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Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Happy Valley-Goose Bay (HVGB) is a town of 8,080 people (2022) in Labrador, Canada founded in 1941 as a military base and seaport. During World War II, Goose and Gander in Newfoundland were important airbases, later serving as refuelling stops for planes en route to Europe.

Understand
Goose Bay was established in 1941 to host a military base during the Second World War. It was served by coastal ferries, until it was connected to Labrador City by road in 1992 and to Forteau by road in 2009. Air traffic has diminished greatly in the post-Cold War era; a small contingent of 100 troops remains deployed to CFB Goose Bay.

The "Goose and Gander" air force bases are the last military presence in Newfoundland and Labrador, along with a small naval station near St. John's.

Goose Bay is an important seaport for supplies arriving by Trans-Labrador Highway to be sent out by ship to other, more remote Labrador communities. It also served as a base of operations for supplies for a large-scale hydroelectric construction project at Muskrat Falls; that $12-billion project is to feed power by undersea cable from Labrador across Newfoundland to Nova Scotia, from which it can be exported through New Brunswick to the US market.

By car

 * Highway 500 (Trans-Labrador Highway) runs west to Churchill Falls (288 km) and Labrador City (530 km). Highway 510 (also part of the Trans-Labrador Highway) intersects with Highway 500 about 13 km west of Goose Bay, and runs south to Forteau (693 km).
 * A coastal ferry calls at Lewisporte and Cartwright (Labrador), en route to points further north which are not accessible by road.

Airlines
Canadian airlines operating to Goose Bay:
 * Operates flights to Goose Bay from Gander (1.5 hours) and from Wabush airport (1 hour) near Labrador City.
 * Operates flights to Goose Bay from Gander (1.5 hours) and from Wabush airport (1 hour) near Labrador City.

Get around
There is one taxi operator, Cooneys Taxi (374 Hamilton River Rd, +1 709 896-3311).

See

 * Aurora Borealis. The beautiful northern lights are visible here from late November through to late March.

Do

 * Wolverine Bay. Swim in the warm fresh water bay.
 * Hike. Walk some of the trails that are all over Goose bay.
 * Berry-picking. Pick wild blueberries, or try some local redberry pie!

Sleep

Connect
Bell is the only cellular provider in this town.

Go next
Goose Bay is a major transit point for traffic to more distant points in Labrador because of its good road, air and seaport facilities:
 * North West River is a small town only accessible via Happy Valley-Goose Bay around 40 km to the northeast. It is central Labrador's oldest community that was initially set up as a French fur post.
 * Cartwright (Labrador) is 90 km off the Trans-Labrador Highway "beaten path" (there are no services or fuel at Cartwright Junction) and about 400 km from Goose Bay. Whether one stays on the highway to Port Hope Simpson or turns to Cartwright village, the next fuel station (southbound) is 410 km away.
 * Charter aircraft from Goose Bay reach various "off the grid" locations, such as outfitters' camps and the Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve
 * Ferries and aircraft from Goose Bay feed various points northward (as far as Nain) which have no road at all. Saglek Fjord, in the far north of Nunatsiavut, is the main base station and jumping-off point for boat travel into Torngat Mountains National Park.
 * To the west, there are hydroelectric developments at Muskrat Falls and Churchill Falls.

title: Happy Valley-Goose Bay


text:
Haputale

Haputale is a city in Uva, in the central mountain area of Sri Lanka. It's a relaxed little place with about 5000 inhabitants. Mostly Tamils mixed with some Muslims and Buddhists. It's a wonderful place to retreat for a while. There is many Tea estates around and one can walk virtually for several weeks, without ever taking the same path twice. As it is located on top of a mountain range, the views are exceptional. Though being quite high above sea level, the sun should be minded.

Get in
Haputale lies on the train line between Colombo and Badulla. Trains from Colombo leave at 5:55, 8:30, 9:45 and 20:30, taking about 9 hours to travel the 250km. Fares are LKR 470/300 2nd/3rd class, and some 1st class carriages with reserved seating should be available.

Get around
Walking or by tuk-tuk, as usual in Sri Lanka. One can also take the train to visit smaller places around Haputale such as Ella, Bandarawella or Badulla. It's also quite common to take the train to one of the neighbouring villages and simply walk back that same way on the rail tracks, as the locals do. Those rail track walks offer some of the best views Sri Lanka has to offer.

See
A lot of tea estates surround the tiny city. Just wandering around in the plantations and watching the tea workers collecting the leaves.

Do
Walking.

Eat
There is the standard range of eateries.

Connect
The "Website Link" cybercafe offers a good high speed connection. Rs 60 per hour (2009). Just walk from the railway station for about 100 m in the direction main crossing. You'll find the place on the left hand side. The owner of this cafe knows the area quite well and will give you a helping hand if you require information: Mr Loga, mobile: 0779975051, websitelink@hotmail.com, websitelinkloga@gmail.com.

Go next

 * Ella by train
 * Nuwara Eliya or Kandy by train

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Haputale


text:
Harar

Harar (sometimes spelled Harrar or Harer) is an ancient city in eastern Ethiopia with a population of about 75,000. For centuries, Harar has been a major commercial centre, linked by trade routes with the rest of Ethiopia, the entire Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and, through its ports, the rest of the world.

Harar Jugol, the old walled city, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006 in recognition of its cultural heritage. It is considered the fourth holiest city of Islam by Sunni Muslims (after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, with 82 mosques, three of which date from the 10th century, and 102 shrines.

By bus

 * There is a bus service from Addis Ababa (the capital) and Dire Dawa. From Dire Dawa there are minibuses for 30 birr.

By car

 * Harar is 54 km by asphalt road from Dire Dawa.

By plane

 * Harar is served by Dire Dawa International Airport. From the airport you need to take a shared taxi (50 birr per person in 2020) to the minibus station from there its 45 minutes by minibus to Harar.

Get around
The blue and white minibuses and rental vehicles are available.

In the old town, Jugal, there is no need to take rickshaws, etc., as it is very walkable, as the alleyways are very narrow and crowded it is probably easiest to walk.

See

 * Harar, casa di rimbaud, 05.jpg mansion that once housed the renowned French poet Arthur Rimbaud. The mansion is now converted to a museum.
 * The old town is home to ninety-nine mosques and many more shrines, centred on Feres Magala square.
 * The St. Mary Catholic Church is a pleasant spot. It is reached by walking east, down the main street in the old town, turning left immediately after the Jamai Mosque, and then taking the next right. The church is behind a large unmarked solid metal gate.
 * Notable buildings include Medhane Alem Cathedral and the sixteenth century Jamia Mosque.
 * The nearby town of Ejersa Goro, where the former emperor Haile Selassie was born.

Do

 * A long standing tradition of feeding porridge to hyenas one night a year on a shrine on the hill, developed in the 1960s into a nightly feeding show for the benefit of tourists. For a 100 birr fee (Sep 2016; as of July 2019 100 birr for locals, 200 birr for tourists) you can watch the hyenas and feed them yourself with rotten meat. Any bakjaj (tuk-tuk) or taxi driver knows the current place and can take you there at 07:00 for 100-200 birr. There are two feeding sites. The eastern one you can reach on foot (see google maps for the exact location). You do not need a guide (100 birr, July 2019) but it might be nice to have someone to tell you info in English.
 * Get lost in the old town of Harar (Jegol) and wander around brightly colored houses and small vendors. Some local houses can be visited, the guides will show you which one, or try to find them on your own.
 * At the meat market inside the old town one can see birds of prey sitting around, where they wait for their moment to snatch a piece of meat (closed during the summer).
 * Timkat is celebrated, though on a much more modest scale than in Northern Ethiopia. Activities take place at Feres Megala and culminate in a procession at 15:00. The upstairs terrace of the cafe on the north side of the square is the best vantage point.

Buy

 * Handicrafts are available at the market.
 * The spice market (just outside the walls near the bus station) has a huge variety of coffee and spices and is worth a visit.

Sleep
There are very few mid-range accommodations. Dire Dawa has a better selection of hotels and restaurants.

 * Tewodros Hotel, from 250 birr (double), a somewhat rundown place next to the main road just outside the wall. The owner is a friendly guy who knows everybody as he has been a tourist guide for a long time.
 * Tourist Hotel, from 40 birr (single), very noisy (disco-cum-brothel), try to get one of the rooms which are furthest from the disco area.

Go next
To Addis Ababa there are buses leaving daily early morning (04:30 or 05:00). Tickets for 350 birr (July 2019). Buy your ticket a few days in advance. There are a few companies and most of the offices are located at Charleville Ave, near Bank of Abyssinia. The ride takes 11 hours and takes you to Meskel Square in Addis.

title: Harar


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Harare

Harare is the capital and largest city in Zimbabwe. Harare has an excellent highland climate and well-planned garden suburbs that are very pleasant to walk around in. It has an extensive collection of public museums, institutions and many of the nation's most important historic monuments and memorials.

Understand
Harare is home to some two million people, with most in central Harare but some 500,000 in the surrounding districts of Rural Harare, Chintungwiza and Epworth. Once a city of modern buildings, wide thoroughfares, numerous parks and gardens, it suffered from increasing disrepair thanks to Zimbabwe's economic crisis, though there has been some improvement since the adoption the US dollar as Zimbabwe's currency has facilitated some investments.

By plane
Harare's airport is the major gateway for flights into the country. Air Zimbabwe also operated a small network of domestic flights before ceasing operations. However, an increasing number of foreign airlines are flying into Harare these days. They include South African Airways with direct flights from Johannesburg. Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa, Kenya Airways from Nairobi, TAAG Angola Airlines from Luanda and Egypt Air from Cairo via Dar es Salaam and KLM from Amsterdam.

Taxis from the airport to the main hotels cost $25. This exorbitant fixed price, given the relatively short distance and great age of the taxis, is attributed by the drivers to the high fees that they have to pay to the airport authority.

By train
Bulawayo has departures three times a week at 20:00, arriving next morning around 08:00. $12 for a sleeper and $10 for a seat. Trains from Mutare, at the border with Mozambique, run three times a week departing Mutare also at 21:00, arrival time in Harare is early morning at 18:00. $7 for 1st class sleeper. $5 for 2nd class sleeper. There are no international trains to Harare except occasional cruise trains.

By car
The condition of the roads in Zimbabwe has deteriorated dramatically since the government has failed to maintain them. Most of the country is now without street lights. The main highways are still in a good state of repair outside of the cities: traffic is so light now that damage from trucks is minimal.

A good road from Johannesburg allows easy access. However, be careful of the sometimes frightening drops at the side of the roads, at the edge of the tarmac, particularly with oncoming trucks at night. Driving at is not advised.

You should be all right without a 4x4 unless you head into rural areas and game parks. If you enter from South Africa, ensure that your insurance waiver is valid for Zimbabwe.

