became a plaything of the powers that be, because the island was an important stop on the historic trade routes between the African continent and the countries of Arabia.

Travel information Tanzania

Capital Dodoma
Form of government Federal Republic
Presidential system
Currency Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
Area approx. 945,087 km²
Population approx. 57,310,019 (2017)
Languages Swahili
Electricity grid 230 volts, 50 Hz
Area code +255
Time zone UTC+3

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Klima

Tropical climate

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South Korea – the glittering city of Seoul and historical graves

Patrick Jullien
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0
South Korea – the glittering city of Seoul and historical graves

It is a special life experience to submit to the rites of the host Buddhists in a South Korean monastery and to observe the everyday life of the monks. Four hundred kilometers southeast of the metropolis of Seoul also have the chance to achieve the enlightenment of the dawn. And this in the sense of the word, because in the temple Golgulsa in Kyongju there is bed rest at 9 p.m., but the night is already over at three o’clock when the pious men of the monastery gather for the first morning prayers. But when the first rays of the sun unfold their splendor over the picturesque Chungjuho Lake, none of the guests regrets getting up so early. Because this can be one of the visual highlights of a trip through South Korea. A journey across a varied peninsula between two seas.

Blick auf Seoul, Die Hauptstadt Südkoreas
View of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, Image: ESB Professional / shutterstock

Korea is a country divided into two parts with political, social and societal contrasts that could hardly be greater. The north is ruled by an aging communism, while the south has risen to become an economic world power. Hardly anyone books a trip through the last remaining dictatorship of Stalinist influence, while south of the 38th parallel and the border river Yalu, which separates the north from the south, holidaymakers experience the historic “Land of the Morning Calm” on their round trip by bus or rental car and at the same time a successful product of the so-called “tiger states” in Asia.

In the lively capital Seoul , holidaymakers immerse themselves in the dazzling world of an Asian metropolis. Ten million people live here, but when they leave the canyons under the skyscrapers, they soon find themselves in a landscape of lovely valleys, raging rivers, high mountain ranges and many deep forests. Seoul is a melting pot of surprises, with a neon-lit entertainment district, the historic tombs of past royal dynasties, and the palaces that UNESCO has added to its World Heritage List.

Sacred to the Koreans is their Chongmyo Shrine in Seoul, where people worship their ancestors and are aware that they are very close to their deceased. Chongmyo Shrine is also dedicated to the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled Korea for a long period of history between 1392 and 1910. The capital Seoul is not only a high-tech Eldorado, but also convinces with its gardens at the Gyeongbokgung Palace. They are oases of silence in an often very noisy city.

South Korea, Busan
Busan at night, Image: ESB Professional / shutterstock

Holidaymakers should get used to some things during their round trip through South Korea. This is especially true of kimchi, a fermented cabbage that simmers next to the cash register in all restaurants and even fashion stores. This typical Korean dish is something like a culinary matter of course for the people in this country. You have to like kimchi or not. But anyone who has tried the Korean version of German sauerkraut can hardly imagine that it could find its way into European eating habits.

South Korea is framed by the Yellow Sea to the west and the Sea of Japan to the east. In 1946, the country underwent the transformation from a centuries-long kingdom and colony of Japan to a republic. On the island of Jeju with its subtropical climate, the largest lava cave system in the world is fascinating. But also the Cheonjeyeon waterfall, which the Koreans have christened “Pool of the King of Heaven”. Jeju is the typical “wedding island” for the people of the country, and those who spend their holidays there meet numerous young couples during their honeymoon.

Not far from Gyeongju, holidaymakers experience a gem of the history of this country on their round trip. The Buddhist temple Bulguksa has its roots in the 8th century and is the creative and cultural crowning glory of the kingdom of the Silla. The temple with its grotto is considered a natural treasure of Korea, while the Hwasong Fortress with its six-kilometer wall is the highlight of any round trip.

