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Sri Lanka – where elephants bathe in tranquil lakes

PatrickJullien
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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.

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

 

Romania – Dracula is just a movie character

PatrickJullien
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Romania – Dracula is just a movie character

Times have also changed in Romania, although travelers can remember that just a few decades ago they had to knock on the door of the village priest to secure a camp for the night. In the meantime, Romania has shed the status of a tourist developing country, and even in the most remote regions of Maramures or the Banat, the sign “Retea turistica” can be read on the freshly painted wooden houses. The charming guesthouses of rural Romania almost without exception have a shower, and the price of accommodation often includes a hearty dinner and, of course, the family connection. Once upon a time, the dreaded Romanian despot Ceausescu had forbidden guests to be accommodated in private houses under penalty. The course of history overthrew the dictator and released the land between the Black Sea and the Pannonian Plain from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Romania, Bucharest – Palace of Parliament
The Palace of Parliament in Bucharest – One of the largest buildings in the world in terms of surface area

For centuries, a number of peoples have shaped the face of this region and also its cultures. In the beginning, it was Romans and Greeks who left their mark on Romania, later came Jews, Germans and Austrians. And so there are still numerous traces of history in Transylvania today. Viennese cuisine has influenced gastronomic idiosyncrasies since the era of the Habsburg monarchy, and in the once fortified Transylvania, around 150 fortified churches can still be visited. They once had the task of protecting themselves from the pillaging Tatars and the Turks.

Slender towers and roofs covered with shingles are the hallmarks of the impressive wooden churches in Romania. They are made of wood for a good reason, because the villages were forbidden to build Orthodox places of worship out of stone. UNESCO has declared eight historically particularly valuable churches in Maramures as World Heritage Sites. On a round trip through Romania, the picturesque landscape with its wide fields is particularly fascinating. On them, it is almost always the horses that take over the work – as they have always done. Here and there, holidaymakers have to do without their usual comfort in the West in the hotels and guesthouses if they are off the beaten track or have even set off on a trekking in the Carpathians.

Romania, Waterfall
One of the many beautiful waterfalls in Romania, Image: Vania Tonova / shutterstock

Many a traveller searches Romania for the traces of the legendary “Dracula”. Although there was a prince named Vlad Dracul III, who served as a model for the blood-sucking demon and saw the light of day in the colorful and fairytale Sighisoara, “Dracula” is actually just a movie character. Sighisoara, with its winding medieval streets and the colourful houses of the old town, is a real eye-catcher and a Transylvanian showpiece. But there are no vampires here either – and hardly any inhabitant hangs a bundle of garlic on the front door to ward off the supposed bloodsuckers.

However, said Prince Dracula is said to have been a feared fighter who, according to tradition, slew his opponents with stakes, which earned him the nickname “Vlad the Impaler” during his lifetime. In 1477, however, he was defeated and his severed head is said to have pleased Sultan Mohammed II in Constantinople. Supposedly, the bones of the prince found their final resting place in the monastery of Snagov on a small island near Bucharest.

The capital Bucharest is proud of its past and presents it with an impressive Palace of the President, the Square of the Patriarchs and a triumphal arch, among other things. It is a metropolis with confectioner-style houses and a remarkable art and culture scene. Sibiu, which can also be found on the maps as Sibiu, became the European Capital of Culture in 2007, and Brasov is something like the stony conscience of historic Transylvania. For many visitors, the picturesque centre with its baroque and Gothic facades serves as the starting point for their activities in Romania. And thus in a country with a social divide and many hospitable people.

Travel information Romania

Capital Bucharest
Form of government Republic
Semi-presidential system
Currency Leu (RON)
Area approx. 238,391 km²
Population approx. 19,870,000 (2016)
Languages Romanian
Electricity grid 220/230 volts, 50 Hz
Area code +40
Time zone UTC+2 EET
UTC+3 EEST (March to October)

 

Réunion – a fragrant flower and coral gardens

PatrickJullien
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Réunion – a fragrant flower and coral gardens

No question: Paradise can hardly be more beautiful! Réunion is not just any island in the Indian Ocean – it is probably the most versatile. Anyone who stands on the summit of the two-thousand-metre-high Maido and looks down at the white beaches and the exciting coral gardens is undoubtedly an enviable person. Experienced mountain guides accompany holidaymakers to the volcanoes and many a Creole hums the enchanting anthem of this island on the way. She tells of the bourbon vanilla that once gave this island its name. “P’tit fleur fanée” – the product of a small fragrant flower made Réunion famous all over the world in the 19th century, because bourbon vanilla is considered one of the most expensive spices of all and is still an important export good.

