Hotel Polus (Hotel Pólus), Budapest, Hungary - some advice

At the beginning of September we had the idea to visit Budapest. After looking at several offers on tourist portals, with a fairly limited budget, we chose to stay in Hotel Pólus*** (1152 Budapest, Szentmihályi út 131). This hotel is located quite far from the center of Budapest, however, can be quite easy to get from it to the center using public buses BKV. The hotel is located close to the motorway and next to the hotel there is a large shopping center Pólus Center. This is in the case if we had somewhere to buy a dinner :)

I will not write here about the hotel - you can see the video that I shot during our stay in this hotel.

At this point I will focus on a fairly significant problem - how to get from the hotel to the center.

The hotel is located near the bus station aptly named Újpalota, Nyírpalota út‎.

To bus station is a few minutes walk.

There is only one problem in that a simple matter. There is no where to buy tickets for public transport.

Single ticket (vonaljegy) you can of course try to buy from the driver (the exact amount - ticket normally costs 350HUF - from the driver a little pricier), You can also find at the Pólus Center a small shop Inmedio.
All this applies, of course, about purchase single tickets, which are quite expensive for longer stays. We decided to purchase a 3-day ticket (4150HUF). The list of points where you can buy tickets is available here. We bought tickets at a small shop next to the post office on Castle Hill near the square Disz (Dísz ter) on the street Tárnok utca. That's the way we should go from the upper funicular station Budavári Sikló in the direction of Fisherman's Bastion (Halászbástya). At this point we had no problems with communication - saleswoman understand what we mean and we bought a ticket without a problem (in other places no longer needs this to be so simple - be prepare and have at least photo of ticket which you want to buy and show it to the seller :) I encourage you to plan your journey in Budapest by public transport using the website http://utazastervezo.bkv.hu/tervezo/index.php?lng=eng. Prints from this page really helped us to travel around the city. It is always good to have with you planned route back to the hotel.
Travel guides advises against traveling in Budapest by taxis - and already, in particular, stopping them on the street. If anyone needs to take a taxi - let it be ordered by phone (but who dare to talk to Hungarian by phone :)

I advise you to also bring along a smartphone with installed Google Translator software - can you set in the program, which languages ​​are to be used to translate offline (ie without connecting to the Internet) - the program then retrieves these dictionaries on the phone and will be using them in while we have disabled internet access. It is quite convenient solution and sometimes we communicated with sellers by writing on our smartphone texts and then translating them automatically into Hungarian.

Thailand/Cambodia - first travel - part 6 - Siem Reap, Big Circuit

The next day we start at 5:00 in the morning, wake up and departure to Angkor Wat at sunrise. It's very cold, well that to Angkor is not far away and after a short drive we reach the place. We go in the dark to the temple. Around us crowds of tourists (worth to take a torch!). We forgot a flashlight so I'm using a mobile phone. We're taking position in front of the temple on the stairs left of the library (it's such a small building next to the pond with water lilies), I am installing a tripod and checking on GPS whether we are at good side of the temple. During this time, the natives running around us, offering us coffee or tea. Sunrise was not particularly interesting - the sun rose on the right side of the temple over palm trees. We gathered our stuff and went to Banteay Srey. This temple has a very well preserved reliefs and despite the remoteness from the main temple complex is worth a visit.

Throughout the day we go to the next temples (along the road called "Big Circuit"), some are smaller and some huge.

In the evening we go to the top of the hill on which is the temple of Phnom Bakheng, which is recommended in guide books as a place to admire the sunset instead of the besieged Angkor Wat. At the top of the temple we find that our guide is very popular in Japan. Hordes of Japanese lemmings running around the top of the temple. They wear great half caps and white masks on their faces, looking for a place to set photographic tripods. We had quite a good position to take pictures but few the Japanese tourists, risking an accident, climb on the edge of the temple between us and the sun. At this point, damn it hit me and without waiting for the sunset we went down from the top of the temple. Besides, the sunset was unattractive, so we did not lose so much. We return to the hotel and: dinner, internet and sleeping.

Thailand/Cambodia - first travel - part 5 - Siem Reap

In the morning a driver is waiting for us outside the hotel. We drive a few miles to the ticket office (What a terrible cold at 6:00 morning!). We buy a 3-day tickets to the complex of temples (needed photo - ticket for 3 days costs 40USD - data from 2007 - now they shoots photo by camera or scan of your passport and directly prints on the ticket). Tickets are with photos and foiled. At the entrance to every temple they checks every visitor. Temples are making quite an impression on us. They are very photogenic. Ta Prohm is a temple overgrown by jungle - in this temple filmed part of the movie "Tomb Raider". Some trees grew inside the walls, elbow it by the roots. One hour for visiting is not enough.

