Travel
-
Winter in DK
Going to Copenhagen, then I will recommend to come during April through September. The other part of the year has unpleasant weather and light. If you are interested in bringing home pictures of your visit, the winter half of the year do not assist you. Besides being cold, wet and windy it’s with low light. The above picture is taken at 11 AM, the lens is aimed at the part of the sky where the sun is, but the settings do not reflect this (ISO 100, f/2.0 and 1/50) and the light meter indicated that I should have increased aperture to f/1.8 or improved ISO. The picture is taken through…
-
Florence
I prefer to call the city Firenze, like the Italians do, and we do in Denmark. As many other Italian cities it’s is crowded by tourists, but a guide told us that if you come in November, January or February there will be few tourists. We did what you are supposed to do, visit the Uffizi galleries and watched the magnificent medieval art. Some of it is beautiful and has its value as art preserved even today, but a lot of it it simply to crude and primitive to my taste e.g. all the religious stuff I can be without. When I visit a museum and stumble into a hall…
-
5 Terre
A beauty full series of villages are found at the Mediterranean coast, the area is named Cinque Terre. It’s easy to take the hike along the coast, you just walk from one town to the other – don’t think you can get lost on the way. If you don’t want to walk back, you just hop on the train and ride back. You’ll need to pay a fee to use the path’s along the coast, when you purchase the ticket at the start of the path you’ll be presented with several options for combinations of only walk, walk and use the train, 1 or more days access, so you need…
-
Forgotten Giants
On the Western outskirts of Copenhagen you can find the forgotten Giants created by Thomas Damsbo. Here are my pictures from a trip to all 6 of the giants in the area.
-
Copenhagen
Event though I live in the Copenhagen area I act as a traveler in my own region. So of course I’ll share information of sights and experiences in the Copenhagen area.
-
Milan
When you fly to northern Italy from Denmark Milan is the destination with the most flights and best prices, so as a Dane you are likely to start the journey in Milan. i did, and stayed in the city for a couple of days. First day we went to the city center to look at the standard tourist places – like the Cathedral, Shooping center Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The next day we had had enough of tourists and tried to go other places than most tourists do. So we headed out to the vertical forest as the 2 high-rise buildings are called (Bosco Verticale in Italien), amazing how some…
-
Italy
I have traveled to Rome on 2 occasions, but have not documented the city and have not prepared to share my thoughts and experiences from it. But in 2018 I went to Tuscany and other parts of the northern Italy and will share those sites.
-
Berlin
Even though the wall came down more than 28 years ago, it is still very present in the mind of Berlin and Berliners. In my opinion the memory of the wall and the terrifying regime need to be kept, because we need to secure that no country in Europe go onto that route regarding personal freedom, freedom of speech, justice for all. So when you visit Berlin you will experience a lot of evidence from the 28 year long imprisonment of the East Germans. Of course you’ll still find the original venues that came to life just after the wall was down. Check point Charlie Checkpoint Charlie Museum The Wall…
-
Germany
I have visited this central European country on several occasions, but in the most recent 20 years I have only been to Berlin and Hamburg. With it’s proximity to Denmark it is an easy country to visit. First of all I can drive from home to Hamburg in 4 hours and Berlin in 6.30, so no problem to go there for just a week-end. Second I speak a little German and many Germans speaks English. Unfortunately the weather is almost as boring as at home. For a Dane going to Germany there is always the possibility to stop at the border shops, and bring home cheap beer, chips, chocolate etc.…
-
Iberá National Park
The Iberá national park has, in my view, an overwhelming size. With it’s 13.000 km2 size it is almost a third of the size of Denmark. It is often described as wetland, and this with good reason. The area provides home for many species of animals specialized for living on the edge between wet and dry. So if you want to see the many birds and other animals living in this way it is a good opportunity. When you search for ways to visit the park you will most likely meet the entrance at Col. Carlos Pellegrini. According to my research in November 2017 it will include difficulties to find…
-
Wine
I presume that you are aware of Argentina as a wine producing country. But most I have talked with about Argentine wine seems to think that 90%++ of it is Red Malbec from Mendoza. OK Mendoza is responsible for more than 70% of the Argentine wine production and a large amount of it is based on the signature grape Malbec. But that said many other grapes are grown in Argentina. The wine culture in Argentina do not seek after mature wines, they either prefer the wine young or maybe it’s just that young wine is cheaper than mature. When shopping for wine in Argentina you will have a hard time…
