QUESTIONS WHICH PEOPLE ASK ME:
What is my favorite country and why? This is a very common one, and a very hard one to answer. This also depends on what time you ask. Most of the countries I have been to have been great to see, or been great to me. I try and not compare the countries too much with another, but sometimes you can (i.e. Latvia and Lithuania, or Luxembourg and Belgium). So far (at the time of writing this - July 2008) my second favorite country has to be the small island of Malta, just south of Italy. The people of the island are so friendly and to be honest, really love the English. They are also helpful, charming and a quiet sort of people. The island itself is peaceful, and has beautiful landscape. The buildings have different styles, dating back to the Islam days and current every day life styles to its villas and every day hotels. The island is rich in history and believes in the religion of the Catholics. Malta is also a fantastic holiday destination in the summer, but unfortunately does not have that many sandy beaches. If you want somewhere warm in Europe, with history, shopping and relaxation, come to Malta.
Ok, my favorite country now is Russia, which I plan to back there in the near future as it is so HUGE! I only been to Moscow, but it is such a wonderful city and I loved it. Nice people, made so many new friends, nice attractions and very safe to walk around. Only snag is that it is so expensive like Finland and London. I have always been interested in Russian history, language (which I am currently studying) and people, since I was a little child and the country has met my expirations!
Here is my top 10 countries:
1) Russia - Moscow - my favorite city but a bit expensive. Rest of Russia is to be explored soon!
2) Malta - a beautiful island
3) Transylvania area, Romania - love the snow and the mountains in the winter, especially in Brasov area.
4) Austria - The Alps - and the food of course.
5) Latvia - My second home & have traveled here over 50 times!
6) Slovenia - very scenic & love Lake Bled
7) Italy - starting to love the countryside of Italy and sea resorts like Rimini. Don't really like Milan and Rome mind you!
8) Greece - people are great but sometimes hard as nails. Love the islands & some places are a photographers paradise
9) France - used to be my second home.
10) Holland - love the people and food here. Bit flat mind you!
What is my least favorite country and why? Another common country...and to answer this. I would have to say Ireland and some parts of Italy. Ireland, because when I went to Dublin, the people were so rude, from the waitresses to the bus drivers...to the sales assistants in the main shopping malls. Even the local police weren’t that helpful. Italy is kind of the same. But only in the main cities. The people are also rude and try to rip you off. This is common in Rome and Milan. The countryside of Italy and smaller towns such as Bergamo are great, but it is a shame that the cities let Italy down for me.
What historical monument/building has made an impression on you? This would have to be the Vatican City in the smallest state in the world, named Vatican City. I am not a religious person, but this place gives you an impact, and people from all different backgrounds come here. The events which have gone on here in the past, like the funeral of late John Paul to the new pope, Benedict...gives this place a lot of edge. It is a respectful place, a place of hope and freedom, and the heart of the catholic world. The buildings are spacious and wonderful, from the chapel to the square.
Which part of the natural world have you enjoyed the most? The natural world is god's gift to us (or the way the Earth has turned out to be over the course of millions and millions of years) so this can be a hard question to answer. If its mountains. the Italian Alps near Bergamo has fantastic views and a gives you a piece of quiet time. If its forests and lakes, then it would have to be the Gauja National Park in Latvia or around Nokia and Tampere in Finland. Caves, this would be a hard one. This is a choice between the Ice Caves in Werfen in Austria and the caves near Ljubljana in Slovenia.
What has been the saddest sight on your travels? One of the saddest sights I have seen is at Riga Zoo in Latvia. This is because it is still a soviet style zoo, and big animals like bears and lions kept in small enclosure and not getting the right treatment for a zoo. I have been here on four occasions now, and it gets sadder every time I go.
But the saddest sight, and the saddest experience of my life as well of my travels would have to Auschwitz death camps in southern Poland. No place on Earth has made me feel so sad, thinking about the tens of thousands of peoples who lost their life's here for no reason at all! The place gives you a real insight on what happened here, and a lot of things have sickened and saddened me on the visit, and gives you more in mental strength that life and health means more and should cherish it more and look after it.