Reunion, Saint Denis
View of Saint Denis, Image: julienjanusko / shutterstock

This island is something like the French outpost in the waters of the Indian Ocean. It is manageable and has a land area roughly the size of Luxembourg. Since the end of the Second World War, Réunion has been designated as a department of the European motherland. Here you pay your bills in euros, and it is an advantage to know at least a few chunks of the French language if you stay in one of the beautiful hotels or resorts there. On the nautical charts, Réunion can be found two thousand kilometres away from the African continent, and it was the discoverers of the seafaring nation of Portugal who were the first to land here in the 16th century.

Rocky coasts and almost impenetrable rainforests can be found in the south of the island. Les Hauts and Saint-Joseph are a hiking area that is being visited by more and more holidaymakers because the flowering gardens extend to higher altitudes and where the island has retained its original appearance. The most impressive beaches are located on the west side of Réunion and invite you to take long walks on the fine black or white sand. The lagoons open up to the open sea where the coral banks are intact and where a colorful underwater world spreads. An interesting agricultural museum has been housed in a former factory in the centre of Saint Leu, where the story of coffee and sugar cane cultivation is told.

One beautiful beach follows the other, Image: Balate Dorin / shutterstock

As a holidaymaker, you should not miss the cemetery of the seafarers. Among other things, the notorious pirate La Buse has been laid to rest on it. The buccaneer of the seas was brought before the judge in shackles on Réunion in 1730 and sentenced to death. But the poet Leconte Delisle, who put his lyrical verses on paper based on the model of ancient Greek tragedy, is also buried in the cemetery of the seafarers.

Many inhabitants of Réunion have lost their hearts to the sport of surfing. Dancing on and with the waves is their passion, because they find the best conditions for practicing their daring jumps off the coast of Saint Leu. A special speciality and part of the World Cup there is the “Left Wave”. At the Kélonia Centre, turtles are nursed back to health and later released on the beaches.

At Boucan Canot, water sports are at home in all its facets. There, a six-hundred-metre-long steel net protects holidaymakers from possible shark attacks.

Almost exactly in the middle of the island lies the town of Cilaos with its thermal springs. It is located in a valley basin and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Settlers ploughed this lovely valley at the foot of the often snow-covered Piton de Neiges as early as the 18th century. If you want a special adrenaline kick during your holiday, you can try canyoning in the “Iron Gorge” in the Fleurs Jaunes. Rèunion is an ideal long-distance destination for people who are enthusiastic about trekking or hiking, but also want to switch off on deserted beaches and bays.

Facts about Réunion

  1. French Overseas Department: Réunion is a French overseas department and thus an integral part of France and the European Union.
  2. Currency: As it is a part of France, the official currency is the Euro (€).
  3. Population and language: The majority of the population speaks French, and there are also a variety of creole languages. The island has a diverse population with African, European, Malagasy, and Asian roots.
  4. Landscape and topography: Réunion is of volcanic origin and is home to two volcanoes: the Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and the Piton des Neiges, the highest point in the Indian Ocean.
  5. Economy: Réunion’s economy is mainly based on the service sector, but agriculture, especially the cultivation of sugar cane, also plays an important role.
  6. Tourism: Known for its stunning scenery, hiking trails, beaches and water sports, Réunion attracts many tourists.
  7. Nature and biodiversity: The island is home to many endemic species, i.e. species that do not occur naturally anywhere else in the world. There are also three marine nature reserves around Réunion.
  8. Climate: Réunion has a tropical climate, with a warm and humid period from November to April and a cooler and drier period from May to October.
  9. Culinary diversity: Réunion’s cuisine is a mix of French, Indian, African, and Chinese influences, and it’s known for its spices and flavors.
  10. Piton de la Fournaise: The Piton de la Fournaise is one of the most frequently erupted volcanoes in the world and a major attraction for tourists and scientists.
  11. Education: Réunion has a high literacy rate, and there are various institutions of higher education on the island, including a university, the Université de la Réunion.