Travel information South Korea

Capital Seoul
Form of government Republic
semi-presidential system
Currency Won (KRW)
Area approx. 100,210 km²
Population approx. 51,700,000 (2018)
Languages Korean
Electricity grid 110/220 volts, 60 Hz
Area code +82
Time zone UTC+9

 

Sri Lanka – where elephants bathe in tranquil lakes

Patrick Jullien
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0
Sri Lanka – where elephants bathe in tranquil lakes

The sun flashes between the roof of the palm trees, a gentle murmur can be heard from the nearby sea and the cry of a monkey from nearby. Sri Lanka is an exotic paradise for dreaming, and the vervet monkeys are called “hat monkeys” here because of their “hairstyle” and middle parting. They populate the country’s rainforests and feed mainly on fruits, of which there are many in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is an island nation south of the Indian subcontinent, and the country has been overshadowed by a bloody civil war between Tamils and Sinhalese for a long time. For almost ten years, the large island with its numerous ethnic groups has been pacified, and people hope that this peace will not be fragile in the future. Sri Lanka has woken up from a nightmare and has very willingly opened up to tourism, because this is an important source of income for the country, which is otherwise financed by a plantation economy with the production of rubber and tea.

Sri Lanka, Sigiriya
The Sigiriya (Lion Rock) in Sri Lanka, Image: SylvainB / shutterstock

Sri Lanka is an animal and cultural paradise in equal measure. The island is manageable and hardly larger than the German state of Bavaria. It is crisscrossed by a species-rich jungle and green hills, where hard-working hands are needed on the tea plantations. The most beautiful photo experiences on a round trip always occur when elephants are looking for refreshment in one of the many quiet lakes on the island. The pachyderms are slightly darker than the Indian elephants and only a few males have tusks, which largely protects them from ivory poachers.

The national parks enjoy the special attention of the Department of Wildlife Conservation and are the pride of the country. In the Udawalawe Reserve, holidaymakers go on safari in an off-road vehicle – or on foot accompanied by experienced rangers. Only the leopards have survived the era of wars in Sri Lanka and are multiplying magnificently. Especially in Yala National Park, where there is said to be the largest population of spotted leopard beauties and where there is a good chance of getting them in front of the camera. Ferns grow tree-high in some parts of the national parks, and they are the refuge of crocodiles, mongooses, monkeys and numerous bird species.

Korallenriff Sri Lanka
A coral reef in Sri Lanka, Image: Dudarev Mikhail / shutterstock

Sri Lanka has many faces and the island is both wild and beautiful. And that’s why we speak of the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”, which is not taken from the brochures of international tourism, but is a very old predicate. As early as the Middle Ages, Sri Lanka was given this nickname by sailors because they particularly liked the white beaches lined with palm trees. The natural healing method Ayurveda was born in Sri Lanka and is practiced in many hotels and resorts on the island.

The picturesque beaches at Kikkaduwa and Beruwala are also so popular with holidaymakers because the beaches there slope very gently into the sea and because snorkelers and divers are taken with the coral reefs. “Trinco” is the name given by the inhabitants of Sri Lanka to a coastal town in the northeast. It is the short form for Trincomalee, which can be translated as “temple” and is deeply rooted in the consciousness of the islanders. According to legend, a huge temple once stood here under the rule of the Tamils – the largest in all of Asia. But so far, no one has found the remains of the so-called “Tirukoneswaram”, and no one knows whether the temple was destroyed by the Portuguese conquerors or whether it was the victim of natural forces.

The roads in Sri Lanka are mostly very winding, but behind every serpentine a new miracle can open up. The island, which was still marked on the maps as “Ceylon” some time ago, is full of secrets and surprises and is a region for experienced globetrotters that wants to be rediscovered after the past of a civil war.

