text:
Mantin

Mantin is a town in Seremban District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

History
In the early days, Mantin was well known because of tin mining business by a Chinese towkay (business owner) named Kong Sang. Due to the tin deposits, the Europeans called the place Mine Tin. The locals, not being able to pronounce this correctly, called the place Mantin.

Following the completion of the railway connecting Seremban and Kajang in 1903 which made the export of tin economical, Mantin became a town. The town attracted a large number of Chinese migrants, mainly Hakka, for the tin mining business. Mantin was the center of tin mining business of Negeri Sembilan in the early 20th century.

By plane
The nearest airport is the Kuala Lumpur International Airport which is about 38 km from Mantin. It is the main gateway from/to Malaysia.

By car

 * From KLIA, exit the airport area, drive along Salak Tinggi, Nilai, and Pajam (a nearby town) for about 38 km.
 * From Seremban, drive north for about 17 km.
 * From Kajang, drive south for about 28 km.
 * From North-South Expressway (PLUS), exit Nilai toll and turn left, drive along Pajam for about 16 km.
 * From Lekas Expressway, exit Mantin toll and turn left. This expressway connects Mantin with Kajang and Seremban.

By train

 * The nearest railway station is the Seremban Railway Station which is in the city center of Seremban. It offers inter-city train services (southbound to Johor and Singapore; northbound to Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Penang, and Hat Yai Thailand) and Komuter train services (to Kuala Lumpur, Rawang, and Ipoh). This station is within walking distance of the bus terminal of Seremban.
 * Batang Benar Komuter Station is about 10 km from Mantin but offers just KTM Komuter train services.

By bus
myBAS Route T50 operated by CityLiner (Nilai-Mantin-Seremban) stops here.

Get around
Mantin is a small town and there is just one main street (Jalan Besar) so it is unlikely, if not impossible, to get lost. If lost, just ask around for directions.

Be sure to look left and right before crossing any street, especially the main street. Like other small towns in Malaysia, motorcycles like to ride against traffic on the same lane for their own convenience and laziness.

See

 * Jalan Besar. Also known as the main street, it is where most of the attractions and historical buildings are. Along the street includes places such as banks, pasar (wet market), petrol (gas) stations, police station, and a post office.
 * Gurudwara Sahib Sikh Temple was built in 1890s and is one of the oldest Sikh temples in Malaysia.
 * St. Aloysius Catholic Church was built in 1901 with impressive architecture. It was famous for its nunnery before the nuns moved to Seremban.

Do

 * Taman Rekreasi Gallah. It was a recreational park on the route from/to Seremban but was deforested and closed down for the development of Lekas Expressway.
 * Taman Rekreasi Gallah. It was a recreational park on the route from/to Seremban but was deforested and closed down for the development of Lekas Expressway.

Buy

 * Pasar Malam. The night market is next to the main street at Taman Bunga Raya. It is available on Sunday evening.

Eat
Due to its demographic, Mantin was famous for traditional Hakka food. The most famous Yong Tau Foo vendor has lost its glory after the demolition of the old theater, which was next to its original shop. The vendor now operates at the Mantin Hawker Center which is on the main street.

Another famous food was Woon Chai Koh (a kind of rice pudding) but the original vendor has already retired.

Other Malaysian food is being served, especially along the main street and in the Mantin Hawker Center.

Mantin is also a famous place for growing durian, star fruit, jack fruit, rose apple and guavas.

During durian season (July-August), there is a durian orchard named "Durio Star" which serves fresh Mantin durian to visitors.

Sleep
There are no hotels in Mantin. The nearest hotels are those located in Nilai and Seremban.

Go next
There are places, both in Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, worth visiting that are easily accessible from Mantin such as Broga (22 km), Nilai (14 km), Kajang (28 km), Kuala Lumpur (57 km), Port Dickson (45 km), and Seremban (17 km).

title: Mantin


text:
Mantua

Mantua (Italian: Mantova, Lombard: Mantua) is a world heritage listed city in Lombardy, Italy not far from Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. Because of the power and influence of the Gonzaga family, which used to own the city for over 400 years, Mantua was considered one of the most important cultural cities in the Renaissance and it maintains a lot of the buildings that made it famous during that period.

Understand
Mantua was where the composer Claudio Monteverdi premiered his opera L'Orfeo (1607), the earliest opera that is still regularly performed.

Mantua was named "Capital of Italian culture 2016".

In 2022, it had a population of 49,000.

By plane
The nearest airport to Mantua is near Verona, on the Brennero's Highway, 25 minutes away from the city. Other options are Guglielmo Marconi Airport, near Bologna, 1 hour away, and Orio al serio Airport, near Bergamo, reachable in less than 1½ hours via Highway.

The airport in Verona served by some low-cost airlines such as WizzAir (to Bucharest), EasyJet (from London-Gatwick, Paris-Charles de Gaulle) and VoloTea (from Bari, Palermo). Other big carriers such as ITA Airways and Lufthansa serve this airport daily. Airports in Bologna and Bergamo are served by the low-cost carrier Ryanair.

By train
The Verona-Modena railway line passes through, located in Piazza Don Leoni. It is also the end of the line for trains arriving from Monselice and Cremona. Train service from Milan is available everyday, every two hours and it costs €10.75. For Verona the frequency is every 40 minutes and the price is €3.15.

Via Verona you can get to Mantua from Venice, Brescia, Trento, Bolzano and via Modena you can reach Parma, Reggio Emilia, Bologna and all southern cities.

If you want to arrive from Bologna quickly, so you don't want to use the railway line Verona-Modena and change the train, a good idea would be to get the train on the Verona-Bologna line to the Nogara station, 20 minutes away by car from the city centre of Mantua.

Regional train services are operated by Trenord, the long distance trains are operated by Trenitalia. The city centre is 1 km east from the station.

By bus
Main bus station is just outside the train station. APAM S.p.a. offers many buses that connect the whole province with the city. Brescia, Sirmione, Peschiera del Garda, Mirandola are also cities served by this company. To know timetables and fares the easiest way is to use Google Maps which, thanks to a collaboration between Apam and Google, it's very accurate in timetables and routes.

By car
Mantua is crossed by the motorway (Autostrada del Brennero), that runs from Modena to Brenner. The best choice to reach the centre is the exit of Mantova Nord, just 5 km (3 miles) north of Piazza Sordello.

By bus
APAM S.p.a. manages the bus urban service in town and in the nearby municipalities and it's a good choice to move around the different areas of the city.

By car
A large section of the old town is a limited traffic zone (ZTL) and a pass is required to drive in this area, so it is better to park your car in one of the parking areas that surrounds it.

Free parking

 * . Just south of the stadium, not far from Palazzo Te.
 * . Large parking area close to Palazzo Te.
 * . Large parking area close to Palazzo Te.

Toll parking

 * . Close to Teatro Bibiena.
 * . Beside the namesake public garden, not far from the Cathedral.
 * . Entrance from Largo di Porta Pradella.
 * . Close to Palazzo Te and the House of Mantegna.
 * . Close to Palazzo Te.
 * . Close to Palazzo Te.

Do

 * Go to the museums:
 * Take a boat trip on the lakes and rivers around Mantua.
 * Take a boat trip on the lakes and rivers around Mantua.
 * Take a boat trip on the lakes and rivers around Mantua.
 * Take a boat trip on the lakes and rivers around Mantua.

Cope

 * Italian traffic signs - icona informazioni.svg
 * Italian traffic signs - icona informazioni.svg

Go next

 * Sabbioneta – a Renaissance ideal town. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site on par with Mantua.
 * Castel Goffredo – one of the capitals of the states of the Gonzaga.
 * Lake Garda – is at an easy reach by a direct bus 46 to Peschiera del Garda (take off at Piazza Bettelloni). From where you can take a ferry to the other destinations around the lake. Adventurous ones could take a bike ride right up to Peschiera along the Mincio Cycleway.

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

title: Mantua


text:
Mantralayam

Mantralayam is a town in Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh.

Understand
Mantralayam is a Hindu religious place where the Moola Brindavanam of Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy is located. Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy (1601-1671) was an influential saint in Hinduism. He advocated Vaishnavism (i.e. worship of Vishnu as the supreme God.) and Dvaita philosophy advocated by Sri Madhavacharya. He is considered to be a reincarnation of Prahalada, the devotee who was saved by Vishnu, in his avatar of Narasimha. Shri Raghavendra Swamy is said to have performed many miracles during his lifetime and is believed to continue to bless his devotees to this day and will continue to do so.

The town is located in Karnataka border of Andhra Pradesh on the southern bank of Tungabhadra river. The majority of people here are conversant with both Telugu and Kannada languages. You can also find people speaking Tamil.

Get in
Mantralayam is around 250 km from Hyderabad, the journey from Hyderabad takes about 6-8 hours by road. It takes about 10 hours by road from Bangalore.

To reach Mantralayam from Bangalore, KSRTC has introduced a new bus called "Vaibhav". It is similar to "Rajahamsa". Apart from these, there are Volvo buses ("Airavat") as well.

If you are driving from Hyderabad, you need to take the NH7 - the highway to Bangalore and take a diversion at Jadcherla. Various state roads will take you to Mahaboobnagar and Raichur in Karnataka.

Mantralayam is around 600 km from Chennai. It can be reached through the route of Chittoor. It is around 650 km from Mangalore. By road, one can take private buses from Mangalore to Bellary and from Bellary one can get ample number of KSRTC buses to Mantralayam. The journey takes almost 15 hours.

The nearest rail head is Mantralayam Road. It lies on the Mumbai-Bangalore, Delhi-Bangalore and the Mumbai-Chennai train routes. Regular rail service is available for this route. Apparently, many trains like Karnataka Express and Rajdhani, stop at Mantralayam Road to refill water, even though the station is not on their official list of stops. Mantralayam is a technical stop for all long-distance trains going through the Mumbai-Chennai, Mumbai-Chennai, and all towards the down south routes. Trains stop there to fill up water, since the station is just near the Tungabhadra river, and this is the only source of fresh drinking water on the entire 900 km route.

There is one train that goes from Hyderabad Deccan station to Mantralayam Road en route Tirupati. Mantralayam Road is about 16 km away from Mantralayam. You can travel to Mantralayam from Mantralayam Road station by private Jeeps, taxis, auto-rickshaws or public bus. Approximate cost of travel per person is ₹50 for private transport and ₹10 for public bus.

Get around
The place is small enough to be covered on foot. If you drive into the temple complex, there is a charge of ₹15 for parking. The collection of parking charges is inconsistently done, however. Rickshaws are available all over the place.

