I wouldn't go there without you

I've trained to perfection organising flights, connections, trips etc. And so, on Tuesday night I took flight from Dubai via Frankfurt to Warsaw. On Tuesday already I've had this wonderful feeling of arriving holidays although I was not planning any holidays. Extended weekend only. Was it because of the first day of the summer on Tuesday (21st of June)? I even had this song in my head which is taught in the kindergarten:

Lato, lato, lato czeka,
Razem z latem czeka rzeka,
Razem z rzeką czeka las,
A tam ciągle nie ma nas

On Wednesday night I've flew home. I was in Warsaw at 9 in the morning, I had another working day there, but working from home was rather painless and pleasant. Much more efficient than working from the office would be. Traveling there, meeting with all the people, having coffee with everyone, going for lunch would require too much time.
In the evening I've packed my bag, did some shopping and I was ready to get back on the way. Direction Bieszczady. The wildest mountain chain in Poland situated at the South-East. At the border to Slovakia and Ukraine.

We've left Warsaw late in the evening. With Marta, Faz, Doris and Mati we took a minivan to Rzeszow where we've arrived at 3a.m. and we were waiting and sleeping at the bench at the bus station. We had  to catch a bus to Czarna Gora and next get somehow to Polana where I was planning to start our hiking.
We did manage all of that and made a 3 hours trek to Chata Socjologa at the Otryt. That was just enough after sleepless night (two for me in fact).
In Chata Socjologa two more people joined us and what was funny almost everyone's met there people that they already knew. That was surprising. Almost end of the world, no running water, no electricity, about 30 people on site and they know each other form somewhere else.

Fasola sleeping at the bus station in Rzeszow at 4a.m.

Don't forget to follow the blue marks

From behind Fasola's shoes

Chata Socjologa on the Otryt. This hut burned down some years ago and was rebuild in the pretty much the same shape. Still there is not electricity and running water.

Cytrynowka in Dubai shot glasses on the Otryt. What a mix!

Tomek, Marta, Fasola, Mati and Doris hidden in a hammock on the porch of Chata Socjologa

Guitars and songbooks make the best party in the mountains

On Friday and Saturday we've made really good hiking. On Friday we went down to Dwerniczek, climbed up to Magura Stuposianska which was a real challenge due to the timber cutting around and heavy vehicles which made the path incredibly muddy. It guess that it took twice as long to climb up as it would normally take. Anyways searching for a way and slipping down was fun. Every step as a challenge, especially that our boots got so much heavier from the whole mud that stuck to our soles.
When we've passed Magura it was so much easier. We went down to Koliba hut and next up to Polonina Carynska and down to Ustrzyki Gorne where we've spent the night. What's more we've been sleeping there in border guard quarters.
We've been meeting again with Tomek and by the time we got to Ustrzyki Gorne he arranged a place to sleep for us. That was lovely, especially that we've arrived there rather late.

In Dwerniczek at the foot of Magura Stuposianska. All the way up looked pretty much like that, just steeper.

Tomek and Mati are resting on the lodges before the way up

That was one of the few nice spots on the way up. No mud, what a pity.

Tomek and myself in the woods

Magura Stuposianska. 1016 m.

Doris and myself on Magura Stuposianska. She's very pleased that we've made it.

Polonina Carynska. Jana is a girl from Germany who I've met via some friends couple of years ago and I've met her now on the way in Bieszczady. Coincidence?

What's the hell going on down there???!!!!!

Pierogi after long hiking taste always delicious

To get fully into the groove of that place we turned on famous Polish Movie shot/placed in Lutowiska which is a village in Bieszczady. The Dark House is a gloomy thriller giving insight into the machinations of small town corruption Polish style.
Unfortunately I was too tired to watch it and instead I took BeforeGoingToBedNap. Anyways I've seen that movie already.

On Saturday we made a hike without our big bags. We've left them at home and took only two bags with water and waterproof jackets. Weather was very unstable. Sun, rain, fog, hail...Till we got to the Szeroki Wierch it was pretty much ok, only there it got foggy but when we got to the top - Tarnica (1349)- the highest peak in Bieszczady it got sunny again.
This was what we've wanted, as we planned to dress up into swimming gear and take some photos under the cross which is at the top.
People thought probably that we must be some freaks when they saw us undressing but that's made the whole thing even funnier. Tomek even had fins. The only missing thing was a snorkel.
Just when we dressed into proper clothes it's started to be cold, foggy and hail started again. The problem was that we were at the open space at the top of the Bukowe Berdo which is more or less a ridge. Maybe not very sharp (flat even, like alpine meadow) but completely open. We were completely soaked and cold from the wind and hail.
Luckily we got home safe and sound and happy.

Getting ready to climb Tarnica. But why do they pack swimming googles, fins and swimming hats? Let's see....

On the way up

Lovely.....

Smile everyone!

