Benjamin Ringel

Victoria Falls: deterrent power of the water

Victoria Falls, or as the locals call it Mosi-oa-tuna (“the smoke that thunders”), are located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, says Benjamin Ringel. They are 1.7 kilometers wide and 128 meters high and are part of two national parks, “Mosi-oa-Tunia” in Zambia and “Victoria Falls” in Zimbabwe. They are one of the biggest [...]

Travel Destinations for Little Money

You are short on cash but longing a journey? Benjamin Ringel presents you a few inexpensive travel destinations to visit which will not empty your bank account. India For many years India is a budget travel destination, and many people know this. But you may not know that India has much more to offer other [...]

NIKKO – The most famous city of temples in Japan

When the great Shogun Ieyasu from Tokugawa tribe forever closed his eyes, begins Benjamin Ringel, his people fulfilled his last will and laid him on the last rest in the mountainous region of Nikko – 100 km away from the new capital of Edo, which back then was a poor fishing village and only later [...]

Mauritius: The Right Place for Honeymoon

Mauritius is a beautiful tropical island which is located about 800 kilometers from the eastern coast of Madagascar in the Indian ocean. Its diverse landscapes are including kilometers of unspoiled coastline, tropical forests and impressive mountains and as Benjamin Ringel is saying its beautiful beaches, the sea and the mild tropical climate combined with the best hospitality [...]

Disappearing destinations

There are a lot of places in the world which can be visited, but they can disappear if people’s environmental awareness does not wake up says, Benjamin Ringel. There are a lot of warnings about the imminent disappearance of the great coral reefs by 2030, melting glaciers in the Alps and the snow on Mount [...]

Victoria Falls: deterrent power of the water

May 17th, 2013

Benjamin Ringel

Victoria Falls, or as the locals call it Mosi-oa-tuna (“the smoke that thunders”), are located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, says Benjamin Ringel. They are 1.7 kilometers wide and 128 meters high and are part of two national parks, “Mosi-oa-Tunia” in Zambia and “Victoria Falls” in Zimbabwe. They are one of the biggest attractions in South Africa and are under the protection of UNESCO.

The falls are bigger than Niagara Falls and only “competitor” they have are Iguassu Falls in South America. While Iguassu are divided into about 270 smaller waterfall, Victoria is the largest and widest waterfalls “in one piece” in the world.

Interestingly, the Zambezi River at the place where it plunges into abyss is 1.7 kilometers wide, and after that it continues through trail wide of several tens of meters. The four small islands located on the edge are responsible for the fact that instead of one there are several waterfalls. At the right bank is the 35 meters wide waterfall called Devil’s Waterfall. Beyond the 300 meters wide Boaruka Island follows the main waterfall which is 460 meters wide.

During the rainy season through the waterfall pass some 500 million liters of water per minute. The largest ever recorded flow was registered in 1958 at the time of the great flood, with an incredible 770 million liters per minute. For instance, when the flow of the Niagara waterfalls is “only” 170 million liters of water and those who see the waterfalls will surely remain breathless.

In the National Park you can have fun and bungee, canoeing, rafting, fly with ultra-light planes above the waterfall, as well as a variety of other activities. Of course, there is the circular ride at Zambezi, riding elephants and many other attractive ways of spending money, says Mr. Ringel.

Travel Destinations for Little Money

April 23rd, 2013

Benjamin Ringel

You are short on cash but longing a journey? Benjamin Ringel presents you a few inexpensive travel destinations to visit which will not empty your bank account.

India

For many years India is a budget travel destination, and many people know this. But you may not know that India has much more to offer other than Bollywood movies and Taj Mahal. How about a trip to the north? Climbing Ladakh, where mountain peaks are majestic and the air is fresh. Or what about surfing in Port Blair, in the Bay of Bengal? These destinations will provide you with a real adventure for little money. The cheapest accommodation is in Port Blair in Jut hostel where you can get a bed just for $ 1.25.

