The Lost World

Unexplored Destinations: 5 Hidden Gems of East Europe You Must Travel to,

For the past two years, travelling overseas has been quite restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, as international travel opens up with covid protocol, there are several destinations that you can visit. Besides the usual travelling destinations like Paris, Dubai, Singapore or Japan, we can recommend you destinations that can be said as hidden gems of Europe. 

Let us take a look at five places in Eastern Europe that must be on your travel list:

Budapest:

The capital city of Hungary will certainly leave you impressed and feed your wanderlust. Situated on the banks of Danube, the two cities of Buda and Pest form the megacity of Budapest. If you are into art nouveau buildings, Budapest is the place to be. The city is also known for its healing thermal baths and an unrivalled nightlife that will leave you wanting more. Budapest also offers a glimpse into the past with bullet holes and shrapnel pockmarks on buildings from World War II and the 1956 Uprising.

Apart from these other things also there to explore in sequence.

Prague:

The capital city of the Czech Republic, Prague is one of the emerging tourist destinations of the world. The city offers a glimpse into unique Bohemian art which ranges from glowing Gothic altarpieces in the Convent of St Agnes, to the luscious art nouveau of Alfons Mucha. Czech are renowned their capital city to attract tourists. The city’s cobbled lanes may lead you to some ancient chapels.

Tallinn

The city where a crucial part of Christopher Nolan’s latest movie Tenet was shot, Tallinn is the capital city of Estonia. Visiting Tallinn during winters will take you to a magical Baltic winter. Think about snow glistening on the old-town roofs, or skating around the Harju Ice Rink under the shadow of 13th-century St Nicholas’ Church, and you are in Tallinn. The city also offers places like Kalev Spa Waterpark, a traditional Russian bathhouse experience.

Vilnius

Another hidden gem of East Europe is this Lithuanian capital city. Vilnius provides a rural feel with its carpeted green spaces, which covers around 40 percent of its area. The Lithunian city is studded with revered Catholic and Orthodox church spires. The city was once nicknamed the “Jerusalem of the north” but its Jewish community was largely annihilated in World War II. Vilnius now has museums dedicated to the Holocaust, former ghettos, preserved KGB torture chambers and cemeteries filled with the war dead.

Riga

Capital of Latvia, Riga will take you into a world of flamboyant art nouveau that forms the core of this vibrant cosmopolitan city, the largest of all three Baltic capitals. On the surface, Riga may seem quiet or reserved, but look further and you will stumble upon its hip bars, modern art centres and the kitchens of its cool experimental restaurants.

Countries That Will Pay You to Move There !!!

Sometimes moving abroad is a trade-off.

While you may be able to experience your dream life in the Mediteranean, it usually comes at a cost.

But what if I told you that instead of paying a premium, another country PAYS YOU TO MOVE THERE?!

Well, that can be true for you.

While some cities in the US will pay you to move there, we’re going to take a look at a more international sphere.

We bring you 10 examples of places around the world that will pay you to move there.

Let’s check them out.

1. Antikythera, Greece

The Greek island of Antikythera has less than 50 inhabitants, and the Greek Orthodox Church will pay you to move there. You’ll receive a house and land, as well as €500 (around $590) a month for your first three years. You may not have a plethora of shops on the island, but it’s perfect for those who want solitude and self-sufficiency!

Moving to Antikythera, Greece

If you want to live in a country with a rich history and culture, Greece is the perfect fit. On the island of Antikythera, you’ll experience its peace and quiet, as well as stunning beaches. It’s a rural paradise!


2. Candela, Italy

Candela has the crowded streets of urban Italy without the masses of people. It’s home to about 2,700 people, and the mayor is offering between €800 (around $945) and €2,000 (around $2,350) for singles and families to move there. The only catch is that you must live there full time, rent a house, and have a job that earns at least €7,500 (around $8,900) per year.

Moving to Candela, Italy

Candela is only two hours from Naples and one hour from the beach, so you have everything you could want close to your new small-town home. And if you’re a fan of Italian food, you’re in for a treat!


3. Denmark

Denmark loves entrepreneurs and encourages startup businesses to relocate there. They aren’t necessarily a country that will pay you to move there, but relocating there grants you access to Denmark’s superb education, health, and welfare systems. Even if you’re an investor, moving to Denmark isn’t a bad idea!