Travel information Sri Lanka

Capital de facto: Colombo
de jure: Sri Jayawardenepura
Seat of government Sri Jayawardenepura
Form of government Republic
Presidential system
Currency Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Area approx. 65,610 km²
Population approx. 20,877,000 (2017)
Languages Sinhala, Tamil
Electricity grid 230 volts, 50 Hz
Area code +94
Time zone UTC+5:30

 

Poland – Monasteries, churches and lots of countryside

Patrick Jullien
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0
Poland – Monasteries, churches and lots of countryside

Where in Europe can you find a city with no less than 5,500 houses that are protected by a monument? The answer can be found in Poland – in Krakow! Trips to this tradition-conscious country lead to a region on Germany’s doorstep and to a diverse nature. Sometimes it is wild and unspoilt, then again lovely. And it harmonizes with the historic metropolises in a country that is characterized by the religiosity of its people and lives on the memory of a long struggle for freedom. Poland is the largest of the European agricultural countries with tiny farms that are hardly profitable. But a new idea developed in the country that gives tourism a chance. Since then, many a farmer has opened his homestead to holidaymakers.

Inmitten einer polnischen Stadtlandschaft mit modernen Wolkenkratzern steht unter einem teilweise bewölkten Himmel ein hohes, kunstvoll verziertes Gebäude mit einer Turmspitze. Grüne Bäume und städtische Straßen umgeben die Gebäude.
View of Warsaw, Image: PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek / shutterstock

A wild world even spreads in abundance here and there in Poland. It is a charming wilderness with centuries-old oaks – for example, in the reserve of Bialowieza. Some of these trees reach astonishing proportions and heights, and among them graze the last of the continent’s free-living bison. Anyone who hikes through these quiet forests as a holidaymaker hears unusual sounds of nature and smells that they can hardly describe. The four Polish national parks in the northeast are the green lungs of the country and stretch up to the border with Lithuania. Storks find their food in the meadows, and with a little luck you can even observe a moose from the observation towers along the hiking trails.

It is said of the youth in Poland that they were born in the East and at home in the West. Many of them have acquired the German language after completing their studies and are very open-minded towards holidaymakers in their country. The pubs, discotheques and restaurants in Poland have largely given themselves a modern touch, and the capital Warsaw is one of the rising stars among European metropolises. Hotel skyscrapers grow into the sky there, and if you want to see Warsaw from above, you should go to the observation deck of the 234-meter-high Palace of Culture.

Poland, Gdansk
Gdansk is also worth a visit, Image: Tomasz Guzowski / shutterstock

Krakow, which was the real centre of power in Poland until 1596, is completely different. In this city, a thousand-year history is alive and shows itself in a golden-shining splendor. Many see Krakow as a mixture of Jewish wit, Viennese humour and a pinch of oriental charm. In St. Mary’s Church, the high altar by the German carver genius Veit Stoss is a real eye-catcher, and the historic market square has always been a meeting place for the people of this city. In the famous Café Novorolski, the tradition of a coffee house is maintained, and the people of Krakow speak of it somewhat irreverently as a “cake temple”.

Krakow’s unique atmosphere has been attracting artists and students alike for many years. This is also because this town was never destroyed and the Wawel Castle was preserved, as were the almost one hundred monasteries and churches. A special flair spreads in the mountains of the Sudetes, which are crisscrossed by a network of hiking trails and attract skiers in winter. Gerhart Hauptmann lived here. “The Weavers” were created there. The Museum of the Hauptmann Brothers opens its doors in Szklarska Poreba, and a German-Polish meeting place has been established in the Gerhart Hauptmann House in Jagniatkow.

Although historic Wrocław has Polish, Bohemian and Prussian roots, it is mainly Silesian. The Oder flood of 1997 hit the city deeply, but it has since spruced itself up again. The so-called “Centennial Hall” by architect Max Berg fascinates with the largest free-floating dome in the world, and the old town with the cathedral island in the Oder is a listed building.