Nepal

The home of Mount Everest has long been on the list of passengers who are looking for affordable destinations for decades and stands as one of the best travel destinations for those with shallow pockets. This landlocked country in Southern Asia offers a lot to travelers, and most of all, it is not expensive, suggests Mr. Ringel.

Indonesia

Although in recent years, because of what happened, lost its precious spot on the list of many travelers, Indonesia still has a lot to offer. This island-state in Southeastern Asia has some of the most beautiful beaches. And as long as you stay away from the popular tourist places, your bank account will not be exhausted.

Poland

Despite being a part of the European Union, Poland is still inexpensive travel destination. At 29 dollars per day you can enjoy exploring this country. Rural settlements which are not that expensive will delight you, and small towns in the region such as Krasnistava Lubelski are a real treat for visitors, finishes Benjamin Ringel.

NIKKO – The most famous city of temples in Japan

April 15th, 2013

Benjamin Ringel

When the great Shogun Ieyasu from Tokugawa tribe forever closed his eyes, begins Benjamin Ringel, his people fulfilled his last will and laid him on the last rest in the mountainous region of Nikko – 100 km away from the new capital of Edo, which back then was a poor fishing village and only later developed into what’s today know as Tokyo, a famous tourist destination. In his lifetime Ieyasu was able to destroy his rivals, he managed to win many provinces and lay the foundation stone of one unified Japanese state. It was a state where Ieyasu was just named shogun (military leader) and in fact was ruler instead of the Emperor.

In 1617 the dead statesmen was buried in Nikko and included among the gods. In the lovely nature, now a national park, were created many buildings in honor of the war heroes, a lot of arches, pagodas… Gradually the whole area was filled with temples, which were initially dedicated to Buddha and later to the modest cult Shinto, Japan’s state religion. Legend says that the manifold Toshogu chapel was built within 15 months and 830,000 people help building it.

With divine honors and lemitsu was buried in Nikko, his grandson and the second Ieyasu’s successor The landscape of temples evolved into a much visited place and, while the wealthier pilgrims in honor Shogun donated large bronze and stone sacrificial lamps, the poorer people planted trees or gave the priests who teach there a small amount of money, finishes Benjamin Ringel.

Mauritius: The Right Place for Honeymoon

April 5th, 2013

Benjamin Ringel

Mauritius is a beautiful tropical island which is located about 800 kilometers from the eastern coast of Madagascar in the Indian ocean. Its diverse landscapes are including kilometers of unspoiled coastline, tropical forests and impressive mountains and as Benjamin Ringel is saying its beautiful beaches, the sea and the mild tropical climate combined with the best hospitality of the population of Mauritian make this island one of the most sought after places for resting and relaxation.

The Mauritius beaches are one of the nicest in the world. The coral reef is surrounding most of the island. On one side the reef is creating mild turquoise water which is perfect for swimming and on the other side there are the amazing waves that tumble down the reef.

Mr. Ringel says that the island is not only known as a place for relaxation, but also as a place for a various sports activities. The most of the all-inclusive packages also are offering scuba diving, surfing, surfing with a parachute, water skiing and sailing. Some of them are also offering tours with the glass bottom boat. There is also a new golf course, a catamaran cruise and offers for riding a bicycle or motorcycle with a 4-wheel drive. If the visitors of Mauritius want to experience the nature they can always rent an equipment for camping and can spend a few days in the mountains.

Mauritius is a paradise for fishing in the deep waters. From the many species of fish the most “popular” are yellow tuna, capes, Bonitos, sharks, barracuda etc.

If someone is looking for a special place for his honeymoon, Mauritius is the right place for him. Every hotel on this island is offering a rich marital arrangements. They also are helping out with the organization of the details for the wedding day.

So, if you are looking for a peaceful place for rest and relaxation, definitely Mauritius is the right place for you.

