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Aqaba

Aqaba (العقبة al-ʿAqabah) is Jordan's only port city. It is on the Gulf of Aqaba in the extreme south of the country, adjacent to Eilat in Israel.

Understand
Aqaba is Jordan's window on the Red Sea. Historically the same city as Eilat on the Israeli side of the border, plans for a shared international airport and other forms of cooperation have cooled down in the past few years during a period of political tension. Aqaba has seen a lot of development. This has improved the infrastructure and facilities. Be prepared for road maps to be incorrect or out of date.

Get in
When entering Jordan in Aqaba you may be entitled to a free visa. Further details you can find in the Jordan article.

By bus
The Desert Highway terminates in Aqaba. The is about 300 m east of the mosque. There are frequent buses to Amman and other points along the highway. The fare is 10 JD each way to/from Amman with well-known transport companies (e.g. Jett).

By car
Amman to Aqaba is about 350 km using the Desert Highway. It will take about 4 hr to travel this distance at a reasonable speed. Service/fuel stops are not very frequent on this road.

There is a customs checkpoint at the border of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone. Officers will probably check the trunk of your car, but the checks are usually quick for private cars and taxis.

By taxi
Minibus rental with driver from Petra costs 45 JD and it takes about 2 hr to get from Petra to Aqaba.

Coming from the Israeli border, you will probably want to take the border taxi into town and switch to another taxi to continue on, especially if your hotel is in the South Beach resort area. From Aqaba city, taxi prices are lower than from the border.

Also see the note on the Aqaba border taxi Mafia below.

By plane

Royal Jordanian operates twice daily between Amman and Aqaba, one in the morning and one in the evening. Duration of the flight is approximately one hour and costs around 50 JD + tax one-way. If there are two or more of you, it may be cheaper to take a taxi, especially once you factor in getting to and from the airport at each end.

Easyjet flies twice weekly from London, Milan, Geneva and Berlin during the winter months, whilst Ryanair operates twice weekly from Cologne, Athens, Milan and Rome, also on a winter schedule. Turkish Airlines flies year-round to Istanbul Airport. Various smaller European airlines operate seasonal holiday charter flights as well.

Note there is no public transport to and from the airport. To get a taxi that is cheaper than at the airport you can walk to the Jordan Valley Highway. That's how the locals do it. At the police checkpoint of the airport you may have to show your passport and answer where you are walking to.

Also you could hitchhike from the Jordan Valley Highway to Aqaba. Depending on the driver it may be for free or cost 1-2 JD. Agree on the price before you enter the car.

Most larger hotels and dive operators can arrange airport transfers and hire-cars. Taxis in the airport are available for a fixed price. There is a big sign that shows you the prices.

An Israeli company offers a so-called "Aqaba airport shuttle" service through its website, which appears to be a scam, according to numerous online reviews on a number of different websites.

Given the relatively painless (for the area at least) border crossing process and the closeness of Eilat, it is also feasible to fly into Ramon Airport, which is served by the likes of Ryanair. The former Ovda and Eilat city airports have both closed. To cross the border, you need to pay the Israeli departure tax.

From other countries
for details on getting in from other countries and the associated visa requirements.

Israel
If you are coming from Eilat, Israel, you will cross through the Yitzhak Rabin Terminal. It is open Sunday-Thursday from 06:30–20:00 and Friday-Saturday from 08:00–20:00, except for Yom Kippur and the Muslim New Year. Taxi from Eilat centre to the border is ₪35 (Feb 2014). The fee to exit Israel is ₪102 plus a processing fee of ₪5 – you can pay with credit card.

If you are planning to come to Aqaba directly from northern Israel (e.g. from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Be'er Sheva) by catching an Egged bus to Eilat, or from Eilat by hopping on any intercity bus going up north, or on any of the buses going to Ramon airport, you should ask the driver to let you off at "Rabin Border Crossing / Road 90 junction", which is the second last stop before the bus station in Eilat, and then walk east to the border checkpoint (less than 1 km on auto route 109).

After crossing the border, take a taxi from the taxi cartel (see below) for 11 JD, or just walk out. If the bird observatory to the right is open, walk straight through until the road with the fence and continue through the treatment plant further on another deserted road until you reach the housing area. From here, taxis are very cheap. If the bird observatory is closed, go through the sandy desert area to the right after it around the treatment plant until the road north of the new golf course, resort and oasis. It is best to have a map or GPS. If you get bothered by the taxi mafia, just keep walking, don't talk. The other way around is easier: either you walk through the treatment plant or cross through the sandy desert area straight north just before the treatment plant. If you get a taxi from the city for 5 JD, it is fine. 13 JD is way too much. In any case, if you feel you have been bothered, complain to the Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities.

Egypt
Ferries run regularly from Aqaba across to Nuweiba on Egypt's Sinai peninsula, bypassing Israel and the sometimes complicated border arrangements. Generally, there is no visa fee for entering Jordan through Aqaba since it is a part of the free trade zone. The line to Nuweiba is operated by ABMaritime; see their website for the timetable and current prices.

Also ferries from Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh are available. There is more information about the boat crossing in the itinerary Ferries in The Red Sea.

By taxi
Taxis are easily available in the city. A ride within town should cost no more than 2 JD. A ride outside town (to a beach near by or to any border crossings) costs around 5 JD. However, if your hotel calls you a taxi, you may end up paying double for it as they receive a kickback (this is especially true if you are staying on the South Beach).

While taxis are yellow all around Jordan, Aqaba taxis have been painted green and blue: the logo colours of Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ).

When negotiating the price of a taxi, make sure to determine whether the final cost is the total or "per-person" price, as you may otherwise receive a surprise at the end of the ride.

App-based taxies, such as the regional Careem or Uber, are not available within the city. You will have to use the local taxis.

By bus
Local minibuses connect residential areas with downtown. The fare is 17 piasters (0.17 JD) regardless of the length of the journey. Passengers can get on and off at any point of the route.

The central bus station is in front of the police station in King Talal street, less than 10 min walk from city centre (Ayla Square, Al-Hussein Bin Ali Mosque).

On foot
Most points of interest can be reached on foot, and that is really the best way to see the place and experience Aqaba.

See

As of December 2018, the staff at the information center near the castle claims that there is no place to use Jordan Pass in Aqaba, even though two museums are listed on the official website of Jordan Pass.

Do
Except the sea and diving, Aqaba doesn't have a lot of things to offer. The following can be of interest but are easily done in one day.

