http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/en-EUMokoFeed10http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/c0/c2294835790f9e332837e877c63884_160x200.jpghttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2009/01/07/city-covered-by-snow-5337723/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2009-01-07:/2009/01/07/city-covered-by-snow-5337723/Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:43:57 +0100 <p>When I'm looking through the window - it's snowing. More nad more. It's still very cold.<br> Some days ago I was fishing by the Warta river. It was also cold, but a little bit less. River was not frozen, fishes bit so-so pot, but i was a great time. I have to repeat it again. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2009/01/07/city-covered-by-snow-5337723/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>snow-river-coldhttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2009/01/07/city-covered-by-snow-5337723/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2009/01/06/cold-day-5330457/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2009-01-06:/2009/01/06/cold-day-5330457/Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:19:57 +0100 <p>Radomsko, -16 degrees. It's very cold. Coldest winter since 2006, when on January temperature dropped to 17 degrees below zero. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2009/01/06/cold-day-5330457/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2009/01/06/cold-day-5330457/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2009/01/05/new-year-new-plans-and-dreams-5326035/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2009-01-05:/2009/01/05/new-year-new-plans-and-dreams-5326035/Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:57:16 +0100 <p>Beautiful winter came, -8 degrees, sun, snow, but to work is necessary now. Work and plan spring-summer trips. I start with February, but destination unknown yet.<br> Surely somewhere in mountains. Surely somewhere in Poland. Maybe Ochodzita, maybe Karpacz, maybe Krynica. I don't know.<br> We will see.<br> As yet Lodz. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2009/01/05/new-year-new-plans-and-dreams-5326035/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2009/01/05/new-year-new-plans-and-dreams-5326035/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/11/24/adventure-chess-project-5097410/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-11-24:/2008/11/24/adventure-chess-project-5097410/Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:12:18 +0100 <p>Programming in C++ is not my current every day work, so for not to forget of this language I thought up project, which I can develop continuously, if I have free time and good mood for it. The basic version, that is Adventure Chess v.028, took me 28 days of work (hence version numbering) and was finished at 20 November 2008. It wasn't continuous work, but here and there snatched half an hour in long Swedish evenings, or football match break, or rainy Saturday.<br> Some people say, that chess are difficult subject for programming, but how occured later, subject could be closed in less than 2000 lines of source code. However I am beaware that number of these lines will be growing up along with the level of advance.<br> Everybody willing to help with programming or testing are welcome <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"><br> Game in version for Linux, Sun OS, Windows and Source Code is available for download below:<br> <a href="http://adventure.go.pl/chess.php?english=1">Adventure Chess</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/11/24/adventure-chess-project-5097410/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>chessadventurehttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/11/24/adventure-chess-project-5097410/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/24/on-a-tour-of-auschwitz-4773391/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-09-24:/2008/09/24/on-a-tour-of-auschwitz-4773391/Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:44:03 +0200 <p>Well, that we got bad way...</p> <p>...And arrived first to KL Auschwitz II - Birkenau - Brzezinka, which is situated about three kilometers from maternal camp. Camp is vast, built on 175 ha, was built-up by 300 barracks, from which saved entirely only 45 bricked and 22 wooden. In place of burned and damaged wooden barracs today stand only chimneys, but contours of places, which occupied particular barracs show their scale and number, what you can see also on photos.<br> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/oswiecim2006/brzezinka21_s.jpg" alt=""> <br>Camp Birkenau is as huge, that if we would begin our tour from camp Auschwitz I - to Birkenau we would not come at all, first because of tiredness, second because of psyche, which is not so tolerant in these places.<br> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/oswiecim2006/oswiecim17_s.jpg" alt=""> <br>Camps in Oswiecim (KL Auschwitz I) and Brzezinka (KL Auschwitz II - Birkenau) are retained in form of reservation and made available for visitors. The most important objects are: in Brzezinka - remains after four crematories and gas chambers, as well as burning stacks (corpses of prisoners was burned there at the end of 1944, when crematories fell behind with burning dead bodies; it was so much cruel, that children were sometimes burned alive), railway platform, where carried out selection of deported to camp (famous picture from the movie "Schindler's List" by Steven Spielberg from 1993), pond with human ashes, and in Oswiecim - "Block of Death".<br>Further in both camps are retained blocks and part of prisoner's barracks, also camp gates, guardhouses and barbed wire fences. Some of destroyed by SS objects were reconstructed from original elements - for example furnaces in Crematory I, which were pulled down during liquidation of camps in 1945. </p> <p>More about these camps you can read on <a href="http://www.auschwitz.org.pl.">http://www.auschwitz.org.pl.