By bus
Buses from Johannesburg are easily available ranging from Eagle Liner (for R330). Greyhound (for R450) and Intercape (R420). The bus takes between 16-24 hours. Delays at the border are very common and typically range 3-8 hr, but they can be as much as 20 hr at Christmas time. Intercape, which has the largest intercity network in southern Africa also have buses from Mutare, Masvingo, Gweru, and Bulawayo.

Most ordinary long-distance bus services arrive at the Mbare Terminal, 3 km southwest of the Central district. The terminal itself is giant, hectic, confusing, and dangerous. There are several disconnected regions of the terminal, and finding something as simple as a taxi can require walking over 500 m through markets and alleys. Although minibuses to Mbare depart from the 4th Street Terminal in Central (at 4th and Mugabe), it may be worth taking a taxi, which will be able to find a bus to your destination for you.

"Luxury" buses (including Eagle Liner/Greyhound/Intercape) arrive and depart from the modern Roadport terminal at 5th & Mugabe.

Get around
Harare is very spread out. The best option to get around is by car, which is easier now that dollarization has made fuel shortages a thing of the past. Fuel is readily available at most outlets for cash or through a coupon system. Most operators now import fuel by themselves and prices are independently set. Most service stations close in the evening, while some offer 24-hour service.

Taxis: in 4+1 style taxis, it is very common to fit as many as 8 people inside. Rides around town should cost about $5 for the entire cab at night, typically $2 or $3 during the day, unless you are going to the suburbs. Make sure you negotiate the price before you get inside the car

Minibus taxis are readily available with frequent services between central and all suburbs. Ask around for the terminal for your destination. Typically the fare is about $0.50.

See
There is a strong appreciation for the city's cultural and historical heritage and a number of the older buildings have been preserved. The Mining Pension Fund Building at Central Avenue and Second Street is one example and many more are to be found along Robert Mugabe Road between Second Street and Julius Nyerere Way.

Do

 * Cricket:

Buy

All purchases in larger stores are made with US dollars, which is the national currency.

Anything made locally is inexpensive. Packets of Zimbabwe cigarettes cost $0.50 (as of April 2010). Everything that is imported is relatively expensive compared to South Africa. Cans of Coca-cola typically cost $1, for example.

If you want to experience shopping the way it is traditionally done in many African countries, you could stroll around at the open flea-market at Mbare. Here tourists could feast their eyes on a colourful array of baskets, food, clothing and other items.

ATMs give US dollars. The ATMs at Ecobank, Stanbic, Nedbank will accept international Visa or Mastercards.

Eat
Zimbabwe's staple food is sadza: a thick white porridge (a bit like mashed potato), that's made from corn (maize) meal, seen throughout Southeastern Africa. It's eaten for lunch and dinner, accompanied by vegetables or meat in some form.

In Harare there are many restaurants serving various cuisines, a good place to start are its numerous outdoor cafes:
 * Cafe Espresso on Cork Road, Avondale. Has a brilliantly landscaped garden, a wifi spot and excellent coffees
 * 40 Cork Road, Avondale. An outdoor cafe, art gallery, and sculpture garden. Very much the place to be seen.
 * 167 Enterprise Road, Chisipite. An old house converted into a restaurant with a huge garden with a pool, an art shop, gallery etc.

With the dollarisation of the economy, there has been a big increase in the number of restaurants and coffee shops in Harare. The Zimbabwe Tourism website has also been upgraded.

Drink
Try Chibuku, a popular local beer. It comes in "scuds", which are large 2 litre brown plastic containers. The beer is lumpy and opaque beige, but is good and very cheap.

Shake-shake is prepackaged sorghum beer (brewed in the traditional African style) and is very thick and filling, and comes in milk cartons.

The locally brewed Castle, Lion, Zambesi and Bohlingers are definitely worth trying.

Harare has a vibrant club scene that goes on until the early hours.

Sleep
The city boasts an a few high end hotels (such as the Meikles Hotel and Rainbow Towers), but also has a significant number of three to four star hotels that offer affordable accommodation without compromising on quality. These include the Crowne Plaza Monomotapa, the Cresta Lodge and the Holiday Inn.

Harare also has quite a number of bed and breakfast/guest houses and Airbnbs, mostly set in former residential houses with extensive gardens.

Connect
WiFi is available around the city provided by private from as little one as 1 USD, WiFi in Zimbabwe is very rare as many people don't engage in social media but those who do have. Connection is very much available in internet cafes.

Cope
Harare is safe walking around the town, however after dark, this should be avoided in high density suburbs, especially in poorly light area. If you leave your hotel to visit restaurants, take a taxi or rideshare as a precaution.

Embassies

 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇩🇿 Algeria Algeria
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * Republic of Korea
 * 🇲🇾 Malaysia
 * the Netherlands
 * 🇵🇰 Pakistan
 * 🇵🇹 Portugal
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
As well as going to Zvishavane would Be fun!
 * Victoria Falls.
 * Bulawayo

title: Harare


text:
Harau Valley

The Harau Valley (or Arau Valley) is in West Sumatra in Indonesia. It is an area of natural beauty located halfway between Pekanbaru and Bukittinggi. Rice fields are dwarfed by cliffs.

Get in
Minibus from Bukittingi Aur Kuning Bus Terminal (grey, written 'Padang Bukittingi P.kumbuh', possibly others) to Simpang Empat Gerbang Harau (North of Sarilamak), Rp20,000 (to bus driver. Bus terminal staff may attempt to ask more), ~ 60-90 min via Payakumbuh. After opelet (moto taxi) to harau village or homestay directly, Rp20,000 (negotiate, may be more if deeper in valley), ~15 min. Usually many are available where the minibus drops you off. Eventually Call a homestay for a pickup and/or a tour around the valley. Larger bus available only between Bukittingi and Payakumbuh.

Harau Valley is located in Desa Lubuk Limpato, Nagari Tarantang - Kecamatan Harau, Kabupaten Limapuluh Kota. West Sumatera Province. It is about 7 km from Sarilamak City the new capital city of Kabupaten Limapuluh Kota (the previous one is Payakumbuh). If you drive a car from Bukittinggi it will take around one hour.

Get around
It is small enough to walk around. Echo Homestay rents out bikes.

See
Local people hold a cultural and art festival, namely Pasa Harau. This festival is usually held in July or August for three consecutive days.

 * Rice fields
 * Panorama Aka Barayun
 * Sarasah Bunta Waterfall
 * Taman Wisata Lembah Harau, a Japanese-Korean Village, a Secret Garden and a European Village

Do
Go for a trek in the mountains and enjoy the view and bathe in hidden waterfalls.

Buy
If you want to buy small souvenirs there are few item you can find at Echo Homestay, which is key holder and t-Shirt with special design. The price is OK.

Eat
There are some smaller shops and restaurants at the entrance to the valley, but as you get deeper on the country roads there is nothing. Try to stock up on food before arriving. The selection is quite limited at the small shops. There is a nice restaurant by a pond about 1 km outside the park entrance.

Sleep

Besides the two places mentioned above there are plenty of other local homestays in the area, quite a few in well kept traditional houses. Consider spreading the money around and giving one of these a try.

Go next

 * Bukittinggi city.

title: Harau Valley


text:
Haraz Mountains

Haraz Mountains are in Yemen.

Regions
Haraz is an area named after the mountains which run through it and is home to some of the best qat and coffee in Yemen. For the tourist, outside of Manakha and Al Hajjerah, there are not too many places to go on your own (due lack of facilities and language barriers). It is fantastic for hiking but you should have a guide to make it easier travelling through the villages. It is one of the most conservative areas but offers some if the best hospitality and spectaclar views.

Cities
Manakha is the main city in the Haraz mountains and was an ancient stronghold. It is perched on a mountain-side overlooking the valley which leads to Al Hudaydah on one side and the mountains leading to Sana'a on the other. Most visitors are western tourists or Ismailis going to one of their pilgrimage sites behind the city. It is a "city" in relation to the rest of the villages in the region, but by western standards is definitely a village. Mahweet is a northern city in the mountain range, but Manakha has more to offer for visitors and is easier to get to.

Understand
Because of its conservative nature, a guide is really recommended in the area unless you are really experienced in Yemen and its culture. It is one of the most beautiful areas in Yemen and worth the visit, but be aware of how easily westerners can offend people (mostly by accident) and how that affects the visitors that come after them.

Talk
Arabic is the language, but outside of the Manakha area the dialect gets very thick and seems almost like a new language. For this reason, unless you are very fluent you really should have a guide with you.

Get in
From Sana'a you can go by bus, taxi or private car to Manakha and from there set up your trip. To go by bus you would take the bus to Hodeidah and get off in Al Mughraba and take a taxi to Manakha from there. Taxis leave from Bab Al Yemen or from 'Aser.

See

 * The whole area offers views more than anything. It also gives the tourist an opportunity to see traditional Yemenis and traditional ways of life- it is like stepping back in time in this region.
 * Dancing- the dancing in Haraz is one of the more amazing sights you see in Yemen. Take the opportunity to watch when you can and if you can't find a wedding or occasion see the performance at the Al Hajjerah Tourist Hotel in Manakha (locals call it Funduq al 'Agel).
 * Beni Ismail is a spectacular area that is famous for its coffee and the special technique used to grow it.
 * Manakha rally is the only place for visitors to stay, but using the city as a basecamp of sorts will allow them to tour the region by foot.

Eat
See the performance at the Al Hajjerah Tourist Hotel in Manakha. They serve the best meal in the area (a full traditional Yemeni meal with Hareesh, Saltah and Bint Assahan as the highlight, as well as some other dishes) and after your lunch a local musician comes to sing and Abdullah Al 'Agel (the owner) and his sons come out and dance. They are famous in the area for their dancing and hospitality.

title: Haraz Mountains


text:
Harbert

Harbert is a village on Lake Michigan in Harbor Country.

Eat

 * Capozio's Restaurant (Harbert). A quaint family-run restaurant featuring inexpensive pizza, salad, and Italian fare. Great for casual eating or when on a budget.
 * Cafe Gulistan features Kurdish, Middle Eastern food. Lamb, seafood and poultry, vegetarian and vegan cuisine. Local produce is used in dishes. There are located at 13581 Red Arrow Hwy.
 * Luisa's Cafe and Harbert Swedish Bakery offers omelettes, pancakes, crepes, soups and other breakfast/lunch menu items. 13698 Red Arrow Hwy.

title: Harbert


text:
Harbin

Harbin (哈尔滨 Hā'ěrbīn) is the capital of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China. The city is notable for its Russian influence and the yearly Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, giving it the unofficial title Ice City.

Understand

Harbin is China's northernmost major city, with a population in excess of 10 million, and over 4 million in the city center alone. The city has been influenced a lot by neighboring Russia, in particular after the October Revolution of 1917, when the Russians of the White movement that supported the deposed czar escaped the country after the communist takeover, many of whom settled in Harbin. Although most of these Russians were deported back to Russia during the Soviet occupation of Harbin at the end of World War II, or fled following the communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, the Russian influence remains clearly visible in the building styles and foods. As a significant minority of these White Russians were Jewish, Harbin also has much Jewish heritage to explore.