 * Aqaba Castle
 * Aqaba museum
 * Fourth century Roman church

There is a public beach between the city and the fort, although it can be very dirty. There are several public beaches south of Aqaba, which also can be dirty. Beaches generally have eating and showering facilities and sometimes watersports.

Scuba diving
Have a look at an online map south of Aqaba, such as in the Tala Bay article; many dive centers can be found there, and diving is extremely popular. A two-dive single-day package typically costs around 50 JD, but booking multi-dive packages in advance can save a lot. Almost all dives are shore based. A small number of sites are better accessed by boat, though the journey is never more than 45 min and is typically in the 20-min range. Though dive packages tend to be more expensive than nearby Egypt, the quality of operators is much more consistent, and the fact virtually all dives are done as shore dives save both money and time with day-boats. Diving here is also good for beginners, as there are no tides, and currents and swells this far up the gulf of Aqaba are minimal, which also means diving any given site is all but guaranteed, regardless of what the weather is up to.

Buy
All ATMs charge a relatively high fee for withdrawing money. In Jordan you can withdraw money from your credit card in various currency exchange places. A reliable and low-priced currency exchange service is Alawneh Exchange in the city center. They charge a low percentage fee for withdrawing money from your credit card. Many locals use that agency. You need to show your passport.

Aqaba is a tax-free zone so prices for expensive consumer items tend to be lower than elsewhere in Jordan. Hence, the high number of shops specialized in nuts and sweets, catering for Jordanian tourists.

Beware however should you depart by plane from Aqaba: the Aqaba airport security check mafia will confiscate many types of goods on departure. See the note on the Aqaba airport security check mafia below.

Eat

In the centre of the city you can find very good hummus, falafel and shawarma (lamb meat in pita bread) places in many local restaurants. Prices start from 0.20 JD for stuffed pies (fatayer), 0.50 JD for a falafel sandwich, 1 JD for ful, baba ganous or hummus and pita, 1.50 JD for pizza-like snacks and 1.50 JD for a shawarma dish. Walk around to find the hole-in-the-wall eateries.

For local seafood, head to the Al-Afran street (locally known as the "fishmarket" or "Souq As-Samak"), which is located near the citadel and the beach area. The street is lined up with dozens of local fish shops ("masmakeh" in Arabic) that sell all kinds of seafood, and the majoity of customers are locals. In most shops, you can select your preference from the fresh catch of the day and specify how you want it to be cooked (e.g. grilled or deep-fried). You can also select standard meals from a fixed menu, such as sayadieh. Prices will vary according to the selected fish, but usually range from 5 to 10 JD per person. As of 2022, there's a new fishmarket building under construction just south of the citadel, to which some of the shops may relocate in the future.

More fancy seafood restaurants are located around downtown (especially to the North). Some of those are local branches of eateries that also exist in other Jordanian cities, especailly Amman.

Budget
All these are in the city center:

Drink
You can ask for fresh fruit juices in most restaurants, and they are a treat! Many also serve lemon juice with fresh mint in it, which is very delicious.

Not many restaurants outside of the resorts serve alcohol (Ali Baba does and they charge a lot for it) but there are many wine shops, e.g. along An-Nahdah Street, selling alcohol much cheaper than elsewhere in Jordan.

A good, cheap variety of different teas (0.5 dinars) such as Karak tea and ginger tea can be had in long park area immediately east of the Ayla Circle. It's a nice, lively place to relax beneath the trees that is very popular with locals. They also sell very cheap shisha for 2 dinars each (updated January 2023)

Budget

The quality of the following budget hotels is not confirmed. Leave a description or delete them if not relevant or passable.

Aqaba border taxi cartel
Taxis at the border from Eilat belong to one company, which has a monopoly, and is therefore much more expensive than a typical Jordanian taxi: 11 JD (Feb 2014) for a 15-minute ride to the Aqaba bus station. This is no matter how many people go in the car, be insistent if you are told that sharing a taxi is not allowed. Also as of October 2014, there is a sign listing fixed prices to various destinations (8 JD to the airport, 11 JD to Aqaba, 55 JD to Petra, etc.) Once you get in to Aqaba, however, taxis to Petra are 35 JD, and the Wadi Musa taxi drivers will offer the same price back. Going the other way from Aqaba city centre to the border can be done for 8-10 JD (6-8 JD if you're lucky, Feb 2014).

The taxi company, just outside the customs gate, might stop other drivers and have them turn back to Aqaba. To try to avoid this, call your hotel or private car while still in the customs area.

You can try walking the 500 m to the main road (east), but the military personnel may have you brought back. Or you take a turn right directly after the border and follow the small sideroads to Aqaba—check OpenStreetMap or Google Maps for the situation.

You can ride right past if you have a bicycle, but you'll have to cross the border by foot. Even though bicycles are vehicles in the eyes of the road laws, they will force you to dismount and pass the border as if you were a pedestrian.

It is possible to bargain them down, but you will need to be persistent and enlist the help of the border police to mediate. Don't try and set the price too low. 5 JD to the airport is about as low as they'll go - 10 JD to Aqaba is most likely. Stay polite, but be firm and explain to the border police that it is not a good first impression for tourists to have and that you will write to the Ministry of Tourism. This threat normally sees the taxi cartel back down, but there are no guarantees.

Riding back to the border from city center can be a problem. Should they have to wait, they'll try to switch on the taximeter and ask for 25-30 JD instead of the arranged 10 JD. Don't get intimidated, insist on the agreed pricing and perhaps offer 2 JD on top of the 10 to quiet things.

Aqaba Airport security check
Beware of the security check scams, which have been reported as of late 2019: excuses will be made to confiscate locally-purchased luxuries for resale on the black market. Among items that seem to be systematically seized are purchases of Dead Sea beauty products, honey, molasses, and alcohol. Nothing including any sort of liquid can be considered safe, even in signed-in bags.

Astute negotiation will help save some items, but beware of fake helpers: the scam clearly does not implicate everyone in the airport but your allies will probably not be those who will insistently offer to "help" you.

In any case keep calm and avoid escalating the situation. Innocently destroying the commercial value of confiscated goods might be an option, and perhaps open the packaging of any products to show that they could not possibly be dangerous. This could probably also be done in advance of your flight (defacing the labels for instance). Please do your bit and also report any incident to the Jordan Tourism Board. It is so sad to see the good vibes of this pleasant destination squandered by a few corrupt elements only minutes before leaving the country!

