text:
Hovd

Khovd or Hovd (Mongolian: Ховд) is a city in the Hovd province of Mongolia. It has a population of around 30,000.

Understand
The history of Khovd dates back about 240 years. At the north end of town there is a ruined fort where the Manchu dynasty viceroy lived with his troops. Mongolian revolutionaries chased them out in 1912. While the Manchus were ruling, they planted trees along the main streets that can still be seen.

Since 1912, Khovd has developed, acquiring a big hospital, a university for the youth of Western Mongolia, a quality airport, kindergartens, a cinema, and a theater.

Khovd is unique in its diverse ethnic makeup. It consists of 17 soums (similar to a county with each county containing one larger town that also bears the soum's name), some of which have their own ethnic groups including Kazakhs and seven different Mongolian ethnic groups. Many of the small ethnic groups represented in the city are from the surrounding Khovd aimag, and have their own unique dialects, clothes, dances, songs, musical instruments, and ceremonies. Uriankhais (an ethnic group concentrated in Munkhkhairkhan and Duut soums in the Altai Mountains) are of special note; their archery is unique and involves shooting rubber-tipped arrows at leather balls.

By plane

Local air ticket agents:

Agents speak moderate to advanced English.

Phone: 976-11-313131, 976-11-323232 976-11-323232, 976-11-333333 976-11-303030, 976-11-330101 976-11-331390 Email: info@airtrans.mn http://www.airtrans.mn
 * Air trans:

Phone: +976-70105050 Email: info@airmarket.mn http://www.airmarket.mn
 * Air market:

Phone: 976-18001818, 976-70141818, 976-70131818, 976-11-311818, 976-70121818, 976-70161818, 976-70151818, 976-70101818 Fax: 976-11-322350 Email: info@airlink.mn http://www.airlink.mn
 * Air link:

Phone: 976-11-311001, 976-11-311002, 976-11-311193, 976-70141001 976-70113313 Email: info@monairtour.com http://www.monairtour.com
 * Mon Air tour:

Phone: 976-11-320910, 976-11-310910 Email: info@airexpert.mn                                                                                Fax: 976-11-330910 Phone: +976-77114466 Email: info@airexpress.mn http://www.airexpress.mn facebook.com/AirExpressTravel
 * Air expert:
 * Air express travel:

By bus

 * Daily service between Khovd and Ulaanbaatar (UB) takes 24 hours or more and costs about USD30. It stops once for food, and for roadside pee breaks by request.
 * Overcrowded vans ply the route between Khovd and Ulgii, and take about 7 hours, including a food break. Scheduled to depart from Ulgii at 15:00, but this is Mongolia so don't expect to get going until almost sundown. 20–30,000₮.

UB to Khovd: The bus to Khovd leaves from the Dragon Center in UB. In October 2012, the bus left three times a week around 13:00 from UB, most days, for 65,000 ₮ one way. You can purchase tickets up to three days in advance; speak to a driver about purchasing a ticket or approach the building behind the buses with an "автобус" sign on it. There are several ticket windows with destinations, one of which will be Khovd (Ховд) or you can ask any of the women behind the windows for guidance. Other vehicles leave from the Black Market (Naran Tuul) to Khovd. There are no scheduled times for these vehicles to leave, they leave when the driver thinks his vehicle is full. Prices for vehicles from the Black Market vary but are usually around 65,000 ₮ one way. Travel time can be anywhere from 36 hr to 58 hr, depending on the driver and vehicle.

Khovd to UB: Vehicles leave for UB from Khovd continuously, again you have to go and find a driver who has room and is leaving at approximately the time you want to be heading back to UB. You can find these drivers from a small enclosed area across from the southeast corner of Khovd's central market. The price should be about the same as UB to Khovd.

From China (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region):
 * Buses leave daily from Urumqi to Qinghe county （青河县, a small town 150 km from Takeshiken and it takes 8 hours during the day, at night 11 hours – ¥160. Then it’s 15 km more to reach the border: it should be a quick ¥15 cab. After the border, a ride to the Bulgan shoud be easy to find.

Orientation
There are four significant points in Khovd city: the central square, the "big boots", the market, and the airport. The big boots are at an intersection 2 blocks east of the main square. The market is 3 blocks south of the big boots. The airport is 6km south of the city, accessed by going straight west from the main square (the road quickly curves to point south).

Transport
A taxi around Khovd costs 500 ₮ for 1 km.

Transportation within Khovd Aimag - You can get a car, furgon (a 4×4 UAZ van) or jeep in the market to get around the aimag and to neighboring aimags. - Vehicles (jeeps/cars/pargons) for soums leave from two different places near the central market. The first is along the main road in front of the north entrance to the central market. The second is along the road behind the central market. Most of the vehicles don’t have signs so you have to ask around. Usually if you approach someone and they aren’t going to your soum they will know someone to send you to. Most of the vehicles to soums further away come in on the weekends so it can be difficult to leave during the week. Don't expect to leave on a Thursday because that is the day the central market is closed. 	Khovd aimag approximate soum prices (one-way):
 * Bulgan, 25,000 ₮
 * Must, 12,000 ₮
 * Tsetseg, 12,000 ₮
 * Mankhan, 6,000 ₮
 * Durgun, 6,000 ₮
 * Zereg, 10,000 ₮
 * Chandmani, 12,000 ₮
 * Munnhairhan, 12,000 ₮
 * Uyench, 25,000 ₮
 * Altai, 20,000 ₮
 * Khovd, 2,500 ₮
 * Buyant, 1,500 ₮
 * Myangad, 2,500 ₮
 * Duut
 * Erdeneburen

See
It is possible Kazakh, Khalkh Mongolian and other Mongolian ethnic groups' customs and culture, as there are many ethnic groups living in Khovd.

 * Baatar Khairhan Mountain - 6 km to the south of the city, and 1 km south of the Khovd Airport is Baatar Khairkhan Mountain. This mountain is an historical site because one of the famous Mongolian generals gave his command to his soldiers and attacked Khovd city and freed it from the Manchu troops in the 1912.  There are also many ancient petroglyphs on this mountain (mostly on the south and southwest side).

 * Cave paintings - Khovd aimag's best known attractions are the cave paintings at Tsenkheriin Agui in Mankhan soum, a little less than 100 km southeast of the aimag center. However, cave drawings are everywhere so if you don't want to waste the two days to go to Mankhan soum, the mountain behind the airport has a great set of pictures, and locals know where others can be found. These red-ochre paintings are believed to be 15,000 years old, which would date them in the Late Stone Age (or Upper Paleolithic Age). The drawings depict a wide variety of animals, some are readily identifiable, such as camels, sheep, bulls, and ibex, others are open to the interpretation of the viewer, such as a drawing of what appears to be an ostrich.  Some of the drawings have been defaced by vandals, though copies of the drawings as they appeared before they were defaced are preserved at the Khovd Museum.

 * Mineral springs - There is one big spring which is to the northeast of the city on the road to Buyant and Myangad soum. It is said that people who get poisoned seek treatment from the spring's water.  There is another spring on the mountain directly behind the town, called "Drop Spring", about 5 km from the center of Khovd. People believe that it is good for your heart.

 * Museum - The museum is in a yellow two-story building across from the police station. It's a place you'll certainly want to see during your time in the aimag center. One of the highlights of the museum's holdings are traditional costumes of the ten ethnic groups of Khovd--full-sized, complete outfits. The museum boasts an impressive collection of archaeological artifacts of nomadic life in Mongolia:  bowls, tools, even traditional style thermoses.  There are several displays of Buddhist relics and statuettes, and old documents and hangings in ancient Mongolian script. You can also see a rather large photo of the cave paintings at Mankhan sum, actually a better representation of their original appearance now that the actual paintings have been defaced by graffiti.  There is also a collection of stuffed wildlife. Summer hours: Daily 09:00-17:00 (actual hours may vary slightly).  Admission: 2,000 ₮.  Fee for taking photos: 6,000 ₮.  Fee for taking videos: 11,000-12,000 ₮.

 * Statues - Three of western Mongolia's heroes are commemorated as statues near the government building: Ard-Ayush (1859-1939), was a common man from Khovd whose struggles against the Manchu rulers turned him into a revolutionary hero, his statue is located at the front end of the main square. Galdan Boshogt (1644-1697) was a Zuungarian King who in 1685 founded Khovd as a fort for Mongolian troops preparing for the coming battle against the Manchus; his statue is also in the main square, closer to the government building.  A statue of Amarsanaa, a Zuungarian King who led the last battle against the Manchus before the fall of western Mongolia is in a secret park behind the government building.

 * Theater - Perhaps Khovd's easiest landmark to find is the theater, a large, bright-red building opposite the square. It's the home of the Altain Tsuurai, a well-known group that plays traditional Mongolian music. The theater hosts many kinds of events, including plays, meetings, and concerts. It's the place to listen to khoomii (throat singing), long song, hear music played on the morin khuur, dombre, and other traditional instruments, or watch traditional Kazakh or Mongolian dancing, if you are lucky enough to be in town during an event. It is officially open on weekdays, but may be locked unless there is an event taking place.

Do

 * Swim - Khovd has two big rivers called the Buyant and Khovd Rivers. The Buyant River goes through the town and many people swim in it. During the summer, many residents move from their homes in the city to set up gers along the banks of the Buyant.

Buy
Most banks change dollars to togrog, but exchanging euros can be a major headache. A Khaan Bank near the Tushig Hotel might change euros to tugruk. You cannot withdraw money from ATMs with a Mastercard, but according to the banks, Visa should work. Western Union money transfer is not working.

 * Kazakh Embroidery Shop - Khovd is a great place to buy Kazakh embroidered goods. There are two local women who make and sell these items: Marima (mobile 99438849) and Berdgul (0143222586), together they run the Kazakh Embroidery Shop. Their workshop makes everything from traditional wall hangings to purses, traditional Kazakh men's hats, pillowcases, and felt carpets. The purses and pillow cases are made with old Kazakh wall hangings so the colors are more subdued to fit the tastes of foreigners.   Marima and Berdgul are very friendly and speak fantastic English. The building is on the main road, if you are at the square facing the theater turn right and walk down the right side of the street. You will see the shop's sign just past the apartment building, it is painted in English on the side of the shop.