Moving to Denmark

Denmark is a largely coastal country with pristine waters and flat terrain. Bicycles are a common mode of transportation, which is both environmentally friendly and healthy. It’s also one of the happiest countries in the world, so it’s worth considering!


4. Ireland

Enterprise Ireland is a program that’s attracting entrepreneurs from around the globe. If you think your startup has potential, submit an application. If approved and you move to Ireland, your business will receive thousands of Euros in funding and access to the European Union, one of the largest markets in the world!

Moving to Ireland

The Irish countryside is a spectacular sight, and the people are even greater. You’ll find a unique and generous culture in Ireland that you’ll immediately love. Also, pubs are prime socializing hotspots, so you’ll get to know the locals in no time!


5. Kaitangata, New Zealand

Kaitangata has a declining population, so they’re willing to give you a quarter acre of land worth $165,000. It may not be physical money to convince you to move there, but real estate is an investment-worthy of relocating! They give preference to New Zealand residents, but they’ll welcome anyone from anywhere in the world.

Moving to Kaitangata

If the scenery in The Lord of the Rings took your breath away, living in New Zealand will feel like Middle Earth (minus the orcs, thankfully). This country also offers countless job opportunities and a world-renowned work-life balance. You’ll find a rural paradise with friendly people in Kaitangata!


6. Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam

These three countries offer similar benefits and target current Europe and United States residents. In return for moving to Korea, Thailand, or Vietnam, they’ll give you a job teaching English and other courses. The process is simple and fairly quick, so if you want it, you’ll be off to Asia sooner than you think!

Moving to Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam

Each country offers a history and culture different from western countries. Not to mention, they have incredibly delicious food and a low cost of living. With that on top of stable work, many people find a great quality of life in these three Asian countries.


7. Mauritius

Do you have a business idea that you’re passionate about? Mauritius, an island east of Madagascar, offers 20,000 Mauritian Rupees to startup businesses that move there. All you’ll have to do is present your unique and profitable business idea to a committee that will determine whether you qualify.

Moving to Mauritius

While it may not be an isolated island paradise like you’d expect, Mauritius has so much to offer. It has beautiful weather, a thriving economy, high-quality schools, and free healthcare for residents. It’s also a multicultural hub full of diversity!


8. Ponga Village, Spain

If you’re part of a young couple that wants to have kids, you can earn €3,000 (around $3,550) just by moving to Ponga Village, Spain and staying for five years. It’s a small town of fewer than 1,000 people, which has continued to decline over the years. You’ll also receive an additional €3,000 for each of your children, whether they moved with you or are born in Ponga Village.

Moving to Ponga Village, Spain

Besides literally paying you to move there, Spain is a great place to live. It has gorgeous weather, welcoming communities, and booming job prospects. We also love the idea of siestas that give you a three-hour break in the middle of the day!


9. Saskatchewan, Canada

Saskatchewan’s Graduate Retention Program aims to keep college graduates in the province by offering $20,000 CAD (around $15,000 USD) in tax returns. Canada will pay you to live there over the course of 10 years while you live there and file taxes. The only catch is that you have to have graduated from a post-secondary school on their list of approved institutions.

Moving to Saskatchewan, Canada

If you want the benefits of the city and the country, Saskatchewan, Canada is the place for you! It has several national parks and historic sites where you can experience all the best of the great outdoors. It also has great job opportunities, especially for college graduates.


10. Sicily, Italy

Sambuca di Sicilia is a small town in Sicily of about 6,000 people that has been shrinking as residents move to larger cities. To boost the population, the town is selling homes for only €1. In return, you must refurbish their run-down home within three years, which will likely cost around €15,000 (around $17,800), and provide a €5,000 (around $5,900) security deposit that will be returned to them when they complete the renovations.

Moving to Sicily, Italy

Sicily is a dream for many people around the world, and you can make that dream a reality! Sicily has food that borders on the divine that’s also healthy, and you’ll have the opportunity to learn one of the most beautiful romance languages.

From ethnic turmoil and civil war to struggles for independence and political mergers, countries come and go over time. Here’s a look at 20 countries that no longer exist.