Best transport you have traveled on? Metro/underground would have to be Helsinki, Finland. Very fast and efficient. For costs, it would be the Rome transport system. Trains - Austria (Deutsche Bann) are always good and cheap and also Eurostar, especially now the high speed lines are now up and running between London, Brussels and Paris.
Best Airport traveled through? There are some weird and wonderful airports in Europe, and then there is the bad ones as well. Tampere was a shock when I first traveled there. There was this new terminal building I saw when cruising down the runway, and thought, wow, its modern for a old airfield. Then when the airport marshals moved us of the plane and towards another building, a wooden shack next to this new terminal building. It was like a cattle shed, very small and cramp. Passport control officers look like Uncle Festa out of the Adams Family movie. It was all a shock, but it was an wonderful experience and is one of my favorite airports. For design, Brno in Czech Republic was good. But Porto for me is the most modern airport with fantastic transport connections into the city. Both airports, the staff were polite, fast and can handy the checking in very quickly. In England, there is not many airports I can say I like. But Stansted is the best for me, and that is saying something.
Worst Airport traveled through? Straight away, Rome Ciampino. It is chaos! I wouldn’t even advise people to travel through here. The transport connections can be havoc with local buses to and from the local metro system, especially if there is an traffic jam, and then the departure hall is small, crowded, and then the boarding gates, you got three flights to one gate, causing a load of chaos. It is not worth it!
Airline to travel with? I have only traveled short haul across Europe so far. But I have always used Ryanair and I am so used to them. If you are used to no frills carriers, then Ryanair is the one to fly with. Other than that, I had good experience with Air Malta and would recommend flying with them. The worst ones are British Airways, just so dam rude the staff and Air Baltic. Air Baltic's staff doesn't even tell the Russian passengers to turn there phones off during the flight. It is madness. But other than that there are ok. Easyjet are ok to fly with, but are losing there label as a no frills carrier.
How far would you travel for a weekend break? Europe is getting easier to travel to (all parts) and I feel I would go anywhere for a short weekend break. Even Riga, Latvia just to see the misses. The most ideal long weekend break I would like to try is Istanbul, but we will see.
What do you never travel without? I always take with me my camera with SD Cards and spare batteries. I love photography. Otherwise, the other would be my fiancee Olga. I wish she could join every adventure I go on.
Which three items do you always pack? One is always my camera. Two - my Swiss army penknife, and Three - a map of the destinations I am going to. Apart from Latvia and UK.
What was your first travel experience? My first travel experience which I can remember when I was around 5-6 years old was a week in Pontins holiday camp in Southport, UK and a Butlins holiday camp in North Wales. The great British summer holiday. There was sod all to do in North Wales.
What has been your favorite journey? Doing a road trip from Tampere to Helsinki in Finland, with heavy snow lying everywhere, and watching closely for moose's and reindeer's to cross the highway, while listening to local radio shows and their Gothics sounds. :) Otherwise the train journey from Pula, Croatia to Ljubljana in Slovenia was good, going through the Slovenian alps and watching the countryside just rolling pass, relaxing after a hot day by the sea.
Which passport stamp would you most like to have? North Korea...so secretive. Nice to get a visa with it as well.
Where or what is your guilty travel pleasure? trying a local beer, or the local chocolate.
If you have any other questions, then message me and I will answer you on this page. I would like to say a big thank you for all the people I have come across on my travels, especially Maria in Lithuania, Hullam Hostel in Lake Balaton, Hungary and Tea Vidic in Ljubjlana for making the adventures in this country a little bit easier on me (and my travel buddies and Olga who are with me). Also a big thank you for people who are helping me and Ollie Tong on our trips to Poland and Romania in January, what a adventure that is going to be and a big thank you to Anna in Moscow, who is going to help us with Visas etc for our trip in April.
Paldies!
I hope you enjoy this travel page..and is always been updated. It be great to hear from people who love traveling and who can keep giving me advice and tips. I will get outside Euroland...one day.