It's difficult to make a picture without someone in the background. All around the hordes of Japanese/Koreans people in organized groups. They go ahead blindly like a herd of lemmings stumbling over all exposed roots. Quickly got an allergy to them. Sometimes mocking them, posing each other for taking photos forward with outstretched hands and fingers of both hands set in a V mark. All the japanese, at the sight, are grinning happily and float the thumbs up.

We buy from the Khmer musicians/veterans playing before the temple - a CD of their music - will be used as background music in our movie (10USD). In each temple are a lot of local children who are trying to sell you souvenirs. Everything costs 1USD. We buy postcards, scarves, T-shirts, cotton, coconuts, drinks.

The biggest temple is the Angkor Wat. Crowds of people inside and around. Very picturesque temple, built with a flourish. In some places are still preserved reliefs depicting heaven and hell, dragging the hose through the sea of ​​milk. We climb to the top of the temple (very steep stairs!) - back down is much more difficult, so is installed a handrail on one way (only for descending from the top).

The main entertainment of all tourists in the temples is "hunting for a monk". As soon as someone occurs in a neighborhood with his picturesque orange clothes, that crowd runs after him with a camera and takes photos. The monks try to hide and run away.

At the evening, we buy a local prepaid sim card (7USD - empty - without any units to use) and charges the phone for 20USD. We call home - 4 minutes for 1USD - dirt-cheap :-)

We're going out to dinner - dinner in the pub is a smorgasbord and after dinner we'll watch Khmer dance show. Price 12USD (about 2USD more expensive than in our hotel but the driver has a commission for this so we do him a favor). Dance show is picturesque. "Trees" runs around the stage and breaks out the joints in their wrists. :-) After the show, everyone who wants it, can take photo on stage with the dancers. I want to! :-) On the stage gets crowded when whites lining up alongside dancers. The dancers stand still - it's not hard to guess what they think about these idiots (ie me too :) doing pictures with them.

Thailand/Cambodia - first travel - part 4

Last night in Bangkok gave us a hard time. We still have problems with sleeping (jet lag), wake up call we have scheduled for 3:15 and we have to go to the airport at 4:00. Thus it was necessary to get to bed early. The first night in Bangkok makes us nervous because of noise generated by air conditioning (but with no air conditioning we could not sleep so we had to endure with it). The next night was going to be normal.
We struggled a bit trying to get to sleep and when at last we did that, strange noise woke us up. Something like screaming. I turned off the air conditioning for better hearing - and what I hear? A "lumberjack" "sawing" a local "tree" and a "tree" groaning like a pig being slaughtered. At first it was very funny but after a while we began to bless the noise coming out of the air conditioner. Finally, at the end, Lumberjack felt lack of Viagra and finally silence came to us... and we had to get up. We checked out of the hotel. The taxi ordered last evening at the reception desk is waiting for us  (500THB). We arrive at the airport, checked baggage, get on the airplane (AirAsia) (oh, those attendants :-) and after one hour flight we are in the capital of Cambodia.
At the airport quickly checked our passports, attach the eye to a small USB webcam connected to a computer and finally, we are in Phnom Penh. When leaving the airport we got free maps of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The maps contain the inscription on the cover that in Cambodia "to have sex with minors is a crime and if you are witnesses, you have to inform the police." Cambodia is a popular destination for pedophile tourists.
We take a taxi from the airport (7USD), at the front of airport (as in Bangkok) are translators who read the addresses on pages fed by tourists and write it in Khmer for drivers. Knowledge of English is very rare.
We go by taxi to the office of Mekong Express bus line. The views along the way slightly depressing. Dirt, poverty and chaos. Thousands of scooters. Each scooter filled by passengers or goods to highest possible of level.
We buy last tickets for the bus departing at 12:30. The next bus is at 14:00 and the next (probably the last) departs at 18:00. We are looking for a pub where you can sit in the shade and wait for the departure (4h of waiting) - we found a pub very quickly. Table on the terrace, English menus, no prices. No one speaks English. I really like it here ;-) I point the finger an item in the menu and the waiter writes the order and run to the kitchen. The floor is very dirty. They bring me an empty glass - noted that it is dirty so exchanged it. Order chicken with noodles. The pasta is fried with eggs, with the strips of cooked chicken, with some unidentifiable green vegetables, bowl of chill, and a cup filled with boiling water to which the waiter dropped the fork and spoon (as evidence that utensils were disinfected). After dinner we swallow prophylactically Nifuroxazide, pay for dinner (dish + cola = 4USD) and go to the bus. The route between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap we overcome with the Mekong Express bus (10USD). On the way, attendant on the bus give us a damp handkerchief, bottle of water and a box of biscuits.
While driving, guide describes in Khmer and English passed attractions. Khmer language is completely different than Thai. Thai is very melodic, soft. Khmer sounds like shots from a Kalashnikov. Guide shoots very fast. Along the way you will see dry rice fields (dry season) and cottages on stilts. The most shocking looks local buses, filled to the brim with people - additional crowd sitting on the roof between the luggage.
In the evening, we get to Siem Reap. The bus station is too big word. Fenced, earthenware square filled with rubble and overgrown with grass. Tuk-Tuk drivers try to contact us. Tuk-tuk in Cambodia is different than in Thailand. It's a normal scooter with a covered trailer. We select one driver, who, as we think, speaks little English and riding us to the hotel (1USD). Siem Reap looks much better than the capital of Cambodia. The houses are more cared for, there is a lot cleaner. Many high-end hotels and shops quite good.
We get to our hotel. We arranges with the driver that the next three days we will be hauled to the temples with him (45USD). Our hotel (City River Hotel) turns out to be pretty decent. The doorman opens the door, brings our luggages to the room. Our room is pretty big, looks nice, TV with over 60 channels, mini bar and a small balcony. We eat dinner in the hotel restaurant (rice, chicken, sweet and sour sauce, cola - total 3USD per person). And after dinner we fall asleep for the first time without any problems - think we just ended our Jet Lag.