</a><br>More photos you an see at my homepage <a href="http://www.adventure.go.pl/oswiecim2006.php?english=1">http://www.adventure.go.pl/oswiecim2006.php?english=1</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/24/on-a-tour-of-auschwitz-4773391/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>birkenaucampauschwitzhttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/24/on-a-tour-of-auschwitz-4773391/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/18/travelling-by-sweden-vadstena-21-06-4744358/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-09-18:/2008/09/18/travelling-by-sweden-vadstena-21-06-4744358/Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:52:21 +0200 <p>Plan was easy: to get up early, to get on bicycle and go to Vadstena. Such a paltry... 50 kilometers. The weather forecast was so-so pot, probability of rain about 30%, strong wind and temperature no indexing to heats...<br> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/vadstena2008/zamek1_s.jpg" alt=""> <br>We departured according to plan, that is 15 minutes past nine <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0">. At once at beginning it turned out, that on the ocassion of Midsummer planned food shopping on track we have to put off at least to 11 hour.<br>Slowly, with wind straight into eyes (I would name it gale, but so be it, that it was wind <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0">, rain hanged above heads, we moved on passing by the way runic stones and looking at Sweden, which is worth to see. To Vadstena we arrived a few minutes past fourteen with strong resolution any step more.<br>What is Vadstena - everybody can read in guidebooks: the most important two sights are cathedral with hallows of St. Brigida as well as Middle Aged castle rounded by moat, which is now used as parking place for various types of yachts and motorboats. From the castle spreads amazing view over the Vattern lake, which is more like sea than Swedish Baltic.</p> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/vadstena2008/vattern2_s.jpg" alt=""> <br>The homecoming was amazing: three hours with long stopovers, that is on the average about 17 kilometers per hour. In this way wind returned us what took by the way to Vadstena. The sky also cleared, probably in reward for achievement of destination.<br>There is no point in describing all that we saw by the way. Simply you have to go and see it. The nearest chanse was on Saturday on route around Roxen lake. <p>You can read more and see photo at <a href="http://www.adventure.go.pl/vadstena2008.php?english=1"><u><a href="http://www.adventure.go.pl/vadstena2008.php?english=1">http://www.adventure.go.pl/vadstena2008.php?english=1</a></u></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/18/travelling-by-sweden-vadstena-21-06-4744358/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>swedenlakevadstenatraveladventuretravellinghttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/18/travelling-by-sweden-vadstena-21-06-4744358/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/15/vacation-adventures-ii-czaplinek-19-08-4732497/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-09-15:/2008/09/15/vacation-adventures-ii-czaplinek-19-08-4732497/Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:43:40 +0200 <p>Czaplinek (in English it should be read as Tschaplinek) is small, pleasant, placed on the lake named Drawsko (Dravsko), so because it was old capital of the Order of the Temple (Knights Templar) in Poland, we decided to prolong our trip to home and stay for a some time just in this town. It could be interesting stopover.<br>And it was.<br> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/pomorze2008/rynek1_s.jpg" alt=""> Location of the town is typically tourist: from the market to the marina on the shore of the lake is maybe 200 meters, market is nice, clean, from Middle Ages, goodwill of people gigantic in comparison with inhabitants of seaside places. It turns out that in Poland also you may walk smiled and kind, and not to have in eyes two PLNs instead of pupils. I know that on the Polish sea weather is checked, water is cold, and season short, but if people who offers us services will be only profit-minded I don't know how long yet they will have customers.<br> <br> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/pomorze2008/duzykosciol2_s.jpg" alt=""> But let's come back to Czaplinek. There is Tourist Information on the marketplace, where you can get free (yes, we are really in Poland) guidebooks and maps of terrain including bicycle and water routes. The market has typically Middle Aged development, on the East is placed big historic church from XIX century, but we were looked for another one - remains of Templars. Unfortunately, as we have read in guidebook, actually there are no remains of the Order of the Temple in Czaplinek and built in XIV century church of the Holy Trinity has with Templars such connection, that is built when was placed their old wooden stronghold. But I have to say that the church also makes impression.<br> <br> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/pomorze2008/templariusz1_s.jpg" alt=""> From more interesting things there is also museum room on the marketplace, castle Drahim (we haven't been there because of lack of time, we had to return to Radomsko yet this day), or rather its remains near town, and restored early Middle Aged settlement - Slawogrod (Slavogrod). Similar settlement also is restored in cooperation with Czech Republic near Byczyna (Bytschyna) on the Brzozki reservoir in Opole Province, but about this I will write later by the way fishing expedition.<br> <br> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/pomorze2008/jezioro2_s.jpg" alt=""> And at least it is worth going there also for the sake of big lake with fourty-meters high cliffs and a lot of islands. If somebody looks for calmness, possibility for yachting and warm water to swim, Czaplinek is one of the better places.