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Komarna

Komarna is a village in Southern Dalmatia, Croatia.

By plane
Dubrovnik Airport is about 90 km south of Komarna. From April to October, there are many direct flights into Dubrovnik from all major European, UK and Ireland cities. From Dubrovnik airport take direction Dubrovnik. Pass Dubrovnik and continue on the main road that runs along the coast direction Split. Komarna is on the main road, 70 km north of Dubrovnik. On the main road, there is a sign indicating left turn into Komarna.

Split Airport is about 130 km north of Komarna. From Split airport you can either take the scenic road that runs along the coast, direction Dubrovnik, or take highway A1 direction Dubrovnik. Taking the highway will certainly be a better choice during the summer days, because the old road runs through busy villages along the coast. Take highway A1 direction Dubrovnik, get off the highway on junction Ravca. Take direction Vrgorac, Dubrovnik. Komarna is 65 km from the highway junction Ravca, direction Dubrovnik.

Get around
Komarna is a small village, so the best way to get around is on foot.

See
Komarna is a great base for sightseeing. Dubrovnik, Ston, Peljesac peninsula, islands Brac, Hvar, Mljet nad Korcula, Mostar, Medjugorje are all within a one-hour drive from Komarna.

 * Archaeological Museum Narona is located in village Vid, 25 km from Komarna. This is the first "in site" museum, built on the archeological site itself. You can see remains of Augusteum - antic temple consecrated to emperor Augustus, dating from 10 BC. Beside the temple, there are 16 monumental statues of the emperor, his family and other powerful Romans. The statue of Augustus is almost 3 m tall.
 * The Ornithological Collection in Metković is one of the greatest collection of its kind in Europe. You can see over 340 stuffed birds who frequented the area of Neretva Valley. Neretva Valley was once a swamp and this collection is a testimony to the former richness of life in Neretva. Many of those birds do not come any more to Neretva Valley due to the soil improvements, and they can only be seen in this ornithological collection.
 * Slivno and Smrdan grad are ruins of villages in the hills above Komarna. Those villages are abandoned today, but many local people still cultivate olive trees there. From Komarna you can hike all the way to Slivno and Smrdan Grad. The views over Peljesac Bay are amazing.
 * (Pelješki most) is taking shape across the channel to Pelješac peninsula. It might open by the end of 2022.

Do

 * Swimming is the main activity while in Komarna.
 * Hiking is another popular activity in Komarna. There are many abandoned villages in the hills around Komarna. Walking paths are clear and indicated.
 * Speed boat ride if you have a proper licence can be a great day out.
 * Motor boat ride can take you off to secluded beaches in the bays and islands around Komarna.

Eat
In Komarna there are two restaurants and one pizzeria. One restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes, while the other restaurant - run by the local fisherman and his family - offers mainly seafood. The prices are fair.

 * Restaurant Djuda & Mate, in Vid, Metkovic. A restaurant located in village Vid, right by the river Norin. Guests can choose among a variety of traditional Neretva dishes. Dishes are based on home-grown organic food, specialties are prepared according to the original Neretva recipes, and the most famous are eel and frog stew (brodetto), eels on the spit and fried frogs. Warm and cold dishes can be served on the traditional boats that will take you through the channels of Norin River.

Sleep
There is one small hotel and many apartments available in Komarna. The hotel Villa Bili has both rooms and apartments with one or two bedrooms. Many of the private apartments may be rented through Komarna Rejser.

Go next

 * Go shopping in Neum in Bosnia, 8 km away. Most of the products are cheaper than in Croatia due to lower tax.
 * Embark on Neretva River Safari and taste local specialities aboard a traditional Neretva boat.
 * Ston is famous for its fortification walls dating from the 14th century, when Ston became part of Dubrovnik republic. At 5.5 km-long, and with 40 towers and 5 fortresses, they are the longest fortification walls built in Europe. While there, taste the famous Ston oysters.
 * If you are a wine lover, don't miss the wine tasting tour on Peljesac peninsula.
 * Visit Mostar in Bosnia with its Turkish houses and UNESCO-protected Old Bridge.
 * Visit the Catholic shrine Medugorje.
 * Mljet island is considered the greenest Croatian island.
 * Old town Dubrovnik is not to be missed. It is an hour's drive away.

title: Komarna


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Komatipoort

Komatipoort is a small, quiet tourist town of 4,700 people (2011) in the lowveld of South Africa, bordering on the Kruger National Park and Mozambique. with some attractive tree-lined streets. It is one of the hottest towns in South Africa where temperatures can reach almost 48°C in the height of summer, but also with a perfect winter climate around 24 °C (75 °F).

Understand
'Komati' takes its name from the Komati River whose original native Swazi name is Nkomazi, translated as "river of cows". It is where the Crocodile and Komati Rivers meet to flow through the 'Poort' (mountain pass) through the Lebombo Mountains into Mozambique.

Get in
Komatipoort is on the N4, the main road artery through Mpumalanga that links Pretoria with Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique.

An overnight train service from Johannesburg is provided by Shosholoza Meyl several times per week. A connecting train to and from Maputo are available just across the border in neighboring Ressano Garcia. is centrally located along Hutton St.

See
Kruger Park. Day trips to Maputo or Eswatini (Swaziland). Samora Machel monument.

Do
Tiger fishing, golf, wildlife viewing, elephant-back safari.

Drink
Make sure that you carry an ample supply of water at all times. Average summer temperatures are around 33°C and humidity is very high, and the winter temperature of 28°C is perfect.

Go next
Mozambique and Eswatini are both within easy reach

The Crocodile Bridge camp and entrance into the Kruger National Park is 8 km outside town, north along the R571.

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

title: Komatipoort


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Komatsu

Komatsu (小松) is a city in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. The construction equipment company of the same name was founded here and remains a major employer. Komatsu has developed into the second largest city of Ishikawa but at first glance has little to appeal to a casual tourist, unless you are a big fan of concrete. If you take the time to look deeper, however, you'll find that this little city has a lot to offer.

Tourist Information Site
EXPLORE KOMATSU is the city's official multilingual guide site.

By plane

Hokutetsu Kaga Bus services leave for JR Komatsu station every 20-30 minutes (12 min, ¥260). Hokutetsu also runs direct buses to Kanazawa (40-60 min, ¥1100), Fukui (1 hour) and Kaga (25 min, ¥500).

By train
The Hokuriku Shinkansen runs directly from Tokyo via Nagano and Kanazawa to Komatsu in under 3 hours.

Komatsu is on the busy JR Hokuriku Main Line from Osaka to Naoetsu via Fukui, Kanazawa and Toyama, with several normal and express trains every hour. Ordinary trains from Kanazawa take 32 minutes and cost ¥480. While it's become more convenient for Tokyo travelers, the Shinkansen has made things less convenient for travelers from Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka as all direct trains to and from these cities were discontinued when the Shinkansen opened. Now, travelers from these areas can only take express trains as far as Tsuruga where they must then transfer to the Shinkansen to reach Komatsu.

See

Buy
Those looking for souvenirs might find a better selection in Kanazawa, especially in Kanazawa station or near Kenrokuen. The Komatsu Urara Concert Hall (near the station) offers some souvenirs in its gift shop, including items bearing Kabuki, the Komatsu mascot.

Komatsu city houses several kutani-yaki studios, including the workshop of one Living National Treasure. You can buy some kutani-yaki pottery in the station and at the Urara, or you can visit some of the art dealerships scattered throughout the city.

Go next

 * Kaga
 * Hakusan
 * Nomi
 * Kawakita
 * Nonoichi
 * Kanazawa
 * Awara
 * Sakai
 * Fukui

title: Komatsu


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Komi Republic

Komi Republic is a region in Northwestern Russia, which borders Kirov Oblast to the southwest, Arkhangelsk Oblast to the west, Nenetsia to the north, Yamalia to the northeast, Khantia-Mansia to the east, Sverdlovsk Oblast to the southeast, and Perm Krai to the south.

Cities

 * — the capital and the only city in the region that qualifies as a tourist destination for its own sake
 * — a small city which housed one of the region's many gulags
 * — an old Komi village on the Izhma river, with wooden architecture and rich folk traditions
 * — a small city on the Pechora river; likely your base for exploring Yugyd Va
 * — a big industrial city centered around the nearby oilfields
 * — another oil city
 * — an ancient village on the Pechora River, populated mainly by Russian Old Believers with numerous well-preserved examples of wooden architecture and rich folk traditions
 * — a coal mining city in the tundra, which hosted one of the USSR's most notorious Stalin-era gulags, and has one of the closest airports to the beautiful but inhospitable polar Ural mountains
 * — an old Komi village near Syktyvkar comprising of seven small villages on seven hills along 15 km of the Sysola River. Tourists and pilgrims go to see unique natural and Orthodox objects. A tourist complex “Finno-Ugric Ethnocultural Park” is being created on the basis of the village.
 * — a coal mining city in the tundra, which hosted one of the USSR's most notorious Stalin-era gulags, and has one of the closest airports to the beautiful but inhospitable polar Ural mountains
 * — an old Komi village near Syktyvkar comprising of seven small villages on seven hills along 15 km of the Sysola River. Tourists and pilgrims go to see unique natural and Orthodox objects. A tourist complex “Finno-Ugric Ethnocultural Park” is being created on the basis of the village.

Other destinations

 * Virgin Komi Forests — UNESCO World Heritage Site and largest virgin forest in Europe. The site corresponds to Russia's Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve and Yugyd Va National Park:
 * — Europe's largest national park, as well as Russia's second largest after Beringia National Park in Chukotka, is also one of its most beautiful and remote. The place to go in the Urals for nature lovers.
 * — The core of the World Heritage Site Virgin Komi Forests, on the western slopes of the Urals, and home to Manpupuner rock formations

Understand

The Komi Republic is named for the Komi People, a Finno-Ugric group, who comprise a quarter of the region's population (ethnic Russians are the majority).

The region is of interest for two main reasons: its extensive and brutal gulag history and the beautiful Ural mountain and forest areas in its east, especially Yugyd Va National Park.

Talk
Most of the Komi People who live in the region speak Komi, a Finno-Ugric language closely related to Udmurt, but virtually all inhabitants of the Komi Republic are fluent in Russian.

Get in
Flights arrive to Syktyvkar from Moscow and Ufa. Trains arrive to Syktyvkar via Kotlas, Arkhangelsk Oblast.

Get around
Rossiya/Aeroflot Airlines operate flights from Syktyvkar to other far-flung cities in the region.

Go next
In the late summer, boats head north from Pechora to Naryan-Mar, the capital of Nenetsia. Year round, trains pass through the Urals to connect with Salekhard in Yamalia, Siberia.

title: Komi Republic


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Kommetjie

Kommetjie is on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula, south-west of Noordhoek and north of Scarborough. The area is a popular spot for surfing, since powerful waves from the Atlantic Ocean rise up over rocky reefs formed by hard sandstones of the Table Mountain Group. Wherever the bottom is rocky, the shallower waters are thick with giant kelp forests.

Understand
Kommetjie is Afrikaans for "small basin," approximately pronounced cawma-key.