-
Eating in Argentina
Argentinean food is influenced from both the courses and habits brought to the country by immigrants and by the native population and the resources of the land. Italians was a large portion of the immigrants during 19th and 20th century and by so they have influenced the Argentinean cuisine by bringing pizza, pasta and ice cream. Like every other place in South and Middle America you meet the empanada which is the most widespread local course. Resources of the land have contributed with especially ox meat. In the north western parts you will also find use of corn and quinoa. In other part of the world I have found that…
-
Cars
The roads in Argentina are not always a pleasant experience. Of course there are good roads, like the Ruta National #9 or also known as the Pan American Highway. But even the nine has it’s lesser pleasant places. Narrow roads is to be expected, the RN9 runs between Salta and Jujuy in to versions, a new and an old. The old is 4 meters wide and on long streches through the mountains curve comes after curve. Bumpiness can either be result of cracked tarmac or ordinary gravel. Rain handling systems causes the road to be lowered on short distances, like 10 meters. This is caused by estabishment of some rock…
-
Argentina
Argentina is the first country I have visited on the American continents. As a European I have found Buenos Aires not to be very different from a southern European capital. But there are differences to BA and when you leave the capital they are more outspoken. The country is very large, actual the 8th largest in the world. So don’t expect that you can do it in a fortnight or a month. Set aside 2-3 months to go properly. My first trip has been to Buenos Aires and the northern parts – both east and west. Argentina is not like Europe. If I ruin a tire on my car at…
-
Phnon Pehn
The Cambodian capital Phnom Pehn is typical buzzing city in asia, with a lot to do and experience. The city is centered around the intersection of the 3 rivers Mekong, Bassac and Tonlé Sap. Of course Phnom Pehn is similar to other Asian cities, but even though it’s small compared to e.g. Bangkok and Yangon you find some of the same dynamics as you find in Bangkok. The city has it’s old parts with traditional markets and small houses, but Phnom Pehn is experiencing development and a lot of new buildings has been or are under construction, just like the 2 mentioned before. In my opinion you can easily spend…
-
Banlung
Banlung is a small dusty town in the north-east of Cambocia, close to both the border to Laos and Vietnam. To get to Banlung you’ll need to take either a minivan or a taxi. I chose the minivan from Stung Treng, but you find minivans for Banlung in both Kratie and Phnom Phem. Banlung is not equipped with large cultural heritage, but the nature will provide some delightful experiences. To go there I will recommend to hire either a car or a tuktuk, though the nearest sights can be reached on bike. To hire a tuktuk with a guide, I would go to the corner of 64st and 27st (close…
-
Norway
I have traveled to Norway on a few occasions, first time in mid seventies and latest in the summer 2017. The pages about Norway is from my visit in 2017.
You May Also Like
The road from Kristiansand to Stavanger
-
The road from Kristiansand to Stavanger
The road from Kristiansand to Stavanger can either be taken on the high way E39 or you can take a detour along the Atlantic coast. The length of the drive measured in kilometers are not significant but the road along the coast will in pure driving time cost you an extra hour. It’s 257 Km and is expected to take 4 hours and 15 min to drive. But why just drive, experience the Norwegian landscape along the route. Allow yourself short stops to briefly enjoy the views and the landscapes – for my part comming from a lowland country it’s a dramatic change from home – as it presents quite…
-
Saab Museum
You might be familiar with the Swedish company Saab (Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget) which for years produced cars with the same name as the company. During my childhood the cars was often ridiculed, especially on behalf of the earlier models popping noise from the two stroke engine. But the jokes overlooked the fact that Saab often were an innovative car producer and an early adapter of new technologies and features in the cars. During my 2017 summer vacation I visited Trollhättan – mostly for the waterfalls – but as it was the home town of Saab it still has a fine museum for the Saab cars. I spent an hour visit…
-
Sweden
Sweden is the country i have traveled the most times to. Most of the occasions has been single day trips to Malmö or Göteborg, but for some occasions I have visited Sweden for several days. Travel in Sweden is easy to me as I understand and speak Swedish.