 * Ih Buyan Zah/Pink Market (Их Буян Зах) - This market is a two-story pink building just east of Khovd University. The lower level is mostly for food, there are small sections for meat and produce towards the back.  The second floor is loaded with clothing vendors, including some traditional Mongolian deel (traditional clothing) makers (to find them, go straight at the top of the stairs).  A traditional deel should cost about 35,000-40,000 ₮ including materials and labor.  There are a few surprising shops interspersed amongst the more traditional vendors, including a toy store (2nd floor), a bookstore with English language books (2nd floor), several electronics vendors, and a good stationery store that also sells some souvenirs (1st floor, separate entrance from rest of market, 1st set of doors after the guanz).

 * Nomin - M-F 09:00-21:00, Sa Su 10:00-21:00. Nomin is Khovd's big supermarket.  There are items in Nomin that can't be found anywhere else in town, particularly in the pricey imported foods section near the front.  While they mostly sell food and drinks, they also sell appliances, home furnishings, and have a separate section where people can buy clothes and traditional Mongolian and Kazakh souvenirs. The souvenirs in this section are a bit pricey, as the items are brought in from other parts of the country. They have Chinggis Khaan key chains, wallets,  wall hangings, felt slippers, and morin khuurs. For about 25,000 ₮ you can buy vodka that comes in a glass bottle the shape of a ger.

Eat
Eating out in Khovd is predictable. Most places serve variations of the same dishes. However, just because an item is on the menu doesn’t mean it is available that day. If you want to eat like a real Mongolian, order milk tea (сүүтай цай suutai tsae) with your meal.

The timetables are official opening and closing times. However, opening and closing times tend to be more flexible in Mongolia versus other places in the world.

Mid-range
Restaurants offer more expensive, less traditional Mongolian food. Usually comes with sides of rice with ketchup, mashed potatoes and pickled or mayo-ed veggies. Most larger restaurants offer sides like rice with milk or eggs for vegetarians. Most restaurants also have packaged snacks sold at marked-up prices. Beer, wine and vodka are also available.

Drink
Mongolian people usually drink salty milk tea. There many different types of beverages and drinks are available in the market such as Coke, juices, and instant coffees and hard liquors as well. In spring time, you can taste traditional beverages such as the fermented mare's milk, health beneficial camel milk and other milks as well.

 * Airag - Fermented mare's or camel's milk. Mongolian herders make it during the summer time. If you have a chance to go to out of town, local people may offer you above mentioned drinks and beverages.

There are about ten bars where people spend their free time singing karaoke, dancing, and listening to music.

Hotels
Hotels in Khovd are mixed-rate generally, meaning that budget, mid-range, and splurge-level rooms can be found in each hotel. Gers tend to be more budget-level in terms of amenities, although that is due to the generally spare nature of ger living in general.

Camping

 * In the summer, camping near the Buyant river is an option.

Connect
The Internet Cafe in the Post Office charges 700 ₮ an hour. There are also several other Internet Cafes in the center.

Go next
From Khovd it is possible to catch a shared jeep or van to Ölgii or Ulaangom for 25,000 ₮. Ölgii takes about 8 hours on average, and Ulaangom takes about 10 hours.

There are seventeen soums (governmental divisions) in Khovd province (including the aimag center). Some of them are home to different ethnic groups. Please see the Hovd (province) page for more information on the soums and things to do in the surrounding countryside. Most of the true attractions are in the countryside not in the city.
 * The east coast of the lake, where you can go boating
 * Rashaantyn Am Valley, where you can see the highest waterfall in Mongolia
 * Ulaan Shiree, where there is nice swimming
 * Bayan Khairkhan, meet herders and see traditional culture
 * The cost of each night in a ger is 20,000 ₮. This includes three meals per day. The group offers other services at an additional charge including:
 * The cost of each night in a ger is 20,000 ₮. This includes three meals per day. The group offers other services at an additional charge including:

 * Horse riding, 1,000 ₮ per hour
 * Camel riding, 1,000 ₮ per hour
 * Mini Naadam, 120,000 ₮
 * Khorkhog (traditional meal of goat or mutton) 30,000 ₮
 * Panjig (traditional game) 5,000 ₮
 * Boating on Khar Us Nuur, 5,500 ₮ per hour
 * Throat singing and long song performances, 5,000 ₮
 * Local guide 2,000 ₮ per hour

To China
The Bulgan border crossing to Takeshiken (塔克什肯镇) links the province of Khovd with the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔族自治区) in the far west of China. This crossing is less frequented by all kinds of travelers, although it’s gaining more popularity owing to its geographical and cultural location.

It traverses the ever impressive Altai Mountains, a cordillera that gives name to the (rather disputed) ethno-linguistic group, the Altaic people. It is a broad term that frames together the Mongolian, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and Turks.

Start from Khovd city, go to the bazaar or market and see whose van is taking people to the town of Bulgan. Price is 25,000 ₸ per person and journey time is around five hours. Much less then what it’s mentioned in other online sources, due to a new paved road that has been built (by the Chinese). It is still another few kilometers to get to the actual border crossing so ask the same driver that took you here or somebody else in town take you there. It’s another 5000 ₸ to get there.

There is a town half way to the border, called Jargalant. Beware if you get stuck here, there are a million mosquitoes waiting to suck your blood and it’s quite an unpleasant experience. Prepare repellents.

title: Hovd


text:
Hovden

 * See Langøya for the Hovden in Nordland.

Hovden  is a small town situated in upper Setesdal in Aust Agder about 800m above sea level. The scenery here is beautiful with mountains, open country, water and birch woodland. Nature has provided perfect conditions for recreation, relaxation, and peace and quiet but also for challenges in and on the water, on land and in the air. Hovden is perhaps best known as a winter sports resort with a long winter and a stable winter climate. The winter normally starts with about 20 cm of snow sometime in November and lasts until the beginning of May.

Summer in Hovden is also wonderful. The area offers good fishing, swimming - not just at Hovden Badeland but also along the river and in lake Hartevatn, activities such as rafting, climbing and canyoning and last, but not least, the high mountains offering fantastic walking. In the summer, a new 9-hole golf course will be open. Hovden is a good starting point for walks from cabin to cabin. Close by are Sloaros and Tjørnbrotsbu cabins, which are both linked to the Norwegian Mountain Touring Association’s trail network.

Get in

 * Rv 9 from Kristiansand in the south through the beautiful valley of Setesdal to Hovden.
 * E134 from Bergen or Haugesund in the west or Oslo in the east to Haukeli and then Rv 9 from Haukeli to Hovden.

Do
Alpine skiing Hovden Ski Centre offers you a total of 25,5 kilometres of descent, a vertical drop of 374 metres, two 4-seat express lifts taking you to the top, 4 ski tows and a 2-seat lift. Snowboard park and lit slope, ski rental and skishop, cafeteria, afterski and bistro. This is a place for the entire family, whether you are a ski or snowboard enthusiast.

The snowboard park Bukkerittet (the Buckride) - the Hovden terrain park - has one of Norway's widest selections of rails and boxes. Adding some jumps, wavepipe, some excellent windlips and forest pistes, a skating hall and lots of young people, you get a good idea of snowboarding at Hovden!

Cross-country skiing Welcome to our world-class cross-country trails! They run through varied forest terrain up to breathtaking mountain expanses. The skiing season lasts from November to May.

Hovden Badeland (Aqualand) At Hovden Badeland you get a touch of tropical heat although you find yourself in the midst of a blizzard. Cool down with an ice cream in case it gets too hot!

Ski school Would you like to learn the basics of skiing or just give your technique a finishing touch? You may get instruction in cross-country as well as alpine skiing and snowboard.

Ski orienteering In collaboration with the Kristiansand Orienteering Club, every winter we set up 20 posts in the skiing terrain. The orienteering posts have varying degrees of difficulty, offering challenges for everyone!

Skating rink Norway's highest-lying skating rink is located in the centre of Hovden! Here you will find a 400-meter track for long-track speed skating as well as separate areas for play, bandy and hockey. You can hire skates and other equipment at Hovden Badeland. Snowkiting Crowded slopes, packed cafeterias, endless lines to the ski lifts, streets thronged with people and convoy traffic in the ski trails. Does it sound familiar? Why not let the wind take you across the open expanse, without having to worry about where the track or the lift ends. This is snowkiting!

A snowshoe adventure Revel in the sight of pristine snow. Look at the animal tracks over there! Is it a hare? Or maybe the tracks of a fox? Imagine being able to check for yourself...

In Summertime Courses and explorations in the Støyledalen Valley Weekends Friday through Sunday with full room and board in July and August. Home-made traditional meals. With the old farm in Holskrone as a point of departure, guided walks are organised in a lush and rich cultural landscape.

Chairlift Take the chairlift to the top of "Nos", 1.183 m. above sea level. Beautiful views over the mountain wilds, and an excellent starting point for hikes. In good weather, it is possible to see as far as the Hardangervidda mountain plateau.

Hiking In the Hovden area there are versatile touring grounds. You can choose between the remarkable Hovdenuten peak where you can enjoy the beautiful view, or the bare rocks along the Børtemanns brook. You could take the chair lift to the top of Nos, or experience the high mountains by staying in one of the tourist cabins near Hovden.

Biking Enjoy biking in Hovden. In the summer of 2009 they started building 3 new downhill slopes at the ski center with PRO help from one of Scandinavia's best downhill bicyclers. Or you can combine biking with hiking on long distance trips, and also fishing.

Fishing Hovden has many attractive fishing areas, where you can fish with worms, spinners bait or flies. You can fish in the lovely mountain lakes, or in the river Otra. By Hartevatn, near the city center in Hovden, boats can be rented. All locations have good trout fishing.

Boats and canoe rental Hartevatn is a lake located ap. 1 km. from the city centre and is a part of the river Otra which flows through Hovden. In the lake you can go fishing or go for a picnic to many nice places.

Golf Ørnefjell Golfbane - Eagle Mountain Golf Course - the name says it all: You`re high up in the mountains, amid wild and beautiful scenery. The course is situated on the banks of the river Otra, 10 minutes drive from Hovden or Bykle. This is a real mountain golf course, and at 720 metres above sea level, it is one of the highest situated courses in Norway. Here you can play golf against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains and roaring rivers.