See

The temple and "Mutt" complex is the main attraction here, but most people here are believers, not sightseers. If you go in the evening on special occasions (it is a regular event around 8PM), you can see chariots carrying the deity being drawn around the temple and the temple elephants paying obeisance to the deity. It is quite a spectacular sight. There are three chariots, one plated in gold, the other in silver and the third in sandalwood. Behind the temple the Tungabhadra river flows, which is also worth seeing.

Before entering the sanctum sanctorum of Mutt, you are advised to take a bath (or at least wash your feet) on the banks of Tungabhadra river (or at the tap in front of the mutt). Have the darshan of Manchalamma, the goddess who blessed the place for Shri Raghavendra Swamy's Brindavanam. Then, you need to enter the sanctum of mutt through the queue complex in front of mutt. If you are lucky enough and there's no rush for the darshan, you can enter the sanctum directly (of course, you have to bear with queue of smaller length). After the darshan, you can quietly move around the sanctum chanting the stotras of Sri Raghavendra Swamy or simply chant Om Sri Raghavendraya Namaha.

If you are offering sevas exceeding ₹50, you are required to assemble in the seva hall on the right side of the sanctum before 8AM. Hence you are required to purchase the seva tickets the previous day. Please note that the seva timings might vary or sevas might be cancelled on auspicious days like Rama Navami, Madhva Navami, Aradhana days and on the days of eclipse. Parimala prasadams are a unique kind of prasadams prepared and offered to the deity in Mantralayam only which are available in the counters outside the sanctum.

Mass feeding of meals takes place in a large dining hall on the left side of the sanctum during the afternoon. During the night you can purchase food items like puligare, pongal from Annadaata counter in front of the mutt by paying a small amount. A new scheme is introduced with the offerings from one of the devotees. During the night (sometime after 8PM), outside the temple, they provide two different rice items (rice bath, curd rice), with each plate of rice costing ₹2. The quantity and the taste are good. Two plates will be sufficient for one member.

Eat
Good food is available easily and at affordable places. Please take care, as the cleanliness is poor on various eating places.

 * Hotel Pannaga, +91-8512- 279460
 * SR Tiffins - Fast food beside the temple (front view) is good, especially for breakfast & dinner.
 *  Sri Udipi Krishna Hotel on the main road. This hotel is quite good.

There's also MTR just opposite to the temple entrance, but there are no chairs to sit. One has to stand and eat. But the taste is very good.

Sleep
Lodges & hotels are available in Mantralayam easily but it is always better to book in advance especially if visiting during weekends, Thursdays and public holidays.

 * Devasthanam (Temple authorities) - provide cottages (₹200-750) to those who are performing special sevas.
 * Hare Sreenivasa Lodge, +91 8512 279446, +91-9440591707.
 * Pankaja Lodge A/C and non-A/C rooms available. +91 8512 280077, +91-9885247362, +91- 9885247216
 * Pavamana Udupi Residency for AC and non-AC deluxe rooms, +91-(0)8512-280062.
 * Prasuna Lodge, +91 8512 279594.
 * Sri Guru Sarva Bhouma Lodge, Mantralayam Office - 08512-279898
 * Sri Upendra Theertha Nilayam - Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt +91 8512 280071, 09440591611, A/C rooms from ₹750.
 * Prasuna Lodge, +91 8512 279594.
 * Sri Guru Sarva Bhouma Lodge, Mantralayam Office - 08512-279898
 * Sri Upendra Theertha Nilayam - Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt +91 8512 280071, 09440591611, A/C rooms from ₹750.
 * Sri Guru Sarva Bhouma Lodge, Mantralayam Office - 08512-279898
 * Sri Upendra Theertha Nilayam - Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt +91 8512 280071, 09440591611, A/C rooms from ₹750.

Go next

Twenty kilometers away across the state line in Raichur is a temple called Panchamukha that commemorates the spot where Sri Guru Raghavendra is said to have meditated for twelve years before Sri Anjaneya.

 * Udupi
 * Ballari
 * Tirupati

title: Mantralayam


text:
Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio  is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica due to its beautiful beaches and rich wildlife. It is in the Central Pacific region the country.

Understand
The area that is Manuel Antonio stretches from the town of Quepos and then along an approximately 8-km road up a mountain and then back down, finishing at the entrance of the Manuel Antonio National Park and the beautiful Playa Espadilla. The road to the beach and park is surrounded by hotels and restaurants.

Get in
From San José, Manuel Antonio can be reached by either bus or plane, via the airport 5 min outside of Quepos. Tracopa has several direct public buses daily from San José to Quepos and Manuel Antonio for US$8. A shuttle service can be hired for about US$170 for all the places in a mini-van one way. Duration of travel is 2½-4 hours. Several shuttle bus companies have daily routes that can take from San Jose and many other cities. From SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio Hotels shuttles depart at 4:30AM, 10AM, 3PM, and 5:30PM. There is another company, Daytrip, which offers a shared shuttle service to Manuel Antonio from San Jose a few times a day. They depart from the Selina Hotel in downtown San Jose, San Jose International Airport, or custom pickup locations in the morning (6:50AM, 8:55AM) or afternoon (2:35PM). Passengers can get off at either Quepos, Selina Manuel Antonio, or the center of Manuel Antonio at the roundabout in Playa Espadilla. Prices start at US$30, and tickets can be booked in advance to guarantee a seat.
 * Skyway Airlines has two flights daily between San Jose (Pavas) and Quepos airports. Price is about US$52 per way and flight time is about 20 minutes.
 * Aerobell Airlines runs two daily flights in between San José (Tobias Bolaños Airport in Pavas) and Quepos. From US$60 per way.
 * Sansa Airline runs several flights a day between Quepos and San Jose (SJO) airports. Price is about US$82 one way.
 * Costa Rica Green Airways runs three flights a day between Quepos and San Jose (SJO). Price is about US$99 one way.

Get around
Buses run up and down the mountain every 30 minutes during the day stopping at many places along the way. Cost is ₡315. Taxis are also readily available at about US$8 from Quepos to Manuel Antonio. Scooters and cars can also be rented by those who feel a little more adventurous.

See
Must-sees include the Manuel Antonio National Park and the beautiful beaches. Don't miss the monkeys crossing the road in the afternoons or the spectacular sunsets which can be seen from many of the restaurants and hotels along the road.

Do
The list of activities in Manuel Antonio is endless. Some of the most popular activities include trips to the park and zip-lining and snorkeling.

 * Park tours: Guides can be found very easily around the entrance to the park from early in the morning. Prices per person can be around US$25
 *  Scuba diving and snorkeling: There are around 15 local dive sites and offshore sites in the Manuel Antonio area. Sites vary in ability and wildlife and Try Dives for those that have never been before are also available.
 * Snorkeling and coastal tours with whale watching are also available. Depending on the season humpback whales can be spotted near shore, and dolphins feeding is a regular occurrence during the afternoons.
 * Avoid the sunset tour. They claim they sail on the sail boat and do snorkeling but they just run the engines and the water isn't clear. It's a huge rip off.
 * Zip-lining. Canopy tours are available in this area. They involve zipping through the trees at high speed. Depending on the company, some tours also involve rappels and Tarzan swings so are not recommended for those that have an aversion to heights.
 * La Selvita has 16 sequential lines, one being nearly 800 m (half a mile) long and 180 m (600 feet) off the ground. The guides are truly bilingual and very friendly.  The pictures they take are a bit pricey but worth every penny.
 * White Water Rafting: Two rivers are near Manuel Antonio, the Naranjo and the Savegre. Depending on the season the rivers will vary in strength and speed from a Class II - III during dry season up to a Class IV during wet season. The Naranjo tends to be the faster river with a particular stretch further upstream known as El Chorro sometimes reaching a class V even during the dryer months.
 * Horse-back tours: Tours are available along the beach and to some of the local forest areas and waterfalls. Most companies provide a selection of different tours.
 * Mangrove tours: Take a trip through the mangroves checking out some of the incredible wildlife.
 * Spice Tour: Check out the local vanilla farm and get to sample some of the amazing products produced by Villa Vanilla.

Buy
Check out the large selection of souvenirs and gifts being sold along the beach and by the entrance to the park. The Regalameart gift shop offers the widest selection of higher end, but pricey souvenirs.

Sleep
Manuel Antonio area stretches from the town of Quepos and then along a 6-km serpentine road uphill and then back down to the beautiful Playa Espadilla and the entrance of the Manuel Antonio National Park. The road to the beach and park is surrounded by a large number of hotels and restaurants, offering the visitor a selection of places to stay and eat.

The road is rather busy and lacks sidewalks in some parts. If you plan to visit Manuel Antonio National Park or go to the beach, the accommodation options located near the Manuel Antonio National Park entrance might serve you best. The beach is 200 meters away from the park entrance. From the hills you can enjoy cooling sea breeze and ocean views.

Around the Easter and New Year period, vacancies can be hard to find so it is wise to book ahead. A lot of houses and apartments are also available to rent and many come with personal chefs as well.

Stay safe
Do not leave anything unattended on the beach, even for a short time, especially after dark. There have been opportunistic thefts on Manuel Antonio beach. Take the same safety precautions you would in other parts of Latin America.

Go next

 * San José. See the "Get in" section for flight information.

title: Manuel Antonio


text:
Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio) is a national park in the Central Pacific region of Costa Rica in the municipality of Manuel Antonio, south of Quepos.

Understand
The park is one of the most visited parks in Costa Rica as it is easily accessible from San José. Each year the park is visited by more than 150,000 people. With an area of only it is the smallest park in Costa Rica. It has an exceptional beauty and in 2011 the American magazine Forbes named it one of the 12 most beautiful parks in the world.

However, others people say the park is overrated, overcrowded and overpriced. The visible bio-diversity is limited due to the many tourist strolling along the trails. Furthermore, the monkeys are so used to getting fed by the tourists that they become aggressive and do attack people with bags and backpacks. If instead you feel US$18 might just be a little too much, you are better off visiting Cahuita National Park instead, which is also more affordable and versatile to the naked eye.

History
The park was created in November 1972, to an extent to protect it from development as the area's tourist industry began to boom.

Landscape
The topography of the coastal area is rugged and has slopes of 20% or more. The altitude varies from 0 to 160 meters above sea level. Off the coast are small islands that are part of the national park. The forest-covered peninsula Punta Catedral was once an island and is connected to the mainland by sedimentation. As a result, a sandy strip has arisen, a phenomenon called Tombolo. The beaches, Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio, are among the most beautiful in Costa Rica. The beaches Escondido and Playita are outside the borders of the park and can be visited for free.

