High Tatry - autumn session

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Who said you shouldn't come back to the same place twice?

All Saints’ Day is a mixed celebration of Catholic tradition when religious people thank to the Saints of the Church. It is also referred to a pagan custom to honor the souls of the dead. Whatever the reason is, during this weekend majority of Lithuanians is visiting cemeteries and lighting the candles in the memory of those who are no longer with us. Nevertheless, there are some exceptional Lithuanians, who travel some 900 km to visit mountains and share the mountaineering experience with colleagues, new friends, an acquaintance, etc.

This time we traveled the same route as we did during midsummer’s day, only from the opposite direction. To add some value we climb a mountain (Široka veža) and enjoyed the round rainbows around our shadows on the clouds.


(sorry for a bad quality - enjoy the view)

How to spend the winter in summer

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Holiday destination - Kazakhstan

"The plane from Riga landed in the land with a trees only next to some few rivers", was the first idea that came to my head. First strict bargains for the price of taxi from the airport managed by our new friend Audronė (who currently lives in Almaty) brought us to central Asia life. "We're not going to master this art of bargain during our trip", was my second idea that struck my head that early morning.

We've spent a day in Almaty - a city that starts in steppes, and ends at the foothills on Tian-shan mountains. We've hurried to the mountains of gods (as we were told by the mountain guard Isa) to break the rules of a national park, to try ourselves in difficult situations, to enjoy a good company, to see the Zailyisky Alatau, to travel... We didn't climb the highest mountain in the Northern Tian-shan, but we enjoyed our trip. We didn't reached our main goal, but we discovered something new in ourselves and each other. We didn't see the rainbow, but we were followed by a good weather. We didn't see the famous lake Issyk-kul, but we've spent 13 wonderful days in the place, where we wanted to be. We've properly spend the winter in this summer.

It was strange to see so many people, when we came down the mountains. It was so wet in Chymbulak, when we went for sightseeing there. It was really hot and dry in the Charyn valley, when we organized a small out-of-city tour. It was raining in Riga, when we came back. It was cold in Vilnius, when they brought our lost baggage. It is so good to remember, when I tell the stories for my friends.




Would you like to see something more? Look here. It's called "nowhere". Thank you, Arūnas.

Some interesting facts about Kazakhstan:
- By it's size Kazakhstan is bigger than western Europe
- There is no official religion, nevertheless the majority of people are Muslim
- This is one of the richest countries in world in a sense of minerals found
- The capital of Kazakhstan is Astana (from 1994), which translated from Kazakh language means simple "Capital city". It's a brand new name for a village in the middle of nowhere.
- Almaty, which name means "Grandfather of apples", remains as the southern capital. This historical capital and the largest city in Kazakhstan is still the destination number one. From the steppes in the northwest to the mountains in the southeast.
- The national museum has a whole floor dedicated for the president

Glass and steal

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Modern IT village at the border of Vilnius

During my holidays my company moved to a new office. Black cube surrounded by other black cubes, cubical, but at least not black modern multi-story living houses, and a number of builders that work on some other ten unfinished office cubes. There is no infrastructure so needed for a normal office life around. Everybody is taking the lunch from home or calling some "office food delivery" companies. The small kitchen is overcrowded during the lunch break despite the fact that you can freely choose the time for your break. One big and nice family :)

At least I've a good view through my window: a small gap, where I can see the twin towers of some hydro station next to the biggest shopping market in Vilnius. Actually, it's some 10km away from here.

Moreover, light yellow and coaches in the hall adds some warmth to the atmosphere. Minor "problems" like bathrooms closed due to some plumbing works for half a day and leaking water in the parking area makes you smile. Well, life's goes on. They say I'll get use to it, but do I really want it?

Midsummers day in High Tatry

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There is always a rainbow afterwards

Sun was setting down over the mountain and water was running still down the walls..
Tatry is a mini copy of mountains.. Suitable for any long weekend as well as for training during the winter.. A midsummers day is also OK.. On snow, with crampons, and exercises "how to brake sliding down the ice slope".. Wet! Very wet!! Nevertheless, worth to try.. =)

Nice trip.. Nice company.. Nice "chatas"..
Good food.. Good weather.. Good training..

We should come back here in winter.. For ice walls at least..

Business trip

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Cold summer in Northern provinces of Lithuania

For me business trip is an opportunity to visit colleagues, change the environment, and satisfy the demand of traveling for a while. The business itself was not mentioned in this description, because it's not the issue in this blog.

It was +25 in Vilnius, barely +18 in Tallinn and light rain in Riga.. Planes were shaking, and landing provided a small portion of adrenalin everytime.. Nevertheless, we managed to finish business early, enjoy a nice evening on the roof of hotel with strong wind, two blankets, and light mojito.. It's nice, but getting more expensive than the daily allowance a company pays for the business trips.

