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Baltimore/South Baltimore

South Baltimore is the entrance point for most visitors to the city, coming in off I-95 from the south, and home to one of the city's number one attractions—Fort McHenry, as well as both the Orioles and Ravens stadiums. Those who dig a little further will find a vibrant dining and nightlife scene in beautiful, historic Federal Hill, as well as venerable, but less visited neighborhoods that define what it is to be authentic Baltimore.

Understand
South Baltimore was traditionally the industrial heart of Baltimore, even more so than Southeast Baltimore, but real estate in the neighborhoods closer to the Inner Harbor have soared over the past 15-20 years, seeing rampant gentrification by former suburbanites and even D.C. commuters attracted by cheap historic homes close to the city center. As with all neighborhood change, this has displaced, disrupted, and at its extreme destroyed the old local communities. On the upside, though, it has introduced a lot of good restaurants to Federal Hill, which is a fairly easy walk from the Inner Harbor hotels and the Convention Center.

Most, however, visit South Baltimore for one sight: Fort McHenry. The defense of this fort on the Chesapeake, and thus the defense of Baltimore, was pivotal in the defense of the nation in the War of 1812 against the re-invading British forces. Even more famously, the defense of the Fort saw the arrival of one Francis Scott Key, who, seeing the flag still flying after the bombardment, here composed the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner, which later would become the U.S. National Anthem.

Anyway, on to the neighborhoods, which, like most all Baltimore neighborhoods, have fiercely independent characters:

Federal Hill is a historic neighborhood containing several bars and restaurants, named after the ratification of the Federal Constitution. In part because of its proximity to the Inner Harbor, the stadiums, and other attractions, this is both the wealthiest and most popular neighborhood with city visitors. The rowhouses, many dating back even to eighteenth century, are wonderfully restored and the streets are beautiful. There are plenty of dining options that are far better than the average places around the big hotels to the north, and nightlife is vibrant (if a little too drunken and trashy F-Sa nights).

Locust Point has a scary name, but is actually a pretty nice place to hang out and have a meal after visiting the Fort. Though the giant condominium building at Silo Point (replacing the old defunct granary) is doing its part to gentrify the neighborhood, it still retains a familiar working class, classic Baltimore community. Fans of the Wire might recognize this neighborhood as the home of the longshoreman (including Nick) from season two.

Ridgely's Delight is a small little triangular neighborhood just northwest of Camden Yards and east of Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. It's another very pretty old neighborhood with cobblestone streets, but the local pubs can be a little bland (but perfectly acceptable to hang out with fellow fans on game days). The University of Maryland Baltimore campus is just north, so you'll find plenty of college students.

Pigtown! Yes, Pigtown. No, not Washington Village, no matter how hard real estate agents try to rebrand the neighborhood (and to thus destroy it). Pigtown is just too catchy a name to die. The name comes from its position along the route that pig farmers would once march their livestock to sell at the railyard. Legend has it that the residents at basement level would reach out their street-level windows to snatch a swine or two for dinner. Today, Pigtown has an extraordinary demographic mix—it may be the only neighborhood in the Northeast where rednecks and black folks live together happily and harmoniously. So what's in it for a traveler? Savvy parking spots—visitors don't know about parking there, and you usually can find something even on a game day, if you are OK with a bit of a walk. Nick's Rotisserie Chicken would be the other good reason to visit.

There are plenty of other neighborhoods throughout the south of Baltimore: Violetville, Westport, Lakeland, Cherry Hill, Curtis Bay, Brooklyn, etc. But you are probably less likely to find yourself there, as they are generally hard to get to by public transport, are far from the center, and low on tourist amenities.

By car
It's very easy to get into South Baltimore by car—it's just hard to park anywhere near the stadiums or the Harbor (Locust Point isn't too hard, though). From I-95, exits #52 for Russel St and #53 for I-395 to Light St will both take you right to the stadiums or the Inner Harbor respectively. Exit #54 will take you right into Locust Point and is well signed for Fort McHenry. The B-W Pkwy simply terminates here and turns into Russel St. The main streets running from Downtown through federal Hill and on to Locust Point are Light St to the Key Hwy to Fort Ave.

For Pigtown, the entrance is on Washington Blvd just southwest of its intersection with Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, which you can pick up from I-395 just before it terminates in the Inner Harbor, or from any westbound street from the Harbor or Downtown. Washington Blvd also runs from I-695 (just west of I-95).

Brooklyn and the other far south neighborhoods are best reached by I-695 or I-895 southbound (I-895 northbound does not have exits, since they want to force you to pay the tolls). Coming from the city, take either Washington Blvd to Patapsco Ave, which is the main road running along the very southern edge of the city, or take the Hanover St Bridge from Federal Hill (Hanover will continue southeast to Brooklyn).

By rail
The MARC Camden Line runs straight from Union Station in Washington, D.C. to the stadiums, but only runs on weekdays, and doesn't run very late.

The Light Rail, on the other hand, is pretty handy if you are going to the stadiums (Camden Yards for the Orioles and Hamburg St for the Ravens), Federal Hill, Westport, or even Cherry Hill. Past Cherry Hill it heads on to BWI Airport, while to the north of Camden Yards it runs past the Convention Center and Lexington Market Downtown and on through Midtown to Penn Station and beyond.

By bus
Consider Baltimore buses to be only for the adventurous, and those with a bunch of spare time on their hands. There are some good routes through South Baltimore, though—as long as they are running on time and not too crowded to board. Bus 1 is the best route around, running south from Charles Center (Charles St & Baltimore St) near the Convention Center down Light St through the center of Federal Hill, and on through Locust Point all the way to Fort McHenry itself. Bus 36 runs down Martin Luther King Blvd from Fayette downtown to Pigtown, then running the length of Washington Blvd. Bus 64 runs through Federal Hill on Light St all the way up to Penn Station and on to North Ave in Midtown, and south across the Hanover St Bridge to Cherry Hill and Brooklyn.

The purple Circulator bus runs along Charles St and Light St in Federal Hill, and goes straight north up Charles past the Washington Monument and on to Penn Station.

If you're feeling really adventurous, you could take the light rail down to the Patapsco stop and try to take Bus 14 to Annapolis. Make sure you are well armed with bus and rail schedules for that trip!

By water taxi
During the months of April–September, you can take Ed Kane's water taxi back and forth between the pier at Fells Point.

Do

Buy

Budget

Drink

Federal Hill is packed with nightlife, and has a good number of legitimately cool venues. The weekends, in the center of the neighborhood (Cross St), are not for everyone, though. It's a frat party after 11PM or so on Friday and Saturday, and it is what it is. To be clear, we're euphemizing unabashed douchebaggery, with overuse of the word "bro," cheap hook ups, rampant littering, and not all that infrequent bar fights. Move to the outskirts of that neighborhood, though, and you'll find some real gems for any night of the week.

Sleep

Although Federal Hill is pretty and close to major attractions, it actually is devoid of any hotels. South Baltimore really isn't the place to stay, unless you are at one of the hotels just north of the stadiums, on the verge of the Inner Harbor and Downtown.

Connect
The Federal Hill/Locust Point area actually has some pretty great coffeeshops for lazy, caffeinated wireless surfing.

Stay safe
In the extreme south, particularly in and just around Cherry Hill, there are a few gang-ridden areas that you might want to avoid walking around, but for the most part South Baltimore is pretty safe, albeit looking rough around the edges. Except around the bars at closing time on weekends, Federal Hill is quite safe, Locust Point is always fine, and Pigtown is safe, if not always that friendly (definitely don't walk around there overdressed).

title: Baltimore/South Baltimore


text:
Baltimore/Southeast Baltimore

Southeast Baltimore, fittingly, covers the areas in the southeast of Baltimore, ranging from industrial wastelands to charming neighborhoods both quiet and hip.

Get in
Southeast Baltimore is not served by either the metro or light rail lines of the MTA. You'll have to walk, use the MTA buses, or drive.

By foot
Assuming you're walking through Southeast Baltimore from the Inner Harbor, Canton is about a 30- to 40-minute walk, and Greektown will take at least an hour.

By bus
The MTA serves the Southeast Baltimore region from Inner Harbor and Downtown via routes #7, #10, #11 and #20.

If you are arriving to Baltimore by bus services such as Greyhound or the so-called Chinatown buses from Philadelphia and Washington D.C., they may drop off or pick up passengers at the Baltimore Travel Plaza, near where O'Donnell St crosses the I-95. From there, MTA bus #20 will take visitors Downtown.

By car
A car may be the most convenient way of getting to Southeast Baltimore if you have access to one. If you're traveling to Baltimore from elsewhere on the Atlantic coast by way of Interstate 95 (I-95), you will pass through Southeast Baltimore. The highway passes through Greektown and just outside the eastern edge of the Canton neighborhood.

By water taxi
For a unique and scenic way of getting there from the Inner Harbor, the water taxi can drop you off at several locations along the Fell Point or Canton waterfronts.

Eat

 * Greektown hosts a wealth of authentic Greek restaurants and coffeehouses.

Canton
While O'Donnell (Canton) square has the highest concentration of eateries in the area, the culinary selection is by no means limited to it. Around dinner time one can easily wander aimlessly anywhere between Patterson Park Boulevard to the west and Highland Avenue to the east and find a nice place to get some food. Below is a short listing the more popular restaurants.

Canton
By far the best place to go out for some drinking and dancing in the area, Canton is a treasure trove for those who like to bar crawl. While the hottest nightlife and subsequently younger crowd is centered around O'Donnell (Canton) Square, those looking for something a bit more local and low key can find numerous other drinking establishments in the surrounding area.

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

title: Baltimore/Southeast Baltimore


text:
Baltimore/West Baltimore

West Baltimore is a huge section of the city notorious for violent and other drug-related crime, but also for its unique culture, endless streets of old Baltimore rowhouses with their marble stoops, and sprawling parklands.

Understand

Google "West Baltimore," and the bulk of the hits that show up for several pages of search results are regarding crime. This is how the world sees West Baltimore, and, while yes, there is an awful amount of violent crime here, this is not fair and not even close to the whole picture of real-life in an urban area rich with culture and history. While African-American history in Baltimore begins in East Baltimore, it moved to the west at the turn of the twentieth century and stayed there. To put it in symbolic terms, Frederick Douglass was raised in East Baltimore, Thurgood Marshall in West Baltimore. African-American culture found its heart along Pennsylvania and North Avenues, earning its place as one of the East Coast's "Black Broadways," on the music and entertainment circuit between D.C., Philadelphia, and Harlem in New York.

Neighborhood identities are strong throughout Baltimore, and West Baltimore has a profoundly large number of distinct neighborhoods. Good luck getting to know them all, but it's possible to go over a number of the most interesting ones for visitors:

Union Square/Hollins Market, affectionately known as Sowebo (Southwest Baltimore), may well house the most beautiful of the many tree lined streets of West Baltimore rowhouses. Maybe this is because of the buildings and fountain around the square and the covered market itself, or even more likely it's because this is a wealthier area and the lovely architecture has seen better upkeep. Either way, Union Square really does rival Bolton Hill and Fell's Point for the title of Baltimore's "most beautiful neighborhood." This fact has not been lost on Hollywood, which filmed the 1997 adaptation of Washington Square (based on the Henry James Novel) at Union Square itself. This neighborhood was the home of the revered H. L. Mencken, the Sage of Baltimore, whose acerbic but hilarious wit was unmatched and unstoppable in his times. His extensive writings are memorialized on the fountain in the middle of Union Square, but he remains best known for his coverage of the Scopes Monkey Trial (he himself came up with that name) and his inclusion in the play Inherit the Wind. This community is tight-knit, well organized, and very involved with keeping it a great place to live. The Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend is of course the best time to visit, when Sowebohemian Arts Festival is in full force.

