In the morning we began to think about options for how to go wild in the river. Options: tubing, waterfalls, kayaks. Kayak tours cost from 90,000 kip per person and for the whole day. We didn't sign up. We had breakfast in a familiar cafe and dropped off our things at the laundry service. We went to find out the tubing conditions, but the owner of the inflated tube base was not at all friendly. I wasn’t going to talk, but pointed at the rental rules with a stern face. You leave 60,000 kip of deposit, the rental itself costs 35,000 kip. You are taken upstream and you float
to the city. Lost your camera - fine, arrived later than 18:00 - also fine. Yah you. Let's go to the waterfall.
But first you need to move to a more decent hotel. We found one with a room on the 4th floor. We transported things on bicycles. We went to ask the tuk-tuk drivers where the waterfall was. The driver said that there was no water in the waterfall. And he suggested going to Blue Lagoon. We believed him, it looks like he’s not lying about the waterfall. And we ourselves knew where Blue Lagoon was. Ksyushka read about this in the Lonely Planet this evening. Just 6 km from the city. We got on our bikes and rode off. On the bridge they charged us 6,000 kip for the journey. To avoid paying, you should walk across the bamboo suspension bridge, and then walk along the shore to the desired path in the direction of Blue Lagoon. There are signs all along the way, the path is dusty. Therefore, every passing tuk-tuk or motorcycle leaves a dust cloud.
On the way we met a guy from Moscow - Sergey. He heard Russian speech and came up to us. Sergey has been traveling around Southeast Asia for 4 months now. I left for a cold time in warmer climes. He carefully examines each place. Spends at least 3-4 days on each. Not like us. We're galloping. We only have 2 weeks vacation.
We arrived at the lagoon, this is a backwater on a mountain river, where the bottom is really blue and fish swim. You can jump from a tree or a rope. Nearby there is a snack bar and a large clearing for felting and sunbathing. Awesome, what more do you need.
Well, Petka immediately ran to jump. And then Sergei came, he walked and therefore appeared later. He said that there was a cave here and it was quite interesting. What a news. I've never been to a real cave, you can't miss this. We packed our things, rented a flashlight and began to climb. Be sure to take a flashlight. It’s better to have your own, but a powerful one. There are strange holes in the caves that lead to nowhere. We haven't checked whether they are deep or not. And in the evening, it’s unlikely that anyone will find you there until you start to stink.
The entrance is at an altitude of more than 100 meters. We went up the steps there. A lot of light enters the huge hall and Buddha lies in the large hall. But if you go deeper into the cave, then the fun begins. The light no longer reaches here, the vaults are of different shapes, stalactites hang down and sometimes have very sharp edges. But if you shine the light on them, the quartz begins to shine. In the very depths of the cave, where it is dark and you can’t see anything, and it seems that few people come here.
So, in the very depths there are inscriptions on the walls. Like Seryoga and the FGU 2005 group were here. DMB 2012 and others, only in the local incomprehensible language. It is in every person to write a meaningless inscription.
We are swearing, but it is precisely such low-quality art that we are grateful for when exploring ancient caves. And those who will live 10 thousand years after us will understand what we cared about, what was interesting to us, how we lived.
By the way, it’s not cold at all in the cave. But when you go outside, it’s unusual to look at the sunlight. We went swimming and tree jumping again. But after an hour there were more and more people and we decided to return to the city. Besides, Petka wanted to eat.
The way back was simple and familiar; along the way, lines of tuk-tuks were driving towards us, carrying new vacationers to the Blue Lagoon. We appreciated going there
in the morning and did not see an influx of tourists.
We all had lunch at the same familiar cafe. I also drank beer. During the day we lounged in our room, and only in the evening we went for a walk along the embankment. All the tourists also landed at a cafe along the shore and drank cocktails and beer. The last batches of carcasses on inner tubes arrived in the city from tubing. Despite the fact that all the bars on the river seemed to have been removed, the guys arrived unsteady. And well rested. Still, they didn’t have time to hand over their cameras before 6 p.m.