The city was founded in 1897 as a camp for Russian engineers surveying the Trans-Siberian Railway. Labor demands brought in a collection of outcasts from across Russia, Poland and even from within Manchuria. The city was captured by the Japanese during World War II and later taken back by the Soviet Union in 1945, before being returned to China in 1952. Once nothing more than a Russian-built outpost of the railway line, Harbin has managed to become a major player in its own right and the capital of Heilongjiang Province.

Recent history
Northeastern China was built up as an industrial center using existing Soviet and Japanese factories. By the 1980s these outdated and inefficient factories could not keep up. To further complicate matters, starting in the early 1990s, large portions of China's state-owned enterprise workers were laid off. Thus, like many other cities in this region, contemporary Harbin is struggling with an aging work force and unemployment. Private enterprise is mostly centered in the service sector, retail, restaurants, etc. with most large scale enterprises still state-owned. However, the province has thousands of state-owned enterprises up for sale, and many have been purchased since the late 1990s. Universities in Harbin also play a vital role in the economy in education and research and through their subsidiary companies.

In 2005 there was a major pollution spill on the Songhua River.

Climate
Harbin is known for its very cold winters: in January, temperatures average -24 °C to −12 °C. Bring more clothes than you will think you will need so that you can layer. Winter can become dreary if you are a long-term resident, as the entire city uses coal for heat; air quality rapidly decreases during these months. But it's not as bad as Beijing, many locals wear their masks not for the pollution, but for the ice-cold wind and the frosty temperatures to heat up the air they breathe.

Harbin can be a great place to visit in the summer, with daytime temperatures normally in the upper 20s °C. Compared with most places in China, the weather is cool and it seems to be perpetually breezy, and most of the city's streets are lined with trees. Because the city is so cold all winter, life almost explodes and people crowd the streets until late at night eating kabobs, playing poker, and drinking Harbin Beer (哈啤 Hapi). This is a great escape from the heat of Beijing. A trip up to the border regions this time of year would be nice as well.

Foreigners in Harbin
The vast majority of the foreigners living in Harbin are either Russian or Korean, with the Russians obviously being the more visible of the two. Much of the famous "Dongbei hospitality" has worn thin, with native Harbiners holding an increasingly negative view of foreigners in general. But that does not under any circumstances mean that they will not stare at you or take pictures of you, especially if you have fair hair and coloured eyes, and for men a beard. Some will come up to you and ask for a picture with you or if they can touch your hair, but more often than not you will just "accidentally" find yourself in the viewfinder of a mobile phone or camera.

There are also a small number of European and Brazilian professionals working in the city, as well as a number of English teachers hailing from various countries. However, the lack of foreign investment in the province as a whole means that most of the resident expats are either students or teachers. There are also a number of African and Middle Eastern students studying at the high-profile Harbin Institute of Technology.

By plane
Airport Bus Line 1 - Airport 机场 - Kang'an Lu 康安路 - Tongda Jie 通达街 - Anfa Qiao 安发桥 - Harbin Railway Station 哈尔滨站 - CAAC Building 民航大厦

Airport Bus Line 2 - Airport 机场 - Haining Fur City 海宁皮草城 - Ling Gongli 零公里 - Chilun Lu 齿轮路 - Harbin West Railway Station 哈尔滨西站 - Fuzhuang Cheng 服装城 - Xuefu Binguan 学府宾馆 - Hexing Shangsha 和兴商厦 - Lesong Guangchang 乐松广场 - Guolu Chang1 锅炉厂1 - Haci Jituan1 哈慈集团1 - Tongxiang Shangdian1 通乡商店1 - Nongken Dasha 农垦大厦- Tianyang Binguan 天洋宾馆 - Huizhan Zhongxin 会展中心

1 Bus only stops during morning and evening peak hours.

Airport Bus Line 3 - Airport 机场 - Chengxiang Lu 城乡路 - Guxiang 顾乡 - Anhong Jie 安红街 - Zhongyang Dajie 中央大街 - Ba Qu 八区 - Daowai Long Distance Bus Station 道外客运站 - Jungong 军工 - Taiping Qiao 太平桥 - Harbing East Railway Station 哈尔滨东站

Airport Bus "Hazhan" Line - Airport 机场 - Harbin Railway Station 哈尔滨站

By train

Being a major Chinese city, Harbin is well connected by train and is a convenient way to travel. The city is served by several train stations, so the station you arrive or depart from will depend on the train you take. Be sure to confirm which station your train calls at beforehand. The major railway stations in Harbin include:

There are also several minor train stations within the city. These stations serve regional and local trains and in most cases the typical traveller will not need to use them.

By car
Harbin is connected to the rest of China via the China Highway 102 via Changchun. Harbin is also connected via road to Inner Mongolia, Russia, and Jilin.

By bus
The main long-distance bus station (长途客运站 Changtu Keyun Zhan) is across the square from main train station.

The majority of cities in Heilongjiang can be reached via bus.
 * Beijing - takes about 18 hours
 * Mudanjiang - takes about 4 hours. Frequent departures.
 * Qiqihar - takes about 5 hours
 * Changchun - takes about 4 hours
 * Jilin - takes about 6 hours
 * Dalian - takes about 10 hrs
 * Shenyang - takes about 8 hours
 * Wudailanchi - takes about 6 hours
 * Yanji - takes about 9 hours

Traveling to Russia One daily departure which leaves early in the morning. Buy tickets in the Russian travel agency on the second floor of the bus station. The price is basically the same as going through Mudanjiang/Suifenhe on your own.
 * Vladivostok - takes about 12 hr

If you have all your papers sorted, the border crossing is straightforward. Guards on the Chinese side speak fluent English and might be curious of non-Russian/Chinese passports. You are required to take all your items with you when crossing the border, do not leave bags on the bus.

By taxi
Taxis are inexpensive and convenient. However, always ask them to run the meter (请打表 qǐng dǎ biǎo) instead of attempting to negotiate a price in order avoid possible conflicts. Flag fall is ¥8 and covers the first 3 km of travel. After that, the rate is ¥1 per 500 m. There is also a charge levied based on the time the car is stationary (i.e. stuck in traffic), but this is usually only of significance in truly awful, gridlocked traffic conditions. At the end of the journey, a ¥1 fuel surcharge will be added to the amount displayed on the meter. If you wish to have a receipt, say to the driver (请发票 qǐng fā piào).

Taxi drivers in Harbin are known to be reckless—running red lights, driving into oncoming traffic, etc.—so buckle up! Most taxi drivers do not speak any English or read Pinyin, so unless you speak fluent Mandarin Chinese showing them the Chinese characters for your destination is often the only option that will work. Do not be surprised if the taxi stops to pick up other passengers during rush hour, and if you are picked up by a taxi with passengers, even if the meter reads ¥13 when you get in, the taxi driver will still expect you to pay the full amount on the meter when you depart the taxi!

By bus
Still the backbone of Harbin's public transport system, at least until the Metro expands, the bus system covers pretty much every part of the city. For all its practicality for locals, for tourists it shares many of the same problems of other Chinese urban bus systems, foremost being that the system signage is completely in Chinese, although some buses do announce the next stop information in both Chinese and English. The buses vary in quality, although there does appear to be a program in place for updating buses route by route. Modern buses have heating systems (a godsend in winter!) and are both relatively nimble and accelerate rather quickly. Older buses on the other hand might remind some of agricultural vehicles, are usually unheated and may not even have proper seals on the windows. That said, it can still be a useful method of transport, especially when all the taxis seem to be taken. People who plan on staying in Harbin for a long period should at least be familiar with routes that take them to their residence, workplace, or college.

Fares for most buses are only ¥1 or ¥2 for a single ride. No tickets are issued. Passengers can pay by touching on with an "IC" card or by putting ¥1 or ¥2 into the fare box as they board the bus. Be sure to be standing by the back door when you want to get off at the next stop or the driver may assume that no one is getting off and potentially skip the stop. If ice is covering your windows, blocking your view of the outside, a plastic bank card can be useful to scrape it off. Buses usually operate from 05:00-06:00 and the last service tends to set off at about 8PM, depending on route. Hawkers on the street will sell a map of greater Harbin including bus routes for about ¥5.

By subway
The Harbin Metro 哈尔滨地铁 has two lines in operation: Line 1 and a short section of Line 3. Line 2 and the rest of Line 3 are under construction. They are scheduled to be operational in the early 2020s. When completed, they will form a "cross-hair" network. In practical terms, the Harbin Metro has a similar feel to most Chinese subway systems, with bilingual signage throughout. English-speaking visitors should be able to navigate the system easily enough. The system is fully underground and uses specially made trains that can operate in temperatures approaching -38 °C. The stations are also decorated in a European style, to reflect Harbin's Russian history.

First departures are at 06:00 with the last train leaving its origin at 21:00. Fares cost ¥2-5 depending on distance. The Harbin Jiaotong IC card can be used, however no discount is offered and because cards are scanned when exiting the subway, each passenger must use their own IC card. Ticket machines are at all stations and can be used in both Chinese and English.

Operational lines are: Construction works which cause lane or road closures may affect traffic conditions in various parts of Harbin.
 * Line 1 This line connects Harbin East railway station with Harbin South railway station via Dongdazhi Jie 东大直街 and Xidazhi Jie 西大直街, both major roads in Harbin.
 * Line 3 (Stage 1) The first part of a circle line, this line connects to Line 1's Yidaeryuan 医大二院 Station. Only four stations are in use. Most useful for getting to Harbin West railway station 哈尔滨西站

By ferry
In summer, several ferries operate along the Songhua River, mainly travelling between the north and south banks of the river. A nicer, more scenic way of getting to some destinations such as Sun Island than the standard bus or taxi. Tickets are sold at the dock. All information is in Chinese.

Religious sites

International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival
By far Harbin's biggest claim to fame, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival (哈尔滨国际冰雪节 Hā'ěrbīn Guójì Bīngxuě Jié) is held every year, running from early January until warm weather erodes the constructions (exact dates vary). Throughout the city you will find small ice and snow sculptures during the festival, however there are three major sites with large ice and snow sculptures on display.

The major sites for the Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival include:

Work
For foreigners, pretty much the only employment is teaching English. There are positions at public and private schools. If you are in the city and don't already have employment, check out the bulletin board at Hamama's Kofi House.

Learn

Harbin is the center for higher education in Northeast China, and has several leading universities, with the most famous being Harbin Institute of Technology. The universities make up a large portion of the cities economy and employ a large part of the population. Many of these schools were founded by the Russians and still retain the architectural charm of their predecessors. There are also several medical universities in the city that support the local hospitals.

