Rick goes to Asia

I think it will be the first entry about travel itself. But it was such a long journey that it deserves a separate note.

To start, after the last story from Istanbul I've heard that many of you were deeply disappointed that I did not take you to the business lounge. I am sorry friends - the Turkish guards are really strict. To make it up a bit to you, I will let you glimpse in the lounge in Warsaw.

First of all, the lounge is meant to be a place where you can relax on a nice couch.

You can also have a snack or prepare yourself a good cup of coffee.

For those that are afraid of flying, the lounge has a little something to soothe the nerves.

There is even one special for horses!

As my trip was to lead me to a very distant country, I had to switch planes twice. My first transfer was in Moscow. They have a very nice duty free zone there.

Finally, my plane arrived. My first time on Air China.

Some of you probably think that flying is boring. This is probably the case if you fly over the sea. Or over countryside in Europe. This time it was different. Just have a look at the sunset somewhere over Siberia ...

... or the dawn somewhere close to Beijing (I did not realise so far that there are such hugh mountains there).

In the Beijing Airport you can feel that you are no longer in Europe.

Even the cafes look different.

I only had one hour in Beijing, enough time only to have a quick drink.

Orange juice only, of course.

Finally, I jumped on my last plane. Time to have a good breakfast before we arrive and I can start sightseeing. Anyone knows what a pickle is?

Biebrza National Park (2)

Last autumn I have shown you Goniądz, the capital of the Biebrza National Park. Many of you were disappointed that I have not shown you the Park itself. Since we have really nice weather this July, I decided to go there again and show you more.

When you enter the Park you may be surprised to see a little bridge across a field of grass. I was surprised.

When I came closer, I realised why the bridge was needed. These are in fact peat meadows.

In some parts it looks as if there were little brooks running across the fields.

As I moved further, I saw something even more astonishing. A forest growing out of water!

I have never seen something like this.

In some places the water is actually green. It is covered with something called duckweed.

You could almost believe that it is grass. Until you notice that it moves.

Time to go now. But beware of wild animals running free. It is a National Park in the end.

Istanbul

Recently I have spent one day in Istanbul. I had huge plans regarding places that I want to visit. Unfortunately it turned out that I did not take into account one small detail. The traffic jams. You cannot imagine what a traffic jam is until you go to Istambul. A 4-lane highway packed with cars that move at 20 km/h.

So in the end, all that I have managed to see where buildings on my way from the airport to the hotel. Like the Galatasaray stadium. I've been told that football is like a religion in Turkey. Galatasaray won the champioship this year, you may imagine the happiness in Istanbul.

The most impressive construction that I have seen was the bridge over Bosphorus. Actually this was the second bridge, called Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. It is simply huge. No surprise if you rememebr that it actually links two continents.

On the left (when driving from Europe to Asia) you can spot the Rumeli castle. Unfortunately it took me over two hours to come to the bridge so when I arrived there it was late. So the quality of the picture is not perfect.

The Bosphorus straight itself looks great.

That was a tiring trip. I need some rest - luckily the Istambul airport has a nice business lounge.

Unfortunatelly I cannot take you inside - it is for members only.