Pennsylvania Avenue, consisting of the modern day neighborhoods of Sandtown, Upton, Druid Heights, and Penn North, was the epicenter of the city's African-American culture from the turn of the twentieth century up until the doomsday of the 1968 riots. This corridor predates both Harlem and even D.C.'s U Street as a real center of black wealth and culture. The wild popularity of the area—a product of interest in the local arts and shopping, plus the difficulties for black Baltimoreans to find housing in the white neighborhoods throughout the city—led to overcrowding and a slow exodus of the black middle and upper class. The riots of 1968 sealed the neighborhoods fate, and it never recovered. Today there are several remaining monuments and new memorials to what once was, including the Arch Social Club, the Monument to the Royal Theatre, the Avenue Market, the Billie Holiday Statue (a local, along with Cab Calloway), and more. While the reality is more complex block-to-block, it is nonetheless safe to call this a very rough section of Baltimore (particularly Sandtown) and certainly not one to be walking around off the main streets. The city Visitor Center offers weekly tours, and this can be a great way to really learn about the so-called "Outer Harbor"—away from the sheen and wealth of the Inner Harbor.

Reservoir Hill trails only Union Square in terms of architectural beauty, with a real wealth of tall Victorian rowhouses, especially in the Mount Royal Historic District in the southeast section of the neighborhood (by North Ave and the Jones Falls Expy) and the Madison Historic District along Madison Ave. The larger neighborhood, though, is a real patchwork of beautiful blocks next to dilapidated blocks full of boarded up buildings, vacant lots, and the general West Baltimore plague of the drug trade (particularly on the central portion of North Ave at the Madison Park Housing Projects). Just north of the neighborhood is beautiful Druid Hill Park, with its reservoir, the Maryland Zoo, and Botanical Gardens.

Edmonson covers a large swath of mostly residential areas to the south and near east of Gwynns Falls Park. The area to the park's southwest is a nice area, with a few small restaurants/cafes of note.

Pimlico is the neighborhood surrounding the famous Pimlico Racetrack. Despite its proximity to this major attraction, the neighborhood is quite impoverished, and has little else to offer visitors.

Get in

While yes, the subway goes to a few places, you really should not plan to visit West Baltimore without a car. It's the only practical way of moving around this side of the city, and it's anyway a lot safer than wandering around on foot, waiting for buses, etc. Edmonson Ave (US-40) and Liberty Heights Ave (MD-26) are the main east-west roads leading out of the city towards Baltimore County and I-70. But North Ave, Reistertown Rd, Baltimore St, Lombard St, and Pratt St are also helpful for getting around. Windsor Mill Rd and Franklintown Rd will also take you to I-70, but these are the slow scenic routes through the woods.

Coming from downtown to the Maryland Zoo or to the racetrack at Pimlico is quickest via McCulloh (MD-129), which will turn into Park Heights Ave.

Buy
This is not the shopping center side of the city. There are but two types of worthwhile shops around—sneaker shops in Mondawmin Mall for the true sneakerhead, and off-the-beaten-path thrift stores (hipsters have definitely not picked these ones dry).

Eat
There are some really tasty hole-in-the-walls scattered throughout West Baltimore, and you'll find some of the city's best soul food and the best Lake Trout. The two things to know, though, are that you'll need cash, not credit, and virtually all places are carryout only—of the following, only Kimmy's and Immeasurable Chicken & Waffles have dine-in service.

Sleep

With good reason, West Baltimore is not a popular overnight section of the city. Much of the area is fairly unsafe after dark, and it is far from the center, requiring a car.

Stay safe
West Baltimore, as should be evident from any quick perusal of this guide, is home to very serious problems with violence often relating to the drug trade (which should not be a problem for visitors), but stranger robbery and assault are very much a reality when walking rougher neighborhoods on foot.

title: Baltimore/West Baltimore


text:
Baltimore County

Baltimore County surrounds (but doesn't include) the City of Baltimore, in Central Maryland. It is a very populous county, filled with independent suburbs of Baltimore, whose populations surged during the white flight of the 1960s from the city in the face of desegregation and the riots of 1968.

Cities and neighborhoods
The cities and neighborhoods are organised by their location relative to Baltimore City, in the same way as the city's district-guides. Some neighborhoods outside Baltimore city-limits are covered in the district-guides, those district-guides are linked to here.

North

 * Cockeysville
 * Sparks Glencoe
 * Timonium
 * Towson

West

 * Owings Mills
 * Pikesville

East

 * White Marsh

Other destinations

 * Hampton National Historic Site

Get in
The Jones Falls Expressway (I-83; locally called the JFX) is the principal route into the county, coming south from Pennsylvania or north from downtown Baltimore. You can also enter the county by US-1 and MD-140.

Get around
The Baltimore Beltway, I-695, is the principal route connecting the various suburbs of Baltimore County, but the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which carried it across Baltimore Harbor in the southeast, collapsed in March 2024 after a ship collision. Alternate routes include the Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95), the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895), and the west side of the I-695 loop, as well as other routes through the city.

title: Baltimore County


text:
Baltra

Baltra (Isla Baltra or South Seymour Island) is one of Ecuador's Galapagos Islands. Located in the central part of the archipelago. Baltra is the only island that is not part of the national park. It has the highest capacity airport in the Galapagos. It's a starting point for cruises starting from the islands, or visiting the main island of Santa Cruz.

By plane
Most people arriving to the Galapagos by plane will have Baltra included on their itinerary, as Baltra is the main airport servicing the Galapagos Islands and it is also the airport serving the island of Santa Cruz.

Inter-island flights are available from EMETEBE Airlines, which operates nine seater aircraft to transport passengers and their luggage from San Cristobal Airport to Isabela, Santa Cruz and Baltra islands. Bookings can be done directly through EMETEBE's website or a travel agent.

There are two sets of buses taking people from the airport. One set takes people who are boarding a cruise, the other takes passengers to the Itabaca channel between the island of Baltra and the island of Santa Cruz.

To go to Puerto Ayora, take the bus from your airline to the Itabaca channel (10 min - $5), then take a ferry to cross it (10 min - $1), then either take a taxi ($25) or a public bus ($5 - 45 min - drops you next to the pier, at the corner of Darwin and Baltra). For each of these rides (except taxi), you'll have to wait for the transport to fill up. (Updated in November 2022.)

The way back is the same. The first bus leaves from the Puerto Ayora terminal at 7am (but be there before time as it leaves as soon as it's full).

See
Land iguanas, Darwin Finch and lava lizards can potentially be seen at the airport, or between the airport and the wharf. Land iguanas are native to Baltra, but were reintroduced in 1990 as they had been nearing extinction.

Leaving the airport, you will travel by bus passing the remains of the old US Air Force base set up in World War II to protect the Panama Canal.

If you are proceeding to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, don't forget to keep an eye out for the wild giant tortoises as you pass Santa Rosa on the main island, and you could see Blue-footed Boobies diving in the channel as you cross.

Buy
There are two ATMs at the airport (Banco Pichincha and Banco del Pacifico): one of them in the departures hall, the other one in the arrivals hall. The airport also offers souvenir shops, a restaurant, telephones and internet access. At least some of these shops take cards.

If you are proceeding directly to a cruise, his may be your only opportunity to purchase postcards prior to visiting the Post Barrel on Floreana

Connect
There is mobile reception around the airport. There is also a free Wi-Fi network which more or less works.

Go next
The closest islands to Baltra are:
 * North Seymour
 * Mosquera
 * Daphne
 * Santa Cruz

But the only place you can proceed to from Baltra is Santa Cruz - either to stay on the island, board a cruise, or take a speedboat onwards to Isabela or San Cristobal.

title: Baltra


text:
Sistan and Baluchestan

Sistan and Baluchestan is the southeasternmost province of Iran, along the country's border with Pakistan.

Cities

 * – the provincial capital of Baluchestan

Other destinations

 * — Nature reserve home to several endangered species.
 * — Large salt desert partly located in Sistan and Baluchestan, one of the world's driest and hottest places

Talk
The native language of the region, Baluchi, related to ancient Persian (Avestan), is spoken in western, southern, and eastern parts of the region. As in the rest of Iran, Persian is also useful.

By air
There are three airports within the region, most flights are domestic with a very limited number of international flights from major hubs such as Dubai.

 * Chabahar Konarak Airport
 * Iranshahr Airport
 * Zahedan Airport

By rail
The railway network is quite limited within the province. Zahedan in the northern part of the region was for a long time the only city connected to the rail network. Work is however under way to extend the railway southwards, the first extension to Khash was opened in 2022. The rest of the extension towards Chabahar at the Persian Gulf won't be finished until the mid or late 2020s.

There are direct overnight trains from Tehran to both Zahedan and Khash several times per week, with journey times of about 24 hours. Zahedan is also the terminus for international trains from Quetta, in Pakistan. These international trains are supposed to run twice per month, but cancellations are very common due to hostile weather and general insecurity of the border area. When the train do run it's a 40 hour journey with very basic accommodation, so make sure you are well prepared.

See

 * Shahr-I Sokhta — the ruins of a city abandoned around 1800 BC, this archaeological site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.
 * Guel Afshan — a well that spews mud to the air
 * Lut Desert — partially located in Sistan and Baluchestan, the rest in Kerman is a salt desert that is listed as a World Heritage Site.

Buy
Baluchis are famous for carpets, especially prayer rugs.

title: Sistan and Baluchestan


text:
Baluran National Park

Baluran National Park is in East Java, Indonesia.

Understand
This park is a forest preservation area that covers about 25,000 hectares of the north coast of East Java. The park offers some great scenery and has organised safari activities. Safari is a much misused term in Asian travel circles but in this case it is appropriate - there is something very African about the savannah grasslands of Baluran. Of the three large national parks in East Java, this is the easiest to reach and, despite the neglected roads within the park, the easiest to travel around.

History
The value and unique nature of Baluran was first recorded in 1928 by Dutch botanist AH Loedeboer. National park status was granted in 1984 since which time the tourism potential of the park has slowly been realised.

Landscape
The dominant feature of the park is 1,247 m high Mount Baluran, a dormant volcano. The park is mostly savannah grass and acacia scrub inland and monsoon forest with mangroves on the coast. 15 km from the main entrance there is beautiful white sand beach called Bama Beach with fringing mangroves and a healthy offshore coral reef. Some 40 km of the north coast of Java are within the boundaries of the park and include some areas with excellent, healthy coral reefs close to shore.

Flora and fauna
Mammals present include leopard cat, wild pig, Java rusa deer, three species of monkeys and the endangered java banteng (buffalo).

Birdlife is diverse despite enormous trapping pressures for the cagebird trade before the national park was formed. Some poaching still occurs.