Studying Chinese
Harbin is famous for its standard Mandarin pronunciation. It's a very good place to study Mandarin. As the saying goes, 'If you want to study Chinese language, come to China. If you want to study Mandarin, come to Beijing. If you want to study standard Mandarin, come to Harbin.' It can be a cheap alternative to Beijing for studying Mandarin, with tuition costing about half and housing one third of what it would be in Beijing or Shanghai. Most universities have lots of Korean and Russian students. There are a couple of cheap Western cafes and a small but lively foreign student social scene at the local expat hangouts on the weekends, such as Blues. Many schools in Harbin offer Chinese language programs:

Also, the city offers the opportunity to study Mandarin Chinese one to one:

 * The Harbin Mandarin School encourages a complete immersion in the study of Mandarin, thereby imparting a unique understanding of the need for fluency and nature of a subject while building skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Studying TESOL

 * Will-Excel TESOL Institute offers a TESOL Diploma program which combines a 160-hour classroom TESOL course in Harbin with a 6-12 month paid teaching-term in Harbin or another city.

Studying other subjects
If your Mandarin is good enough you can enroll in most of the schools in Harbin. Many Pakistani students study Medicine at the Heilongjiang Medical University. Tuition is cheap.

Buy

Imported Russian goods of all types and qualities are available from tourist shops around town. Look out for vodka, Russian dolls, and chocolate. The local Chinese appeared to have picked up some aspects of Russian cuisine, with western style bread and sausage available around town. Beyond this, the shopping is much like any other city in China.

 * Zhongyang Dajie The main shopping district is along Zhongyang Dajie where there is a Wal-Mart near the flood control monument and another shopping district along Guogeli Jie where you can find clothing, food and more. Along this street are huge new shopping malls such as the Euro Plaza, Parksons, and Lane Crawford that carry international brands and are expensive. There are Nike stores, KFC and interesting Russian thrift stores. The street is lined with beer gardens during the summer.
 * Zhongyang Dajie The main shopping district is along Zhongyang Dajie where there is a Wal-Mart near the flood control monument and another shopping district along Guogeli Jie where you can find clothing, food and more. Along this street are huge new shopping malls such as the Euro Plaza, Parksons, and Lane Crawford that carry international brands and are expensive. There are Nike stores, KFC and interesting Russian thrift stores. The street is lined with beer gardens during the summer.

However in winter, the shops closed quite early due to bitter cold.

 * Guogeli Dajie (果戈里大街). Harbin's second biggest shopping district after Zhongyang Dajie (bigger in size). The area around here is dotted with Russian buildings and HUGE shopping complexes. At night there are numerous night markets, a small scale Russian church where people dance, and a small and lively "bar lake."
 * Indian Street (印度一条街). A commercial side street right off Guogeli Dajie. If you're facing the East, it's past the giant castle and on your right. Used to be complete with Indian thrift stores, clothing, and food, but now offers only Russian items, including dolls, pocketknives and toys. But don't expect any Indian restaurants as there aren't any yet.

Money
Most ATMs around the city work with international cards, such as the Bank of China and the China Merchants Bank.

Unique items

 * The Hongbo Shichang, at the intersection of Dong Dazhi Jie and Hongjun Jie, is an enormous underground shopping center—if they don't have it, you don't need it.
 * Harbin Sex Store/Museum on Guogeli Dajie sells all sorts of sex materials and toys. Kind of unexpected for conservative China.
 * Pirate DVDs A large DVD store occupies a corner in the basement of the Jiaohua Electronics Market (教化电子市场). All DVD's are around ¥6 and arranged alphabetically. Opposite from the Harbin Institute of Technology's main gate (哈工大正门对面) and across the street from Buy Now Hui. Be sure and buy the DVDs sold in the main store, and not at the numerous small kiosks that take up the rest of the basement.

Clothing

 * Chinese Military Surplus Clothing Looking for a comfy cold weather jacket like the Chinese wear? There are a number of stores around the city. One is towards the end of Xidazhi Jie near the Harbin Institute of Technology.
 * Western Brands The shopping malls at Hongbo and Zhongyang Dajie have everything from Gucci, Brooks Brothers, and Zegna to Timberland and Adidas. Items are internationally priced.
 * Chinese Military Surplus Clothing Looking for a comfy cold weather jacket like the Chinese wear? There are a number of stores around the city. One is towards the end of Xidazhi Jie near the Harbin Institute of Technology.
 * Western Brands The shopping malls at Hongbo and Zhongyang Dajie have everything from Gucci, Brooks Brothers, and Zegna to Timberland and Adidas. Items are internationally priced.

Everyday needs

 * Carrefour. There are several other Carrefours in the city.

Eat
If there is one thing special about Harbin, it has to be the food. Taking influences from Russia, Mongolia, Korea and of course China, the food in Harbin is much "heartier" than you can find anywhere in China, and stews and other duncai are popular dishes. Because the winters are long here you'll find less exotic ingredients and heavy use of vegetables like cabbage, potatoes, cucumber and corn. Chinese BBQ or shaokao and Hot Pot is also equally popular in Harbin and is a must eat once you get into town.

One thing you will notice is that Dongbei people love to eat, and its not just for the food, but for getting all their friends together at one table and drinking/eating the night away. Thus this city is dominated by restaurants with large tables that seat groups of people. Besides small food stalls, only near the Universities and busy shopping areas will you find cozy little restaurants. In Harbin, liveliness (renao) attracts customers as much as the food; some restaurants are so loud you may need earplugs!

Harbin is also known among the Chinese for its Russian food, though it is often significantly localised and may not be the same as what Russian visitors would be used to back home.

Drink
Just because Harbin is below freezing a good amount of the year, doesn't mean it's devoid of nightlife. In fact, Harbin is one of the "rowdier" cities in China. Just don't expect Shanghai or even Beijing "quality" establishments. Most places in Harbin have puke stains on the toilets that are months old. With a good number of foreigners living in the city studying and working, the weekends are always bustling around 2-3 locations such as Blues, The Box, Pacers, or the small bars around the Universities. Dongbei people are reqing (热情) or very lively and seem to drink with almost every meal! Oftentimes at restaurants you'll see drunk men singing away and then lighting up their cigarettes to signal the night is coming to an end. And of course what would be better than to spend the wee hours of the night singing away to the tune of Titanic and Michael Jackson at one of the KTV's that can be found at almost every street corner!

In Harbin, people often start off the night at a cheap shaokao or Hotpot restaurant washed down with ¥1.5 bottles of Hapi. After a long dinner its usually to one of Harbin's clubs or bars to spend the rest of the night. If you are not a fan of the drinking scene, Harbin may not be for you as there isn't much else to do. That being said, there are dozens of small bars and a few cafes, so if you are not one for dancing and loud discos there are plenty of options. Some non-drinking activities include bowling, pool, or visiting a tea house.

Clubs
Many discos that cater mainly to Chinese have table minimums. That is, each table has a different minimum purchase to sit there and you must purchase at least that much as soon as you sit down. They won't trust that you will eventually purchase enough over the course of the evening. Some even have the price of the table on a tent card sitting on the table. You can try and get around this sales tactic by saying you want to just have a look around (wo yao xian kan kan) and hope that they forget about you.

Bars
Most bars in the city are clustered around the universities and tourist districts. The Development Zone has some bars as well but they are more expensive.

The campus of Harbin Institute of Technology (复华小区) is surrounded with a number of small and cozy bars. HIT itself has a number of foreign teachers and hundreds of foreign students. Some notable bars here are:

Sky Bar/Cafe: A new bar back on the scene after closing down a couple of years ago. A cosy little pub in an old Russian-style building. Widest range of imported beers in town. Amazing fish and chips, burgers and other pub food. Staff are fluent in English and good to sit around and chat too. Big screen TV for live sports....just ask them and they will put it on for you. They have Trivia every Thursday and Texas Hold'em on Tuesdays. The best place to hang and meet others in "The Bin." 南岗区砖街13号（曲线街砖街交口附近）.

At the middle portion of Guogeli Dajie (果戈里大街) near Children s Park (儿童公园) there is a small man made lake that is surrounded by 10 or so small pubs and a fountain. During the warmer months this small square is packed with people out for a night stroll and is really lively. This also seems to be a place for the trendy teens and college age kids to hang out. If you continue walking down Guogeli Dajie there are a few more small bars dotting the street. Great for people watching! For about ¥100 you can order a "beer tower" (啤酒塔 pijiuta), which is a tall plastic tube with a spigot on the bottom. At the other end of the lake there is a restaurant that resembles TGI Friday's, as besides the name being changed to DJ Friday's almost everything else has been copied. What makes this place really stand out from the real TGI Fridays are the scantily clad Russian dancers.

Near Heilongjiang University (黑龙江大学) on Xue Fu #4 street there are some restaurants and cafes, but no bars.

Teahouses and cafes
There are a number of very nice teahouses in the New Development Zone (开发区). Most will rent you a room and will charge by the hour, plus whatever tea you decide to drink. Some of the teahouses are on Hengshan Lu (衡山路) such as 君如意茶楼， 雅泰茶楼.

Live music
There is a Jazz Bar on Guogeli Dajie that often has a piano/sax duo playing, and guitar/vocalists can be found at some of the smaller bars around HIT and Hei Da.

Budget
Almost every bath house in the city has a large room with 50-100 plush beds where you can spend up to 24 hours. You can also lock your belongings in a locker and use their shower facilities, most of them have an 'all you can eat' buffet as well. Total around ¥50 which just can't be beat. Look for signs that say 洗浴 and make sure its fairly big as the smaller ones will not provide these types of services. When you come in pack light as to not look suspicious. This is not recommended for inexperienced travelers and it is highly unlikely any of the service staff will speak English.

Other budget options include:

Stay safe
While it is unlikely that you will be a victim of a crime, as in any large city be vigilant about your personal property, exercise care if you find yourself on a lightly traveled street, and always be aware of your surroundings.

Most trouble that people run into in Harbin revolves around drinking at the clubs. Harbin is famous in China for being a "rough" city, and locals pride themselves on their machismo. Fights are common on the weekends and while this may not directly involve you, it's best to leave at the first signs of conflict. Don't expect bar security to come to your rescue.

 * Avoid going to clubs alone.
 * Be vigilant of your personal property and be aware of your surroundings. Especially if you're taking the bus, Chinese buses are crowded and you will be shoved and pushed a lot, if you're standing at the doors it's all the worse.
 * Be careful when crossing the street. Keep an eye on the locals and cross with them.
 * Dress warmly and in layers during the winter months.
 * Avoid fish caught in the Songhua River as it was contaminated by benzyne in November 2005 – fish is available from the many lakes surrounding Harbin.
 * Avoid going into small bathhouses and small KTV alone, as you may end up being forced to pay for a bill you didn't order. If you choose to go, be mindful of what you are getting into and leave at the first sign of illegal activity. People interested in a "massage" with extras should avoid doing it in Harbin.

Free emergency telephone numbers:
 * Police: 110.
 * Fire alarm: 119.
 * Medical care: 120.