Kommetjie is famous for its excellent crayfishing although changes in fishing quotas which have drastically reduced the daily catch allowed. The southwesterly swell produces attractive waves for surfing on the local coastal reefs, and the area is popular for fishing as there is a beach launching area for small craft. It is a quiet and relaxing town suitable for camping and getaways. Not far from Kommetjie, along Long Beach near Noordhoek, lies The Kakapo shipwreck, which ran aground in 1900.

By car
From the airport follow the N2 south-west towards Cape Town. Turn on to the M3 south and follow it to the end. Turn right onto Steenberg Road (M42) and then left onto Ou Kaapse Weg (M64). Follow the road over the mountain for about 11 km. At the second traffic light turn right into Kommetjie Road (M65) and follow this road for about 7 km.

From Hout Bay follow Chapman's Peak Drive (M6) onto Ou Kaapse Weg (M64) then use the directions as outlined above.

By bus
Golden Arrow operates regular buses between Kommetjie and Fish Hoek.

See
Slangkop Lighthouse has been operating since March 1919. It stands about 33 metres tall on the beach.

Do

 * Long Beach is a surfers' paradise, with huge waves.
 * You can walk all the way on the beach from Kommetjie north to Noordhoek. Along the way you'll come across the rusted wreck of the Kakapo, shipwrecked in May 1900.
 * The Cape Town Cycle Tour passes each year through this small town.

Sleep

 * Backpackers@Inchkom, 13 Nerina Avenue, e-mail: Bainwaves@telkomsa.net. Nice self-catering ensuite room 30 metres from the ocean.
 * Backpackers@Inchkom, 13 Nerina Avenue, e-mail: Bainwaves@telkomsa.net. Nice self-catering ensuite room 30 metres from the ocean.
 * Backpackers@Inchkom, 13 Nerina Avenue, e-mail: Bainwaves@telkomsa.net. Nice self-catering ensuite room 30 metres from the ocean.

title: Kommetjie


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Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park is in the Nusa Tenggara region of Indonesia, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores.

Understand

It's on the rise as a tourist site in Indonesia, with more than 150,000 foreign tourist visits in 2018, an increase of more than 25% from the previous year.

Komodo National Park includes three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands creating a total surface area (marine and land) of more than. The boundaries include part of the island of Flores, where there are actually even more dragons than on Komodo itself. As well as being home to the Komodo Dragon, also known as the Komodo Monitor, or Ora (to Indonesians), the park provides refuge for many other notable terrestrial species. Moreover, the Park includes one of the richest marine environments.

History
Komodo National Park was established in 1980 and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1986, both indications of the park's biological importance. It lies in Wallacea, a transitional ecosystem between the East Asian and Australasian ones, identified by both the WWF and Conservation International as a global conservation priority area, in the centre of the Indonesian archipelago.

The park was established to conserve the unique Komodo Dragon and its habitat, first known to people outside the region in 1910 when Lieutenant Van Steyn van Hensbroek of the Dutch Infantry visited as a result of hearing tantalising rumours of their heroic size. Since then, conservation goals have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial.

The majority of the people in and around the park are fishermen originally from Bima on the island of Sumbawa, and from Manggarai, South Flores, and South Sulawesi. Those from South Sulawesi were nomadic people: they moved from place to place in the region of Sulawesi to make their livelihoods.

Descendants of the original people of Komodo still live in Komodo, but their culture and language is slowly being integrated with that of recent migrants.

Little is known of the early history of the Komodo islanders. They were subjects of the Sultanate of Bima, although the island's remoteness from Bima meant its affairs were probably little troubled by the Sultanate other than by occasional demand for tribute.

Flora and fauna
The number of terrestrial animal species found in the park is not high, but the area is important from a conservation perspective as some species are endemic. Many of the mammals are Asiatic in origin. Several of the reptiles and birds are Australian in origin. These include the orange-footed scrubfowl, the lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo and the nosy friarbird.

The most famous of Komodo National Park's animals is the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis). It is the world's largest living lizard and can reach 3 m or more in length and weigh over 70 kg.

Other animals include the Timor deer, the main prey of the Komodo dragon, wild horses (kuda liar), water buffalo, wild boar (babi liar), long-tailed macaques, palm civets, the endemic Rinca rat (Tikus besar rinca), and fruit bats.

Also beware of the snakes inhabiting the island, including the cobra and Russel's pit viper, both of which are extremely dangerous.

As far as the marine fauna is concerned, Komodo National Park includes one of the world's richest marine environments. It consists of over 260 species of reef building coral, 70 species of sponges, crustaceans, cartilaginous (including manta ray and sharks) over 1,000 species of bony fishes, marine reptiles (including sea turtles), and marine mammals (dolphins, whales, and dugongs). In some spots, it is possible to see a number of huge manta rays both snorkeling and scuba diving, although the currents are strong.

Climate
Tropical all year round, and both extremely hot and dry (over 40 °C) during August and September.

Get in
The ferry service (to and from the cities of Sape, on the eastern tip of Sumbawa, and Labuan Bajo, on Flores) drops off passengers on Komodo once or twice every week. There is no port on the island, so passengers are unloaded onto small vessels which take them into the island's only village. (Some departures do not provide this service - check beforehand.)

Several daily flights are available between Denpasar Ngurah Rai airport and the Komodo airport  at Labuan Bajo.

Travellers coming in from Sape to the west (those travelling overland through Sumbawa and also those arriving at Bima airport) should note that the once-daily ferries from Sape can be suspended indefinitely due to bad weather, so if you want to be sure of your travel arrangements, flying to Labuanbajo is a much safer bet. (If you get stranded at Sape, the best Bima airport will be able to offer is a flight back to Denpasar on Bali.)

Sailing boat trip 4 days 3 nights to Komodo island from Lombok. This trip will give you more chances to explore the beauty of Lombok island sea, Sumbawa, and All the famous place in komodo national park such as Rinca island, Pink beach, Padar island, Kelor island, Majarinta island and many more. You also could have a chances to swim with whale shark on Sumbawa island.

The boat trip from Lombok depart 2x a week, in Wednesday and Saturday. This trip will end in Labuan bajo port at the fourth day.

Fees and permits
You need to buy the appropriate fees and permits at one of the park headquarters when you arrive on Rinca island or Komodo island. They are supposed to be valid for three days, even though the ticket might state otherwise. For foreign visitors, the entrance fee will be Rp 315,000 for weekdays or Rp 390,000 for weekends and public holiday (as of Nov 2018). Tickets are purchased in the islands itself, and you will be receiving different tickets:

 * Entrance fee
 * Conservation fee
 * Photo camera fee
 * Video camera fee
 * Ranger/guide for each island: Rp 80,000 (per group)
 * Additional fees include activities (e.g. diving is Rp 75,000, snorkelling Rp 60,000), research and documentation for commercial purposes.

Get around
On land: On foot, only, as there are neither roads nor motor transport.

On sea: By chartered boat, only, as there are no regular connections. Common price for two days boat charter to Rinca island and Komodo island is Rp 2,000,000 (as of Jan 2014), always negotiate with the boat captain. The small boat can accommodate 4 people. There are also more luxurious cruises from Bali.

You may wish to wear long pants, sunglasses and a hat as you walk in the interior.

See
The main reasons to travel to Komodo National Park are the Komodo Dragons, the superb beaches and the unspoilt corals.

There are also wild pigs, monkeys and horses on Pulau Rinca, one of the two largest islands in the park.

If you return by sea at night, you can also see legions of flying foxes (fruit bats whose wing span may exceed 4 feet) flying in the twilight sky.

At night on the Flores Sea, you also have a magnificent view of the stars.

Do
Depending on the time you have available, one or more guided tours on the islands of Rinca and Komodo.

It is neither permitted nor advisable to do any tours without local guides, as the Komodo Dragons are dangerous when they attack.

This area is inhabited by more than a thousand different fish species, making it one of the world's richest marine habitats. You may also swim in the Flores Sea on your incoming or outgoing boat trip to one of the islands. Beware of sharp corals on the sea floor near some of the small islands.

Buy
On Pulau Rinca near the park headquarters you may buy hand carved wooden komodo dragons along with park stickers and park t-shirts. Prices may be cheaper in Labuan Bajo, Flores than on Pulau Rinca.

Eat
A limited selection of food is available near the park headquarters on Pulau Rinca, and the prices are not high by Western standards.

Drink
Under no circumstances drink any tap water. The tap water is not potable. Near park headquarters on Pulau Rinca, you may purchase water and soft drinks. If you go trekking into the island's interior be sure to take a large bottle of water with you. You will need it!

Lodging
There is a US$7 a night losmen in Labuan Bajo, Flores. Backpacker hostel in a dorm room starts from Rp 50,000.

Kayaking and camping
The Komodo Islands are made famous by the greatest lizard on the planet, the Komodo Dragon. But the Komodo chain of islands offers so much more than this. Pristine reefs, uninhabited islands, white sandy beaches, marine life second to none and land life as fascinating as the Dragon itself.

Many of the islands in the chain are either inaccessible to large boats or difficult to access. However, with a sea kayak, you can travel anywhere you like, such as into small grottos and bays, around rocky points and slowly above shallow reefs brimming with fish.

Stay safe
The Komodo Dragon has a history of attacking humans. Beware of getting too close, and if you are visiting via the park's office (which you should), ask for a guide and stick close to him. Do not wander off or do anything without his consent. Komodos may approach the guest rest area during daily feeding time, but in this time, find a building (which are usually elevated) and stay clear from the railings. Komodos can and will jump to obtain food if necessary. Park rangers are usually present at these events and will deflect any Komodos trying to get in (which they can do).

You may be given a large pole with a split on the end, forming a "Y" shape. This can be used as a walking pole or for moving things on your path - however, if wild animals threaten, it can be used as a last form of defence (despite being hardly useful against Komodos). Overall, try keeping a watchful eye and steer clear of any wildlife.

Komodos are extremely dangerous if close enough. They can run faster than humans (and accelerate very quickly), so best not approach if necessary. Jumping into water (as Komodos are often found near the beach too) doesn't help either, as they can swim faster than humans, can dive, and can also swim against strong currents (in fact, sometimes Komodos are found on neighbouring islands, suspected of swimming there).

Zoologists used to believe that the main problem with the dragon's bite might be some rampant septic bacteria residing in their mouth. Actually, the Komodo Dragon's saliva is venomous, full of toxic proteins, now known to induce inhibition of blood clotting, lowering of blood pressure, muscle paralysis and hypothermia, which lead to shock and loss of consciousness.

Younger Komodos may live in trees. While not as dangerous as their parents, they can still jump off suddenly and cause panic. Snakes, monitor lizards, and other animals are also present and may cause minor problems.

Saltwater crocodiles are not present on Komodo Island, but they may be present on the surrounding islands and in the ocean. Their absence (due in part to a lack of suitable habitat) leaves the Komodo dragons at the top of the island's food chain, with no natural predators. Take extra caution in any area with estuaries and river mouths, because the islands are within the natural range of that species of crocodile. It was once believed by Indonesian natives that monitor lizards (including the Komodo dragon) were capable of warning humans of a crocodile's presence, but don't count on this for your safety.

