Week 7 - Hotel, guest house, room, maybe a holiday home?

Hotel, guest house, room, maybe a holiday home?

Tourism in the 21st century has become one of the largest business industries in the world. The range of available options that the Internet provides is almost unlimited. Our imagination and budget are the main factors that can inhibit us. Hotels direct the offer for the most demanding clients. They offer their guests many interesting attractions that make staying at the facility even more interesting. For example SPA, tennis courts, swimming pools, bowling alleys or a casino, culinary tasting or a hair salon.

Below  I’m sharing a blog, which I found with the best hotels in Warsaw (an example)..  

https://spa-hotels-guide.com/warsaw/   

Another category of booking are guesthouses. Lovers of peace and people with children will love a place like this. Guest Houses are usually further away  from the city center, cheaper and lower standard than hotels. It is in an ideal place where we can spend holidays and enjoy the seasons.You can find there many proposals for various leisure time activities here. Both enthusiasts of activity and blissful laziness find something here for themselves. Many guest houses have offer amazing attractions, which include horse riding lessons, kayaking, fishing or sleigh rides. 

For example: 

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pl/zespol-palacowy-galiny.en-gb.html?label=gen173nr-1DCAsotgFCFnplc3BvbC1wYWxhY293eS1nYWxpbnlIM1gEaLYBiAEBmAEJuAEHyAEN2AED6AEBiAIBqAIDuALynvT2BcACAdICJDE2ZTAyYWY4LWQyYmQtNDdlNC04YmMxLTc4Zjk1NGJlODA4ZNgCBOACAQ;sid=5eee7f88068966b8ba3c7977cc8617b5;dist=0&keep_landing=1&sb_price_type=total&type=total&

The next item on the list where we can book our trip are  campsites and holiday houses. Summer houses are a great option for people who want peace and quiet, because they are usually located on the outskirts of the towns, so the city bustle does not reach them. Around campsites and holiday houses you will find a lot of space where you can light a grill or bonfire (what is the most important for people which want a party) also during a sunny day ( in Poland you never know)  you can easily set up an umbrella, deckchair and you can enjoy the weather. An additional advantage is the acceptance of animals by the owners of these centers, sometimes you need to pay for this - sometimes not. In their area of campsites and summer houses there are playgrounds for children and other attractions that will certainly make your holiday stay more enjoyable. 

https://bearsofpoland.pl/en/skowronki-2019-bear-fetish-camp/

What if you want quick booking for a weekend? I can recommend City breaks it is a short, usually weekend getaway to one of the major European cities. For such travel, the best solution will be renting a room, e.g. using the Airbnb mobile application. It is a platform for short-term rental of private accommodation. It is an alternative to hotels and guesthouses. Thanks to it, you can live in someone's home or room, and your journey will become even more comfortable and usually cheaper. Among the most popular portals through which we can easily and quickly book a stay are:

• booking.com. 
• trivago.pl 
• esky.pl 
• kayak.pl 
• airbnb.pl.

One example of airbnb to book in Rome : 

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/11153859?location=Rome%2C%20Italy&check_in=2020-09-20&check_out=2020-09-21&source_impression_id=p3_1591547761_LiCraRQDRXHr2wPp&guests=1&adults=1

It is worth adding here that the clear leader of this ranking in terms of popularity is booking.com, which is available in as many as 32 languages. Booking platforms meet the expectations of users and available more and more booking filters. Among the most popular filters are:

• price, 
• star rating, 
• entertainment, 
• guest rating, 
• proximity to attractions, 
• full reception, 
• board, 
• distance from city center or beach.

Questions: 

1. Where do you most often book your holidays? 
2. Or maybe you don't book accommodation at all? 
3. Do you use mobile applications to make bookings? 
4. Which portal do you use most often to make bookings? (if you use at all)  
5. If you know another form of booking, share it with us!

Week 7: Conspiracy Theories

Source:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z98U1nMFrJQ&feature=youtu.be

The last few months have been a difficult time for society. Social moods are on the edge and we can observe what social frustration is transforming into. One of the consequences of the epidemic is the accumulation of new conspiracy theories. In social networks, we are witnessing an avalanche of conspiracy theories and fake news about the coronavirus.

