Before I can immerse myself in my here and now and tell you guys about Sydney, I need time. Good stuff takes a while. There is a litany of things I want to review. So here it goes...
After two years of travelling around Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the look back is one thing above all else: nostalgic. Everything is more beautiful, better and brighter in my memory.
I have travelled through 19 countries: Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, United Arabic Emirates, India, Nepal, China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and now Australia.
MY HIGHLIGHT'S LIST
My favourite country: Finland.
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The most beautiful country: Iran.
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The most magical moment: In the snow while ice bathing in Finland.
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The tastiest wine: Georgia.
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The most delicious shashlik: Georgia.
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The most beautiful mountains: Georgia, Nepal, China (Tibet).
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The greatest cities: Bangkok, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Helsinki.
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The most hospitable country: Does not exist. Countries or societies aren't hospitable, but individuals are, and they exist in every country in the world.
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The best food: South of China.
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The country where travel was the hardest: Nepal.
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The hardest test: My two months in Iran.
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The most wondrous animals: Australia.
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The wildest party: Iran, Russia, Poland.
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The tastiest tea: Iran (black tea), Latvia (herbal tea).
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The (for me) most dangerous country: Iran.
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The biggest surprise: India and Armenia.
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The most impressive river: the Volga, followed by the Ganges.
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The most beautiful border crossing: Russia/Georgia at the foot of Kazbegi.
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The most beautiful churches: Armenia.
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The most beautiful mosques: Iran.
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The most beautiful temples: Tibet.
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The most beautiful palaces: Russia and Iran.
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The clearest water: Tibet and Finland.
Do you have questions? Put them in the comments. I'd like to go further into these statements, but need some points from you. What do you want to know more about? What surprised you? What don't you get?