Flora and fauna
Manuel Antonio National Park is rich in flora and fauna. There are 352 species of birds, 109 species of mammals and 346 species of plants registered. The ocean has a great diversity of marine fauna. In the area often birds like toucans, pelicans, ospreys, kingfishers and cayenne bosral (aramids cajaneus) are observed. Iguanas, lizards and snakes are common. Some of the most prominent mammals present are the raccoon, coati, agouti (rodents), two- and three-toed sloth, and capuchin, squirrel, howler and titi monkeys. During the dry season animals can be observed more easily as they go to the beaches for food.

Climate
The dry season lasts from December through March, but it is commonly rather humid year-round. In rainy season some of the paths can get extremely muddy, on the other hand you have the chance to experience the park rather empty. The rain makes the plants grow in all their green glory.

Climate: Dry Dec-Apr, Wet May-Nov, Wettest Sep/Oct

Temp: Average high 33°C (92°F)

By car
On a paved road Manuel Antonio can be reached within 3 hours from San José via Jacó.

By bus
There is a bus driving the route Quepos-Manuel Antonio that leaves every 30 minutes from 07:00-22:00. You can catch the bus at any of the many stops along the way. Fare ₡300 each way.

Fees and permits
The park entrance is about 5 minutes’ walk from the bus terminal. The fee is US$18 per person (or US$2 if you can show your residence card) and you must buy the tickets on the official website no later than the day before your anticipated visit. There is a limit of 600 allowed (simultaneous) visitors on weekdays and 800 on weekends, but this tends only to be a problem in the Easter week and the last week of the year. At these times you might have to stand in queue and wait for someone to leave before you are let in if you arrive late.

You can also hire a guide to show you around and point out animals for US$25 per person in larger groups, or US$35 per person in very small groups. They are required to speak English. It is worth the money, as some animals are right in front of you, but you do not see them until they are pointed out to you. The guides carry lenses on tripods and you can see through them and even take pictures using a digital camera, traditional film cameras will not give a close up of the animal.

Near Playa Manual Antonio beach are toilets, showers and changing rooms available. There are picnic tables, but an undisturbed lunch is not guaranteed. There is a high probability that Capuchin monkeys will carefully observe your moves in a noisy way (do not feed the animals!) On the beach, the monkeys are in competition with coatis: these animals are very photogenic but also very adept at stealing from unsuspecting sunbathers.

If you go to the park for a swim, take snorkeling equipment along. Playa Manuel Antonio is a great place for snorkeling as it has silky white sand and a beautiful coral reef.

Get around
Once close to Manuel Antonio, it is possible to walk from most hotels to the beach and to any restaurants or attractions in between. There is a public bus route which will take along the one road to the beach to the hotels and restaurants that service the tourist trade. Bus rides costs ₡315 and may not accept US dollars (will provide change).

There are no street lights, and no side walks to the hotels, so carry a flash light to walk along the road. The park closes before dark, but walking between your hotels and restaurants will require a flashlight and in the raining season good quality shoes to avoid stepping in the mud and tripping over the rocks in the unpaved road.

There is a small field, at the entrance to the park, where one can park their car for a high fee, and buy a fruit or soda before one enters the park. None are sold inside the park. Be sure to pack your trash, and take it out with you. The garbage barrels are few and far between and littering in the beautiful place is a mortal sin of a dozen major religions and over 50 minor ones.

The Parque Nacional de Manuel Antonio can be reached quite easily by foot, but at high tide a ferry is (often) required to reach it, costing a nominal fee. The intrepid traveler could, of course, ford the waters by swimming it, but help the local economy and pay for the boat ride. At low tide the rives is 15 cm (6 inches) deep and 1 m (3 feet) wide.

This is a 650 m (1/2 mile) hilly long walk over uneven rocky surface. Shoes, not flip flops, are recommended. If you enter the beach from this entrance, the nicest beach is the first one encountered. If you have to cross the water the nicest beach will be the last one.

At low tide the river is a meter and half wide (4.5 feet) and 20 cm (8 inches) deep, at high tide it is significantly wider and deeper. You would end up taking the boat. There are two row boats, 3 m and 4.5 m (10 and 14 feet) in length, and there is a small fee. There is another entrance that is a by passing the river, by the northern gate, but it is a significantly longer walk to the beaches. The back entrance is where the tour guides end their tour.

See
The beach. The prettiest beach is the furthest from the park entrance by the cul-de-sac. You enter the park and walk past two beaches in the national park until you make the turn to the left. It is a white sand beach about 650 m (½ mile) in length, in a small crescent. The beach is about 12 m (40 feet) from the jungle to the water. The waves are gentle and the current is not strong. The beach is free of trash and litter, as are most beaches in CR. There is no lifeguard.

Outside the National Park there is another beach, which you will pass on the way to the national park, it is free to enter. On this beach, one can rent chairs, surf and boogie boards, and purchase a massage. The waves are significantly larger. There is no lifeguard.

There are no lifeguards at these beaches and one swims at their own risk. There are no marker buoys signaling how far it is safe for one to go. There is not a dangerous current, at Manuel Antonio, but visitors should familiarize themselves with how to swim out of a rip current when going to a new beach that has no lifeguard.

Do

 * Hiking in the national park. The trails are well marked and easily accessible. There are four short trails (1-3 km). Trail Perezoso leads to a panoramic view where you have a magnificent view over the bay. There is also a short trail on the peninsula Punta Catedral. You can do the most common one with a guide and then once your tour is over, take time to follow one of the other trails, and also go swim.
 * Wildlife watching with guide. US$20 per person.
 * Fishing Best place in the world to bend a rod. Huge sailfish and Marlin caught nearly every trip. (Quepos Fish Adventure is a good place to start).
 * Relax at the beautiful beaches inside the park. Water is normally clear-blue in color.

Nearly all of the guides have high quality optics. If you have a digital camera it will take a picture through a tripod mounted scope. You can get nice and close up. If you have a traditional film camera you should bring a telephoto lens for close up shots of the fast moving animals.

Buy
At Playa Espadilla and at the entrance of the park are souvenir shops. Regalame Art Gallery (part of Hotel Si Como No) has a great selection (expensive) quality souvenirs.

Eat
It is not possible to buy food or drinks inside the park, although just outside the park there are plenty of opportunities to do so. Take care not to allow your lunches to be infiltrated or stolen by the park's resident thieves, the coatimundi. While swimming in the ocean, make sure your backpack does not have food in it. If it does coatimundi will try to open it (and they don't know how zippers work).

There are four large picnic tables by the bathroom. The tables are on a raised concert platform.

Most of the hotels have a full-service restaurants. There are other full-service restaurants where one can enjoy a dinner under the roof with a sun set kissing the ocean. See Manuel Antonio.

Drink
There is a water faucet at by the picnic tables. The water is supplied by a local well that brings in slightly brackish water. The basin it runs into is very shallow and it is difficult to refill your water bottles. Bring cups.

Lodging
Because camping is prohibited within the park, a number of lodging choices have sprung up around the perimeter of the park. One of the popular local lodging offerings consists of "cabinas" (cabins) which vary in price (US$20-30/night) and quality. Cabinas Pedro Miguel and Cabinas Piscis  and Cabinas Sol y Mar  are a few popular choices for this type of lodging. The Manuel Antonio Park area also has a number of hotels which average about US$50-60/night. See also Manuel Antonio.

Camping
Camping is prohibited in the park, as it is small and the impact of even a few people could damage the fragile natural environment that the park is attempting to maintain.

Backcountry

 * Quepos: Quepos is best known for its port and fishing. It is located 8 km north of Manuel Antonio and is easily reached by bus. Being a gateway to the national park Manuel Antonio there are many hotels and restaurants. Market on Saturday morning.

Stay safe

 * Please do not feed the monkeys. As tempting as it may seem and even if others are doing it, please do not feed the monkeys. The reasons to avoid this are endless and doing so contributes to the endangerment of the animals in and around the park. Sometimes they drag bags into the forest or in the trees to get that fragrant banana and take your camera along with it. Do not feed any of the wild animals for that matter. They are developing a taste for human food and will steal your lunch. You will be thrown out. The signs warning you of this are in English.

 * The road from Quepos to the park goes up and down. There are many blind corners and Costa Rican drivers are no less reckless than elsewhere. The distance from your hotel to the beach is probably larger than you expected. Take a bus or a taxi and walk as little as possible on the dangerous road (also to avoid the scorching sun), or select your accommodation near the National Park entrance, especially after sunset or during a tropical rainstorm. If you walk in the dark, for example from a restaurant back to your hotel, take a flashlight along and always walk on the left side of the road.

 * If you are going to the park, make sure you have reached the National Park entrance before purchasing anything. Especially outside the peak season there are numerous con artists stopping people on the way to the park to sell them fake tickets, expensive parking and useless guide services. Sometimes they cover traffic signs with posters and use clothes resembling park rangers. The Coopealianza Bank at the entrance of the park is the only real place allowed to sell the entrance tickets. Make sure you get there before stopping.

 * It is not rare that a crocodile finds his way between the bathers.

 * On the edge of the beach are manchineel trees (manzanillo), or beach apple. These are recognizable by their glossy green foliage and small apples. The tree, leaves and apples of manchineel all contain a strong poison. When breaking a twig or leaf there is a white milky sap that drips out; when it comes into contact with skin, eyes or mucous membranes, it causes burning blisters. This substance may be so toxic that even when you shelter under a manchineel during a rainstorm, the raindrops can cause this nasty response.

 * Manuel Antonio village gets a rough, mainly American party town atmosphere at night; pickpocketing and other petty crimes are common. Everything is a negotiation. Parking, etc. Expect to be ripped off.

Go next

 * Tárcoles Crocodile Bridge – If you go by car or shuttle service you should really stop at Puente Río Tarcoles (the bridge over Tarcoles river) about halfway between San José and Manuel Antonio. This is a favorite spot for crocodiles that come here to warm up before hunting at night.
 * Carara National Park – Scarlet macaw are a primary tourist draw to Carara.

title: Manuel Antonio National Park


text:
Auckland/South Auckland

South Auckland is a district of Auckland situated south and east of Central Auckland. For this travel guide, it includes Manukau, Howick and Papakura.

South Auckland is one of the truly multi-cultural urban areas of the world, with Pacific Island nationalities being particularly strongly represented among its residents. There are over 55 different ethnic groups that make up the population of this unique urban area, with people from Europe, Asia, and the Americas here.

Understand
The resident population of Manukau City in the 2001 census was 283,200. It is now believed to be in excess of 310,000 making Manukau one of the fastest growing areas in New Zealand. It has welcomed more than 5,500 new residents each year since 1996. The Howick and Manurewa wards accounted for 60% of the growth, with the remainder spread evenly amongst the remaining wards.