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:

In 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was established in northern Eurasia, stretching from the Baltic and Black seas to the Pacific Ocean. Toward the end of its reign, the communist country comprised 15 Eurasian republics encompassing over 100 distinct nationalities and was geographically the largest country in the world. The USSR was a major superpower that nearly came to nuclear blows with the United States during the Cold War. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and many of the republics within it declared their independence.

Yugoslavia:

Yugoslavia (Land of South Slavs) was located in Europe on the west-central Balkan Peninsula. Once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Yugoslavia was first established in 1918, but called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. It became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, the monarchy was dissolved, and the country became communist, under the rule of Josip Tito. After his death in 1980, it succumbed to ethnic tensions and a brutal civil war. In the mid-1990s, Yugoslavia separated into seven distinct states: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia.

Rhodesia:

Located in south-central Africa in the region that is now known as Zimbabwe and Zambia, Rhodesia became a self-declared yet unrecognized country in 1965. Rhodesia was administered by the British South Africa Company seeking gold, copper, and coal, until the country gained independence in 1979 following the 14-year Rhodesian Bush War.

German Democratic Republic:

After World War II, the Allies divided Germany and its capital of Berlin into east and west, creating the German Democratic Republic, also known as East Germany. The socialist country was under Soviet control until 1990, when it was reunited with West Germany, after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. 

Austria-Hungary:

Created in 1867 through a union of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary included 11 different ethnic groups, was the largest Catholic-led empire of its time, and lasted until 1918. The empire eventually succumbed to nationalist sentiments, becoming the separate nations of Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. 

Czechoslovakia:

After Austria-Hungary separated into distinct nations at the end of World War I, Czechoslovakia, located in central Europe, was created in 1918 and included Bohemia, Moravia, and Slovakia. The formerly stable country then fell under Nazi rule, followed by Soviet occupation. Communism in Czechoslovakia eventually came to a peaceful end after the Velvet Revolution in 1989, and the country divided into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, with the Czech Republic keeping the flag.

North and South Vietnam:

Vietnam was a French colony during World War II, but occupied by the Japanese Empire. After Japan lost the war, the Vietnamese were able to oust the French, but in 1954, at the Geneva Conference, the country was divided into north and south—communist and non-communist respectively. What ensued was a long, bloody war involving the North, the South, and the United States, as well as smaller contingents from South Korea, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand. The U.S. finally pulled out in 1973, after which North Vietnam seized Saigon in 1975, and Vietnam was reunited under a communist government.

Federation of South Arabia:

The Federation of South Arabia, located on the Arabian Peninsula, was created in 1962, comprised 17 states, and was under British protectorate. The Federation was abolished after gaining independence. It merged with the Protectorate of South Arabia to become South Yemen in 1967, which in 1990 unified with North Yemen to become what we know of today as Yemen.

Tuvan People’s Republic:

In 1921, with Russia’s support, Bolsheviks created the Tuvan People’s Republic, which was only recognized as independent by the Soviet Union and Mongolia. The state lasted until 1944, when it was annexed by the Soviet Union, and today the territory of Tannu Tuva, known as the Tuva Republic (pictured is the modern-day Tuva flag), is part of the Russian Federation. 

Tibet:

Before the 1950s, Tibet (in central Asia) was a unique cultural and religious community, with little communication or economic activity with other countries, although various protection pacts were negotiated with its neighbours over time, including various Mongol and Chinese dynasties. Because of this, China has long believed that Tibet has been a rightful part of China for centuries and, in 1950, began a long and bloody campaign to incorporate it into their country. Many Tibetans, especially those outside the country, consider this action to be an invasion and the continued Chinese presence to be an occupation by a foreign power. In recent times, the Chinese government has used economic incentives to spur Han Chinese migration to the Tibetan plateau in an attempt to further incorporate the region into the Chinese state.

United Arab Republic:

The intentional union of Egypt and Syria was proclaimed in 1958, but ended quickly in 1961, after a military coup when Syria declared itself independent. Egypt, however, kept the name until 1971. The republic was created by Gamal Abdel Nasser, who hoped it would one day include the entire Arab world, which had been divided by colonial powers after World War I. 