Go next

 * Bali - the Island of the Gods is one or two hour's flying time away from Flores, depending on the airport, and is a popular combination trip with Komodo.
 * Flores island

title: Komodo National Park


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Kom Ombo

Kom Ombo (Arabic: كوم أمبو) is a town of some 60,000 people in Upper Egypt, 50 km north of Aswan.

Understand
Kom Ombo sits in an irrigated basin on the east bank of the Nile, producing sugar cane and corn. The reason to visit is its temple, built from circa 180 BC into Roman times; there is sure to be much older building beneath this area that has not yet been excavated.

The climate is hot desert, pleasantly warm in winter and blisteringly hot in summer. Imagine the slave labourers excavating and erecting the monumental stone in this heat.

By train
Trains from Cairo take 10 hr to Luxor then another 3 hr via Esna and Edfu to, continuing to Aswan. There are 10-12 per day, so you should be able to avoid an early-hours arrival or departure. The temple is 5 km southwest of the station, so a taxi might be LE20 or a tuk-tuk LE10, or just walk.

Four of these trains, badged "Ordinary", stop at multiple little wayside halts, including Naj al Shatb al Kabir 5 km further south and only 2 km from the temple. There are few facilities here (though tuk-tuks wait 200 m north). Though, Kom Ombo might be a safer bet to get out again, with people around to ask if the delayed train is ever coming, and the option of taking the bus.

By boat
Take a felucca cruise on the Nile from Aswan or Luxor.

Cruise boats between Luxor and Aswan regularly stop here. The temple is right beside the dock.

Eat and drink
There are cafes at the foot of the temple, along the main road into town, and in town centre.

Buy
There's a handful of stores midtown near the "23 July" bridge over the railway tracks.

Hawkers with overpriced tat will hunt down any visitors looking like tourists.

Sleep
There's a guesthouse in town, and a couple of others on the river island facing the temple, but no confirmation that they are still in business (as of April 2020). So unless a local agent can fix you up, plan on visiting Kom Ombo on a day trip or as a stopoff along the Luxor-Aswan road.

Go next

 * 15 km north are the remarkable royal quarries of Silsila.
 * The route south, upriver, leads to Aswan, which has an impressive collection of antiquities.
 * North downriver are Edfu and Esna, small towns both with a temple; then unmissable Luxor with Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.

title: Kom Ombo


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Komotini

Komotini (Greek: Κομοτηνή) is a city in Western Thrace.

Understand
The provincial town is strongly influenced by Muslim culture and the center of Thrace. Komotini is the capital of the Greek region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. It is the seat of an Orthodox bishop and since 1973 the Democritus University of Thrace. Tourist is of minor interest, but a detour is worthwhile, if you go on the way to Turkey or Bulgaria or spend your holidays on the wonderful beaches between Fanari and Maroneia. Life in Komotini is influenced by students, as the local university is a popular study site.

History
The first written mention of the town dates back to the 14th century. At that time, Komotini was a small and insignificant settlement founded by the Byzantines to protect the Via Egnatia and the plains before the frequent raids of Slavs coming from the north. In 1361 the settlement fell to the Ottoman Turks. From the 14th century, Komotini (then called Komoutzina) took the form of a city when people from the nearby Byzantine city of Mosynoupolis (destroyed by the Bulgarian ruler Kaloioannis in 1206) settled here, as well as a large number of Ottoman from Asia Minor. As there was no longer enough room for Christians and Muslims in the old Byzantine fortress, new quarters were gradually built: Christian and Muslim quarters, the Gypsy quarter and the Jewish quarter within the walls of the city. With the end of the First World War Komotini became Greek. As a result, the Bulgarian population was expelled. About half of the inhabitants of Komotini are ethnic Turks and Pomaks of Greek nationality. They were excluded from the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923, as agreed in the Treaty of Lausanne.

Get in

 * Komotini is located on the railway line Thessaloniki - Alexandropolis. The is located about 1 km southeast of the city center
 * Komotini is located on the railway line Thessaloniki - Alexandropolis. The is located about 1 km southeast of the city center

Get around
Since the city is small and also flat, you can reach the tourist attractions on foot.

See
The major monuments in the city are:

Do

 * Hiking: in the forest of Nymphaea.
 * Beach: About 30km south of Komotini are very beautiful and uncrowded beaches from Fanari in the west to Platanitis in the east.

Buy

 * Old Market: shopping street next to the Yeni Mosque
 * Supermarkets: all major Greek supermarket chains are represented in Komotini. The big markets are on the arterial roads.

Drink
The hottest cafe bars are: AVANT GARDE, MOCCA CAFE BAR, AWAY CAFE BAR, LOBBY CLUB. As Greek young people always tend to go to the newly opened bars, what's trendy changes quickly. The best thing to do is ask on site.

Go next

 * Maroneia Archeological site
 * Samothrace - Island
 * Thasos - Island
 * Kavala
 * Alexandroupolis
 * Kardzhali

title: Komotini


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Kampong Thom

Kampong Thom is the capital of Kampong Thom Province in Cambodia. It's about halfway between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and thus most travellers only rush through on their way between these two major attractions.

Nevertheless, it is a pleasant and relaxed place and a good starting point for exploring the countryside and the temples of Sambor Prei Kuk.

Get in
Buses, minibuses (~8,000 riel) and shared taxis (~12,000 riel) connect from Phnom Penh. The same selection of transport should be available from Siem Reap.

Current prices for Phnom Penh to Kompong Thom are about 25,000 riel for one place in a shared taxi, US$4 for a bus. Mekong Express buses stop at the Arunras Guesthouse and tickets can be bought there.

From Kampong Cham local buses are available, they ask US$6 but the actual price is unknown.

A shared taxi (7 seats) from PP to KT costs US$5 per seat. If you want the front seat to yourself (2 seats) you pay US$10. Highly recommended.

Get around
The town is easily explored by foot. There are motorbike-taxis for hire to take you to more distant sights.

The town is not busy with tourists and tuk-tuk drivers can be very persistent - if you tell them where you are staying there is a good chance they will be waiting outside your accommodation when you wake up the next day.

See
There is an interesting fruit bat roost in the grounds of the Old Governor's residence (a nice colonial era building). This is behind the market on the first road off the river. If the gate to the Old Governor's building is open, you may be in luck, the house is sometimes left unlocked. All of the original furnishings are missing, but some of the bathroom fixtures remain, and the house gives off a haunted vibe. The fruit bats are in 3 large mahogany trees on the east edge of the property and is best viewed from the road (i.e. does not matter if property is locked-up). Ideally arrive 30 min before sunset and watch the bats become increasingly restless, increasing noise stretching out their wings and then depart around sunset. The Old Governor's Residence is on the southern bank of the Stung Sen River, at the main bridge turn west for 600 m.

The grasslands and rice-fields surrounding Kompong Thom of an extreme importance for wildlife conservation. These areas hold the largest global population of the endangered Bustard the Bengal Florican as well as occasional large waterbirds from the Tonle Sap floodplain (Adjutants, Pelican, Painted Stork). Other species include large numbers of wintering palearctic passerines (including Dusky Warbler, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Siberian Rubythroat) and the globally vulnerable Manchurian Reed Warbler. In March large numbers of Oriental Plover pass through the area making this possibly the best area in the world to see this species.

The areas also offer a glimpse of everyday life in the Cambodian countryside with many fishermen, ox-carts and small scale farmers. The best way to visit the grasslands is by en-listing the help of a moto-dop driver from in-front of the Arunras Guesthouse. A number of these know the area (around Rolous village about 5 km towards Phnom Penh) and speak English.

Do
The American VIP School is a small ESL English school in KT town centre owned by an American and his Khmer wife. Native speakers wishing to donate 1 hr of their time to converse with eager Khmer students are appreciated. Normally classes are held 1 hour at night from 17:30-18:30. If interested, inquire beforehand at the American Restaurant near the Arunras Hotel.

Eat

 * In the evening, a small night market pitches stalls just in front of the market hall.
 * By far the best Khmer restaurant in Kompong Thom is behind the Arunras Hotel on the corner of the market. Food is excellent and this place is regularly visited by locals however there is no English language menu and the staff only speak Khmer.
 * A number of large establishments on the road to Phnom Penh (marked by ostentatious architecture) are frequented by upper-class Khmer and do good Khmer food.

Drink
Don't bother in Kompong Thom. There is karaoke on the top of the Arunras Hotel, although there are a number of alarmingly young working girls present.

Sleep

 * At the bus stop, walk away from the main street along the little side side street for a minute, there are two simple but quiet guesthouses in traditional Khmer houses with reasonable prices.
 * Around the bus stop there are several guesthouses which apparently double as brothels in the evening.

The best place to stay is the Arunras Guesthouse (US$6 for a single/double room with a fan). It has cable TV (including ESPN for English football) and is clean with friendly (Khmer speaking) staff. However it's very popular, particularly with Khmer government officials, and can be full.

More up-market are the Arunras Hotel next door and the (favoured by tour groups) Stung Sen Garden Hotel. A number of cheap and dirty guesthouses also exist.

Go next

 * Sambor Prei Kuk Hire a moto-taxi to take you to the complex. It's an approximately 1 hours ride by tuk-tuk through nice scenery and small villages with friendly inhabitants. The pre-Angkorian site dates back to the beginning of the 7th century and was the capital of the Chenla-Kingdom. Unlike Angkor, the temples are constructed from brick and sandstone. The complex consists of three main groups: central group, south group, north group, all covered by shady forest. A 1,000-acre site with 150 Hindu temples (today mostly in ruins). In 2017 it was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

 * Opinions and experiences of the site vary widely. While talked up by the guide books, Sambor Prei Kuk may be a disappointment for some people expecting temples that even vaguely vie with some of the other Khmer examples. Others may find it amazing. US$10 for a ticket. Some report lots of kids hanging around latch on to any visitors (there's not that many) so the 'peaceful' temple in the jungle experience doesn't really happen, whilst others have no problems with the few vendors selling scarves at the entrance (who are not persistent). Tuk-tuk from Kampong Thom (including wait and return) US$15 (some drivers ask for US$20, others start at US$10). Car US$20.