Climate
Aside from Madura, this is the driest corner of Java and from April to October it is very dry. The best time to visit is the latter half of the dry season (June to October) when the grazing animals are at their most visible as they congregate the well known waterholes. Outside of the dry season, the weather is very much like the rest of Java. It rains especially heavily in January and February and during those months many areas of the park will be impassable due to flooding.

National Park Office
Baluran National Park Office, Jl Jenderal A Yani No108, Banyuwangi. Tel: +62 333 24119.

Get in
The nearest proper town to the park is the small town of Wonorejo on the north coast road between Banyuwangi and Probolinggo. The park entrance is no more than 30 minutes from the Banyuwangi ferry terminal (at Ketapang township) by car or bus (take a Wonorejo-bound bus).

Fees and permits
Rp 250,000 per person payable at the park office on the main road near Wonorejo or in advance at Baluran National Park Office.

Get around
This is a large area with various access roads leading through the park. If you are travelling independently, a hire car (hired in Surabaya, Bali, or in Banyuwangi) is a good idea. Visitors arrive here having driven from Surabaya, Malang and Bali - all very feasible. The general standards of the roads in the park are not good, however.

Motor cycles with drivers for hire (ojeks) are available to take visitors from the main park office/entrance area on the Surabaya-Banyuwangi highway into the park, and from Bekol to Bama Beach. The price of an ojek ride (single motor cycle with driver) was around Rp 40,000 (one way) from the entrance to Bekol and Rp 80,000 return in May 2014. Perhaps a better option is hire a motor cycle from local suppliers at the entrance to the park (around Rp 100,000 per day in May 2014).

Eat and drink
There are simple shops selling drinks at both Bekol and Bama.

Bring in your own food with you. If you are camping or staying at the simple lodges, you can stock up with food in Banyuwangi (recommended) or at the simple stores in Wonorejo.

If you have booked the park lodges in advance, they will offer to cook meals for you.

Lodging
There are about 16 simple rooms available at the Bekol savannah watchpoint. These are rarely full but you might want to make advance reservations via the park office in Banyuwangi.

Camping
Camping facilities are available in the park at Bekol.

Go next

 * Ijen plateau, just to the southwest of Baluran, which contains the famous Ijen crater (go via either Banyuwangi or Bondowoso)

If travelling west:

 * Probolinggo for the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park
 * Surabaya - the capital city of East Java
 * Malang - the cultural heart of East Java

If travelling east:

 * Banyuwangi as a stop over for moving onto Bali (from Ketapang, the port for the ferry across to Bali)
 * Bali -- Denpasar is around 5 hours by bus from Banyuwangi (through Ketapang, including around one hour in ferry transit)

title: Baluran National Park


text:
Balykchy

Balykchy (Балыкчы) is a city of 51,000 people (2021) at Issyk Kul. It was the center of the lake's fishing fleet, but has suffered a major decline since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It now only on the path to the tourist sites of the lake, but largely by-passed.

Understand
Balykchy is the gateway to Issyk Kul. It sits on the western bank of the lake. It used to be known as Ribachie (Рыбачие), Russian for fisherman, and after independence was re-named with the Kyrgyz word.

It is interesting to note the micro-climates of the Issyk Kul, especially around Balykchy as there is little green or snow at all times.

By bus
Most marshrutkas going into eastern Kyrgyzstan will stop at Balykchy. Some going towards Kochkor will also stop in or near Balykchy.

From:
 * Bishkek – Marshrutkas can be 150-250 som, depending on your haggling skills. You will need to tell them where to set you down when you arrive in the city. If they try to charge you an extra 50 som for "baggage", they are blatantly fiddling you.
 * Karakol – Several marshrutkas daily, 200 som.

By train

During summer, there is a daily slow train (4.5-5 hr for 280 km) from Bishkek that goes through a very beautiful mountain pass. The timetables do change (on 10th of September in 2018), so check. However, (as of summer 2018) the train leaves Bishkek I & II station at 06:25 in the morning, arriving at 11:20. It returns at 17:08. Prices from Balykchy are: Bystrovka/Kemin 37 som, Tokmok 57 som, Bishkek 69 som.

Beware that the train cabin will reach high temperatures in summer.

By road
The main road from Bishkek and the Chui Valley comes to Balykchy and splits into a Northern and Southern lake route in the city.

Eat
There are numerous vendors on the main road selling smoked lake fish which is quite popular. Prices are inexpensive and expect to be hoarded when stopping. In addition, there are also several stands selling the local honey

Go next

 * If you wish to go to the smaller salt lake approximately one hour from the city, you should be able to hire a taxi from the local bus station.
 * There is a meeting point for marshrutkas and shared taxis to Bishkek at the western entrance of the city—ask any local or shopkeeper for the "Avtovokzal".

title: Balykchy


text:
Bam

Bam is a city in Kerman, Iran. This modern Iranian city surrounds the Arg-é Bam citadel which has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Bam was devastated during an earthquake in December 2003 and is still being rebuilt. Over 26,000 people were killed and thousands more injured during this quake, the worst to occur in Iranian history.

Get in
Many buses stop in Bam. Ask around at the terminal. There are shared taxis available from Kerman that seem to leave more frequently. The once-daily train running between the capital Tehran and Zahedan, at the border with Pakistan, stops in Bam.

Get around
The city stretches out a lot so you might want to use a savari or a taxi to get to the Arg.

See
See Persian Empire for background.

title: Bam


text:
Bamako

Bamako is the capital of Mali and straddles the Niger River. With a population of around 2.5 million in 2020, it's the largest city in Mali and one of the largest in West Africa.

Understand
Bamako has been continuously inhabited by humans since prehistoric times. In 1883 it was conquered by French troops, and in 1908 became the capital of French Sudan.

The city has only a few paved main roads (goudrons), the rest of the city's roads are unpaved, and get dusty during the dry season (November to May) and muddy during the rainy season, offering breeding grounds for malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

The city can be hard to navigate through due to the lack of road signs, the complicated layout of the streets and the one way system in the city. The roads are very crowded both with motor vehicles and motorcycles who appear to fill every available space possible. Traffic police are particularly vigilant and will sometimes appear to enforce very arbitrary traffic rules. They are usually on motorcycles as well so it is unwise to try and outrun them in your vehicle as they will easily catch up.

Often the best way to navigate around the city is to hire a taxi-motorcycle to lead you to your destination. These are relatively cheap and depending on the distance can be as low as CFA 100. There is no meter and price is negotiated upfront.

Unemployment rates are high.

By train
Bamako is at the end of the railway line from Dakar in Senegal which used to transport passengers across western Africa. However, as of 2023, the only passenger service is a domestic train from the western city of Kayes. Rehabilitation of the full line from Dakar has been promised several times but is unlikely to happen in the coming years.

By bus
Bus travel to Bamako is possible but often gruellingly slow. Some buses offers air conditioning, most don't. Segou and Mopti are common destinations, a journey time of about ten hours. International services are available from most regional capitals; with journey times of up to 40 hours it can be a very memorable, if quite unpleasant, experience.

Bamako has two major bus stations, with Sogoniko handling the most traffic.

See

Do
At the end of each January, Bamako hosts the finish line to the gruelling trans-Sahara rally, the Budapest-Bamako. Hundreds of rally cars and motorcycles arrive in the city on the last Sunday of January.

Buy
Prices are not fixed, and for many goods bargaining is expected. Beware, sometimes for common items (like food) the first price mentioned is just right. On the market it might be a good idea to first ask a couple of times at different stands before actually buying something.

Near the area of Bamako-Coura is the lively artisan market where traders from all over Bamako come to sell silver jewellery, leather, musical instruments and wood carvings. Prices are reasonable but the vendors expect their customers to bargain and enjoy it when they do. Once inside the market the atmosphere is relaxed and pleasant but be careful in the busy streets directly surrounding - it's easy to lose a bag to a thief.

Euros are widely accepted.

All the Ecobank ATMs in Bamako take Mastercard and Visa card for cash withdrawal.

Eat
Love them or hate them, the French have left one decent legacy in West Africa: bread. Fresh delicious baguettes are ubiquitous, and travellers should not be worried about becoming sick because of the bread.

Vegetarians will have a hard time in Bamako. Asking for a meal without meat will usually be met with the kind of look reserved for children and elderly relatives one does not wish to upset. In a country where poverty is common and food is often scarce, turning down meat is an oddity.

That said, mornings beans, fries, and fried plaintains can be found streetside throughout the city. Morning, noon, and night you can find small streetside "cafes" where you can get a fried egg sandwich and some nescafe. Several varieties of fried dough are also easy to stumble upon. Lunch- rice and groundnut stew is most easy to find, in local restaurants a plate with meat shouldn't cost more than CFA 500, but can range up to CFA 1,500. Evenings you can find attcheke (cassava dish), spaghetti, beans, boiled eggs, and fries relatively easily.

Meat eaters will be pleased to learn beef and fish are exceptionally good. Beef kebabs and grilled Capitaine, a freshwater fish from the Niger river, are always a good choice. Chickens are usually left to fend for themselves, and tend to be on the scrawny side, especially compared to North American chickens. Although the situation is improving, you might want to avoid disappointment and just give chicken a miss while in Bamako. To avoid food-borne illness, stay away as much as possible from fresh vegetables, and make sure your food is piping hot before eating it.

Grocery shopping
You can eat like the locals for a few hundred francs (CFA) a day, or shop in one of the western-style supermarkets.

There is one main market, in the centre of town, and several smaller markets in Bamako.

Supermarket-style stores are generally run by Lebanese businessmen. These stores will carry Western or Middle-Eastern goods, including cold cuts, fruits and vegetables, and dairy products including fresh milk and yogurt. Prices are generally higher than in Europe or the US, and choice more limited in a way reminiscent of a North American convenience store.

Budget
There are many restaurants where you can get nice omelette sandwiches for about CFA 250.

Many street vendors sell bread, rice, fries, salad, grilled meat; however, use precautions while eating on the street.

Mid-range

Bamako has many Lebanese and Chinese restaurants.

Drink
The Evasion Jazz Club can be pretty cool on Fridays and Saturdays. The Hippo d'Or (close to Hippodrome) is also a nice place for enjoying non-stop live music on Fridays and, even more, on Saturdays. There is a big casino near the Hotel L'Amitie. Ibiza, Blyblos and Terrace are still the hippest places to dance and drink. For some less seedy drinking establishments, try No Stress & Jet Set (formerly Privledge), which both have pool tables as well. Bla Bla and its twin in Badalabougou are known to get pumping on weekends.

Crazy Horse has some good food and is well priced.

Budget

Stay safe
In Bamako you have a high chance of encountering the police. You should always at least carry a copy of your passport and visa. It is often not sufficient to just show your driving license and this might lead to a ride to the police office - if you're not prepared to bribe your way out. Notice that the police often stops taxis.

If the price of the 'ticket' seems high (more than, say, CFA 5,000 for a minor offence), ask to go to the police station. There you can get an official receipt which shows the true price of the offence. Many locals consider it a moral issue to pay proper fines rather than grease the pockets of corrupt police.

Stay healthy
If you go gradually (doni doni) you'll be able to drink Bamako's quite chemically tasting tap water. You shouldn't drink the unmarked sachets with water or syrupy water as long as you don't drink tap water—though the branded sachets of mineral water are fine (CFA 50).