Go next
It can difficult to get mini-bus on Friday which is prayers' day, and on Friday and Saturday when there is no school. Try to check it with tourist information, bus station, police and your hotel.

Many destinations that are not north of Amman can be reached on a day trip. You can set up your own flexible day trips by hiring a taxi for the day. However, some require more than one day, especially Petra and Wadi Rum. Make sure when you set up the trip that you have agreed on the destinations to be included in the trip (or you may need to discuss your price while on the road and do not have other options that your current driver). Alternatively, there are a lot of tour companies around town who would happily arrange excursions, in particular to Wadi Rum.

 * Wadi Rum — barren, isolated and beautiful, granite cliffs contrasting with desert sand, 50 km north of Aqaba. A trip here is only really complete with an overnight stay at one of the numerous camps.
 * Petra — Jordan's top attraction, 2.5 hr north of Aqaba. An ancient city carved out of sandstone and one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. Can be done in a day if you are good on foot, but most people spend two days.
 * Dana Nature Reserve — Stay in a local village within the Nature Reserve, and enjoy unforgettable hiking in an offshoot of the Great Rift.
 * Kerak — site of a once-mighty Crusader castle.
 * Madaba — known as the 'City of Mosaics' for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, especially a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of Palestine and the Nile delta at St. George Church.
 * Dead Sea — The lowest point on earth and the most saline sea, letting you float on top.

To Israel (Eilat)
The Israeli border at Arava (for Eilat) is only a short hop away. As of June 2022, the 10 JD exit tax is only charged to those who have stayed in the country for two nights or less (evidenced by the entry date on the visa stamp), even with the free ASEZA visa. Those that have stayed longer are not charged any tax. Note: if one does not have ASEZA visa, you have to pay the full visa fee as well if you stayed less than 4 days—see Jordan.

After security, the counters are consolidated into 1-3 desks depending on the number of people passing through that day. If the exit tax/visa fee is applicable, one must pay it in cash to the border officer receive the exit stamp. Without this stamp you will not be allowed through the final check, and into no-man's land.

Getting to the border is not as expensive or thrilling as getting from the border (see ). Any green taxi in the city will be willing to take you there. The price they offer first is 7 JD or 10 JD, you can haggle it down to 5 JD if you haggling skills are good. Or you just walk from the edge of the city.

The border itself is rather quiet, which is surprising for an Israeli border. Just follow the signs. The crossing can take anywhere from half an hour to two hours depending on the size of the queue and how thoroughly the authorities are conducting screening that day.

To Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabian checkpoint is visible on a clear day, but visitors without a visa can only look.

To Egypt (Nuweiba)
Ferries to Egypt are operated by AB Maritime. The schedule changes rapidly with cancellations common, so its recommended to check it when you arrive in Aqaba. As of November 20, 2011 This will change based on seasonal loadings. The approximate cost for foreigners is US$65 + 5 JD departure fee. Pay the departure fee on the ground floor of the terminal building, then take the coupon upstairs for immigration purposes. After copious amounts of stamping, you can go and wait outside.
 * The fast ferry is not operating
 * There is a slow ferry departing Aqaba at 13:00
 * There is a slow ferry departing Aqaba at 01:00

It is also recommended that you ring the AB Maritime ferry office to confirm the departure time for that day. Delays of several hours are common and sometimes known in advance.

Also ferries to Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh are available from Aqaba.

title: Aqaba


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Aquia Harbour

Aquia Harbour is in Stafford County, Virginia. It might be incorrect to call it a major tourist destination. If you happen to be here, however, you could take a gander at the 1755 Aquia Church, a National Historic Landmark. There is also a yacht harbor, a golf course, country club, horse stables, and 8 parks.

Get in
Aquia Harbor is at Exit 143A next to I-95.

Go next

 * Just north along I-95 is Quantico, with its excellent National Marine Corps Museum. Stafford is the next town south, of little interest, before reaching legitimately interesting Fredericksburg.

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

title: Aquia Harbour


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Aquinnah

Aquinnah (formerly known as Gay Head) is a town at the western end of Martha's Vineyard. The bright, multi-colored clay cliffs at Gay Head are a fabulous sight. Aquinnah is home to the Wampanoag Tribe, residents of Martha's Vineyard for thousands of years and the majority population of the town. The town consists of sparsely developed bluffs surrounded by beaches.

Get around
Bicycling is popular, but the roads are windy and steep. The MTA bus provides limited service within Aquinnah.

Do

 * Stay off the cliffs and out of the clay. Both are illegal.

Buy
Aquinnah's only retail shops are a group of stores on Aquinnah Circle, adjacent to the Gay Head Lighthouse. Most close around dusk.

title: Aquinnah


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Arab

Arab (pronounced AY-rab) is a small town in North Alabama.

Get in
The best way to get in is to fly into the nearby airport in Huntsville and drive to Arab.

The main highways in and around Arab are US-231, which runs north-south from Huntsville to Blountsville and Oneonta and has most of Arab's chain stores and fast food restaurants; and AL-69, which runs east-west from Guntersville to Cullman through Arab and makes up the northern half of Main St, where most of Arab's locally-owned small businesses are.

Get around
There is no public transportation so bring a car! Parking is free and easy to find except during major events like the Poke Salat Festival. Downtown is very small and can be explored easily by foot.

See
Arab City Park is beautiful and well maintained city park that includes the Arab historic park, which features several restored buildings dating from the late 1800s to the 1940s and exhibits depicting daily life in this part of the country during those times.

Thompson Falls is a beautiful and often impressive waterfall that lies on private property (visitors welcome and expected, but be respectful!) a few miles outside of town. If you're heading south on Main St, you can get there by turning left past the Meat Market onto Fry Gap Rd. Follow this road for a mile and make a slight left onto Brashie r's Chapel Rd. After 2.5 miles, turn right onto Thompson Falls Rd and after another 3/4ths of a mile, take a left onto Thompson Falls Dr. Past the second house on the left, you will see a gravel drive leading off into the woods. This is the route down to the falls. It is recommended to park on the side of the road and walk down.

Buy
Walmart is located off of 231 on the north side of town. Warehouse on the north side, and Foodland on the south are good places to get groceries for cheap.

The Spinning Groove on Main St is a local record store, and the owner makes great recommendations.

Eat
Most regional and national fast food chains have a presence in Arab along highway 231. Huddle House is the only one open overnight.