Viva long weekends and Lithuanian laws

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Climbing in Fränkische Schweiz (Frankenjura)

In Lithuania we have a law, that if a national fest appears on a weekend, there is an extra day-off the next day after it. It also applies to the fest that are always on Sunday, e.g., Mom's day, Easter... :) Due to this we had a 5 day weekend:
- 1'405 km to the "dream land"
- 3.5 days of climbing in Frankenjura (DE)
- 761 km to red-point the routes left from the last time
- 0.5 day climbing in Jura (PL)
- 802 km back home

Nice drive on the back seat - I have no driving licence yet. Good rocks with the 1st pit in 4-8 meters, slightly overhanging, sometimes a little bit polished, hidden in the forest or awesome peaks with perfect panorama, huge boulders with many problems, etc. Other advantages? Camping is cheap (5€/night), shower is hot for 1€, river Trubach is cold and small, sleeping time starts 11pm and there is a guy with a dog adn a torch, who reminds you this in case you're singing too loud...

Resume: if you do not remember the your credit card pin, door code, or what you did before you left for job, you had a gooooood vacation ;)

Maži netikėtumai

arba
kai važiuoja stogas

Ilgą laiką nebūnant namie nutinka įvairių stebuklų. Vienas iš jų šįvakar privertė mane nusišypsoti ir iš esmės pakeitė nuotaiką. Atsidariusi šaldymo kamerą prikrapščiau visą kibirą sniego, iš kurio suformavusi nežinomą skaičių sniego gniūžčių išsvaidžiau pro 5-to aukšto balkoną. Tuo tarpu apačioje sėdintys gėrė alų. Gegužė.

Pavasaris

arba
Miestas auga

Brr... Žaibuoja.. Labai smarkiai.. Po to griaudžia ir sukelia šitiek triukšmo.. Visas miestas netikėtai atgyja vienišų automobilių sirenose.. Lyja.. Taip smarkiai, kad atrodo tuoj viską nuplaus.. Smarkėja.. Ir žaibuoja tiesiai virš galvos.. Klausausi ir niekas netrukdo.. Truputį nejauku, bet vis tiek stoviu.. Žinau, tai ilgai netruks.. Be to, kita audra bus dar negreit..

Swimming season is open

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Kayaking during the fair of St. Casimir

Forecast for the 2nd of March says +3, snow/rain, wind W 6(13)m/s, 733mm. Pretty shitty, a? Nevertheless, 8 kayaks with 2 people in each are ready for nice rowing in the river Vilnele, who gave the name for our capital Vilnius.

The first tree lying across the river forces me to jump out on it. My partner-driver has such a big blue eyes!!! He's desperately holding the tree with this hands round about it. Well, we straighten the kayak and he leaves me alone standing and waving for others. I walk the tree to the shore meanwhiles watching how another kayak repeats the same error, but their ship goes directly under the tree... Well, it's just the beginning.

Next interesting place is the waterfall of Belmontas. Survival of an old water-mill separates the main stream into three parts: two cascades of about 4 meters (where the guys with inflatable boats jump down), and a 7 step way down for crazy kayakers. Somebody is swimming, somebody gathers a lot of water and sinks at the finish line, somebody jumps down from the cascade, somebody is taking the waterfall for th third time, because somebody refused to go down in a boat.

The next part is not so interesting, nevertheless somebody is trying the cold March water once again. The lucky ones are going down with a perfect smiles, waving for the people with umbrellas on the bridges, wet because of the rain, but happy.

We finish after 5 bridges in the river Neris. It's big and boring for kayaking, but this is the end for a nice beginning of the spring. Next week we'll try another river. Season is open ;)

I love vacation..

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Ice climbing Dolomites 2008

I cannot get rid of the feeling that I'm working for holidays.. This time I was in Italy. Some say "again", I say "one more time", but for sure not the last one :)

This time we took an ice climbing course. It was nice to discover a narrow valley close to Sottoguda full of waterfalls all covered by a number of winter climbers. Val gardena for the second day was also nice, but not so impressive. Nevertheless, the two stage waterfall with a warning sign "NO ice climbing" and a constructions place for a new tunnel just below the waterfall improved the situation.

Ice climbing is really hard mentally, because you must trust the crampons and the tools, but not your legs and fingers. It's cold, because the walls are always in the shadow even in the sunny Alps. It's expensive, because of the price of specially designed tools. It's dangerous, because walking on the ice is always risky. It's what I like, but I don't believe I've enough power to make it professionally and lead climb on a winter route. Nevertheless, it's really fun ;)

Well one vacation is over.. It's time to plan another one. For the next independence day. But first, I'd really thank you, guys, for a company, fun, Bologna, sledge riding, good wine, food culture, and many other things. Shortly, thank you guys for a perfect vacation and being with us... I really appreciate it ;)