Remember these three telephone numbers. They are valid on most of the Chinese mainland.

Internet
The city is littered with net bars (网吧 wangba) that are usually very cheap and do not require I.D at the door like the ones in Beijing. The biggest Internet cafes are near the universities like Harbin Institute of Technology and Hei Da. Be forewarned that sometimes you may have to wait for a computer depending on what time of day it is (17:00-24:00 are the worst, school is out) and that the Internet connection can sometimes be down for days at time in various parts of the city. Also, these places are filled with a haze of smoke and Chinese screaming obscenities after they lost a game of Counter Strike or World of Warcraft.

All of the computers are in Chinese language, but still using windows so its relatively easy to use. You cannot print at Net bars. If you are looking to print something try going to a print or copy station — look for the Chinese characters 复印 (fuyin) or 打印 (dayin).

Phones
If you are looking to refill the minutes on your China Mobile/Unicom/Telecom SIM card, you might have trouble, as very few locations in the city sell the refill cards. In Harbin, you have to go to an actual store and pay the money to a teller to have your phone refilled and oftentimes you can refill out of town numbers at China Mobile or China Unicom Branches.

Shipping
DHL and UPS both deliver to Harbin but through Chinese shipping companies.

Cope
Harbin is known for its cruel winter weather. Be sure to have adequate clothing and protect the extremities. Gloves, thick socks, scarves, and ear protections are a must.

You can also get warm patches in some stores. Try to get some of these if you are going to spend more than a few hours outside. Most patches will last between 4 and 6 hours. Wear them under the clothes but not in direct contact with the skin.

If you are in Harbin for the long haul, try to get away to somewhere warm during the winter break such as Hainan or Thailand. Also, an excursion to Beijing is a must for anyone staying in Harbin for any considerable amount of time.

title: Harbin


text:
Harbor Country

Harbor Country is a region in southwest West Michigan, on Lake Michigan just north of Indiana and a short distance east of Chicagoland. This small region features quaint towns, U-Pick apple/berry/pumpkin farms, wineries, and miles of beautiful Lake Michigan beaches.

Cities

 * — census-designated place composed of the following unincorporated communities: Bethany Beach, Birchwood, Hazelhurst, Sawyer, Shorewood Hills and Tower Hill Shorelands.
 * — census-designated place composed of the following unincorporated communities: Bethany Beach, Birchwood, Hazelhurst, Sawyer, Shorewood Hills and Tower Hill Shorelands.
 * — census-designated place composed of the following unincorporated communities: Bethany Beach, Birchwood, Hazelhurst, Sawyer, Shorewood Hills and Tower Hill Shorelands.
 * — census-designated place composed of the following unincorporated communities: Bethany Beach, Birchwood, Hazelhurst, Sawyer, Shorewood Hills and Tower Hill Shorelands.
 * — census-designated place composed of the following unincorporated communities: Bethany Beach, Birchwood, Hazelhurst, Sawyer, Shorewood Hills and Tower Hill Shorelands.

Understand
Once a predominately rural area, in the past few decades Harbor Country has experienced significant tourist growth as travelers from nearby Chicago visit the area. The main highways of Harbor Country are lined with art galleries, farm stands, and trendy restaurants catering to this crowd. Many new cottages are also being built in the region due to the strong vacation home market. In addition to being a destination in its own right, Harbor Country is also a popular stopping point for vacationers heading to St. Joseph, Holland, or Grand Rapids.

Get in
From Chicago

Take US 12 (Red Arrow Highway)East from the South Side of Chicago. This route will take you very close to the Lake Michigan coast for most of the drive, and passes through the communities of New Buffalo, Union Pier, and Lakeside. An alternative is to take I-90 to where it intersects with I-94 in Indiana, and then taking I-94 up into Michigan. This is a more inland route, but it is easier to connect to I-94 from other parts of Chicagoland. I-94 Exit 1,4, 6, or 12 will put you in Harbor Country.

From Other Parts of Michigan

Follow I-94 west to approach Harbor Country from the Northeast(Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor). From Grand Rapids, take I-96 south to I-94, and then continue south from there. Exit 1,4, 6, or 12 will put you in Harbor Country.

Get around
Automobile is definitely the easiest way to transverse the highways and rural routes of Harbor Country. Amtrak is another option to get to Harbor Country. There is an Amtrak platform in New Buffalo. You can take Amtrak from Chicago's Union Station to the New Buffalo stop. NICTD or the South Shore is the commuter rail system that stops in Michigan City via Chicago. Harbor Country is 11 miles north from the train station. As in most parts of the United States, hitch-hiking is not recommended.

Do

 * Visit area beaches, such as Warren Dunes State Park or the Municipal Beach in New Buffalo. In addition to swimming, sailing and kayaking are also popular along the Lake Michigan shore.
 * Buy fresh farm produce at area farm stands such as Joe Jackson's ( locations in Harbert and New Buffalo). Depending on the season, you can purchase Michigan apples, peaches, asparagus and more. The area is also known for its wine; pick up a bottle at any of the numerous wineries in the region.
 * Stroll through downtown New Buffalo to visit high-end boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries, or stop at similar establishments located along Red Arrow Highway.
 * Take a Winery Tour throughout Harbor Country. There are several to choose from. Several companies also offer winery tours that have a driver.
 * Bird Watch in many of the local parks, preserves, marshes, and forest areas.
 * Take in a performance at The Acorn Theater or Vickers Theater in Three Oaks.
 * Cycle the back roads of Harbor Country. There are several trails well marked throughout the area.
 * Golf at several local courses such as Brookwood Golf Course, Chikaming Country Club, or Whittaker Woods Golf Course.
 * Water Sports are a big attraction in Harbor Country. Charter a boat from local charter companies. Rent a canoe or find the perfect spot to fish in the Galien River. New Buffalo Municipal Marina offers transient boat slips for rent for those who want to arrive in Harbor Country by water. Waverunners, skimboards, SUP, and surf boards are also available.
 * Visit a local Spa to relax and unwind from the day.
 * Winter time sports are great for snowmobilers and cross country skiers.
 * Art Galleries and Antiques shops are a big draw for those who want to enlightened their visual senses.

Drink
Local wines are available at numerous regional wineries such as the Tabor Hill Winery, the Round Barn Winery, and the St. Julian Winery, Lemon Creek Winery. Many offer tastings in vineyards' stores or restaurants. Other local shops also carry the product. There are also two local distilleries, Journeyman in Three Oaks and DiVine at the Round Barn Winery in Baroda. Greenbush Brewery is located in Sawyer.

Stay safe
Although the picturesque countryside may seem idyllic, it is important to follow all commonsense safety procedures when visiting Harbor Country. Keep your car and hotel room doors locked as you would anywhere else; petty theft can happen even in the smallest regional towns.

The Lake Michigan shore is a popular attraction, but rip currents can be a problem at times, particularly after storms. Do not enter the water if a red warning flag is being waved at the beach. Most beaches have lifeguards, but there even the largest beaches have only a few at a time, and usually only from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Swim at your own risk when a lifeguard is not present.

Go next
Indiana lies just over the border to the south, and the eastern fringes of Chicagoland aren't much farther away. In Michigan City, Indiana (the first town across the Indiana state line), the Lighthouse Place Outlet Mall offers discount shopping opportunities. Alternatively, to the north are a seemingly endless series of Lake Michigan Beachtowns. These include the much larger communities of Holland, St. Joseph/Benton Harbor, and South Haven.

title: Harbor Country


text:
Harbor Springs

Harbor Springs is a city in the Mackinac Area of Northern Michigan.

Get in
Arrive on M-119, which becomes Main Street as you approach town. There are only several blocks of "Downtown" shopping, so be sure not to miss them!

Get around
There is essentially no public transportation in Harbor Springs, so any travel to the greater Harbor Springs area, such as the ski resorts, requires a car. However, during the summer months it is quite popular for residents to travel by bicycle or by foot. In fact, in the exclusive community of Harbor Point, there are no cars allowed during the summer months.

See
Check out the view from the bluff above the city; you can see all of Little Traverse Bay and its yearly changing vista.

Do
Harbor Spring is home to two of Michigan's best ski resorts in Nub's Nob and Boyne Highlands. Ski rentals are available at each resort if you don't have your own ski equipment.

Drink
There are essentially only three bars in Harbor Springs. There is Bar Harbor, which is purely a bar, and then there are bars at the Pier restaurant and the New Yorker restaurant.

title: Harbor Springs


text:
Harbour Island

Harbour Island is a Caribbean island that was once the capitol of the Bahamas. Harbour Island is set off the north east coast of Eleuthera Island. The only town on the island is Dunmore Town, named after the former Governor of the Bahamas, the Earl of Dunmore (1786-1798), who had a summer residence on Harbour Island.

Get in
The yacht marina is served by Valentines Resort and Marina and can be contacted at.

By air, fly to North Eleuthera airport (ELH). Taxis will take you from the airport to the ferry dock for $5 per person. The ferry is then another $5 per person. Porters will handle your luggage at every stage, including from the tarmac and expect tips ($5 for 3 bags). The whole process is surprisingly efficient at busy times; when it's slow, expect to wait up to 15 minutes for a ferry to fill up and go.

Get around
Car rentals are unavailable, but you can (and should!) rent a golf cart.

See
Harbour Island is famous for turquoise water and pink sand beaches which are found all along the east side of the island. The island is accessible by plane through North Eleuthera Airport, followed by a short water taxi ride from neighbouring North Eleuthera. Harbour Island is a popular holiday destination for Americans. Known as Briland to the locals, Harbour Island is colourful with New England-style buildings and flower lined streets. Harbour Island is part of the Out Islands of the Bahamas.

 * - renting a beach chair for the day is $10. The chair rental places also sell snacks and have a full bar.

Eat
Lots of wonderful restaurants all over the island.

Sleep
Harbour island is home to luxurious vacation homes and is known as a premier family vacation destination for the travel elite. This travel destination is known for it's high caliber resorts, upscale shopping, and exclusive yacht marina.

title: Harbour Island


text:
Hardanger

Hardanger is a traditional region in Hordaland, Norway. It comprises the Hardangerfjord, the surrounding shores and valleys, and related uplands, mountains and glaciers. Despite its location below the glacier and the rough highlands, Hardanger enjoys a mild climate and has for centuries been a centre for fruit production in Norway. Hardanger also include wild waterfalls, alpine summits, high plateaus and major glaciers.

Hardangerfjord is 180 km long and about 850 m deep. This the second longest and second deepest fjord in Norway, only surpassed by Sognefjord, and outside Norway these are only surpassed by fjords in Greenland. Hardangerfjord is complex with branches and underwater thresholds. At Utne/Kvanndal the fjord makes a u-turn and with Åkrafjord in Sunnhordland district it creates a peninsula. The highest parts of this peninsula is covered by the Folgefonna glacier.

