First impression arriving to Kiev was - big, ugly (Soviet style) and big, but also very interesting. And that impression stayed for all the time. First experience was waiting in a huge irrational line by metro to get our zhetons. It took around 20 minutes to get them. Metro is one of really impressive things in Kiev - it goes so deep down and has these shiny advertisements that it looks surreal (and it looked surreal and hilarious when I listened to Moby - Run On song). As my host was busy I had put my backpack in hostel where my coupe mates were staying. While looking for it, near independence square we were “attacked” by unshaved drunkard-looking man wearing unwashed white bear costume. He wanted us to pay for talking pictures with him. No matter ... read more

Short facts: Participants: Me Destination: Torun, Poland Length of the trip: 3 days Distance: 183 km from Warsaw to Torun Music: Queen Adreena Reading: Lonely Planet "Eastern Europe", Ryszard Kapuscinski "Podroze z Herodotem" (cannot say that I really read this, but I bought this) March 27.16:30 Sitting in the train with Lonely Planet "Eastern Europe" in my hands. It is interesting and quite amusing to read this being Eastern European myself (especially all those "and you can see the leftovers of Soviet Union there and there"). I really like Lonely Planet and generally good guides, they show the potential of you can see and where you can be. Even if you don't see it all. So I am watching outside the window to fields and plains of Poland, that remind me so much of my home ... read more

Short facts: Distance - 400km from Warsaw to Zakopane Length - around 4 days Music - Death Note soundtrack and Chinese audio lessons I was considering for quite long either to go to Zakopane with Erasmus people or not. Main concern was what will I do there if I don't like skiing and trekking was not possible because of the snowfall. But eventually I decided to go. Me and other 3 people were late to have places in the bus, but we had places in hostel so all we needed is to get there by train. Which made me happy as I like trains. We bought our tickets for 00.44 am February 26. While waiting for others to come I was walking around in the station and talking to myself in Mandarin, which apparently was scaring ... read more

Short facts: Participants: Me and my boyfriend Livijus Destination: Serbia Length of the trip: 14 days Approximate distance there and back: ~2000 km Music: Pink Floyd/Queen Adreena Books: Master and Margarita (started and finished during the long driving in cars), The Bridge on the Drina (started during trip, finished at home) The First Hitchhiking Day So it was early morning of 12th of August. I woke up with excitement and some sort of fear at the same time - the first day of the trip had come. First time hitchhiking, first time to Serbia, first time together. The excitement of being on the road again and trying out hitchhiking, which I have always wanned to try out, overwhelmed the fear and I rose up from bed with happiness (even though it was early morning just after ... read more

So, one nice thursday morning we head out to what is considered to be the most beautiful part of Uzbekistan - Fergana Valley. First part was getting to to the place in Tashkent where taxies to Fergana leave. Me, Roman and Vidmantas were just standing and waiting while Bekzod was negotiating the price with the swarm of taxi drivers. Typical sight in Uzbekistan. After some negotiation one of the swarm was selected, as we experienced later not the best one. The way to Fergana is very beautiful - liek a scenary from Lord of the Rings, except of army man with sniper guns guarding tunnels. There is only one way to Fergana and it is heavily guarded, mostly because of Andijon events few years ago... After some time our car was stopped by police, which is ... read more