This week we visited two luxury camps in Kenya and Mongolia and one vibrant city in China.
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Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong is situated on the estuary of the river Pearl on the southwest cost of China. It can commend with beautiful mountains and islands, with white beaches, good food, excellent malls and world known hotels. Although it had the image of the city of a cheap electronic and fake brands for decades, Hong Kong has not so gettable prices anymore. So, take your European/American wallet with you. But, Hong Kong is still a dynamic city, a kaleidoscope of the cultures and a profound fusion of the East and the West.
Put your stuff in The Plateau, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, and explore what this peaceful oasis in the middle of the Hong Kong offers. Then, go and see the city.
Although British people shaped Hong Kong, it was always deeply ingrained in China's tradition. It is normal to see modern skyscrapers and 5 stars hotels and at the same time, near to all that, to see street traders how they are yelling loudly trying to sell chicken legs and dry calamari while they are talking on a mobile phone at the same time. Or, to see how Rolls Royce driver trying to avoid an old man who's carrying his birds in a birdcage for a walk in a nearest park. If the time allows, visit Shanghai Tang, the best place for buying silk, fabric of any kind and furniture, situated just to the Central MRT station.
Pacific Place, The Landmark and Prince's Arcade could be also your destinations. For the end, spare some time for your soul and visit Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, the place known by the selling of the singing birds.
Mara Buffalo Camp, Kenya
Now, we are leading you to the movie set "Out of Africa" in Mara Buffalo Camp in Kenya. Mara Buffalo Camp is nested on the corner of the southwest Kenya near Tanzania's border, some 275 kilometres from the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi. The camp is opened in 1974. It spreads on 1510 square kilometres and it is the wealthiest and the most visited African reservation and the home of more than 1,3 millions wild animals. This is also the only place where you can see "the big five": an elephant, a buffalo, a lion, a leopard and a rhinoceros.
The best part reservation offers is the view to annual migration which took place every year from July to October when millions of the wild animals start to migrate from the National Park Serengeti, followed by hungry predators - mostly lions and hyena. Settle yourself in comfortable lodges of Mara Buffalo Camp and rent a hot air balloon to witness that event. To fly above that almost endless parade of wild animals is experience you will never forget. Mara Buffalo Camp is situated on the river and it is a home of a large family of hippos. So, you will have the company. If you now think "OK, better the company of hippos than lions", we must disappoint you.
The hippo is the third largest animal in the world and it is responsible for more deaths in Africa than any other wild animal. But, don't worry. Most of the tourists came home unscathed. If you think that you can run away if he starts to chase you, for your information, the wacky beast runs more than 60 kilometres per hour.
Gurvansaikhan National Park, Mongolia
Gurvansaikhan National Park is situated on the northern edge of the Gobi desert and it spreads on nearly 27,000 square kilometres. It is the largest national park in Mongolia, size of the Connecticut state, and Mongolia's pride and joy. Gurvansaikhan National Park covers mostly steppe areas, but you may also find sand dunes and areas that are covered with ice. The Khongoryn Els, or the Singing Sands, are the most famous sand dunes area in Gurvansaikhan National Park. But, if you visit mountain valley Yolyn Am you will witness to the completely different story.
Yolyn Am contains a large ice field during the most of the year. And all that is Gobi. It may surprise you in a single day. One moment you will look at snow leopard's eyes but just few hours later you will ride Gobi camel.
It the middle of that controversial beauty Nomadic Expedition and local artisans built Three Camel Lodge, luxury five-star eco camp. The camp has 30 over sized yurts worth of Genghis Khan. Actually, similar yurts the great emperor used thousands years ago. Three Camel Lodge offers conference hall, television, 24-hour electricity supply, laundry service and a gift shop, additional facilities which Genghis Khan didn't have.
Bathroom and shower are in the main lodge, so you will have to walk like the famous conqueror and his warriors did. Meal? Traditional Mongolian. What is that? Have no idea. Go and find out. ■