The main festivals in Réunion

Various traditional and cultural festivals are celebrated on Réunion. Here are some of the festivities that take place on the island:

  1. Fête de la Liberté: This festival is celebrated on December 20 and marks the end of slavery in Réunion. It is a public holiday on the island and is celebrated with music, dancing and parades.
  2. Fête de la Musique: On June 21, Réunion, as in other parts of the world, celebrates the Fête de la Musique, or World Music Day. During this festival, there are many free concerts and music events.
  3. Le Dipavali: The Dipavali, the Festival of Lights, is an important Hindu festival in Réunion that celebrates the victory of light over darkness. It is celebrated with processions, dance performances and the lighting of lamps.
  4. Mardi Gras: As in many other parts of the world, Réunion celebrates Carnival or Mardi Gras, with parades, masks, costumes and music.
  5. Fête du Miel Vert: This festival usually takes place in January and is an important agricultural festival dedicated to honey and other local products.
  6. Fête du Choca: This is a culinary festival dedicated to the Choca plant. During the festival, there will be tastings and the opportunity to taste traditional dishes.
  7. Tamil New Year: The Tamil New Year is celebrated every year in April and includes traditional dances, music and culinary specialties.
  8. Grand Raid: Also known as La Diagonale des Fous, this ultra trail running event is one of the toughest in the world, attracting thousands of participants and spectators every year.
  9. Chinese New Year: Chinese New Year is also celebrated in Réunion, as there is a significant Chinese community. It is celebrated with dragon dance, lion dance and fireworks.
  10. National Day: On July 14, Réunion, like the rest of France, celebrates National Day with parades, fireworks and other festivities.

Poland – Monasteries, churches and lots of countryside

PatrickJullien
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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.

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)

 

Panama – two oceans and a canal

PatrickJullien
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Panama – two oceans and a canal

“Panama,” said the little bear, “Panama is our dream country, because it smells of bananas from top to bottom…” And then he set off with the tiger to the supposed dreamland, which the two never reached in Janosch’s children’s book. Rather, some time later, they realized that the country of their dreams was not to be found in central America, but on their own doorstep. “Oh, how beautiful is Panama” is the title of this sympathetic bestseller. And Janosch was undoubtedly right in his assessment, because Panama is indeed beautiful. Very beautiful, in fact, because it consists of lush pastures, white beaches with many palm trees, a breathtaking jungle and cities worth seeing from the colonial era of the country. And then there is the Panama Canal, which is still of paramount importance for world shipping because it spares the giants of the seas the detour via South America on their journey from San Francisco to New York .

Panama, Panama Canal
The Panama Canal, Image: Galina Savina / shutterstock

The floods of two oceans wash around the country – the Atlantic and the Pacific. In some places, Panama is so narrow that the idea of a canal was born early on. After all, the sea route was shortened by a whopping almost 15,000 kilometres. The North Americans in particular had a great interest in the realization of this bold plan for economic and strategic reasons. Thus, the United States was the owner of the important waterway until the end of the last century. Actually, the French diplomat’s offspring Ferdinand de Lesseps had also wanted to build the Panama Canal, because it had already rendered outstanding services to the Suez Canal. But in the late 19th century, his plan failed because malaria killed seven of his workers every day and drove de Lesseps into bankruptcy. The bankruptcy estate was acquired by American President Theodore Roosevelt, thus securing American dominance in Panama.

Panama, Panama City
Panama City, Image: Gualberto Becerra / shutterstock

On August 15, 1914, two hundred passengers stood at the railing when the mail steamer “Ancona” became the first ship to cross the 82 kilometers of the canal. Three locks have to be passed, which compensates for the difference to Lake Gatun. The Panama Canal is still hailed as a marvel of engineering, and tourists on board praise the scenic beauty on both shores near the Soberiania National Park. The tropical rainforest is home to numerous endangered animals, and the cries of capuchin monkeys and colorful parrots accompany travelers on their leisurely passage.

UNESCO has placed some of Panama’s scenic and historical wonders on its World Heritage List. For example, the Spanish fortresses of San Lorenzo and Portobelo as well as the old town of Panama City with the mighty cathedral from 1796 and those ruins that are the work of destruction by the Welsh buccaneer Henry Morgan. In his heyday, said Morgan was the commander-in-chief of no less than 36 ships.