Ottoman Empire:

Spanning more than 600 years, from about 1300 to 1922, the Ottoman Empire was one of the longest and largest empires, at one point controlling parts of the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and North Africa. The empire’s reign is famous for its power and Islamic nature, as well as outstanding achievements in the arts, science, medicine, and architecture, but its demise came with the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution. The empire was finally abolished by the Treaty of Sèvres.

Kingdom of Sikkim:

The Kingdom of Sikkim was a sovereign nation established by the Namgyal dynasty in 1642 in what is now northeast India, in the eastern Himalayas. It was ruled by chogyals (temporal and spiritual kings), but became a British protectorate in 1890, and then an Indian one. In 1975, India deposed Sikkim’s monarchy and, in a special referendum, the people voted in favour of becoming a state of India.

 

Confederate States of America:

From 1861 to 1865, the southern states separated from the union, after Abraham Lincoln became president of the United States. Eleven states formed the Confederate States of America in the hopes of keeping slavery legal to support their plantation-based economy. Their president was Jefferson Davis. The North and South fought one another in the American Civil War that killed 750,000. The war was eventually won by the North, which brought the Confederacy and slavery in the United States to an end.

East Pakistan:

East Pakistan’s short life—just 17 years—was rife with turmoil. Located on what is today known as Bangladesh, the Islamic republic of East Pakistan was previously under British rule. Not long after it came into being in 1955, however, there was a coup d’état followed by martial law. In 1970, Pakistan held its first federal general election, but the winning party won all its seats in East Pakistan and none in West Pakistan, which led to Bangladesh (East Pakistan) declaring independence from Pakistan, the nearly year-long Bangladesh Liberation War, the 1971 Bangladesh genocide, and eventually the birth of Bangladesh.

Gran Colombia:

This short-lived republic in South America and southern Central America existed from 1819 to 1830, and broadly included the modern-day countries of Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Gran Colombia’s short life was beset by conflict, in particular between President Simón Bolívar (pictured is a statue of him) and those who wanted a decentralized, federal form of government. Bolívar eventually resigned in the face of increasing support for the federalist constitution. The result was the dissolution of Gran Colombia and the establishment of the independent states of Venezuela, Ecuador, and New Granada. 

The Holy Roman Empire:

The Holy Roman Empire spanned more than a thousand years, beginning in AD 800 with the crowning of Charlemagne (pictured is a statue of him) as the first Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III and ending in 1806. Spread across western and central Europe, the empire was vast in size and therefore decentralized, giving the regions much autonomy, while defending Europe from Muslim invasion and providing troops for the crusades. The empire was eventually destroyed by Napoleon.

Kingdom of Hawaii:

In 1795, the islands of Hawaii, Oahu, Molokai, and Lanai united under a single government. By 1810, the entire archipelago had joined the Kingdom of Hawaii, ruled by two dynasties until it became a republic. It was annexed by the United States in 1898. The U.S. then built a naval base at Pearl Harbor, which was later bombed by Japan during World War II. Hawaii finally became the 50th state to join the union in 1959.

Korea:

According to legend, Korea’s first kingdom was established around 2300 BCE. For nearly 4,200 years, the shape and leadership of the regions of the Korean Peninsula changed many times. The first modern Korean Empire was established in 1897 by King Gojong, making him emperor. But his rule was to be short-lived as Japan annexed Korea in 1910. At the end of the Second World War, with Japan surrendering to the Allied Forces, the annexation ended, and the leadership of Korea passed to the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. Soon after, with the fundamental shifts in global politics, Korea was divided at the 38thparallel into two occupation zones—the north administered by the Soviet Union, and the south by the United States. Attempts were made by the United Nations to establish a single, democratically elected government for the entire region, but these calls were ignored by the Soviets. The result was the 1948 establishment of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). Both of these states were officially recognized by the United Nations in 1991.

Prussia:

Set on the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea, the kingdom was ruled by the German Hohenzollern dynasty from 1701. Over the years, Prussia expanded in size and sovereignty by its military might, seizing much of northern Germany and western Poland in the 18th and 19th centuries. The state was eventually abolished by the Allies after World War II as Germany was divided and Prussia was divvied up, with much of the territory going to the Soviet Union and Poland.

Canada Express Entry

By Line M.A.Moiz Source: MSN Canada Express Entry: These 10 cities to offer most jobs to immigrants. Tap to read for vacancies, PR details...