Research conducted by clinical psychologists from Oxford University and published on May in medical journal „Psychological Medicine” indicates that a very large number of British people reject scientific and international authorities' official position on the coronavirus pandemic:

• 60% of adults believe to some extent that the government is misleading the public about the cause of the virus
• 40% believe the spread of the virus is a deliberate attempt by powerful people to gain control
• 20% believe the virus is a hoax
  Source: OCEANS
  These are the results of a survey conducted by the Oxford Coronavirus Explanations. The survey contains many crazy theses, but as you can see there are many followers of these theories:

In addition to these theories, there is another very popular one lately - that the virus is caused by 5G transmitters. So, from time to time we may hear that the 5g transmitter is burning somewhere.

According to The Guardian, unidentified people devastated at least 20 cell towers in the UK in the first days of April. As we can notice conspiracy theories can be dangerous and can cause losses when they are uncontrollable, but how to fight them? Should we restrict freedom of speech? Social media platforms(Facebook, YouTube, Tweeter) have just started fighting the spread of fake messages and indicate the danger of misinformation:

Source: https://dnyuz.com/2020/03/24/the-right-way-to-fight-fake-news/

Conspiracy theories give access to 'hidden truth' that is satisfying for those who receive the message, so it's a simple way to explain complicated issues.

Perhaps each of us believes in some unconfirmed theory created by the conspirators. I would like to present some of the most popular:

• Moon landing hoax. According to the theory film director Stanley Kubrick helped NASA fake the historic footage of its six successful Moon landings

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_landing_conspiracy_theories#/media/File:AldrinFlag1a.jpeg

• Pizzagate - well-known politicians are involved here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzagate_conspiracy_theory
• Illuminati as a secret society that rules the world: https://youtu.be/z2SYR7ZEMvo 

       Source: darwinedeus.blogfolha.uol.com.br/2020/05/06/teorias-da-conspiracao-ciencia-e-divulgacao-cientifica-no-youtube/

• GMO conspiracy theories - theories about hidden data indicating that GMOs cause damage to human health.
• 9/11 conspiracy theories. One of the most popular - very extensive and multi-threaded theory
• Chemtrails - also known as SLAP (Secret Large-scale Atmospheric Program). Theory maintains that the streaks from an airplane are made up of poisonous chemicals:

Source: clubic.com/aeronautique/actualite-863081-aeronautique-etude-mesure-impact-  grandissant-contrails-rechauffement-climatique.html

These are the most popular, contemporary, conspiracy theories known in Poland, but there are many more.

• Do you know any interesting, but false theory that I missed?
• Do you believe that any of the conspiracy theories I mentioned is the real version of events and one day it could be proved?
• Do you agree that social media platforms should rigorously combat not credible information or is it too restrictive?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/22/coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-fifth-people-believe-virus-hoax/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9/11_conspiracy_theories

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_conspiracy_theories

     

Week 7 [15-21.06.2020] Podcast phenomenon

Access to information has become very easy since the creation of the radio and television. Nowadays the time has come for the Internet where mass media also each of us can try handle it using Internet ranges.

New radio on the Internet at any time and in any place!

What exactly are podcast? The first podcasts were released on the Internet in 2014. Podcasts can have two forms audio and audio-video. Subject of podcasts is very wide and without restrictions. Often a podcast split to a season, series of episodes but not necessarily. Anyone can be such a format leader. To start adventure with podcast you will need a microphone, a program to record and editing the voice track line and the most important be creative – You become your own podcast director!


Platforms where you can listen to podcasts:

• Apple Podcast (iTunes application),
• Spotify,
• YouTube,
• Pocket Casts (Android, iOS, Windows Phone),
• Overcast,
• Podcast Republic,
• CastBox,
• Podcast Addict,
• Podcast Go,
• Stitcher,
• Lecton.


Podcast on top?

Based on data article which I was preparing form. In mid-2018, 42 million Americans were listening to podcast per week! Podcast, since they were created, gather in their range from 10-20 percent of listeners and their strength is still growing!

Their popularity is growing among young listeners, according to Forbes data research, it is a group between the ages of 18-34. They listen to podcast at least once a week. However, in the group of 12-17 years old, the listening frequency is twice as high!

In Poland, Agora research shows that as many as 27 percent of Internet users listen to podcast at home entertainment, while traveling, or for self-development. Poles also believe that this type of contents is more credible and honest than television or radio!

In 2018 was recorded and sheared on the Internet 800 million times. Forecasts are very optimistic amount of play back is expected to increase day by day and. In 2022 increase of up to 1.5 billion listeners is estimated – crazy is in it?