Where is the Southern Cross? This is a question that many holidaymakers near the equator ask themselves. On the enchanting Robinson Islands off Panama, the stars have a particularly intense shine. On Isla Colon with its Bocas del Toro National Park, there is even a “Beach of the Stars”. But this is more due to the numerous starfish that can be found here near the beach. This is the ancestral region of the Kuna Indians, and since they gained sovereignty over the San Blas region after a rebellion, any tourist who wants to enter one of the almost deserted islands must submit an application to the Kuna village council.

The Indians of the Embera tribe are also proud owners of their land. They accompany vacationers in their canoes on the Chagres River, which winds lazily through Panama’s deep jungle. Panama has many faces, and those who are good on their feet and do not suffer from shortness of breath are even drawn up to the picture-book volcano Baru.

Travel information Panama

Capital Panama City
Form of government Republic
Presidential democracy
Currency Balboa (PAB)
U.S. Dollar (USD)
Area approx. 75,517 km²
Population approx. 4,098,000 (2017)
Languages Spanish
Electricity grid 110 volts, 60 Hz (Panama City 120 volts)
Area code +507
Time zone UTC-5

 

Norway – to the waterfall of the “Seven Sisters”

PatrickJullien
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Norway – to the waterfall of the “Seven Sisters”

Forests, clouds, water – these are the attributes of one of the most beautiful countries in the world – Norway. Norwegians are said to have a certain gratitude for their nature, if only because the gigantic fjords and mighty mountains of their homeland separate them from the rest of humanity. This is certainly a little exaggerated, because a large part of the five million inhabitants are cosmopolitan and meet travelers with great open-mindedness.

This is a country where the waterfalls shine almost magically, where the sea loses its excitement in the fjords and where almost all the cities are located on the coast. “Yes, we love this land that, gnawed by the sea and furrowed with a thousand homes, rises out of the floods”. With these words, a certain Björnstjerne Björnson wrote the lyrics of Norway’s national anthem. It is a declaration of love to a country where the magic of the North reveals itself in many aspects and in images that will never be forgotten.

Norway, Oslo
View of Oslo, Image: Damien VERRIER / shutterstock

Norway is a destination in all seasons. The days of summer are long and usually blessed by a mild climate. The weeks of winter in Lofoten are clear and cold and convey a very special charm on the threshold of the Arctic. This is a large and quiet region that reaches up to the waters of the Arctic Ocean on the maps and is the epitome of vastness and nature in its original state. Someone once said that Norwegians are born with a backpack. And there is probably a little more than just a pinch of truth in it, because in hardly any other refuge on the old continent are there so many hikers between the romantic Oslo Fjord and the Nordic Hammerfest.

Norway, Bergen
Historical places in Bergen, Image: Grisha Bruev / shutterstock

This is a rich country, because the people of Norway grabbed their luck with both hands when the oil fields were discovered off their coasts. Since then, a certain prosperity has set in in the Scandinavian model country. Which in turn means that traveling through Norway is not exactly cheap. And yet nature with all its gigantic facets is worth booking a holiday in Europe’s northernmost country. The hiker – but also the car driver – is enthusiastic about landscapes that could be the product of the third day of creation.

Almost all round trips through Norway start in the capital Oslo, and the fjord of the same name winds its way to the metropolis for exactly one hundred kilometers. If you stand at the railing of one of the large ships that plough through this slender sea passage, you get a taste of what awaits you inland. In the harbour of the capital there is a town hall that looks like a fortress to the arrivals and of which the holidaymakers probably only learn from the travel guide that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded there every year.

Oslo is dedicated to culture and Norwegian memory. Both are evident not only in Gustav Vigeland’s sculpture park, but above all on Museum Island on the periphery of the harbour, where Heyerdal’s raft Kon Tiki and Fridjof Nansen’s “Fram” can be admired. With it, the Norwegian drifted through the ice of the Arctic. And this as early as the end of the 19th century. Towering above it all is the legendary Holmenkollen, where the cradle of Nordic skiing stood and where the huge ski jump cannot be overlooked even from the ship.

Bergen with its local mountain Floyen presents itself as a good parlour of pop music and yet is first and foremost a port for fishermen. One of the most popular regions in the country is the Geirangerfjord, and anyone who has ever experienced the waterfall of the “Seven Sisters” will never forget this picture. The passengers on board a Hurtigruten ship humbly see the unique panorama from below. This is a visual highlight in this fascinating revue of the elements.