</p> <p>You can read more and see photo at <a href="http://www.adventure.go.pl/pomorze2008.php?english=1"><a href="http://www.adventure.go.pl/pomorze2008.php?english=1">http://www.adventure.go.pl/pomorze2008.php?english=1</a></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/15/vacation-adventures-ii-czaplinek-19-08-4732497/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>middle-agesislandtempletemplarsadventureczaplinekhttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/15/vacation-adventures-ii-czaplinek-19-08-4732497/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/11/vacation-adventures-i-wolin-15-08-4714904/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-09-11:/2008/09/11/vacation-adventures-i-wolin-15-08-4714904/Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:36:04 +0200 <p>Wolin is the bigest Polish island. Wolin as city become the target of our trip mainly from one isue: I wanted to compare polish culture of Vikings and Slavs with Scandinavian one, which I had opportunity to observe last six months. City didn't make big impression on me: small center, besides which life freezes. Behind the center city is awfully run-down and it shows that West Pomerania except direct shore of Baltic Sea is not richest part of Poland. Everywhere we can see poverty and alcoholism.<br> <br> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/pomorze2008/wolin1_s.jpg" alt="Wolin - foto 1"> On the way we stopped at two curious places. First from them was village Jarszewo, where not far away from main road (which also wasn't one of main roads in Poland) there is a church from 1913, with wooden belfry and curiously painted interior. Wooden ceiling of this church is half-round and also covered by paintings.<br> <br> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/pomorze2008/kosciol4_s.jpg" alt=""> Similar construction has chapel we have seen in village Siwin. Unfortunately it is very run-down and if nobody takes care of it soon only ruins will left.<br> <br> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/pomorze2008/kaplica1_s.jpg" alt=""> In Wolin we planned to see reconstructed practically from ruins St. Mikolaj church (walls was built to this part which remained in 1993, one wall of church tower remained crooked, and even the new doors are constructed to save this remained construction), Vikings village and barrows on Hangmen Hill. We wanted also to visit museum of the city, but despite of assurances that it is opened every day - on 15 august wasn't.<br> <br> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/pomorze2008/mikolaj3_s.jpg" alt=""> Vikings village looks presentable - it is showed perfectly from marketplace. Apart from wooden and clayed huts there are also two runic stones, on which except runic writing there are other paintings and this is the difference from those which I've seen in Sweden.<br> <br> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/pomorze2008/wioska9_s.jpg" alt=""> To Hangmen Hill we went, when already was raining. Fortunately, that only rain, because, as we have known from our family, through our home region went whirlwind at this time.</p> <p>From barrows left, probably, only earth hills. All content stayed managed by archaeologists long time ago, and erlier by treasure-diggers and adventurers in XIX century.<br> <img src="http://www.rsowiak.yoyo.pl/pomorze2008/wzgorze2_s.jpg" alt=""> <br>You can read more and see photo at <a href="http://www.adventure.go.pl/pomorze2008.php?english=1"><a href="http://www.adventure.go.pl/pomorze2008.php?english=1">http://www.adventure.go.pl/pomorze2008.php?english=1</a></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/11/vacation-adventures-i-wolin-15-08-4714904/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>vacationslavtravelislandwolinvikingadventurehttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/11/vacation-adventures-i-wolin-15-08-4714904/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/11/afterswedish-time-ii-4712716/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-09-11:/2008/09/11/afterswedish-time-ii-4712716/Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:35:02 +0200 <p>A lot of water have to flow by the river until I will accustom to live in Poland again. Arriving from Sweden to Poland is comparable with, maybe, arriving from Poland to India. More people, traffic, cars, speed on roads, no possibility to cross over road by foot, no bicycle tracks, people almost never smiled on streets...<br> But from the other side this is still my Poland. Now is beginning beautiful Polish autumn - it is very warm outside, not to much rain, morning fogs, evenings bonfires and smokes on fields. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/11/afterswedish-time-ii-4712716/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>swedenbonfireautumnpolandfogtraffichttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/11/afterswedish-time-ii-4712716/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/05/swedish-polish-hockey-4686224/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-09-05:/2008/09/05/swedish-polish-hockey-4686224/Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:58:05 +0200 <p>Really!<br> Swede Peter Ekroth has become coach of Polish Hockey National Team! :-)<br> Maybe now is the chance to promote to group A? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/05/swedish-polish-hockey-4686224/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/05/swedish-polish-hockey-4686224/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/04/morning-politicians-4681628/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-09-04:/2008/09/04/morning-politicians-4681628/Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:47:25 +0200 <p>Going today to my work I listened the radio and I didn't understand one thing: why politicians don't talk about really important things like unemployement, better social or high prices?