"All that is grand, all that is beautiful, will be found in the Hardanger, and even if an English visitor went nowhere else, he would have seen typical Norwegian scenery of every possible kind."

- A. F. Mockler-Ferryman (1911)

Regions

Hardanger consists of the following municipalities: Kvam, Granvin, Ulvik, Eidfjord, Ullensvang (former Ullensvang, Odda and Jondal).

Towns

 * — The only real town in the region. Industrial centre at the far end of Sørfjorden branch of Hardangerfjord.
 * - Commercial centre of the region. Entrance point when arriving from Bergen.
 * - Commercial centre. Almost merged with Norheimsund.
 * - Small village that is a popular stop among tourists. Famous for Norway's only barony, dated back to 1665.
 * - Small village around a sheltered bay in the far end of the Hardangerfjord.
 * - Small village. Entrance point when arriving from Voss.
 * - Small village. Entrance point when arriving from Oslo.
 * - Small village. Home to the annual cherry-festival

Other destinations

 * - largest mountain plateau in Europe and the largest national park in Norway.
 * - a glacier located on the mountain plateau the east side of the Hardangerfjord and west of Sørfjorden, mostly protected as national park. Available mostly by hiking as there are no roads within. The main glacier is visible from far and low altitude branches are visible at Buerbreen (Ullensvang) and Bondhusbreen (Mauranger).
 * – upland area with several ski resorts.

Understand

When thinking of Norway, most people think of fjords and mountains, and to that degree, Hardanger is one the most stereotypical Norwegian areas in Norway. The region covers the area from Kvam in the west, up north along the Hardangerfjord to Granvin and Ulvik in the north, Eidfjord in the east, and down along the Sørfjord to Odda in the south. Roads cling to the mountainsides along the fjord, and there are three ferries crossing the fjords. Apart from the grand nature, the region is known for its extensive fruit production with almost half of all fruit growing in Norway. Apple growing was probably introduced by British monks in the 14th century. Farms growing apples, pears, cherries and plums cover almost all the space along the fjords. This makes the region a lovely place during the fruit blooming in May and early June. The region is also home of several notable artists, musicians and writers. The mountain-areas of the region are good locations for skiing and winter sports. The Folgefonna glacier also has a summer-ski centre.

Ulvik is a village and the administration centre of Ulvik municipality (pop. 1,107 as of 2008) which also includes Finse and parts of Hardangervidda, some small settlements, and a number of farms (many of which are abandoned). Ulvik village sits at the end of Ulvik fjord. The inner part of the fjord is relatively shallow and almost closed off from the main fjord like a lagoon. The village is surrounded by fine small farms and fruit gardens. One of these farms were run by poet Olav H. Hauge, his "This is the Dream" was voted Norway's best poem of all times. His poems often reflects life among the apple trees in pretty, sheltered Ulvik. The well-known final words of the poem "...that one early morning we will slip into a bay we have never known" may resonate with sailing up Ulvik fjord.

People of Hardanger are known as harding and the dialect is also known as harding. Modern Hardanger dialect has guttural R but lighter than in Bergen. Widespread use of unusual, ancient diphthongs such as baot (båt in most dialects) makes the dialect stand out. Harding people are well aware where they are from. Origin of the name Hardanger is not known for certain, one possibility is the germanic tribe hǫrð (English: harudes) that is assumed to have settled in the area in prehistory. The suffix -anger is an ancient word for fjord such that Hardanger was in fact the fjord itself. The name of the fjord later transferred to the surrounding district and eventually -fjord was added to distinguish the watercourse from the land.

By car
From Bergen
 * Follow E39 to Arna where you enter E16, at Trengereid junction switch to road 49 which will take you to Norheimsund, the first village at the Hardangerfjord. 74km.

From Voss
 * Follow RV13 south to Granvin. 26km.

From Oslo and East Norway From Oslo there are several routes.
 * Route 7 from Hønefoss (E18 to Sandvika, E16 to Hønefoss). This is the shortest route and includes a drive through Hallingdal and across Hardangervidda. 330 km to Eidfjord
 * Instead of road 7 through Hallingdal follow E18 to Drammen, then E134 to Kongsberg and from Kongsberg road for about 150 km to road junction with 7. 350 km
 * Route E134 from Drammen via Røldal connects to road 13 from the south

From Stavanger
 * Road 13 from Sandnes near Stavanger via Suldal to Odda. Slow but scenic
 * Road E39 to Haugesund, then E134 towards Odda and road 13.

By bus

From Bergen
 * Skyss operates the Hardangerline from Bergen to Norheimsund, Øystese and Odda.

From Voss
 * Skyss operates lines to Odda, Granvin, Øystese and Norheimsund

From Oslo
 * Nor-way Bussekspress operates a line to Odda

By train
Bergen and Voss are the nearest railway stations. Finse station is the only railway station in Hardanger, but at the high plateau and without road connections. Finse is an excellent starting point for hiking (summer) and skiing (winter until about mid-May). Haugastøl and Geilo are the nearest stations east of the plateau.
 * Vy operates the railway from Oslo and Bergen to Voss. Use bus from Voss.

By boat

 * There are no regular boat lines serving Hardanger, however you can easily sail here in your own boat. Follow the Hardangerfjord to Norheimsund where you will find a well equipped guest-harbor.
 * Hardangerfjordekspress is a sightseeing trip by fast catamaran from Bergen to Rosendal and back.

Get around

If you bring a bicycle, the area is well suited for biking trips. Hiking in Hardanger is also recommended.

By car
The easiest way of getting around once you reach Hardanger, is by using a car. Because the mighty Hardangerfjord and its arms cuts through the area roads continue onto ferries across the fjord, these ferry crossings are part of the road network and road numbers include the crossing. There are 3 major crossings, the fourth crossing near Eidfjord is now replaced by a huge bridge.

The two key roads are # 7 from Geilo via Eidfjord and Norheimsund (east-west), and # 13 Odda-Granvin-Voss (north-south). Folgefunntunnelen is a short cut under the glacier from Odda to the western part of Hardanger.

By bus
If you would like to travel by bus or coach, the national coach operator is called NOR-WAY Bussekspress. Further regional and local buses are managed by the public transport authority in Hordaland, Skyss on Public Service Obligations. In Hardanger, you may find some lines to be rather infrequent. Some lines run only a handful of times per day, some only on schooldays and so on. Even so, the network does cover most areas.

See
The hardanger fiddle (hardingfele) is a characteristic instrument from Norway. The oldest existing hardanger fiddle was built i 1651 by Ole Jaastad, sheriff of Ullensvang. Master fiddlemakers in Hardanger produced a large number hardingfele around 1700 and later some of which are still in use. This idiosyncratic violin has four or five sympatheic or resonance strings beneath the standard four strings, and made from thin, delicate and decorated wood. The haunting, powerful sound is used to create traditional folk music: dance music as well as "listening music". The oldest hardanger fiddles are from the 17th centuries and one from 1650 is held at Bergen museum. Edvard Grieg and other modern composers incorporated folk music for the hardanger fiddle in their own music.

Eat
Hardanger is famous for its fruit. Small fruit stalls can be found along all major roads from late summer 'till mid-fall. Most of these stalls are not manned, but rely on the honesty of the customer. Most often there is a small jar where you leave the money for the purchased products. Stealing from these jars would be considered extremely rude.

Drink
Several apple farmers produce fine apple juice and cider from various types of apple. The cider comes in alcoholic and non-alcoholic variants.

Sleep
Three of Ulvik's four hotels are owned by the same hotel chain. All four are located in Ulvik village.
 * Ulvik

Stay safe
Visitors should keep a generous distance to glaciers. Hiking on glaciers is only for experts and visitors must join a guided tour for a walk on the ice. Waterfalls are surrounded by slippery and treacherous areas.

Itineraries

 * National tourist route Hardanger, roads 7, 13, 550 around Hardangerfjord
 * National tourist route Hardangervidda, road 7 Hardangervidda continues towards Geilo

Go next

 * Voss
 * Bergen
 * Sunnhordland
 * Telemark
 * Hallingdal, Geilo
 * Ryfylke
 * Haugesund
 * Setesdal

title: Hardanger


text:
Hardangervidda

Hardangervidda National Park (Norwegian: Hardangervidda nasjonalpark) is a national park in the counties of Telemark, Buskerud and Hordaland in Norway. It is the largest national park in Norway proper, spanning half the Hardangervidda, which is the largest highland plateau in Northern Europe. The park protects Europe's largest wild reindeer herds. Along with Jotunheimen and other mountain areas it separates East and West Norway.

Understand

Vidda means wide, open plateau in Norwegian. The endless highland plateau of Hardangervidda is about 8,500 km², which is a fifth of the size of the Netherlands and three times the size of Luxembourg. The national park covers 3,422 km² (1,321 square miles). Hardangervidda is famous for the large herds of wild reindeer. An extensive net of hiking paths and a thousand lakes and rivers cover the vast highland plateau.
 * Hardangervidda at ut.no

History
People probably came to Hardangervidda at the same time as the reindeer, after the last Ice Age. About 250 Stone Age sites have been found, the oldest dating from 6300 BC. Finds from excavations of Stone Age sites show that the people hunted reindeer and ptarmigan. Moose and trout bones were also found.

Today, the natural resources on Hardangervidda are very valuable for the surrounding villages.

Hardangervidda National Park was established in 1981. It differs from other Norwegian national parks because it has been used a great deal by local people, has many buildings and much privately owned land. Consequently, people use motorised vehicles to harvest resources like fish and game, to upkeep buildings and to run lodges and huts for hikers and skiers. Large flocks of sheep graze Hardangervidda in summer. Locals and tourists come to Hardangervidda to fish and hunt, as a source of food or recreation.

Landscape
Hardangervidda is a barren, treeless mountain plateau at in elevation, with lakes, moors, rivers and streams. This kind of open, relatively even landscape is known as vidde in Norwegian. There are significant differences between the west side, which is dominated by rocky terrain and expanses of bare rock, and the east side, which is much flatter and more heavily vegetated. The prominent peak of Hårteigen (1,690 m/5,545 ft) is visible across much of the plateau.

About 550 million years ago, the plateau was submerged. Gradually a sheet of rock drifted over the seabed, was compressed, folded and rose from the sea. What is now Western Norway rose the most, and greater erosion created deeper valleys, fjords and steeper mountains than in the east. Glaciers and melting ice at the end of the last ice age chiselled out the landscape we see today.

Flora and fauna

The whole of the Hardangervidda is above the tree line. Its alpine climate enables the presence of many species of arctic animals and plants further south than anywhere else in Europe.