Travel information Norway

Capital Oslo
Form of government Hereditary Monarchy
constitutional monarchy with strong parliamentary features
Currency Norwegian krone (NOK)
Area approx. 323,802 km²
Population approx. 5,258,300 (2017)
Languages Norwegian
Electricity grid 230 volts, 50 Hz
Area code +47
Time zone UTC+1 CET
UTC+2 CEST (March to October)

 

Nuremberg – “The apple of the eye of princes and lords”

PatrickJullien
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Nuremberg – “The apple of the eye of princes and lords”

The city of the Meistersinger and Hans Sachs, the city of Albrecht Dürer, the first German railway and the inventor of the pocket watch Peter Henlein is not a city of slug window romanticism. The destruction in the Second World War has taken away all illusions in this respect. However – a big compliment to the Nuremberg city fathers: They resisted the temptation to build a concrete city on the ruins of the old town. Architects and craftsmen carefully resurrected the historic core city. As if in magic, they restored imaginatively and skillfully. The choirs and oriels have been adapted to the medieval heritage. The historic old town determines the image of the Franconian metropolis in a wonderful way. Nuremberg is cozy, traditional, hospitable, interesting, original and dynamic.

In the heart of the city of Nuremberg

How strongly one is connected to Nuremberg’s city history is shown by the popular Old Town walks of the Nuremberg “Association of Friends of the Old Town”. The city can also be discovered unaccompanied. The starting point could be the main market. Here, the column of the oldest fountain in the city protrudes like a Gothic church spire. In the background, the towers of St. Sebaldus’ Church appear. The spacious square offers visitors from all over the world enough space for a magnificent view up to the mighty “Nourenberg”.

Meanwhile, the half-timbering of respectable citizens impresses and a turret contemplatively adorns the Pilatus House. Right across the street is the house of Nuremberg’s most famous man: Albrecht Dürer. On the approximately three-hour circular route, visitors enjoy a magical flair. Similar to a journey through time, they encounter countless locations. The town hall with hole prisons invites you to take an exciting tour. The 14th-century dungeons are in their original state and house torture chambers and a blacksmith’s workshop. The “Fränkische Weinstube” in the Handwerkerhof invites you to stop for a bite to eat.

The farm is located in the middle of the city, framed by the towers and walls of the five-kilometre-long city fortifications. Small, delightful half-timbered houses adorn this mini-city. Here you can look over the shoulders of the craftsmen and buy beautiful products. If you don’t shy away from the ascent to the Kaiserburg after all these impressions, you will be rewarded with a beautiful view over the city.

All kinds of interesting facts about the “treasure chest of the empire”

The crowning landmark of the old town is the Imperial Castle, which towers over the city on a mighty sandstone rock. 32 German emperors and kings have written German history from here. The Imperial Castle is one of the most important castle complexes in Central Europe. Particularly interesting are the romantic castle chapel, the knights’ and emperor’s hall as well as the Sinwell Tower. Discovering historic Nuremberg is easy. Visitors can reach countless art treasures and monuments on short distances. The three largest medieval churches are located directly at the foot of the Imperial Castle. In the middle of the closed half-timbered building at Tiergärtner Tor is Albrecht Dürer’s residence. He bought it in 1509 and lived in it until his death in 1528. A museum documents his life and work. After a stroll through history, a visit to the toy museum is recommended.

Where children’s dreams come true, well-known traditional companies have their headquarters today. For over 30 years, the Toy Museum has been captivating young and old. The “Nuremberg trinkets” have a tradition. No less famous is the Nuremberg Christmas Market. Who will leave Nuremberg without having nibbled on the historic gingerbread or tasted the Nuremberg bratwurst?

Not to forget, the lyre of the Frauenkirche. The carillon of Nuremberg’s Frauenkirche on the market square is something special: at 12 noon sharp, the 7 electors step out of the gable wall and pay homage to the emperor. This was once stipulated by Charles IV in his imperial constitution.

Tip: The castle district of Nuremberg is also lively at night and invites you to varied moments with a variety of pubs, culinary meetings and cabaret stages.

Nuremberg, Christmas Market, Frauenkirche
The Nuremberg Christmas Market. In the background you can see the Frauenkirche, Image: Mapics / shutterstock

Nuremberg, the city of museums and important personalities

As in only a few other major German cities, a large number of museums are concentrated on the Pegnitz, some of them of extraordinary importance. The Germanisches Nationalmuseum inspires with 1.2 million cultural-historical objects. The Kunsthalle Nürnberg presents impressive contemporary art and the Stadtmuseum Fembohaus invites you to 950 years of city history.