Danik The Explorer! :)
COUNTRIES VISITED -
COUNTRY CITY VISITED OTHER AREAS VISITED
Albania Sanadra
Austria - Osterreich Wien - Vienna Bregenz, Linz, Salzburg, Villach, Werfen
Belarus Minsk Brest
Belgium - Belgie, Belgique Brussels - Bruxelles Adinkirke, Brugge,
Chareloi, Gent, Ostend
Bulgaria Sofia Golden Sands, Varna
Croatia - Hrvatska Pula
Czech Republic - Cesk? Republika Praha - Prague Brno, Kunta Hora
England London Stevenage, Hitchin, too many places - just ask me. All over really. lol
Estonia - Eesti Tallinn Parnu, Tartu, Valga
Finland - Suomi Helsinki Tampere, Nokia
France Paris Calais, Dunkerque, Lille
FYR Macedonia Skopje
Germany - Deutschland Berlin Friedrichshafen, Hahn
Hamburg, Lubeck
Lindau, Mainz, Frankfurt (Oder)
Greece Athens Corfu, Thessalonki
Holland - Nederlands Amsterdam, Den Haag Rotterdam
Hungary - Magyarorsy Budapest Lake Balaton
Ireland - Eire Dublin
Italy - Italia Roma Bergamo, Bologna, Ciampino, Milano, Rimini
Latvia - Latvija Riga Cesis, Jurmala, Kuldiga, Liepaja
Salsapils, Sigulda, Turaida, Valka, Ventspils
Lithuania - Lietuva Vilnius Panev,,,,ys
Luxembourg Luxembourg
Malta Valletta GOZO - Rabat (Victoria), Dwejra Point, Xaghra, Mgarr, Marsalforn
COMINO - Marija Bay, Blue Lagoon
MALTA - Sliema, Mdina, Mosta, Rabat, Dingli, Luqa, Ta'Qali,
St Pauls, Bugibba, Qawra, Cirkewwa, Grand Harbour
Northern Ireland - Ulster Belfast
Poland - Polska Warsaw Krakow, Sublice
Portugal Bom Jesus, Braga, Guimaraes, Porto
Romaina Bucharest Bran, Brasov, Rasnov, Cluj Napoca
Russia Federation Moscow
San Marino San Marino
Scotland Edinburgh Glasgow
Serbia Belgrade
Slovenia - Slovenija Ljubljana Bled, Kranj, Postnoja
Slovakia – Slovenska Republika Bratislava
Spain - Espana Mallorca, (Palma, Inca, Alcuida)
Vigo, Fuertuenvtura (Collerajo) & Lanzorte
Sweden - Svenska Stockholm Nykoping, Gothenburg
Switzerland - Suisse St Margethren
Wales - Cymru Abersythwyth, Machynlleth, Newport, Welshpool
Vatican City Vatican City
CURRENTLY READING:
High Adventure - Edmund Hilary
BOOKS I HAVE READ:
VIDEO BELOW: Forth part of my European Summer Tour 2008 - Serbia. Check out my videos underneath my profile picture for more videos.
COUNTRIES TO BE VISITED VERY SHORTLY -
2008
October 16-20, Riga, Latvia
November 16-22, Riga, Latvia
December 06-07, Nice, France and Monaco
June 28, Riga, Latvia
June 29, Stockholm & Karlstad, Sweden,
June 30, Karlstad, Sweden & Oslo, Norway,
July 01-03, Oslo, Norway
July 04-06, Bergen, Norway
July 07-09, Trondheim, Norway
July 09-10, Bodo, Norway
July 10-12, Tromso, Norway
July 12-15, Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
July 15-16, Alta, Norway
July 16-17, Honningsvåg & Nordkapp, Norway
July 17-18, Kirkenes, Norway
July 18-20, Lapland, Finland - including Ivalo & Rovaniemi
July 20-23, Stockholm, Sweden
July 24-26, Riga, Latvia
2010
July. Wedding in Malta and Honeymoon in Gambia and Senegal
Video of Danik, Olga's and Ollie Tong trip to Greece in July 2008 as part of the Euro Summer Tour.
MAIN ENERGY & HEALTH DRINK OF DANIK TRAVELS THE WORLD
Mangosteen the Queen of Fruits, super antioxidants, deliciously tasty the best Health and Wellness drink around and I love it, Xango.
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