left our jobs, went to Asia

A quick and easy secret about photography is polarizing filters.
Use one, and you'll get more vivid colours. Additionally, you will get rid of nasty reflections on metal, glass and water surfaces.
To see what I mean, look at two images below.

Green leaves and blue sky, no polarizing filter, Puvociai, Lithuania

This photograph is what you'll get if you don't use a polarizing filter, as most of us do.  READ MORE »

Lithuanian National Radio and Television have a radio programme "Mes, moterys" (We, women).

Jurga testing binoculars at Bangkok Photo Fair 2007, Thailand

On February 3, 2008, Jurga was participating in a discussion which was focused on a question if female tourists should adapt to local rules and restrictions valid to locally living women.

Grab the MP3 here (audio in Lithuanian), or  READ MORE »

We met with Zydrone and Valdas a few weeks after we came to Lithuania. The couple has decided to quit their jobs, sell the car, rent the flat and go to South America for a year.

One of the great things they did before their departure was starting up the website crossroad.lt - information source for aware travellers.
We' ve been only happy to be able to contribute to their site with Jurga's interview.

Palaung tribal woman and Jurga in one of the villages of Shan state, Myanmar

Original text in Lithuanian is here,

while English speakers will prefer reading the translation below.

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Which one of you had the carreer break idea first, and why?
You know, ideas are always in the air. If you want something, you will  READ MORE »

Year long trip is over.

It could be good to summarize it, think about what we learned and what has it given to us, what have we lost, and was it worth at all.

These are good and deep questions, but  READ MORE »

Though Thailand is the most organized country in the region (except Singapore of course), sometimes it can be rather hectic to find out the actual price for transport services.  READ MORE »

Though our long and interesting trip is over, and it could seem there's nothing more to write... wrong!

For starters, we have a whole lot of tips to share. Will start chaotically - everything in this space. Later on, when more tips will be written down, I'll sort them out by categories.  READ MORE »

If you think careful driving and awareness increase your safety, you are deeply mistaken.

Lucky amulets hanging from the rear view mirror, Bangkok, Thailand

Some simple protective measures (medallions, amulets, statues of deities) are fully sufficient.  READ MORE »

While WIPO sleeps, Thais work.

Manufacturers of fake ID cards, Bangkok, Thailand 

Similarly to many Asian countries, pirated CDs, DVDs, copied global newspapers and even Lonely Planet guide books are abundant in tourist populated areas.  READ MORE »

I've spent too much time in front of computer and in dusty meeting rooms, buried under piles of papers. Far away from the real world.

Thai street vendor peeling mango fruit, Bangkok, Thailand

So when I eventually get myself outside and have a chance to see someone skilled in what she does, it is such a pleasure to watch and admire the speed and efficiency.  READ MORE »

Ahh, Thai food..
A reason good enough to include the country into your travel plans.

Having tasted a good variety of meals and dishes, I came to a somewhat strange conclusion.

The food sold on the street, or eaten on the "street", as is the case with beach restaurants, is generally better than the one ordered in a fancy restaurant.

A lady enjoys her meal bought on the street, Bangkok, Thailand

The latter is often too sterile for me, and I don't know if that's a psychological effect, or our genes send signals with a message - food tastes better in the fresh air.  READ MORE »

"Jeez, this probably won't fit into my new camera bag!"

Bangkok Photo Fair 2007 @ Bitec Bangna, Bangkok, Thailand

Photo fairs are great.

It's so easy to  READ MORE »

Street vendor chose a rough marketing strategy, Bangkok, Thailand

Life on streets is tough
But there's nobody like you,
To survive, you gotta be rough,
Don't let them strike ya!  READ MORE »

They work from dusk,

Two fishermen working on a boat. Sun has just risen, Ko Samet island, Thailand

through  READ MORE »

When swimming in public places, most Asians are shy. It's mostly women that do not show any part of the body exposed, except face, neck, legs down from knees and lower arms.
It is not unusual to see a man dressed up and bathing.

Bathing in sea with style, Ko Samet island, Thailand

Still, I wouldn't make  READ MORE »

One more child mauled by a bullterier or a rottweiler. Face torn to pieces, arm bitten off.
With an approximate frequency of one time per month, I was reading such news while being in Lithuania.

Brown dog relaxedly observing its surroundings, Ko Samet, Thailand

Here, in Thailand, I can't help but  READ MORE »