Or you can avoid any hassles and drink bottled water. If you're sticking around town for a while, try buying bottled water by the case. The price will drop from about CFA 1500-1800 to CFA 600-700 per 1.5 litre bottle.

Clinique Pasteur is a more expensive toubab clinique, is fairly clean, and is within close proximity to the US Embassy in ACI 2000 area of Bamako. Dr Toure there speaks English, was medically trained in Canada and he can be reached via mobile at: +223 6674 0572. Don't trust Dr. Dolo with your pregnancy. Normally they want to have you taking all possible tests, and are notorious for recommending drastic unnecessary and expensive treatments. You first might want to consult a cheaper normal health centre like Clinique Farako in Hamdallaye, or the Centre Diagnostique (Dr. Catherine Cisse) near the old Pont de Martys. Even then, double check all recommendations online and with a doctor abroad before embarking on any treatment plan or surgery.

Embassies & consulates

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
Siby is a town a one-hour drive from Bamako on asphalt road. Once you are there in Siby, you may want a 4-wheel drive vehicle to explore the sandy roads to several touristic sites within a 30 minute drive. It has very nice scenery, rocks to climb, and the Saturday market. There is a historic grotto, a 45-minute hike to a mountain side, a natural arch where rock climbers can get a panoramic view of the city and countryside, a cascading waterfall and surprisingly cool pool which makes for a wonderfully fresh plunge, about a 30-minute drive from the city's main road.

title: Bamako


text:
Bambara phrasebook

Bambara or Bamanankan (ߓߡߊߣߊ߲ߞߊ߲) is a language in West Africa, mostly in Mali, where it is mother tongue of the Bambara people (30% of the population), and where 80% of the population can communicate in the language. Bambara will also be useful in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, and Gambia. Together with Dioulé and Malinké it belongs to the Mandekan dialect family, which itself part of the Mande group, which is a Niger-Congo language subgroup.

The language is heavily influenced by French, and even the slightest knowledge of French will make it easier to remember words. If you don't remember a word you can try to use the French word.

Vowels

 * a : like 'a' in "father"
 * e : like 'e' in "prey"
 * ε : like 'e' in "met"
 * i : like 'i' in "police"
 * o : like 'o' in "so"
 * ɔ : like 'ough' in "bought"
 * u : like 'u' in "clue"

There are also long vowels:
 * aa
 * ee
 * εε
 * ii
 * oo
 * ɔɔ
 * uu

and nasal vowels:
 * an
 * en
 * εn
 * in
 * on
 * ɔn
 * un

Consonants

 * j : like 'j' in "jay"
 * ɲ : like 'ny' in "canyon"
 * ŋ : like 'nw'
 * c : like 'ch' in "chair"
 * g : like 'g' in "get"
 * h : like 'h' in "hard"
 * s : like 'ss' in "pass" or 'sh' in "shake" (varies by region)

Blends

 * sh : like 'sh' in "shore"

Basics

 * Hello (any time of day) : i ni ce

 * How are you? (Are you well?) (to one person) : i ka kεnε wa?
 * How are you? (Are you well?) (to more than one person) : Aw ka kεnε (wa)?
 * Fine, thank you. : kεnε, tɔɔrɔ te, ko tε, tana tε
 * What is your first name? : i tɔgɔ?
 * What is your last name? : i jamu?
 * My name is ______ . : ne tɔgɔ ___
 * Thank you. : i ni ce
 * You're welcome. : basi tε (literally 'no problem')
 * Yes. : awɔ
 * No. : ayi
 * Excuse me. (getting attention / begging pardon) : (aw ye) hakε to!
 * I'm sorry. : a yafa n ma
 * Goodbye : k'an bεn
 * Goodbye (informal) : n taara
 * I can't speak Bambara very well. : Ne tε se bamanankan na kosεbε
 * I don't speak Bambara very well, but I understand a little : Ne tε se bamanankan na kosεbε, nka ne b'a men dɔɔnin dɔɔnin.
 * Do you speak English? : i bε angilekan men wa?
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : Mogo do min bε angilekan men be yan, wa?
 * Help! : N deme!
 * Look out! : I farati!
 * Good morning. : aw ni sɔgɔma (several persons around), i ni sɔgɔma (1 person)
 * Good afternoon : aw ni tile, i ni tile
 * Good evening. : aw ni wula, i ni wula
 * Good night. : aw ni su, i ni su
 * Good night (to sleep) : ka su hεεrε
 * I don't understand. : n m'a faamu
 * Where is the toilet? : ɲεgεn bε min?

Problems

 * Leave me alone. : N bila sa!
 * Don't touch me! : I kana magan n na!
 * I'll call the police. : N bε polisiw wele.
 * Police! : Police!
 * Stop! Thief! : A yi zon (or son) minE)
 * I need your help. : N mago bε i ka deme na.
 * It's an emergency. : koo teliman do.
 * I'm lost. : N tununen don.
 * I lost my bag. : N ka saki tununa.
 * I lost my wallet. : N ka wari tununa.
 * I'm sick. : Bana bε na.
 * I've been injured. : N joki na
 * I need a doctor. : N mago bε dogotoro la.
 * Can I use your phone? : N bε se ka weleli kε ni i ka telephone ye wa?

Numbers

 * 1 : kelen
 * 2 : fila
 * 3 : saba
 * 4 : naani
 * 5 : duurun
 * 6 : wooro
 * 7 : wolonfla
 * 8 : segi
 * 9 : kononto
 * 10 : tan
 * 11 : tan ni kelen
 * 12 : tan ni fla
 * 13 : tan ni saba
 * 14 : tan ni naani
 * 15 : tan ni duurun
 * 16 : tan ni wooro
 * 17 : tan ni wolonfla
 * 18 : tan ni segi
 * 19 : tan ni kononto
 * 20 : mugan
 * 21 : mugan ni kelen
 * 22 : mugan ni fla
 * 23 : mugan ni saaba
 * 30 : bi saba
 * 40 : bi naani
 * 50 : bi duurun
 * 60 : bi wooro
 * 70 : bi wolonfla
 * 80 : bi segi
 * 90 : bi kononto
 * 100 : keme
 * 200 : keme fla
 * 300 : keme saba
 * 1000 : wa (baa) kelen
 * 2000 : wa fla
 * 3451 : wa saba ani keme naani ani biduru ani kelen
 * 1,000,000 : million kelen
 * 1,000,000,000 : milliard kelen
 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.) :
 * half : tilance
 * a lot : caman
 * a few : do / doonin

Time

 * now : sisan
 * right this instant : sisan sisan
 * later : kofe
 * soon : sɔɔni
 * before : ɲyε
 * morning : sɔgɔma
 * afternoon : tilé
 * evening : wula
 * night : su

Clock time

 * one o'clock AM : une heure waati or nεgε kan &0626ε kelen
 * two o'clock AM : deux heure waati or
 * noon : midi waati
 * one o'clock PM : treize heure waati
 * two o'clock PM : quatorze heure waati
 * midnight : minuit waati

Prayer times

 * sunrise : fajiri waati
 * approx 2 pm : selifana waati
 * approx 4 pm : lansara waati
 * sunset: fitiri waati
 * nightfall: safo waati

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : minuti _____
 * _____ hour(s) : heuri _____
 * _____ day(s) : don _____
 * _____ week(s) : dɔgɔkun _____
 * _____ month(s) : kalo _____
 * _____ year(s) : san _____

Days

 * today : bi
 * yesterday : kunu
 * the day before yesterday : kuna sini
 * tomorrow : sini
 * the day after tomorrow : sinin kene
 * this week : dogukun nin na
 * last week : dogukun temena
 * next week : dogukun nata / wεrε

 * Sunday : kari-don
 * Monday : nténé-don
 * Tuesday : tarata-don
 * Wednesday : araba-don
 * Thursday : alamisa-don
 * Friday : (gé)juma-don
 * Saturday : sibiri-don

Months

 * January : Zanwuyé (kalo)
 * February : Feburuyé (kalo)
 * March : Marsi (kalo)
 * April : Awirili (kalo)
 * May : Mε(kalo)
 * June : Zuwen (kalo)
 * July : Zuluyé (kalo)
 * August : Uti (kalo)
 * September : Sεtamburu (kalo)
 * October : Oktɔburu (kalo)
 * November : Nɔwanburu (kalo)
 * December : Desanburu (kalo)

Writing time and date
The month is always stated first in a date, then the day of the month. For example, January 25, 2008 would be "janvier kalo tile mugan ni duru san baa fila ni segi". A literal translation would be "January month day twenty-five year two thousand and eight." When written with digits, the French tradition of day, month, year is generally followed.

Colors

 * black : finman
 * white : jεman
 * gray :
 * red : bilenman
 * blue : buluman
 * yellow : nεrεmuguman
 * green : binkeneman
 * orange : siramuguman
 * purple :
 * brown : sikoloman

Bus and train

 * How much is a ticket to _____? : Ka taa ____ ye joli ye?
 * One ticket to _____, please. : Billetti kelen ka taa ____.
 * Where does this train/bus go? : Mobili / train nin bε taa min?
 * Where is the train/bus to _____? : Mobili / train min bε taa _____ bε sɔrɔ min?
 * Does this train/bus stop in _____? : Mobili /train nin bε jo _____ wa?
 * When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : Mobili / train min bε taa _____ waati jumen?
 * When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : Mobili / train nin bε se _____ waati jumen?

Directions

 * How do I get to _____ ? : ____ bε sɔrɔ fan jumεn fε?
 * ...the train station? : gare de train
 * ...the bus station? : autogare
 * ...the airport? : aeroport
 * ...downtown? : dugukono
 * ...the youth hostel? : siyɔrɔ / hotel
 * ...the _____ hotel? : siyɔrɔ / hotel
 * ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : Ameriki / Kanada / Ostrali / Anglezi ambassade / jamanasigiyoro
 * Where are there a lot of... : _____ caman bε sɔrɔ min?
 * ...hotels? : hotel
 * ...restaurants? : dumuniyorow
 * ...bars? : dɔlɔminyɔrɔw
 * ...sites to see? :
 * Can you show me on the map? : I bε se ka jira n na carti la wa?
 * street : sira
 * Turn left. : kaa fara numanbolo fε
 * Turn right. : kaa fara kinibolo fε
 * left : numanbolo (nose hand)
 * right : kinibolo (rice hand)
 * straight ahead : ɲε fε
 * towards the _____ : _____ fan fε
 * past the _____ : _____ kɔ fε
 * before the _____ : _____ ɲε
 * Watch for the _____. : _____ ɲini
 * intersection :
 * north : saheli / kokodugu fε (sahel / salt land way)
 * south : worodugu fε (kola land way)
 * east : seli fε (prayer way)
 * west : tilebin fε (sunset way)
 * uphill : san fε
 * downhill : duguma fε

Taxi

 * Taxi! : Taxi!
 * Take me to _____, please. : N b'a fe ka taa _____ (la).
 * How much does it cost to get to _____? : Ka taa _____ (la) ye joli ye?
 * Take me there, please. : An ka taa yen.