<br> They talk about everything: which part is better, what was wrong in previous parliament, which people from previous parliament are quilty present situation. I and many other people really don't care.<br> This is our national problem from Middle Ages... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/04/morning-politicians-4681628/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/04/morning-politicians-4681628/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/03/afterswedish-time-4676872/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-09-03:/2008/09/03/afterswedish-time-4676872/Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:28:23 +0200 <p>Last days were hard for me. After six months in Sweden I am not used to go by polish trains: slow, dirty and late. It will take some time until I will go back to my reality <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"><br> Everything is now different. Polish is beautiful country, I want to live here, I want to be here with my family, but I miss Sweden: towns, lakes, forests. And I will back there. After long winter, when days are much shorter than in Poland. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/03/afterswedish-time-4676872/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/09/03/afterswedish-time-4676872/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/02/27/sweden-2008-touring-3786803/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-02-27:/2008/02/27/sweden-2008-touring-3786803/Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:53:12 +0100 <p>In weekends I have a lot of time for touring and here are the effects in few galleries:<br> 1. Aviation Museum in Linköping: <a href="http://adventuregals.go.pl/20080223_linkoping"><a href="http://adventuregals.go.pl/20080223_linkoping">http://adventuregals.go.pl/20080223_linkoping</a></a><br> 2. Motala: <a href="http://adventuregals.go.pl/20080216_motala"><a href="http://adventuregals.go.pl/20080216_motala">http://adventuregals.go.pl/20080216_motala</a></a><br> 3. Gamla Linköping: <a href="http://adventuregals.go.pl/20080224_gamlalinkoping"><a href="http://adventuregals.go.pl/20080224_gamlalinkoping">http://adventuregals.go.pl/20080224_gamlalinkoping</a></a><br> More galeries at <a href="http://adventuregals.go.pl"><a href="http://adventuregals.go.pl">http://adventuregals.go.pl</a></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/02/27/sweden-2008-touring-3786803/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/02/27/sweden-2008-touring-3786803/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/02/19/sweden_2008_travelling_by_city_busses~3750501/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-02-19:/2008/02/19/sweden_2008_travelling_by_city_busses~3750501/Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:31:31 +0100 <p>Surely a novelty for me is fact, that for tickets you can pay by SMS and that into the bus you enter by front door, while you exit by the middle and back one. The driver in principle always checks the tickets. Until now I don't know, if there is ticket inspector institution here. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/02/19/sweden_2008_travelling_by_city_busses~3750501/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/02/19/sweden_2008_travelling_by_city_busses~3750501/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/02/19/some_photos_from_birka_paradise_boat~3749729/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-02-19:/2008/02/19/some_photos_from_birka_paradise_boat~3749729/Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:35:44 +0100 <p><a href="http://members.lycos.co.uk/rsowiak/birka">Birka Paradise</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/02/19/some_photos_from_birka_paradise_boat~3749729/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/02/19/some_photos_from_birka_paradise_boat~3749729/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/02/05/sweden~3682479/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-02-05:/2008/02/05/sweden~3682479/Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:35:19 +0100 <p>Sweden was something new for me. Planes cut the way incredibly. Warsaw said goodbye to me by clouds, Baltic Sea was clean that I could to observe sailing ships, Sweden greeted by winter weather and snow. And here is the very first observation: people are not concerned about it, they goes without scarfs and hats...<br> Trains in Sweden are completely different than in Poland. Both as regards speed and as regards quality. SJ railway offers for passengers comfortable seats and air conditioning in first as well as in second class and Internet Access - in first class for free, in second - for a nominal fee.<br> Any impressions from the journey? Certainly they would be greater, when I would go from Stockholm to Arctic Circle, not to Linköping, but also was not bad: in most cases behind the window appeared forests and lakes. And very, very rarely other places. So it is necessary to mention, that it is this more populated part of Sweden. Prices high. Ticket from Arlanda airport to Linköping costs about 400 SEK (in PLN it is about 150 zl).<br> Skins of reindeers are everywhere: On the airport, in shops, bus stops. They are beautiful, and I will probably buy one myself. Cost: about 800 SEK. Linköping I watched as yet trough the windows of town bus. What else? I didn't meet anybody who doesn't speak English.<br> Television - most of films are in original language with Swedish subtitles, so you may calmly improve your English or... learn Swedish. </p> <p><strong>Linköping - my temporary place. </strong><br> Words "big" and "far" take here completely different meaning. The way from Lambohov region to the center of Linköping took me on foot about one hour. Because I went to search any free Internet access, I watched the town as if "by the way".