Norway is, to all extents and purposes, the only country in Europe with remaining vestigial populations of the original wild mountain reindeer. Wild reindeer need Hardangervidda. The 9,000 wild reindeer (2009) here make up more than a quarter of all the wild reindeer in Norway. The large, continuous unspoiled area makes Hardangervidda particularly attractive to them. As the herds migrate between seasonal pastures and calving areas over the course of the year, they need a wide area. Wild reindeer are at their most vulnerable on the winter pasture and in the calving season in May. You might think it is easy to spot one of Hardangerviddas 9,000 wild reindeer, but that is not the case. They are shy. If you see a herd, consider yourself very lucky. Don’t try to follow them, but stand quietly and enjoy this rare sight. It is particularly important not to disturb wild reindeer during calving season.

The flat landscape with its numerous lakes and wetlands distinguishes Hardangervidda from other mountainous areas in southern Norway. Trout is the most common fish. A permit is needed to fish in rivers and lakes.

The largest populations of many kinds of ducks and other wetland species in southern Norway, live here. The breeding populations of black-throated divers, scaups, velvet scoters, common scoters, dotterels, Temminck’s stints, great snipes and shore larks are particularly valuable.

Climate

The climate is considerably wetter on the west side than on the east. At any time of year, be prepared for sudden changes. The weather in Hardangervidda National Park can change very rapidly from sunny and warm to cold and rainy or even snowy, so it's important to bring along extra layers of clothing, like wool underwear and wind- and waterproof outerwear. For most people, late spring, summer and fall are the best times of year to visit Hardangervidda. Easter skiing across Hardangervidda is also popular, but is recommended for experienced skiers only. The winter storms can be challenging even for polar explorers like Amundsen. Many of the villages and cities surrounding Hardangervidda are popular all-year destinations.

 * Summer: June to August. Daytime temperatures range from 10 to 20°C and occasionally over 20°C in lower elevations. Nights are usually cool (between 10 and 0°C), but temperatures rarely drop below freezing at higher elevations. In general, there is no snow on Hardangervidda in summertime. In June though, there might be some areas still left snow covered.
 * Spring and Fall: May and September. Daytime temperatures range from 0 to 15°C with 0 to −10°C in the night. A lot of the plateau remains snow covered in May, and early June there will still be some left at higher elevations.
 * Winter: October to April. Temperatures often range from 5 to −15°C throughout the day, but temperatures as low as −30 °C can occur. In the nighttime, temperatures are usually below zero. Snowfall is highly variable. Sometimes the ground is snow-covered from October to May, other years the snow might not cover most of Hardangervidda before December.

Get in

There are several gateways to Hardangervidda National Park. Gateway cities and villages are Odda and Eidfjord in the Hardanger region and the mountain destinations Geilo, Uvdal, Rjukan, Rauland, Haukeli, Haukelifjell and Røldal.

By air
Hardangervidda is a 2–3 hours drive from the major airports. The closest major airports are Airport (2½ hours drive to Eidfjord), Oslo Airport Gardermoen (3½ hours drive to Rjukan),Oslo Airport Torp in Sandefjord (3 hours drive to Rauland), Kristiansand Airport (3 hours drive to Haukeli) and Airport (2 hours drive to Odda).

By car
National road 7, also known as Hardangervidda road, is the main access by car.

From Oslo to Hardangervidda by car 1) E 18 from Oslo to Drammen. From Drammen, follow E134 to Notodden. From here you can follow rv. 361 and rv. 37 to Rjukan, or continue on E134 to Åmot in Telemark and then take rv. 37 to Rauland. 2) E18 from Oslo to Sandvika. From Sandvika you take E16 to Hønefoss and from Hønefoss you follow rv. 7 to Geilo.

From Bergen to Hardangervidda by car E16 to Voss and then rv. 13 to Granvin. You then continue on rv. 7 to Eidfjord and then drive to Geilo. You can also start exploring Hardangervidda from Ulvik and Kinsarvik/Ullensvang.

You can drive to the gateways and see the mountain plateau from your car, but there are no public roads for driving inside the national park border.

By train
From Oslo to Hardangervidda by train You can take the train from Oslo to Bø in Telemark. From there you can catch "Haukeliekspressen" to Rauland. You can also take the Bergen Railway from Oslo to a number of places that are great starting points for exploring the northern Hardangervidda – Myrdal, Hallingskeid, Finse, Haugastøl, Ustaoset and Geilo.

From Bergen to Hardangervidda by train The Bergen Railway stops at number of places that are great starting points for exploring Hardangervidda – Myrdal, Hallingskeid, Finse, Haugastøl, Ustaoset and Geilo. You can also take the train to Voss and a bus from Voss to Eidfjord.

For train timetables, see

By bus
From Oslo to Hardangervidda by bus Take "Haukeliekspressen" to Haukeli or take the bus to Geilo or Rjukan – both good starting points for exploring Hardangervidda.

From Bergen to Hardangervidda by bus Take the bus from Bergen to Voss. From Voss catch a bus to Eidfjord.

For bus timetables, see

Fees and permits
There are no public roads for driving inside the national park border, and no entrance fees to get in to the national park.

You need to buy permits to go fishing or hunting on Hardangervidda. Children under 16 years fish for free. Because more than half of Hardangervidda is owned by private land owners, there is no common fishing permit for all the lakes on Hardangervidda. But there are some common fishing permits for larger areas, like the Hardangervidda west, the Hardangervidda east, Vinjes part of Hardangervidda, Ullensvang, and Møsvatn permits. A 24-hour fishing permit ranges from 50 to 70kr, and a week permit from 100 to 300kr (2010). You can buy the permits at the tourist information offices, cabins, hotels and lodges in the area close to your favourite lake, or go to (this site is in Norwegian).

By car
Driving Hardangervidda National Park Route is a great way to experience the scenery around Hardangervidda. Drive further, from fjell to fjord on E 134 over Haukelifjell and continue on rv 13 to Hardanger with Odda, Eidfjord and further on rv 7 over Hardangervidda to Geilo, along the national tourist route. This must be the ultimate Hardangervidda driving experience with fjords, Vøringfossen and mountains in 2-3 days.

You can drive to the gateways and see the mountain plateau from your car, but there are no public roads for driving inside the national park border. This is where you can get close to the national park by car:
 * Route 7 across Hardangervidda; several convenient stops and branch roads to the national park.
 * Route 40 from Nore and Uvdal to Geilo, several stopping places and branch roads to the national park.
 * Route 364 to Tinn Austbygd, branch off to Breisetdalen and park at Stegaros or Synken; boat across Mårvatnet from Synken to Mårbu.
 * Route 37 to Skinnarbu by Møsvatn and continue on the boat Fjellvåken to the lodge at Mogen.
 * E 134 from Haukeli to Jøsendal, several stops and branch roads to the national park.
 * The route from Jøsendal to Brimnes, several stops and branch roads to the national park.

On foot
Once you get out of your car and set your feet on the great mountain plains, the best way of getting around is hiking, skiing, cycling and horseback riding. You have to hike some hours to get into the national park, depending on which gateway you choose. Try the extensive network of hiking trails and cabins offered by The Norwegian Trekking Association. Cycling is only allowed on a few tractor roads inside the national park, but you can still experience Hardangervidda on bicycle. Try the famous Rallarvegen, or cycling from Rjukan to Kalhovd

Do

 * High Mountain Cruise by the M/B Fjellvåken
 * Hiking, summer and winter
 * From one cottage at the mountain plateau to another
 * Cross country skiing and kiting
 * Climb mountain peaks
 * Bird watching, reindeer observation
 * Fishing in small mountain lakes (requires fishing license)
 * Picking berries (such as cloudberries) and mushrooms

Buy

 * Fishing license
 * Maps

Stay safe
Hardangervidda is largely above the treeline and temperatures can drop to zero (0°C) even at mid summer. Drivers should be aware of slippery road in spring and autumn when driving is fine in the lowland. During winter blizzards can make driving challenging and the road is often closed. Hikers must bring map and compass, navigation can be very difficult in fog or stormy weather. Hikers must be prepared for all sorts of weather.

Go next

 * Jotunheimen mountains
 * Hardanger fjord district
 * Flåm, Sognefjord
 * Geilo, Hallingdal, Buskerud

title: Hardangervidda


text:
Harderwijk

Harderwijk is a town in Gelderland, Netherlands. Most people visit for the Dolfinarium, or use this town as a gateway for Walibi World.

Understand
Harderwijk, like many of the Dutch cities, was founded during medieval times. The city is known to have been fortified with a wall by the end of the 13th century. The century after, the city started expanding southward. During this time the Grote Kerk (Great Church) was constructed as well. A second medieval expansion took place around 1425, this time expanding to the north.

The city had its own university since 1648. The most important person to attend this university has been Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist Carl Linnaeus. The university, along with the universities of Zutphen and Franeker were abolished by Napoleon in 1811.

Harderwijk, like nearby Elburg, was a member of the Hanseatic League. The Southern Sea, not yet disconnected from the sea by the Afsluitdijk and not yet reclaimed by man to create Flevoland and the Noordoostpolder, meant that Harderwijk was a coastal town with easy connections to the outside. The once flourishing fishers harbour is no longer home to tens of fishing boats, but instead offers docking space for yachts.

Nowadays, Harderwijk is most known for the Dolfinarium, the largest marine mammal park of the Netherlands. The park has, as the name implies, dolphin shows and many other fishes and marine mammals.

By train
Harderwijk has a single train station, which is serviced by the Nederlanse Spoorwegen. The station,, is located at a 15 minute walk from the medieval city. Follow the Stationslaan to get to the city directly.

By car
Harderwijk is located along the A28 (E232). To get to the city, get to either Utrecht or Zwolle and head for the one of the two that you're not in. Confusingly, the two exits that serve Harderwijk aren't named after the city. Instead they are named after nearby Ermelo and Lelystad (exits 12 and 13 respectively). As soon as you leave the highway, you will see Harderwijk. To get to the city centre, follow the Oranjelaan followed by Westeinde when coming from exit 12, and follow the Hoofdweg and Selhorstweg when coming from exit 13.

Eat
About every restaurant in Harderwijk can be found in the city centre.

Go next
Just a hop over the Veluwemeer brings you to Flevoland, the biggest polder ever created. Alternatively, you could move up a bit along the Veluwemeer, which would get you to Elburg, the only Dutch city that was fully rebuilt in medieval times to fit a grid pattern. Go to the south-east and you'll find yourself in the middle of the heavily forested Veluwe, one of the first nature reserves of the Netherlands. Other nearby cities include Hanzestad Zwolle, Apeldoorn, the city that isn't a city since it never got city rights, and Amersfoort, which like Harderwijk, is a medieval city with a historical city centre that has stood the test of time fairly well, surrounded by urbanised regions.

title: Harderwijk


text:
Hargeisa

Hargeisa is the capital of the republic of Somaliland. It is one of the safest places in what the rest of the world still considers to be Somalia.

Understand
Hargeisa has more than 1.1 million inhabitants (2023 estimate). Apart from the occasional couch surfer, there is very little tourism (and no tourist industry), as almost all visitors are working for an NGO or other organization. The city is a peaceful and friendly place, but does require some planning to ensure a successful visit.