Travel information Poland

Capital Warsaw
Form of government parliamentary republic
parliamentary democracy
Currency Złoty (PLN)
Area approx. 312,679 km²
Population approx. 38,427,000 (2016)
Languages Polish
Electricity grid 130 volts, 50 Hz
Area code +48
Time zone UTC+1 CET
UTC+2 CEST (March to October)

 

Nepal – at the foot of an icy peak and very poor

Patrick Jullien
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0
Nepal – at the foot of an icy peak and very poor

Nepal, the country beneath the icy peaks of the Himalayas, has retained its unique charm. It has remained a dream destination and neither the movement of the hippies nor the horror of a devastating earthquake could do anything lasting to this region. The Nepalese are still convinced that their long way to nirvana leads through their capital Kathmandu. And anyone who strolls through this mystical metropolis as a visitor sometimes holds their breath. The temples and gods are decorated with flowers in Nepal. Many of the once fifty temples, pagodas and palaces in the center of Kathmandu were restored or at least provisionally repaired after the earthquake. Nepal owes this in particular to the income from tourism, because year after year more than 800,000 visitors travel to this poor and yet so rich country because of its culture.

Nepal, The Shanti Stupa Monument, Pokhara
The Shanti Stupa Monument, Pokhara, Image: Damian Pankowiec /shutterstock

England’s Queen Elizabeth II signed up for a visit to Nepal ten years after her coronation in 1961, causing considerable problems for her hosts. They wanted to offer the regent a worthy setting, but the dwarf state between India and Tibet was hardly prepared for this. So a small castle was hastily built, which was later converted into a restaurant. At that time, Nepal was still a blank spot on the map of international tourism. This only changed ten years later, when the “flower children” discovered this region for themselves. Probably also because the stuff that dreams are made of, which is forbidden in many places, was inexpensive and available everywhere.

The hippies left and the holidaymakers came. This was a blessing for the country, because now the license fees of an Everest ascent were joined by income from tourism. New hotels were built in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and those guests who expected a luxurious standard of accommodation also felt at home at Shangri La. The Hotel Shanker was housed in a hundred-year-old palace and in the Hotel Dwarika’s visitors encountered a dignified elegance that they would hardly have expected in this region.

Ein Wanderer mit einem roten Rucksack geht auf einem Bergpfad in Nepal durch einen mit Fahnen geschmückten Steinbogen, umgeben von üppig grünen Hügeln und fernen Gipfeln unter einem teilweise bewölkten Himmel.
A man on the Annapurna circuit trek in Nepal, Image: MOROZ NATALIYA / shutterstock

Almost twenty million people are at home in Nepal. Most of them live by cultivating their fields in the valleys and on the slopes of the mountains. But the usable area is very small, so that this country is still one of the poorest in the world. But the mountain farmers of the Gurung people bear their obvious poverty with great dignity.
If you don’t feel fit enough for trekking as a vacationer, you should at least try hiking in Nepal. Because in this country the sky knows no boundaries and the paths lead to lonely areas or to steep and green mountain slopes. The distant peaks of the Himalayan massif are enthroned above everything. For the guests from another world, this is a departure into breathlessness, because the air at altitude is quite thin. Kathmandu is already 1,500 meters above sea level. From the small airport, planes take off for an Everest sightseeing. The view of the highest mountain on earth is an unforgettable experience – provided there is a sky without clouds.

The flowering rhododendrons, which have their real home in the Himalayas before they adorned gardens in Europe and elsewhere, are the companions on hikes through Nepal. From the rice terraces and Poon Hill, the view falls on Annapurna and the mighty Dhaulagiri. The ice deserts of the eight-thousanders are within reach, especially in Pokhara. The city is the gateway to the historic kingdom of Mustang. The somewhat different Nepal can be seen on a safari in the Royal Chitwan National Park on the border with India. On the back of an elephant, visitors have the chance to experience tigers and rhinos in their ancestral territory.

Travel information Nepal

Capital Kathmandu
Form of government Parliamentary Federal Republic of Germany
Currency Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
Area approx. 147,181 km²
Population approx. 29,305,000 (2017)
Languages Nepali
Electricity grid 230 volts, 50 Hz
Area code +977
Time zone UTC+5:45

 

Malaysia – to headhunters and orangutans in the rainforest

Patrick Jullien
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0
Malaysia – to headhunters and orangutans in the rainforest

The rivers of Malaysia are said to be as clear as gin. This may well be a somewhat glorified depiction, because here and there the floods in the mysterious jungle are rather murky. But if you glide through this green wonderland in the longboat of the locals, you feel like you’re in paradise and tend to dream.