<br> <em>I arrived to cathedral. </em><br> It wasn't very difficult, due to fact that its 107-meter spire is visible from every part of center of the city. The church was found in 1232, so its present shape owes to conversion in 1520. It should be admitted that makes impression both outside and inside. All the elements here were done from local, hand-sculpted limestone, in works took a part stonemasones from all Europe. Latest were added belfry and eastern facade, they were finished in 1885. Today building draws attention to perfectly well-kept proportions and joins different architectural styles, from Romanesque to Gothic. Deserves for attention beatiful southern portal with sculptures about biblical subject matter, which crowns doors with geometrical motif decorations. </p> <p>From cathedral across the park Domkyrkoparken I arrived to library. Library, it should be admitted, makes impression. It is so big like medium size trade center in big Polish cities. Besides tourist information center and cafe with free Internet access are inside. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/02/05/sweden~3682479/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>linkopingswedenhttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/02/05/sweden~3682479/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/01/04/it_s_cold~3526490/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-01-04:/2008/01/04/it_s_cold~3526490/Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:25:46 +0100 <p>In central Poland of course! Today when I went to work (5.30 a.m.) was about -10C, blew arctic wind and I thought that my cheeks and nose would came off <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"><br> But when I read the article in "The Independent" about current temperatures in Artic on Siberia - suddenly I was worm...<br> They write, that <em>Temperatures on New Year's Eve got down to -50C, and have plummeted further still in recent days.</em><br> Here is link to this article: <a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article3307576.ece.">http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article3307576.ece.</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/01/04/it_s_cold~3526490/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>coldsiberiapolandhttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/01/04/it_s_cold~3526490/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/01/03/panda_road_test_part_five~3523128/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-01-03:/2008/01/03/panda_road_test_part_five~3523128/Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:35:37 +0100 <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/baner_panda.jpg" alt="Panda Road Test" title="Panda Road Test"></p> <p><strong>Chapter five – 40 000 km.</strong><br> Spring comes at a quick pace, kilometers are flying somehow faster and faster. Next service, next adjustment of gas fittings. The service didn't show any faults in chassis and body, so valves, as usual after driving on gas, required a setting. After two services I noticed certain regularity: car unlearns to drive. On petron reluctantly accelerates, especially on cold engine, on gas it starts gently jerk, particularly on stopovers (traffic lights or anything). Situation is getting worser over about seven thousands kilometers, after what I go to do gas fittings adjustment and... For next thirteen thousands kilometers I have a calmness.<br> Impressions after forty thousands? Culture of suspension working didn't change. Way properties too. I can already compare winter tyres with summer (which were installed by factory - a Continental some made by the Czech Republic) - I affirmed, that winter tyres by Kleber works far better during starting and braking and far quietlier than their "much titled" summer equivalents. "The Continentals" reveals a big desire to going into a any side skid, as soon as the surface is a bit damp. Starting on wet surface is like the starting of Ferrari F1 without computer assisting. And all on poor 55-horsepower engine. I shudder to think about normal engine...<br> To be continued...</p> <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/baner_adventure.jpg" alt="www.adventure.go.pl" title="www.adventure.go.pl"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/01/03/panda_road_test_part_five~3523128/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/01/03/panda_road_test_part_five~3523128/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/01/02/panda_road_test_part_four~3517367/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2008-01-02:/2008/01/02/panda_road_test_part_four~3517367/Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:22:22 +0100 <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/baner_panda.jpg" alt="Panda Road Test" title="Panda Road Test"></p> <p><strong>Chapter four – 30 000 km.</strong><br> Winter came. Car changed his shoes into winter tires. It should be admitted that except gas installation, which in bizzare way unregulated itself (the serviceman said: "don't cheat ourselves, we often change reductors"), Panda bravely tolerate bumpy, mud, snow and ice. The engine starts light, however it needs a bit of time to begin a normal work. Short time his work is like "diesel", but after worming up it sounds very nice <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"><br> Only one thing from factory accesories disappoints: it's fan. It started screech something iritating...</p> <p>To be continued...</p> <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/baner_adventure.jpg" alt="www.adventure.go.pl" title="www.adventure.go.pl"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/01/02/panda_road_test_part_four~3517367/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>pandapetrolfriendlyspeedtestcargasservicetouristhttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2008/01/02/panda_road_test_part_four~3517367/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/12/20/winter_in_poland~3469894/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2007-12-20:/2007/12/20/winter_in_poland~3469894/Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:07:18 +0100 <p>In my last message I wrote that I like strong winter. Here is a few photos of it: <a href="http://adventure.go.pl/zima2006.php?english=1">http://adventure.go.pl/zima2006.php?english=1</a></p> <p>Have a nice day for all :-) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/12/20/winter_in_poland~3469894/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/12/20/winter_in_poland~3469894/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/12/20/jokkmok_sami_festival~3469856/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2007-12-20:/2007/12/20/jokkmok_sami_festival~3469856/Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:52:38 +0100 <p>I like strong winter. World stays more beautiful than whenever.