How is it in Poland?

¼ of Polish Internet users listened to the podcast at list once in their lives and almost everyone who listens to them does it at least once a month. The results of 27 percent give Poland the average European podcast listening. We can compare with for example Germany 22 percent, France 28 percent, the highest number of listeners in Europe is from Spain as much as 40 percent!


Latest situation increases popularity of podcasts

According to Tandem Media research, over the past six months, podcast growth can be recorded at 32,5 percent. 1/3 of respondents subscribe at least one podcast. 12 percent subscribe to 5 or more podcast. 59 percent of respondents constantly listen to two or even four podcasts. 50 percent of respondents listen at least once a week.


Now, please tell me:

1. Did you know that podcasts are so popular?
2. What are your favorite podcasts? If you’re listening to.
3. What topics would you present in your own podcast?


Below you can find bibliography-articles witch give me fulfilment to write article above:

• http://www.ma-publishing.com/the-podcast-phenomenon-a-growing-form-of-content-why-it-matters/
• https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49279177

• https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/01/20/the-podcast-phenomenon-why-were-falling-in-love-with-listening-in/

• Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silver-dynamic-microphone-on-black-microphone-stand-3783471/

Week 5 [18.05-24.05] Art of junk on the wheels

Art of junk on the wheels

A lot of you might have heard once or twice about Europe rally called Gumball 3000. If not let me give you some background on this. In 1914 American rally motorcyclist tried to drive from one of US coasts to other in the shortest time. Year by year he was making hist time better and finally in 1933 he set a record which was 54 hours what gave him later on the nickname Cannonball. 40 years later car magazine editor wanted to honor memory of Cannonball and organised a race which had same route as Cannonball was driving. Unfortunately due to danger cause by participants it has to be cancelled. Many years later, in 1999 in Europe started first long range race called Gumball in honour to previous Cannonball race and it’s history. Soon race got very elite status, it’s participants were mainly celebrities, sport stars, musicians and car lovers. Cars have to go 5000 km across Europe and biggest city which they’re driving through are treating this as some kind of event or parade. This race some time after it’s start became unachievable for average earning people and it was like this for some years, until 2007.

In 2007 two polish friends has idea to travel across Europe in very old cars and two use this event as occasion to gather money for orphanages. First event of this rally which later became very popular across the Europe had only 2 teams participating and gathered almost 13 000 zł.

Junkbol (polish “Złombol”) is charity rally racing event which starts in Poland and has about 2500 km length. It’s destinations is usually set somewhere in Europe. It sounds nice, so where’s the catch? Drivers can only use cars which were built or designed during communist era in eastern bloc. It’s also so called extreme rally, all the participants have no help or support from organisers. So every team which takes part in it, have to plan their route own their own and take care of all expenses and risks. Main problem for participants might be preparing their car. You are supposed to buy it for less than 1000 zł (about 320 USD) and no sponsorship is allowed. 

Main target of this charity race is to gather money for orphanages and the only way to do it is to sell ad space on your car. Also to be able to take part in this race you have to reach target amount from donations which are specified each year by organisers.

In 2015 Junkbal was called the largest charity car rally in Europe. In 2018 participants managed to gather the highest amount of donations in history of this race which was exactly 1 866 050,13 zł with 836 teams taking part in it.

Have you ever heard about Gumball or Junkbol?

What do you think about charity races?

Do you want to take part in Junkbol in future editions?

sources:
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumball_3000
https://zlombol.pl/
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z%C5%82ombol

Week 6 CORONA LIKE THE NEW 9/11

CORONA LIKE THE NEW 9/11

It is already quite clear to everyone, that the corona epidemic will influence the world like no every event in the last years.

Some people already compare it to the next 9/11. Within a few years after the attacks in New York suddenly airports started to become emptier, you could realize that a lot fewer people are travelling.

I think it could be pretty imaginable, that in the next years the post-corona trauma will persist and people will be afraid of leaving their homes or countries.

Some people mention that this is like 9/11, but this time in every country in the world. Do you find this comparison appropriate?

https://seekingalpha.com/article/120335-domestic-air-travel-lowest-since-postminus-9-11

It is a pretty scary perspective, as the airline industry is responsible for 1 in 10 jobs worldwide.


https://www.resilience.org/stories/2020-05-25/how-catalytic-events-change-the-course-of-history-from-the-9-11-attacks-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic/


This crisis is already the biggest one in airline history. It is anticipated, that now most people will wait 6-7 months before they even think about travelling. Of course, young people will still want to travel. However, with many countries implementing mandatory quarantine, travelling will face
more obstacles than before. So maybe 2020 will the year of domestic travels rather long-distance excursions.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTMILJX_oCU

Which attitude towards panic do you support? Do you think people live happily and actively after this crisis? Will they combat the fear ? or will overcaution dominate? Will people during the next years
be a lot more cautious with their endeavours.

