Asking tourists about their experiences in Budapest

(source: index.hu)

Tourists Rip Off in Budapest

Hungarian journalists pretended as tourists in Budapest. And being cheated in taxi, ripped off in restaurant and while changing money. (source: index.hu)

Charlotte Yang – ”Hair for Hope”

MadScientist’s 7-year old daughter, Charlotte had her head shaved on Sunday 25 July 2010 at Vivocity (Central Court). She was part of the 243 female shavees and hoping her effort would raise $5000 in aid of Children’s Cancer Foundation to help the children (and their families). Do give her your support if you will please.
www.hairforhope.org.sg/hfh/shavee/show/527

”I want to participate in Hair for Hope 2010 beacuse when children have cancer and undergo chemotherapy their hair will drop. I hope that the money raised will hit the target and help their families. I hope that people will understand what a child with cancer goes through. I also hope to tell the children with cancer that it is ok to be bald. So I want to help them by shaving my head to make them happy.”-Charlotte Yang

Watermill in Mohács

This is the watermill in Mohács, it is called Szent Miklós vizimalom. Uncle Andras lives in this significant town on the Danube. It is by the southern borders of Hungary. So that makes the closest borders, the Croatian and the Serbian borders. To drive to the southeast of Pécs from Budapest is about 2.5hours. So along the way, you can see beautiful sunflower fields which is absolutely beautiful in summer :)

To be dedicated to the restoration work of a heritage is definitely very interesting and meaningful hobby for Zsolt's cousin, Norbert. He has contributed much in effort, time and money and all these beginning from ruins. Here he wrote his story of how he overcome the challenges and how it all started, very interesting photos that document his efforts.

Mecseki Tanya, Hungary

In my previous post about my cultural experience in Mohacs Hungary, I said I will write about the traditional hungarian long house. Here is a clip I've made about the foresty ''gravelling around'' experience and maybe this way, you can have a glimpse of how the greens I meant looked like.

Of course, I still recommend that you personally try it and experience with your own senses by being there personally :)

http://www.mecsekitanya.hu/

New York Times article on Hungarian Tokaji Wine

It seems that finally they discover our really very tasty Tokaji Wine. The New York times has published a quite long article on the Tokaj region saying its one of the most interesting wine regions in Europe:

Photo: Evan Rail

"Known by the name of the region’s main winemaking town, Tokaj, the moist and moldy area at the confluence of two mysterious, slow-moving rivers is the oldest classified wine region in Europe — older than Bordeaux in France, older than Porto in Portugal, older than Chianti in Italy. In fact, many of the stone wine cellars here date to the mid-16th century.

And now, 20 years after the changes that brought democracy, market capitalism and wide-open borders to the former Eastern bloc, Tokaj is emerging as one of the most interesting wine regions in Europe, not just for its sweet aszus and distinctive dry whites, but also for its unusual blend of history and cultures — Jewish, Russian, Hungarian and Greek — and for the low-key experience of a less-traveled wine trail where the curious and enterprising can easily rub shoulders with working winemakers, often right in their homes and vineyards." (read the entire article here: New York Times)

This summer's cultural experience at Mohács

We drove past the old village situated some distance from Mecseknádasd which lies in a beautiful valley. We didn't get to see Its most important sight which is the dell with a brook between Óbánya and Kisújbánya, Well, I heard about its wonderful walking trails of the Eastern-Mecsek. This place is known for its geological specialities such as the Slanting Waterfall and the dripstone-like features of the Dripping Cliff.

Right before arriving to the traditional Hungarian long house, a five minute drive on gravel roads sets the adventure and mood. What we saw is an almost intact area full of green trees, plants and even animals. Within this forest, we can also see well marked hiking trails of blue and white paint on the tree trunks.




Day two we visited Mohács. Zsolt's uncle and cousin Norbert live in this significant town on the Danube by the southern borders of Hungary. It is closest to the Croatian and the Serbian borders, southeast of Pécs. Because of the great location on the Danube, its being part of an excellent wine route, and its historical buildings. Also it was lovely to be greeted warmly by his 4 year old son other than with a traditionally homemade Mohácsi Bean soup by Norbi using the traditional methods of cooking it in an open flame with its region special pottery.



While we drove passed a Baroque style Calvinist church and a Byzantine style Catholic Church, we visited a special monument, a Serbian Orthodox church



This church is one of the projects undertaken by Zsolt's cousin, Norbert.  Refurbishing and restoration from state of ruins, he devoted his time, energy and money and made this work purposeful to what it is today the baroque Church of Serbia, a special attraction of this village in Mohacs. He made a great contribution to this ancient church. Right now, he embraced the renovation of a water mill which dates back to the 18th century. The water mill has been renovated, and is now welcoming visitors.



Interesting photos of opening ceremony are available on website http://www.patakmalom.hu/

View Google Map Mohacs
GPS Coordinates: N 46° 2,453' E 18° 40,624'

Zannnie is curious to see the well-known event called the "Busójárás" (or winter farewell) Carnival. It is a unique spring greeting, a traditional folk custom that has by today turned into a huge carnival and festival. Originally it was the local Croatian minority's ( the "sokac") own feast, where they wore wooden masks and sheep fur while they were making noise with flappers and various instruments chasing winter away.