 * Phat Sanday is a large and remote floating village at the mouth of the Sen River (Stoung Sen). Despite Kompong Thom being the nearest town, it is about 80-90 km down the meandering river. A boat leaves Kompong Thom for Phat Sanday everyday at around 10:00. The driver will sit in the boat, beneath the large bridge waiting for customers. On asking, the price was US$15 per person. It is unconfirmed where the boat finally ends up - although possibly Kompong Chnang, on the southern side of the Tonle Sap Lake.
 * Kompong Thom is the starting point for an adventurous tour to the seldom visited jungle plains of northern Cambodia. This 3-4 days motorbike ride to Preah Vihear is offered by some of the moto-taxi drivers, who will propose it to you once they spot you getting off the bus. With you sitting on the back of the bike, your driver will take you through peaceful villages and rice paddies, passing by friendly locals, spending a night with a local family and visiting the temples of Preah Khan Kompong Thom and Koh Ker on your way. A part of the journey leads you along an old Angkorian road and over its ancient bridges. The ride is hard, skidding over sticks and stones, through sand oceans and bamboo forest, sometimes fording small rivers. From Preah Vihear, you will head to Siem Reap via Anlong Veng, the place where Pol Pot is said to have died.

title: Kampong Thom


text:
Komsomolsk-on-Amur

Komsomolsk-on-Amur (Russian: Комсомо́льск-на-Аму́ре, kuhm-sah-MOHL'SK nah ah-MOO-ryeh) is a large city in Khabarovsk Krai on the Baikal-Amur Mainline. Home of around a quarter of a million people, it's the 3rd largest city of the Russian Far East after Vladivostok and Khabarovsk and a major industrial center.

Understand
First settled by indigenous people, then by settlers from the Perm region, but the history of this BAM town in the far flung reaches of the union come federation, doesn't kick of until the communist hey-ho fervour in the early honeymoon days of the Soviet union, when patriotic fresh-faced members of the Komsomol - the Soviet youth league - landed on the Amurs shores in the 1930'ties, to build a "model city" with wide tree lined avenues, modern trams and large factories - a new future, carrying the Soviet dream to the far east. And while there are countless monuments and murals celebrating the valour and accomplishments of the Komsomol and the BAM builders here, reality however, is far more sinister; nearly three quarters of the builders were actually convicts, Japanese POW's and other dissidents, and the city became a major, if not the most important GULAG centre during Stalin's purges, and nearly a million prisoners tramped through the various camps of Komsomolsk. So the city is not, as legend would have it, built on the glory of labour and patriotism alone, but also on top of thousands of unmarked graves.

By plane
Owing to its aircraft industry (the Sukhoi Superjet 100 is produced here) and its strategic importance, the city actually has two airports, but unless you find yourself unwittingly recruited by the Russian army, your interest will mainly be in Khurba airbase.

By train
Planes aside, most visitors who wind up in the city are here because the city is an important hub on the Baikal-Amur Mainline. Westwards the next major town is Tynda (~40 hours, once daily) and to the east the line reaches the pacific with a stop in Vanino (~15 hours, once daily, twice in summer), where ferries takes passengers across to Sakhalin before the railway terminates in Sovetskaya Gavan. Going south there is a branch line with 1-3 daily trains from Khabarovsk or Vladivostok. Occasionally there are direct trains to Irkutsk and beyond, you can try the #008/667 from/to Novosibirsk if that's useful to your itinerary - in the summer there is even sometimes a direct carriage attached to the Rossiya from Moscow. If you want to shorten time from Komsomolsk to Khabarovsk, you may get off at Selikhino between them, where a bus will await you for connection. The total travel time will be 6 hours instead of 11.

By bus
The road to Khabarovsk is, by Russian standards, in workable condition and paved for nearly the entire length, so naturally buses are taking full advantage of this rare feat, with around 10 round trips per day. The trip takes a good 8 hours and costs between ₽460-660 depending on which bus you catch. There is a red eye service leaving in both directions at 23:00 if you're on a really tight budget, and the 09.30 #306 bus continues onwards to Birobidzhan. Supposedly there is a single daily bus to Vanino, but if that's a miss, there should definitely be a Marshrutka leaving sometime. The is a short walk from the river terminal north along the beach.

By boat
If potholes is not your thing, and 7000 kilometers of shouting provodnitzas has put a dent in your railway enthusiasm, you can go liquid instead, that is, when it's not frozen between June and August. Meteor hydrofoils speed up the Amur from Khabarovsk in six hours, which actually makes it the fastest connection between the two cities. In the same period, you can continue onwards to Nikolaevsk-on-Amur with the boats too, really the only option other than the daily flights from Khabarovsk, if you like your bones right where they are. This trip takes around 12 hours. The River terminal (Речной вокзал, +7 (4217) 59-29-35) is at the end of Oktyabrskiy Prospekt right by the beach.

Get around
While the River terminal and the Bus Station are just a few hundred meters apart on the river front, the Railway Station is about 4km away; tram line number 2 or bus number 17 will do the work for you. In fact any tram numbered 2, 3 or 4 will take you to the river terminal, while 1, 2 and 5 will take you the railway station, provided you take it in the right direction of course, all the tram lines convene at the intersection of Lenina and Mira Prospekts

See
Unless Komsomolsk is the first stop on the Russian mainland coming from Japan, it should come as no surprise by now that this young city is not a prime sightseeing spot by anyone's standard, unless of-course you've seen nothing but taiga pines for the past year or so, in which case it might just stir a bit of excitement. As a short stopover however, the city works surprisingly well - especially (or perhaps mainly) if you have an interest in photography; there is a number of buildings in Stalin's Neo-renaissance style in the city centre, and many of the housing blocks are adorned with both sculptured and painted murals with soviet themes - makes for some amazing pictures if you know what you're doing. As does the War Memorial on a marble plaza right above the river boat terminal, with its seven giant granite heads looking towards an eternal flame. If seen from the river the River Terminal itself is also a bit interesting, as it's designed to look like a ship, another monument nearby portrays a band of Komsomolsk pioneers.

Buy

Eat
As the author of the Lonely Planet guide so eloquently puts it; "Komsomolsk isn't Russian for 'spirited dining scene'"...

Komsomolsk Nature Reserve
Komsomolsky Zapovednik (

Other destinations
Transportation wise the next major stops are Tynda to the west, and the port city of Vanino with ferries to Sakhalin to the east along the BAM. Along the mighty Amur river, you'll find Amursk and Khabarovsk to south with both bus, river and railway connections, and Nikolaevsk-on-Amur going North, but only reachable in summer. Nearby you can check out some sights of natural and ethnographic interest;

title: Komsomolsk-on-Amur


text:
Ko Muk

Ko Muk is an island in the Southern Andaman Coast region of Southern Thailand.

Understand
Muk is the Thai word for "pearl", so Ko Muk means Pearl Island. While it's not a party island, or completely overrun by tourists, you won't be the only traveller, and there are the usual bars, restaurants and island providers for the highlights around. Overall the island is rather quiet and peaceful.

By boat
Connections usually start from Trang or directly from Trang Airport.

Combined minibus and boat tickets can be booked from any Trang tourist information shop, prices are fixed. For 350 baht (Apr 2018) you can get a minibus to the nearest jetty and a longtail boat to the main pier at the village of Ko Muk including a taxi to your accommodation.

For 250 baht you can get the 11:00 minibus to the nearest jetty and aboard the only ferry, departing once a day. It's recommended to arrange accommodation and a pick-up from the Ko Muk pier, otherwise you'll have a 3-km walk or 50 baht motorbike taxi ride to get anywhere on arrival.

The return trip is easier and cheaper, with the same ferry departing at 07:40. With no booking fees or middleman it is possible to get the ferry for 50 baht and a minivan to Trang for 100 baht, although 200 baht is the more likely combined fare.

The arranged minibus + long boat transfers back from the island to the mainland take around one and a half hours and leave thrice a day at 08:00, 09:00, and 14:00, dropping you at Trang (fixed price based on time, 300-400 baht (Apr 2018)) or Trang Airport Trang (fixed price based on time, 400-500 baht (Apr 2018)).

Buy
ATM

There is a Krungsri Bank ATM next to the Minimarket. The usual 220 baht international card fee applies.

Many shops and resorts offer to charge your debit/credit card and give you cash.

Shops

Besides the Minimarket there are a number of small shops along the road connecting Koh Muk Pier to Charlie Beach. They cover the basic needs of travelers such as toothpaste, shampoo, drinks, mosquito repellent etc.

Splurge
Resort accommodation is available fronting onto Farang Beach.

Go next

 * Ko Ngai

title: Ko Muk


text:
Ko Nang Yuan

Ko Nang Yuan is a small island near Ko Tao, on the Central Gulf Coast of Southern Thailand.

Understand
Ko Nang Yuan is a small island very close to Ko Tao. It is famous for its diving spots and its great snorkelling beach. Many day trippers come from the islands of Ko Tao, Ko Pha Ngan, and Ko Samui, as well as from Surat Thani on the Thai mainland.

Get in
There are two ways to get to Ko Nang Yuan: via boat taxi from Ko Tao, or via a snorkelling day trip from Ko Tao or further afield.

Longtail boat taxis from Ko Tao will quote you 600 baht return (March 2022), but you may be able to bargain them down. You pay half the money when you arrive and the other half when they pick you up at the agreed-upon time.

Snorkelling day trips from Ko Tao start at 250 baht per person including the round trip. It is also possible to come here for a snorkelling day trip from Ko Samui for about 1,200 baht, though this is of questionable value considering that while the trip may take the whole day you are likely to spend only an hour here. If you are really interested in visiting here, stay at least one night on Ko Tao.

Visitors to Ko Nang Yuan must pay a 200 baht fee (waived if you stay overnight).

Plastic bottles and cans are banned from the island. Buy water and other drinks in glass bottles in Ko Tao to avoid paying inflated prices on Ko Nang Yuan.

Get around
The island is tiny. The only way to get around is by walking.

Do

 * The island is known for its snorkeling due to its variety of marine life and crystal clear water.
 * The island is known for its snorkeling due to its variety of marine life and crystal clear water.

Eat
There is only one restaurant, at the Nang Yuan Resort. It has a selection of Thai and Western food. One of the best dishes on the menu is the barbequed fish. The restaurant takes full advantage of its monopoly on the island. Prices for food are 3-4 times what you will pay on Ko Tao, and the staff are reportedly not so friendly.

Sleep
The only accommodation on the island is the Nang Yuan Dive Resort. Rooms range from 1,200-14,000 depending on type and season.

The island is very beautiful and is well worth it if you really want to get away from it all. A few things to consider if you want to stay here:

 * The cheaper rooms, especially in peak times, fill up well in advance. Try to book early.
 * When considering the cost, factor in the mark-up for food (4x vs Ko Tao) and drinks (> 10x vs Ko Tao).
 * Many rooms may require a significant hike up the mountain on narrow stairs.
 * Rooms do not have telephones (i.e., you need to walk to reception if you have a problem). No room service.
 * There is zero nightlife on Ko Nang Yuan. It is not feasible/possible to travel to Ko Tao at night.
 * All rooms have a TV, but only a couple of rooms actually allow viewing of any television channels. You can borrow DVDs for free from reception.

Stay safe
Currents can be very strong.

Go next

 * Ko Tao

title: Ko Nang Yuan


text:
Konark

Konark or Konarak (Odia: 6କଣାର୍କ Koṇārka, Hindi: कोणार्क Koṇārk) is a small town in Coastal Odisha, on the Bay of Bengal, 65 kilometres from Bhubaneswar, famous for its 13th-century Sun Temple and the Chandrabhaga River.