Fins, googles, bikini on the Tarnica peak. Let's go swimming!...



... but where's that lake?



Probably the last moment of good weather on Saturday

Whole team on Tarnica

Bukowe Berdo in fog

Bukowe Berdo

Doris and Fasola did not go with us via Bukowe Berdo. They went down to Wolosate and at least they've had good weather.

Fasola tries to get some water from the well I guess....

Made by Fasola. My favourite one.

Unfortunately that was the last day of a long trek. On Sunday we made only quick hike to Mala Rawka and back. We've divided into couples and made our way back to Warsaw. Doris and Fasola were lucky as they've managed to catch a car from Lesko to Warsaw, so they were back at home quite early. Tomek and I hitchhiked too but we were rather unlucky and in the end we had to take bus to Rzeszow (where at the market square we had a pint of beer), next minivan to Tarnobrzeg where we were picked up by his dad who drove us to Sandomierz, where in turn we got a lift from some of his friends to Warsaw. Unexpectedly it was rather pleasant and relaxing journey. Probably one of the least trodden trails from Bieszczady to Warsaw.
The least lucky was Marta and Mati as they got home only in the morning, but still everyone made it and everyone had fun hiking and hitchhiking.



View from Mala Rawka

Rest

Team

Yo, yo

Stork that we've met hitchhiking on the way to Rzeszow



Rzeszow marketsquare. My bag was to heavy and pulled me back when I was squating.



Running up that road

When I’m not travelling and when I’m in Poland during the weekend I take part in running competition.

During one of several weekends that I’ve spent in Poland I’ve managed to do half marathon in Hajnowka. Hajnowka is a small city of about 22 000 inhabitants in north-east Poland. It’s called “Gate to Bialowieza Forest” which is the biggest primaeval forest in Europe and a home to wisents, elks, semi-wild horses, wild bores and so on.

Route of the run was from Bialowieza to Hajnowka, where we could take a shower, got some food in a school canteen and where the winners were announced. Our running club: Accelerate – KB Accenture was successful and three of our runners got among the winners in their age categories. I was running under false name, as I did not manage to sign in on time and there were no places left, so I took over my friend’s number who was not fit enough to run (actually myself I wonder how the hell after so many breaks in trainings and no unwelcoming conditions in Dubai to train I’ve managed to accomplish this run in a slightly longer than 2h. Maybe these were trainings in Dubai heat that got me prepared to polish heat in May).

Actually somehow I've thought that the run will be somewhere in the woods, something like Polmaraton Swietych Mikolajow in Torun, but apparently it was straight road between Bialowieza to Hajnowka where cars were passing by from time to time. Additionally I was told that there is a huge hill just after 17th kilometer and I was awaiting it with a great fear. But there was nothing. Almost nothing. I could feel tiny hill, but in fact I was expecting something like the hill in Warsaw where we always train - Agrykola. My disappointment that there was no high hill was positive one in fact.

After winners were announced there was a party in one of the agro touristic complexes. Band was playing, Cossacks were fighting and we were drinking, playing Frisbee with my flip-flops and dancing. In fact there was some really good dancing going on. I’ve very much enjoyed it. Especially that I haven't been on any running competition for nearly a year. It was so cool to see all those people who still remembered me and were really happy to see me again. Making new friends has always been easy job for me, so I've managed to get to know some people. Especially that runners are friendly and it does not matter how fast or how good you are running everyone is always welcome.

Accelerate - KB Accenture. Run'em all

Accelerate girls

Krzys, Kinga and Cela (temporary under name of Marta ;-))

Ale Tempo and Accelerate.

Ready, set....

Jacek. Our trainer. But why is he chasing a truck?

Tomek

Always in good mood

It does not matter how tired you are. There is always enough strength for a smile.

Gimme water

Matysiak - our new runner. He did hist first half marathon (unfortunately also under false name) in Hajnowka and was second already

Party Time!!!!!!!!!!!!

Band from Olsztyn. Can anyone remind me what was their name? Ohhh, I got it: Horpyna.

Cossack

Cossack under a threat of death

Our cottage in Bialowieza

When I've got kiteboard uder my feet

Kiting classes were going well, when I’ve started them again until wind died. It died yesterday morning when I even got up at 6 a.m. to go for classes at 7. By the time when I got to the school it was gone and never risen up again.
Other problem was that the day before I’ve stepped over sea urchin which made me unable to walk. I’m limping or walking funny trying not to step over the spot on the sole of my foot where the needle got in. And it is not easy to take it out; they’d have to cut my foot to take it out. The thing is that they are very fragile and break, so you cannot pull it. That’s why it remained it my foot and aches like hell when I walk.