Manukau's diverse population makes it unique. It has over 55 different ethnic groups represented. Manukau has the highest proportion of Pacific Island residents (25.6%) of any New Zealand city. In some cases, there are more Pacific Island residents living in Manukau than there are on the Pacific Islands that those residents originate from.

Also of interest is the age spread of Manukau's population. Manukau has a large proportion of people under 25 years of age (41.9%) making it an urban area with a very strong young population.

By train
South Auckland is served by the Southern and Eastern train lines from Britomart Transport Centre in Central Auckland. The Eastern line terminates at Manukau. The Southern line continues on to Pukekohe. The Northern Explorer service from Wellington calls at Papakura.

By bus

 * Intercity Coaches stop in Manukau City on the way to Central Auckland from Wellington, Gisborne, Rotorua, Palmerston North and New Plymouth.
 * Public buses throughout the area are operated by Auckland Transport, including connections between Auckland International Airport and the major suburbs.

By ferry
Fullers run a ferry approximately once every two hours from Central Auckland to Half Moon Bay. The journey is about 40 minutes long.

Get around
Auckland Transport (AT) is responsible for public transport buses and trains across South Auckland.

See

Buy

 * Otara Flea Market, Otara Shopping Centre, Newbury St. Sa 6AM–noon. Huge selection of clothes, household items and food. Otara has a large Polynesian and Maori population and the market reflects the culture of the area. You can buy Pacific Island music and clothing for example. Well worth a wander around.
 * Otara Flea Market, Otara Shopping Centre, Newbury St. Sa 6AM–noon. Huge selection of clothes, household items and food. Otara has a large Polynesian and Maori population and the market reflects the culture of the area. You can buy Pacific Island music and clothing for example. Well worth a wander around.

Go next
Ferries leave from Half Moon Bay for Hauraki Gulf islands and central Auckland.

title: Auckland/South Auckland


text:
Manus

Manus is a province in Papua New Guinea.

Cities

 * , the capital of the province, on Manus Island.

Other destinations

 * Lou Island. Obsidian, a naturally occurring volcanic glass, was mined here traditionally for many generations, but this has now largely died out. The obsidian was used to make tools and weapons, as its pidgin name spia botel suggests.

Understand
Manus Province is the smallest province in Papua New Guinea in terms of land mass, but it covers a large sea area. The total population is around 50,000, spread over the 18-island Admiralty Group and one or two other islands and atolls. During World War II most of the islands were occupied by the Japanese. In February 1944 the islands were retaken by the Americans under General Douglas MacArthur. Much of the province is covered by thick rainforest. Orchids flourish and there are numerous birds. Animals are possum, bandicoot and wild pig. There are many coral atolls surrounding the main islands and the reefs are accessible by outboard motor or canoe and provide superb diving and fishing. Dugong and turtle can be seen. Sea kayaking is fast becoming popular.

The American anthropologist, Margaret Mead, perhaps best known for Coming of Age in Samoa, did a lot of field research in Manus, particularly in Pere village on the south coast of the main island. In total, she made seven visits there, resulting in several publications including New Lives for Old: Cultural Transformation in Manus.

Lorengau is the capital of Manus Province. The town is on the edge of Seeadler Harbor on the main island, known as Manus Island. Its population is around 6000. During WW2, Lorengau was occupied by the Japanese and later by Allied forces, who constructed a base, airport and dock facilities at Seeadler Harbour. Many relics can be still seen.

Get in

 * Air Niugini has flights from the capital Port Moresby, as well as from Lae, Rabaul and Kavieng.

Get around
There is a causeway connecting the airport on Los Negros island with Lorengau on the main island of Manus and a few roads radiating from Lorengau. Otherwise transport is by boat.

See

 * Traditional dancing. In a country of fascinating dances, those of Manus are particularly interesting and sensuous in that they use Garamuts (slit-drums) (also found in the Sepik).
 * Wildlife

Eat

 * Sago. Sago is a starch extracted from the pith of sago palm stems. It is almost pure carbohydrate. Palms are usually found in areas unsuited for other forms of agriculture. You can visit villages to watch the production process.

title: Manus


text:
Manville

Manville is a town in Somerset County, New Jersey. with a small city feel. It is home to many shops and restaurants. It was once an industrial town with a major Johns Manville factory.

By car
Manville is accessible from Interstate 287 (exit 17), U.S. Route 22, U.S. Route 202, U.S. Route 206 and NJ-28. Several taxi services operate in and around the town.

By train
The NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line stops at the Bridgewater train station, conveniently located a few miles east of downtown. http://www.njtransit.com/

By bus
NJ Transit route #65 or #114 stop here. http://www.njtransit.com/

By plane
There is a small Hillsborough airport, but it services private jets only.

Get around
Most of the attractions in Manville are located along North Main Street and South Main Street. The areas surrounding Main Street is largely residential with not much to see.

See
Weston Mill

Heinrich/Henry Schenck built a grist mill on the Millstone here, probably in the 1740s. The second owner of the mill was Abraham Van Neste, from 1771-1797.

When William Rodgers owned the mill between 1823 and 1843, he changed the name to Weston, purportedly to reflect the name used at the time for an area across the river from the mill.

Wilbur Smith was the last owner of the original mill from 1925 until 1982 when it fell into the river. He had worked for many years in an attempt to save the old mill but, after it collapsed, it was determined that it was beyond repair and now considered a flood hazard. There were plans to salvage parts of the historic structure but before the group had a chance to do much work, vandals set the mill on fire, destroying it.

All that remains in the area once known as Weston are a few residences and several roads bearing the name.

Do
Reading Cinemas a large movie theater complex on North Main Street.

Buy
On North Main Street there is the Marketplace at Manville where a Wal-Mart, A & P, and other minor chains, as well as a large amount of mom-and-pop businesses on South Main Street.

The nearest mall is the Bridgewater Commons along U.S. Highway 22, about 10 minutes away. There is a large food court and many stores.

Eat
There is an abundance of restaurants in Manville serving pretty much every taste. Several local pizza restaurants, Chinese take out and other fast food franchises (Arby's, MacDonalds, Subway) are found along North Main Street and South Main Street.

Drink
Manville is known for its many bars and has a good amount of night life. Many walk to the nearest bars so parking near some might be a bit spotty.

Sleep
There are no hotels or Motels in town. Nearby on US Route 22, US Route 202 and US Route 206 are several local and chain options.

Go next

 * New York City and Philadelphia are both about an hour away.

title: Manville


text:
Manx Gaelic phrasebook

Manx Gaelic (Gaelg) is a language from the Isle of Man. It is mostly only used by the minority of the Manx population who can speak it amongst themselves. A minority of road signs are bilingual, but most place names are in Manx or derive from the language. The language is rarely heard in public except in formal situations such as Tynwald Day and on radio shows for Manx speakers. Manx, in common with Scottish Gaelic, is closely related to Irish, and shares most of its vocabulary and grammar with these languages. Whilst it shares common grammatical features with Welsh, Cornish and Breton it shares very little common vocabulary with these languages. There is one Manx medium primary school in the Isle of Man, and most children on the Isle of Man learn some Manx in primary school. Provision for Manx in secondary school is limited, the number of speakers being far higher in schools with strong community links and the highest academic achievement. All native speakers are bilingual (or multilingual).

Pronunciation guide
The Manx spelling system is quite different from either Irish or Scottish Gaelic, particularly the vowels and in the way it uses auxiliary letters. English speakers will find the Manx spelling system considerably easier than that of Irish or Scottish Gaelic.

Vowels

 * a â : (Short) Like "a" in "cat", (with circumflex) like "a" in "pale".
 * e ê : Like "e" in "bed", (with circumflex) like "ea" in "fear".
 * i î : Like "i" in "pin".
 * o ô : Like "o" in "hot", (with circumflex) like "oa" in "moat".
 * u : Like "a" in "cat" or "o" in "hot".
 * w : Like "u" in "put".
 * y : Like "u" in "hut" or "i" in "bird". The word y is pronounced like the "e" in "bed".

Consonants

 * b : Like "b" in "bat".
 * c : Like "c" in "cat".
 * ch : Like "ch" in "Bach".
 * d : Like "d" in "door".
 * f : Like "f" in "feet".
 * g : Like "g" in "get".
 * h : Like "h" in "hot".
 * l : Like "l" in "late".
 * m : Like "m" in "mud".
 * n : Like "n" in "no".
 * p : Like "p" in "park".
 * ph : Like "ph" in "philosopher".
 * r : Like "r" in "run" but slightly trilled.
 * s : Like "s" in "sat".
 * t : Like "t" in "trip".

Common digraphs

 * aa, ea, ai : Like "ea" in "fear".
 * ae, oi : Like "i" in "pin".
 * au, aw, ou, ow : Like "oo" in "food".
 * ay, ei : Like "e" in "bed".
 * ee, iy : Like "ee" in "feet".
 * eo : Like "ayo" in "mayonaise".
 * eu, iu, ew, iw : Like "you".
 * ia : Like "ia" in "victoria".
 * ie : Like "igh" in "high".
 * io : Like "yo" in "yoke".
 * oa, ua, wa : Like "wha" in "whack".
 * oe : Like "owe" in "mower".
 * oh : Like "oo" in "door".
 * oo : Like "oo" in "food".
 * ui, wi : Like "wi" in "with".
 * çh : Like "ch" in "cheese".
 * gh : Like "ch" in "bach".
 * lh, ll : Like "lj" in "ljubljana".
 * qu : Like "c" in "cat".
 * rr : Like "r" in "run" but slightly trilled.
 * sh : Like "sh" in "she".
 * ss : Like "ss" in "likeness".
 * th : Like "t" in "trip".

Common trigraphs

 * aie, eie, eue, oie : Like "ea" in "yeah".
 * aue, iwe, oue : Like "we" in "wet".
 * eau, eoi : Like "ai" in "air".
 * iau : Like "oo" in "food".
 * ieu, iou : Like "yew".
 * uiy : Like "we".
 * woa : Like "wha" in "whack".
 * çh : Like "ch" in "cheese".
 * gh, ght : Like "ch" in "bach".

Common tetragraph

 * iooa : Like "You what?" without the "t".

Basics

 * Hello. : Hoi bhoy!
 * Hello. (informal) : Hai.
 * How are you? : Kys t'ou? (?)
 * Fine, thank you. : Braew, gura mie ayd. ( )
 * What is your name? : Cre'n ennym t'ort? (?)
 * My name is ______. : Ta'n ennym orrym ______ . ( _____ .) (Formal): OR
 * Mish _____. (Informal)
 * OR
 * She _______ t'orrym.