Get in

Hargeisa International Airport (HGA) connects the city with a variety of locations in East Africa, all of which are subject to change. Destinations can include Addis Ababa, Djibouti, Dubai, Bossaso, Mogadishu, Dire Dawa, Wajir and Nairobi. Some flights (especially those which "connect" in Berbera) begin with a three-hour bus journey to Berbera, followed by the flight. It's best to confirm that the airline you use flies in and out of Hargeisa.

Hargeisa airport has a very comfortable departure lounge, equipped with a cafe, toilets, television and Internet access. Buy a copy of the local English language newspaper from the paper boy for local news while you wait.

A Somaliland visa is required for foreign travellers. These can be obtained at the Somaliland representative offices in Addis Ababa (in person) or London (in person or by post). See the Get in section of the Somaliland page for further information. There is very little diplomatic representation in Hargeisa, so you should have your onward travel plans arranged (and visas in hand) before you travel to Hargeisa.

All arriving foreigners are required to exchange US$50 to Somaliland shillings, though this is not always enforced at land borders. The exchange rate at the airport is intentionally poor, so the exchange functions as an arrival tax. You will not be able to change your shillings back to US dollars at the airport when you leave, so make sure to use all of your shillings during your trip. The only notes in widespread use are the 500-shilling notes. Because of the exchange rate, you will end up with a large stack of notes when you change money at the airport.

You will also be required to pay an additional arrivals tax in addition to the money exchange. This is frequently an odd number, so it would be a good idea to bring a lot of small notes with you (if you bring a bunch of US$100 notes, for example, you will have great difficulty finding change). The cost of the arrival tax appears to vary depending on the type of visa you have and where you got it. Some foreigners report having to pay US$60 tax (in December 2018).

Some air tickets can be reserved at the site of Jubba Airways. Some flights are expensive.

Get around
Hargeisa has an informal shared bus service. Ask a local for instructions. Hargeisa used to have working traffic lights, but now the only traffic control is by the occasional police officer. All residents entitled to drive must hold a photo driving licence, and all cars bear Somaliland licence plates.

Taxis can be booked via your hotel (not hailed on the street) but are quite expensive. For example, a taxi from Maan-soor Hotel to the airport cost US$25 in April 2011.

Women must wear long dresses or skirts, to the ankle (no trousers), and must cover their hair and upper arms at all times. Men should not wear shorts or sleeveless t-shirts. It is not polite to take pictures of people (male or female) without obtaining their permission beforehand, and you will make people upset if you take pictures without permission.

US dollars and Somaliland shillings enjoy equal status in Hargeisa, so you can pay for anything with either dollars, shillings, or a combination of both. Ask what the de facto exchange rate is when you arrive. The de facto rate will be better than the rate at the airport.

There are also some car rental services in the city, one of them being “Royal Car Rental” which services at their main building and at Egal Airport, there are other prominent organizations such as Kaamil Car Rental.

There is no postal service in Hargeisa. The only courier company which serves the city is DHL.

See and do
There's very little in the way of tourist sights and activities in Hargeisa. Often, the best activity in Hargeisa is soaking in the surroundings and enjoying a bite to eat with the locals, who will be more genuinely interested in your story and your reasons for visiting their country.

Some of the local landmarks that may be worth visiting include:

 * The Hargeisa Provincial Museum, on Abdirahaman Tuur Rd, has been abandoned, and is no longer accessible.
 * National Museum of Somaliland, June St. A large museum being built in, though it is unfinished as of 2023.
 * Saryan Museum, Abdirahaman Tuur Rd. A two-room museum that provides historical information on the area.
 * The Hargeisa Provincial Museum, on Abdirahaman Tuur Rd, has been abandoned, and is no longer accessible.
 * National Museum of Somaliland, June St. A large museum being built in, though it is unfinished as of 2023.
 * Saryan Museum, Abdirahaman Tuur Rd. A two-room museum that provides historical information on the area.
 * Saryan Museum, Abdirahaman Tuur Rd. A two-room museum that provides historical information on the area.

Out of town

Buy

 * Dahabshiil Business Centre, June Ave. The tallest building and largest shopping mall in Somaliland
 * Deero Mall, Wadada Madax-tooyada. A medium-sized shopping mall with four floors and a FlyDubai office.

Eat

As the Somali heritage is pastoral, most modern food is inspired by neighbouring countries, with Ethiopian cuisine being particular popular. There are rice, spaghetti, cheeseburgers or salad. There are doughnuts, cakes and tropical food. Call into a restaurant and ask for what you want, but not pork as it is forbidden (haram).

At breakfast you could try Somali pancakes, a little like a fluffy pancake a fluffier version, and "small meat", which is similar to sausage meat except served loose on a plate). Somali tea is good, and is similar to Indian chai (a bit spicy and made with lots of milk).

Food at the "nicer" restaurants is generally safe, as the climate is so hot and dry that it is difficult for most diseases to survive here. The same goes for water: The government-supplied piped water is generally clean, though you might want to avoid drinking it if you are on a short trip. The filtered water bottle is produced locally, and generally is safe.

 * Damal Restaurant the Damal Restaurant is the Damal Hotel’s restaurant which is the hotel of the Dahabshil business centre. It is located at Waheen Highway 2 next to the Dahabshil business centre.
 * Timeout Hargeisa is a fancy Chinese and American restaurant in Hargeisa, some celebrities in the area come here. Timeout is located at Jidka Muj. Cabdillahi Askar.
 * Pizza Hut the well-known pizza chain has a location in Hargeisa. Pizza Hut here is located in Wadada Madax-tooyada
 * There are a lot of cafés in the city, including Cafe Laasgeel, and Cafe Barbara. Cafe Laasgeel is at Wada Aw Yoonis. Whereas Cafe Barbera is a franchise with many locations.

Drink
You will not find any alcohol in Hargeisa in official outlets, but it is still available on the Black Market. Men congregate in cafes with glasses of tea, coffee or fruit juice.

Though alcohol is illegal, a substitute used by a large number of people in Somaliland in general is khat, a narcotic (drug) which is used by around 90% of adult males in Somaliland and 20% of adult females in Somaliland. You can find khat shops across the city.

Sleep
The accommodation options in Hargeisa are surprisingly numerous, with large, Western-style establishments down to family-run, budget-friendly hotels. Most hotels provide transport to/from the airport, visa assistance and mosquito nets, although mosquitoes are rarely an issue in the arid climate.

Stay safe
As of 2020, Hargeisa is generally safe, with little crime against the few tourists and foreigners, and little swindling or "ripping off". It is possible to walk around by yourself in the urban areas of Hargeisa in the daytime or at night, but make sure that you know where you are going, as there are no street signs, and no street lights at night. While the main roads have some rudimentary paving, most roads are sand and dirt and populated by goats and stray dogs.

In some areas (e.g. livestock market) people may throw rocks or bottles at you, similar to what happens sometimes in rural Ethiopia.

The local residents are extremely friendly and will greet foreigners in the street. Unlike some other places in Africa, they will not try to sell you anything and are often genuinely interested in having a conversation.

If you leave the city, you will be required to take a government security guard with you (known as an "SPU"). It is also possible to get an exemption from this requirement, but you must have the required paperwork or you will be stopped at the checkpoints on the edge of the city and not permitted to go further (this is for your own safety, as the countryside is not as safe as the city). See the Somaliland page for further information.

There are also some travel groups that can show you around Hargeisa and Somaliland.

Consulates

 * 🇹🇼 Taiwan
 * 🇹🇷 Turkey

Go next

 * Located in the countryside outside Hargeisa, Laas Gaal (Laas Geel in Somali) is a must-see. It is a complex of caves and rock shelters that contain excellently preserved cave paintings. The paintings are some of the earliest known art in Africa, dating back to 9,000 BCE. To visit, a letter from the ministry of tourism must be obtained and a fee of US$20 must be paid. An SPU may be required. Check the little museum with maps in the entrance building. Maps show that park contains 20 shelters with paintings, with shelters 2, 3 and 10 being the main ones. Guides will often take you to shelters 2 and 3 only, and turn back before proceeding to shelter 10 which is a bit further, so worth discussing the route beforehand.
 * There's plenty of wildlife in the Sheikh mountains and at Daallo Mountain. You may spot kudu, wildebeest, gazelles and different species of birds. An SPU is required.
 * The Red Sea beaches at Berbera are a three-hour drive away and could make a nice day trip, or a relaxing weekend away. The Maan-soor hotel branch in Berbera offers scuba diving. For this trip, you could apply for an exemption from the SPU requirement and take a shared bus.

title: Hargeisa


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Harghita

Harghita is a county in Transylvania, Romania, part of the Szeklerland. The county is renowned for its spa resorts and mineral waters.

Cities

 * — a small resort best known for its mineral springs
 * — a former copper mining town
 * — famous for its mineral water and its location in the Carpathian mountains
 * — the village famous for pottery
 * (Székelykeresztúr) — a Hungarian community with a 15th-century Gothic church
 * — has a fortified church built by the Székely Hungarian community
 * (in Hungarian: Csíkszereda) — has an 18th-century fortified castle
 * (Székelyudvarhely) — its Haáz Rezső Museum features exhibits dedicated to Szekler village life, Szekler arts and crafts, and the history of the region
 * (Gyergyószentmiklós) — near the Red Lake and Cheile Bicazului canyon
 * (Tusnádfürdő) — a health resort with the Ciucaş Lake (Szent Anna tó)
 * — the highest town in Harghita County

Other destinations
Ski resorts:
 * (Hargitafürdő)
 * (Marosfő)
 * (Maroshévíz)

Understand
Harghita consists primarily of mountains, connected to the Eastern Carpathians, such as the Ciuc and Harghita Mountains; volcanic plateaux, foothills, and the more densely populated river valleys.

The mountains are volcanic in origin, and the region is known for its excellent hot mineral springs. Harghita is known as one of the coldest regions in Romania, although summers can be quite warm.

It is in this county that two of the most important rivers in Romania, the Mureș and the Olt, originate. These rivers' origins, near the villages of Izvoru Mureșului and Sândominic, are only a few miles apart; yet the Mureș flows west to the Tisza, while the Olt flows south to the Danube. In the western part of the county the two Târnava rivers (Târnava Mare and Târnava Mică) flow to the Târnava Plateau, which is part of the Transylvanian Plateau.

Harghita's spectacular natural scenery includes Sfânta Ana Lake, a volcanic crater lake near the town of Băile Tușnad; Lacul Roșu a mountain lake in the northeast near the town of Gheorgheni, and Cheile Bicazului, a dramatic, narrow canyon formed by the Bicaz stream.

Get in
For information on Odorheiu Secuiesc visit their Tourinfo site.

The Bicaz Pass (Cheile Bicaz, Békási szoros) in the north of the county is a scenic sinuous highway connecting Transylvania with its eastern neighbouring province, Moldavia.

See

 * Miko fortress near Miercurea Ciuc.

title: Harghita