Lodging

 * Do you have any rooms available? : Siyɔrɔ bε wa?
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : Siyɔrɔ kelenta / filata ye joli ye?
 * Does the room come with... : _____ bε sɔrɔ siyɔrɔ la wa?
 * ...bedsheets? : ...couverture?
 * ...a bathroom? : ...tualet / nyegen?
 * ...a telephone? : ...telephone?
 * ...a TV? : ...television?
 * May I see the room first? : N bε se ka Siyɔrɔ laje folo wa?
 * Do you have anything quieter? : Siyɔrɔ do bε sɔrɔ min ...hεrε ka ca nin ye wa?
 * ...bigger? : ...ka bon nin ye wa?
 * ...cleaner? : ...ka sani nin ye wa?
 * ...cheaper? : ...da ka nogon nin ye wa?
 * OK, I'll take it. : A ka nyi, n b'a ta.
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). : N bε na su ____ kε yan.
 * Can you suggest another hotel? : Hotel were bε sɔrɔ? I bε se ka n bila o sira la?
 * Do you have a safe? : Coffru bε wa?
 * ...lockers? : ...lockers?
 * Is breakfast/supper included? : Daraka / surofana b'a la wa?
 * What time is breakfast/supper? : Daraka / surofana bε dun waati jumen?
 * Please clean my room. : N ka siyoro furan.
 * Can you wake me at _____? : I bε se kan n lawuli _____ heuri la wa?
 * I want to check out. : N b'a fe ka wari sara ka taa.

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian/British currency? : N bε se k'a sara ni Ameriki / Australien / Canadien / Anglezi wari ye wa?
 * Do you accept credit cards? : N bε se ka sara ni carti ye wa?
 * Can you change money for me? : I bε se ka wari falen n ye wa?
 * Where can I get money changed? : Wari bε falen min?
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : I bε se ka sheki falen wa?
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : Sheki nin bε falen min?
 * What is the exchange rate? : A falen ye joli ye?
 * How much for one _____? : _____ kelen kelen ye joli ye?
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : Machine d'argent / warimachine bε sɔrɔ? min?

Eating

 * A table for one person/two people, please. :
 * Can I look at the menu, please? : N bε se ka menu laje wa, sa?
 * Can I look in the kitchen? : N bε se ka gwa laje wa?
 * Is there a house specialty? :
 * Is there a local specialty? :
 * I'm a vegetarian. : n te sogo dun
 * I don't eat pork. : n te lesogo dun
 * I don't eat beef. : n te misisogo dun
 * Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : aw kana tulu caman k'a la [don't put a lot of oil on it]
 * fixed-price meal :
 * à la carte :
 * breakfast : daraka
 * lunch : tilela fana, tilerɔ
 * tea (meal) :
 * supper : sula fana, surɔfana
 * I want _____. : ne bε _____ fε
 * I want a dish containing _____. : N bε dumuni min fe, ____ b'o la.
 * chicken : shεsogo
 * beef : mishisogo
 * fish : jεgε
 * ham : lesogo
 * soda :buasan
 * sausage :
 * cheese : fromagi
 * eggs : shεfan
 * salad, lettuce : saladi
 * (fresh) vegetable : nako fen (garden things)
 * (fresh) fruit : yiri den (tree children)
 * bread : buru, nbuuru
 * toast :
 * noodles : macaroni (yes, just like English, but applies to nearly all pasta)
 * rice : malo (uncooked), kini (cooked)
 * mais : kaba
 * orange : lemru-ba, lenburuba
 * lemon, lime : lenburu
 * pineapple : jabibi
 * banana : namasa
 * plantain : baranda, loko
 * guava : buyaki
 * papaya : manje
 * mango : mangoro
 * peanut : tiga
 * beans : sho
 * May I have a glass of _____? :
 * May I have a cup of _____? :
 * May I have a bottle of _____? : ... galama ...
 * coffee : kafe, kafe-ji
 * tea (drink) : te
 * _____ juice : ____ ji
 * (bubbly) water :
 * water : ji
 * milk : nɔnɔ
 * beer : bieri
 * alcohol : dolo
 * red/white wine :
 * May I have some _____? : ne bε se ka ____ soro wa?
 * salt : kɔkɔ
 * black pepper :
 * butter :
 * Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): terike!
 * I'm finished. : n fara (I'm full)
 * It was delicious. : a djarra, aw ni gwa
 * Please clear the plates. : aw ka assiettiw ta.
 * The check, please. : aw ka na ni addition ye.

Bars

 * Do you serve alcohol? : eska dolo bε wa?
 * Is there table service? : Is there table service?
 * A beer/two beers, please. : castel bilibili ba, castel bilibiliba fila, sil vous plais.
 * A glass of red/white wine, please. : A glass of red/white wine, please.
 * A pint, please. : A pint, please.
 * A bottle, please. : A bottle, please.
 * _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : _____ and _____, please.
 * whiskey : whiskey
 * vodka : vodka
 * rum : rum
 * water : water
 * club soda : club soda
 * tonic water : tonic water
 * orange juice : orange juice
 * Coke (soda) : Coke
 * Do you have any bar snacks? : Do you have any bar snacks?
 * One more, please. : One more, please.
 * Another round, please. : Another round, please.
 * When is closing time? : When is closing time?

Shopping

 * Do you have this in my size? : Do you have this in my size?
 * How much is this? : Nin ye joli ye?
 * That's too expensive. : abadika, O ka cha. Do bo a la [cheaper please]
 * Would you take _____? : Would you take _____?
 * expensive : ka gelen (literally - too hard)
 * cheap : ma gelen (literally - not hard)
 * I can't afford it. : wardi tε n'bolo. (literally - the money is not in my hand)
 * I don't want it. : N t'a fε. [note: once you have made an offer you are obligated to purchase]
 * You're cheating me. : Namara ka cha.
 * I'm not interested. : N ma se a ma.
 * OK, I'll take it. : Awo, n ba taa. or  Awo, n bε fε k'a san. (literally - I want to buy it)
 * Can I have a bag? : mahnah bε wa? (literally - do you have plastic)
 * Do you ship (overseas)? : Do you ship (overseas)?
 * I need... : N'mago be ______ la
 * ...toothpaste. : ...pahtay de dent. (French)
 * ...a toothbrush. : ...brassay de dent (French)
 * ...tampons. : ...tampons.
 * ...soap. : ...safine.
 * ...shampoo. : ...shampoo.
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : ...Kungaloo fura Keesay. (literally head-seed)or Kungaloo fura
 * ...cold medicine. : ...moora fooroo.
 * ...stomach medicine. : ...kono baara fooroo.
 * ...a razor. : ...lamu. (French)
 * ...an umbrella. : ...para pluie. (French)
 * ...sunblock lotion. : ...sunblock lotion.
 * ...a postcard. : ...a postcard.
 * ...postage stamps. : ...tambaru. (French)
 * ...batteries. : ...pilew.
 * ...writing paper. : ...papieri ka seben.
 * ...a pen. : ...biki.
 * ...English-language books. : ...anglakan livuru.
 * ...English-language magazines. : ...English-language magazines.
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : ...an English-language newspaper.
 * ...an English-English dictionary. : ...anglikan dickshow.

Driving

 * I want to rent a car. : N be feka mobili cinga
 * Can I get insurance? : Can I get insurance?
 * stop (on a street sign) : a to
 * one way : sira kelen
 * yield : yield
 * no parking : jo yoro te yan
 * speed limit : teliya hake
 * gas (petrol) station : gas station
 * petrol : petrol
 * diesel : diesel

Authority

 * I haven't done anything wrong. : N ma foi ke
 * It was a misunderstanding. : An ma nyogon famu
 * Where are you taking me? : Aw be n taa fo min?
 * Am I under arrest? : Aw bena n mina wa?
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : Ne be bo Ameriki/Australi/Angaleter/Canada
 * I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
 * I want to talk to a lawyer. : I want to talk to a lawyer.
 * Can I just pay a fine now? : Can I just pay a fine now?

Learning more

 * Wikibooks Bambara
 * Parlons Bambara, langue et culture Bambara, Ismael Maiga

title: Bambara phrasebook


text:
Bamberg

Bamberg is in Upper Franconia. The town has slightly over 70,000 residents. For its historical architecture and preserved heritage, the whole town of Bamberg is listed on the list. It is a great place to see South German baroque architecture.

Understand
Bamberg can trace its history to a first mention in the year 902. Its main claim to fame is being the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bamberg, which was established in 1007 and consequently the Bamberger Dom cathedral. It was a staunchly Catholic town through the Reformation under the rule of cuius regio eius religio (roughly, "the ruler decides the faith") and remains more Catholic than the rest of Franconia to this day. Bamberg is said to have been built on seven hills and thus it sometimes calls itself "Franconian Rome", though whether the hills were conveniently counted to get to seven is anybody's guess. While the city had lost much of its relevance and influence by the 20th century, that was a blessing in disguise as it meant being spared the bombardments of World War II and surviving the war with much of the architectural heritage intact.

By train
Bamberg is part of the VGN meaning that for all regional trains from Nuremberg and many surrounding areas the VGN rates (usually cheaper than standard DB) apply. Note that VGN tickets are not valid on ICE or IC trains. VGN fares and schedules

By plane
The nearest airport is in Nuremberg, with cheap local transport able to get you there for about €10; however, if you are coming from very far away, Germany's main hub, Frankfurt Airport , may very well work out to be cheaper and more convenient with discount train tickets (one way, book well in advance) starting at €29 and "rail&fly", an offer that combines your flight with a train ride to any point in Germany and is often cheaper than a domestic connecting flight. See here for more information.

By bus
Intercity buses in Germany began operating on a large scale in 2013, but the market is growing. As of 2017 prices are not as low as they once were (one offer was anywhere in Germany for €9), but still quite affordable and often cheaper than a train or Mitfahrgelegenheit (ride sharing). However as the market is consolidating, expect rising prices (especially if the unpopular exemption from road tolls is eliminated) as well as a denser network. The biggest company by far is Flixbus. Expect to spend more time with less comfort on a bus than on a train.

By boat
The Main Donau Kanal ends here and is linked to the river Main.

Get around
Walking is best throughout the Altstadt (old city center). The Hauptbahnhof (train station) is less than 2 km northeast of the Altstadt. Walk or take a bus.

Budget
All these are in the city centre:

Bars
Many bars and clubs are on and around Sandstraße (actually, that's two streets, "Obere Sandstraße" and "Untere Sandstraße").

Try Rauchbier (smoked beer), unique to Bamberg. The two main brewers are Schlenkerla and Spezial, both of which have taverns where you can sample the beers. Rauchbier is a traditional Franconian beer style made all or in part from beechwood-smoked barley malt. Before modern kilns became common, most malt was dried over an open flame and most beers featured some smokiness. Today, Bamberg is one of very few locations where the old-school smoking takes place. Most Rauchbiere are medium-to-full-bodied lagers with pronounced smoke and malt character, light bitterness, and minimal hop flavor. Smoked versions of Weißbier and Bockbier are also available. Around Christmas Schlenkerla also produces a special Bock made with oak-smoked malt; called Eiche (meaning oak) and during Lent produces another special called Fastenbier available only on draught at their tavern. Schlenkerla malts and smokes their own barley, and Bamberg-based malting giant Weyermann produces a comparable version available for export around the world for home and commercial use.