Behavioural physiologic anticipate that fear could kill the economies in the upcoming years. People
will be less inclined to even leave their homes, a more domesticated lifestyle will be favoured. 

After the attacks on 9/11 Americans noticed that the country become much a "police state". The government started to have a lot more power and influence. In the name of safety the government
started to interfere into citizens lives a lot more extensively. 

We might predict that governments will go in the same direction now towards citizens health issues. Governments agendas will now overview citizens health, violation it in a way, that could have been viewed as an attack on privacy before. Mandatory health checks might become common. The 
the government might create a public database for gathering information about the citizen's health. 
Suspicious individuals will be kept on a close watch or forced to change their place of living. 


1. For how many years ahead you think the effects of the coronavirus will stretch for? Do you think they will temporary or long-lasting?

2. Do you think, that airports will now become noticeably less filled with people? Do you think people will now abstain from public events? Do you think the fear of the virus is higher than the fear
of terrorism.

3. Do anticipate that from now on governments will impose much more restrictions on citizens
    by implementing, for example, mandatory vaccines?

Week 6 [01-07.06.20] Why are video clip so important for the music world?

Why are video clip so important for the music world? 🎬

In the current reality of the music industry, the song itself, even the best and most catchy, is not all. The song needs to complete the image, not just because in this way, by combining sound with visualization, something new arises, but also for more mundane reasons: there is no better way to fall into the imagination of the listeners. Just to mention songs such as:

Chaka Khan - Like Sugar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RecY5iZn6B0&list=RDRecY5iZn6B0&start_radio=1

or Bass astral x Igo - Feeling exactly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLEBuFXpnoQ

to convince you that sometimes a music video can mean a lot more than just the song itself.

However, let's start from the beginning. A breakthrough moment was  August 1, 1981, when the MTV station was created. It’s motto was: "Music TV, the first large telecommunications medium combining the power of stereo sound with the visual effect of TV. (...) The first purely musical channel broadcasting 24 hours a day via satellite. Artistic video recordings of a modern artists will be played. These recordings are more than just a record of a bands singing and playing . It's highly stylized visual interpretations of music using the most advanced video techniques. "

And although in the early days there were still blackouts, when the operator inserted another VHS cassette into the player, and the first music videos were not particularly successful, the revolution began ... A completely new type of recipient was created, who no longer wants to listen, but also to watch. Artists began to reach people not only through the sense of hearing, but also through the sense of seeing. The music video is loose enough to be limited only by your imagination! Isn't that wonderful?

Nowadays, there are no hardware restrictions, that's why anyone can make a music video. A lot more clips are made, but the percentage of good ones remains the same. A lot of artists record a clip just to make it happen, but it’s not a good approach. In Poland, unfortunately, this is still an underinvested field of art. Budgets range from zero to a million zlotys. But these are really isolated cases.

In fact, it doesn't matter how much you spend on the music video and what it records. 

The most important is the idea and creativity. Thanks to this, we can attract the attention of the viewer 

and even make us love a given song through the video clip. It happened to me more than once.

Tell me:

Do you have any of your favorite video clip?
What do you think about video clips in these days?
If you had a band what would your dream video clip be? ⭐️

Week 6 [01-07.06.20] The most interesting places to visit after pandemic in Poland

Did you know that we have plenty of interesting places that are not spending fortune on advertisement and focus on customer experience. Many of those places lost huge amounts of money due to lack of visitors. Now we are in last phase of opening places and traveling in Poland so I think we should plan some great time. This is my personal list, I hope that below article we will have a great discussion and share much more!

First and the most exciting on my list: Energylandia!