Understand

Konark is also known as Konaditya. The name "Konark" is derived from the words koṇa ("corner") and arka ("Sun"), therefore it literally means "corner of the Sun". It is at north-east of Puri or the Chakrakshetra. The Sun Temple of Konark, often called the Black Pagoda, was constructed in the mid-thirteenth century by Raja Narasinghs Deva I of the Ganga Dynasty and is an ample testament to the artistic glory of the time. It is often considered the best among other temples of its kind and that is saying something when you are talking about the Swarna Tribhuja ("golden triangle") of Odisha which boasts of Jagannath Temple and Lingaraja Temple of Puri and Bhubaneswar respectively.

The entire territory lies in the tropics and hence is subject to high temperatures.

Legend of Konark
Legend has it that Samba, the king of Krishna and Jambavati entered the bathing chamber of Krishna's wives, and was cursed by Krishna with leprosy. It was decreed that he would be relieved of the curse by worshipping the Sun God on the sea coast north-east of Puri.

It is said that the temple was not completed as conceived because the foundation was not strong enough to bear the weight of the heavy dome. As stated in the various stories regarding the temple as well as its construction, the temple possess a huge aura of power. It is believed that this enormous power comes from the two powerful magnets. It is stated that these magnets are used in the construction of the tower. The magnet made the throne of king to hover in the middle of the air.

Due to its magnetic effects, vessels passing through the Konark sea were drawn to it, resulting in heavy damage. Other legends state that magnetic effects of the lodestone disturbed ships' compasses so that they did not function correctly. To save their shipping, the Portuguese voyagers took away the lodestone, which was acting as the central stone and keeping all the stones, and the iron columns used to hold them walls together, of the temple wall in balance. Due to its displacement, the temple walls lost their balance and eventually fell down. But there is no record of this occurrence in any historical records, nor is there any record of the existence of such a powerful lodestone at Konark.

Architecture of Sun Temple
The Sun Temple is the culmination of Odishan temple architecture and one of the most stunning monuments of religious architecture in the world. The massive structure, now in ruins, sits in solitary splendour surrounded by drifting sand. Today it is located two kilometers from the sea, but originally the ocean came almost up to its base. Until fairly recent times, in fact, the temple was close enough to the shore to be used as a navigational point by European sailors, who referred to it as the 'Black Pagoda'.

The Konark Sun Temple belongs to the Central Indian style of Temple architecture, though it does not have tall shikharas of the later temples of Odisha and Central India.

Talk
People are hospitable in nature and Hindi and Bengali are understood and sometimes spoken by the people in addition to Odia. English is generally understood but not frequently spoken.

Get in
Konark is one of the most prominent cities of Odisha. It is a very famous tourist destination, especially for those who are traveling from eastern or southern part of India. The convenient way to get to Konark is drive either from Puri (33 km) or Bhubaneswar (65 km). The best time to visit Konark is from October to March.

By plane
The nearest airport is at Bhubaneswar, which is about 64 km away. It is linked with Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, and Nagpur and operates several direct flights.

By train
The railway stations nearest to Konark are in Puri and Bhubaneswar. These stations are linked with almost all the major destinations in India by train.

By car
The National and State Highways link Konark with Puri and Bhubaneswar forming a virtual triangle popularly known as Golden Triangle of East. To reach Konark from Bhubaneswar, after travelling 20 km take a left turn once you reach Pipili. The road straight ahead leads to Puri.

Hiring a taxi is the best way of travel between Puri and Konark. There are good number of transport buses as well as private coaches plying from both the cities. State buses are also available to Konark from Bhubaneswar's Bus Stand, Vani Vihar and Kalpana Chhak. Travel by bus is however much, much cheaper compared to renting a car. Although cramped and rather uncomfortable, these buses offer a unique experience of daily life in Odisha for less than ₹80 ($1).

Get around
Auto-rickshaws, taxis and cycle rickshaws are there for roaming around in the town. State bus services are rickety and uncomfortable while traveling unless you are on a budget. They are very good value in the ratio of adventure-to-rupees.

There are regular buses and terrain vehicles to Konark from Puri, which is 33km down the coast. The journey takes about an hour and the last bus back to Puri leaves from 6:30AM Alternatively, you can take an auto-rickshaw for ₹250-300 round trip, including waiting time.

Official guided tours leave from the Panthaniwas (Odisha Tourism) in Bhubaneswar (Tu-Su 6:30-6:30AM, ₹130 per person) and also visit Dhauli.

See
The main attraction of the place is the Konark Sun Temple, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. The temple is situated in the Konark village to the north of Puri in the coastal region of the Bay of Bengal. It has extensive stone carvings on the walls, many of them highly erotic. Though the temple is under ruin due to heavy erosion its magnificence is still reflected in its architecture.

Konark Sun Temple

 * The temple compound measures 857 by. The alignment of the Sun Temple is on the east–west direction.
 * The entire temple was planned in such a way that it is fitted with twelve pairs of exquisitely decorated stone wheels. The horses were conceived in such a way that the Sun God (Surya) drives this chariot, his place being inside the garbhagriha.
 * The major entrance in the temple is place on the east side and it faces the sea. This entrance is located in the façade of bhogamandapa which is also known as the Hall of Offerings. The sculptures of dancers as well as musicians is engraved on the walls of this hall, hence the hall was later used for the traditional dance recital.
 * On the western side of the temple lies the sanctuary tower which is now nothing but a clutter of various sandstone slabs which are kept one over another. This impressive construction is believed to have had a pyramidical roof commonly known as jaganmohan.
 * The roof of jagamohana has around 3 tiers and many statues are placed over them. The statues are either of dancers or the musicians. The platform at the base also has a sculpture of Lord Shiva as Nataraja and performing the dance. The interior of the terrace is nowadays barren up.
 * The stairs that take you up towards the Statute of Surya are located beyond the terrace. The statue of the Sun god is carved out a huge green colored chlorite stone. It is supposed to be the most beautiful work of art present in Konark. However, the entrance door to the Jaganmohan is closed due to the frequent fall of debris and stones from the ceiling.

The Konark temple also marks the culmination of the temple building architecture in Odisha. Apart from the depiction of the stone wheels and the caparisoned horses drawing the colossal chariot of Sun God, the Konark Temple is a typical example of the Odishan temple architecture. The temple is not different from those of other regions.

 * The eastern gateway which is the main entrance to the temple compound, is decorated with Gajasimha (Lion upon an elephant) images, with outward faces, installed on two high stone-benches on either side of the passage.

 * The wheels of the chariot are also symbolic and have been interpreted as the 'Wheel of Life'. They portray the cycle of creation, preservation and achievement of realisation. The diameter of each of the wheels is about 9 feet (2.73 metres) and each of them has a set eight equal parts. They are elaborately carved all over. The thicker ones are all carved with circular medallions at their centres on the widest part of the face. The axels of the wheels project by about one foot from the surface, having similar decorations at their ends. The rims are carved with designs of foliages with various birds and animals, whereas the medallions in the spokes are carved with the figures of women in various luxurious poses, mostly of erotic nature.
 * The nata mandir in front of the Jagamohana is exquisitely carved with the images of dancers, flora and foliage, men in armor, and creatively eroticism.
 * There are three images of the Sun God (formerly four) at the top, facing each direction to catch the rays of the sun at dawn, noon and sunset.
 * The figures of elephants which had originally stood on the side walls of the flights of steps at the northern and southern sides of the Jagamohana, were found amidst the debris.
 * The Melakkadambur Shiva temple, built in the form of a chariot during the age of Kulottunga Chola I (1075–1120), is the earliest of this kind, and is still in a well preserved state.
 * There is a small museum outside the temple compound run by Archaeological Survey of India, which stores the sculpture from the temple ruins. It remains open Sa-Th 9AM-5PM. Entry is free.
 * To the south west of the Sun temple there is the temple of the Goddess Ramachandi. There are, however, differing opinions about the presiding deity of this temple. It has been surmised by some that this was the temple of Mayadevi, wife of Surya (Sun god) while others opine that it was the earlier Sun temple in which Sun was being worshiped.
 * It is strongly advised to enter the temple complex at 6AM when gates open. This is when the temple is at its quietest and most beautiful, with the drama of sunrise as you explore the ruins. The hoards of domestic tourists tend to arrive around 8:30AM and stick around all day.

Other attractions
Though the Konark temple is the key tourist attraction in the area. However, if you wish to stay in Konark for a full-day it is advisable to spend other destination spots otherwise abandoned or see few visitation. If travelling by the OTDC or private tour operators - these destinations are either narrated by the bus operators or halted for approximately an hour during the trip.

Concerns over safety
Although the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) are working on the restoration of this magnificent heritage structure, concerns were raised by different quarters in Odisha over the deteriorating condition of the Sun temple.

Legends describe a lodestone (magnet) on the top of the Sun temple. Due to its magnetic effects, vessels passing through the Konark sea were drawn to it, resulting in heavy damage. Other legends state that magnetic effects of the lodestone disturbed ships' compasses so that they did not function correctly. To save their shipping, the Portuguese voyagers took away the lodestone, which was acting as the central stone and keeping all the stones, and the iron columns used to hold them walls together, of the temple wall in balance. Due to its displacement, the temple walls lost their balance and eventually fell down. But there is no record of this occurrence in any historical records, nor is there any record of the existence of such a powerful lodestone at Konark Temple.

But the Konark Surakhya Samiti (save Konark committee) said that falling stones from the 13th-century monument had turned “into a regular feature”. Chunks of masonry have fallen off at regular intervals. In 1998 a two-tonne cornice stone on the northeastern side of the jagmohan fell off onto a ledge. The interior of the jagmohan has been sealed off since 1951, when conservation work on the monument was seriously taken up for the first time. The walls were shored up from the inside and the interior was filled with sand to prevent imminent collapse; such was its tenuous state.

One reason why no major steps are being taken by the ASI officials is for fear it might lead to the total collapse of the crumbling temple.

Do
Konark is not only an ideal choice for monument, beach and scenic beauties but also for its colourful festivals. The "Konark Festival" held every year is a great attraction for cultural cognoscenti. The most popular and colourful festival of Konark, an occasion for a grand congregation of Indian pilgrims and enthusiasts from abroad, falls on the seventh day of the new moon of Magha.

Most tourists would find it comfortable to make a day trip to Konark from Puri or Bhubaneswar and return, rather than stay overnight at hotels in Konark. Usually travellers starts from Puri and covers Bhubaneswar and Konark in a day-trip. But to take a break away from the humdrum of the main city, Konark is the best place to enjoy serenity.

Chandrabhaga Mela
Chandrabhaga Mela, in February, is the most popular festival. This is a day specially set aside for the worship of the Sun God at Konark. Thousands of pilgrims flock to Konark every year to take a holy dip on the Chandrabhaga River and then circumambulate the shrine or jagamohan to worship the Navagraha stone which used to be above the eastern portal and is now set up in a small shed outside the compound.

This is the most popular and colourful festival of the place when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visit Konark to observe the festival. In fact this is the second biggest festival in Odisha, after the Car Festival of Puri.

Konark Dance Festival
Another colourful festival is the Konark Dance Festival considered as the cultural mecca where eminent classical dancers and singers across the country participate to perform before the live audience in an open-air auditorium set on the backdrop of Konark Temple. The festival has assumed a kind of distinctive significance and importance for the timely efforts it has made to wards the revival, preservation and continuation of the unique temple dance tradition of Odisha.