Thailand/Cambodia - first travel - part 3 - Bangkok

The next morning after breakfast (modest anyway) we ride the SkyTrain to the boat pier Tha Sathon  (Central Pier CEN) and get on the vaporetto to Nonthanburi, get off at Tha Tien (15THB), change to the ferry to Wat Arun (3THB). We pass the Chao Praya river to the other side and see the characteristic shape of the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun). We visit Wat Arun (10THB).

Then we get on the ferry (3THB) to Tha Tien and go back across the river to Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) (50THB)

and then after a short walk to the Royal Palace (250THB).

Caution! On the way to the Palace please absolutely do not believe anyone who comes up to us and kindly inform that "today the palace is closed", "at the palace are some ceremonies and will be open in the afternoon", "palace is under renovation". It does not matter whether it will be the person who will provide us with this information, will be civilian, military, or police officer. Do not ever believe in such information. And do not let yourself be deterred from visiting. I advise you to ignore the informations and the persons, and see if the palace is open - at the ticket office. It will be definitely open. In this way you will avoid one of the most popular scams in Bangkok. It's called "Lucky Buddha" or "Happy Buddha". Sometimes it is quite expensive scam for gullible tourists.

In the Palace we rent Electronic Guide (200THB) (they take passports as collateral), we get to wear long pants or skirts. And there are a lot to see.

At this point, our foots refuse to obey and after a little rest we catch a taxi and go to the Dusit (ticket to the Grand Palace is connected with the Palace Vinmanek) (50THB for a taxi).

It's worth to walk in the park in Dusit, where you can meet strolling majestically giant lizards - a view for the European quite unusual.
 We visit the Palace Vinmanek (non-shooting and shooting!), and coach house, for more we are already missing time. We return to the hotel by taxi (140THB).

Tomorrow morning we plan to wake up at 3:30 (still suffering from jetlag and again tomorrow we will not be rested again) and go to the airport. Taxis ordered at reception (500THB) because I do not want to risk an early bargaining with taxi drivers. Tomorrow morning we fly to Phom Penh and ride the bus to Siem Reap. But I will write about it next time.

Thailand/Cambodia - first travel - part 2 - Bangkok

We travel around Bangkok using all possible means of transportation. The easiest is to ride the subway and overground rail (skytrain). The hardest is to ride taxis and tuk-tuks. And is impossible for tourist to ride the city bus without knowledge of Thai language. Every taxi driver won't turn meter on and treats you as a walking wallet. When you tell them where you want to ride, they nodding his head in understanding and then the problems begin. Everyone knows where you want to ride but after a few meters of driving they start to inquire "about details "and you realize that they have no idea where to go. English they do not know at all. Geographical names do not tell them anything. Maybe our pronunciation is wrong or they do not know the topography of Bangkok.

The heat is terrible, about 30°C (86°F) and humidity close to 100% (this is the end of January).

Monuments knocks our socks off - all the temples are just beautiful. Even modest temple in the middle of nowhere make impress on us. Everything is so different and refined down to the smallest detail.

We're riding the SkyTrain and subway to the train station Hualamphong. Then we walk along the street Yaowarat (about 500 meters) and reach Wat Traimit (20THB - everytime I give the price of admission for one person - the price may be out of date - the data on this are from 2010).

