Archive: Travel | Travelers Travelers
Emil Holub and the exploration of Africa
This year marks the 110th anniversary of the death of Dr Emil Holub,
perhaps the best-known Czech explorer, who made vast contributions to
public understanding of Africa in the latter half of the 19th century. More
Michal Thoma – Traveller, photographer, writer – Part 2
Michal Thoma – like his father Zdeněk – is a well-known Czech
photographer, traveller, and author focussing on countries in Asia,
including India and Nepal. In Part 2 of this special Panorama, we focus on
Manang – a village in the Himalayas which was unchanged for centuries
when Zdeněk Thoma visited and photographed there in 1979. Thirty years
later, his son Michal followed in his father’s footsteps and has since
put together a joint-exhibition about Manang which you can see at The House
at the Stone Bell in Prague. More
Michal Thoma – Traveller, photographer, writer – Part 1
Michal Thoma – like his father Zdeněk – is a well-known Czech
photographer, traveller, and author focussing on countries in Asia,
including India and Nepal. Publishing in Czech alternatives to National
Geographic like Lidé a Země and Koktejl, Michal and his father and mum,
have made travel writing and photography in exotic countries pretty much a
family business and the Thoma name something of a ‘trademark’. In Part
I, of this special Panorama Michal talks about how he got into photography
and travel, beginning with his father’s career. More
“From High C’s to High Seas” – the life of Eduard Ingriš
In 1947, at the age of 42, Eduard Ingriš had already lived what most would
call a full life. He was one of Czechoslovakia’s foremost composers, with
several hundred pieces to his name. He had been composing since he was 15
years old, and he was a rich man. His musical “The Capricious Mirror”
enjoyed 1,600 performances in Prague, a record untouched even on Broadway.
As it turns out though, his life was just getting started. More
Roving exhibition remembers Iraq adventure of Zikmund & Hanzelka
An intriguing Czech exhibition is on its way to Iraq in the coming weeks,
dedicated to the exploits of the Czech Republic’s most famous explorers.
Jiří Hanzelka and Miroslav Zikmund travelled through Iraq in 1960 as part
of their voyage to the Middle East and Asia, one of several such adventures
in their trademark Tatra car. On Friday Miroslav Zikmund and a delegation
of visiting Iraqi politicians visited the exhibition at the Czech Senate. More
Czech adventurers seek to cover Siberia’s frozen Lake Baikal in a month
Two intrepid Czechs, Vašek Sůra and Pavel Blažek, are at the start of
what will probably be a month long trip to travel the length of the
world’s deepest lake – Siberia’s lake Baikal. They will be covering
the frozen ice and snow without any other help such as dogs or supplies
delivered en route. Computer programmer and marketing manager Pavel Blažek
answered some questions before they set off. The first was what made the
lake Baikal expedition so special.
More
Travelling across Africa in a Trabant
The Soviet-era Trabant – a tiny plastic car built in former East Germany
that was left “by the roadside” following the collapse of the Berlin
Wall, may have been consigned to the dustbin of history, but it still has a
special place in many Czechs’ hearts. Among fans is a group of
travellers, including a journalist and filmmaker, who have made the tiny
vehicle central to their adventures. In late 2009 they conquered Africa in
a Trabant - travelling all the way from Tunisia to Cape Town.
More
From Prague to Cape Town – in a Trabant
The East German car the Trabant was the butt of many jokes during the
communist era, but today the lightweight vehicles are viewed by many with
affection. Around the region you will find Trabi enthusiasts, and the Czech
Republic is no exception. One group of Czech travellers are currently
preparing to travel by Trabant all the way from Prague to Cape Town in
South Africa. Their journey will take them through 11 countries and across
some 20,000 kilometres. Dan Přibáň is one of five drivers taking part.
More
“From High C’s to High Seas” – the life of Eduard Ingriš
In 1947, at the age of 42, Eduard Ingriš had already lived what most would
call a full life. He was one of Czechoslovakia’s foremost composers,
with
several hundred pieces to his name. He had been composing since he was 15
years old, and he was a rich man. His musical “The Capricious Mirror”
enjoyed 1,600 performances in Prague, a record untouched even on Broadway.
As it turns out though, his life was just getting started. More
Expedition North Pole 2008
The L-200 Morava is a Czech-made retractable four-seat light aircraft
designed in the mid 1950s. It was one of the few light aircraft to be
exported from behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War era and remains a
favourite with many pilots today. Two Czech pilots – Petr Bold and
Richard Santus – have decided to mark the plane’s fiftieth birthday
anniversary by flying it to the North Pole and back. I spoke to Richard
Santus earlier today to find out more about the plane and expedition North
Pole 2008:
More
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