Go next
Nearby towns and cities:
 * Coburg
 * Erlangen - university town and site of Franconia's biggest beer festival
 * Nuremberg - biggest city in Franconia with a lovely castle
 * Würzburg
 * Forchheim - former imperial residence with charming old town

title: Bamberg


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Bamboo Island

There's more than one place called Bamboo Island:

Cambodia

 * Koh Russei (also known as Bamboo Island) - an island near Sihanoukville

Thailand

 * Ko Phai (also known as Bamboo Island) - an uninhabited island near Pattaya - see the "Islands" section of the Pattaya article for details

title: Bamboo Island


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Bamenda

Bamenda is a city in Cameroon's Northwest Highlands.

Understand
Bamenda, also known as Abakwa or Mankon Town, has ties to the Tikar people and then was colonized by the Germans in 1884 before being passed onto the French and English. Also in this city you'll find the Bamenda University of Science and Technology and some hilly backdrops.

Get in
There is an airport in Bamenda servicing charter flights but no daily scheduled flights. There are highways to Douala and Yaoundé, where major airports are located. The roads are good, but with some big pot holes. By road, it takes around 6 hours from Douala by car and 8 by bus.

Do
A popular itinerary is to do the "Bamenda Ring Road" that involves traveling north to see the Bafut Palace in Bafut followed by the Menchum Waterfalls near Wum, then taking in the volcanically active Lake Nyos where many died in a gaseous release in 1987 and on to the Kings Palace in Misaje. From here, one continues on to see the crater lake, Lake Oku, and biodiverse second-highest Cameroonian peak, Mount Kilum Ijim, and then completes the route by seeing the palace museum in Babungo, pottery in Bamessing, and Sabga Hills en route back to Bamenda. This is likely a multi-day excursion since it is ~465 kilometers, with potentially unimproved road conditions at times, but it allows one to experience Cameroonian landscapes and kingdoms in detail.

Sleep
There are a few hotels in Bamenda. The largest being the faded Ayaba Hotel. There are various other commercial places that may be better options.

Connect
English and French language broadcasts can be heard from BBC World Service on 95.7MHz and RFI on 105.8MHz.

title: Bamenda


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Bamiyan

Bamiyan is the main town in Bamiyan Province. Bamiyan is one of the main tourist attractions in Afghanistan, largely due to the giant destroyed Buddha statues. It's also one of the most picturesque regions in the country. The "Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley" is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Understand
It lies at an altitude of around 2 500 m and in the summer its comfortable climate provides a relief from the heat of the lower areas of the country.

Almost everything revolves around one main road running east/west. The buddhas are on the cliff face to the north.

By car
From Kabul there are two very rough dirt roads to Bamiyan, the southern route through Wardak Province and across Hajigak Pass being shorter, more dangerous and more frequently used by public transport. It's advisable to try to blend in on this route for the first hour or so out of Kabul - using a scarf as the Afghans do to cover your head, nose and mouth keeps the dust out and helps to lower your profile. Toyota 4WD shared minivans seating 5-10 passengers leave Kabul starting at 04:00 daily and cost 400 Afghanis (you may have to and should bargain hard for this price), and take around 9 hours. The northern route starts from the road heading north from Kabul, near Charikar. For an hour and a half on good tarmac road. From Charikar it goes through Parwan Province, passing Ghorband towards Shibar Pass (some 2 900 m) on a gravel road refurbished in 2007. Total travelling time some 8 hours. Several check-posts require a local guide.

From Herat it is a very long and hard multi-part journey via the minaret of Jam, taking at least 3 days in Toyota minivans. Enquire in Herat about the current safety situation.

From Mazar-e Sharif the old route to Kabul runs through Bamiyan. The gravel road within Bamyan Province (from Du-Ab) has some bottlenecks.

When you're ready to make an exit, minivans depart from Mama Najaf's restaurant daily for Kabul (9 hours, 400 Afs). Inquire here for any other destinations you may have in mind, if there's not something heading there you can arrange a private hire minivan.

By plane

The Red Cross (ICRC) runs flights for its personnel only. The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) has regular flights available for UN and NGO staff, humanitarian workers and journalists. The ISAF contingent's (New Zealand) Hercules transport aircraft resupply the base there. Whilst it is very unlikely that they'll allow passengers it does provide a dramatic photo opportunity. The same goes when VIPs visit and bring along Apache/Cobra attack helicopters for protection.

Get around
Bamiyan town is small and walking is the best option. Around the region you can hire Toyota minivans for day trips from the stand in front of Mama Najaf's Restaurant. Also, along the road in front of the large Buddha is the tourist office (in a pink building on the south side of the road) and you can hire a guide. The guide is well worth it for the money.

The Roof of Bamiyan hotel also has vehicles for rent.

See

 * The Buddhas were built by the Gandharan Kingdom which ruled the area a few centuries BCE. For that kingdom's capital and better-preserved art of the same period, see Taxila.
 * The Buddhas were built by the Gandharan Kingdom which ruled the area a few centuries BCE. For that kingdom's capital and better-preserved art of the same period, see Taxila.

 * The area around the Buddhas and to the west is interesting to walk around (stay on well-used paths). Many of the buildings were destroyed in war and there are occasional leftover weapons and destroyed jeeps, one of which is now used as a bridge over a stream.
 * Caves are abundant throughout the mountainside, many of them used as residences. It's best to observe from a distance, out of respect for the residents and for your safety.

Do

 * Skiing is a major activity in the Bamiyan Valley.

Eat

 * Several chaikhanas provide staple Afghani food such as pulao (rice with seasonal vegetable and mutton), naan and plenty of green tea. Alternatively have some kebab with fresh yoghurt from sheep's milk.
 * For finer dining, try contacting the Hotel Silk Road Bamiyan (, see below) and reserve a table for dinner. Whatever type of cuisine they may serve that day, it's bound to be good.

Budget
The only really cheap option for travelers is to stay in one of several chaikhanas, where your meal (~60 Afs) includes a space on the floor for the night. Most don't have toilets or showers, so take advantage of the hammam near the Zuhak Hotel. (this "hammam" is only for men.)

 * Mama Najafs Restaurant is probably the most popular of the chaikhanas, as this is where the minivans arrive to and depart from.

Connect

 * Bamiyan Business Center, east of Zuhak Hotel and across Kabul City Bank, is the only internet cafe in Bamiyan. 90 Afs/hour. In May 2010, this was not working.
 * Mobile phone service providers with reception in Bamiyan city are Roshan, AWCC, Etisalat and Areeba (MTN). Areeba has the better coverage around Bamiyan Province. AWCC and Etisalt have GPRS available, so you can have internet (although slow).

Stay safe
Bamiyan is regarded as one of the safer destinations in Afghanistan. Its remoteness and the largely Hazara population have kept it distant from most of the fighting.

The southern route to Kabul is considered dangerous for the hour or so stretch just out of Kabul where it travels through several villages. Most public transport takes this route, so keep a low profile in those areas and cover your head with a scarf as the Afghans do.

There are many landmines and unexploded ordnances (UXO) in Bamiyan despite a continued presence by ISAF. Stay on well used paths and steer well clear of red-painted rocks. White-painted rocks indicate paths that have been cleared of mines.

Go next

 * Band-e Amir – one of the most stunningly beautiful natural sights in the whole country, these turquoise lakes are definitely worth the effort. Day trips are popular, but if you have the time and don't mind roughing it, an overnight stay affords the best experience. A private hire minivan should run around 2000-3000 Afs depending on bargaining skills, and takes about 3 hours.
 * Shahr-e Zohak is a fort some 20 km back towards Kabul that requires a jeep to get to. It's a ruined city at the top of cliffs. Your guide from the Buddhist site can also guide you here. Very interesting and great views from the top. En route from Bamiyan there are also guard towers that are UNESCO world heritage sites.

title: Bamiyan


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Banaganapalli

Banaganapalli is a village in Andhra Pradesh. The village is in an area famous for diamond deposits.

Get in
Banaganapalli can be reached via road from Kurnool - Anantapur highway (NH 7).Take a diversion near Pyapili.Direct Buses are available from Kurnool and Anantapur, it can also be reached from Tadipatri (Anantapur District)

Do
Must visit the Brahmamgari Matam temple

Buy

 * Mangos. Very good mangos are available here.

Connect

 * Net Cafe BanaganaPalle RTC bus stand

Go next

 * Nandyal

title: Banaganapalli


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Banagher

Banagher is a town at the western edge of County Offaly on the banks of the River Shannon. In Irish it's Beannchar na Sionna, "the place of the pointed rocks on the Shannon" - the river is shallow so it can be forded and is less flood-prone, but it's a block to navigation. An ancient settlement at the ford grew in the 19th century when the Grand Canal linked cross-country all the way from Dublin, and the shallows were bypassed by a lock system. Banagher was then an important inland port, but it and the waterways declined with the advent of the railways. In the late 20th century the waterways were refurbished for pleasure craft, and this is the main reason to visit.

Banagher in 2022 had a population of 1900, so it's the largest of a scattering of villages east of the river. These include Shannon Harbour, Cloghan, Ferbane and Shannonbridge, all described on this page.

Clonmacnoise is the must-see monastic complex north of Shannonbridge, but this extensive site is described separately.

Get in
Kearns Bus 845 / 847 runs once in the morning from Portumna to, Birr, Tullamore and Dublin, returning in the afternoon, and with a second run on Sunday. It makes several stops in Dublin including Heuston station but not Busáras. The bus stop in Banagher is at the junction of Main St and Harbour Rd.

Bus Éireann 72 runs daily from Limerick to Nenagh and Birr, then along N62 to Cloghan, Ferbane and Athlone.

By road from Dublin follow M4 / M6 to Kilbeggan then R436 through Clara and Ferbane.

Banagher, Shannon Harbour and Shannonbridge are on the river, which is navigable throughout from Limerick to Athlone and Carrick-on-Shannon, and linked by canals to Dublin, Carlow, Waterford and Enniskillen. Check Waterways Ireland for current status of locks, moorings and so on.

Get around
You need your own wheels to get around this scattered district. A bike would do.

Bear in mind that the only bridges across the Shannon hereabouts are at Portumna, Banagher, Shannonbridge, then away north at Athlone.

See

 * is where the Grand Canal meets the Shannon, with scenic old bridges, wharves and locks.
 * is a sturdy tower house built in the 1490s. Henry VIII awarded it to Thomas Boleyn, and in return got to marry his daughter Anne - it was this that led to Henry's break with the Roman Catholic church. Two ladies of the Boleyn family are buried here. The castle is open summer weekends noon-5PM, donation.
 * : the main sight is the bridge itself, built in 1757. It's narrow, with one-way traffic signal-controlled. On the west bank in County Roscommon is the Napoleonic-era Fort, just in case Boney tried to invade by riverboat. A little further west is the Romanian Orthodox Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring, in cabins that look like Butlins; you can attend services.
 * Our Lady of Clonfert Roman Catholic Church, a mile south of the cathedral, has a 14th-century wooden Madonna and Child. By the church is a 16th-century tower house.
 * on the west (Galway) bank has the oldest active RC church in Ireland, from 1414 and originally part of a Franciscan abbey. Burke Castle just north remains only as an earthwork. On the Offaly bank, Victoria Locks lift boats 2.4 m past the river shallows. A Martello tower stands guard on a river island.
 * in Ferbane is the crumbling remnant of a 12th-century Augustinian priory. It's now within the grounds of a nursing home.
 * is a tower house built in 1575 which in no way resembles the fine mansion of that name in Enniskillen.
 * is the northern terminus of the Offaly Way, see below. The remains of the medieval monastery are free to stroll, 24 hours.
 * is the area's star attraction, a medieval monastery complex. See separate page, but that village is short of accommodation and you're more likely to stay in the Banagher area.
 * is the area's star attraction, a medieval monastery complex. See separate page, but that village is short of accommodation and you're more likely to stay in the Banagher area.