 * Nice to meet you. : S'mie lhiam çheet dty whail. ( )
 * Please. : My sailt ( )
 * Thank you. : Gura mie ayd. ( )
 * You're welcome. : She dty vea. ( )
 * Yes. : Ta. ( )
 * No. : Cha nel. ( )
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : Hey bhoy ! / Ya! ( )
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : Gow my leshtal. ( )
 * I'm sorry. : S'olk lhiam. ( )
 * Goodbye : Slane. ( )
 * Goodbye (informal) : Bai. ( )
 * I can't speak Manx [well]. : Cha nel monney Gaelg aym ( [])
 * Do you speak English? : Vel Baarle ayd? (?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : Vel peiagh erbee aynshoh toiggal Baarle (?)
 * Help! : Cooin Lhiam (!)
 * Look out! : Er dty hwoaie! (!)
 * Good morning. : Moghrey mie!. ( )
 * Good evening. : Fastye mie. ( )
 * Good night. : Oie vie. ( )
 * Good night (to sleep) : Oie vie, caddill dy mie. ( )
 * I don't understand. : Cha nel mee toiggal. ( )
 * Where is the toilet? : C'raad ta'n premmee? ( )

Numbers
½ - lieh

0 - neunhee

1 - nane

2 - jees

3 - tree

4 - kiare

5 - queig

6 - shey

7 - shiaght

8 - hoght

9 - nuy

10 - jeih

11 - nane-jeig

12 - daa-yeig

20 - feed

21 - nane as feed

22 - jees as feed

30 - jeig as feed or treead

31 - nane-jeig as feed or nane as treead

32 - daa-yeig as feed or jees as treead

40 - daeed

41 - nane as daeed

42 - jees as daeed

50 - jeig as daeed or queigad

60 - tree feed or sheyad

61 - tree feed as nane

62 - tree feed as jees

70 - tree feed as jeih or shiagtad

80 - kiare feed or hoghtad

90 - kiare feed as jeig or nuyad

100 - keead

200 - daa cheead

1000 - tousane

5000 - queig tousane

title: Manx Gaelic phrasebook


text:
Manzanillo

Manzanillo is in Colima state in Mexico. Manzanillo makes a great getaway with world famous beaches, festivals with lots of local flavor and fabulous outdoor activities. Splash it up (grab a surf or boogie board), catch dinner (sport fishing) peek into a volcano or explore the deep blue sea.

Understand
The city has been referred to as the "sailfish capital of the world". Since 1957, it has hosted national and international fishing competitions, such as the Dorsey Tournament. In 2020, it was home to 160,000 people.

The city is well known internationally for deep-sea fishing, the green flash phenomenon during sunsets, and as the warm waters of the ocean. The city is a destination resort and has many hotels and self-contained resorts, particularly built on the De Santiago peninsula which juts out into the Pacific north of the city centre. Also at the north end of Manzanillo bay is the resort Las Hadas ("the fairies"), which is the most famous of the city's resorts. Manzanillo is a popular cruise ship port of call. Excellent swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving is found in Santiago Bay, a few miles north of the city where a cargo ship sank in a hurricane in 1959. Other wrecks and reefs plentiful with fish are scattered throughout the bay.

Manzanillo consists of two bays with crescent-shaped beaches, each about 6.5 km in length. Bahía de Manzanillo is closer to downtown and is the older tourist section. Bahía de Santiago, to the west, is the newer and more upscale area. The two are separated by the Santiago Peninsula. Ship channels are located at the southeast end of Bahía de Manzanillo where large cruise ships enter the port area.

Climate
The dry season, which is from November to May, has little precipitation, and temperatures tend to be cooler than in the wet season. The average temperature in March, the coolest month, is 24 °C (75 °F). The wet season, which runs from June to October, has warmer temperatures, averaging 28.3 °C (83 °F) in July, and humidity during this time is higher.

By plane

 * Aeromexico Connect: (Mexico City)
 * Alaska Airlines: (Los Angeles)
 * Mesa Airlines dba United Express: (Houston Bush Intercontinental)
 * Westjet': (seasonally from Calgary)
 * Westjet': (seasonally from Calgary)

Additional domestic & international connections are made in Mexico City. Additional international connections and to the U.S. are through Los Angeles and Houston depending on the airline you choose. There is no public transportation to/from the airport, so you'll have to hire a cab, shuttle, or rent a car.

The next nearest major airport for commercial flights from additional domestic & international destinations is at Puerto Vallarta International Airport, (4 hr) north. Most travelers would fly into Puerto Vallarta at a more competitive airfare and take a bus (from the nearby bus station) or rent a car and drive to Manzanillo.

By bus
Take the Rt 7 (Centro-Valle-Jardines Santiago-Valle-Vista del Mar) or 7-A (Centro-Valle-Sta Carolina) bus going south to get to downtown from the street in front of the bus station.

Eat

 * Café Coral Seccion Audiencia L-1, Peninsula de Santiago, Manzanillo +52 313 331-2200 Serving continental breakfast (05:00 - 07:00), breakfast buffet (07:00 - 11:00), lunch (13:00 - 17:00) and dinner (18:00 - 23:00). A warm, spacious and bright, buffet-style restaurant.

Sleep

 * The hotel where "10" was filmed was at Las Hadas. It's an exquisite hotel, worth the extra bit of money to stay at!
 * The hotel where "10" was filmed was at Las Hadas. It's an exquisite hotel, worth the extra bit of money to stay at!

Go next

 * La Manzanilla
 * Barra de Navidad
 * Tomatlán
 * San Patricio - Melaque

title: Manzanillo


text:
Manzanillo (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Manzanillo:

Cuba

 * Manzanillo (Cuba) - A city in Cuba.

Mexico

 * Manzanillo (Mexico) - A town in Mexico.

Panama

 * Manzanillo (Panama) - A seaport in Panama.

Costa Rica

 * Manzanillo (Costa Rica) - a village in the south-east of Costa Rica, on the Caribbean Sea coast

title: Manzanillo (disambiguation)


text:
Manzhouli

Manzhouli (满洲里; Mǎnzhōulǐ) is a city in Inner Mongolia Province, China.

Understand
Established in 1901 as a stop on the Trans-Manchurian Railway, which was being built at the time as a shortcut between the main line of the Trans-Siberian Railway and Vladivostok, Russia, it is now more like an international marketplace where Russians cross the border in search of cheap and portable items for selling back in the Motherland.

Manzhouli has more shopping malls than some American cities of comparable size. Look around, because you never know what you might see. It's a lot of fun.

Also, if you want to practice speaking Russian in China, this is the city to be in.

Although Manzhouli is a small city by Chinese standards, there is lots to do there. There are at least five Russian clubs, and the Chinese love to party at a club called Banana.

There are literally dozens of restaurants catering to Russians, and many of them have shows with traditional and modern Russian dancing and also Chinese acrobats.

Manzhouli also has lots of funny statues around town that people enjoy taking pictures with. There are statues of Santa Claus, hip hop dancers and two men carrying a keg of beer among many others. It is amazing to see.

By plane

Be ready for being chopped by taxi drivers if you arrive in evening. Trip to city center from airport is ¥80-100 for perhaps 10 km rides.

By train
Regular train service to other destinations in Manchuria. The Trans-Manchurian express stops once a week on its travels to and from Moscow and Beijing.
 * Beijing - takes about 30 hours
 * Hailar - takes about 3 hours
 * Harbin - takes about 13 hours
 * Qiqihar - takes about 11 hours

By bus
The bus station is at Yidao Street.

 * Zabaykalsk, Russia - takes about 2 hours including border formalities. Several buses run daily from Zabaykalsk, Russia to Manzhouli. The last bus from Zabaykalsk bus station (located near the train station) leaves 15.10 so it might be a good idea to arrive there earlier as Zabaykalsk is not probably a place where you are interested to stay overnight. Buses will arrive on city center of Manzhouli. About ₽100 must be paid at the Chinese side of the border. Almost no employee in Zabaykalsk bus station or official at either side of this border speaks English.
 * Hailar - takes about 3 h

Get around
There are plenty of taxis but you can walk everywhere you want to go in Manzhouli.

Buy
You can buy plenty of matroshka dolls. Also, many places sell coins from the former Soviet Union.

But honestly, you can buy almost anything your heart desires in Manzhouli. When you walk into a shop you never know just what you will find.

In addition to Russian trinkets, there are also many beautiful pictures of Genghis Khan, some painted on leather. You can also get a yurt keychain to remember your time in Inner Mongolia.

Manzhouli is also a place where the big, the tall and the fat can find clothing. Because so many Russian business people come here looking to purchase things there are lots of clothes for people who don't have the typical petite Chinese body. There is a wide range of quality and prices.

You can also find furry Russian style hats and beautiful fur coats in Manzhouli though it is not cheap for Chinese standard.

Eat
There are so many restaurants in Manzhouli, it is amazing. Chinese restaurants, Mongolian hot-pot restaurants, Russian restaurants.

Also, you will see men selling meat-on-a-stick, often mutton.

Naran is a Buryat restaurant near the train station, and it is highly recommended and affordable too.

Manzhouli also has two KFC restaurants. They have the best breakfast in town.

The Hotel Tourist has a great restaurant as well.

Shangri-La Hotel is the most expensive hotel in town and they also have quality food. Here you can find real American hamburgers and steaks for about ¥50.

Drink
There are dozens of bars and restaurants in Manzhouli.

Some of the top Russian bars are VIP Zona, Baikal, Marina 888 and Spa Port. The best Chinese club is Banana.

Beer and vodka are easy to find here.

There's also a Chinese/Mongolian drink called bai jiu. It has been described as a Chinese vodka. However, it's quite possibly stronger than vodka and the taste, well, you don't really care about the taste do you.

Manzhouli is just south of Siberia and it gets bitter cold. (Some) People like to drink really strong alcohol.

You will also want to make sure to try the Mongolian milk tea.

Sleep
Manzhouli literally has dozens of hotels. The cheaper hotels are in the Chinese part of town but you can find some good quality hotels in the Russian part of town as well. Prices vary greatly.

Splurge
The Shangri La Hotel opened in 2011 and advertises itself as a five star hotel.

There are also lots of fancy hotels for the Russian tourists.

Go next
Zabaykalsk, Russia

title: Manzhouli


text:
Manzini

Manzini is the second largest city in Eswatini (Swaziland) with a population 78,000. Its sobriquet is the Hub City it is a commercial, agriculture, and navigational centre of the country. A lot of people live in settlements around the urban centre, which may not always be the best for getting lost in.