During crossing the street Yaowarat we realize how much we have to learn here. Trying to pass the road for unfamiliar with this subject european people, is a big challenge. Nobody here cares for pedestrian crossings priority. At first glance, you can see the fresh whites standing on the edge of the road and watching Thai people crossing the road, deftly weaving between vehicles. Over time, however, a man learns this difficult skill. At the beginning I suggest you just go behind a native, and do not to try any sudden movements. Drivers very smoothly omits us on all sides, and no one will be hurt. In the middle of the road going you to feel like in the middle of the river current :-)

In the temple of Wat Traimit we admire the golden statue of the Buddha. We do not see anything special about this statue - also the temple is not exceptionally beautiful.

Then we walk on Chinatown and when we are bored e between the stalls, catch a tuk-tuk and ride to Wat Saket (The Golden Mount) (10THB). From the top of the temple is a nice view of the surroundings.

This is the end of the tour today. We're back in the hotel.

I'm afraid to eat the famous Thai food from stalls on the street.  So we are going to Tesco for dinner and try the local cuisine in one of the restaurants. Prices are higher than on the street (about 100THB dinner per person) but at least it does not feel the smell of old oil. What about the health, you will know when you'll get another journal written in the toilet :-)

After dinner, we bought a prepaid SIM card "One Two Call" (770THB) - the card is cool - make it in the card you got 360 minutes free internet connection via GPRS.

Thailand/Cambodia - first travel - part 1

(Please note! I'm not speaking well in english so please be patient :)

Twenty-two hours journey passed in no time...
Ha ha, and so seriously that this journey was ordeal. To put it mildly.
Paris aerial view looks good, no matter how much the plane swings during turbulence. At this point, we should get thanks from LOT airline for saving his few disposable bags hidden in the seat pocket.
The truth is that it really was not even what to bring up after a modest meal, how our beloved national carrier gave to us :)
Charles de Gaulle Airport is huge - we drove 30 minutes by bus between the terminals before we got out of the terminal 1 to terminal 2A.
Everytime, when the bus stood at the entrance to any of the terminal, the driver behind the wheel rotates and looked at us with hope that we want to leave a bus. And then we call to him: "Deux A". I wonder if he even understood in French.
A little worried about this trip - because I never flew by plane with connecting flights - in this case we had two connecting route, in Paris and in Hong Kong.
After arriving by bus to the terminal 2A, we got to the position of airline and after standing in the queue got all boarding passes.
At this point, once it became clear that our Polish agent did not book our seats on the plane, we got seats in the middle row (sucks!). Around us, as far as you can see, everywhere Asian people. All flight attendants was beautiful and meals on board was great. It was a Cathay Pacific plane.
After several hours of flying and a few meals caught up with us the curse of Pol Pot (popular travel sickness ;) Toilets on Hong Kong airport are awesome - in my opinion.
Airport in Bangkok is the pinnacle of modernity, glass, marble, aluminum ... and there is the forest ... A very much forest. In my country is sentence: "Shall never bring a tree to a forest". My beloved "tree" is sitting by my side in front of computer in local internet cafe and I admire local "trees" strolling down the street.
We flew to the new Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. We did the baht currency exchange (we took American Express traveler's checks). A lot of it was not necessary because in our country we made reservations for most hotels in Thailand (http://www.sawadee.com/) and Cambodia (http://www.directrooms.com/). Also made reservations for local flights (http://www.airasia.com/).
For booking I recommend using prepaid cards (e-cards) - after returning to our country, data of our credit card was leaked and someone bought AirAsia flight ticket from Chiang Mai to Bangkok -
I made "Charge Back" procedure in my bank and cash was returned to me. The only place where our data could leak was: AirAsia, Sawadee.com and directrooms.com. So be carefull.
We come out from the airport and trying to find a taxi stand. At least we see a desk with employees filling receipts for taxi drivers. We give them a voucher to our hotel in Bangkok and they are writing in Thai on the ticket address at which the driver should take us. Quickly they put us to taxi and set off. I am very surprised that it went so smoothly and that there were no any problems - why so naive am I. After driving a few kilometers the driver begins to inquire us about where is our hotel exactly. At this point it makes me a little weak. I'm taking the map of Bangkok and begin to explain to him - but it's hard to get along with because he knows english but rather hearsay.
In case of problems with the taxi driver and finding the hotel I would advise not to wait but immediately turn your mobile phone in a taxi and immediately call the front desk of hotel asking for an explanation route to cabbie.
The fare from the airport to Hotel costs us 400THB (about 13USD) including fees for the highway.
Unpack your luggage, take a shower and we go on tour - is at 1pm local time and in front of us a lot to see. I have jetlag as hell, but we do not know about it yet - we'll find out what it is for just a few hours.