Local favorites include Midas Burger, known for their delicious chicken sauce, Milner's Dairy Delight, Son's Barbecue which serves mainly pulled pork, and L Rancho Cafe on Main St, the home of poke salat. Tasty and decently priced Mexican food can be found at Los Arcos as well as Sierra's. The only option for Chinese is Panda III, which is in the same line of shops as Sierra's and will probably compare unfavorably with the Chinese food you get in your hometown.

Drink
Arab used to prohibit the sale of alcohol, so drinking options are still fairly limited.

CJ's Saloon on Highway 69 has pool and attracts mostly an older crowd.

Last call in Alabama is at 2am. No alcohol is sold in Arab on Sundays, anywhere. Beer and wine can be bought at regular retail stores, but liquor is only available at state-owned "ABC" stores.

Sleep
Quality Inn is behind the McDonald's off of 231 and has rooms for around $60 a night. The Arabian Motel, on Main St, and Green Park Motel, south of town on 231, are cheaper and have mostly long-term residents and an unfavorable local reputation.

Connect
The Arab Public Library on Main St offers internet-connected computers for use by guests.

Walmart and most of the fast food places also allow customers to connect to WiFi.

title: Arab


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Arabic phrasebook

 * The following phrasebook deals with Modern Standard Arabic. See the Egyptian Arabic phrasebook, Jordanian Arabic phrasebook, Moroccan Arabic phrasebook, Lebanese Arabic phrasebook, or Tunisian Arabic phrasebook for Arabic dialects relating to those countries and regions.

Arabic (العَرَبِيَّة) is a group of Semitic dialects spoken by more than 420 million people, mainly in North Africa and the Middle East. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), known in Arabic as al-Fusha (الْفُصْحَى), is the official form of the language throughout the Arab world, and is very similar to Classical Arabic, the language of the Qur'an and the liturgical language for 1.6 billion Muslims around the world. Arabic has also strongly influenced many languages, including unrelated ones, throughout the Islamic world.

For communication purposes while traveling and using this guide, it is very important to note the differences between MSA and dialects since they are largely mutually unintelligible. Well-educated people will generally be able to understand MSA, but usually respond in their local dialects. Comprehension of dialects between different regions will drop significantly. It is therefore recommended that travelers focus on learning the relevant dialect for their destination for spoken communication, while using MSA as a written reference. That said, news broadcasts will almost always be in MSA.

Pronunciation guide
Arabic script is written in a cursive script, even in print. Most letters change their shapes depending on their position (initial, medial or final). The Arabic script is an abjad, not an alphabet, meaning that only the consonants are written out, and the vowels are usually omitted.

Dialectal pronunciations differ significantly between regions, but here the standard literary pronunciation is described, with notes on dialectal differences where applicable:

Basics

 * Hello (informal) : مرحبا  marhaba :  سلام  salaam :  هلا   hala (In Arabic Gulf Area)
 * Peace be with you. (formal) : السلام عليكم as-salaamu `alaikum
 * How are you? : كيف حالك؟
 * kayfa haalak? (male singular)
 * kayfa haalik? (female singular)
 * kayfa haalukum? (plural)

 * Please. :من فضلك : min faDlak (male)
 * min faDlik (female)

 * Thank you [very much]. : [شكرا [جزيلا shukran [jaziilan].
 * Yes. : نعم na`am
 * No. : لا laa
 * Maybe. : ممكن mumkin.
 * Excuse me. : إسمحلي ismaHli
 * Good morning. : صباح الخير sabaH al-khair
 * Good evening. : مساء الخير masaa' al-khair
 * good : جيد jayyid.
 * very good : جيد جدا jayyid jiddan.
 * Never mind. : لا يهم. laa yahummu.
 * Nothing. : لا شيء laa shay.
 * Fine, thank you. : بخير ,شكرا bi-khair, shukran
 * What is your name? : ما اسمك؟
 * masmuka? (to a male)
 * masmuki? (to a female)

 * My name is ______ . : _____ اسمي  ismi _______
 * Nice to meet you. : تشرفنا tasharafna lit. "You honor us"
 * You're welcome. : عفوا `afwan
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : لو سمحت  lau samaHt
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) :عذرا eudhran
 * I'm sorry. : انا اسفه / انا اسف ana aasif (male) / ana aasifah (female)
 * Goodbye : مع السلامة ma`a as-salaamah
 * Goodbye (informal) : سلام salaam
 * I can't speak Arabic [well]. : [لا اتكلم العربية [جيدا laa atakallam al-`arabiyyah [jayyidan]
 * Do you speak English? : هل تتكلم الانجليزية hal tatakallam al-ingliziyyah?
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : هل هنا اي شخص يتكلم الانجليزية؟ hal hunaa ayy shakhS yatakallam al-ingliziyya?
 * Help! : مساعدة musaa`adah!
 * Look out! : انتبه intabih
 * Good night. : تصبح على الخير tiSbaH `alal-khair
 * Good night (in response) : وانت من اهل الخير wa anta min ahl al-khair
 * I don't understand. : لا افهم laa afham
 * Where is the toilet? : اين الحمام؟ ayn al-Hammaam?

Problems

 * Leave me alone. : اتركني / اتركيني   utrukni (to a male) / utrukiini (to a female)

 * Don't touch me! : ما تلمسني ma tilmisni
 * I'll call the police. : سأتصل بالشرطة sa'ataSal bashurTah
 * Police! : شرطة shurtah!
 * Stop! Thief! : !توقف! السارق tawqaf! assaariq!
 * I need your help. : أحتاج مساعدة aHtaaj musaa`ada

 * It's an emergency. : طوارئ Taware'
 * I'm lost. : أضعت طريقي ada'tu tareeqi

 * I lost my bag. : حقيبتي ضاعت Haqiibati Daa`at

 * I lost my wallet. : محفظتي ضاعت maHafaZati Daa`at

 * I'm sick. : انا مريض / انا مريضة  ana mariiD (male) / ana mariiDah (female)

 * I've been injured. : إنني مصاب innani muSabun
 * I need a doctor. : احتاج دكتر aHtaaj duktur

 * Can I use your phone? : هل ممكن استخدم التلفون؟ Hal mumkin astakhdim at-tilifun?