Buy
Though famous for its temples, Konark is a fascinating shopping destination too. The best way to enjoy shopping in Konark would be a leisurely stroll through the markets of the city of Konark.

Check out the Patta paintings and the appliqué work of Pipli or the brilliantly embroidered umbrellas that make a fascinating buy. If you are planning to buy souvenirs then the best option would be the government emporiums which stock fabrics and handicrafts items from across the state of Odisha.

Local marketers or shops sells seashells and conches which are good and cheap souvenirs to carry back home however, you need to bargain with the shopkeepers. Normally, the prices are doubled for the products as shopkeepers are aware of the bargaining habits.

Eat and drink
The main market area, near the beach and temple complex has numbers of local dhabas (food joints) serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Apart from relishing the local delicacies, fried fish prepared in the Bengali style is highly recommended. Other than Indian cuisines, continental and Chinese dishes are also available at an affordable rate.

Sleep
There are few decent accommodation options in Konark and the situation is getting better with every passing day. Hotels or lodges in places like Puri and Bhubaneswar offer more choices because they are considered to be more famous travel destinations. But there are a number of decent accommodations in Konark.

Respect
When entering the temples visitors are required to cover their heads and leave their shoes at one of the shoe-stalls. Photography is free; however, visitors need to pay extra for videography. Terminal guides are available. However tourists may take the assistance of the Tourist Officer, Konark for better information.

Guides advise that as there is no longer a god housed at the Sun Temple, visitors are not required to take off shoes and cover their heads.

Go next

 * Bhubaneswar - 65 km away, the ancient city has a long history of 3000 years and is a popular travel hub especially for its temples, Buddhist caves of monolithic age, and Asia's biggest zoo.
 * Chilika - 35 km away the brackish water lagoon is the world's second largest. It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent. The lake is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals.
 * Cuttack - 68 km away is a commercial center and host to many ancient temples and excavations sites.
 * Gopalpur-on-Sea - 180 km away is a very quiet and one of the most pristine beaches and a favorite among the sea-goers.
 * Paradip - 85 km away is a town, a seaport which accepts sea traffic via man-made lagoons.
 * Puri - 30 km away, is one of the oldest cities in the eastern part of the country and a religious hub with the Jaggannath temple. The place is also famous among the newlyweds and retirees for its roaring beaches.
 * Rourkela - 285 km away is surrounded by a range of hills and encircled by rivers. Quite an industrial area.

title: Konark


text:
Ko Ngai

Ko Ngai (เกาะไหง) is an island district in Krabi Province, but actually it can better be reached via Trang in the Southern Andaman Coast. Like many other coastal destinations in southern Thailand, it is known for its diving and long white beaches.

Understand
Ko Ngai (Hai) is a tiny island measuring 4 km long and 2 km wide. Mountainous and covered by tropical forest, much of the coastline is indented with rocky headlands, while the eastern part has some beautiful sand beaches, and in the south coconut plantations and more beautiful smaller beaches. The island has a white beach and clear water and is surrounded by magnificent corals.

Don't be surprised to see crab-eating monkeys and monitor lizards coming down from the mountains. In the uninhabited western and northern parts of the island, bird watchers should have a field day looking out for migrating birds. Snorkelling is easy along the western and southern coast, where some reefs can be accessed directly from the beach.

Get in
Ko Ngai or Ko Hai is an island that is administratively in Amphoe Ko Lanta of Krabi, but easier to access from Trang (from Pak Meng Pier, 15 km distant on the mainland opposite, in Trang Province). Standard ferries take about one hour. A boat can be rented for 1,500 baht (10 people) or 6,000-10,000 baht (for 20-40 people). A faster speedboat connection from Pak Meng Pier is also available, departing around the same time. It takes just 20 minutes.

From Ko Lanta there is no scheduled ferry service to Ko Ngai although it is possible to rent a private longtail from Saladan (Ko Lanta) during high season (Nov-Apr). Another possibility is to buy a snorkelling trip from Ko Lanta and leave the boat at Ko Ngai.

Get around
There are no roads on the island, so getting around from one beach to another is done on foot, or longtail boats that can be hired at the resorts.

There is a foot path (jungle trek) from the main beach in the east to two beaches in the south, the westernmost of which has the Ko Ngai Paradise Resort. From there, you can follow a path that goes to national park headquarters area and then to a hill with a two viewpoints.

An accurate map of the island can be found at OpenStreetMap

See
Enjoy the view from the main (east) beach to the karst outcrops.

Chateau Hill has great views from its hillside pool area.

Do

 * The hills of Ko Ngai offer some spectacular jungle trekking amid virgin jungle.
 * Take a kayak and see the island from the sea at a distance.
 * Most of the resorts offer trips to nearby islands for sightseeing and snorkelling. Emerald Cave on Ko Mook is one of the more popular attractions.

Eat
All the resorts have restaurants that serve fresh seafood, Thai, and Western dishes. Thapwarin Resort has a notably good restaurant with friendly staff and high quality cuisine with wide selection of dishes. Fantasy Resort boasts an impressive-looking restaurant.

Drink
All resort restaurants offer beer, many of them offer wine as well. CoCo Cottage has a bar with a long selection of cocktails.

title: Ko Ngai


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Kongernes Nordsjælland National Park

Kongernes Nordsjælland, or in English - the North Zealand of Kings, is a national park in the making in Nordsjælland, Denmark. The national park status has yet to take full effect, due to disagreements on the parks boundaries, but the necessary law passed in parliament in 2008.

Landscape
A large portion of the national park is taken up by Gribskov, Denmark's 4th largest forest, covering some 5600 hectares (ca 14.000 acres), the landscape here is undulating with varied vegetation, but mostly pine, beech and some majestic old oak trees. The forest is bordered by Esrum Sø to the east, Denmark's 3rd largest lake by area, and largest by water volume, at the southern corner is a protected bay rich on birds, further east through an area of farms and fields lies the shallow, 2-km2 Gurre Sø surrounded by relatively untouched forest. South of Gribskov is the expansive deer garden Store Dyrehave where the star-shaped trail system used for the royal Par force hunts still dominates. To the north you will find Tisvilde hegn Arresø.

Flora and fauna
While not exactly rich on fauna by most standards, for a densely populated area like Denmark - and Zealand in particular, the range of animals to be spotted here is richer than almost everywhere else in the country outside the Wadden sea. Mammals living in the park includes many species of deer (red-, roe-, fallow- and sika deer) which constituted a large part of the royal interests in the northern forests. You can also see foxes and the European Badger, and if you are extremely lucky you can sometimes spot Osprey or the White Tailed Eagles. More common sightings are the Common Buzzard and to some extent the Honey Buzzard and Sparrow Hawk.

Get in
The national park borders Helsingør to the east, the Zealand North Coast to the north, Frederiksværk and Hundested to the west and Hillerød and Fredensborg to the south, and can be easily accessed by bike or even by foot from these cities.

Route 205 between Helsingør and Frederiksværk pass through the northern part of the park, while routes 6 and 16 between the same destinations pass through the southern part of the park. Routes 213, 235, 227 and 267 pass through the park in a north-south direction.

Bus 362 from Helsingør stop by Esrum Møllegård. Bus 940R between Hillerum and Gilleleje on the north coast stops at the bus station Mårum Station in the park area.

Fees and permits
There are no fees to enter the park, and the only fee you are likely to encounter is the compulsory angling license if you plan on fishing in any of the lakes; 35 kr/day, 100 kr/week or 140 kr/year.

Get around
Gribskovbanen (The Grib forest railway) is one of the oldest private railways in the country. It was built between 1880 and 1924, mainly to haul lumber between Grib Forest and Copenhagen, which was a tedious venture to do over land, but it has also carried passengers nearly since its beginnings. Today it mainly carries commuters to Hillerød where passengers can continue with the S-train to and from Copenhagen, but during the summer its also packed with vacationers going to their holiday homes or the beaches on the North Coast, or on small treks in Gribskov (stops: Gribsø, Kagerup & Mårum).

Another way of getting around would be on a bike, from Hillerød two marked bicycle routes takes you towards the North Coast. Route 32 towards Helsinge and Tisvildeleje (Tisvilde Hegn) takes you along the western boundary of Gribskov, and route 33 takes you directly through Gribskov to Gilleleje. Besides those two bicycle routes there are ample of paths through the forests, and scenic thinly trafficked roads to take you throughout the park.

Royal remains
While the royal connotations in the parks name mainly refers to the 3 grand royal palaces of Northern Zealand; Kronborg in Helsingør, Fredensborg Slot in Fredensborg and Frederiksborg Slot in Hillerød, these are in the respective cities, and are not part of the national park - although they can be visited as part of an excursion to the park. There are ruins related to the royal history of the lands contained in the park, that relate to the kings of old, though you'd probably need a strong interest in archaeology or history to go out of your way to see these sites.

Eat
Esrum Møllegård tourist centre has a café, open 11.00-17.00 Tu-Su, and a small shop where you can buy some basic snacks and groceries.

Backcountry
In Nyrup Hegn and Klosteris Hegn there is free camping which is rare in Denmark

Go next

 * Helsingør - known as the home of Hamlet
 * Zealand North Coast - has plenty of beaches
 * Hillerød and Fredensborg - small cities with large castles, just south of the park

title: Kongernes Nordsjælland National Park


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Kongsberg

Kongsberg is a town in Buskerud. It is an old mining community that developed around the rich silver mines from the 1600s. Today the town is a high-tech centre in Norway and the mines are now only a great sight for visitors. Kongsberg is the gate to the great Numedal valley. There is also a nice winter sport resort in the hills of Kongsberg.

Understand
Kongsberg was founded in 1624, after silver was discovered in the hills. The Danish-Norwegian king recruited German miners to the mines. As result, Kongsberg in the 17th century was a "German" town. It was the second largest in Norway only rivaled by Bergen. Mining ceased in 1957. The name "Kongsberg" means something like "King's mounta" or "King's mining hills".

Kongsberg today is a centre for high-tech industry. Kongsberg also hosts the Norwegian mint, and all Norwegian coins since 1686 are produced in Kongsberg. Kongsberg was from its foundation a key town in Norway, thanks to the rich silver sources in the hills. Today it's merely a small town, but its rich past is seen, for instance, in Konsberg church, still Norway's largest church by number of seats. Kongsberg and Røros Churches are the two monumental churches of the 1700s.

Silver mines
Unlike most other Norwegian towns, Kongsberg is not a port but resides in the valley next to the mines. The silver mines is a web of some 1000 km of tunnels, and 300 shafts, dug out during more than 300 years of production, and is a key historical monument. The mines cover an area of 30 square km, which also includes about 80 dams supplying water to the facilities. Unlike most mines, in the Kongsberg mines large chunks of pure silver were often found deep in the hard rock. More than 1 million kilograms of pure silver were extracted from these hills. The deepest shafts went 1000 meters underground. At its peak, the mines employed some 4000 people and were Norway's largest enterprise before the industrial era. A small train brings visitors a few kilometers into the mines (May 18 to August 31).