We walked to the other side of the river, looked at various bungalows, and watched the sunset. We met Sergei again and all went to dinner together.
We stopped at another cafe, ate and again drank milk shakes with banana and orange. Sergey told how he was in Angkor and other cool places where we definitely wouldn’t have time.
We went to a couple of travel agencies and asked about a bus to Pakse. Everyone said that it would be difficult for us to get on the bus with bikes. And it’s better to find out everything at the bus station. And that the bus will not go straight to Pakse, but will have a transfer in Vientien. I decided that in the morning at the station I would find out everything myself.
Blue Cave(other names: Blue Grotto, Plava Spilja, Plava Shpilja) we visited as part of. The weather was excellent and the seas were light. The first part of the excursion visiting the city took place on the Pajo boat. We sat on the bow and enjoyed the surrounding scenery. Then we transferred to two small boats.
It was quite interesting to jump from ship to boat directly into the sea.
If the weather is good, we strongly advise you to quickly go on the bow of the boat. There you can sit, dangle your legs overboard and enjoy not only the sun, but also the waves splashing you. The feeling is truly fantastic, you feel like the hero of a terribly expensive movie. Pleasant memories will certainly stay with us for the rest of our lives.
Luxurious yachts float by, your feet touch the warm sea water, the boat rushes past small islands, grottoes and towns. I would like to say that it was simply surprisingly warm - we did not freeze at all.
The most pleasant thing will be to ride on the bow of the boat: dangle your legs and enjoy the sun and waves
All the way to the Blue Cave we enjoyed the rocking, the scenery (and we had the best view) and the sea spray with great pleasure. We arrived at the cave already wet, almost from head to toe, but in a surprisingly positive mood.
For this reason, there will be few photos - we were afraid of getting our phones wet and ruined.
Note: You may not get into the Blue Cave if the excitement is very strong (this happened to our friends). The cave is quite low. At the entrance, there is literally half a meter between the ceiling and the boat. In bad weather, the boat simply will not be able to sail inside.
On the way to Blue Cave There are several small grottoes, which are often confused with the cave itself. Tourists view them with enthusiasm. And every time they pass by with disappointment. Blue Cave - the largest and most beautiful grotto in these places.
Our boat entered the cave, practically drawing a canopy on the arch of the entrance (the photos are not ours, so they turned out as they are)
We don’t have any photographs inside the cave, but we found something better: a panorama that will allow you to appreciate the inside of the Blue Cave.
Blue Cave: what's special?
- Firstly, the water in the Blue Cave is really very blue. Simply unrealistically bright, beautiful and rich shade. This happens because the sun's rays are refracted in a special way and illuminate the water from the outside. The effect is created as if the water is glowing from the depths.
- Secondly, the water here is very salty, and therefore swimming will be easy even for completely inexperienced swimmers.
- Thirdly, oddly enough, the water in the Blue Cave seemed surprisingly warm to us. I think the contrast between the cool air and warm water worked this way.
- Well, one last thing: in some places the depth here exceeds 45 meters - people even dive with scuba gear.
There are also disadvantages. There will be quite a lot of tourists here and you will only be able to swim for 10-15 minutes, but you will have to share the cave.
Advice: Swimming vests are not provided here, so if you get tired, grab the buoys and ropes hanging along the boat.
It goes without saying that with such a limited time for swimming, we practically did not take photographs (then the idea to create this blog had not yet occurred to us)
Map:
So that you can get your bearings, we will add a small map where we have marked all the places we mentioned: the Blue Cave and Mamula Island.
And for those who are uncomfortable using a map from Google, we offer it with its own picture:
Map where we have marked the main attractions in the area: Žanjic beach, Herceg Novi, Blue Cave, Mamula island Who doesn't dream of becoming the hero of a commercial filmed on a tropical island? Fine white sand, clear blue sky, azure warm sea... It seems like an unattainable dream. But in fact, all this exists, and getting there is not so difficult. For example, you can visit a place called the Blue Lagoon (Cyprus). How to get there? Now we'll find out.
