NARA. In the shadow of Kyoto.

Nara, Japan’s ancient capital, has long been in the shadow of Kyoto. Yet, it deserves the attention of tourists who are visiting Kyoto or Osaka. It predated all other cities in Japan. It’s a more intimate peep into the old Japan. From Kyoto or Osaka, Nara is a quick 40-minute train ride. It can be explored on a day and better seen on foot.

STOP SIGNS AROUND THE WORLD

I have always found stop signs fascinating! Even when I was a little girl in my hometown in Bulgaria! I still remember first time I saw it...I was in the car in front of my grandparent’s house and the sign was only a few meters away. I asked my parents what GTOR means. That’s how STOP would sound (well, kind of) when you only know how to read Cyrillic alphabet and you are 6 . We use Cyrillic alphabet in Bulgaria (comes from Bulgaria by the way!) but we have the regular STOP signs so no wonder a little girl who just learnt how to read found it difficult to understand. I remember my parents laughed a lot!

KYOTO IN COLOUR

Autumn in Kyoto

Kinkaku-Ji or Golden Pavilion

Kyoto is the Japan you may have imagined - magical temples and Zen gardens, colourful Shinto shrines and elegantly dressed geisha flitting between wooden tea houses. I read it somewhere: Kyoto is the Japan of the past and Japan of the imagination. And it is so true, I found here everything I had imagined I would see in Japan. It wasn´t Tokyo or Osaka that impressed me in Japan, it is Kyoto!

PERUVIAN JUNGLE. Going to Iquitos

On a cargo ship to Iquitos

Goal: Iquitos - the largest city on earth that can only be reached by boat or plane. Coming from Trujillo, I was planning to spend 2 days in Tarapoto, another jungle town which has lots of waterfalls, rivers, lagoons, rafting, hikes...so lots to do here.

LIEBSTER AWARD

I have just been nominated for the Liebster award.
This is a virtual award given by other bloggers, but it also comes with 10 questions from those that nominate you or award you with the Liebster.

FOUR COUNTRIES IN 4 DAYS. One thing in common: RAIN

 BELGIUM, GERMANY AND FRANCE

Brussels

What would be the common thing if you got to Belgium, Germany and France in May? I’m telling you it’s the rain and the grey sky.

I left sunny Barcelona on Friday morning, hoping to spend a nice weekend with my friend Velina who lives in Brussels but alas! Wasn’t meant to be! It rained almost all the time. For someone who hates umbrellas I spent a pretty good amount of time holding one! The sun was popping up every now and again but never for too long.

VOLUNTEERING IN MADAGASCAR

VOLUNTEERING IN MADAGASCAR

PLACE: Antalaha, Madagascar

POSITION: Goalball coach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goalball) for blind kids and kids with impaired vision

DURATION: 1 year

VOLUNTEER´S SALARY: 150€/month (3 times the local pay). Accommodation and food are provided. Flight ticket

START DATE: July 2014

GOAL: To train and prepare the kids for the Paralympic games 2016 and prove that these children deserve to reach their full potential and the chance to integrate into the society.

DESIRED SKILLS: Someone RELIABLE and dedicated to the program; Must not be afraid of challenges; Able to live in tropical climates. Knowledge of French would be ideal, English could work too. Knowledge of Bulgarian is highly valued too.

No previous experience as a coach is required, neither work with blind or visually impaired children in the past.

No more applications accepted! Thanks

COLOMBIA PART 2. My vicissitudes of fortune

COLOMBIA, Part 2

Parque Tayrona

03.02.2013 I came back to Colombia from Venezuela, went to Julian´s house in Bucaramanga (Colombia first time. Volunteering) to pick up my laptop charger and have lunch with the family. Managed to get a few hours sleep and then another night bus to Medellin to meet Dwayne coming from New Zealand.

ONE MORE MONTH IN ECUADOR. BEACHES, QUITO AND WATER (-falls, natural spas and lakes)

Quito and the laundry

I've been already a month in Ecuador (First month in Ecuador) and still haven't been to the beach. That is ridiculous, the second smallest country in South America, pretty easy and fast to get around and I am still far away from any beach. In fact I am freezing my ass off at Lacatunga, doing the Quilotoa loop.

In the LAND OF THE RISING SUN. Tokyo and Osaka

Mt Fuji

26th of November, 2013. Tokyo, Japan

The flight from New Zealand wasn´t that bad, only 10 hours. Had a nice Japanese lady next to me on the plane who taught me a few words of Japanese and recommended how I should spent my 10 -12 days in Japan. She talked me out of going to Nagano, I really didn´t have enough time to do it. 

Sailing from Tonga to New Zealand via Minerva reef

On November 4th 2013, I left Tonga on board a 42-foot PATANJALI to New Zealand. Although I had promised myself to stay away from Americans and American boats, I didn’t keep my promise. Regretted it so much later!