<br> Going to Jokkmok in beginnings of February has been my dream for years. I don't know yet it is possible this year, but I plan it hard! Actually I find every information about Jokkmok and Sami's market in this city, about Sami culture and traditions, art and music. I would like go there using only local transport, like trains, buses, maybe reindeer caravan at the finish and compare this country with Siberia little by little. One of my familiars Polish traveller Mariusz Reweda also plans go there next year, but he plans do it by terrain car and over Norway. More about his travels you can read on his homesite <a href="http://www.kilometr.com.">http://www.kilometr.com.</a><br> If you have any informations about Northern Sweden and this market, please write to me <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/baner_adventure.jpg" alt="www.adventure.go.pl" title="www.adventure.go.pl"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/12/20/jokkmok_sami_festival~3469856/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>samijokkmokmarketfestivalhttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/12/20/jokkmok_sami_festival~3469856/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/12/03/title~3389367/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2007-12-03:/2007/12/03/title~3389367/Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:23:15 +0100 <p><em>Panda is friendly car. It is good fellow passenger on road as well off road or on fishing. But if you want to catch a really big fish, a bigwig, you must find other car: GAZ, UAZ or Honker – these cars let you find big fish...</em><br> It was my first car I had chance drive from its babyhood, I decided then to share my experiences with my friends, who maybe already have bought this car or plan buy it in the future. I will try to bring closer advantages and disadvantages in few short chapters.<br> I must mention, that it is only english translation of Panda Story from my site <a href="http://www.adventure.go.pl">www.adventure.go.pl</a>, where you will find information among other things about another cars. If you find any questions, comments or errors in my text, please write to me. </p> <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/baner_panda.jpg" alt="Panda Road Test" title="Panda Road Test"></p> <p><strong>Chapter three – 20 000 km.</strong><br> Kilometers are going away...<br> In July Pandy was useful as typical tourist car – sure – because of holidays. Did a journey to Rewal, loaded with baggage to the edges, taking me, me wife and ten years old daughter. Tolerated journey very brave. On A2 motorway I had at last chance to test the maximum speed, the milage was big enough to do it without fear of seizing engine, thus maximal speed of this car with full load grows up to 140 km/h on „gas” and 155 km/h on „petrol”. The score not so bad. Stability of drive – I didn't feel the big change.<br> 20 000 km that was also first technical service and second service of gas installation. Car ran over the first part of its life without faults, any of significant parts didn't use up, stopcocks were regulated – exchanged two plates (in this place it is necessary to to think why, but I didn't have an answer in ASO). What was strange, Authorized Fiat Service proposed me to change oil from Selenia to Mobil 1, although they always praised it (selenia of course) to the skies. I gave it up yet, at least in guarantee period. In principle I don't know the difference between them, but if, it is so small, that it is not worth to run the risk of loss guarantee. The service of gas revealed the „cleannes” of this petrol on our filling stations – the serviceman sad, that „so dirty filter he haven't seen whenever”.</p> <p>To be continued...</p> <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/baner_adventure.jpg" alt="www.adventure.go.pl" title="www.adventure.go.pl"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/12/03/title~3389367/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>cartestfriendlypetrolpandagastouristservicespeedhttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/12/03/title~3389367/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/11/19/ochodzita_part~3320256/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2007-11-19:/2007/11/19/ochodzita_part~3320256/Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:03:28 +0100 <p><em>Most of us a lot of time spend in cubical offices, in work, when there aren't seasons, there isn't neither frost nor heat. This is our present life. But sometimes... Listen:</em></p> <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/baner_adventure.jpg" alt="www.adventure.go.pl" title="www.adventure.go.pl"></p> <p>It was in January.<br> After short autumn trip over the winter idea to go to Ochodzita inn in Koniakow appeared again. So that we accomodated in this beautiful and style inn for four days.<br> After quick accomodation and laying out our things we set out with Klaudia on a conquest of the mountain (894 meters), to summit of it became from the inn about 100 meters in the parpendicular.<br> It showed promise so small walk to summit and back, particularly that on december I climbed the mountain from two different directions without any problems: from inn direction and from the ski lift Koniakow direction.