Blue Lagoon
Cyprus itself is wonderful for a variety of types of holidays. There are hiking trails, beautiful beaches, numerous restaurants, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and, of course, interesting natural sites. There are, for example, two attractions from this category under the same name - the Blue Lagoon. It is possible that there are a dozen more places in the world with exactly the same name. The purest water, sand or stones, endless sea space - what other name can be given to such a landmark? It’s no surprise that both tourists and locals flock to these places. Everyone wants to swim or at least just look and take a photo as a souvenir. In Cyprus, they are located at opposite ends of the island, so you can get there within a couple of hours from almost anywhere if you wish.
Both bays have a rocky shore, perhaps that is why the water there is crystal clear, and it seems that even through a thickness of several meters you can see the bottom. Both places are not inferior to each other in beauty, but still the Blue Lagoon (Cyprus, Ayia Napa) is better known to tourists and is more popular. This does not in any way detract from the beauty of the other bay, but it is more difficult to access and is located in places where not all tourists reach. So where exactly are they located?
Location
Ironically, both blue lagoons are located at opposite ends of the island - they are separated by about two hundred kilometers and 3.5 hours by car. The more popular bay is located east of Ayia Napa, and with a smaller influx of tourists - north of the Akamas Peninsula, in the Paphos area, near the city of Polis. Travelers usually fly into the island's largest airport in Larnaca, so the western part of Cyprus is traditionally a little less popular as charter flights usually land at the local airport.
Pathos
In the north-west of Cyprus lies a huge national park, occupying an entire peninsula. The huge mountainous area is covered with forests and in some places cut through by roads to the main attraction - Cape Fontana Amaros, where, according to legend, Aphrodite gave water to her lovers from a special source. It is now believed that those who try the water from there will soon fall in love. True, the legend does not say whether the feeling will be mutual, so all attempts are at your own peril and risk. You can get to the local Blue Lagoon by car or taxi. Public transport will only take you to the village of Latchi, next to which the so-called baths of Aphrodite are located, and then you will have to walk from them, which is more than 6 kilometers. So it’s worth either going as part of an organized excursion, or renting a car, bicycle or buggy.
Ayia Napa
Unfortunately, this Blue Lagoon (Cyprus) does not have a developed transport infrastructure - buses do not come here. However, taxi drivers come here willingly; you can also often meet tourists on bicycles and buggies - the ride is not far from the nearest settlement. Cape Greco is visited, perhaps, by all vacationers in Ayia Napa, Protaras or Pernera, when after a week they get a little tired of the sandy beaches. Here, by the way, you can also swim, although the shore is high and rocky - the descent is equipped with a convenient ladder, but you should swim carefully - it is quite deep here, and children are unlikely to like it. This place is especially beautiful during sunrise - the first rays of the sun appear from behind the sea, and it’s simply magical.
Well, everyone who is going to Cyprus soon already wants to visit these attractions? Well, of course, because such beauty cannot leave anyone indifferent. How to get to places called the Blue Lagoon (Cyprus)?
How to get there?
If you get around the island by rental car, the easiest way is to use a navigator or a smartphone app. However, even with a map it is quite difficult to get lost. That Blue Lagoon (Cyprus), which is located in the southeast of the island, near Cape Greco, literally attracts tourists from all the nearby towns - Protaras, Pernera, Paralimni, Ayia Napa, etc. The road that leads here is like this and is called Cavo Greco. As you approach your destination, special brown signs will appear more and more often - they indicate places of interest to tourists. It’s difficult to miss the lagoon itself - there is a small shop on wheels and a large number of cars are parked here.