Disappearing destinations

March 29th, 2013

Benjamin Ringel

There are a lot of places in the world which can be visited, but they can disappear if people’s environmental awareness does not wake up says, Benjamin Ringel. There are a lot of warnings about the imminent disappearance of the great coral reefs by 2030, melting glaciers in the Alps and the snow on Mount Kilimanjaro in about 40 years. But there are the places that can still be visited.

The coral Reef of Belize

It consists of series of coral reefs that stretch along the coast of Belize and it is part of the 900 km long Mesoamerican coral reef. This is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and it is UNESCO world heritage site. Unfortunately, since 2009 it is on the list of endangered World Heritage sites too. The excessive construction, cruisers and pollution have seriously hurt the reef.

The Congo Rainforest

After Amazon, Congo River carries more water than any other river on the Earth. Accordingly, there is also the second largest rainforest in the world. But, if it does not receive special measures of protection, up to two thirds of the forests and along with its unique wildlife will disappear by 2040.

The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is the lowest point on the Earth (418 meters below the sea level). In the last 40 years the Dead Sea has lost over a third of its original size. River Jordan is the only source of water, and given the fact that people from Israel and Jordan are using the water for irrigation, only a small amount of water is reaching the Dead Sea. It is estimated that the Dead Sea could disappear in 50 years.

Madagascar

More than 80 percent of the flora and fauna of Madagascar could not be found anywhere else on the Earth. If nothing is done to rescue the island, all the forests there will disappear in 35 years. The area of the forest is already reduced by six from its original size. The unreasonable utilization of the land is threatening 20 species of lemurs.

These places can still be visited and their disappearing is only depending from people, says Mr. Ringel.

Bran Castle

March 22nd, 2013

Benjamin Ringel

Following the previous post about castles in Romania, today we present you Bran Castle, as one of the most famous castles in Romania, says Benjamin Ringel. It is located in Transylvania, in central Romania, near to the town of Brasov, which is only 25 kilometers northeast from this castle. There is also the railway station for the tourists who want to visit this castle.

As Benjamin Ringel is saying, Bran castle is surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend, and it is placed on the top of the rock, which is 60 meters high. This castle is popular from its impressive towers and spiers and from the myth that has been created around the book of Bram Stoker – Dracula. For the first time this castle was mentioned in the official act that was brought from the Hungarian Lajos I at 19 November 1377th. With this act he was giving the Saxons of Brasov the privilege to build their outpost at this place. Although Bram has never visited Transylvania, the Irish author relied on research and vivid imagination to create a dark character of Count Dracula. Because the association with Dracula castle is incomplete, the castle is remaining a place for visiting of all those who are interested in Count’s history.

Iguassu Waterfalls

March 13th, 2013

Benjamin Ringel

Iguassu Waterfalls in national park Iguassu are on UNESCO list of the world cultural and natural heritage since 1986. Tourists can reach this place in different ways: by boat or over the suspension bridge over an abyss, says Benjamin Ringel. One thing is certain – the trip to the Iguassu Waterfalls will not leave anyone indifferent.

Foz do Iguassu is a magical town on the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. It is the place where Iguassu River flows into Parana River. Many tourists are coming here because of the low prices for accommodation. A large part of the population here works in the tourism sector, because this is the destination city for those tourists who want to visit two of the most famous places in this region. Just a few miles north from Foz do Iguassu is Itape Lake, whose exploitation began in May 1984. South of the bridge Foz do Iguassu are placed the magnificent waterfalls. Most striking is the view on the national park from the Brazilian side, but tourists have an option to get closer to the waterfalls from the Argentinean side. If tourists want to enter Argentina, they must cross the bridge in Foz do Iguassu. To get to the falls, they should continue the path that starts from town of Porto Iguassu, and then go by the river.