By car
The MR3 highway connects Manzini with Mbabane and South Africa, but due to the central position of the city, nearly all roads lead to it.

Get around
One can get around Manzini by bus, kombi (local, 15-passenger minibuses) or taxi. Downtown Manzini is very small and one can walk form one end to the next in 15 minutes. Getting to the residential areas such as Fairview or Ngwane Park is trickier. There are kombis that service these areas but the availability of public transport depends on how rich the neighbourhood is. The richer suburbs have no use for public transport so it is unlikely that one would find a kombi from the city centre to such areas, in which case it is advisable to take a metered taxi (cab).

It is relatively cheap to travel around the city. The minibus taxis have no fair meters and they use fixed prices, so ask the driver before you get a ride how much it will cost, to avoid being swindled.

Do
Attend a trade or agricultural show if one is in town.

Buy
The Manzini Market and Mall are good places if you have a need to shop.

Eat
In the center of Manzini, there are a variety of options, including Chinese and Indian ones.

Sleep
Most of the better stays are up towards Ezulwini Valley where the Mantenga Nature Reserve and Cultural Village and other big attractions are, heading towards Mbabane.

Go next

 * Hlane Royal National Park
 * Lobamba

title: Manzini


text:
Maoming

Maoming (茂名; Màomíng) is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong Province in China. It also administers the nearby county-level cities of Xinyi (信宜), Gaozhou (高州) and Huazhou (化州).

Understand
One of the most populous and most developing cities in the People's Republic of China.

Get in
You can take the train in, and the railroad out of Maoming leads to Guangzhou to Zhanjiang. You can also take buses to Maoming from other areas. By air, you can usually come down from Zhanjiang Airport and take a train or bus back to Maoming.

Get around
There are plenty of intercity buses in Maoming to get you to everywhere.

Eat
Maoming Stewed Dishes（茂名炖品）: Renowned for its abundant seafood, stews in Maoming typically feature seafood as the main ingredient. Popular choices include stews like Sea Cucumber with Pigeon and Chicken Stewed with Dried Scallop, celebrated for their delicious flavors and nourishing qualities.

Pigeon Stewed with Sea Cucumber（海参炖鸽）: This dish typically uses fresh sea cucumber and pigeon meat, employing a stewing method to preserve the delightful texture of the ingredients. Slow-cooking enhances the flavors.

Chicken Stewed with Dried Scallop（瑶柱炖鸡）: Featuring dried scallops and chicken as primary ingredients, this dish is stewed to combine the umami taste of dried scallops with the tender texture of chicken, resulting in a delicious stewed dish.

title: Maoming


text:
Maori

The Maori or Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand. Maori can refer to:

 * Maori culture
 * Māori phrasebook, the language of the Maori people

title: Maori


text:
Māori phrasebook

The Māori language (te reo Māori) is cherished by the indigenous Māori people of New Zealand as a treasure (taonga) and many Pākehā (New Zealanders of "European" descent) are now learning it. Although it is an official language of New Zealand, along with English and New Zealand Sign Language, only 3.5% of New Zealanders (and only 21% of ethnic Māori) can conduct a conversation in Māori. Virtually all indigenous Māori speakers are bilingual and converse in English at least equally competently. Many Māori Australians also speak the Māori language.

Māori is a Polynesian language, and has many cognates with other Polynesian languages such as Hawaiian, Tongan and Samoan. A number of Māori words have been adopted into everyday New Zealand conversation, even while speaking English, and many place names are of Māori origin. Being able to correctly pronounce Māori words is a valued skill since incorrectly pronounced Māori sounds like fingernails scratching on a blackboard and will immediately identify you as a visitor to the country (or a culturally ignorant local). Even a tolerable and halting attempt at the correct pronunciation is better than a poor guess – your effort to get it right will be appreciated and accepted.

As you might expect, one hundred fifty years ago, accents, vocabularies and word constructions were as variegated as the differences between Glaswegian and Cockney Englishes are today. With many people now having lost their localisations as well as their fluency, new learners are learning less localised and more homogeneous versions.

Māori has a close relationship with the New Zealand variant of English, with many consonants and vowels sharing the same pronunciation. Many English loanwords are also present in Māori for post-European settlement concepts, such as pirihimana (police), tāra (dollar), iparangi (internet), kangarū (kangaroo), Ahitereiria (Australia), Poihākena (Sydney) and Poipiripi (Melbourne).

An exception to this process is the native language of the Cook Islands, a completely self governing, tropical outlier of the Realm of New Zealand. Here the language is almost as different from the registers spoken in the North and South islands of New Zealand as Chaucerian English is from Californian. That said, Cook Islanders seem to find it easier to understand "mainland" Māori than the other way around.

Pronunciation guide
The New Zealand Māori language is relatively simple to pronounce.

Vowels
There are five vowel sounds, each with a long and short form:
 * a : like strut
 * ā: like in palm
 * e: like dress
 * ē: longer version of e; roughly like ea in pear
 * i: like happy
 * ī: like fleece
 * o: a shorter version of ō
 * ō: like (non-rhotic) north
 * u: a shorter version of ū; roughly like in put
 * ū: like goose

There are several vowel blends: ae, ai (as in pie), ao (as in mouth), au (as in goat), ei (as in face), oi (as in choice), oe, and ou

In written Māori, the long vowels are often denoted by macrons (bars over the letters). Sometimes you will see words where a vowel letter is repeated, e.g. the Māori name for Inland Revenue is Te Tari Taake (you can probably guess why they don't spell it Te Tari Tāke). This may indicate that the vowel is pronounced "long", but modern usage is to use the macron when possible.

Thus Māori, Maaori and Maori would all represent the same word; although you will rarely see it spelled "Maaori". You may occasionally see long vowels with a diaeresis ("Mäori") or other marks instead of a macron due to typesetting limitations.

Macrons have tended not to be written when a Māori word has been a commonly used word by people speaking English (including with the word Māori), and macrons have generally not appeared on direction signs or maps; however, as more people become aware of the correct pronunciation of various Māori words and place names, and of the instructive guidance that macrons provide by indicating how words should be pronounced, the use of macrons is increasing in New Zealand society, including in official documents. Some road direction signs for Taupō (both the town and the lake) are now written as Taupō; whereas, prior to 2008, the macron was always missing.

Consonants
There are ten consonants in Māori:

 * h:
 * k:
 * m:
 * n:
 * p:
 * r:
 * t:
 * w:
 * wh:
 * ng:

Syllables
Māori words are broken into syllables which end with a vowel. Place names often consist of morphemes, or words which are combined to give a larger word, e.g. wai (water) and roa (long) are combined to give Wairoa. Try to recognise these morphemes (see the list of geographic expressions below) and pronounce the name by breaking it into its components.

For example:
 * Akatarawa : is said A ka ta ra wa
 * Māori : is said Maao-ri (Remember to have your tongue forward when you say the r, so that you make the flap sound).
 * Paraparaumu : is said Pa-ra-pa-rau-mu (commonly mispronounced Pa-ra-pa-ra-u-mu)
 * Whangarei : is said Fa nga rei (Fa nga ray)

Grammar
Māori word root combinations tend to have a major root subject followed by qualifier suffixes. This means a literal translation from Māori to English produces a lot of transposed word combinations.

For example:
 * Rotorua → roto "lake" + rua "two" = "two lakes" (or perhaps second lake, as Ihenga discovered Rotoiti first).
 * kaimoana → kai "food" + moana "sea" = "seafood".
 * tangata pūhuruhuru → tangata "person" + pūhuruhuru "hairy" = "hairy person" (from Te Rauparaha's Ka Mate haka, one of two used by the All Blacks rugby team)

Māori pronouns have singular, dual and plural forms. Therefore pronouns vary depending on whether they refer to one, two, or three or more people:

 * Kei te pai ahau. → I am fine. (one person)
 * Kei te pai māua. → We are fine. (two people)
 * Kei te pai mātou. → We are fine. (three or more people)

Phrase list
An ordinary traveller will not need to resort to speaking Māori to make themselves understood. However an understanding of Māori words and their meanings will lead to an appreciation of the culture and enhance the travel experience.

Māori take meetings and greetings seriously. Visitors and honoured guests will often be welcomed in a formal ceremony known as a pōwhiri. While such ceremonies generally take place on a marae, it has become accepted practice that such ceremonies may also take place at conferences, important meetings, and similar ceremonial occasions. On such formal occasions, protocol will normally mean that a representative or adviser who can speak Māori will be assigned to the visitors' party to assist and explain what is happening and may formally speak (whaikorero) to introduce the visitors.

 * Donation : Koha

Basics

 * Hello (to one person) : Tēnā koe (Teh-NAH kweh)
 * Hello (to two people) : Tēnā kōrua (Teh-NAH KAW-roo-ah)
 * Hello (to a group of three or more) : Tēnā koutou (Teh-NAH koh-toh)
 * Hello (informal) : Kia ora (KEE aw-rah)
 * Welcome: Nau mai / Haere mai (HIGH-reh MIGH)
 * (often used together, e.g. Nau mai, haere mai ki Aotearoa. "Welcome to New Zealand".)

 * How are you? : Kei te pēhea koe?
 * (Kei te pēhea kōrua? to two people, Kei te pēhea koutou? to three or more people)

 * Fine, thank you : Kei te pai ahau.
 * What is your name? : Ko wai tō ingoa?
 * My name is ______ : Ko ______ tōku ingoa.
 * Please : koa (Homai koa he kaputi = Give me a cup of tea, please )
 * Thank you : kia ora
 * Yes : āe
 * No : kāore; kāo
 * Goodbye (to the person staying) : E noho rā (Eh naw-haw RAH)
 * Goodbye (to the person going) : Haere rā (HIGH-reh RAH)
 * Goodbye (informal) : Hei konei rā
 * Do you speak English? : Kei te kōrero reo Pākehā koe?
 * Good morning. : Ata mārie
 * Good afternoon. : Ahiahi mārie
 * Good night. : Pō mārie
 * I don't understand: Kaore au i te orotau.
 * Where is the toilet? : Kei hea te wharepaku?