Not to forget the numerous personalities who made history in Nuremberg. In addition to Albrecht Dürer: Martin Behaim (1459-1507) – builder of the first globe, Adam Kraft (1455-1508) – sculptor, Hans Sachs (1494-1576) – poet and master singer and Peter Henlein (1480-15429) – inventor of the pocket watch. Nuremberg is a true “treasure chest”.

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

PatrickJullien
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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.

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

PatrickJullien
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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.

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

 

Madagascar – Wonders and Paths in the Land of Smiles

PatrickJullien
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Madagascar – Wonders and Paths in the Land of Smiles

This is a land of smiles, lobsters and lemurs. Madagascar is a country beyond Africa, and it is so very different from many regions of the Black Continent. On this large island, holidaymakers can expect a very wide range of impressions and encounters with people who have allied themselves with nature. Knowing full well that this idyll is their greatest treasure.

Madagascar invites you to extensive round trips, because the island is as big as Belgium and France combined. Imposing mountains, green rice terraces, a steppe in the highlands and tropical forests. All this alternates permanently before the eyes of the viewer. The coastline of Madagascar measures 4,800 kilometers, and the beaches are almost always deserted and paradises for divers and snorkelers.

Madagascar, Beach
A picturesque beach in Madagascar, Image: YuG / shutterstock

The deep south of Madagascar begins in a semi-desert not far from Tuléar. Although it rarely rains here, visitors feel that this region is full of life. After all, aloe, euphorbia and didiera thrive here. The farmers in this remote area herd their goats and hope for the blessing from above, which rarely comes in the form of wet cooling. A tasty goat’s cheese is produced here, and the people of this region profess Christianity – but also the creator god Zanahary. They seek advice from their deceased and regard them as mediators between heaven and earth. Superstition has become entrenched in the consciousness of many inhabitants of the Malagasy south.

There are also beaches in the south, but if you are looking for a postcard motif, you should look around in the tropical north of the island. For example, at Ramena, at the Baie de Sakalava or at Mer d’Emeraud east of Diego Suarez. The divers find a shipwreck on Nosy Be at a depth of twenty meters, where schools of colorful fish have settled and the coral reefs are fairly unscathed. Manta rays and whale sharks can be found there, as well as more than thirty different species of dolphins and whales. They find an excellent habitat in the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean.

Madagascar, Wildlife
The animal world in Madagascar is diverse, Image: alfotokunst / shutterstock

Most holidaymakers only know the shy lemurs from the local zoos, but in Madagascar you can observe them in the wild. It is only strange that the Romans, of all people, gave this name to the semi-apes, although the animals were never native to Italy . But the Romans used lemur in their mythology to refer to the spirit of a dead person, which probably led to the people of Madagascar recognizing their reincarnated ancestors in the cute lemurs. In the tropical forests and the deep gorges of the fourth largest island in the world, the lemurs feed on insects and leaves.

Flora and fauna present themselves in Madagascar in their most abundant form, and on the beaches of the mostly uninhabited smaller islands, even the rare red-tailed tropicbirds breed. Thanks to the large number of endemic creatures, Madagascar is something like a museum of creation and a Garden of Eden. The cornucopia of nature also opens up in the Anjajary Nature Reserve, where the bungalows by the sea meet all the requirements of eco-tourism. They are oases of peace in a land of smiles.

Often, the rivers are the fastest way to get around in the jungle of the island. If you entrust yourself to the boats of locals on the Pangalanes Canal, you will pass picturesque villages every now and then, whose houses crouch on the shore and where the women do the laundry and whose children play in a flourishing water world. Madagascar fulfills all the wishes of holidaymakers for a stay in an exotic environment. A dinner by the light of the candles, the lapping of the waves and an indescribable starry sky at night. Madagascar is a poor and yet so rich country.

Travel information Madagascar

Capital Antananarivo
Form of government Republic
Semi-presidential system of government
Currency Ariary (MGA)
Area approx. 587,295 km²
Population approx. 24.900.00
Languages Malagasy and French
Electricity grid 127/220 volts, 50 Hz
Area code +261
Time zone UTC+3

 

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