HOLI COLOUR FESTIVAL BARCELONA 2014

I haven't been to Holi Barcelona before and I´ve never been to India so didn't have to think twice whether or not to go this year. We got just the perfect weather - sunny and clear blue sky!

In India the spring is welcomed every year in a very special way: “Holi” is a festival of colors and one of the country’s most important holidays. They don’t just celebrate the change from winter to spring, but also, according to Hinduism, the victory of good over evil – and this is being done in a very colorful way!

BARGAIN SKI BREAK IN ANDORRA

Pas de la Casa

Spain or more specifically Barcelona is not known for its great skiing conditions, people usually come here for the sun. But you can be surprised what the next-door Pyrenees mountain range can offer. Based in Barcelona, you have 3 options for skiing – the Catalan, French or Andorran Pyrenees. I would personally vote for the third one, having skied in all three of them. Why Andorra? The quality of snow and the facilities are better in my opinion and less queuing up since there is such a great choice of slopes you can go to. 

AROUND THE WORLD IN CHILDREN PHOTOS

Going through my photos from last 2,5 years travelling, I decided to put some of the children photos together and see how they are in different countries...Unfortunately I´m not gonna see most of them ever again, so this is all I have.

TONGA. The last kingdom in South Pacific

The kingdom of Tonga, situated in the heart of the South Pacific, is the oldest and remaining Polynesian monarchy and the only Pacific nation never brought under foreign rule. It occupies 691 sq km of land, spread over 700 000 sq km of ocean. New Zealand lays 1300 nm to the southwest.

From all 171 coral and volcanic islands only 36 are inhabited. We sailed to the main Tongan sail hub Neiafu, also second largest town in Tonga (population of 6000) but with the biggest port in the county. Nested between several low hills, Neiafu is the only town in Vava`u islands groups with any kind of bustle, especially around the market on Saturday. Nuku ‘alofa, in Tongatapu group is the capital.

SAILING IN FRENCH POLYNESIA - BLACK PEARLS AND SHARKS. IS THAT EVERYTHING? PART 1

July 2013. 

MARQUESAS & TUAMOTU ISLANDS GROUP

Little monkeys in Ua Pou, Marquesas

KARAKA. 54 DAYS AT SEA, 4798 NAUTICAL MILES. WE ARE A LEGEND!

The big crossing of the Pacific

On one of the islands in Las Perlas, Panama

Karaka and the new main sail

15^th of May. After a whole month of waiting for the new main sail in the disgusting waters of the Panama city, we raised the anchor and finally left. Course: French Polynesia.
French Polynesia is divided into 5 different island groups: The Marquesas, the Tuamotus, the Society Islands, the Gambier, and the Australs. Most people heading from Central or South America go directly to the Marquesas Islands, which are steep, lush volcanic islands. That´s what we did too.
It makes 7 of us: Tom (the captain, France), Zack (Canada), Steve (USA), Pam (Canada), Michaela (NZ), Luois (Quebec) and myself (Bulgaria). And the cat of course (The Philippines) :). 

КАТО ЩЕ Е ГАРГА, ДА Е РОШАВА – 54 ДЕНА В ОКЕАНА КАТО ЗА СЕФТЕ!

This post will be in Bulgarian so my parents can finally read it! 

КАРАКА

Бях вече почти 2 години на път по света, когато срещнах Зак в Санта Каталина, малко сърфистко градче в Панама. Планът беше да продължа на север през Коста Рика, Никарагуа, Хондурас, Ел Салвадор, Гватемала, Белиз и най-вероятно да си хвана самолет към Испания от Мексико, че от там винаги има оферти. Но точно за една нощ всичко това се обърна на 180 градуса  (или по-скоро на 120, посока югозапад). От профила на Зак в Couchsurfing знаех, че той плава на яхта (sailboat) и исках да разбера повече, но и през ум не ми минаваше да се кача на такава, само това не бях правила през тези 2 години. Той ми каза, че те търсят момиче за 7ми човек от екипажа и че заминават след 3 седмици за Френска Полинезия, на повече от 4000 морски мили растояние (4798 станаха при нас с всичкото зигзачене и tacking). И само след 2, 3 часа приказки беше убеден, че аз съм подходящия човек за плаването, дори и без никакъв опит. Аз категорично отказах, все пак имах план да покоря Централна Америка, само тя ми остана. 

PANAMA & COSTA RICA. THE BEGINNING … AND THE END OF CENTRAL AMERICA…FOR NOW

My flight from Barcelona, Venezuela was delayed, then the bus from the airport to the centre took almost 2 hours, then my host who came to pick me up from Albrook mall took forever, without me knowing whether we understood each other well about the place and the time…but at the end everything worked out well.

Alex (my host)  gave me a night tour around Panama city – the old town,…I was exhausted cos slept only 5 hours the night before and just wanted to go to bed but he was coming up with these ideas and changing his mind all the time so I ended up staying at his friend´s house for the night cos he had to go and work as a private taxi driver!!! (I thought he was a graphic designer). And before that, we stopped at the bay to ask in a posh restaurant if they need extra staff for the weekend, for both of us!! I never thought of working here but some extra dollars are always welcome and would be fun to do some waitressing after 10 years of engineeringJ. So that was my first night in Panama.