Moose safari Take the opportunity to experience the "King of the forest" in his true element! We will leave in a minibus at twilight. The guide will tell us about the attractions of Bykle and Hovden, and answer all your "moose questions". You will also get the chance to taste moose soup. Moose guarantee!

Go for a drive Situated centrally in Southern Norway, Hovden is a perfect starting point for day trips by car to some of the most famous attractions in Norway. Did you know that you can go for a glacier hike from Hovden?

The Ålmannvegen trail Take a walk along the oldest route through Bykle. Ålmannvegen was used as a principal route until the 19th century, and in several places, its traces are still visible. Between Bykle and Byklestøylane, the trail has been cleared and marked...

Buy
Hovden has several stores from super markets (e.g., Extra), Vinmonopolet (liquor store), sporting goods, to furniture stores and other services to furnish the cabins in the area

Sleep
Hovden offers all kinds of accommodation. Choose between large cabins mainly intended for groups, camping cabins, cabins and apartments with "normal standard" and luxury cabins and apartments. There are three hotels, two at Hovden and one in Bykle. All of them are full-service hotels. Most of these places are located in the vicinity of central Hovden and the various facilities

Go next

 * Hardangervidda (Hardanger Plateau) (Northwards along Rv 9)
 * Down the Setesdal towards Kristiansand

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

title: Hovden


text:
Hovenweep National Monument

Hovenweep National Monument straddles the border between Southwestern Colorado and Utah's Canyon Country in the Four Corners area of the United States of America.

Understand
Hovenweep means "deserted valley" in the Ute language, but it wasn't always that way. Between 1200 AD and 1300 AD this isolated area was a community of around 2,500 ancestors of the modern Pueblo people. The stone structures built during that time were abandoned around 1350 AD. Skillfully built, they still stand after centuries of neglect and exposure to the elements.

History
Once home to over 2,500 people, Hovenweep includes six prehistoric villages built between A.D. 1200 and 1300. The native Ute and Navaho people have always known of these ruins. European settlers first encountered them in 1854. Hovenweep became part of the National Park System in 1923.

Landscape
High desert of the Colorado Plateau.

Flora and fauna
Cryptobiotic soil is found throughout the region. It is made up of air, moisture, sand, and a number of biologicals, some of which are cyanobacteria, lichens, mosses and fungi. It is important because it retains moisture and can trap seeds, which results in new growth of vegetation. Cryptobiotic soil is extremely fragile and should be avoided by hikers. Damage to its delicate structure can take many decades to regenerate.

Climate
Hovenweep is part of the Colorado Plateau, a "high desert" region that experiences wide temperature fluctuations, sometimes over 40 degrees in a single day. The temperate (and most popular) seasons are spring (April-May) and fall (mid-September-October), when daytime highs average 60 to 80 F and lows average 30 to 50 F. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 F, making strenuous exercise difficult. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 F.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
Do not use GPS to find your way. There are numerous paved and dirt roads intersecting each other in this remote corner of Utah. The Hovenweep Visitor Center is located 40-45 miles from Cortez, Colorado, and Blanding and Bluff, Utah.

Fees and permits
Hovenweep National Monument resumed fee collection in June 2022 to account for maintenance costs. Prices are as follows:

 * $20 per private vehicle (defined as one that can hold no more than 15 passengers)
 * $15 per motorcycle
 * $10 person

However, entrance is free on select national holidays; see the National Park Service website for details.

Do
Hike the 2-mile Square Tower loop trail near the visitor center.

Along the far canyon wall there is a hidden access point to a number of petroglyphs. Visitors to this site must be accompanied by a park ranger. Along the way, the ranger can point out granaries carved into the canyon wall on the opposite side. Tours are scheduled sporadically, depending on personnel availability, so visitors should inquire about the schedule when checking in at the visitor center. Space at the destination is tight, so parties are generally limited to 6 or 8 people.

Visit outlying sites by car. A high clearance four wheel drive vehicle may be required and trails are primitive. Park rangers at the visitor center have maps and information about current road conditions.

Take advantage of being in the middle of nowhere. The dark skies at Hovenweep make it a great place for stargazing.

Buy
The visitor center has books, souvenirs and snacks. Gas and other supplies must be purchased in nearby communities.

Eat and drink
There is no food in the park besides some limited snacks at the visitor center store. Visitors may bring in their own food and make use of the picnic tables near the visitor center's parking lot and at the campground. Potable water is available at these locations.

Lodging
Closest lodging is in Cortez.

Stay safe
Be sure to bring enough water, especially during the summer, as temperatures can exceed 100 F during daylight hours.

title: Hovenweep National Monument


text:
Howard

There is more than one place called Howard:

Australia

 * Howard (Queensland) - a town in Queensland.

United States of America

 * Howard (Kansas) - a town in the state of Kansas.
 * Howard (New York) - a town in the state of New York.
 * Howard (Ohio) - a town in the state of Ohio.
 * Howard (Rhode Island) - a town in the state of Rhode Island.
 * Howard (South Dakota) - a town in the state of South Dakota.
 * Howard (Wisconsin) - a town in the state of Wisconsin.
 * Howard City (Michigan) - a town in the state of Michigan.

title: Howard


text:
Howick

Howick is a town of 22,000 people (2011) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The town is the location of Howick Falls, which is a large waterfall that occurs when the Umgeni River falls 95 metres (311 feet) over dolerite cliffs on its way to the Indian Ocean.

Get in
On the N3 150 km from Durban take any of the 3 marked exits.

The easiest N3 exit into Howick is the "Tweedie/Howick" exit - the furthest one from Durban, first one from further inland - as the road in has no "speed bumps". The other two exits lead into Howick over several of these which could be detrimental to low-slung cars!

Get around
By car.

Buy
Crafts, including handwoven carpets. Check out the Visitors Book in the shops though as there are good comments here relating to pricing

title: Howick


text:
Howland Island

Howland Island is an uninhabited island in Polynesia, a region of the Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia. It is most notable for what didn't happen here: the arrival of Amelia Earhart on her ill-fated around-the-world flight.

History
Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the island was claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies mined for guano until about 1890. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this island, similar to the effort on nearby Baker Island, but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. The island was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974.

Landscape
Low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef, with a depressed central area. It is almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs, with a small area of trees in the center. It is primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife.

Flora and fauna
Only six species of plants can be found on the island. Lepturus bunchgrass, Boerhaavia herb, and two kinds of purslane are dominant on the surface. There are scattered patches of Tribulus, and a few small clumps of scrubby trees called Kou Trees.

The usual species of sea and migratory birds are on Howland. A variety of the small, grey Polynesian rat is abundant. The presence of this rat, kou trees and a few archaeological sites, such as stone paths and pits in which food plants might have been cultivated, suggest that the island was known and visited by Polynesians. There are also the usual hermit crabs and insects, and marine life abounds.

Climate
Howland is an equatorial island with scant rainfall, constant wind, and burning sun.

By plane
An airstrip was constructed in 1937 for Amelia Earhart to use as a refueling stop. It is no longer serviceable.

By boat
There is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast.

Get around
The island is only, you should easily be able to get around its entire area on foot.

Fees and permits
Public entry is by special-use permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service only, and generally restricted to scientists and educators.

See
Earhart Light, near the middle of the west coast. The famed American aviator Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared en route from Lae, Papua New Guinea to Howland Island, which was to be one of the last refueling stops on Earhart's round-the-world flight in 1937 (Hawaii and California were next on the itinerary). This "day beacon" (an unlit landmark built for navigation purposes) was named after her. It was built by "colonists" sent to the island to establish possession claims by the United States. Construction was of white sandstone with painted black bands and a black top. It was partially destroyed during World War II by Japanese naval gun fire. Rebuilt May 16th, 1963 by men from the Coast Guard ship Blackhaw, it is no longer maintained and is in disrepair.

Do
Birdwatching and other wildlife observation.

Buy
There is no economic activity on Howland Island.

Sleep
There is no accommodation on Howland Island.

Stay healthy
There are no natural sources of fresh water on Howland Island. The island is barren and exposed so be cautious of the sun and elements.

Stay safe
You are miles from any kind of emergency services here so come prepared and don’t do anything stupid or needlessly risky.

Go next
Baker Island is relatively nearby.

title: Howland Island


text:
Howrah

Howrah (Bengali: হাওড়া Hāoṛā, Hindi: हावड़ा Hāvṛā) is the twin of Kolkata and the second-largest city in West Bengal and an important transport hub and gateway to Kolkata. This article covers the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) area, two other municipalities (Bally and Dankuni) and several smaller suburbs.

Understand

Howrah (HOW-rrah) is on the western bank of the Hooghly River opposite of Kolkata. While it is a separate city, Howrah is very much a part of the Kolkata metropolitan area and Howrah station is where you will arrive if connecting with anywhere north, south or east of Kolkata.

Although the modern Howrah is developed largely under the British rule, the city is preceded by a major trading centre called Betor. Howrah station, the first railway station of Eastern India, was established in this city in 1854, with its first railway service to Hooghly began on 15 August of the same year. Although several other major stations have come up across Kolkata and Howrah, Howrah station still remains one of the busiest railway stations in India.

By plane
The nearest airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. There's an air-conditioned bus service between Kolkata Airport and Howrah station.

Howrah Junction railway station

Howrah railway station is the largest railway complex in India with over 600 trains arriving per day. An estimated two million people use the station every day. Howrah station is divided into the Old Complex and the New Complex. There are 23 platforms in the station, 16 of which are in the Old Complex and the remaining seven are in the New Complex. Trains of the Eastern Railway (ER) arrive mainly at the Old Complex, while trains of the South Eastern Railway (SER) arrive at the New Complex.

For passengers, there is a large covered waiting area between the main complex and the platforms and other areas for passengers awaiting connecting trains. Free Wi-Fi is present at the station.