Do

 * Boating on the Shannon and canal: you can hire for extended trips or day excursions. Shannonbridge is the main base, where operators and agencies include Cruise Ireland, Silver Line Cruisers and Locaboat. There are limits on how far a rented boat may be taken, so save Graignamanagh for another trip.
 * Golf: Birr Golf Club is the closest, on R439 south of Banagher.
 * The Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway was scrapped in 2008. It was a 3-foot (914 mm) gauge railway for hauling peat, with a fan of tracks across the bog converging on Shannonbridge power station. Later it morphed into a tourist ride, with peat-burning depicted as part of the mystical Celtic yah-di-yah. As a cottage fuel maybe, but peat-burning on an industrial scale was horribly polluting, and the extraction of this non-renewable resource ruined the bog eco-system. There are no plans to restore the railway.

Buy

 * Ferbane has an ATM and a Centra, open daily 8AM-8PM. And that's about it for retail hereabouts. How's your fuel gauge?

Eat

 * Banagher places are Crank Road Restaurant and Angelo's.
 * Ferbane has Beijing Garden and Henessey's; Black Boot Restaurant has closed.

Drink

 * JJ Hough's Singing Pub on Main Street Banagher is open daily noon-1AM.
 * McIntyre's is the village pub in Shannon Harbour.

Sleep

 * Dúthracar, a Maic Dé bí, a Rí suthain sen, bothán deirrit díthraba, command sí mo threb
 * "I wish, O Son of the living God, eternal ancient King, for a hidden little hut in the wilderness, that it might be my dwelling"
 * - attributed to St Manchan (d 664), who found this area short of accommodation.

 * Ely House B&B is in Shannonbridge at the road junction.
 * Harbour Master's House is a B&B on the canal bank in Shannon Harbour.
 * Consider staying in Ballinasloe, County Galway, if you can't get fixed up east of the river.
 * Harbour Master's House is a B&B on the canal bank in Shannon Harbour.
 * Consider staying in Ballinasloe, County Galway, if you can't get fixed up east of the river.

Connect
As of April 2021, there is a 5G signal with Three in Banagher, Cloghan and Ferbane, with 4G in Shannonbridge. Eir has a mobile signal throughout, with 4G in Cloghan and Ferbane. Vodafone has 4G in Ferbane but nothing beyond.

Go next

 * Birr is a small Georgian town with a Victorian telescope that for 70 years was at the leading edge of astronomy.
 * Athlone, also on the Shannon, has a fine cathedral and castle.
 * Portumna has a Jacobean bling-mansion. This part of County Galway is pastoral and low-lying, quite unlike the rugged Atlantic coast.

title: Banagher


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Banana

There is more than one place called Banana:

Canada

 * Banana Island Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada.

Costa Rica

 * Banana territory - Which can be found in Caribbean Costa Rica.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

 * Banana (Democratic Republic of the Congo) - A port city at the mouth of the Congo river on the Atlantic coast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Nigeria

 * Banana Island - An artificial island residential area in Lagos state in Nigeria.

Sierra Leone

 * Banana Island or Banana Islands - An island(s) that is the prime tourist destination in Sierra Leone.

title: Banana


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Banana Islands

The Banana Islands are a prime tourist destination in Sierra Leone. The proximity to Freetown (40km) and the idyllic environment of a pristine tropical island make Banana Island a popular choice for daytrips and overnight excursions. The island has rich history as the first European settlement in the region and locals are proud to show visitors the various sites. There are two fishing communities on the Island, Dublin and Ricketts.

Get in
Take a local boat from Kent or hire a speed boat from Freetown.

Get around
On foot or by boat - no vehicles on islands.

See
Take an historical walking tour: two churches, cemetery, school, fort, slaver's house, fishing harbour

Do
Banana Island Sierra Leone offers sport fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, guided forest walks, historical and cultural tours and ultimate relaxation. Banana Divers offers quality game fishing and reliable scuba diving in some of the best spots in west Africa.

Sleep
Accommodation can be found only at Dublin at Daltons Banana Guest House +23276278120, or the Banana Island Chalets +232 76 989 906.

title: Banana Islands


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Banana Pancake Trail

The Banana Pancake Trail is the name given to the well-trodden and constantly growing routes around Southeast Asia travelled by backpackers and other tourists. The trail has no clear definition but is used as a metaphor for places that are well-visited by mostly Western tourists who have left their mark on the local tourist industry, which has created restaurants, hotels and entertainment catering to these travellers' needs.

Understand
The term "Banana Pancake Trail" is usually used tongue-in-cheek as an affectionate nickname and in reference to routes connecting the many guesthouses, cafes and restaurants that serve banana pancakes as a form of sweet breakfast.

The Banana Pancake Trail is sometimes associated with travellers who use Lonely Planet travel guides, due to the fact that this publisher's books were the first to provide information about the region and were therefore used by many backpackers. The influx of Western travellers led to the rise of many restaurants serving food adapted to their needs, including banana pancakes and other comfort foods like yoghurt with muesli and honey.

Some travellers in the region are digital nomads, people who work via the net while travelling.

Prepare
See Tips for travel in developing countries and Tropical diseases for advice that applies to many of these countries.

For many of these countries, many visitors will require visas obtained in advance; see the individual country articles or the foreign ministry website for your home country (U.S. Dept. of State for U.S citizens) for details. Visas can be obtained before you leave or in capitals near the destination; Bangkok and Singapore are popular centers for this. Bring extra passport-size photos if you have them; many visa applications require one or two. If not, get a photo taken wherever you are and get at least a dozen prints to cover the rest of your journey.

Many countries will refuse to issue a visa if the passport has less than six months to run. If your passport is near expiry, get a new one before setting out.

Get in
There is no firm (geographic) definition of the Banana Pancake Trail, as it is a metaphor to describe the ever-developing travellers' trail going through many different places in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent (India and Nepal) rather than an actual route or road. But if you want to begin your journey by really diving head first into backpacker land, by all means book a ticket to Bangkok and make your way to Khao San Road. Yes, there's a reason it is mentioned in the very first sentence of the #1 backpacker novel of all time: Alex Garland's The Beach.

Go
While there's no official list of places along the trail, the term is used to describe, among others: As tourism expands, the Philippines have become part of it as well, and many of the Trail's stops are diving resort areas such as Boracay, Siargao, Puerto Galera, Moalboal and Panglao Island. Other popular stops include Palawan, the major cities Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, and picturesque smaller places like Vigan and Dumaguete.
 * Bangkok (with its famous Khao San Road), Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket, Pai, Krabi, the islands of Ko Pha Ngan (with its world-infamous full moon party), Ko Phi Phi and Ko Samui in Thailand
 * Halong Bay, Hoi An, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc in Vietnam
 * Vang Vieng in Laos (with its rites-of-passage river tubing)
 * Sihanoukville and Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) in Cambodia
 * Penang, the Perhentian Islands and Malacca in Malaysia
 * Lake Toba, Yogyakarta, Mount Bromo and the islands of Bintan, Bali, Lombok and Gili Trawangan in Indonesia
 * Pushkar, Varanasi, McLeod Ganj, Manali and Goa in India
 * Kathmandu in Nepal

The Trail also seems to have a northern extension into China with Dali and Yangshuo as the major centres. Major routes into China from Southeast Asia include Hanoi-Nanning and Laos-Xishuangbanna-Kunming. See the itineraries Hong Kong to Kunming overland and Yunnan tourist trail for some of the routes within China.

Stay safe
Don't mix alcohol and motorbikes. Cover-up and use sunscreen during the peak sun hours. Always use condoms. Be wary of people offering drugs in the streets. And don't argue with Thai police when they ask for traffic infringement fines. Hand over 500 baht and walk away.

Go next
One possibility is to head west to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. See flying on a budget and the "Get in" sections of those country articles for transport options. For routes further west from there, see Istanbul to New Delhi overland.

Another possibility is to head east or south into Oceania.

Gringo Trail, a similar range of destinations in Latin America.

title: Banana Pancake Trail


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Banat

For the purpose of this article, Banat is a region in western Romania.

Understand
Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe that is divided between Romania, Serbia and Hungary. This article refers to the Romanian part of the Banat, which consists of the Timiș and Caraș-Severin counties and the western part of Mehedinți county. For the Serbian part of Banat, see Vojvodina. The Hungarian part of Banat is included in the Great Hungarian Plain article.

The (Romanian part of) Banat is usually divided in:
 * The Banat Highlands (Banatul Montan/Banatul de Munte), which consists of the Banat Mountains and the nearby hills
 * The Banat Lowlands (Banatul de Pustă), which consists of the southern part of Romania's Western Plain

Banat lowlands

 * - third biggest city in Romania; university city, industrial center
 * - old spa town
 * - in 1390-1394 a fortress surrounded by a network of canals was built here; only a tower, 30m tall, survives today
 * - small town not far from Timișoara, famous for vineyards
 * - westernmost town in the country, inhabited since Bronze Age, place of a Roman castrum and birthplace of the composer Béla Bartók
 * - small town not far from Timișoara, famous for vineyards
 * - westernmost town in the country, inhabited since Bronze Age, place of a Roman castrum and birthplace of the composer Béla Bartók
 * - small town not far from Timișoara, famous for vineyards
 * - westernmost town in the country, inhabited since Bronze Age, place of a Roman castrum and birthplace of the composer Béla Bartók
 * - westernmost town in the country, inhabited since Bronze Age, place of a Roman castrum and birthplace of the composer Béla Bartók

Banat highlands

 * - famous for the steel works and other heavy industry before 1989, now mostly a gateway to nearby Semenic mountain
 * - old mining town, now mostly famous for the touristic Anina-Oravița mountain railway
 * - ancient spa town, since the Roman times; hot springs, beautiful architecture (from the Habsburg times) and amazing scenery
 * - old industrial town
 * - village famous for hundreds of years for the watermills, some still used today
 * - oldest theatre in the country (1817), oldest pharmacy in the Banat highlands (1763)
 * - port city on the Danube, close to cazanele mari and cazanele mici - two important sections of the Iron Gates gorge and to the tallest rock sculpture in Europe
 * - old mining village, now a gateway to the Nera Gorge
 * - old mining village, now a gateway to the Nera Gorge

Other destinations

 * - gorges, caves and waterfalls
 * - Semenic ski resort, the famous village of Gărâna, gorges and caves
 * - the Danube Canyon

Ski

 * Semenic ski resort and several other ski pistes in the Semenic-Cheile Carașului National Park

Festivals

 * Gărâna Jazz Festival is a huge open-air jazz festival taking place every year in July in the Wolf's Meadow (Poiana Lupului), near the small village of Gărâna, up in the Semenic mountains.