Energylandia is located in Zator in southern Poland. It has approximately 35 hectares size and still developing their attractions. One of the most known is for sure Hyperion which is the tallest and fastest Mega Rollercoaster in Europe! Just imagine that it has 77 meters high (to compare, 77 meters is on 20 floor, quite high), you are riding over 140 km/h! It has many upside down parts and water splash effects. I can’t wait to visit Energylandia. What is important, you pay once for enterence and you can spend there whole day and use every attraction, so you should get up early and be there first! Queues are huge as rollercoasters. I suggest you to sleep in Kraków, because it’s 50km from Energylandia. Remember to bring you own food, I heard that this is not strong point of this place. Take a look at main attractions:

Second one is a place that I’ve already bought tickets: Zoo Park in Borysew.

This zoo park is right after Łódź, so closer than Energylandia from Warsaw. To see all of animal species that are there you will need some time. You can meet there extremely rare White Lion from Africa. That’s the rarest lion’s coat and it looks amazing. Representation of cats is very strong there, White Bengal Tiger, Puma, Lynx, Serval and one dog – Dingo J. Also more friendly animals live here, like: monkeys, giraffes, turtles, all of Safari horses – e.g. Zebra, Lama and many many more. I recommend you to check time of feeding show (alligators will be the most spectacular I think J).

Third one with mixed feelings, but worth to try: Park of Poland – Suntago Wodny Świat.

After huge opening there was many uncomplimentary opinions about it. Part of park is not working, too much people, awful restaurants, lack of stuff etc. Later I watched few reviews and check again previous opinions. Conclusions: don’t visit Suntago during weekends or even Fridays. Forget about Bank Holidays as well. But if you can, take one day off and go there to feel like on tropical island with lots of attractions. What is the best? They have adults area without any children. Don’t kid yourself, when you want to relax children are not the best comrades. At the beginning when you have full batteries visit Green Mamba slide – 294 meters long and Black Thunder – cool name! Then check all pools, there are 18 of them. Next station: saunas and relax at beach bar. Also you can arrange surprise for your girlfriend or wife in Suntago SPA.

1.       Did you visit those places? Share your opinion!

2.       Which other places can you recommend in Poland?

3.       If you have enough money, what kind of place/amusement park will you create? Don’t limit yourself!

Sources:
https://parkofpoland.com/en/attractions
https://zoosafari.com.pl
https://energylandia.pl/en/#

Week 6 [01-07.06.20] Drifting

Week 6 [01-07.06.20] Drifting

Origins of drifting
Drifting is I think one of the most spectacular sports which started a long time ago in the 60's when Japanese people started racing, among mountain roads and street roads of Japan cities. One of the first people who started this whole subject was Kunimitsu Takahashi, at first he was a motorcyclist but after an accident he switched onto cars. Kunimitsu started competing in All Japan Touring Car Championship, where he changed technique of driving a car to be more effective and faster while doing turns independently from the weather, so while his opponents had problems he just slided sideways and took off. His style inspired a lot of young drivers who started illegal street racing and now he is known as a father of drifting. 

Kunimitsu Takahashi - Father of Drifting

What drifting actually is?

Drifting is a technique of driving a car which is meant to put in into deliberate controlled slip of the car and controlling it. Slide of the car should be hold on the longest possible section of the road and it should be very smooth while changing the sides on the turns. 

In drifting it is all about being the most spectacular, people are putting so much effort not only into showing their skills but also into their cars. In this sport there are no strict rules, that is why every car there is very unique. Cars are build mostly by the contestants, who create them to match their driving style. Two top things which drifting car needs is a limited slip differential, which helps putting a car into slip and a rear-wheel drive to make it easier to enter turns sideways.   

Drifting competitions

Drifting competitions are a very spectacular not only because of the contestant driving skills but also their cars are very colorful. Now there are a lot of tournaments around the world and they are bringing a lot of attention. There is a very well know event called Drift Masters European Championship of which we can watch some rounds in Poland inside a stadium which is turned into drifting track for few days. This year unfortunately event was cancelled due to COVID-19. 

On every tournament there are judges who rates skills including:

- tilting the car,

- cornering speed,

- driving car

- smoothness

- perfect car control. 

Since 2018 Polish Motor Association is able to give drifting licenses. To get it you have to pass a theoretical and practical tests (the practical part is starting as a contestant in a drifting competition). 

Here is a little sneak peak of championship from 2018 tournament in Płock.

And one additional video which is really fun to watch. :) 

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunimitsu_Takahashi

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drift_Masters_Grand_Prix

Questions:

1. Have you ever heard about drifting?

2. Do you think it is fun to watch professional tournaments in drifting?

3. Would you consider trying your skills in drifting? (of course on a race track, not on the streets)