Numbers

 * 1 : tahi (tah-hee)
 * 2 : rua (roo-ah)
 * 3 : toru (taw-roo)
 * 4 : whā (fah)
 * 5 : rima (ree-ma)
 * 6 : ono (o-naw)
 * 7 : whitu (fih-too)
 * 8 : waru (wah-roo)
 * 9 : iwa (ee-wah)
 * 10 : tekau (teh-koh)
 * 11 : tekau ma tahi
 * 12 : tekau ma rua
 * 13 : tekau ma toru
 * 14 : tekau ma whā
 * 15 : tekau ma rima
 * 16 : tekau ma ono
 * 17 : tekau ma whitu
 * 18 : tekau ma waru
 * 19 : tekau ma iwa
 * 20 : rua tekau
 * 21 : rua tekau ma taki
 * 22 : rua tekau ma rua
 * 23 : rua tekau ma toru
 * 30 : toru tekau
 * 40 : whā tekau
 * 50 : rima tekau
 * 60 : ono tekau
 * 70 : whitu tekau
 * 80 : waru tekau
 * 90 : iwa tekau
 * 100 : kotahi rau
 * 200 : rua rau
 * 300 : toru rau
 * 1000 : kotahi mano
 * 2000 : rua mano
 * 1,000,000 : kotahi miriona
 * 1,000,000,000 : kotahi piriona

Time

 * morning : ata
 * afternoon : ahiahi
 * night : maruāpō

Clock time

 * one o'clock AM : kotahi karaka i te ata
 * two o'clock AM : rua karaka i te ata
 * midday: poupoutanga o te rā
 * one o'clock PM : kotahi karaka i te ahiahi
 * two o'clock PM : rua karaka i te ahiahi

Duration

 * _____ day(s) : _____ rā
 * _____ week(s) : _____ wiki
 * _____ month(s) : _____ marama
 * _____ year(s) : _____ tau

Days

 * today : tēnei rā
 * yesterday : tērā rā
 * tomorrow : āpōpō

 * Monday : Rāhina / Mane
 * Tuesday : Rātū / Turei
 * Wednesday : Rāapa / Wenerei
 * Thursday : Rāpare / Taite
 * Friday : Rāmere / Paraire
 * Saturday : Rāhoroi / Hatarei
 * Sunday : Rātapu / Wiki

Months

 * January : Kohitātea / Hanuere
 * February : Hui-tanguru / Pēpuere
 * March : Poutū-te-rangi / Maehe
 * April : Pāenga-whāwhā / Āperira
 * May : Haratua / Mei
 * June : Pīpiri / Hune
 * July : Hōngongoi / Hūrae
 * August : Here-turi-kōkā / Ākuhata
 * September : Mahuru / Hepetema
 * October : Whiringa-ā-nuku / Ōketopa
 * November : Whiringa-ā-rangi / Noema
 * December : Hakihea / Tīhema

Writing times and dates
Time and dates in Māori follow the same order as New Zealand English, with the date first, the month second, and the year last.

Colours

 * black : pango
 * white : mā
 * grey : kiwikiwi
 * red : whero
 * blue : kikorangi
 * yellow : kōwhai
 * green : kākāriki
 * orange: parakaraka
 * purple : tawa
 * brown : pākākā

Directions

 * Where is _____? : Kei hea _____?
 * ... the airport? : te taunga rererangi?
 * ... the train station? : te teihana rerewē?
 * ... the bus station? : te teihana pahi?

 * left : mauī
 * right : katau / matau
 * north : raki; tokerau
 * south : tonga
 * east : rāwhiti
 * west : hauāuru; uru

Eating and drinking
(careful with the vowel length - He kaimānga ahau means "I'm an invalid"!)
 * I'm a vegetarian. : He kaimanga ahau.
 * I don't eat pork. : Kaore he mīti poaka i te kai.
 * I don't eat beef. : Kaore he mīti kau i te kai.
 * breakfast : parakuihi
 * lunch : tina
 * dinner : hapa
 * I want _____. : He _____ aku hiahia.
 * chicken : mīti heihei
 * beef : mīti kau
 * fish : ika
 * ham : poaka whakapaoa
 * sausages : tōtiti
 * cheese : tīhi
 * eggs : huamanu / hēki
 * salad : huamata
 * (fresh) vegetables : huawhenua
 * (fresh) fruit : hua rākau
 * bread : parāoa
 * toast : tōhi
 * rice : raihi
 * beans : pīni
 * salt : tote
 * black pepper : pepa
 * sugar : huka
 * butter : pata
 * One (two) beer, please : Homai koa (e rua) he pia.
 * A cup of tea, please: Homai koa he kaputī.
 * wine (red/white): wāina (whero/mā)
 * coffee : kawhe
 * orange juice : wai ārani
 * milk : waiū / miraka
 * water : wai

Shopping

 * How much is it? : He aha te utu?
 * dollar : tāra
 * cent : hēneti

Place names

 * New Zealand : Aotearoa ("long white cloud")
 * North Island : Te Ika-a-Māui ("the fish of Māui")
 * South Island : Te Waipounamu ("the greenstone (jade) waters")'
 * Auckland : Tāmaki-makau-rau ("Tāmaki of a thousand lovers")
 * Hamilton : Kirikiriroa ("long stretch of gravel")
 * Rotorua : Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamamoe ("the second great lake of Kahumatamamoe")
 * Wellington : Te Whanganui-a-Tara ("the great harbour of Tara"); Te Upoko-o-te-Ika ("the head of the fish")
 * Christchurch : Ōtautahi ("of Tautahi")
 * Mount Cook : Aoraki ("cloud piercer")
 * Milford Sound : Piopiotahi ("one piopio [New Zealand thrush]")
 * Stewart Island : Rakiura ("glowing skies")
 * Australia : Ahitereiria ("Australia")
 * Sydney: Poihākena ("Port Jackson")
 * Melbourne: Poipiripi ("Port Philip")

Glossary of Māori geographical terms translated into English
Knowing a little about these terms will help you to both pronounce the name and understand what it means.

 * ana : cave
 * awa : river, channel
 * hau : wind
 * iti : small
 * kai : food; however, if prefixing a verb, it's the agentive modifier (equivalent to English -er or -ist, e.g. mahi "to work", kaimahi "worker")
 * manga : stream (e.g. Mangawhio: in South Taranaki = blue duck stream)
 * maunga : mountain
 * moana : sea, large lake (e.g. Waikaremoana: in the western Hawke's Bay region = sea of rippling water)
 * motu : island
 * nga : the (plural form)
 * nui : big, great
 * one : beach, sand, soil
 * kohatu : rock
 * papa : flat
 * poto : short
 * puke : hill (e.g. Te Puke: in the Bay of Plenty region = the hill)
 * rangi : sky, heavens
 * roa : long
 * roto : lake (e.g. Rotoiti: in the Bay of Plenty region = small lake)
 * tai : tide, sea
 * tangi : weep, cry
 * tapu : sacred
 * tara : peak, ray of sunshine
 * te : the (singular form)
 * toka : rock
 * wera : burning, burnt
 * whanga : bay, harbour (e.g. Whanganui = big harbour)
 * whenua : land

Many place names have been made tautological by Europeans adding a word which is already contained in the Māori name (example: Mount Maunganui = "Mount big mountain"). However, there has been a trend for New Zealand English speakers to drop the English geographic qualifier and refer to many geographic features by their Māori names alone. Thus, Mount Ruapehu is often referred to simply as Ruapehu. In some cases, there has been a reversion to Māori names and outdated travel information may only use the old name. For example, Mount Egmont is now almost universally called Taranaki or Mount Taranaki and Mount Cook is now officially called Aoraki/Mount Cook; these are the original Māori names. In other cases the Māori name is followed by a pluralising s where the omitted English geographic term was plural. So the Rimutakas is used in place of the Rimutaka ranges. In conversation you may hear phrases like the Waikato or the Manawatu. In these cases the speaker is talking about either the river of that name or a district or region. For example, the Waikato will refer to either the Waikato river or the Waikato region, while Waikato (without the) would probably refer to the region, though this may need to be inferred from the context.

Learning more
"Police are on the lookout for a man masquerading as a Māori language teacher. His students became suspicious when he said the Māori word for food was "takeaway""

- Billy T. James (1948-91), Māori entertainer and comedian

Māori is taught in many places around New Zealand, often as a night class. Ask at the local information centre or citizens advice bureau. The Māori Language Commission also has a list of course providers. There are also Māori television channels that you can watch to improve your listening skills.

title: Māori phrasebook


text:
Maple Canyon

Maple Canyon in Central Utah is one of the nation's most unique rock climbing areas. While most of central Utah's high country is covered with aspens and pines, Maple Canyon is heavily wooded with maples.

By car
Maple Canyon is approximately 1.5 hours from Salt Lake City. To get to Maple Canyon, Take I-15 Exit 225 at Nephi. Go east on Highway 132 to Fountain Green. On the south end of Fountain Green there is a road sign directing you to the canyon, located several miles to the southwest.

You can also get to Maple Canyon by heading West from the town of Moroni.

Get around
A single maintained gravel road leads into the canyon. 4x4 vehicles are not necessary to get to the camping area or the parking areas for the climbing walls. Beyond the areas that most people access (approximately 4 miles up the road), the road is not maintained and becomes quite rough. Beyond that, once you are inside the canyon you'll be hiking a small trail through the canyon branches.

See

 * Maple Canyon's most striking formation is Box Canyon, a dead-end gorge 500-700 feet deep, half a mile long, and so narrow in places a person can touch both walls at the same time.

Do

 * Rock Climbing - Climbers from around the world come to test their skills on Maple Canyon's embedded cobblestone cliffs. On any given weekend climbers of all abilities, ranging from novice to expert, can be seen dangling from the rocks like spiders on man-made silk. A 60 m rope and 16 draws will be plenty for the area that holds routes ranging from 5.4 to 5.14c (Yosemite decimal system).  A guide book is available for the area but can be difficult to find. Several hike trails start from the campground, offers great lookouts and there is a wonderful arch part way up the Loop trail.  Don't try going past the arch as it gets dangerous.  You can do some bushwacking and explore but be careful, these mountains are also filled with Mountain Lions.  The Jeep trail past the campground leads north to Box Canyon or South to Wales Canyon or even west to Levan and is a fun place to tour on a four wheeler or motorcycle.  South of the Campground there are some petroglyphs low on the wall and have been protected by a fence.

Buy
For purchases beyond gas and small items, head to Ephraim, approximately 15 minutes south, where you can find whatever you need including a Wal-Mart Supercenter. (Most people that camp use Ephraim as place to shop, shower (available at Snow College) and access the Internet (free Wi-Fi access at the library).

The closest full service US Post Office is in Fountain Green.

Eat
There are no food services with Maple Canyon. If you're hungry and didn't pack it in, head to nearby Moroni, Mount Pleasant, or Ephraim.

Drink
The closest state liquor store is in Ephraim, south of Maple Canyon.