Transport options to central Howrah include:
 * By bus: There's a huge bus terminus between Howrah station and the Howrah Bridge. Air-conditioned buses are available between Howrah Station and Kolkata Airport.
 * By car: The station platforms have carriageways for motor vehicles within the complex, including two carriageways to the Old Complex and the New Complex respectively. Salkia Flyover at the end of the platforms allows motor vehicles to exit the complex quickly. Such a facility is unique among most major stations in the country.
 * By taxi: There's a big taxi stand outside Howrah station, where iconic yellow Ambassador taxis are parked in long queues.

Eat and drink
There are a lot of options to eat and drink at Howrah station. In particular, there is an exclusive food court run by IRCTC (Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation) in the Old Complex, which is known as Foodplaza. Besides, IRCTC has their own outlet called Jan Aahar in both the Old Complex (next to Foodplaza) and the New Complex.

Sleep
IRCTC operates a hotel in the New Complex of Howrah station called Sampath Rail Yatri Niwas. It contains a dormitory, single room, and double room accommodation. First-class passengers can wait in an air-conditioned area with balcony views of the Kolkata skyline and the Howrah Bridge.
 * Phone:
 * Price: Dorm ₹100/bed, Double Non-AC ₹350, Double AC ₹550, Triple Non-AC ₹400

Transport options

 * By bus: The bus routes from the station are:
 * K11: Domjur–Rabindra Sadan (Exide), via PG Hospital, Vidyasagar Setu, Toll Plaza, Santragachi and Salap
 * KB15: Anandapur–Santragachi Bus Terminal, via Ruby Hospital, Acropolis Mall, Kasba Thana, Bijan Setu (Ballygunge Station), Gariahat, Minto Park, Camac Street, Exide, PG Hospital, Toll Plaza and Santragachi
 * RT-26: Santragachi–Esplanade, via Tikiapara, Howrah Maidan, Howrah Station, Barabazar and Dalhousie

Transport options

 * By taxi: There is a taxi stand outside the station and the most direct service to and from the station.

By metro
The East–West Line of the Kolkata Metro connects Howrah Maidan and Esplanade, and it is the fastest way to reach Howrah from Kolkata. The line runs below the Hooghly River, and it is India's first underwater metro service.

By car
There are four bridges connecting Kolkata and Howrah: Howrah Bridge, Vidyasagar Setu, Vivekananda Setu and Nivedita Setu. Besides, highways like the Grand Trunk Road and NH 19 terminate at Howrah or nearby.

By bus
The bus termini in Howrah are:

By ferry
Howrah is just across the river from Kolkata. The ferry services to cross the Hooghly River from Kolkata to Howrah is very convenient to zip across both cities. There are a number of jetties. On the Kolkata side the ferries link to such jetties as Bagbazar, Armenian, Fairlie, Chandpalghat, Babughat, Prinsep Ghat. On the Howrah side there are jetties at Howrah Station, Ramkrishnapur Ghat, Botanical Garden Ghat, Bandhaghat, Golabari and Belur Math. Buy the ticket before you board the ferry and retain the ticket till after you have crossed to the other side and have shown it to the ticket checker near the exit gate or else you will be penalised!

Get around
Howrah, like its twin city Kolkata, has an extensive public transportation network, from the modern rapid transit system to the old heritage wooden bus systems. As of 2022, Howrah and its suburbs are served by bus, ferry, metro, train and tram systems.

All modes of transportation are easily accessible around Howrah station. For short-distance travel, there are auto-rickshaws, electric rickshaws and cycle rickshaws.

By taxi
Like in Kolkata, taxis in Howrah are easily available, relatively cheap, and will use their meters, at least in theory. They generally stand at the major railway stations in Howrah.

Belur Math

In Belur, you have a small but beautiful museum of Sri Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi along with Swami Vivekananda. The evening "Arati" is something you should see in Belur Math. One most uncommon and attractive ritual of Belur Math is, at the time of Durga Puja, which is generally held in the month of October, they worship a girl dressed with beautiful Benarashi sari and jewelleries which resembles as "Kumari Puja" meaning worshiping "Kumari" i.e., a unmarried and young girl who haven't reached the age of 10 years. The girl have to dress according the tradition and the Priests will worship as long as the time scheduled for the puja. Thousands of people come this day to see the pujas and only on this day taking snaps are allowed in the temple compound.

 * Old Shrine — it was the original shrine of Belur Math until the present shrine is constructed. It has the hallowed memories of Swami Vivekananda and other disciples of Ramakrishna.
 * Samadhi Enclosure — it contains the remains of seven disciples of Ramakrishna.
 * Swami Vivekananda Temple — a temple dedicated on the namesake monk.

Buy
It might be worth while to stroll down Howrah Maidan just for the excitement of a local market, busy with street shops selling anything from clothes, to pots, to fruits. By bus or taxi from Howrah station it will only take 10 minutes to get there.

Eat
Local foods you must try are egg, chicken and mutton roll. Howrah is known for its egg chicken roll, which is available anywhere for ₹25. You will not find these foods anywhere else in the world. Mutton Biryani is also worth a try, in Nizams or Arsalan.

Police
The Howrah City Police is a police force serving the city. While most police officers are honest and helpful, you may find some officers who may be corrupt and unhelpful. For police assistance during an emergency dial 100. For non-emergencies, or to report a crime, visit the nearest police station.

title: Howrah


text:
Howth

Howth (rhymes with both) is a small seaside town historically in County Dublin, 14 km northeast of Dublin city centre. It's on a "tombola" peninsula - once an island, it became connected to the mainland by a sandy isthmus, which is now the residential area of Sutton. The main reasons to visit Howth are for its beaches, clifftop walks and boat trips. It's glorious in August and September when the heather cloaks the cliffs in red.

Understand
The name "Howth" is probably from Old Norse Hǫfuð, a headland. Vikings colonised here from 819, and after their defeat by Brian Boru at Clontarf in 1014 they held out here until 1177. Then the Normans crushed them (hence the "Bloody Stream") and began building the castle. Howth developed as a fishing and trading port. In the 19th century it competed with Dún Laoghaire to be a shipping port for Dublin, but silting of the harbour meant it eventually lost its commercial business. Fishing continues and there's a coastguard base and leisure marina. In 1994 County Dublin was divided, so Howth is now in County Fingal, and in 2022 had a population of 8400.

The Tourist Information Centre is in the Old Courthouse by the harbour, open daily 9:30AM-5PM.

By train
DART trains run every 30 min from central Dublin, taking 30 minutes, see Irish Rail for times and fares. These trains start from Bray or Greystones and run north via Dalkey, Dún Laoghaire, Pearse Station, Tara Street, Dublin Connolly (for mainline trains), Howth Junction, Bayside and Sutton to  by the harbour.

Other DART trains run from Connolly to Howth Junction then continue north to Malahide, and don't come into Howth, so change at the Junction if you find yourself on one of these. Coming from the north, you can reach Howth by changing at Drogheda then Malahide then the Junction, without travelling into Connolly and out again.

By bus
Dublin Bus H3 runs every 30 min from Dublin Lower Abbey Street (opposite Abbey Theatre) via Amiens St outside Connolly Station, along Howth Road through Clontarf, Killester, Raheny and Bayside to Sutton. It then goes north side of the peninsula to Howth harbour and ascends the hill to The Summit.

Bus 6 is hourly and takes an hour, via the same route to Sutton then a scenic climb up the south side of the hill on Carrickbrack Rd then to the Summit and down to Howth harbour.

Nitelink Bus 31n runs from D'Olier St in central Dublin, departing Friday and Saturday at midnight then hourly to 4AM.

From the airport, Bus 102 runs every 30 min via Swords, Malahide and Portmarnock to Sutton station. Change there to bus, Dart train or walk to reach Howth.

By boat
Dublin Bay Cruises sail to Howth from Dún Laoghaire (east pier) March to September. They sail Tu-Su at 12:30, taking an hour, with views over Dalkey Island, Clontarf, Bull Island, Baily and Kish Lighthouses, Howth Head, Ireland's Eye and Lambay Island. The return sailing (from west pier) is at 2PM or 3:30PM. In 2024 an adult single is €25, which includes a voucher to return by DART train for only €2 if you don't sail back.

Get around
Buses H3 and 6 run through Sutton and Howth as above. Otherwise walk.

Taxi firms are Classic Cabs (+353 1 839 0122) and Coastal Cabs (+353 1 839 7777).

See

 * is the second biggest commercial fishing port in Ireland and also contains a leisure marina. There are excellent views along the coast from the East Pier and a stone lighthouse at the tip of it. The West Pier just beside the Dart Station is lined with restaurants and there's an imprint of the footsteps of King George IV, who landed here on a visit to Ireland in 1821. (Yes, the cement was wet at the time, he was notoriously heavy but not that heavy.) In July 1914, 900 rifles were landed at Howth by Erskine Childers to arm the Irish nationalists; many were put to use in the Easter Rising and Anglo-Irish war.
 * is just a masonry shell within a cemetery. It dates back to 1235 though much modified over later centuries. Enter the cemetery from Church Street: the Abbey ruin itself may be locked, enquire locally about access, or just admire the setting with the old gravestones and views over the harbour and Ireland's Eye.
 * St Mary’s Church of Ireland is an attractive little stone church at the castle gates, on Howth Rd west of the Dart station. It was built in 1866.
 * Dolmen Howth or "Aideen's grave" is a partly-collapsed megalith in the woods 300 m west of the castle golf club. "Portal tombs" of this style were built until around 2500 BC, but Aideen is a mythical figure from around 3rd century AD.
 * is an open area of three hills. The highest, topped by radio aerials, is Black Linn, 171 m (561 ft) so it's a "Marilyn". You can drive or walk up: Greenhollows Quarry is active, so this part is ugly, with heavy machinery churning the track. The other peaks are Shielmartin Hill (163 m) 1 km west, and Dun Hill 500 m northwest. Good views over Ireland's Eye and on a clear day you can see the aircraft landing and taking off at Dublin Airport.
 * is a small uninhabited island north of Howth, reached by a 15-min boat ride. There are ruins of a Martello Tower and the 8th-century "Church of The Three Sons of Nessan". Just off the Eye are the islet of Thulla and "The Stack" at the northeast corner. Birdlife includes guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, gulls, gannets, cormorants and a few puffins. Grey seals may haul out on the rocks. There are no restrictions on access, but please avoid the cliffs (e.g. for rock-climbing) April-June during the main nesting season. In summer boats ply to the island and others make non-landing cruises around it, enquire at Howth harbour.
 * Claremont Beach is right behind the Dart station down a rather grim concrete path, however there are nice views and its possible to walk (or scramble at high tide) along the sand all the way back to Sutton. A lifeguard is on duty in summer.
 * is a small uninhabited island north of Howth, reached by a 15-min boat ride. There are ruins of a Martello Tower and the 8th-century "Church of The Three Sons of Nessan". Just off the Eye are the islet of Thulla and "The Stack" at the northeast corner. Birdlife includes guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, gulls, gannets, cormorants and a few puffins. Grey seals may haul out on the rocks. There are no restrictions on access, but please avoid the cliffs (e.g. for rock-climbing) April-June during the main nesting season. In summer boats ply to the island and others make non-landing cruises around it, enquire at Howth harbour.
 * Claremont Beach is right behind the Dart station down a rather grim concrete path, however there are nice views and its possible to walk (or scramble at high tide) along the sand all the way back to Sutton. A lifeguard is on duty in summer.

