Wednesday 3 May 2017

Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria



This is one interesting monastery, founded in the second half of 14th century during the reign of the last Bulgarian kings, Ivan Shishman. When the country is finally conquered by the Turks, the monastery is destroyed, too. The name "Cherepishki" convey meaning as "Of Skulls" and the legend says that it came from the covered with white bones of the Ivan Shishman's fallen soldiers surrounding area.

Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Kostnica (Bone Chapel) of Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Kostnica (Bone Chapel) of Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Kostnica (Bone Chapel) of Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Panorama of the Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery) with the river Iskar behind, Bulgaria
Magernica (Canteen/Kitchen) of the Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
House with stone tiles roof in the Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
House with stone tiles roof in the Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria. 
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Bells in the Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cementery in the Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
River Iskar next to Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
River Iskar next to Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria
Cherepishki Manastir (Cherepish Monastery), Bulgaria

Saturday 29 April 2017

Serapion's cave, Bulgaria



Serapion's cave is suited in the west part of the Balkan Mountain and is known as the place where a monk called Serapion lived. It is 129 m long and has 32 m denivelation. There are series of drops and it is called chasm-like cave, as the first one is 13 m and is close to the entrance. Nowadays there are no more monks living inside but rather it is a breeding ground for several types of bats and other animals and during the breeding season entry is prohibited. I made mistake and the cave is not the first one that I focused, but rather the second two openings, which where close to each other.

Also there is the so called "New Cave", which I am not sure which one is exactly, but it was closed until 1962, when some shepherd noted that the snow melts around the area and shortly after that opening was made with the use of explosives. That cave is 69 m long with 15 m denivelation.

Serapion's cave, Bulgaria 
Something like cave nearSerapion's cave, Bulgaria 
Serapion's cave, Bulgaria 
Serapion's cave, Bulgaria 
Entrances below Serapion's cave, Bulgaria 

Wednesday 26 April 2017

Ritlite, impressive comb-like ridges in Bulgaria



Ritlite are comb-like ridges near the village of Lyutibrod in Bulgaria. These impressive rock formations are one of the sharpest and best defined comb-like rocks in the world. They are around 120M years old, wide 3-7 m and long 200-400 m. It is not well known place and nearly often overlooked by the tourists, who often don't even know that there is such thing in the region. I rate these rocks as one of the top nature curiosities in the country and if by any chance you are around spare an hour to get there and see them in person.

Ritlite
Ritlite
Ritlite
Ritlite
Ritlite
Ritlite

Monday 24 April 2017

Ultralight backpack for surprising travels and adventures



Preparing my backpack for surprising travels used to be one of my main headaches and time wasting moments. Every time I'll pack again, I'll do again checklists and often I'll miss something in the hurry and I'll be unable to deal with the more important issues around the travel. So I decided to do a checklist and have everything ready, just for a grab. Having that I can easily remember and deal with some specific items for the specific places, like additional clothing, sleeping mat for the mountains and others.
(Note: While this is not a Bug Out Bag, it has somewhat similar idea and can be used for one)
Check also: Ultralight backpacking

Here is the checklist in no particular order:
1. Documents, money, credit cards, travel tickets
2. Phone with charger and USB/miniUSB
3. 2 memory sticks
4. Solar charger
5. Camera & mini tripod
6. Map
7. Notebook, pen & pencil
8. Metallic water container (for boiling)
9. Plastic Bottle 1.5l
10. Walking stick (telescopic)
11. Small torch (flashlight)
12. Plastic bags
13. Survival tin
14. Waterproof sealable plastic bags for documents & phones
15. Pocket knife with saw
16. Small trowel
17. Sharpening stone
18. Wire
19. Paracord/rope
20. String
21. Fishing line on reel
22. Lighter
23. Tin can (for hobo stove)
24. Toilet paper
25. Soap
26. Toothpaste and brush
27. Sunscreen lotion
28. Underwear, socks, t-shirt with long sleeves
29. Swimming shorts
30. Shoes/flip-flops
31. Mosquito net
32. Insect repelant
33. Rain poncho
34. Spoon
35. Cooking pot
36. Small metal cup for coffee & instant coffee
37. Spare minimalistic backpack
38. Towel
39. "Bum bag"
40. Carbiner (attached on the backpack)
41. Plastic container
42. Woollen clothes
43. Cigarettes

Friday 21 April 2017

Belogradchik Rocks, Bulgaria



The Belogradchik Rocks are a group of strange shaped sandstone and conglomerate rock formations located in the western part of the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.

Belogradchik Rocks
Belogradchik Rocks
Belogradchik Rocks
Belogradchik Rocks
Belogradchik Rocks
Belogradchik Rocks
Belogradchik Rocks
Belogradchik Rocks close view
Belogradchik Rocks Panorama 
The Belogradchik Fortress

Thursday 20 April 2017

Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland



The Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) is an interesting Arctic bird, which superficially resemble seagull, but is in fact related to the Petrels. Unlike the Seagulls, the Fulmars have stiff wing action when they fly.

On the Shetland Islands I found them to be abundant, mostly around places with safe from cats and rats cliffs and rocks. The subspecies I filmed is Fulmarus glacialis auduboni (the one living closer to the North Pole is F. g. glacialis) and the morph is the light one, which is typical for this subspecies.

Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland
Pair of Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland
Pair of Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland
Pair of Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland 
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland walking
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland walking
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland in flight 
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland in flight
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis auduboni) light morph near Sumburgh Head, Shetland in flight

Sunday 16 April 2017

Shetland Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus)



It is only few seconds long video, but that was all I managed to snatch of the Shetland Wren after chasing them for 3 months. Its not that they are particularly uncommon, but they move a lot and normally while I'm getting my camera out they are gone and I feel really unlucky with them.

So the Shetland Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus) is not a separated species of wren, but rather endemite subspecies living on the Shetland Islands. There is also another subspecies living on the Fair Isle, but I didn't had to go there and missed the opportunity to see it. And as the Wikipedia says the differences from the more common T. t. troglodytes are its darker and more rufous-brown colouring, with a heavily barred underside, the barring extending from belly to breast and the bill is stouter and longer and it has stronger legs. An estimate of the population, from the start of the 21st century, was of 1500–3000 breeding pairs.

Shetland Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus
Shetland Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus
Shetland Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus
Shetland Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus
Shetland Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus
Shetland Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus