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A quiet and picturesque valley surrounded by three-thousanders? A place where you can ski for hours, admire the landscapes and not have to queue for the ski lift? We can find them in the Ötzal Alps, near the Tyrolean Kaunertal glacier. Snow awaits skiing enthusiasts here from October to June, and the 38 km of slopes include blue (20 km), red (12 km) and black (6 km), so both advanced and beginner skiers can try them. According to some, the best route is the almost 2-kilometer long red "9". It is very varied, has numerous walls, and ends at the intermediate chairlift station.

Kaunertal

Under this strange and difficult to pronounce name there is a mysterious building imbued with the scent of resin and wood. It is a monumental temple where a person not only suddenly feels weak and tiny, but also a place where we forget about the world behind the door. Paradoxically, this enclave of magic and peace is located in the immediate vicinity of the city with a reputation as a center of debauchery, a destination for tourists interested in seeking paid love. We are talking about the Thai resort of Pattaya, located 120 km from the capital of the country, on the Gulf of Thailand, and the temple is Prasat Satchatham, the Sanctuary of Truth.

Prasat Satchatham - the power of wood

Although there are more and more people for whom spending a winter vacation in a motorhome at a campsite is nothing strange, so many people still associate a tent in December with experiences reserved only for mountaineers. Because how to sleep in a sleeping bag when the temperature is below zero outside? How to pitch a tent when it's snowing up to your knees? And finally - why, when you can sleep comfortably in a guesthouse?. There is no doubt that this is not an adventure for everyone. Citing the example of mountaineers is most appropriate. Most often, we set up a tent in the snow after traveling many kilometers of mountain routes. To be able to afford it, you need not only to have the appropriate equipment, but also to be in shape. Mountain hiking will tire everyone. You do not need to remind anyone about warm, thick clothes and shoes, nor about the need for good orientation in the field. On the route, snowshoes or cross-country skis will be very useful, thanks to which it will be easier for us to traverse the trails.

A tent covered with snow, i.e. a camping in winter

One of the most popular and certainly the most luxurious Italian resorts is Cortina d'Ampezzo. It is located in the province of Belluno, in the Veneto region, and due to its location in the heart of the Dolomites , it is called the winter capital of Italy. The center is located in a valley surrounded by high peaks, thanks to which tourists visiting it have the opportunity to enjoy delicious views. There are also atmospheric hotels built at the beginning of the last century, numerous restaurants and shops await guests. It is worth knowing that the resort is a car-free center.

Ski holidays in Cortina d&#39;Ampezzo

The Niseko Resort routes await avid skiers on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. It is said that on the local routes there is the lightest, fluffy snow in the world, which is largely due to the regular blowing of strong Siberian wind on the slopes. The ski season lasts from December to May, with an average of 590 cm of snowfall each year . The town itself is very easy to get to from all nearby resorts, which is another incentive for anyone who would like to test their skiing skills in an exotic country.

For skiing in Japan - Niseko

Holidays in an exotic country are associated with a lot of memories, and sometimes also with unpleasant experiences. It is not so bad when we leave them behind when we leave a given place, however, sometimes the consequences of a successful vacation make themselves felt after a few weeks, manifesting themselves with fever and other ailments. The first threat is a tropical parasitic disease known as malaria . Flu-like symptoms may appear even a few months after you return from vacation. They cannot be underestimated, especially if on vacation we slept in a room without air conditioning, no mosquito nets, and we did not use mosquito repellent. Insects do not like air movement, so when looking for a place to stay, we should think about savings and, however, pay extra for air conditioning.

Leishmaniasis, or what to be afraid of on vacation

There is a place where history intertwines with culture, winding a thin ribbon of smoke up towards the sky. The smoke comes from a pipe in which opium is smoked - a product that once made the area famous. What is this place all about? For the Golden Triangle, a mountainous region where the borders of three countries meet: Burma, Laos and Thailand. In addition, the Chinese province of Yunnan is several dozen kilometers from this place. In the Golden Triangle, the definition of a country is not very strict, the boundaries between cultures are blurred and no one is really interested in what nationality is written in the passport. Life goes on slowly, focusing on the unhurried functioning of the coexisting clans. Day after day, week after week, year after year. They have their own rites and beliefs, their own identity and culture.