-
Kep
Kep is both a municipal and a province on the south coast of Cambodia close to the Vietnamese border – my phone went to Vietnamese networks on several occasions while we stayed there. To go to Kep you can get a mini van from Phnom Pehn, and 4 hours later your in Kep. Our trip with a mini van were nice, the van was not new but most features seemed to be working – OK the air-con stopped after a couple of hours, but it wasn’t that hot – we were only 3 passengers being picked up in the city. A fourth passenger were picked up around the air-port, but…
-
Prasat Preah Vihear
When you are traveling in Cambodia this temple seems to be quite of the straight road to anywhere. To be honest it is a bit remote. But bear in mind that the temple is appointed as UNESCO world heritage, so it has a major place in history for the area, so in my humble opinion it’s worth some effort to go there. To get there we got on board a mini-van in Siem Reap, going towards Stung Treng. Were National Highway 64 meets National Road 62 you find a group of house – it might qualify to be called a village. The mini-van stopped for a break and the driver…
-
Stung Treng
A sleepy province and town were the rivers Mekong and Sekong meets. The main event in and around town seems to be the Mekong river and the Irrawaddy Dolphins living near the border towards Laos. We hired a boat and sailed 3.5 hours north in hope to spot some of the dolphins. We did actually got at glimpse of a few dolphins when they emerged to breathe, not enough to get a relevant photo. When we were there we went to the waterfalls that apparently separates the Mekong in two, as fish or boats are not able to pass the falls. Within town the Women’s Development project Mekong Blue is…
-
Cambodia
As I expected the weather in Denmark to be bloody awful in January I opted out for that month at home. In 2017 January were spent in The Kingdom of Cambodia. On the pages in this section you’ll find photos and experiences from my visit in Cambodia. I find Cambodia very similar to Myanmar, of course there are differences between the two. But as a traveller it can be tricky to tell the difference – likewise I would Some of the differences that I have found Religion Traffic and infrastructure Climate Smiles Recent history In both countries the major religion is Buddhism, in Myanmar many people visits the temple every…
-
Myeik
The port of Myeik provides the access to the archipelago which I think is the most valuable element from the city. The city is situated on the coast of the Andaman Sea, just north of the Tanintharyi River. To get to Myeik you must either come by bus or by plane. From north you’ll have the opportunity to get a minibus in Dawei, it takes 6-8 hours to drive the approximately 340 km. The road is fine in the Dawei part, but as it leaves the lowland and enters the mountains it get a bit rough and not all of it is sealed. In late 2015 the road from Kawthong…
-
Hpa-An
Hpa-An is situated in the Karen state were it is the capital. It is in the northern part of the south Myanmar. Even though it is the state capital and has approximately 75.000 inhabitants it feels like a small city. The houses are lower than what you find in Yangon and Mandalay, most only 2-3 stories high, except for a few new hotels that rises 5-8 stories. Karen state was not recommended to tourist until 2014 or 2015 as a freedom movement with armed rebellion against the Yangon dictators operated in the Karen state. But in January 2016 the city and the area was safe to travel in. A little…
-
Bago
The city is located 80 km north east of Yangon, by train it takes 2 hours to get from Yangon to Bago and approximately the same by bus. I took the train from Yangon, it went at 8.00 AM and was leaving on time. It had one stop before we arrived to Bago. The landscape you’ll travel through is almost flat, no hills are seen. The tracks takes you out through the outskirts of Yangon before it runs into the plane. In the country side you’ll be travelling along rice fields and there is rich opportunities to see field workers and rural buildings. And you will have a good look…
-
Hsi paw
Hsi Paw is placed in Shan State where it is the principal town. An easy way and quite interesting way to get there is to take the train from either Mandalay or Pyin Oo Lwin. I recommend to take the train from Pyin Oo Lwin, because the train takes 4 hours from Mandalay to Pyin Oo Lwin, and because of this it leaves Mandalay around 4 AM. The train tickets is low cost and you’ll experience the famous Gokteik Bridge on the way. By road there is around 200 Km from Mandalay. Sir Charles is a major player in the tourist business in Hsi Paw. The family runs hotel, guest…
-
Golden Rock or Kyaikhteeyoe
When we were planning our tour to Golden Rock it was difficult to find precise guidance how to get there. The confusion comes from places that have similar names. The town Kyaikto which is situated in the lowland, if you take the train from Yangon you have to get off the train here. Then you must go with a bus or a truck to Kin Pun. In Kin Pun you find the only road to the mountain – the mountain’s name is Kyaikhteeyoe. The road up the mountain is not open to general traffic, only certified trucks can travel up the mountain. The trucks are quite modern by Myanmar standards,…
-
Dawei
Dawei is situated in the southern part of Myanmar. In January 2016 the route from Mawlamyine to Dawei was serviced by a standard 12 meter bus with a long history, but the approximately 310 km is travelled in only 8,5 hours. At this time the bus came from Yangon and stopped in Mawlamyine around 1800 and left again at 1830, it arrived in Dawei just after 0300 in the morning. As always you will find taxi drives – almost fighting over the passengers – ready to get you the last mile. There is not many attractions in the city it self. But the city has its charm. It seems less…