According to one explanation its origin comes from the winter chasing rite, others believe that it was truly the "busók" (men disguised in animal hyde and fur) who chased the invading Turks away. This great event gets started every year six days prior to Shrove Tuesday. What comes after is a six day feast which concludes on Sunday. A great parade of the "busók" takes place then with a march in front of thousands of spectators. This huge event is well-known nationwide which has become one large festival event with several cultural activities. Exhibition, concerts, folk music performances attract every year some 15,000 to 20,000 visitors.



In some aspects, the deepest impression of this cultural trip is none other than the car wheeling around within the forest on those gravel road that are known only to private owners. It gave a feeling of adventure before nostalgia. In the next post, I will write about the traditional Hungarian long house at MECSEKI TANYA  :)

Mr. Orban and his "opportunity"

Unfortunately my country is again in the focus of the interest of international media due to the next very smart step of our "holy, revolutionary" government! The IMF-EU delegation has left the country after they failed to maintain real negotiations with the new Hungarian government.
Yesterday the Washington Post has published an article on the activity of our new government. Some lines:

THE LAST TIME he served as Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban made himself a persona non grata in Washington, despite his country's membership in NATO. The George W. Bush administration was offended by Mr. Orban's habit of catering to Hungary's extreme right, which still embraces 1930s-style nationalism and anti-Semitism.

(...)

Many Hungarians figured that Mr. Orban would temper his formerly polarizing policies. So far, he hasn't.

(...)

Mr. Orban's big election victory gave him an unusual amount of authority in a parliamentary democracy. At best, he could use it to push through economic reforms that Hungary needs to revive a chronically lagging economy. If he seeks instead to weaken democratic institutions, he will merely ensure that he once again becomes a pariah in Western capitals. (read the entire article: The Washington Post)

Though I have never voted for his posing, hypocrite party I also expected that Mr. Orbán will learn from his previous mistakes. But he didn't. I can't stand his arrogant, stubborn behavior, the manner how he shifted the phenomena of simple betrayal into the illusion of political talent.

Sea side

Looking back at the vacations we had so far, most of which were beach vacations. Starting from Croatia, Hvar at Stari Grad, we also went to Bol which is on Brac island. Then we went to Bali in Indonesia, Singapore of course we spent some time at the Sentosa. In Hungary, there is no beach, but still we were at the Lake Balaton, be it Tihany or Badacsony or Siofok, it is still near the waters. You can confidently conclude that we both love vacations along the beach or near the sea.

The most recent vacation was at Venice, Italy. It is not a beach vacation but we were on the Adriatic Sea :) The three places that were without these beaches were in winter season where we had our vacation in Madrid (Spain), Krakow (Poland) and Prague (Czech) :) These types of vacation are still somewhat different in its own. We discussed that some day, we would like to experience a stay with the view of the Atlantic Ocean. Browsing through the Flickr, I found wonderful photographs of the Carolina Coast which is like a dream come true. 

We chanced upon a site and saw on http://www.seasidemb.com particularly the Myrtle Beach which boasts of 89,000 accommodation units! That is quite a huge number to really decide on where to stay. Considering our previous experience on planning our honeymoon in Bali was the same with lots of accommodation choices. However, we had in mind that we wanted to go to Kuta specifically to see the Kuta sunset on the Kuta beach. So it helped to streamlined. Hence, I really find Myrtle Beach Accommodations a very useful tool. It is because all the rates are clearly published with the seasonal dates at one glance!

What's more, there is even an online system, Myrtle Beach hotel reservations, where we can simply check availability to decide on the dates to reserve.

Congratulations Mr. Orbán

Statement by the IMF Mission to Hungary

Press Release No. 10/295
July 17, 2010

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Christoph Rosenberg, held discussions with the Hungarian authorities during July 6-17, 2010 as part of the sixth and seventh reviews of the country’s Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) approved by the IMF Executive Board on November 6, 2008 (see Press Release No. 08/275). The IMF mission worked in close cooperation with a parallel mission from the European Commission, carried out in the context of the European Union (EU) balance of payments assistance. At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Rosenberg made the following statement:

“The Hungarian economy has begun to recover from the deep crisis of 2008-09, driven mostly by strong exports. Domestic demand remains weak, however, owing to difficult lending conditions and a soft labor market. Overall, real GDP is projected to grow by 0.6 percent in 2010. Inflation has been declining and the large current account deficits from 2008 and earlier have been eliminated. The 2011 outlook envisages a continued pickup in real GDP growth—to the 2½-2¾ range depending on the external environment and the strength of policies—and a further decline in inflation to the central bank’s target.

“Supported by the SBA, the Hungarian authorities have made good progress in helping their economy recover through prudent macroeconomic policies and strengthened financial sector policies, including improved banking supervision. Adherence to SBA targets—both quantitative and structural—has been broadly satisfactory through June.