Castles and fortresses of Romania

March 1st, 2013

Benjamin Ringel

A set of Romanian castles and fortresses perhaps illustrates the best how much of medieval heritage has this state, says Benjamin Ringel. While castles built between the 14th and 18 century are strong and simple, fortresses, mainly built for defense against foreign invasions and attacks were built in the late 1800-ies. One thing they have in common is they all look impressive and luxurious. Among the most popular are the castle from 14^th century – Korvinesti, which was built on the ruins of old Roman camp, then the elegant chateau from the 19^th century – Peles, with its 160 rooms that are filled with priceless European art and of course the inevitable Bramov castle, built in the mid 1300′s, the legendary home of Count Dracula from Bram Stoker’s novel.

Due to the presence of the Saxons, which lasted almost nine centuries, Transylvania, which is located in central Romania, is entitled to a unique cultural and architectural heritage, unique in whole Europe, states Benjamin Ringel. In this region are located nearly 200 Saxon villages and has many fortified churches which were built between the 13^th and 15^th century. Seven of these Saxon churches (Biertan, Calnic, Darjiu, Prejmer, Saschiz, Valea Viilor and Viscri) are listed as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO. If you decide to visit these quaint villages, surrounded by lush green hills and Salas, you will feel the long lost and gone medieval times.

Kenya – The Safari Country

February 13th, 2013

Benjamin Ringel

The best safari in the world, where you can see wild animals in their natural habitat from a few meters range , baobab trees, exotic markets full of aromatic plants, villages from “back in time”, hot tropical climate – is exactly what Kenya offers its visitors. Even though offers luxury hotels in Mombasa, the capitol, some people are not prepared to meet this great land of adventures, mostly because they are bothered with the overwhelming poverty, poor sanitation and the unique culture, which is not at all related to the western one.

Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya, located on the coast of the Indian Ocean, and is the most interesting to visitors. The city is mostly spread on the island, while there is a bridge connecting it to mainland. Here is also the largest port in the country, which is characterized by its distinctive euphoria over the market area. The trade here is unique. Customers who stop by stall and keep at least one second here will surely buy goods, because sellers cannot be refused. Streets are pretty much crowded, but there are plenty inexpensive taxis.

The city is very poor and quite unsafe, but it is always awake whether it is three o’clock in the afternoon or early in the morning. City mini-buses, known as a matatu, are very flexible and they stop everywhere where people are.

Benjamin Ringel - Berchtesgaden ski resort

Berchtesgaden – the ski area with dark past

February 13th, 2013

Benjamin Ringel

This ski resort on the edge of the Berchtesgaden National Park has a history that goes back to the darkest time of Europe. The area is mixture of beautiful scenery and painful memories. Not far from the Austrian Cultural Center Salzburg is located Berchtesgaden, a region with extraordinary beauty.

Janner ski area is the largest and most famous of the smaller fields at Berchtesgaden and can be easily reached by car or bus. Berchtesgaden can be approached from north, through the German Alpine route, or from Salzburg.

Regular rail runs from the main station in Munich. Berchtesgaden offers accommodation in the town and countryside, and they are all linked by bus. The nearest airport is the one in Salzburg which is just 14 miles away from city. From Munich Airport it will take you a bit more traveling – about 140 miles. At each of them you can rent a car.

Jenner ski area is located near Konigssee Lake. The whole area is well networked with bus lines and has parking spaces at the entrance of the lake. Jennerbahn ski lift is five-minute walking from the parking area.

The ski resort has special ski lifts for beginners whose base is near the ski school. However, the more experienced skiers will want to ride the cable car ski lift which has two bases and is the only way to get to the very top of the mountain. The view from the restaurant at the top of the ski lift is beautiful, but unfortunately it is obscured by the large ridge of Lake Konigssee.

In direction to Salzburg, the panorama of Berchtesgadener is perhaps the most beautiful, especially when the sky is clear. Most ski trails at Jenner are adapted to the medium level skiers, notes Benjamin Ringel.