Golden Triangle

Hong Kong appears to many as a huge city full of skyscrapers and lights. And rightly so, because it is a sleepless metropolis, like a gigantic anthill pulsating with the inexhaustible energy of millions of lives. Although it belongs to the People's Republic of China, it still looks like a separate state nestled between the sea and the southern border of the Middle Kingdom. The crowded streets smell like dried fish and incense, and the crowd overflows with them like another element of nature. The variety of views surprises tourists right after leaving the airport. The modernity of the skyscrapers contrasts with the lush greenery covering the surrounding hills, and the hustle and bustle of the street - with the tranquility of nature. The city itself is spread over the mainland and smaller and larger islands, of which the two main ones are named: Hong Kong and Lantau . As you might guess, the former is a business center full of futuristic buildings, expensive hotels and upscale restaurants, while the latter attracts with majestic statues in honor of the Buddha - including the iconic bronze prophet statue. On Lantau we can also find beautiful temples intricately integrated into the landscape of greenery growing on the hills.

Hong Kong - the city of lights

Poles are taking over not only the Internet. For the sixteenth time, they start the ski season much earlier than the rest of the skiing and snowboarding fans - already in November. On November 9-16, 2013, a great event will take place on the Austrian Hintertux glacier, The Polish Pow (d) er Week . In the Zillertal valley, in one of the most popular ski regions of the country, thousands of Poles who love snow and fun will meet. Hintertux is the only year-round glacier in Austria. For years, it has been attracting winter sports enthusiasts, and each year there are more and more of our countrymen among these crowds. The Polish Pow (d) er Week is a huge, grand event with Polish-speaking staff, evening concerts of Polish bands (Kobranocka and Manchester) and several days of snow madness with Polish instructors. The inhabitants of the country on the Vistula will not only be the first to have a chance to test their capabilities on the slopes of Hintertux , but also be the first to test ski equipment for the 2013/2014 season. Among the brands that you will be able to see are, among others Salomon, Rossignol, K2 and Blizzard.

The Polish Powder Week in Hintertux

The works of human hands can be practical, prosaic and painfully devoid of poetry. They can also delight, provoke a sharp dilation of the pupils and the opening of the mouth. If a product of the human mind was sent into space to delight representatives of other civilizations, these would probably be the most famous compositions of classical music. Perhaps these collections would also include paintings by the master of da Vinci - who knows, maybe "they" would solve the mystery of the mysterious smile of Mona Lisa?.

Wat Rong Khun - Ode to white

When we think about Thailand, we imagine either richly decorated temples or paradise islands and islets scattered among crystal clear waters. Both visions are correct, but today we will focus on the latter. More specifically, on the archipelago consisting of several dozen islands, which - despite the constantly growing popularity, and hence the crowds - still have quiet and peaceful places to offer. We are talking about Ko Lanta , an archipelago of 52 beautiful islands in the Andaman Sea. They tempt tourists with clean beaches and forests growing in deeper regions.

Ko Lanta Archipelago

Motorhome owners don't have to worry about not being able to take more things on vacation. However, the situation is different for those who are planning a camping trip or are left with packing into a suitcase. There is always not enough space for stuffing all the necessary things, which usually causes our backpack to burst at the seams, crackle disturbingly and we are terrified by the very thought of taking anything out of it. So maybe some clever female tricks will be helpful?. There are legends about the capacity of women's handbags. We will find there not only a toiletry bag, keys or perfume, but also a set of wrenches or a jar of pickled cucumbers (documented fact). How do women do that from the depths of their little handbags they can get so many things - and still carry it all? These questions will probably remain rhetorical forever.