Røros and Kongsberg were the only towns in Norway that enjoyed the special bergstad (mining town) privileges.

By plane

 * Oslo Airport, Gardermoen Driving distance to Gardermoen: about two hours. Train connections from Kongsberg.

 * [[Sandefjord] Airport Torp]

By rail
Trains between Oslo and Kristiansand passes Kongsberg. There is 23 trains a day between Oslo and Kongsberg. , the main railway station is located at Schwabes gate 2 just north of the city centre.

By bus
"Timekspressen" Bus between Oslo and Notodden passes Kongsberg, every hour, every day.

By car
Kongsberg is on the E134 highway. Driving distance from Oslo is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. E134 continues in westward to Notodden, and over the mountain towards Haugesund. Or Northern going road 40 towards Geilo and then after 5 kilometres to Rjukan westwards on road 37.

Get around
Kongsberg is a compact town. So it is possible to walk. Kongsberg also has many cycling paths.

See

Go next

 * Numedal valley towards Geilo.
 * Blefjell, great cross country skiing.
 * Bolkesjø, great for hikingtrips and fishing.
 * Rjukan, drive towards Geilo, and off to Road 37 to find historical town with many possible activities.

title: Kongsberg


text:
Kongsvinger

Kongsvinger is a city in Hedmark, Norway situated on both sides of the river Glomma, where the south-flowing river takes a sharp northwestward turn.

By plane
Kongsvinger is just an hour away from Gardermoen airport by bus.

By train
Travel by train or bus from Oslo or Karlstad or Stockholm in Sweden.

By bus
Busses from Oslo every hour, and twice every hour during rush hours.

title: Kongsvinger


text:
Kongtongshan National Park

Kongtongshan National Park is in Gansu Province of China.

Understand
Hidden in the mountains near the Gansu-Ningxia border lies Kongtong Shan and the Daoist monastery located atop the mountain. At the base of the mountain is a lake along with several temples also in the area.

History
Formerly the abode of the Eight Immortals and the hermitage of ascetic priests, Kongtong Shan has 42 Qin and Han dynasty temples and pavilions built on high forested cliffs. Spectacular views from the tops of the mountain peaks and the genuinely friendly people make for a very spiritual visit.

Get in
Located west of the town of Pingliang, which can be reached from Lanzhou by train and by bus

Fees and permits
¥60 per person off-season (November-March). ¥120 per person peak-season (April-October).

Do
The traditional Pilgrimage Route involves starting at Qianshan, and climbing roughly 4 km of stairs, stopping at the little temples and shrines to pray. For those who feel that this is too strenuous, a taxi can take you to the Middle Peak via Houshan.

title: Kongtongshan National Park


text:
Konjic

Konjic is a town between Sarajevo and Mostar on the Neretva river in the Herzegovina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

History
The early history of Konjic dates back 4 millennia, with remains of various settlements dating back 2000 years ago found along the Neretva river. Its existence was first recorded by the Republic of Ragusa in 1382. The city was later incorporated in the Ottoman Empire, which left it Islamic architecture and its Ottoman bridge. During Austro-Hungarian occupation, Konjic adopted a European architectural style which forms a blend with Ottoman architecture as seen in many cities and towns around Herzegovina.

After the First World War, which was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in nearby Sarajevo, Konjic became part of Yugoslavia. During the Cold War, the city was selected by president Josip Broz Tito for his military command centre, therefore known as Tito's Bunker, which is today its best known tourist attraction. The bunker opened in May 2011 for the first edition of the Bijenale, a bi-annual contemporary art exhibition in the bunker.

Orientation
Konjic developed near the eastern end of Jablanica Lake, along the Neretva river. Its location in the Neretva valley forced it to remain a thin strip of residential and industrial areas along the river shores. Those visiting Herzegovina from Bosnia must pass through Konjic, either by rail or road, giving the city a strategic role.

By train
The most comfortable way to reach Konjic is by train, which stop at the station. The journey from Sarajevo is recommendable, because the train meanders itself over the mountain pass between Herzegovina and Bosnia, and only cuts off the highest peak with a railway tunnel, rewarding travelers with many amazing views. The last stop in Herzegovina is.

Konjic can also be reached with a direct connection from Croatia, starting in Ploce and passing through Mostar and Jablanica. Most of the trajectory follows the Neretva river canyon, which by itself makes the journey more than worthwhile particularly if the weather is good.

As a general issue in Bosnia and Herzegovina, trains run infrequent, and if they do, the rolling stock is outdated. Expect overheated carriages in summer (bring lots of water) and near zero temperatures in winter.

By bus
A bus journey from Sarajevo to Konjic takes travelers over the at an elevation of 955 m, and costs ca. 8 KM for a one way ticket. The journey takes 80 - 90 minutes.

Get around
Konjic is small enough to explore by foot. Beware of traffic near the M-115 where some drivers are occasionally seen driving down the mountain pass rather recklessly. Instead of crossing the Neretva over the Novi Most, consider Stari Most to the south.

See
Konjic's museum & art gallery opened in 2011. It has a small ethnographic collection, and paintings by local artists. The Mulić Record Museum holds a nationally-important collection of wooden furniture. The Ottoman bridge (built 1682, restored 2007-2010) in the centre of the town.

Do
Go rafting on the Neretva!

Go next

 * Sarajevo — National capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the border between European and oriental culture
 * Jablanica — Pearl on the Neretva, and home to the Stecci
 * Mostar — Famous for its Ottoman bridge, and cultural diversity

title: Konjic


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Konkan

Konkan (Konkani: कोंकण Koṅkaṇ) is a coastal region of Western India, consisting of the coastal areas of Maharashtra and Goa. Some definitions include the entire western coast of India, from Gujarat to Kerala.

Cities

 * (Bombay) — the largest city in the region, the second-largest city in India and the financial capital of India

 * — a hill station in Maharashtra

 * — A port city in Maharashtra, known for Alphonso mangoes

 * — a beach town, known for a Portuguese-era fort

Understand
The Konkan region is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west and the Western Ghats to the east.

Talk
Marathi and Konkani are the main languages of the Konkan region. While English is not well understood outside the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Hindi is well understood by most people.

By train
The Konkan region, along with the Karavali region, is part of the Konkan Railway (KR). It provides a scenic view along the coast.

Eat

 * Fruits from April to May end you must have the king of fruits, Hapus (or "Alphonso") mango, especially from Ratnagari District. You can also try on Fanas (jackfruit), Karvanda (blue berries), Jambhul, Kokam, cashew fruit/nut
 * Tender coconut.
 * San-za-na, jackfruit idli with coconut or cow milk
 * Fanas Bhaji, jackfruit curry
 * Amti Bhat, rice and yellow dal curry
 * Koyada, half ripe mango curry
 * Vatli dal, raw mango dal
 * Sol kadhi kokam curry
 * Kadva wal usal beans curry
 * Bangdyache human mackerel coconut curry

Veg specialities in Konkan region:

 * Chulivarchya Bhakrya - Cake of native grains made on chulha
 * Fanas Bhaji - Spicy jackfruit curry
 * Amti Bhat - rice and yellow dal curry
 * Koyada - half ripe mango sweet sour curry
 * San-za-na- jackfruit sweet dish with coconut or cow milk
 * Kelphoolachi Bhaji - a Konkan favourite made of banana flowers
 * Vatli dal - side dish made up with raw mango dal
 * Sol kadhi - kokam curry
 * The modak, considered to be the favourite steamed delight of the Hindu elephant god, Ganesha.

Non-veg specialities in Konkan Region:

 * Kurkuron Bombeel - crisply fried Mumbai duck
 * Tisrya-che Kalvan - clams in thick spicy masala
 * Bangadyachi Chatni - spicy dry dish made of tasty fish
 * Vade - Sagoti - meat dish with fried cake of mixed grains

Drink

 * Kokam Sarbat, cool kokam juice
 * Amba Panha, raw mango drink
 * Tender coconut water
 * Maadi-fresh palm sap
 * Sol-Kadhi, typical Konkani drink made by Kokam
 * Avala Sarbat, typical Konkani drink made by Avala
 * Karvand Sarbat, typical Konkani drink made by Karvand
 * Khazoor Maadi, an alcoholic drink made from date tree juice.

Stay safe
Like most parts of Western India, Konkan has a low crime rate. However, pickpockets are known to operate in and around major cities like Mumbai. Keep your money, passport and credit card safely in your wallet.

Also, be careful while travelling along the Konkan coast. Landslides are not uncommon and they cause significant disruptions along the way.

title: Konkan


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Konkani phrasebook

Konkani (कोंकणी) is the main language of Goa, India.

Basics

 * Hello. : Namaskar
 * Hello. (informal) : Namaskar
 * How are you? :  kaso assa?(male);Kashe assa?(female)
 * I Am Fine : Haav Sauki Asa
 * Fine, thank you. : bur assa
 * What is your name? : Tuggele naav kithe?
 * My name is ______ . :  ______ . (Mhajhe nav ____)
 * Nice to meet you. : . Tumka mell-nu khushi zalli
 * Please. : Chike
 * Thank you. : . Dev Borem Korum
 * You're welcome. : . ( )
 * Yes. : . ( Vhoi/Vai)
 * No. : . (Na )
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : (matshe aikta  )
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : (matshe parat ekda sang )
 * I'm sorry. : Makka Maaf Kari
 * Goodbye : . Yetha Literally- 'Will come again'
 * Goodbye (informal) : . (bare meluya parat kennai )
 * I can't speak Konkani [well]. : [ ]. ( [])
 * Do you speak English? : ? (Tumi English ulaytat ?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : ? (Hanga konney English ullaitati assat ?)
 * Help! : ! (madat kar !)
 * Look out! : ! (Palle )
 * Good morning. : . (Dis Borem Zavonn )
 * Good evening. : . (Sanj Borem Zavonn )
 * Good night. : . (Rati Boren Zavonn )
 * Good night (to sleep) : . (Havn Nidata )
 * I don't understand. : . ( Mhaka Kallana)
 * Where is the toilet? : ? (Toilet khany asa?)

Numbers
1 = "Ek"

2 = "Donn"

3 = "Teen"

4 = "Char"

5 = "Panch"

6 = "Sah"

7 = "Saat"

8 = "Aatt"

9 = "Nav"

10 = "Dha"

11 = "eekra"

12 = "Bara"

13 = "Tera"

14 = "Choudah"

15 = "Pandrah"

16 = "Sol-ah"

17 = "Satrah"

18 = "othra"

19 = "EkouNis"

20 = "Vis"

Colors
Red = "Tambde"

Black = "Kaalle"

White = "Dhavve"

Blue = "Nillo"

Yellow = "Pivllo"

Green = "Pachvo/Harro"

Money
Money- ("Paiso/Duddu") Rupee- ("Rupai")

Eating
Meal - Jeavonn

Hot(Temperature)- Hunn Cold-Thand

to Drink- Pivpak/Pivchak

to Eat- Khavpak/Khavchak

I want to eat (Makka Khavpak Zai)

Vegetarian-Shakahari

I want a vegetarian meal-(Makka Vegetarian/ Shakahari Jeavonn Zai)

It is too spicy-hot(Taste) - Heh Chadd Tikk assa

I want it less spicy- Makka Unne/Kammi Tikk zai

I want it more spicy- Makka Chadd tikk zai

Milk- Duddh

Rice- Sheeth

Water- Udak

Bottled Water- Baatlen udak or Bisleri(Brand)

Fish- Masoli / Nuste

Prawn- sungata

Vegetables- Randhe-kai/bhaji

Cashew-Kaju

I do not eat meat- Havn Mavns Khai- na.