Drink
Most popular drink is rachie (read rakie), which is distilled from plums, at home. The difference between the rachie and the pălincă which you find in other parts of Romania is that rachie is single-distilled, which gives it a 30-something degree strength, while the pălincă is double-distilled and always above 50ºC.

title: Banat


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Banaue

Banaue is a town in the Cordillera mountain range in the north of the island of Luzon, in the Philippines. It is mainly visited for its stunning rice terraces, which are designated a National Cultural Treasure.

By bus
Getting to Banaue directly might take a lot of effort if you're not taking a direct route from Metro Manila. There are few possible ways to get to Banaue — Manila - Banaue, Manila - Baguio - Banaue, Manila - Baguio - Bontoc - Banaue.

 * From Sagada: Coda Lines has three daily trips from Sagada en route to Manila at 10:30AM, 2PM, and 3PM, with an extra trip at 4PM on special days. The fare to Banaue is for semi-deluxe buses and  for deluxe buses, with air conditioning in both classes. The bus trip between Sagada and Banaue usually takes about 3 hours and is an alternative to the hassle of having to exchange jeepney routes at Bontoc or dealing with an overcrowded ride.
 * Manila-Solano, Nueva Vizcaya-Banaue ifugao - buses heading to Tuguegarao (e.g. Baliwag Transit, Victory, Florida Transport) pass by the town of Solano. Several jeepneys ply the Solano-Banaue route or the Solano-Lagawe, Ifugao route. From Lagawe, one can then take another jeepney to Banaue.
 * Manila-Tarlac-Solano-Banaue - buses heading for Baguio pass by Tarlac. Vizcaya liner plies the Tarlac-Solano route at 5AM.
 * Banaue to Bontoc or Banaue to Solano (Philippines). many Jeepneys or Minivans.
 * Dangwa buses from Manila
 * Coda bus line from Quezon City at 8PM or 9PM, takes 9 hr.
 * Coda bus line from Quezon City at 8PM or 9PM, takes 9 hr.

By car
The distance between the Balintawak Cloverleaf, in north Manila at the beginning of the North Luzon Expressway and the Welcome to Banaue sign, is about 332 km. The road is paved all the way to Banaue. Travel time can be as long as 9 hours due to the several blind curves through the mountains.

Best day to travel is on good Friday of Lenten season, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. It will take about 7 hours only by car with a reliable driver.

Get around
Jeepneys (converted jeeps/bus) and tricycles (trikes) (little motorcycles with side cars) are easily available around Banaue. Vans can be hired with driver/guide. Expect to hike some to great places to see that are not on the roads.

There is a public jeepney plying the Banaue-to-saddle-point (start of trek to Batad village) route daily. See Get Out, below for more info.

See
Upon arriving in town, tourists are expected to pay a environmental fee at the Municipal Tourism Office, which also arranges tours and guides.

Buy

 * Many kinds of carved woods.

Eat
Most guesthouses also offer food. They don't differ much in terms of quality and price, so it's best to decide based on atmosphere and views.

Drink
Native rice wine or sugarcane wine at all inns and lodges.

Sleep
The grand old lady, Banaue Hotel, is probably the priciest option you'll find but offers regular cultural shows in the evenings (Ifugao dance and music) that are also open to non-guests. The pool is small but a nice place to hang out when you're tired of trekking up and down rice terraces.

Closer to town, there are a multitude of hostels and guesthouses offering much more reasonably priced accommodations.

Connect
There are several internet cafés around the town, the rate ranges from to  per hour.

Go next

 * Solano
 * Batad. While the rice terraces of Banaue are mud-walled, those of Batad are stone-walled. They form an amphitheatre and are an impressive sight. 15 km on bad roads, followed by a 40-minute downhill hike, but worth it. There are a number of hostels and guest houses in the small village there, overlooking the rice terraces.  If weather and time permit, Batad is probably a better place to spend the night than Banaue.  There is a public jeepney plying the Banaue to Saddle Point (start of trek to Batad village) route daily. Banaue to Saddle Point is around 2 to 4PM while the Saddle Point to Banaue jeepney is around 9:30AM to 10:30AM. They may take extra trips during the peak season (e.g. Holy week). Head on to the Banaue public market and ask around. Fare is  to  for tourists while the locals pay.
 * Baguio - A major town that several bus route through on their way north from Manila. Ohayami Trans has a daily trip to Baguio at 5:30PM and takes about 9 hr for + fees
 * Metro Manila - Ohayami Trans has a daily trip to at 7PM and takes about 9 hr. Alternatively, you can get a jeepney to the junction just before Solano and catch a Manila bound bus - the bus will take around 8 hours but if you get a jeepney at 06:30 you can be in Manila by 5pm.
 * Bontoc and Sagada. By hiring a van in Banaue (ask in your hotel) you can visit these two centres as a day trip. Bontoc is a busy town but has an excellent museum of Ifugao culture. Sagada has the impressive Sumaging limestone cave (take a change of clothes and leave your best shoes in Banaue), burial chambers and hanging coffins. En route to Bontoc you pass the incredibly beautiful Bayo terraces. Make sure that your driver has the correct licenses before leaving however, as there are checkpoints in and around Bontoc and without the correct licenses you may be forced to turn around before your destination.
 * Hapao. A half-day trip from Banaue. More terraces. Steep steps lead down to some, giving easy access for a close-hand inspection.

title: Banaue


text:
Banbury

Banbury is a market town in the Cherwell district of Oxfordshire. It is known for the nursery rhyme "Ride-a-cock-horse" (shown on the right) and Banbury cakes. The local football team is Banbury United and they play at the Spencer stadium.

By car
Due to the building of the M40 motorway, Banbury is now a town with good industry. It is now one of the major commuter towns for London, Oxford, Solihull and Birmingham. The M40 also provides local residents access to the Midlands and the southeast.

Hennef Way (A422) was upgraded to a dual carriageway easing traffic on the heavily congested road and providing better links to north Banbury and the town centre from the M40.

By bus
Banbury has an inter-urban bus service provided by Stagecoach Group which feeds the outlying villages and provides transport to places such as Oxford, Chipping Norton and Brackley.

By train

 * Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain.

has rail services run by Chiltern Railways to London Marylebone, Warwick, Kidderminster and Birmingham Moor Street / Snow Hill via the non-electrified Chiltern Main Line.

It also has direct services run by First Great Western to Oxford, Reading and London Paddington.

Services to other parts of the country are provided by CrossCountry via Birmingham New Street, to Cardiff, Bristol, Gloucester, Leicester, Stansted, as well as direct services to other cities across England and Scotland.

Get around
In addition to longer distance services, Stagecoach also operate local bus services within the town, whose route numbers begin with the letter "B". Most single journeys cost £2.20 with a day ticket available for £3.40 covering just Banbury (more expensive options cover rural areas as well).

There are also a number of taxi companies who operate in the town.

Supermarkets
Three of the big four supermarkets:

Eat
The town's own delicacy are the Banbury cakes – small, flat pastry cakes filled with currants, zest and spices.

Drink
Thursday nights in Banbury are the well-known "Student Night", but have declined in popularity. Banbury is still busy with a slightly older crowd on a Friday, and is always generally busy on a Saturday.

Pubs and bars
Many of the town's recommended pubs and bars are found on Parson's Street.

 * The Bar With No Name- No one is ever in this bar.
 * Wetherspoons Sound Exchange. Underneath 2 of Banbury's clubs, good location.
 * The Bar With No Name- No one is ever in this bar.
 * Wetherspoons Sound Exchange. Underneath 2 of Banbury's clubs, good location.
 * The Bar With No Name- No one is ever in this bar.
 * Wetherspoons Sound Exchange. Underneath 2 of Banbury's clubs, good location.
 * Wetherspoons Sound Exchange. Underneath 2 of Banbury's clubs, good location.

Go next
Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby

 * Oxford, the heart of the county and the home of the oldest English-speaking university
 * Bicester, market town, most well known for its Bicester Village outlet
 * Chipping Norton, an ancient market town
 * Woodstock, home of Blenheim Palace, 'the English Versailles' and the birthplace of Churchill
 * Stratford-upon-Avon, the home of Shakespeare.

title: Banbury


text:
Banámichi

Banamichi is a Mexican town of 1,400 people (2020) in the center of the state of Sonora, close to the Sierra Madre Occidental area and the influx of the Sonora River through that region. The town was founded in 1639.

Understand
The original Opata name, Banamitzi, means, where the river turns. The town of approximately 1500 residence is supported mostly by agriculture, cattle ranching, farming. Wonderfully sweet onions called cebolla verde are grown in the fields close to town as are chili verde (green hot chilies) a staple of the local diet here. The beef raised on the ranches in this area is well known for its special flavor and ranchers sell their calves to the US through a Sonoran/American trade agreement. The Banámichi territory has rugged areas all around its location, reaching elevations close to 2,000 meters above sea level, formed by several mountain ranges such as Jucaral and several high points such as Cerro la Luz, Cerro la Laja and Cerro el Cobre, which is the highest point in the entire municipality. The semi-flat areas are found to the near west of the town, formed by the El Picacho, Peña Blanca, San Antonio, Murocotochi, Pirinola, Bajío and La Palma hills, these below 1,200 meters above sea level. And the low areas are in a valley in the exact location of the town and through which the Sonora River passes, which flows from north to south, from which the streams are connected, or smaller rivers of El Álamo, Cañada de la Mora, El Oro, Guitonchi, La Cruz, Onofre, de Motepori, Los Vallecitos, Salmón, Los Tatos, El Chinal, Las Delicias, Opodepe and El Carrizo.

Climate
The town has a dry - semi - warm climate, with an average monthly maximum temperature of 29.3 ° C in the months of July to September and a minimum monthly average of 13.3 ° C from December to February. The rainy season occurs in summer in the months of July and August, with an average annual rainfall of 424 millimeters; there are frequent frosts from November to March due to its proximity to the mountains near the Sonora River.

By car
From Hermosillo, it is a 2-1/2 hour drive (170 km) to Banamichi. From Hermosillo, drive northeast on federal highway MEX-14 for 110 km until you reach Mazacahul. Turn north on state highway 89 and continue 60 km to Banámichi.

It is just over 3 hours to drive from the U.S. border to Banamichi. From the US border crossing between Douglas, Arizona and Agua Prieta, Sonora, drive southwest on federal highway MEX-2 for 82 km (about 1 hour) to Cananea, where you will turn south on Sonora state highway 89 and continue for 150 km (about 2 hours) to Banámichi.

See

 * The Palacio Municipal, or city hall, also faces the plaza.

 * Just south of the town is the Bacachi warm springs pools.

 * The town has a baseball stadium where the home team, the Halcones, play in the municipal league and games are often televised.

 * Quarter horse racing takes place at a track near the airport.

Festivals

 * June 24: Feast of San Juan
 * September 15 - 20: Patronal Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, and the coronation dance of the local queen and traditional horse races
 * November 13 - 15: Sonora River Festival

Go next

 * Ruta de Rio Sonora - 250 km driving tour of several small colonial towns, including Ures
 * Hermosillo
 * Ures
 * Agua Prieta

title: Banámichi