Bantog Backpackers

Monday, January 27, 2025

Hallstatt is a small town in the district of Gmunden, in the Austrian State of Upper Austria. Situated between the Southwestern shore of Hallstatter sea and the steep slopes of Dachstein massif, the town lies in the Salzkammergut region, on the national road leading linking Salzburg and Graz.

Halltatt is known for its production of salt, dating back to prehistoric times, and gave its name to the Hallstatt culture, the archaelogicical culture linked to Proto Celtic and Celtic people of the early age of Iron in Europe. Hallstatt is at the core of the Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape declared as one of the World Heritage Sites in Austria by UNESCO in 1997.

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

Hallstatt has been declared as the most beautiful village in the world and an inspiration of a Disney movie, Frozen. The Kingdom of Arendalle has a great resemblance to the picturesque village .

Hallstatt has view of an alpine mountain, lake and vibrant, rich houses. And just by walking at the Old Town, you can see the colorful houses that are so pleasing with the eyes.

Before Hallstatt became a touristy attraction. The locals of Hallstatt were primarily salt-miners, living a traditional alpine village life focused on farming and mining salts.

Due to its mountainous location, Hallstatt was relatively isolated and is only accessible by boat during the pre-tourism times.

This small village has 700 inhabitants with an average of 10,000 visitors per day during peak season. It covers 60 square kilometers

Things to do in Hallstatt:

1. Hallstatt Skywalk
2. Central Square Marktplaz
3. Hallstatt Osuary

4. Parish of the Assumption

5. Badestrand Hallstatt

6. Hallstatt Museum

7. Waldbachstrub Waterfalls

Monday, January 20, 2025

Are you willing to walk in a fairytale? Rothenberg ob der Tauber is considered as one of the best medieval town in Germany. It is a popular destination and one of Germany's well-preserved historic walled town. However, if you are planning to get here, make sure to make your way to Rothernburg ob der Tauber because there are a lot of Rothenburg or Rottenburg places in Germany.

On May 15, 1274, King Rudolf of Habsburg confirmed imperial city privilege. 2024 marks its 750 years and the city is celebrating its anniversary with a program.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a German town in Northern Bavaria. A pictureistic old town in the middle of Romantische Strasse. An old town preserved in time! It's touristy but it's stuck in time!

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is also the inspiration of Pinnochio's Disney movie in 1940. It has also been featured in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows films.

We were also fortunate to have a chat with the son of the host family whom Pope Francis used to reside. Pope Francis used to live in this house when he was still the simple Father Jorge Mario Bergolio. He attended a German course at the Goethe Institute in Rothenburg from August to October of 1986.

How to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber?

The most convenient way is to travel by train from nearby cities like Wurzburg or Ansbach requiring a change at Steinach station. And by car is to use A7 motorway and exiting at Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Saturday, November 2, 2024

The Mercedes Benz Museum is exactly located in Mercedes Benz Niederlassung, Stuttgart, Germany. It is an automobile museum consisting of more than 160 vehicles of all types ranging from the oldest to fast racing cars to futuristic vehicles.

Honestly, I am not a fan of cars, but I enjoyed the tour and the journey of the automobile history - a journey through time and technology.

The entrance fee is €16 for adults. My two students are luckily free and it is also free for PWD. Opening hours is from 9am to 6pm everyday except for Monday.

After paying the entrance fee, we went our way going to the elevator but before that, the staff are giving the guests an audio guide in English and German language. This audio guide will give information about the vehicles by just scanning the QR codes displayed at each vehicle. Get this audio guide thing because at the end of the tour, you will get that Mercedes Benz lace for free.

The museum displayed the evolution of Mercedes Benz as a company from Gottlieb Deimler to Carl Benz to Wilhelm Maybach to Emil Jellinek. Mercedes is the name of Jellinek's first daughter.

Experiencing the Mercedes Benz Museum is like going back in time. The ingenious architecture complements the innovation of cars from 1886 to past 130 years of automotive excellence. The interactive displays makes this museum a must-visit. A seamless combination of past, present and future of Mercedes Benz brand as a legacy to future generation.

Visiting the German Village Illumination is not in our itinerary but because my cousin and ninang sa kasal na si Ninang Daisy is a resident of Chiba, Japan, she toured us around Chiba and Tokyo including this German Illumination Village. It is a theme park exploring German rural life with little rides, illuminated lollipops, German shops, gingerbread houses, restaurants and of course the spectacular lights.

The exact address of German Illumination Village is at 419 Nagayoshi Sodegaura, Chiba, Japan. It is an hour drive from Tokyo via Umihotaru. Commuting is a little bit complicated because it involves a lot of transfers from train to buses.

By train:

Take the JR Sobu Line to Chiba Station then transfer to JR Uchibo Line to Kizarasu Station.

By bus:

From JR Chiba Station, take the Kapina-Go Highway Bus and take off at German Illumination Village or take a bus from Sodegaura Station on the JR Uchibo Line.