As for the second bay, near Latchi, it’s definitely difficult to get lost here if you enter the national park. Both roads (from the south and from the east) have the same name - Fontana Amaros, and lead to the attraction of the same name. A little east of this bay, a 10-minute walk, is the second Blue Lagoon (Cyprus). The photos from there are simply magnificent; they will remind you of the trip for a long time.
What else to watch?
There is still a lot of interesting things to do on the island, so you shouldn’t focus on just one or two attractions. Monasteries and churches in the mountains, caves along the shores, Cape Greco, snow-white beaches between Larnaca and Limassol, Neolithic houses in Khirokitia, the beach where, according to legend, Aphrodite emerged from the foam of the sea - there is something interesting near every city, there was wish. Of course, the most convenient way to move around the island is by car, but not everyone, of course, wants to drive in a country with left-hand traffic - it can be very difficult if you’re not used to it. But even without going far from your hotel, you can fully enjoy nature and a change of scenery.
March 3, 2014The Blue Lagoon geothermal resort is a fabulous, incredibly beautiful place on the map of Iceland. This amazing lake with water, the color of which combines a mixture of milk and incredible blue, attracts a large number of tourists to its open spaces. Many guests of this Icelandic resort come here more than once.
Iceland's most famous spa resort
The healing properties of water were discovered completely by accident. Employees of a thermal power plant located not far from the lake, after swimming in it, began to notice that their health improved, both hair and nails grew faster, excess weight was lost, and the skin was cleared of various rashes.
Observations confirmed their guesses. As eyewitnesses say, one patient with psoriasis, while walking next to hot water, slipped and fell into the water. The healing water worked wonders - the disease subsided after some time. Then the city authorities called scientists to study the properties of this reservoir.
Healing water of the Blue Lagoon
Research has shown that milky blue water contains various salts, minerals, clay, algae, and quartz. The temperature in the lake remains at +37 degrees. The hydrogen content is 7.5%. And the content of mineral salts is almost 2.5%.
Under such conditions, with a large tourist flow (up to 300 thousand per year), a huge number of different bacteria should appear in the lake. But the Blue Lagoon keeps another secret - there are no bacteria here! This is another confirmation that the wonders of nature contain many puzzles and mysteries.
Geothermal water helps to get rid of extra pounds, defeat cellulite, and treat skin diseases. Various mineral salts have a beneficial effect on the entire body. Blue and green seaweeds and quartz have wonderful properties. The white clay that covers the bottom of the lake helps get rid of skin problems on the face and body.
Relax in one of the best spa resorts in Europe
The complex, located next to a geothermal lake, includes a clinic, a spa center, a restaurant, and a store that sells excellent Blue Lagoon cosmetics, developed based on local water, clay and mineral salts.
Guests of the Blue Lagoon can take a course of spa treatments, which includes: algae-based body wraps, salt peeling, lymphatic drainage, various types of massage, mud baths. The Blue Lagoon cosmetics line works real miracles, making the skin smooth and velvety, smoothing out wrinkles and cleansing the surface of the body from scales and growths.
Patients of the dermatology clinic can stay in a room that meets all requirements. A conclusion from the attending physician is required, who recommends treatment in this particular sanatorium-resort complex. Already after a week of taking the first procedures, a significant improvement in the patient’s skin diseases is observed.
The nature around this wonderful piece of nature also helps in healing. Rocky coast, amazing fumaroles, hot springs, fields covered with volcanic lava. And also a noisy, colorful bird market, where many species of birds can be found.
The Blue Lagoon is a magnificent spa resort that has won the Blue Flag award many times. This sign means recognition of this complex as one of the most environmentally friendly places on Earth. And in 2005, the magnificent Blue Lagoon was awarded the title of the Best Thermal Spa Resort and Medical Complex in the World! Pride - a wonderful spa complex is always happy to welcome guests.
What could be more beautiful - to bask in a warm lake with azure water and admire the northern lights sparkling above the huge rocks...
Blue Lagoon in Iceland photo