Do

 * Walk: a firm trail goes east of town along the cliffs all the way round to the south of the peninsula, passing Bailey Lighthouse. A complete circuit takes 3-4 hours.
 * - The lighthouse can also be approached by a 15-min walk from The Summit pub, but the lighthouse and its precincts are closed to the public.
 * - Inland trails loop over the hills, but you need stout boots and waterproofs, the "Bog of Frogs" route is well-named.
 * Maps for these and other loop walks are displayed by the Dart Station and available at the Tourist office in the Old Courthouse.

 * Beaches: at low tide a long sandy beach stretches along the north shore from Sutton to Howth Harbour. Dogs are welcome. The rising tide separates it into Burrow Beach to the west, Hole in the Wall in the middle, and Claremont Beach next to Howth Harbour. The far side of the harbour is Balscadden Bay, quite stony, then it's rocks and cliffs east of there. South tip of the peninsula is Jameson or Drumleck beach, small and not worth the extra distance. There are one or two beautiful little sandy coves on the south side of the Howth peninsula, accessible from the cliff walk which starts close to Sutton dinghy club.
 * Play golf at Deer Park by the castle, Howth Golf Club near the west shore, or Sutton Golf Club on Cush Point to the west.
 * Cinema: the nearest is the Odeon, 5 km west at 84 Malahide Rd, Coolock.
 * Howth Tradfest (Féile Binn Éadair) is a traditional music and ballad festival in May.
 * Howth Roots & Blues Festival is in August.
 * Howth Maritime and Seafood Festival is in September and replaces the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival.

Buy

 * Supervalu is at Sutton Cross, open daily 8AM-10PM.
 * Howth Market is on Harbour Rd next to the DART station, held Sa Su 9AM-6PM.

Eat

 * Harbour restaurants are Aqua (below), Octopussy, The Pierhouse, Crabby Jo's, Beshoff's, Leo Burdock, Findlater, Mamó and Loft Bar and Grill.

Drink

 * Others are Harbour Bar, O'Connell's and McNeil's.
 * Others are Harbour Bar, O'Connell's and McNeil's.

Sleep

 * Most visitors just day-trip from around Dublin, and there is limited accommodation here.

 * King Sitric Restaurant has rooms, see above.
 * along the east coast is available for self-catering.
 * along the east coast is available for self-catering.
 * along the east coast is available for self-catering.
 * along the east coast is available for self-catering.
 * along the east coast is available for self-catering.

Connect
As of May 2024, Howth and Sutton have 4G with Eir and 5G with Three and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Dublin city centre has many attractions and amenities, with more pubs than you could shake a stick at.
 * Malahide to the north has a castle with rich 18th- and 19th-century furnishings.

title: Howth


text:
Diamond rings in Antwerp

So you've read all the stories about Antwerp being the diamond capital of the world and are wondering whether you won't make a great deal if you just bought a diamond ring from the source rather than pay all the intermediaries until it gets to your local jewellery shop. While your reasoning is correct, diamond shops in Antwerp are aware of this, and there are many tourist trap shops where you will probably end up paying more than you would have at your local jewellery! This doesn't necessarily mean that you'll systematically get ripped off, just that there are a few traps and common practices (in Antwerp and elsewhere around the world for that matter) that you should know about and will help you make a good decision.

Where to go
First of all, there are essentially two different types of diamond buyers: the fortunate few with deep pockets who are looking for high quality and the not-so-fortunate many that don't have that much money to spend but would still like to have a diamond ring for themselves or a special someone. Wealthy buyers should concentrate on big shops with high reputation like the ones part of the Responsible Jewellery Council. These shops are very transparent and professional, however you will be paying a small premium for this reputation and transparency so it may not be the best place to get a good deal. That said, given the amount of money you'll be spending, you probably will be glad to pay that premium and be sure you are walking out of there with the quality you have been looking for. But this guide is for the second category, the kind of people who booked a cheap flight to Belgium and made a day-trip to Antwerp thinking “wouldn’t it be nice if I became part of the I-bought-my-diamond-ring-in-Antwerp club”.

You can look at online reviews about shops in Antwerp; this will give you a very good idea of where you will be getting your diamond ring from. It's not just to get the best deal, you want to have the real diamond and get after-sales service. This is probably the most important part of buying a jewel, making sure that if there is a problem in the future you can actually rely on the reputation of the jeweller you bought your ring from. Make sure to get an international certification for your diamonds: GIA or HRD are the ones to be recommended.

Buy only natural diamonds, check your certificate before you even hassle about the price, make sure there are no comments on the cert specific to any treatment or enhancement !

I would recommend checking carefully online reviews, lately many of the number one listed reviews seem to be written by the owners themselves, so try to read between the lines, best ranked does not mean real reviews, TripAdvisor is lately not as reliable as before

Check out for long lasting shops with outstanding reputation, the once who are more than 10 years on the market are the once with outstanding reputation, Geretti jewellery and Diamonds, Diamondland, Jewellery du Centre ....

Don't take three days to look for your diamonds: you will only get confused by the overwhelming amount of detail and education you will get, and can lose track of what you want. Have your budget and get your jeweller to target the best option that will fit the budget you want to go for. Don't expect miracles: you can only get a very bad surprise afterwards. If something seems too low in price, or too good to be true, don't buy: it's most probably not the real thing.

The “Special Discount”
This is tourist trap number one that you must avoid at all costs! After a walk around the shops you will probably be amazed to see big sign saying “60% off” (or even more) in a window. Get inside the shop and the seller might even tell you that exceptionally and that day only there is an extra 10% off. You cannot believe the incredible luck you're having and jump on the first ring you see, happy to have made what you think is the best deal of your life. You have just been ripped off. The “discounted price” is actually the starting price, there is still plenty of room to haggle from there. Never pay the first price, unless it is clearly a cut-throat price displayed in the window. Some shops will price a few diamond rings as low as €99 to get people inside their shops. It is OK to buy those at the asking price but don't hesitate to haggle or walk away once they present you other “higher quality” rings for considerably more money).

Diamond quality
One of the main lessons is that a diamond is a diamond. This might sound stupid on first read by if you do some research on the internet you will find heaps of information on the four Cs that make the value of a diamond (Carat Weight, Cut, Colour, Clarity), and a long list of charts allowing you to categorize diamonds. This is very helpful information for people who work with diamonds every day but those who will probably only come across a handful of diamonds in their lifetimes do not have the experience or the proper equipment to tell which is which. So it helps to dumb things down a little and just assume that all diamonds on display are medium rated ones, not the best quality, but not the lowest either and still very acceptable compared to what they sell in most jewelleries around the world. If you pretend to be a connoisseur you will get ripped off because the seller will know how to present you the diamond in a special light and a special angle to make you believe that it's of a higher grade than it is. And after all, your friends at home will be more impressed by the design of the ring itself than by learning that your diamond is a F WS1 or E SI2

Colour
Naturally coloured diamonds are much rarer than normal white ones so they are usually more expensive. However, in the 1990s, diamond handlers discovered ways of altering the colour of a white diamond to make it have a certain tint. This is a very easy way of passing off very impure white diamonds that would otherwise be practically unsellable as jewellery. With the added colour those impurities are much harder to spot, especially with black diamonds. These type of rocks are called “colour enhanced” and sell at up to 80% discount compared to high grade white ones. Now this is not necessarily a bad thing, after all, at the end of the day it still is a diamond, but you have to know it and pay the right price. There is a good chance that almost all coloured diamonds sold in small shops are colour enhanced so don't believe the seller when he starts explaining you how extremely rare they are. You might want to slip in a “are you sure these aren't colour enhanced?” in the conversation, the seller will probably swear on his life they are not (even if they are) but at least he'll be aware that you're not a fool and accept a discount more easily. Of course, not all coloured diamonds in their shops are colour enhanced but it is best for your wallet to consider that they are. Today these stones are certified by international labs like GIA or HRD.

Assembly
Another fact that you should know about diamond rings sold in Antwerp, especially small rocks, is that they are sent far away to India, assembled for a fraction of what it would have cost in the Western world and then shipped back to Antwerp. So when the seller starts telling you how his grandfather made the ring by hand, following a very secret technique taught from father to son for generations since Egyptian times, don't believe a word. Of course, his story might be true (especially for bigger stones) but there is a very high chance that it is not. Some shops actually manufacture their rings in Antwerp and set the diamonds there; this is a real proof of quality. Ask to see how they set your main diamond into the ring you have chosen.

The “Shop Certificate”
Most sellers will tell you that all their jewelleries come with a special certificate to certify that you are getting actual diamonds and gold. In reality, those certificates are pretty worthless. They simply certify that it's a diamond, without any specification on carats or grade, so they could just as well sell you an industrial diamond which would still qualify as a “diamond”. And after all, if you come back, they can say that it's not the ring they sold you. But rest assured, at least you get a real diamond and not a cubic zirconium.