<br> All would be right, if it wasn't snowing. The mountain won with us because of biggest snowdrift I have ever seen. We didn't go even to buildings placed in halfway between inn and summit. We came back soaked and with our tail between our legs to the inn, promissing solemnly, that if only frost would be catched, we would climb this mountain and kick it ass... But in this time we had to estimate the losses, it meant to dry shoes and clothes.<br> There was a lot of snow in this part of year. It could be told, that too much. Villages looked beautiful snuggled up with snow feather bed, but road across the Kubalonka pass – more than beautiful.<br> Next days – next trips. First to Koniakow. Road, which in normal conditions take about 20 minutes in one direction, on frost, in snowdrifts, in the midst of snow, which went to eyes and stuck all clothes, squeezed out of us seventh sweats. We came back soaked and tired. Beskid Slaski (Silesian Beskid) they meybe are not too high mountains, but mountains which can tire.<br> Later Istebna – it already by car. Our destination was finding Jerzy Kukuczka's house. When we asked about it in the village, it was told us, that there are a lot of Kukuczkas in Istebna and we have to precise, which about we have a problem, so the house of this famous Himalaist we certainly wouldn't reach because of snow and by car it wouldn't be so easy too.<br> Well, we took a commemorative photo with plaque of Kukuczka near the church and walked into the PTTK Information. Very nice girl gave us all the needed information, supplied us with bundle of materials on Istebna Commune and wished good luck.<br> We went to find the house of Kukuczka...</p> <p><em>To be continued.<br> (For photo see the <a href="http://www.adventure.go.pl">www.adventure.go.pl</a>)</em> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/11/19/ochodzita_part~3320256/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>innochodzitakubalonkatripkukuczkamountainskoniakowhttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/11/19/ochodzita_part~3320256/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/11/12/panda_road_test_part_two~3285239/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2007-11-12:/2007/11/12/panda_road_test_part_two~3285239/Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:44:03 +0100 <p><em>Panda is friendly car. It is good fellow passenger on road as well off road or on fishing. But if you want to catch a really big fish, a bigwig, you must find other car: GAZ, UAZ or Honker – these cars let you find big fish...</em><br> It was my first car I had chance drive from its babyhood, I decided then to share my experiences with my friends, who maybe already have bought this car or plan buy it in the future. I will try to bring closer advantages and disadvantages in few short chapters.<br> I must mention, that it is only english translation of Panda Story from my site <a href="http://www.adventure.go.pl">www.adventure.go.pl</a>, where you will find information among other things about another cars. If you find any questions, comments or errors in my text, please write to me. </p> <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/baner_panda.jpg" alt="Panda Road Test" title="Panda Road Test"></p> <p><strong>Chapter two – 10 000 km.</strong><br> Soon car crossed milage 10 000 km and because of it I had to go for first service of gas fittings. After I went a few dozen kilometers to search for research institute, which could give assent for service a car, the first stamp in the service book appeared. Gas fittings passed the test, there was no faults.<br> After this period I accustomed to this car very hard, which, almost sensing my better and better favour, presented me bigger and bigger its advantages:<br> * Noise – up to 100 km/h Panda hums and not requires even to turn up a radio. It is very quiet. Certainly with the grow of the speed the noise increases, but is not to troublesome even with maximum speed.<br> * Dynamizm – there is no illusion. I divested of sport ambitions very fast.<br> * Tourism – after mounting the gas fittings the spare wheel landed in boot, which then... almost disappeared. It is worth buying cover for spare wheel, what let us transport it in cabin, if we need all the space of the boot. About to fold up sits I could forget – in case of mine interfered with it grille altering this small car in truck <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> Unfortunately there is no possibility to mount outer boot (like in Uno) without previous mounting roof rails. The prices of these rails are yet so drastic and – as yet – I absolved this luxury myself. I thought that I would return to the subject after guarantee was exprired. The producer declares, that on car's roof you can place a baggage with weight up to 50 kg.<br> * Terrain – Panda even in 4x2 version doing in terrain very well. Body is coherent and rigid, enough high and owns a big gap. Offensive and descent angles are good too. It is necessary to be careful about oil sump and silencer, which are the lowest parts of chassis (4x4 version is about 5 cm higher, and even with 14-inch whells – 6-7 cm and has modified exhaust mechanism). To tell the true I tested it only during fishing trips, but I have to say that perfecty copes with ruts, sand, mud and steep slopes (fine short first gear), although sometimes it is needed to have 4x4 version. About wheels – these are big for this small car (13x80x155) – what permits stable driving, protects to bend rims on unexpected holes in Polish roads and helps to move in mild terrain very culturally.<br> * Economics – average consumption of gas – about 8,5 l / 100 km, petrol – 6,5 l/ 100 km.</p> <p>To be continued...