Alyona Didenko of independent travel

Layfhaker regularly tells you how to organize your work, and the best people in the internet acquaint you with your work environment in the category "Jobs". However, not a single work of man alive, and today we want to talk about the rest. An active holiday. Today our guest is a person who has traveled by bicycle, not only the country but also the neighboring countries. On the organization of independent travel speak with Alyona Didenko.

Hello Alena! First of all I would like to ask you to tell us a little about yourself. As you live, where you work, do you spend?

I am originally from Belarus, he came to Odessa to see the sea (could not imagine that you can not see the opposite shore :). Sincerely I believe that in 20 years of life comes to an end, and wanted to spend the "last" five years of life "in a warmer climate." She graduated from the Institute of Communication and stayed here. She raised two daughters, built near the apartment (the old house). So in view of the planted trees at school (we periodically at a volunteer participated in the planting of the forest - namely the forest rather than the individual trees) - classic goals in life are made, I can afford to relax.

The last 7 years I worked as an engineer of telecommunications (Kyivstar), sitting all day at a computer in the office, if you do not move, you can grow a you know what. In addition, by nature I am very lazy, I can all day with a book lain, so I try to work on myself :)

And why fascination with travel? Please tell us about your first steps.

Even at the institute began to engage in tourism (unfortunately too late - only on the 3rd course). We went to hiking, mountain, water and ski trips - according to the season. Constantly for something to cook, something planned ...
With the marriage put on that fat point - not allowed! But when the children have grown up a bit, I realized that without it I can not. They began to leave with the children during the May holidays in Crimea, then water trip on the Southern Bug, on children's winter ski fees. Life became brighter - both from the stuffy room left in the forest.

So you go and walk and ski, and water tours. And I stood still on the bike. Why?

I was an inveterate "peshehodnikom" and could not understand - how can it be interesting to go camping where you can ride a bicycle. After wondering where there are no roads. But one day decided to go with the guys from Kiev to Cherkassy spring for Easter (it was 3-day weekend). We stopped in some sand (tank polygon) on the left bank, long riding / walking without stopping, very thirsty, tired madly. On the second day, in the evening went to Kanev, went showers, then snow (or hail), and not to stop for the night in this cold, decided to drive 30-40 km, which actually turned out to be all 50 to Cherkassy, ​​where we were waiting at the cottage friends. Starry Night, pine forest, I am tired to death and froze. But there was something in this movement, feeling myself in this world. It was just beautiful and good. Just at this moment I am "sick" bike tour.

And immediately I began to prepare for a great camping trip?

No, then I know and do not think. I start to ride on weekends in the surrounding area of ​​Odessa, gradually expanded capabilities and plans. First walked one-day "pokatushkami" weekend all around the estuaries - Kuyal'nitskogo, B.Dnestrovsky, Hadzhibey, Tiligul. Then he went looking for interesting little further - Severinovskaya source, an abandoned airfield in Buyalyke, Kuris castle in Petrovka airfield Roxolans. Then they began to move off on trains to call out and see more.
Having lived in Odessa for many years, I do not even know how many interesting things there. And this against a background of communicating with extraordinary and interesting people, get-togethers around the campfire, overnight stays by the sea. So gradually, day trips formed a group of like-minded, who instigated the first multi-day trip. It was interesting to observe how very adult and independent men were worried - and where we will spend the night? And you're here already has? You know where to go? And you lose the head of the freedom of choice of places to sit or sleep in a couple of days. I liked it - so here we are going to live today!

This sense of freedom is so lacking in everyday life. Compared with the usual style of travel (car, bus) bike gives full freedom of movement and maximum a full sense of the trip - from the bus window, and even the machine will never see or feel that I need these trips. If we take for example our last trip to Montenegro - I would not want to travel there by car. Stop most beautiful places just can not - the road is narrow, you have it easy perekroesh. On the bike there are no such restrictions - enjoy views of where and how many want. And when we went to Turkey, some kind of "civilized" tourists in Pamukkale, which releases the guide with the words "you have an hour," called a regret. People spend a lot of time and money on the road, can not at this time to see even some of the most interesting.

By the way, let's talk more about your last trip through Croatia and Montenegro. I watched the pictures - it's fantastic!

In short, it went a group of three persons: Konstantin Adamchuck, Alexander Kirillov and I. Left May 21 - June 12 came back at night, that is absent for 23 days (sincere thanks to my boss for Ira that released and worked for me).
3295 km traveled by car, 1,200 km on a bicycle with a height difference of more than 20000 m, resembled well foot.

Initially we planned to go to Montenegro by bus, but already there is change on the bikes and ride through the most picturesque places of the country and neighboring Croatia. However, the schedule and the instability of bus routes from the city did not suit us. Option with the aircraft also dropped by itself - to charters at this time still do not fly (out of season) and to delay the release of the same could not be further away. So we decided to go by car, drop it anywhere in Montenegro, and after that on the Great.

As a result, we passed through Moldova, Romania and Serbia by car, stopping along the road near the most famous attractions, left the car in the parking lot of the hotel in the city Maykovats (Montenegro), by the way, absolutely free, and collected the bikes and go for a meeting adventure!
Even a cursory list of interesting things that we have seen in three weeks, will take more than one page, so interested readers will refer to the detailed report, which It is here. You can also watch a film made by us on a trip (part 1, part 2, part 3).

And it was not scary? You're in a foreign country alone, sleeping in tents, road, all it may happen.