Numbers

 * 0 : صفر Sifr
 * 1 : واحد waaHid
 * 2 : إثنان ithnaan
 * 3 : ثلاثة thalaatha
 * 4 : اربعة arba`a
 * 5 : خمسة khamsa
 * 6 : ستة sitta
 * 7 : سبعة sab`a
 * 8 : ثمانية thamaaniya
 * 9 : تسعة tis`a
 * 10 : عشرة `ashara
 * 11 : احد عشر aHad `ashar
 * 12 : اثنا عشر ithnaa `ashar
 * 13 : ثلاثة عشر thalaathata `ashar
 * 14 : اربعة عشر arba`ata `ashar
 * 15 : خمسة عشر khamsata `ashar
 * 16 : ستة عشر sittata `ashar
 * 17 : سبعة عشر sab`ata `ashar
 * 18 : ثمانية عشر thamaaniyata `ashar
 * 19 : تسعة عشر tis'ata `ashar

 * 20 : عشرون ishruun
 * 21 : واحد وعشرون waaHid wa-`ashruun
 * 22 : اثنان وعشرون ithnaan wa-`ashruun
 * 23 : ثلاثة وعشرون thalaatha wa-`ashruun
 * 30 : ثلاثون thalathuun
 * 40 : اربعون arba`uun
 * 50 : خمسون khamsuun
 * 60 : ستون sittuun
 * 70 : سبعون sab`uun
 * 80 : ثمانون thamanuun
 * 90 : تسعون tis`uun
 * 100 : مئة mi'a

 * 200 : مئتين mitayn
 * 300 : ثلاث مئة thalaath mi'a
 * 1,000: الف alf  (as in The Thousand and One Nights - الف ليلة وليلة  Alf Layla wa Layla)
 * 2,000: الفين alfayn
 * 1,000,000 : مليون milyon
 * 1,000,000,000 : مليار milyaar / بليون bilyon
 * 1,000,000,000,000 : تريليون triilyon
 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : رقم / Raqm (...)
 * half : نصف niSf
 * less : اقل aqal
 * more : اكثر akthar

Directions

 * Go : اذهب idh-hab
 * Stop : قف qif
 * Turn left : لف يسار lif yassar
 * Turn right : لف يمين lif yameen
 * straight ahead : على طول Ala Tool (Egyptian) or illal amaama الى الامام; dughri (Jordan); quduman (general)
 * slowly : Shway Shway
 * Wait or Stay : انتظر (intadhir)
 * Show me. : ارني (areni)
 * here : هنا huna
 * there : هناك hunak
 * before : قبل qabla
 * after : بعد ba'da
 * now : الأن al-aan
 * from : من min
 * to or at (a place) : الى ilah
 * Wait one minute. : إنتظر دقيقه واحده intadhir daqeeqa waaheda.
 * Just a moment. : لحظة /laH-dha

Pronouns

 * I : انا ana
 * you (m) : انتَ anta
 * you (f) : انتِ anti
 * he : هو huwa
 * she : هي hiya
 * we : نحن naHnu
 * you (two people) : انتما antuma
 * you (m/mixed) : انتم antum
 * you (f) : انتن antunna
 * they (two people) : هما huma
 * they (m/mixed) : هم hum
 * they (f) : هن hunna

Asking questions

 * Who? : من man
 * What? : ما/ماذا ma/madha
 * When? : متى mata
 * Where? : اين ayn
 * Why? : لماذا li-madha
 * How much? : بكم biKam
 * How much is this? : بكم هذا biKam Hadha
 * Where are you from? : من اين انت min ayn anta
 * Understand? : Maf Hoom
 * Do you speak English? : هل تتكلم الإنجليزية؟ hal tatakallam al-ingliziya?
 * What is this?: ma haadha?

Useful "I"s

 * I want : أريد (Uriid)
 * I don't want : لا أريد (La Uriid)
 * I have : لي lii / ladayya لدي / `indi عندي
 * I don't have : ليس عندي (laysa `indi)
 * I don't understand : Ana ma fehim أنا ما فاهم / ana laa afham أنا لا أفهم / Ana mesh fahem أنا مش فاهم
 * I work at the _____. : Ana ashtaghel fi _____أنا اشتغل في / a'mal fi _____ _____أعمل في
 * I don't speak Arabic: لا اتكلم العربية laa atkallam al-arabiya / Ma bihki arabi ما باحكي عربي / Ma batkalemsh arabi ماباتكلمش عربي

Things

 * money : فلوس fuluus
 * food : أكل akl; طعام Ta`aam
 * coffee : قهوة qahwa (pronounced ah-way in Syrian Arabic)
 * sugar : سكر sukkar
 * salt : ملح milH
 * car : سيارة sayyaara
 * hotel : فندق funduq /  اوتيل  ooteel
 * museum : متحف matHaf
 * hospital : مستشفى mustashfa
 * water : ماء maa'
 * tea : شاي shaay
 * milk : حليب Haliib
 * work : شغل shughl
 * airplane : طائرة Taa'irah (pronounced "Tayyaara" in most dialects)
 * train : قطار qiTaar
 * bicycle : دراجة darraaja
 * street : شارع shaari`
 * building : مبنى mabna

Time

 * now : الآن (al-'aana)
 * later : بعدين (ba`adayn)
 * before : قبل (qabla)
 * morning : صباح (SabaaH)
 * afternoon : بعد ظهر (ba'ada Zuhur)
 * evening : مساء (masaa')
 * night : ليلة (laylah)

Clock time

 * one o'clock AM : one o'clock AM (sa'ati waHad)
 * two o'clock AM : two o'clock AM (sa'ati ithnayn)
 * noon : noon (ZuHur)
 * one o'clock PM : one o'clock PM (...)
 * two o'clock PM : two o'clock PM (...)
 * midnight : midnight (muntasf al-laylah)

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : _____ (دقيقة (دقائق (daqiiqah (daqaa'iq) )
 * _____ hour(s) : _____ hour(s)(saa)
 * _____ day(s) : _____ يوم (أيام (yom (ayaam))
 * _____ week(s) : _____ week(s) (usbuu`)
 * _____ month(s) : _____ month(s) (shahr)
 * _____ year(s) : _____ سنة (سنوات (sanah (sanooaat))

Days

 * today : البوم (al-yawm(a))
 * yesterday : امس (ams(i))
 * tomorrow : غداً (ghadan)
 * this week : الاسبوع (al-'usbu`)
 * last week : اسبوع الماضي (usbu`(u) 'l-maaDi)
 * next week : اسبوع القادم (usbu`(u) 'l-qaadim)

Days of the week

 * Sunday : يوم الأحد ((yawm) al'aHad)
 * Monday : يوم الاثنين ((yawm) al-ithnayn)
 * Tuesday : يوم الثلاثاء ((yawm) ath-thulaatha)
 * Wednesday : يوم الأربعاء ((yawm) al'arbi`a')
 * Thursday : يوم الخميس ((yawm) al-khamiis)
 * Friday : يوم الجمعة ((yawm) al-jum`a...)
 * Saturday : يوم السبت ((yawm) as-sabt)