</p> <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/baner_adventure.jpg" alt="www.adventure.go.pl" title="www.adventure.go.pl"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/11/12/panda_road_test_part_two~3285239/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>economicsmudpandaslopeterraincarspetrolgassandhttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/11/12/panda_road_test_part_two~3285239/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/11/07/fishes_fishes_fishes~3259959/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2007-11-07:/2007/11/07/fishes_fishes_fishes~3259959/Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:21:20 +0100 <p>Fishes fishes fishes...<br> This word was on my mind for a long time. Hmm. But rather I haven't wanted to get off it's back. All right! I called it as often as I could. So at the end... I didn't stand it! I had to go!</p> <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/kijek.jpg" alt="Powroty o kiju" title="Powroty o kiju"></p> <p>Choice of the water came quickly. The weather was awful, as usually in Poland on November, rain was together with sun, warmer moments with colder and much colder, and snow was in the air like third goal by Boniek in match with Belgium in 1982. Then rather it wasn't any choice. For fast in this season of year you can catch only roaches or "Mietus" (sorry, but I don't know how is "Mietus" named in English), which I never caught yet and saw only on photos in magazine "Wiadomosci Wedkarskie". But supposedly there are some people, who caught it, and ate it, and they say that it tastes like cod.<br> But let's return to the water. So river Warta near campsite "Nadwarcianski Grod" in Zalecze Wielkie near Wielun city. There are a lot of people, at first glance - twenty cars. Roaches - supposedly inexhaustible amounts. From interviews resulted, that some people caught there even one hundred roaches by two hours. What bait? Wheat, of course. And somedays of course. But unfortunately it wasn't that day...<br> We began in sunlight - nothing. It began raining - nothing. Later again sun, downpour, sun, drizzle, sun, rain... And no fishes.<br> Instead we have had a lot of sensations: frozen hands, wet clothing. And time was running away...<br> We have seen what caught the others: here fatty tench, here some breams... Here a few roaches... And only we had empty net. Even dead bleak.<br> We have changed the bait. Plants was going away and on hook joyfully jumped white warms. ...And at the last moment, when we planned already to go home, I caught twentycentimeter roach. And I gave it freedom, because I wanted to catch it one more. And i didn't catch it. And we went home. But we will return there... Yet on November <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p><em>Photos from expedition you can see on <a href="http://www.adventure.go.pl">www.adventure.go.pl</a> in section "Adventure and fishing"</em></p> <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/baner_adventure.jpg" alt="www.adventure.go.pl" title="www.adventure.go.pl"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/11/07/fishes_fishes_fishes~3259959/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>fishadventurehomesitecarexpeditionpandatravelhttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/11/07/fishes_fishes_fishes~3259959/#commentshttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/11/05/panda_road_test_part_one~3248577/tag:shamatari.blog.co.uk,2007-11-05:/2007/11/05/panda_road_test_part_one~3248577/Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:32:54 +0100 <p><em>Panda is friendly car. It is good fellow passenger on road as well off road or on fishing. But if you want to catch a really big fish, a bigwig, you must find other car: GAZ, UAZ or Honker – these cars let you find big fish...</em><br> It was my first car I had chance drive from its babyhood, I decided then to share my experiences with my friends, who maybe already have bought this car or plan buy it in the future. I will try to bring closer advantages and disadvantages in few short chapters.<br> I must mention, that it is only english translation of Panda Story from my site <a href="http://www.adventure.go.pl">www.adventure.go.pl</a>, where you will find information among other things about another cars. If you find any questions, comments or errors in my text, please write to me. </p> <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/baner_panda.jpg" alt="Panda Road Test" title="Panda Road Test"></p> <p><strong>Chapter one – very beginnings.</strong><br> I changed to the Panda car from UNO 1.4, that is one of the most dynamic cars in its class, and at the same time has probably the bigest usable space together with not the smallest boot. At first glance comparison went not very well. Panda is shorter about 15 cm, what unfortunately has an impact on amount of free space in cabin. I was under the impression that it was deepened also by development of gear lever, which in more „pasturaged” versions holds exchange of automatic air conditioning and speciality CD player. Boot has presented as small shopping container.<br> Panda was equipped with engine with cubic capacity 1.1 ccm, unit that has known already from the other models of Fiat. Additionally has been mounted gas fittings type „just” BRC Gas Equipment from company "CZAKRAM" Jacek Okonski. Different opinions I have heard about this installation installed in these types of engine (every met gas specialist declare, that „he will install something that never in his life”, what has involved even with refusal of making servis), apparatus worked for the moment correctly and not gave me reasons to be worry – maybe without the faint of gas in cabin while stopover when fan was on, with which fact any of service couldn't manage.<br> Engine in this car is much small dynamic than in „Unocar”, but to „out of rally” application is fine!<br> To be continued...</p> <p class="center"><img src="http://rsowiak.yoyo.pl/_teksty/baner_adventure.jpg" alt="www.adventure.go.pl" title="www.adventure.go.pl"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/11/05/panda_road_test_part_one~3248577/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>uazcargazfriendlyunocaradventurehonkerpandahttp://shamatari.blog.co.uk/2007/11/05/panda_road_test_part_one~3248577/#comments