VENEZUELA (Part 2). Fifty liters of fuel or a small bottle of water

No age limit while paying last respect to Chavez

Yes, he is dead. And for real this time.

Chavez is dead. long live Chavez!

A month later I was about to enter my favourite country in South America again, the country that impressed me so much, country of absurdity and paradoxes but also of beauty and uniqueness. There is no other one like Venezuela. It´s not touristy at all probably because tourist and backpackers are scared to go since it´s being recognized as one the most dangerous places to visit but also due to the lack of information. Most of the backpackers I´ve been meeting along the way in South America didn’t plan to go there, simply because they had no idea what the country offers. Neither did I. 

One thing was definitely different this time, just a month later after my first visit and I knew it would mark my trip drastically – Chavez´s death. When I was there in January, no one knew if he was dead or alive and there was lots of speculation about it but this time it was official. He died right when we were at the border, coming from Maicao,Colombia, 5^th of March 2013.  After two year battle against the cancer, the commander of Bolivarian Revolution met an early death. Here is a link to my post about the first time I came in Vz:  Venezuela with Chavez alive.

CHANGE OF THE PLAN: I´M GOING SAILING

Karaka

I found this boat randomly http://karaka.voila.net/ and joined the crew so now I will be sailing to South Pacific and French Polynesia until mid September. Leaving today from Panama city...Wish me good winds!

Will post about Venezuela, Panama and Costa Rica ....I guess some time this year :).

The crew

COLOMBIA PART 1. Volunteering in Colombia

Cocora valley

December, 10th. The official at the border was nice enough to place the stamp above the Ecuadorian one (of course I had to use my charming smile). Im running out of pages in my passport so if I wanna make it all the way to Mexico, have to be extra careful, plus Colombia already used a whole page for the visa). I reckon that if I manage to fit 6 stamps on every page, I will be alright.

Ipiales is the town at the border with Ecuador where no one stays more than a night. They have one thing though that is worth the stay - El Santuario Las Lojas, a church, build in the rocks. An image of Jesus or the virgin appeared there one day and for that reason it was built at such an unusual place. Met a guy from Holland and together we went looking for a place to stay. Found an ok hotel room for 30 000 Pesos for both (18 US$) and next day headed together to the bus station to take buses to Popayan and Ecuador respectively. 

Tried my first arepa (corn cakes) here, the most typical Colombian food.

Cheese arepas

VENEZUELA (Part 1). Dead or alive?

Playa Grande. Choroní

Is he still alive? That was what everyone was asking in Venezuela when I arrived and still when I left. No one knew, some people were convinced that he was already dead and lots were hoping that was true. Officially Hugo Chavez was still in Cuba trying to fight the cancer.

On 11.01.13 I crossed the land border at Cucuta - San Antonio de Tachira.

ECUADOR. Coast, mountains & jungle, all in the same day

On the Inca trail in Ecuador

The second smallest country in South America but the most diverse one. The locals say that you can be in la Costa, la Sierra, y el Oriente (Coast, Mountains and Jungle) in the same day. Distances are small, transport is cheap (1$ for every hour on the bus) and hitch hiking also pretty easy. And it has absolutely everything, just takes much shorter to get to it (compared to Peru for example). In just two hour distance from the jungle to the mountains or from the mountains to the coast, you really can feel the climate changes and you see completely different landscapes.

PERU. MUCH MORE THAN JUST INCA RUINS AND MACHU PICCHU

A little friend on the bus in Iquitos

And of course Machu Picchu

Puno

Got to Puno on the last bus leaving from Copacabana, Bolivia. It was freezing cold in the town and the hostel. The guys I met in Isla del Sol in Bolivia - Vicky and Cristian from Chile and Roger from Peru, came to pick me up from my hostel and we went for some pisco sour which gave me pretty good headache the whole next day.

BOLIVIA. THE RICHEST AND THE POOREST

Salar de Uyuni

Isla del Sol

Isla del Sol, Lago Titicaca

A country of statistical extremes, landlocked Bolivia is the highest and most isolated country in South America. Also considered as the poorest one in South America but one of the richest in natural resources.

It has the largest proportion of indigenous people, who make up around two-thirds of the population and most of them speak Quechua. 

Bolivia has it all, apart from beaches (the Chileans left them without a sea outlet after La Guerra del Pasifico). 

CHILE - THE NORTH. Highlands, deserts and waves.

Back to CHILE, from Santiago to Arica

La Portada in Antofagasta - reminded me so much of The Great Ocean Road in Australia

Atacama desert

I came back to Santiago after a month in Patagonia, wandering between Chile and Argentina. The smog was quite startling again, especially after the immensity of Patagonia.