The country, which affords an elective monarchy and in which the king rules for only five years at a time, is spread with its thirteen states on the Malay Peninsula and parts of the island of Borneo – separated by the South China Sea. Deep forests dominate the scenery north of Singapore as well as in Sarawak, where the last nomads of Southeast Asia live. This region is considered the far and wild east of the state.

Malaysia Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, Image: Patrick Photo / shutterstock

If you choose a trip to Sarawak for your holiday, you are embarking on a journey through time. Because in the middle of the rainforest with its many colorful butterflies, wild boars and isolated clouded leopards live the descendants of Borneo’s notorious headhunters. Many a tourist is haunted by a strange feeling when he sees a bundle of wire with skeletonized skulls under the ceiling of the longhouses of the people of the Iban tribe in Sarawak.

They are the gruesome remains of Japanese soldiers who fell victim to headhunters during their invasion of Borneo during World War II. Since that time, the manhunt has been banned in Malaysia.

There are only a few roads on the third largest island in the world, and if you turn your back on the metropolis of Kuching, you will end up in the jungle after a few meters. The rainforest still exists – despite the state-ordered and apparently lucrative tree clearance. In Gunung Mulu National Park on the border with the oil-rich neighboring state of Brunei, boat trips and hikes lead to the famous caves. 67 species of mammals and over 260 different species of bird life are at home in the jungles of Malaysia. But also 74 species of frogs, tree monkeys, bearded pigs, honey bears and rhinoceros birds.

Ein malerischer Kanal, gesäumt von farbenfrohen historischen Gebäuden und prächtigen Blumen, an dem Menschen in Straßencafés speisen und in der Abenddämmerung unter blauem Himmel am Wasser entlang spazieren.
Malacca in southwestern Malaysia, Image: Leonid Andronov / shutterstock

It is an unforgettable experience to listen to the sounds of the forest after dark and to enjoy the lovemaking of the fireflies. The Semenggoh Wildlife Centre was founded in 1975 and is a breeding and reintroduction station for orangutans. The animals are fed twice a day, and a guide explains where the orphaned or maltreated creatures were caught and how they want to nurse them back to health in the rehabilitation center. Many orangutans previously lived in captivity of private owners.

The contrast to a visit to the Malaysian part of Borneo is a round trip across the peninsula. Many holidaymakers start in Singapore or fly directly to the capital Kuala Lumpur with its skyscrapers and the Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad Palace, the longest of all buildings. Behind the impressive backdrop resides the country’s Supreme Court. The Petronas Towers tower over the city and were the tallest buildings in the world until 2004. The Observation Deck on the 86th floor connects the two towers. The KL City Gallery is a museum and conveys impressions of the becoming and being of the city. In the Bukit Bintang district, all those who want to shop in a big city will get their money’s worth. This also applies to Chinatown on Petaling Street with a colorful spectacle every evening.

The kingdom on the Strait of Malacca delights visitors on a round trip but also with wonderful beaches. On the South China Sea, the word Perhentian can be translated as “place to linger” in the north. The colorful fishing boats bob in the small harbor, and turtles lay their eggs on the beach at night. The island of Tioman with its fine sandy beach is not only a popular destination for backpackers.

And Langkawi is the collective name of a group of around a hundred limestone islands on the border with Thailand. Penang is a melting pot of cultures and something like the epitome of the diversity of peoples of this interesting country in Southeast Asia.

Travel information Malaysia

Capital Kuala Lumpur
Form of government Federal, parliamentary electoral monarchy
Currency Ringgit (MYR)
Area approx. 330,290 km²
Population approx. 31,164,000 (2017 est.)
Languages Malaysian
Electricity grid 230/240 volts, 50 Hz
Area code +60
Time zone UTC+8

 

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