The overvalued appraisal document
Some jewelers love to show shoppers an appraisal document that states the "value" of the jewelry piece. Usually, this appraisal document will list a value (e.g. $10,000) that is significantly higher than the price that they are asking for (e.g. $6,000). This marketing gimmick is used to portray an impression that the shopper is getting their money's worth for that piece when they really aren't. It's just a feel good factor to pay more for a misrepresented piece of jewelry.

Before travelling
Always take a look around your local jewelleries before making the trip. This will give you a rough idea of what you should be paying and even if you get ripped off in Antwerp you might find out that you still paid less than what you would've paid at your local jeweller shop. It is possible to buy an 18K gold diamond ring in Antwerp for what they charge for a simple 14k gold ring (with no diamonds) at a local shop! On the other hand, if the price in Antwerp seems low in comparison with your local shop, this doesn't mean that you can't get an ever better deal by haggling, so don't just jump in on the deal, try and get an extra discount.

Walk around
Now, once in the diamond district, always start by making a complete tour of the shops, spotting the designs you prefer. Resist any invitations to go in, and any “special discount” offers (of which you should know by now that they aren't discounts at all). Each shop has dozens of different designs and no two shops have the exact same models so you effectively have a choice of thousands of different models. There is nothing more frustrating than buying a ring and seeing another one you liked more on the way back to the hotel. It is best to establish a list of preference: after a tour of all shops, go in the one with the ring you preferred the most and try it on. If it's the right size (more on that later) and you haggle enough to get it for your budget then get it, if not walk to the shop with your second preference, then third, etc.

Pay cash
Cash is the means that will give you the most leverage when negotiating. Cash means that the seller won't have to deal with longer pay term by credit card companies and intermediates sales percentages, which means he'll have to pay less and you'll get a better discount. But be careful not to carry too much cash, it is easy to get tempted to go over your initial budget. If you really can't get the price within your budget and you just have to have that ring, you can always get more cash out of an ATM (there are many inside the Central Station). Walking away to get more cash will also allow you to cool down a bit and think if it's really worth the extra money or if you shouldn't try your luck elsewhere. You'd be surprised to see what a difference it makes to take a few steps out of the shop.

Always choose the ring that fits
This is the step many people ignore. When you go in the shop, try the ring and if they don't have it in your size and won't resize it in front of you, walk away! Of course they can make the ring in any size you want in about a week and even secure mail and send it to wherever you are in case you're not staying in Belgium for that long. But the chances are very high that they will skim off a few tenths of grams of gold by making the ring thinner and use slightly smaller and/or lower grade diamonds compared to the one you saw in the shop. And the more discount you initially got, the more they will try to compensate by lowering the quality. If you ever notice a difference they will argue that it's just an optical illusion because the ring is not the same size as the model in the shop window and that you have made a downpayment already so now you have no choice but to buy it. This will lead to very frustrating situations so it's best to avoid them in the first place.

Message to women: "Stand by your man"
For many heterosexual couples, it's still customary for the man to buy the ring for the woman. The seller knows this very well and will try to play you against each other. He will make the woman try out the ring and give her many compliments on how it is perfect for her, with the goal of having the woman insist on having the ring and teaming up with the seller against the man (or better said, against the couple's finances). That is the worst negotiating position you could be in. Be 100% sure that this situation won't happen before you go in the shop! Agree beforehand on some parameters for negotiation. You may want to agree for the woman to tell the seller that the man has the wallet and that he decides. Be certain that whatever arguments you have happen after you leave the shop. If you then decide to go over your budget, you can always come back. This might also add extra leverage to your position since the seller has probably had a few second thoughts since you've left and is wondering whether he shouldn't have accepted a bigger discount. You shouldn't just get back in the shop and shout "I'll take it!", still keep your cool and insist on paying less.

Be firm but not rude
Adopting the right negotiating position is the hardest thing to do, especially on the first few tries. You want to show right away that you're not some sucker that can be fooled easily. But at the same time if you just throw your newly-acquired knowledge to the seller's face (i.e. “These diamonds are colour enhanced, they are worthless!”), he will take it as an insult and “shut off” from the deal (although what you said is not necessarily false). Saying that it is indeed a very beautiful ring, that you recognize the craftsmanship quality but that you just don't have more money in your budget, and that if you get a good deal you will recommend his shop to all your friends are the best arguments to get him to lower the price. But be firm. Cut down with the chit-chat, most of the times when a seller asks you where are you from, what you do for a living, etc. he is simply calculating in the back of his mind how much of a premium he'll charge you for that ring (he will ask a lot more if you say you're a doctor from the US than if you're shoe salesman from Ukraine). If you're a good comedian you could play this to your advantage (e.g. "I just lost my job and my girlfriend needs an urgent operation") but usually it's better to get down to business and talk about prices.

Most of the time you will eventually get to a point where the seller will swear that if he sold it for less he'd be making a loss, and another seller (the “shop owner”) will come from behind and make a final “take it or leave it” offer. Even then, if you're a good haggler, tell your last offer and pretend to leave, there's a good chance that they will skimp off a bit more.

Price of commodities
In case you don't know this already, the price of gold and diamonds has been skyrocketing lately. This means that whatever you do, the rings you buy today will be more expensive than what they were a few years ago. So if your friend starts laughing and tells you that he paid his ring half the price 5 years ago it doesn't necessarily mean that you have been ripped off.

Ethics
More and more people, especially since a certain Hollywood movie, are wondering whether the diamonds sold in these shops are not blood diamonds. Of course, if you ask the question straightforwardly, the seller will swear that they are not (even if they are). The sad truth is that these diamonds change so many hands between the moment when they come out of the mine and into the shop that it is simply impossible to know if it's a blood diamond or not, even by the shopkeeper himself. This is also true for big jewellers with a good reputation. Nothing can stop an intermediary somewhere along the line to pass a blood diamond for an ethical one, there are many ways of getting fake ethical certificates or passing them through a front company who will claim they come from a different mine. Also, like noted before, bear in mind that most small diamonds are assembled today in Asia for ridiculously small wages so somewhere along the line you are still encouraging unethical behaviour. This is a sad truth that you will just have to live with when buying your ring, and again, buying it from a bigger shop with a high reputation and all the proper certificates (and premium price) won't necessarily guarantee that you aren't being part of the "system".

title: Diamond rings in Antwerp


text:
Bargaining

Bargaining, also called haggling, is common in many countries, such as most of Asia, Latin America and North Africa. In other places, it may generally be used only for large items with no fixed price, such as buying a house or a used car. However bargaining is possible in almost any flea market or tourist shop anywhere. In such places, if you don't bargain, you are almost certain to pay more than necessary. Vendors expect a bit of bargaining so their initial asking price is considerably higher than they hope to receive, which in turn is higher than the minimum they could accept and still make a profit.

This article is about cultures where bargaining is common. In some other places it may be possible to ask for a discount, but there the nominal price is close to what you will pay and your first suggestion should be reasonable, perhaps the price you hope to get.

By all means bargain hard and try not to get cheated, but do not expect too much. You are a visiting amateur going up against a professional on their home turf. Just holding your own and getting a reasonable price will be an accomplishment; do not expect to achieve some miraculously low price. Against a pro boxer, almost anyone would be justifiably proud just to leave the ring on their feet; hoping to win the bout would be foolish and hoping to score a knockout utterly ludicrous.

Don't get upset if you pay somewhat more than a local would; that is quite normal in many areas. Even getting "cheated" in a local bazaar, perhaps paying $25 for something a local could buy for $10, is often better than buying it in some overpriced airport shop. It will usually be cheaper if you have even basic bargaining skill, and buying in the bazaar puts money into the local economy, rather than giving it to some large company or, in some places, helping crooked officials line their pockets.

If possible, try to buy in areas where there are many vendors and competition may bring prices down. In an example from China, one traveller reports finding some lovely silk shawls in the only store at a well-known scenic site, beating the price down down from ¥250 to ¥100, and thinking he had done reasonably well. A few days later he found the same shawls in a nearby multi-vendor commercial area with an asking price of ¥80 and bought a half dozen at ¥55 each. He felt a bit foolish but did not feel he had been robbed since back home those shawls would likely have cost at least the equivalent of ¥350; even a naive tourist paying ¥200 is not being robbed.

Consider your priorities. If you are bargaining over some silk item that would cost $200 back home, it may not be worth worrying about whether you pay $20 or $25 in Thailand. If you make good money and are spending a substantial chunk of it on a trip, then it makes no sense to waste a half an hour to save $5; your time is worth more than that and you have plenty of better things to do with it during a trip.

Also consider the vendor's situation. Sometimes the amounts you are arguing over are just a pittance to a traveller from a relatively rich country, but are quite important to someone in a poorer country who needs to make a living off the tourist trade. An amount that is large to you may be huge to the vendor. In some cases, for example, a big sale might mean the difference between all the vendor's children going to school this year or just the boys.

See the Shopping article for some alternatives that may let you avoid bargaining.

Basic tactics
The key to making a good deal is knowing the right price. If you know the right price you can just state your price, start leaving the store and your offer will usually be accepted. Try to have a rough understanding of the item's value before you start haggling.
 * Hotel or airport gift shops generally have (high) fixed prices that will at least give you an upper boundary.
 * Government-run craft shops exist in many countries to market local products. These also often have fixed prices, but more reasonable ones that give a more useful boundary. They also generally have good quality so for many travellers buying in them is a sensible alternative to haggling elsewhere.
 * Shop around, especially for items available from multiple vendors in tourist areas.
 * Ask other travellers what they paid for similar goods and try to make a better deal.
 * If you buy several similar items, try to make a better deal each time.
 * If you can, ask a trusted local what price range is appropriate.
 * If possible, try to see what locals pay and refuse to pay more. You can either watch, or ask someone after they have purchased. Try not to be obvious; in some parts of the world locals will defer purchases so that the vendor can extract additional profits from you as an outsider.

Do not let unknown locals "help", with either bargaining or finding what you need; you will very likely end up paying an extra commission. In many places, this includes tourist guides and taxi or rickshaw drivers; some shops pay them substantial commissions to bring in customers, those shops are usually overpriced, and some guides or drivers will take you only to such shops. To get good prices, you need to go shopping without a guide and preferably on foot.