Yes, anything can happen, as well as in Ukraine, Odessa, home. Immediately reminded report Niels (Sergei), who traveled alone (!) On a bike half of Europe, and the only thing that had happened to him to the end, it seems to be the 2nd Travel month - is that he fell into the excavated builders and not fenced water-filled pit, literally approaching already to his home Odessa.
People everywhere there are good and bad. I no longer found good :). Montenegro - a very peaceful country and people very friendly set. I hope they will not disappoint travelers.

Please tell us what places have left the biggest impression and why.

I can not say for sure. Every day, the impressions were beaten over the edge. At the end of the trip condition of overcrowding and redundancy even a little hurt, there was some confusion, no longer wanted. It turns out, too much positive emotion - too serious burden for the mind.. Were once the "old town" just because it is unlikely that there will be in the near future, but again and again surprise and delight... Black Lake, Piva, Lake. Slansky, Bay of Kotor, xp. Belashitsa ... surprised germander (I do not read anything about it and did not wait for anything) Korcula - I charmed.

It is important during our arrival, the circumstances, the state... To feel the real taste of food and feel pleasure even from the crusts of bread, you just get hungry - banal, simple, but the way it there is. Physically tired man needs a ride on the ferry to get there in a gloomy castle surrounded by ships, guns, wander at night through the narrow alleys, heard in the cafes soul music, swim in the Gulf, in the light of evening lights - and all too much, than you had grown over the years, everything will be washed away ...

Something similar happened to me when I returned to the Caucasus in 2008 - 3 weeks skiing in the mountains with almost no people - nightly sawing wood and watch the stove at night, complex transitions in the afternoon. The most accurate definition of the status of my time - the "reset". I looked at the TV and saw a miracle! I listen to the radio - and the sounds were different, layered.... I do not know how to describe it... You just need to try.

Great trip! Tell me, and how long it took the training? What documents are needed, how long it is processed?

Somewhere in late winter phoned. I would like once again to Turkey and suggested Kostya Montenegro. Respected other people's records, Googled, discharged places of interest to us and drew a thread route of the information received. Then adjusted and supplemented Croatian loop, based on already available from 3 (vyproshennyh at work) weeks.
Documents for three people cost just 1325 g + 33 E $ 165 - that is, if all translate into dollars, you get about $ 370. Of these, $ 95 - ctrahovka people and machines (sent by e-mail data to the insurance company and the next day in the afternoon came and took). Then about $ 110 cost the Serbian visa (documents sent by courier to the travel agency, and then after 2 weeks maximum, I do not remember, as a courier, they came back). For Romanian visas (3h55 $ = 165 $) have all together to go to the Romanian embassy and submit documents. For general rates do within 10 days, we did 9 - at no additional cost, we just asked. I myself took away quickly. Upon delivery was a small place, and not all documents were left, they took extra help at work and checks in the cash and the same day, all passed.

Well, just started talking about finances, could you share information about how much money it took to just such a wonderful journey?

If you add up all costs and divide into three parties, the three weeks it took about $ 500 per person. This amount includes the registration of documents, travel expenses, meals and some unplanned spending. Of these, about 75 E could save: 40 E - 35 E rafting and ferries, the bus (if you do not go to Croatia). If you are interested in the financial side of the campaign, here's a detailed estimate of travel:

1. Documents (total = 1325grn + € 33 + $ 165):
336grn + 449grn - the insurance people and machines
+ € 15 500 UAH - Serbian visa
3x $ 55 = $ 165 - Romanian visa
20 UAH - fee in Moldova
€ 5 - vignette Romania
€ 10 - fee for roads in Montenegro
€ 3 - vignette Romania
20 UAH - fee in Moldova

2. Transport (717gr + 275E):
230grn (Ukraine)
€ 100 (Romania)
€ 100 - Serbia
32kun (16 per person + 16 for waged) - ferry to Korcula (739-738kun = € 100)
122kun (60 people led by 62) - Ferry to Split
315kun (105 kuna / person) + 150kun luggage - the bus to Dubrovnik
€ 10 - Serbia
€ 65 - Romania
387grn petrol + fine 100 UAH

3. Products (632grn + € 385):
Odessa - 632grn
€ 50 - Dubrovnik
€ 100 - Korcula
€ 50 - Split
€ 50 - Bar
€ 35 - Kolasin
€ 100 - Maykovats

4. Other expenses (230grn + € 120)
10 UAH 10 UAH kit + cable + 150grn card in the phone + 60 UAH needle replacement burner
€ 120 - rafting

2904grn + € 813 + $ 165 = € 254 + € 813 + € 116 = € 1183/3 people = € 394 per person.
Total: 394 € / person.

So in conclusion, what would you give advice to our readers, who also would like to travel alone?

First of all, I think - what they want. It's not as easy as it seems - to understand what you want. If there is no specific goals - just find a good (possibly experienced) travel. In any city there are sites or tourist club "nevazhnokaketonazyvaetsya" - you do not know them, but they are. Find people to start with similar goals. For me personally, communication and company - is the most important. You can just for the weekend to get out to sea for a day and relax, most importantly - to anyone.

I would also like to advise not to rush, not to go directly to long trips abroad. This requires not only physical strength, but also the experience. Everything comes with time, no need to hurry, you just need to do something about it... Well, do not be discouraged if something does not work. Analyze your mistakes and plan a trip better.