The only options remaining were either swimming or cycling. With the polish friend with whom I hang around here we’ve rented bicycles and cycled the whole island, which is not big but is hilly. I was cursing him when I had to go up the hill to the view point situated on the Mt. Luho, and this is one of the things which I really don’t like, but in the end we got there and view was not bad although I’m not sure if worth those 50 P which they charge. We could see almost whole island, with White Beach, Bulabong – Kitesurfers’ Beach (where this time were no kites at all) and we were able to point Puka Shell Beach where we went just before. On the other hand it was so much fun to go down from the top of the hill that I might do that again only if I had better bicycle.
Other option was swimming which we did as well. Swimming goggles to prevent salty water getting into our eyes and here we go! We swam from the White Beach to the yacht that Kazik spotted anchored nearby and what’s more one day we’ve met guys working there and one of them was the guy he knew from some years earlier for the different yacht so they agreed that one day we’ll get there.

Swimming itself was not that challenging as challenging was watching out on the other boats which were passing by. But we managed to get there safely, got water there (so much salty water that you drink when you swim in the sea, that probably for the next year I should not be eating any salt at all), chatted to the guy and swam back.
That is everything cool but I want the wind. I want to start kiting for real, with a board. So far I’m able to set up the kite, start it from water, steer it, body drag myself, do self rescue. It’s high time to do some progress but there are no conditions for that. There are only two days left now…

Freestyle Academy

I'm learing hot to steer a kite

Introduction to body draging

Ready, set...

... Go

9 sqm kite

Puka Shell Beach

Japanese tourists that we saw on the Puka Beach. I guess it must be kinda fashionable in Japan for a couple to wear the same clothes or at least the same pattern on theit clothes. Most of the couples htere that we saw were like that. The same pullovers, girls' bikinis had the same pattern as boys's shorts and so one. Weird. And of course have a look at the shoes. Aren't high heels the best beach shoes?

It looks kitsch and like from a cheap postcard, but it's genuine sun set on Boracay

…. And they were not enough too. As first one I’ve spent throwing up and stayed in bed, as I was not able to get up at all, when I wanted to do some walking I’ve almost blacked out and the other day there was no wind at all. But at least I’ve went the Bulabong Beach and got in touch with Ken – the owner of Free Style Academy where I was having my classes and went to the party with him and some of his local lads, which was cool, as in fact it was the only party that I had here.

Kazik and I. Ready to swin to the yacht.

On the anchor

Palm in a Jungle Bar

Welcome to Island called Boracay. It wasn't me who did that though.

At the party with Ken

Bom Bom Bar with local Filipinos

On the way home. Plane form Caticlan to Manila

Island called Boracay

Boracay is famous for its white beaches. I was not aware of that but it’s first tourist destination in Philippines. What’s more not only for foreigners but also for local people. Actually it’s full of Filipinos, what’s really nice. I must admit that I enjoy it so much more this way than the other like in Thailand and Vietnam where beaches were full of farangs.


Filipinos are the most friendly people that I’ve met. They always smile, speak decent English, help you. This is how I got place where I’m staying right now. We were in Caticlan, arrived there quite late, when there were no more boats to Boracay and we met those local girls who were trying to arrange transportation to Boracay and did all the good job to get it. One of them was renting rooms and as her place was full showed us house next door where a family is renting rooms, so we got one.

Traditionally during holidays I’m sick. Sore throat, fever, runny nose, so most of the time I spend either walking along the beach or sitting and reading. I must admit that I even go into the water as it’s so warm that it can’t make me any harm. I was told that it’s 28 degrees (sic!).

When I thought I’m already better I went to kite surfing classes and in fact got worse again. Damn it! I’ve even spent all weekend evenings in bed, not going out to party and it did not help. Maybe I should have gone yesterday, as when we went for a dinner to very local place there was that bunch of Filipinos and when we got up to pay they’ve asked us if we wanna give it a try. But a try to what? I’ve found out only when two guys took me by the hand and lead me to the long table.

Apparently they were a crew of a Dragonboat (there was dragonboat competition taking place last two days) celebrating their victory (3rd place if I got it right) and drinking. But how where they drinking! There were three tables connected together. There was a line of 15 different bottles with booze and there was a shot glass with each bottle, sometimes there was also a bottle of coke in between. And what you were supposed to do was to get one shot after another.

I was the first one to try, but I knew I’m not gonna make it till the end as I was taking medicines to get me going and mixing it with booze was not a good idea, so after four shots I gave up. But John feeling the pressure made it till the end. That event made us forget to pay our dinner. So we had to go back there in the night to pay.

I was not planning it but in the end I’ve decided to stay here till the end. Especially that I don’t feel like traveling when I’m sick and bearing in mind that way home will be tough. Four flights in a row, transferring between terminals in Manila and Dubai, 17 hours of flights plus some additional waiting times. One needs to be fit for that.

Boracay sun set

Dragonboat warrior

Dragonboats ready to take off

Dragonboats with their crews

Filipino party people

John is taking shots

Very romantic, ain't it?

Coconut tree climber

Jump up