It may help if you can adjust the vendor's expectations. If he thinks you are rich, the price may go up. To get a better price, tell him you are a backpacker on a tiny budget, a student, an English teacher on a low local salary, or whatever. You cannot really afford what he is selling, but you like it a lot; can he do something to make it possible? When doing this, try not to look rich; a Rolex on your wrist and $2000 worth of camera around your neck will definitely not help.

Be strong. Don't let them get to you, no matter how hard they push. You might be offered tea, coffee, snacks, etc. You can accept them and it does not mean you have to buy anything, although you may be 'guilt-tripped' later. You have only one obligation; to buy once a price is agreed. Until you make an offer that the vendor accepts or vice versa, you have absolutely no obligations beyond common courtesy.

During the actual bargaining:
 * Be courteous and friendly (but firm) in your negotiations. If the vendor takes a personal liking to you, you will almost always get a better deal.
 * Just as vendors often start with absurdly high prices, in most cases you should start with a low initial offer. For example, if you think an item is worth around $100 and he or she asks $500, offer $20. This gives you some negotiating room. More generally, your first offer should always be well below what you hope to pay. Don't go overboard though: offering a dollar for something worth $500 wastes everyone's time and indicates to the vendor that further talk with you is not likely to be worthwhile.
 * Try to move in small increments. For example, if you think $500 might be a fair price, the vendor asks $1000, you offer $200 and he counters at $800, resist the temptation to move quickly toward a deal by offering $400. Offer $250 which indicates you are willing to negotiate but puts pressure on him to come down more if he wants a deal.
 * Later in the process, use even smaller increments; if you think $500 might be fair, your last offer was $400 and he says $600, don't jump to $500 or even $450. Either tell him $400 is the best you can do or offer something like $410 or $420.
 * A common tactic is to bid the vendor farewell and start walking off. You will usually get at least two offers as you walk away, each lower than the previous. Alternatively, the vendor may ask "How much do you want this?" (or words to that effect), which acknowledges the fact that they realise a potential sale is walking out of the door. In some cultures it is also common for the salesman to walk off if the price is too low. This occurs the closer you get to the profit threshold but stay firm, the salesman will return in minutes to try more bargaining (Ex: Ghana beach salesman).
 * You really should walk away from bad deals, especially for tourist items where there are many vendors in an area. If someone asks $150 for something worth about $10, don't even try to bargain; just look for another vendor.

Some guides and articles suggest that, when you have no idea what a fair price might be, you should offer a fixed percentage (a half, a third, a quarter...) of the shopkeeper's first price. Alas, in general this doesn't work: many shopkeepers are perfectly aware of this tactic and will thus first offer an absolutely ridiculous price that can be tens or hundreds of times more than the real value, which they will then be more than willing to negotiate down to "half".

If you feel that you must have a general rule to go by in those situations, remember that in tourist areas it is quite common for a moderately skilled bargainer to pay below a quarter of the initial asking price, and an eighth is not unheard of. You should start below what you hope to pay, so your first offer should be around a tenth of the asking price. If you really want to just get the bargaining over with, and do not mind paying over the odds to accomplish that, you could go as high as a fifth.

Knowledge is power
The more you know about the merchandise, the better. For example, you can buy cheap pottery in any flea market on Earth with no expertise at all, but if you are planning a trip, want to spend a significant amount to bring home some fine porcelain, and are not an expert, then you should read a few books on the subject and visit museums (either near home or at the destination) before shopping. The Wikipedia articles on the topic may be a fine starting point. See our article on carpets if you want those.
 * Provided you understand the merchandise, it is often worth paying for quality. For example, a $200 pair of boots — skillfully made of fine leather and likely to last for years — may be a much better buy than a $20 pair that may fall apart in weeks.
 * If you do not understand the merchandise well, avoid expensive items. In the example just given, the risk is that you may pay $200 for boots that would not be a good buy at $20.
 * The more expensive the item, the more important this is; there are forgeries of all sorts of expensive items, from Stradivarius violins to Nikon lenses, and modern replicas of many expensive antiques. Replicas can be a good buy at the right price, but not at the cost of an original.

The same advice holds for items that come in a range of types or grades at widely varying prices. A fine carpet or a topnotch wine may be a good buy even at a high price, and a cheap one worthwhile even if its quality is relatively low. However, if you don't understand the differences, then you should only consider the cheaper ones.

The more you know about the country you are in, the better. You may not get the price a local would pay, but you are almost certain both to enjoy your shopping more that an ignorant foreigner would and to get a better price. Specifically:

 * If you are in a country that does not use Western numerals, then learn the local numbers. It will save you a lot of time and money when you are bargaining about a hotel room and there is a price list right in front of you. You should still bargain, but it gives you a starting point. Sometimes having a piece of paper and pen or a calculator to display the price you're offering can be helpful.
 * Even better, learn some of the local language. Even just being able to count in the local language can win you some respect and therefore a better price. If you can, stick to the local language even if the seller uses English or your own language. Some vendors outright say that they offer better deals if you speak the local language and speaking enough of the local language enables you to understand what the vendor says to her colleagues or other customers.
 * Investigate local superstitions (see the Buy sections of country articles for the ones we know of) and use them if possible. In some countries, the first deal of the day or of the new year is thought to indicate how the rest of the day or year will go for the merchant. If a vendor believes that, then he or she really does not want to lose that sale, so being there at the right time can be to your advantage.

More advanced methods
Some bargaining techniques take more effort or planning, more nerve, more practice, or a bit of acting skill. These may even be worth practicing beforehand.
 * If there are two or more of you, you can wax theatrical. He wants the item, but she holds the purse strings and won't pay the price, or vice versa. Or — perhaps easy for some couples to act — she wants to continue shopping, but he is bored and just wants to leave. Consider the "good cop/bad cop" tactics from a hundred movies.
 * As a variant of that, ethnically mixed groups can sometimes turn the common guide's commission system to their advantage. Consider a British husband and Chinese wife meandering about a Chinese market together. What should she do when a vendor assumes she is a tourist guide and offers her a commission to act as translator, and as accomplice in cheating the foreigner? Her best course may be to accept, surprise the vendor by bargaining hard, and later collect her commission to bring the cost down further. Consider the tactics of a "double agent" deceiving one employer in the interests of the other.
 * If bargaining for something unique or expensive, such as a good carpet, don't show too much interest in the item you actually want or the vendor will know that's your only choice and price accordingly. Take your time and browse other items. Consider the tactics of a woman "playing hard to get", which she may do even with a man she actually considers fascinating.
 * As a variant of that, assure the vendor there is no rush. Encourage him to go off a deal with another customer while you browse, or tell him you don't plan to buy today; you'll just look in several stores and come back next week to actually purchase. This puts more pressure on him if he wants the sale today, or wants to sell to you before you visit his competitors.
 * In some cases, you can tell the vendor you'd like to buy, but it's illegal. There are strict international rules on the trade in ivory and products from endangered species, and many nations restrict export of antiques; for example China forbids export of anything older than 1911. If the vendor then admits that the "ivory" is fake or the expensive "Tang Dynasty" vase is actually a modern reproduction, you can use that information in further bargaining. If not, you can moan about the legal risk in an effort to drive the price down.

If the vendor's asking price is absurdly high, by all means laugh or show astonishment in some way. Ideally, ask in the local language if he is crazy or joking. This is not considered rude, provided you smile as you say it, and it indicates to the vendor that you are aware of the item's real value, even if you are not.

Bargaining responsibly
When bargaining, do so responsibly.

Even in cultures where haggling is the norm, many items do have fixed prices. For example, groceries and alcohol usually have fixed prices. Do not haggle when buying e.g. bus tickets; check for a price list in the bus terminal or ask the other passengers in the line or look over the shoulder of the one in front of you to see what the locals pay. Confusingly items in the same category may have a fixed price in one place and be negotiable in another - sometimes within the same country. A taxi fare inside Estelí will have a fixed price. If you want to get a cab in Managua you can haggle and you must agree on a price before getting aboard.

Choose your battles. By all means bargain when buying a carpet from a posh bazaar shop. But if a bottle of water is too expensive, buy it somewhere else.

Don't back out. If you make an offer consider yourself committed to buy if the vendor accepts that price. Don't waste your time or the seller's time bargaining if you have no intention of buying. Even an offer made in jest creates an obligation. As you walk by, the vendor waves a sword worth ¥200 at most and asks for 800. You laugh, say "maybe 100" and walk on. If he calls you back yelling "OK", give him the 100 and take the sword.

Do not let the other person "lose face". Often it is said that "everything is negotiable" - but it isn't. Loss of face is never negotiable. Be aware that the person with whom you are dealing has a family and responsibilities. You are trying to find an agreed position.

Above all, don't take it too seriously; have a sense of humour and know when to accept an offer. Remember that vendors are generally not evil swindlers attempting to trick people out of their hard-earned money; they are often just business people working to support their families.

Bargaining as a problem in game theory
Game theory is a group of mathematical techniques that can be used to analyze almost any human interaction, not just things that are actually games. It has a fairly wide range of applications in both psychology and economics. In particular, it can be applied to almost any situation involving negotiation or bargaining, and it has been; in fact there is a whole branch of the theory that deals with "bargaining games".

A basic part of the theory is a distinction between different classes of game: Bargaining is a mixed game.
 * In a zero-sum game, the total value at stake does not change:
 * Five poker players who each bring $1000 to the table. Some players may have a profit and others a loss, but the sum of all profits and losses is always zero. No matter how the game goes, there will still be a total of $5000 at the end.
 * Chess at 1 point for a win, zero for a loss and half for a draw. Total score always equals the number of games, whatever happens on the board.
 * In a non-zero-sum game, the total value involved changes:
 * a good marriage can be a fine thing for both partners (a "win-win" situation)
 * a bad marriage can make both partners exceedingly miserable
 * some business deals are good for both companies
 * some wars damage both nations without producing any noticeable positive effects ("lose-lose"?)
 * A mixed game has both zero-sum and non-zero-sum components:
 * The scoring for chess is zero-sum, but other parts of the situation are non-zero-sum; both players may be paid to compete and both may be exhausted after a match.
 * The scoring for a boxing match is zero-sum, but both fighters may be injured.
 * If you pay $70 instead of $50 for an item, the vendor gets $20 more and you have $20 less in your pocket; this is clearly zero-sum.
 * Overall, the goal is to reach a deal that is good for both players; the vendor gets a sale and you get the item. This is a classic win-win outcome, clearly non-zero-sum.