Months

 * January : كانون الثاني (Kanoon al thani)
 * February :February (.shubat شباط..)
 * March : March (...آذار Aathar);
 * April : April (..Nissan نيسان.)
 * May : May (...أيار Ayyar)
 * June : حزيران (Hzayraan)
 * July : تموز (Tammouz)
 * August : اّب (Ab)
 * September : ايلول (Ayloul)
 * October : تشرن الأول (Tishreen al awwal)
 * November : تشرن الثاني (Tishreen al thani)
 * December : كانون الأول (Kanoon al awwal)

Writing time and date
Even though Arabic is written from Right to Left, numbers in Arabic are written from Left to Right. Dates are written in an Arabic sentence from Left to Right as in English

Colors

 * black : أسود (Aswad)
 * white : أبيض (Abyadh)
 * gray : رمادي (Ramaadii)
 * red : أحمر (AHmar)
 * blue : أزرق (Azraq)
 * yellow : أصفر (Asfar)
 * green : أخضر (Akhdhar)
 * orange : برتقالي (Burtuqaali)
 * purple : أرجواني (Urjuwaan)
 * brown : بني (Bunny)

Bus and train

 * How much is a ticket to _____? : adash tazkara ila ____? Bekam Tazkara ila......?
 * One ticket to _____, please. : Tazkara wahida ila ___ law samaht
 * Where does this train/bus go? : Hazal qitar/bus biyruh ila wayn? Ila Ayn Yazhab haza Alkitar/autobis?
 * Where is the train/bus to _____? : Wein el-qitar/el-bus ila ___?
 * Does this train/bus stop in _____? : hal biwa'ef hazal qitar/bus fi__ ?
 * When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : emta btatla el-qitar/el-bus ila ___?
 * When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : emta byusil hazal qitar/bus fi___?

Directions

 * How do I get to _____ ?:How do I get to _____ ? (Kayf bawsal la __)
 * ...the train station? : ...the train station? (mahatet il qitar?)
 * ...the bus station? : ...the bus station? (mawqif il bassat?)
 * ...the airport? : ...المطار (al-matar?)
 * ...downtown? : ...downtown? (West il balad?)
 * ...the youth hostel? : ...the youth hostel? (Bayt El Shabab)
 * ...the _____ hotel? : ...the _____ hotel? (otel?/ Al Fonduk)
 * ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (sefara Al Amrikia, Canadeia, ostralia, beritania)
 * Where are there a lot of... : Where are there a lot of... (Wein fi kteer...)
 * ...hotels? : ...hotels? (otelat/ Fanadek)
 * ...restaurants? : ...restaurants? (mata'em)
 * ...bars? : ...bars? (bars)
 * ...sites to see? : ...sites to see? (amaken seyaheyeh?)
 * Can you show me on the map? : Can you show me on the map? (momken tfarjeeni ala al khareeta?)
 * street : شارع (shar'iah)
 * Turn left. : لف يسار (lif yasaar)
 * Turn right. : لف يمين (lif yameen)
 * left : يسار (yasaar)
 * right : يمين (yameen)
 * straight ahead : على طول (ala tul)
 * towards the _____ : towards the _____ (bijehet il)
 * past the _____ : past the _____ (baed il)
 * before the _____ : before the _____ (abel il)
 * Watch for the _____. : Watch for the _____. (intibeh la)
 * intersection : intersection (taqato)
 * north : شمال (shamaal)
 * south : جنوب (janoob)
 * east : شرق (sharq)
 * west : غرب (gharb)
 * uphill : uphill (talaa)
 * downhill : downhill (nazleh)

Taxi
get to _____? (adeish?/ Bekam Azhab ila......)
 * Taxi! : Taxi! (taxi!) Sayyara
 * Take me to _____, please. : Take me to _____, please. (khodni il....., law Samaht)
 * How much does it cost to get to _____? : How much does it cost to
 * Take me there, please. : Take me there, please. (khodni ala __, law samaht)

Lodging

 * Do you have any rooms available? : Do you have any rooms available? (Endkom ghoraf(alternatively- owad) edafeyeh?)
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : How much is a room for one person/two people? (Adeish il ghorfeh li shakhs/shakhsein?)
 * Does the room come with... : Does the room come with... (Il ghorfeh bteeji ma...)
 * ...bedsheets? : ...bedsheets? (sharashef?)
 * ...a bathroom? : ...a bathroom? (hammam?)
 * ...a telephone? : ...a telephone? (tele-phown?)
 * ...a TV? : ...a TV? (televis-yon?)
 * May I see the room first? : May I see the room first? (Baqdar ashoof il ghorfeh abel?)
 * Do you have anything quieter? : Do you have anything quieter? (Fi eshi ah-da?.)
 * ...bigger? : ...bigger? (akbar?)
 * ...cleaner? : ...cleaner? (andaf?)
 * ...cheaper? : ...cheaper? (arkhas?)
 * OK, I'll take it. : OK, I'll take it. (OK, bakhodha)
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). : I will stay for _____ night(s). (Rah aba'a kaman ___ yom)
 * Can you suggest another hotel? : Can you suggest another hotel? (...)
 * Do you have a safe? : Do you have a safe? (fi khazneh?)
 * ...lockers? : ...lockers? (...)
 * Is breakfast/supper included? : Is breakfast/supper included? (...)
 * What time is breakfast/supper? : What time is breakfast/supper? (ay sei-a il ftoor/asha?)
 * Please clean my room. : Please clean my room. (momken tanadef il ghorfeh)
 * Can you wake me at sds_____? | Can you wake me at _____? (momken tfaye'ni al __ )
 * I want to check out. : I want to check out. (beddi ashoofha)

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (Hal taqbal bi noqood Amreekeyah/Ostoraleyah/Canadeyah?)
 * Do you accept British pounds? : Do you accept British pounds? (Hal Taqbal bi Jenehat Biritaneyeh?)
 * Do you accept credit cards? : Do you accept credit cards? (...)
 * Can you change money for me? : Can you change money for me? (Momken tsarefli masari?)
 * Where can I get money changed? : Where can I get money changed? (Wein badar asaref masari?)
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : Can you change a traveler's check for me? (...)
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (...)
 * What is the exchange rate? : What is the exchange rate? (...)
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (Wein fi ATM?)

