Out of the way, with nothing extraordinary for the camera, and with a marred reputation, El Salvador remains one of the least travelled Latin American destinations. A perfect place to go off the beaten track?

This story continues from Part 1. We were very curious about the mysterious Geisha culture in Japan. One evening we took our way into The Gion geiko district (hanamachi) in Kyoto to find out more about the unique Geisha culture......

I and my friend were curious about the Geisha culture. It’s bounded with so many myths. We wondered whether there were possible to meet some of them. The word Geisha means "artist" in Japanese. The Geisha culture is associated with prostitution by people who don’t know so much about the culture, but it’s far more sophisticated that that.

Nobody celebrates like the Brazilians, especially not during the carnival in Rio. This big event takes place next year (2007) non-stop from 25 to 28 February. It’s a marathon party with enormous vibrations where the participants don’t sleep during the carnival. The highlight is the Sambodromo parade. Other highlights are the street processions and masquerade balls.

I am glad that the Peruan have preserved so well their weaving and textile traditions. I noticed the weavers’ great pride and strong passion for their craft. It was done by their heart. Of course they wanted to make business out of it, but it was something deeper than that. Their weacing and handycraft is vital in their society, and has its origon from family traditions and cultural heritage. The weavers in Peru use strong colours, but their expressions are even stronger!

For many travellers from around the world, the trolls in Norway capital main street Karl Johan`s gate, draw a lot of attention. I guess many wonder: what are the amazing creatures doing here? Are they guarding the Norwegians, or are they trying to scare away foreign visitors? By looking at their great smile, it`s more likely that the trolls are greeting nice visitors. But just to let you know: a troll is a fearsome member of a mythical anthropomorphic race from Norwegian folklore.

In Finland it isn't a better way to solve problems and conflicts than in a hot sauna. The Finnish European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn's recently suggested that Turkey and Greek should be brought together for peace talk in a sauna. It's also a place where people do business and make friendship. As the Indians in northern America smoke peace pipe, the Finns make peace in saunas. It's their way of life.

Wether is summer or winter, the Finns like it hot. Sauna is thought to be beneficial physically for many reasons, such as increased blood circulation, flushing of impurities by sweating, raised pulse and metabolic rate. But it is also considered to have a number of emotional benefits as well, partly because of its ritual social aspect, especially when it comes to nudity. Most political issues are also solved in sauna. For the Finns the sauna is the most important place to meet and discuss things that`s really matters.

The dark sky turned suddenly into an inferno of twinkling lights in all colours and shapes. It sounded like thunder and lightning. The spectacular show decorated the dark sky to the fullest. The Maltese Fireworks Festival was held at the Grand Harbour in the capital Valletta on the 29th and 30th of April 2006. This event was a show-case and a prelude to what will occur in the coming months when the villages and towns of Malta and Gozo celebrate the feast of their patron saints.

Norwegians keep their tradition alive by celebrating Easter in the mountainsides. One of the best places for this occassion is definitely Kvamsfjellet near Vinstra in Gudbrandsdalen. By experience this region you can understand why Norway remains a wilderness outpost. Here around in amidst dark forests, moonlit mountain lakes, and mighty snow capped mountains, you will find the trolls. These amazing creatures were covered in the world famous Norwegian author Henrik Ibsen`s novel Peer Gynt. Take a thoroughly look and you will hopefully see against all logical belief, one of those mystical trolls.

In addition to admiring great temples as Angkor Wat, Bayon, Pre Khan, and Ta Prohmin at the Angkor site, I took a boat trip to the Vietnamese Floating Village near the town Siam Reap. I started from Phnom Kron where the boat docks, and floated out in Tonlé Sap Lake, a large lake about 100 kilometres long. It was amazing experience the pulsating life in this floating village, which is another wonder in Cambodia.

The Caodaism - Dai Dao Tam Ky Pho Do, or Third Great Universal Religious Amnesty, is a special belief practised in the city Tay Ninh located 100 kilometers northwest of Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon in Vietnam. I looked into the devine eye, which is the religion`s official symbol, and hoped for a vision. Some people in the sect preyed around me, other played on instruments and song. It was a relaxed, but strange atmosphere. The extravagant interior of the Caodai Great Temple gave me a feeling of being in another world. In the four daily ceremonies the intention was to create a harmonic synthesis of world religions. It is a mix of religions as Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, Hinduism, Geniism, and Taoism. So by looking into the Divine Eye of Caodai...

It`s called the biggest party in the world. The Rio Carnival 2006 starts on 25 February and ends 4 days later, so be ready for the big show! During this time the city will explode in joy and music. There are hundreds of street festivities and bands everywhere. Especially be aware of the gigantic party at the sambodrome parade. Nothing compares!

Finally the snow has come and the Christmas atmosphere in the Norwegian capital Oslo raise to great heights. What would a Christmas be in Oslo without snow? Few capitals have longer winter than Oslo. It's surrounded by forest, mountains and the fjord. Some of Norway's great winter sites are Voss, Beitostølen, Gålå, Wadahl, Geilo, Hemsedal, Kvitfjell, Hafjell, Lillehammer, Lofoten and Tromsø, but in the outskirts of Oslo city centre there are great opportunities for skiing too. Our photos today show the winter wonderland of Oslo in the Christmas preseason. Famous sites and building as Akershus Fortress, Aker Brygge waterfront, the City Council, the main street Karl Johans Gate, the Nobel Peace Prize Institute and the Royal Palace, look all mysterious in the magic sun light.

In Iceland Santa Claus has several nicknames. In addition to Santa - Santas, he or they are called Yulemen, Yule Lads or Christmas Boys. Nobody knows exactly the origin of these names, but anyway the Christmas celebration in Iceland goes on. In the middle of May 2002 I was lucky to the get a glimpse of some Santas at the Blue Lagoon. I thought the Icelandic Santas were seasonal too, but here I could observe him and she enjoyed themselves in the hot pool in the summertime. The Blue Lagoon looks "frosty blue", but it's really hot. The temperature is about 40 Celsius (104F), and the soothing, mineral-rich water is believed to have curative powers. It seemed to me that the Santas really got their extra power from the magic water, and it will make them in better shape for their hard work in Christmas!