The two goals are basically in conflict; reaching a deal may require the buyer paying more or the vendor accepting less. Sometimes the conflict is not reconcilable without a major sacrifice by one player. In those situations, the best solution is to walk away. You should not want to make such a sacrifice yourself and cannot expect one from the vendor.

When haggling, your goal should not be to "win", or to get the lowest possible price, or to eliminate the vendor's profit, but to find a mutually satisfactory price.

title: Bargaining


text:
Hpa-an

Hpa-an (Karen ဖးအါ၀့ၢ်ဖိ; Burmese ဘားအံမြို့) is a city (population 421,575 as of 2014) in Kayin State (Karen State) in Southeastern Myanmar. Hpa-an is the capital of Kayin State. It is surprisingly underdeveloped given its relative proximity to Mawlamyine and Yangon but this can be explained by the fact that the area has been in conflict with the Government for many years and has only become relatively peaceful since a ceasefire in 2012.

Understand
With the expected completion of the Greater Mekong Subregion East-West Corridor at the end of 2015, when improvements to the road between Mae Sot in Thailand and Mawlamyine are due to be finalised, Hpa-an will have great prospects to export to Thailand, and the town and surrounding region are likely to boom.

Get in
There is no train so only road travel is possible. From specific destinations:
 * Mawlamyine – Bus (no air-con) is about 2 hr, 1,200 kyat. There is also a boat available from Mawlamyine to Hpa-an for 70,000 kyat (private charter) or 10,000 kyat per person (shared) leaving from at 08:00 and taking about 3 hr.
 * Myawaddy – The bus is about 5,000 kyat and takes 3-5 hr. There are also many shared taxis running between Hpa-an and Myawaddy for 10,000 kyat per person which take around 4 hr.
 * Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock) – Bus with air-con is about 2½-3 hr to Kyaikto, 5-7,000 kyat. Every 30 min from about 06:00-10:00, then at least every hour for the rest of the day. A slower direct "government" bus leaves at 07:30, but it's probably more comfortable to change in Kyaikto.
 * Dawei – Bus leaves 05:00, 14,000 kyat.
 * Buses also come in from Yangon (Aung Mingalar Highway Station, 6 hr, about 5,000 kyat, every 30-60 min) and Bago.
 * Buses from Bagan, Naypyidaw and Mandalay, tend to go directly to Mawlamyine through . Nevertheless, from the in Thaton it is easy to catch a pickup (1,500 kyat) or bus (2,000 kyat) to Hpa-an. Also,, but not Hpa-an.

The is the main transport hub for travelers. Shared taxis and buses leave and stop here. Ticket-sellers congregate here.

There is also the official, just in case you do not get dropped off at the clock tower or are keen to get your bus ticket first-hand.

By taxi
Especially around the market and the ferries, plenty of motorbike-taxis and trishaws are available. Do not pay more than 1,000 kyat for destinations within the city. Trips to the countryside for a couple of hours should not cost more than 5,000 kyat for a trishaw.

Shared tuktuk (max 6 pax) cost ~35,000 kyat for one whole day (07:00-18:00). It takes you to all places of interest except Bat Caves. Petrol & toll are inclusive.

By rental motorbike
It is easy to rent a motorbike; some hostels like Galaxy Motel and Soe Brother can arrange them (~ 8.000 kyat/day) from 07:00 onwards.

See

Do
Hpa-an is famous for its numerous surrounding caves, mountains and green planes. Most guesthouses organise tours to those (like Soe Brothers and Golden Sky) - full-day trips cost 30,000 kyat (for up to 6 people). In case you arrive late, the Bat Cave evening tour is a highly recommended choice. However, you can also easily explore everything on your own by renting a motorbike from many guesthouses, e.g. Soe Brothers, Galaxy Hotel, Lwin Pyar Guesthouse or Good Luck Motorbike Rental next to Soe Brothers. It takes about a day (without the 4 hr climb of Zwegabin mountain) and the rental costs about 6,000 kyat - depending on the season. Fuel will set you back by another 1,000-1,500 kyat. No road or bridge toll is required on a scooter or bicycle. Below are two recommendations for a day-trip by scooter.

Extensive day trip by scooter
Leaving Hpa-an early at 8:30 and returning around 19:00. The journey has a length of about. The gpx track is attached to this page.

Kaw Ka Taung Cave, Mat Ka Na Bridge & Village, Saddan Cave, Yae Ta Khon, Lumbini Garden, next Kyauk Kalap to the west, then Kawgoon Cave as well as Ya-The-Byan Cave, and last but not least the Bat Cave for a lasting sunset & bat experience. Probably there will not be enough time to climb Mount Zwegabin from Lumbini garden, if you want to visit all sights listed above.

Relaxed day trip by scooter
For a slightly less demanding tour try this round-trip. Sightseeing stops are Ya-The-Byan Cave (monkeys), Kaw Goon Cave, Kyauk Kalap, Lumbini Garden, Yae Ta Khon pool (for lunch - 1,500-2,000 kyat), Mat Ka Na Village, Kaw Ka Taung Cave.

Other things to do

 * Rent a bicycle to go around the city and to visit the Bat Cave. It is not too far away.
 * Take a boat from Hpa-an to Mawlamyine for a picturesque and slow trip down the river. You can sometimes charter a private boat. Ask at Soe Brothers to see about availability (price is 8,000 kyat). The boat will only run if it has already been chartered by tourists to come up from Mawlamyine; if so, they'll take you back to Mawlamyine. The charter from Mawlamyine to Hpa-an is 70,000 kyat for the whole boat. The trip takes about 3 hr.
 * Hair dresser: Get a new haircut for 1,500 kyat. The wash is another 1,500 kyat and includes a head massage. Shwe Wad Boy and Lady Hair Beauty Spa in Phula Min Supermarket 3rd floor (mall). No English spoken but they will understand what you want.
 * Hair dresser: Get a new haircut for 1,500 kyat. The wash is another 1,500 kyat and includes a head massage. Shwe Wad Boy and Lady Hair Beauty Spa in Phula Min Supermarket 3rd floor (mall). No English spoken but they will understand what you want.

Eat

 * Soe Brothers Guesthouse has maps and can recommend a good Chinese restaurant.
 * Meat-lovers can find a cheap meal in nearly every house in the evening, small family run food-stalls.
 * At the central market (Myo Ma Zay Gyi Market) opposite the mosque, some street stands sell (extremely cheap) soup with stuffed tofu and stuffed tomatoes (200 kyat for the soup, 100 kyat for each stuffed tofu/tomato). This place is also recommended for breakfast. Otherwise just walk around; many places prepare street food in the evening.

Drink
A "sophisticated" traveler community including bars and clubs has yet to develop. Some shops, e.g. the one opposite Galaxy Motel, sell alcohol.

Splurge

Go next
Most buses and pickups/vans leave from the Clock Tower in the center.

 * Mawlamyine – Famous for the biggest reclining Buddha statue of Myanmar, and it is the 3rd biggest city of Myanmar. The bus (no air-con) is about 2 hr, 1,000 kyat and starts . Or 3 hr by boat at 08:00 for 8,000 kyat per person or 70,000 kyat charter; ask at your guesthouse.
 * Kyaiktiyo – Famous for the Golden Rock. Most buses stop only at Kyaikto from where you have to take further transportation (pick-up) to get to Kinpun ("base camp"), from where the regular and pricey rollercoaster trucks go up to Kyaiktiyo with the Golden Rock. Most of the (budget) hotels are located at Kinpun. There are some direct buses to Kinpun, just ask for it. Bus with air-con is about 4 hr for 5-7,000 kyat.
 * A "direct" pick-up van to Kinpun leaves around 07:00 from the Main road northwest of the Clock Tower. Costs only 3,500 kyat up to Kinpun, but still requires to change bus in Kyaikto.
 * Bago – Famous for the highest pagoda in the world, the Shwemawdaw Pagoda. The bus is 5-10,000 kyat and takes 4-5 hr.
 * Yangon – Buses all day, but more in the morning. 6 hr, 5,000 kyat.
 * Myawaddy – At the Thai border, is a common destination for travelers leaving Myanmar for Mae Sot or Bangkok. Shared taxis are 10,000 kyat and buses 5,000 kyat. Many departures are in the morning.

title: Hpa-an


text:
Hradec Králové

Hradec Králové is an attractive city in East Bohemia, Czech Republic.

Understand
The city is in the centre of a very fertile region called the Golden Road on the confluence of Elbe and Orlice and contains many buildings of historical and architectural interest. The cathedral was founded in 1303 by Elizabeth, and the church of St. John, built in 1710, stands on the ruins of the old castle. During the 1920s and 1930s the city grew rapidly and due to many buildings of modern architecture Hradec Králové became known as the Salon of the Republic. This was a nickname given to it by citizens who were spellbound by the unique architecture of Josef Gočár.

Get in
Hradec Králové is connected by rail and a highway to Prague. It's a 1 hour 45 min trip by train but it is much cheaper and faster to go there by bus, esp. if you travel from the Cerny Most station of Prague when its just 1 hour 15 min, and costs around 100 Kč. It's 15 to 20 min from the rail station to the old town centre by foot or you can use public transport buses.

Get around
You can explore the old centre on foot. Pretty much the whole town can be taken on by foot but there are public transport buses available if you get tired or taxis.

Do

 * Since 2004, Hip Hop Kemp, one of the biggest European hip hop festivals, has been held every year in August.
 * Jazz goes to town, an international jazz festival, is held in Hradec Králové every October.
 * The city's museum holds one of the oldest surviving collections of Czech Renaissance polyphony, the Codex Speciálník manuscript.

Buy
The main shopping centre is the Futurum located outside the centre. Buses 1 and 2 will take you to it. But don't expect any local fare but just the regular international brands. There are only a few really local shops in the old town and near the railway station and adjoining areas

title: Hradec Králové