Eating

 * A table for one person/two people, please. : A table for one person/two people, please. (Tawlah la wahed/tenein)
 * Can I look at the menu, please? : Can I look at the menu, please? (Momken ashoof il menu?)
 * Can I look in the kitchen? : Can I look in the kitchen? (Mumken ashuf il matbakh?)
 * Is there a house specialty? : Is there a house specialty? (...)
 * Is there a local specialty? : Is there a local specialty? (...)
 * I'm a vegetarian. : I'm a vegetarian. (Ana nabati)
 * I don't eat pork. : I don't eat pork. (Ma bakol lahem khanzeer)
 * I don't eat beef. : I don't eat beef. (Ma bakol lahmeh)
 * I only eat Halal food. : I only eat Halal food. (Bas bakol akel hallal)
 * Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : Can you make it "lite", please? (khaleeha khafeefeh)
 * fixed-price meal : fixed-price meal (...)
 * à la carte : à la carte (à la carte)
 * breakfast : breakfast (ftoor) al iftar
 * lunch : lunch (...) al ghada
 * tea (meal) : tea (...) shay'
 * supper : supper (...) al isha'
 * I want _____. : ._____أريد (ooreed)
 * I want a dish containing _____. : I want a dish containing _____. (...)
 * chicken : دجاج (dajaj)
 * beef : بقر (baqar)
 * fish : سمك (samak)
 * ham : ham (khanzeer)
 * sausage : sausage (...)
 * cheese : جبنة (jubneh)
 * eggs : بيض (baid)
 * salad : سَلَطَة (salata)
 * (fresh) vegetables : (fresh) vegetables (...) (fresh) khudrawat
 * (fresh) fruit : (fresh) fruit (fawakeh) (fresh) fawakat
 * bread : bread (...) ayish OR khubz
 * toast : toast (...)
 * noodles : noodles (makarona)
 * rice : أرز ( 'roz)
 * beans : beans (fool) fasoliyya
 * May I have a glass of _____? : May I have a glass of _____? (Momken Kaset___)
 * May I have a cup of _____? : May I have a cup of _____? (Momken finjan ___)
 * May I have a bottle of _____? : May I have a bottle of _____? (...)
 * coffee : coffee (qahweh) kah'wa
 * tea (drink) : شاي ( shay' )
 * juice : عصير (Aseer)
 * (bubbly) water : water (may)
 * water : ماء ( maa' )
 * beer : بيرة (beerah)
 * red/white wine : red/white wine (nabeed ahmar/abyad)
 * May I have some _____? : May I have some _____? (momken ___?)
 * salt : ملح (malh)
 * black pepper : فلفل أسود (filfil aswad)
 * butter : زبدة (zibdeh)
 * Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Excuse me, waiter? (...)garcoon
 * I'm finished. : I'm finished. (khalast ) galaste
 * It was delicious. : It was delicious. (Zaki) Al-akl mazboot!
 * Please clear the plates. : Please clear the plates. (...)
 * The check, please. : The check, please. (...)Leh'seb min fadlak

Bars

 * Do you serve alcohol? : Do you serve alcohol? (fi kohool?)
 * Is there table service? : Is there table service? (hal hnak khidmat tawlah)
 * A beer/two beers, please. : A beer/two beers, please. (beerah, min fadlik)
 * A glass of red/white wine, please. : A glass of red/white wine, please. (kaset nbeed)
 * A pint, please. : A pint, please. (nsf ltr, min fadlik)
 * A bottle, please. : A bottle, please. (zujaja, min fadlik)
 * _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : _____ and _____, please. (...)
 * whiskey : whiskey (whesky)
 * vodka : vodka (fodka)
 * rum : rum (rm)
 * water : ماء ( maa' )
 * club soda : club soda (soda)
 * tonic water : tonic water (miah muqwia)
 * orange juice : orange juice (aseer bortoqal)
 * Coke (soda) : Coke (cola)
 * Do you have any bar snacks? : Do you have any bar snacks? (hal ladayk 'ayu wajabbat khafifat bel bar)
 * One more, please. : One more, please. (kaman wahed)
 * Another round, please. : Another round, please. (kaman wahed)
 * When is closing time? : When is closing time? (emta bitsakro?)

Shopping

 * Do you have this in my size? : Do you have this in my size? (Fi maqas?)
 * How much is this? : بكم هذا؟ (bikam hatha)
 * That's too expensive. : That's too expensive. (...) "ghali katheer!"
 * Would you take _____? : Would you take _____? (...)
 * expensive : غالي (ghali)
 * cheap : رخيص (rakhees)
 * I can't afford it. : I can't afford it. (...)
 * I don't want it. : I don't want it. (ma beddi)
 * You're cheating me. : You're cheating me. (harami)
 * I'm not interested. : I'm not interested. (lust muhtam)
 * OK, I'll take it. : OK, I'll take it. (ok)
 * Can I have a bag? : Can I have a bag? (oreedo kees)
 * Do you ship (overseas)? : Do you ship (overseas)? (...)
 * I need... : I need... (...) Ahtaj
 * ...toothpaste. : ...toothpaste. (ma'ajoon asnan)
 * ...a toothbrush. : ...a toothbrush. (forshaat asnan)
 * ...tampons. : ...tampons. (always)
 * ...soap. : ...soap. (saboon)
 * ...shampoo. : ...shampoo. (shamboo)
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : ...pain reliever. (mussakin)
 * ...cold medicine. : ...cold medicine. (dawa rash-h)
 * ...stomach medicine. : ...stomach medicine. (dawa baten)
 * ...a razor. : ...a razor. (shafra)
 * ...an umbrella. : ...an umbrella. (shamseyeh)
 * ...sunblock lotion. : ...sunblock lotion. (...)
 * ...a postcard. : ...بطاقة بريدية (bitaqa bareedia)
 * ...postage stamps. : ...postage stamps. (tawabe' bareed)
 * ...batteries. : ...batteries. (batareyat)
 * ...writing paper. : ...ورق للكتبة (waraq lil-kitaba)
 * ...a pen. : ...قلم (qalam)
 * ...English-language books. : ...كتب إنجليزية (kutub ingliziya)
 * ...English-language magazines. : ... مجلات انكليزية (majalat engiliziya)
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : ...جرائد إنجليزية (jara'id ingliziya)
 * ...an English-English dictionary. : ...an English-English dictionary. (qamoos ingilizi-ingilizi)