I do not eat eggs- Havn tanti Khai-na.

Is this water boiled? (Heh Udak Ukadlale assa?)

Please heat it again- (Chikke parat Hunn Korun Haddta?)

Can I heat milk for a child? -Sann/Lann cheldak- khatri duddh hun korpaco assa.

Shopping
haha
 * How Much Is this? : Hakka Kitle Paiso/duddu?
 * Reduce the cost to a reasonable amount : Chike Unne Kari Re
 * I do not want it at this price : Makka Hain Mollak nakka
 * I am going : Havn Vatta
 * I have seen this cheaper elsewhere : Havn Hain unne mollak dusra zageri palleaila
 * Price : Moll

title: Konkani phrasebook


text:
Konni

Konni is a hill town in Central Travancore in India.

Understand
Malayalam is the official language. People can read and write English.

By plane

 * Kochi International Airport 151 km, or International airports at Thiruvananthapuram   105 km and Kozhikode . Direct flights there from the Middle East, Singapore, Maldives, Europe and Sri Lanka.
 * Alternatively reach Chennai (Madras), Bangalore, Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, or other Indian cities and then by train.

By train
Tiruvalla Railway Station (55 km) is in the district. Chengannur Railway Station (46 km).

Buses to Pathanamthitta are operated right from the arrival gate of Chengannur Railway Station in every 2 minutes. From Pathanamthitta buses are available to Konni every 5 minutes. Distance from Pathanamthitta to Konni is 9 km.

By bus
Both the state run KSRTC and Private Luxury Bus are available from Pathanamthitta to Konni. All the buses to Punalur and Pathanapuram passes through Konni.

By road
To reach Konni by road:
 * Kochi - Alappuzha - Changanassery - Tiruvalla - Pathanamthitta - Kumbazha- Konni
 * Thiruvananthapuram - Anchal - punalur - Pathanapuram - Konni
 * Munnar / Thekkadi - Kanjirappally - Erumeli - Ranni - Pathanamthitta - Konni
 * Thenkasi - Punalur - Pathanapuram - Konni

Get around

 * Bus - local bus service system is very efficient in Pathanamthitta and is the most economical way to commute.
 * Autoricksha - This is cheap way of transportation facility between attractions.
 * Taxi - Both Local taxis and Tourist Taxis are available at cheap rates.
 * Car - There are many Car rental companies offering cars with drivers or self drive.

Drink

"Kutty's" A 3 star facility located across Konni Jn. for refreshment and relaxation with reasonably good standard.

title: Konni


text:
Konso

Konso is a small town in Southern Ethiopia. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011.

Understand
The town was named after the local tribes-people, the Konso. The tiny town was built around a roundabout and is locally important as the central market in the region.

See

 * The city contains a number of cultural relics of the inhabitants, including a number of waga sculptures.
 * Just outside the city, there are many archaeological sites where human remains and fossils from the prehistoric era have been found.
 * Up the main road from the roundabout is the official tourist information with well trained guides. They will give you an individual tour of the surrounding villages, the tribes' chief compounds, the big canyon called sometimes "New York" and the hot springs. Go with an official guide and not with one of the random touts at the hotels.

Buy
A market is held on Mondays and Thursdays, just next to the centre of town on Jinka Road.

Sleep

 * Green Hotel (200m from the roundabout to Arba Minch) Best value in town, clean rooms. 200 Birr Single (Sep 2016).

Note that the water supply in Konso is not stable and you may need to shower with a bucket.

title: Konso


text:
Konstanz

Konstanz is a city in southern Germany. It lies on the border with Switzerland and on Lake Constance (Bodensee) between Obersee and Untersee, exactly where the river Rhine exits the lake. The city is split in two by the Rhine. Although the Rhine is the usual border between Switzerland and Germany, the historic part of Konstanz lies on the south ("Swiss") side of the Rhine and is more or less an exclave.

Understand
Konstanz has traces of civilization dating from the stone age and was settled by the Romans in about 50 CE. Konstanz was an important trade centre and a spiritual centre. At the council of Konstanz in 1414-1418, a papal election was held, ending the papal schism. Three popes went into the council (one from Avignon one from Rome one from Pisa) an entirely different person left as the single pope. The council was also the place where Jan Hus was burned despite an assurance of safe passage. Konstanz attempted to join the Swiss Confederacy in about 1460, but was voted down. Due to its proximity to Switzerland, Konstanz was not bombed during World War II and its historic old town remains intact. It is a historic city with a charming old town, and could be called the jewel of the region.

By plane
Konstanz has no commercial airport. The closest airports are:
 * Zurich Airport (Switzerland) . By car 1 hour to Konstanz. By train 1 to 1.5 hours to Konstanz. There is a direct train from Zurich airport to Konstanz once an hour, and another train with a connection in Weinfelden once an hour.
 * Friedrichshafen Airport (Germany) . By car 1 hour to Konstanz (take the car ferry between Meersburg and Konstanz). By train approx. 2 hours to Konstanz. By boat approx 1 hour to Konstanz (take the train from Friedrichshafen airport to Friedrichshafen Hafen and get the Katamaran to Konstanz).
 * Stuttgart Airport (Germany) . By car 2 hours to Konstanz. By train 2.5 to 3 hours to Konstanz.
 * EuroAirport (Basel, Switzerland). About 2 hours by car.  By train, 2 hours from Konstanz first to the Basel Bad Bahnhof (in Germany) then about 45 minutes by regular tram/bus to the airport via a transfer at the Basel SBB station on the Swiss side.

By train
The other train stations in Konstanz are in the city districts of Petershausen, Fürstenberg and Wollmatingen.

Most places around Lake Constance can be reached by train: Romanshorn, St. Gallen, Stein am Rhein and Schaffhausen can all be reached with a change in Kreuzlingen (which is the "Swiss suburb" of Konstanz, just across the border), whereas Friedrichshafen, Lindau and other German places around the lake require a change in Radolfzell and take a long time - the boat can often be quicker. Bregenz in Austria is best reached via Switzerland - change in Rorschach and St Margrethen.

To reach Konstanz from the rest of Germany is time-consuming. There are direct trains to Karlsruhe (3 hours on a scenic route through the Black Forest), but other connections require a change in Offenburg (for Frankfurt and cities further north), Radolfzell (Ulm, Augsburg, München and beyond) or Singen (Stuttgart).

By car
From Germany: from the A81, take the B33 into Konstanz. From Switzerland: the A7 leads straight into Konstanz.

By boat
Possible from many cities on Lake Constance. The fastest connections are : Bodensee Schifffahrt runs several services across Lake Constance which may take longer, but include more cities. Apart from Meersburg and Friedrichshafen, the ferries to and from Konstanz call in. al. in Überlingen (1.5hr), Lindau in Bavaria (2hr) and Bregenz in Vorarlberg, Austria (4hr). The timetable is quite intricate and not all departures include all stops.
 * Car ferry from Meersburg, runs several times an hour from 06:00 until 24:00, and once an hour from 00:00 until 06:00. The crossing takes 15 min.
 * Katamaran from Friedrichshafen, runs once an hour from 06:00 until 19:00, taking around an hour.

On foot
Konstanz's centre (old town) is largely pedestrian and very walkable.

By bus
The bus system is fast and efficient. The bus costs €2.10 (adult) or €1.05 (child). A day ticket is €4.00.

By taxi
Taxis are nearly always available in front of the main train station.

By bicycle
There are bicycle paths all over the city. Bicycles can be rented from near the train station (about 100 m north of the main station building) for €12 per day or less.

Eat
Konstanz has a rich variety of all kinds of restaurants, cafes, bistros and bars. Due to the proximity of the Swiss border, prices are higher than in other cities (mentally add €2 to every main dish you are eating in other German cities).

In summertime most restaurants offer outside sitting and eating, in the evening hours it is hard to find a place, occasionally.

A yearly published magazine "Die Seezunge" covers many of the Konstanz eateries and is available in tabac shops and kiosks.

A good start to discover the Konstanz restaurant scene is to start at the central marketplace Marktstätte. Just north of the "Marktstätte" is the old fish market site Fischmarkt.

There are lots of very good "Dönerbuden" (kebap houses) in the city center selling this Turkish dish.

Sleep

If you're looking for a hostel, there are also a couple in the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen, which is practically a suburb of Konstanz.

Go next

 * Mainau Island — "The Flower Island" is known for its warm climate and beautiful botanical gardens, parks, butterfly house and greenhouse.
 * The Black Forest (Schwarzwald) — about 2 hours away by train or 1.5 hours by car (in Germany).
 * Other cities and towns on Lake Constance. Especially recommended are Meersburg, Lindau and Bregenz.
 * Stein am Rhein
 * Schaffhausen — for the Rhine Falls
 * Reichenau Island
 * Kreuzlingen — this neighbouring Swiss city has a really nice waterfront with large parks and playgrounds and a small zoo. Simply walk south along the waterfront from Konstanz to get there.
 * Swiss Alps — in winter, sign up at one of the local sports stores (e.g. Intersport Gruner across from the Lago Center, or Karstadt Sport in the basement of the Lago Center) to join a bus day-trip to a ski resort.

title: Konstanz


text:
Kontiolahti

Kontiolahti is a municipality in the heart of North Karelia in Eastern Finland.

Understand
The municipality was founded in 1873. Today it has some 14,600 inhabitants. The population growth has continued at the same rate since 1978 and is estimated to continue at about 100 people per year. The population breakdown by age shows an unusually high percentage of youth and children. This is indicative of a vibrant, continuously developing and growing community.

By plane
Domestic flights from Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport to nearest City Joensuu. From there you have to travel by taxi or bus.

By train
The nearest train station is in Joensuu. Long-distance trains from Helsinki and Pieksämäki terminate in the heart of the city at the Joensuu Railway Station.

By bus
Joensuu local transport Jojo has services from Joensuu to Kontiolahti. Long-distance bus from Oulu and Kajaani to Joensuu stops at Kontiolahti, more information from Matkahuolto.

By bus
See Joensuu#By bus

Joensuu local transport Jojo has services in Kontiolahti.

By taxi

 * Smartphone app: 02 Taksi

See

The lies in the municipalities of Eno, Lieksa and Kontiolahti, on the western shore of Lake Pielinen and covers 3000 hectares.

Stay safe
In general, Finland is a fairly safe country, and Kontiolahti is no exception. There are no exceptional crime problems or health hazards.

title: Kontiolahti