Sleep
The US Forest Service operates a small campground within the canyon. Amenities include pit toilets, picnic tables and campfire rings. There are approximately ten sites (for tents or small trailers (i.e. no pull-through sites) and they fill up quickly on the weekends in the summer months. The sites are quite nice, usually nestled within the trees against the canyon wall.  All sites are within walking distance to the climbing areas.

Commercial campgrounds, such as Burns Bros. RV Campground (435) 445-3303, are also located outside of the canyon, approximately 1.2 miles south of Fountain Green on Highway 132.

title: Maple Canyon


text:
Maple Ridge

Maple Ridge is a city of about 82,000 people (2016) on the north shore of the Fraser River in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. Haney, an eastern district of Maple Ridge, has a century-long history as a commercial centre.

Understand
Maple Ridge is made up of several different historical areas: Albion, Haney (downtown), Iron Mountain, Kanaka Creek, Port Hammond, Ruskin, Silver Valley, Thornhill, Webster's Corners, Whonnock, and Yennadon. Some of these areas are identified with a cultural group. For instance, Albion and Webster's Corner are represented by the many Finnish families that settled in the area. While Port Hammond is known for its small cottage-like mill houses built by the local mill to house its workers. Ruskin is the location of a community hall of the Sons of Norway, although the area was founded by English followers of John Ruskin. Kanaka Creek began was a community for Kanaka employees of Fort Langley.

Port Haney, on the Fraser River to the southwest of downtown Haney, is the site of the West Coast Express commuter rail station. It is a heritage district created to protect some of the remaining buildings from earlier times. In addition to buildings already on-site when this was the steamboat landing and the Canadian Pacific Railway station, other heritage buildings from around the City of Maple Ridge were relocated to Port Haney to preserve them and enhance the heritage flavour of the location. Early settlers in Maple Ridge engaged in forestry and agriculture. Forestry companies continue to be the largest private-sector employers in the district. They include companies that manufacture building materials, yachts and poles. The soil and climate are not well-suited to the production of traditional food crops, but berry crops, nurseries and horse breeding are profitable sectors.

The City of Maple Ridge has become a popular location for feature films and television series. On almost any day there is a film or TV crew working in the city. The Ridge Film Studios is in an old retail space in the downtown and serves as a set location for episodic television programs. Maple Ridge's film roots go back to the 1970s when scenes for the feature film Rambo were shot here. Over time the city has become a background for a number of films and TV series including The X-Files, Bordertown, Smallville, Bird on a Wire, We're No Angels, Percy Jackson & the Lightening Thief, and Stargate SG-1.

Get in
See Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat.

By car
Maple Ridge lies along Highway 7 and can be accessed from the west via Pitt Meadows or from the east via Mission. From Highway 1, you can take the 176th St. and 192nd St. (eastbound only) exits in Surrey, or the 200th St. exit in Langley and cross the Golden Ears Bridge into Maple Ridge.

By air
From Vancouver or its airport, expect at least a one-hour commute by car during off peak hours, or over two hours by bus.

The Pitt Meadows Regional Airport is the only Fraser Valley airport (other than water airports) on the Fraser River's north side. It is 2.5 km (1.6 mi) east of the confluence of the Pitt and Fraser rivers, and serves the area north of the Fraser River from Mission up to and including Vancouver.

Abbotsford International Airport, which is 40 km (25 mi) away in Abbotsford, offers flights daily throughout Canada and to the Caribbean and the United States.

Get around
TransLink's bus services in Maple Ridge are slim but sufficient. The 701 and 791 buses run along Dewdney Trunk Road and will take you to the main spots in town. From there community shuttles can take you the rest of the way, but they run infrequently.

There are also a few cab companies based in Maple Ridge.

By public transit
Passengers can pay for fares using Compass Cards ($6 refundable deposit), Compass Tickets, or tap-to-pay using contactless credit cards (only American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or mobile wallets. Passengers using Compass Cards and Compass Tickets pay discounted fares. Passengers can transfer for up to 90 minutes, except if taking West Coast Express, in which case they can transfer for up to 120 minutes. On bus and HandyDART, passengers can also pay in cash, but in that case will not receive change and are not eligible for transfers. Zone based fares apply between Monday and Friday for trips starting before 6:30 pm, if travel involves SkyTrain or SeaBus. Outside of those hours or for travel on only bus or HandyDART, a single zone rate applies. If traveling by West Coast Express, a higher cost zone based fare system applies regardless of time of travel. Children 12 and under can ride for free. People aged 13 to 18, and 65 and older pay discounted concession fares.

In Maple Ridge, buses and the West Coast Express are available. Haney Place Exchange is the main bus exchange, with every bus line in Maple Ridge stopping here at some point along its route. The standard bus fare is. Bus service is available from Maple Ridge directly to Coquitlam, Langley, and Port Coquitlam.

See
There isn't much to see in Maple Ridge. Probably the biggest attraction is a large clock with a steel horse monument on top, outside City Hall on Dewdney Trunk Road. In the past, its limbs would move every 15 minutes to make the horse stand up on its hind legs, but apparently it doesn't even do that anymore.

Maple Ridge is the home of the Maple Ridge Concert Band, a community concert band.

Do
Maple Ridge is pretty good for walking and hiking: Other activities include:
 * There are several kilometres worth of dykes to the north, along the Alouette River and other smaller streams and sloughs.
 * There are several kilometres worth of dykes to the north, along the Alouette River and other smaller streams and sloughs.
 * Go horseback riding at one of the many equestrian centres in Maple Ridge. The town prides itself as "horse country" and it is not uncommon to see people riding horses on the dykes, the trails at Golden Ears Park, or even on the roads.
 * Festivals and annual parades: the Santa Claus Parade & Christmas in the Park, Earth Day celebrations in Memorial Peace Park, Canada Day in Memorial Peace Park, GETI Fest in Memorial Peace Park, AdStock Music Festival in Memorial Peace Park, Aboriginal Day celebrations in Memorial Peace Park, the Celebrate the Night Halloween & Fireworks event at Memorial Peace Park, the Caribbean Festival at the Albion Fairgrounds and the one of the longest running agricultural fairs in BC, Country Fest at the fairgrounds.
 * One of the largest Remembrance Day celebrations in the Lower Mainland each November 11 at Memorial Peace Park. The event is hosted by the Royal Canadian legion Branch #88 and boasts annual attendance of over 2000 local residents for the parade of veterans and first responders and moving Cenotaph ceremony.
 * One of the largest Remembrance Day celebrations in the Lower Mainland each November 11 at Memorial Peace Park. The event is hosted by the Royal Canadian legion Branch #88 and boasts annual attendance of over 2000 local residents for the parade of veterans and first responders and moving Cenotaph ceremony.

Buy
Maple Ridge has embraced its reputation as being a cheaper place to live, suitable for seniors and lower income families. As such, there are plenty of locally owned shops offering decent quality products for good prices, as well as plenty of discount and dollar stores. If you're looking for high-end retail, Maple Ridge is definitely not the place to be.
 * Check out some of the locally owned shops in the downtown core, within walking distance of Haney Place Mall.
 * The Haney Farmers Market runs every Saturday from 9AM until 2PM starting in May through to October at Memorial Peace Park.
 * The Haney Farmers Market runs every Saturday from 9AM until 2PM starting in May through to October at Memorial Peace Park.

Drink
There are plenty of good bars and pubs in Maple Ridge. Generally you will not have trouble finding a seat - unless it is Friday or Saturday and the Vancouver Canucks are playing.

Connect
The area around Highway 224 and Lougheed is friendly although a bit backward in a lot of ways. There is a problem with an abundance of drug users, drunks, beggars, etc. Look where you are going and common sense applies.

title: Maple Ridge


text:
Maplewood

There is more than one place called Maplewood:

United States of America

 * Maplewood (Indiana) — A town in Indiana.
 * Maplewood (Minnesota) — A town in Minnesota.
 * Maplewood State Park — A state park in Minnesota.
 * Maplewood (Missouri) — A town in Missouri.
 * Maplewood (New Jersey) — A town in New Jersey.
 * Maplewood (Ohio) — A town in Ohio.

title: Maplewood


text:
Maplewood (New Jersey)

Maplewood  is a town in Essex County.

Understand
Maplewood is a bedroom community of Manhattan located in Essex County. Known for its thriving economy and beautiful small village, this is a place you'll definitely want to stop by if you have the opportunity. Maplewood Village, in the center of town, is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.

Get in
There are multiple ways to get to Maplewood.

By train
Maplewood Station is on Maplewood Ave, in Maplewood’s downtown business district. It is served by the Morris and Essex Line, with NJ Transit trains coming from New York City's Penn Station and Hoboken.

By car
The most common exit to Maplewood is exit 50B on Interstate 78. This can be reached from the Garden State Parkway and Interstate 95 (New Jersey Turnpike).

Get around
There are two commercial districts in Maplewood:
 * "The Village" is to the immediate north of the railroad station with stores and restaurants along the Maplewood Avenue strip and some side streets.
 * Springfield Avenue, a thoroughfare that runs from Springfield, NJ to Newark and includes in the Maplewood section stores and restaurants.

Do

 * Memorial Park, A large park with multiple sports fields, playgrounds, ponds and rivers located just outside of the business district. Many people come to this park on nice days to enjoy the weather, have picnics, walk dogs, etc.  The park hosts many different events on days such as the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, etc.  Including Maplewoodstock, an annual two-day town event.  There is no fee to enter the park.

Buy
Maplewood Village has a no-franchise ordinance.

Maplewood is known for its many small boutiques, especially in Maplewood Village, along Maplewood Avenue. These stores are unique to the town and sell merchandise that usually cannot be purchased in malls. Sweatshirts, t-shirts, shorts etc., can be purchased at the train station, 145 Dunnell Rd. and at No. 165, a local shop in the Village.

Branching off from Maplewood Ave. are many quaint shops, such as:

 * Hopscotch, a great clothing store for gifts for children from infants to elementary schoolers. Stop by for some great stuff, plus some toys for children to play with while you're there!
 * Hopscotch, a great clothing store for gifts for children from infants to elementary schoolers. Stop by for some great stuff, plus some toys for children to play with while you're there!

Eat

 * Coda, 177 Maplewood Ave., offering a wide variety of excellent foods.
 * Coda, 177 Maplewood Ave., offering a wide variety of excellent foods.

Go next

 * New York City, a thirty-minute drive or train ride away
 * Short Hills, a five-minute drive, home of the Short Hills Mall
 * Newark, a twenty-minute drive or train ride, is home to many different restaurants, especially in the Ironbound section, which are well known in the area
 * Sandy Hook, a thirty-minute drive or train ride, is the closest “Jersey Shore” beach to Maplewood

title: Maplewood (New Jersey)