“At the same time, more remains to be done to cement these gains and put Hungary on a strong and sustainable growth path. In an environment of heightened market scrutiny of government deficits and debt levels, the fiscal deficit targets previously announced—3.8 percent of GDP in 2010 and below 3 percent of GDP in 2011—remain an appropriate anchor for the necessary consolidation process and debt sustainability, and should be adhered to, but additional measures will need to be taken to achieve these objectives.  Sustainable consolidation will require durable, non-distortive measures, which the authorities need more time to develop. Difficult decisions will be needed not only on the revenue side--where the high financial sector levy, which is likely to adversely affect lending and growth, is planned to be temporary--but also on the spending side. In addition, the large loss-making state-owned enterprises need to be restructured to reduce their burden on the budget. In this context of fiscal adjustment, it is important that the vulnerable continue to be protected from the impact of the weak economy, although any further support should be provided in a targeted and transparent manner.

“Over the past two weeks, the IMF mission has conducted intensive discussions with the authorities covering these issues. While there is much common ground, a range of issues remain open. The mission will therefore return to Washington, D.C. The IMF will continue to actively engage with the authorities with a view to bridging remaining differences.”

(source)

Hoseasons

Zannnie and I haven't been taking a short break since our last vacation trip together to Singapore and Bali. We have been tossing the ideas of several places from cottage holiday to summer weekend at the Lake Balaton in Hungary. The thing about going to the Lake Balaton, Tihany, Siofok or even Badacsony wasn't a bad idea, just that there are simply too many Hungarians and therefore it is hard to feel it is a 'getaway' somehow.

The first criteria for a couple like us about planning a short getaway is considering the duration. How short is sufficient a break to feel relax enough that you have actually taken a short 'getaway'? To us, a short 3 or 4 nights away is just enough for a quick escape. It will definitely be a trip that must include Momo, our Havanese dog. That is because without him around, we will miss him very much, and we had tried that when we went to Venice by train which was a three day trip. So we found this term called 'Tail-wagging' holiday :) where in cottages especially, it allows us to bring our pet along.

In Hungary, there are also many holiday places that includes spas and thermal bath options. These private and natural hot tubs at the countryside or under the stars does sounds romantic. However finally, we have settled for one of my colleague's family house as we planned to visit some relatives who are living in the Mohacs.

World Cup: spanish national team lands in Madrid

(source: no commenttv)

Spain captain Iker Casillas was first out of the aeroplane and held the World Cup aloft at the top of the steps as the team arrived back in Madrid for the start of the official celebrations....
No Comment | euronews: watch the international news without commentary |http://www.euronews.net/nocomment/

Ashley Judd and the miners

Ashley Judd irked miners when she spoke out against mountaintop coal mining last month, and now they’re using a topless photo taken for a magazine against her. “Ashley Judd makes a living removing her top, why can’t coal miners?” says the poster, displayed at a Kentucky golf tournament. (source)

I find this "answer" very creative with a double message. There is something irritating when celebs are raising their voice against some activities from the point of view of their easy life. The answer of the miners is creative and smart. 

By the way after this successful campaign I recommend to the miners to lose their top for some magazines, too.:)   

Wathching the worldcup final in Budapest

More Budapest photos at: www.budapestdailyphoto.com

Street at night near Deak ter

Z and Z created an online Budapest Guide and it is called the BudapestZIN.

Inside you can find events happening in Budapest according to the Hungarian calendar. Be it cultural, sports or scientific events of internationals scope that is happening in Budapest. Besides, a concise guide of the famous sights, monuments, museums and attractions of Budapest.

Spas of Budapest
Historic spas of Budapest is one of the MUST-SEE when you visit Budapest. Nothing beats an experience at the famous thermal baths and on this guide, you get relevant information to plan for such a visit.

Useful travel tips
We collected some useful tips for people visiting Budapest, and for those who are traveling around the neighboring cities of Hungary (such as Vienna, Prague, Krawkow). Some need-to-know information about getting on in the city, taxis, restaurants, public transport, hotels and apartments in Budapest and train tickets to neighboring cities like Vienna, Prague, Krawkow. Last but not least, it provides information about photographic opportunities of the Bridges of the city and where to make great shots of the paranoma views of the city.

Crying

Kungfu on the Margaret Island

Kungfu training on the Margaret Island, Budapest.

Worries about Hungary’s new government

The Economist has posted an article on the new Hungarian government. I am really worried about my country and I can't stand that stubborn, "headstrong" behavior of the prime minister. They have just started to govern and already caused a lot of damages....I caaaaaan't stand them!

Some lines from the Economist's article:

"A broader worry is Hungary’s democracy. Freedom House, an American watchdog, has just published its annual rankings of political systems in the ex-communist world. Hungary is nowhere near the lows of ex-Soviet states. But its score (on a seven-point scale) has dropped steadily over the past five years, from 2.00 to 2.39. (Estonia did best with 1.96.)


(..)


One check on an overmighty executive is for the president to wield his veto. But the incumbent, Laszlo Solyom, steps down on August 5th. His replacement will be Pal Schmitt, another party chum of Mr Orban’s (and a communist-era government minister). Even those who want change in Hungary’s public life say that the prime minister needs to do more to soothe nerves and less to jangle them."


Read the entire article here.