Driving

 * I want to rent a car. : I want to rent a car. (beddi astajer sayarah)
 * Can I get insurance? : Can I get insurance? (fi tameen?)
 * stop (on a street sign) : stop (qif)
 * one way : one way (tho itjah wahed)
 * yield : yield (atti alaolwyeh)
 * no parking : no parking (mamnoo alistifaf)
 * speed limit : speed limit (alsuraa alkanooniya)
 * gas (petrol) station : gas station (mahatet banzeen)
 * petrol : petrol (betrol)
 * diesel : diesel (diesel)

Authority

 * I haven't done anything wrong. : I haven't done anything wrong. (Ma emelet eshi ghalat)
 * It was a misunderstanding. : It was a misunderstanding. (kan su' fahum )
 * Where are you taking me? : Where are you taking me? (wein akhedni?)
 * Am I under arrest? : Am I under arrest? (ana motaqal?)
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (Ana American/...)
 * I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (urid an atakalam ma al safara al American/...)
 * I want to talk to a lawyer. : I want to talk to a lawyer. (urid altahaduth ma muhami)
 * Can I just pay a fine now? : Can I just pay a fine now? (hal yumkinuni dafe gharamat alan?)

title: Arabic phrasebook


text:
Araçatuba

Araçatuba is a city in Northwest São Paulo state.

Drink
Most of the nightlife centers around Avenida Brasilia.

title: Araçatuba


text:
Aracaju

Aracaju is the capital of the state of Sergipe, Brazil. It's the capital of northeast with best quality of life (according to Federal Government). It's located on the coast, and cut by rivers such as Sergipe and Poxim. According to the population count conducted by the IBGE in 2007, the city has 520,303 inhabitants. [1] In addition to the populations of cities that form the Great Aracaju, Nossa Senhora do Socorro, Barra dos Coqueiros, Laranjeiras and São Cristóvão, number passes for 760,000 inhabitants. The toponymy "Aracaju" derives from the expression indigenous "ará acaiú", which in Tupi-guarani means "cashew of parrots". The element "ará" means "Parrots" and "acaiú", "fruit of the cashew."

Get in
Bus and airplane connects with the whole country by São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other cities.

Get around
Use the app Moovit for local buses. The bus connections in Google Maps are outdated (March 2021). The fare is R$4 (March 2021) and can be paid in the bus resp. at a rodoviaria. Changing a bus at one of the rodoviarias/terminals is for free.

Use Uber for taxis.

Do
The Atalaia beach was never highly rated for its natural beauty, but for an urban Brazilian beach it does the trick. Plastic chairs in the sand for having beer and coconut are near Avenida Rotary. A major refurbishing of the beachfront avenue, including its pavement, has made it a delightful walk at nighttime. Apart from bars and restaurants by the dozens, there are a couple of clusters of bronze statues, a go-kart track, a large playground and an aquarium. http://www.tamar.org.br/centros_visitantes.php?cod=10

Buy
There are no Bradesco banks where Google Maps shows them in Atalaia. The nearest one is in Av.Min.Geraldo B.Sobral,1700 near Shopping Jardins.

You can buy contact lenses for a good price in the Oftclin shop in the Jardins shopping center. One package with six standard monthly Air Optix Aqua contact lenses for R$ 150 (March 2021). Avoid the numerous opticians in the city center. They charge almost double the price.

Eat
Crabs are the typical dish, often eaten with a good and cold beer. You also have good fishes, fried or cooked as moqueca.

Centro
The first three restaurants are right next to each other:

Sleep
Most tourists will choose the beach at Atalaia, some 5 km from the center. The most convenient spot for transport is the intersection between Avenida Rotary (leading to the airport and downtown, with an urban bus terminal 500 metres from the beach) and the beachfront Avenida Santos Dumont. Plenty of options within a couple of blocks here. For more upscale sleeping, head north along the beach.

Consulates

 * 🇷🇴 Romania

Go next

 * To the south, at the border with the state of Bahia, is Mangue Seco, an easy day trip.
 * Inland is the artificial lake of the river Xingo.
 * Maceió
 * Salvador

title: Aracaju


text:
Aracataca

Aracataca is a small town in the Magdalena Department of Colombia, to the south of Santa Marta. Largely unknown to travelers and even to the guidebooks, this town absolutely should not be overlooked in the itinerary of anyone with any interest in Gabriel García Márquez. In addition to being his birthplace, it was the inspiration for the fictional aldea Macondo, and has a great deal of monuments and sites of interest related to 100 Years of Solitude and other works.

Understand
Imagine 200 years ago, walking all around the tropical Colombian swamp and forests searching for a way towards the sea, to be free of corrupt civilizations and to start your own. To discover a river and a beautiful and fertile land. Tired of traveling you decide that this is the place where you want to settle and raise a family.

This happened to Jose Arcadio Buendía and his wife Ursula in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s masterpiece 100 Years of Solitude when those free souls with their friends founded Macondo, the imaginary town that "does not exist".

The early 21st century, the whole world has changed, Colombia became a melting pot for many of the world’s peoples, and amidst the oldest cities of the continent and the most astonishing nature in the world, Macondo’s entrance is still invisible for mass tourism yet Aracataca is a real adventurers’ gem.

Get in
Downtown Aracataca; from the Santa Marta terminal you take the bus to Aracataca (COP$9,000, 1½ hours), you get out in the center and take a ciclotaxi (COP$1,000 per person) to wherever you need to go.

From Bogota you get out in Aracataca (COP$70,000) at the vuelta del torrito and you’ll take a mototaxi to wherever you need to go.

Get around
To get around is pretty simple, there are bicycle taxis that take you to the most important places for about COP$1,000 a person.

If you'd rather see everything going around on your own bike there are guided bicycle tours that take you, for about 2 hours along the most important sights in town while explaining about the rich histories. Tours are for sale at the Gypsy Residence.

See
* Casa del Telegrafista - small museum to learn about Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Eat
There are several good restaurants in town that serve local Macondonian foods, between them Restaurant Gabo and restaurant Donde Memo.

Sleep
Casa Turistica Realismo Magico, with a/c and no hot water, you'll probably enjoy it after being out in the Colombian sweatbath. Phone: +57 301 4712602. Address: Calle 6 #4-40.

title: Aracataca


text:
Aracati

Aracati is a city in Ceará. Being the administrative center of Canoa Quebrada, its main attraction for tourists is as a connecting point to the latter.

Get in

 * Some buses between Fortaleza (3 hours) and Natal (6 hours) and/or Mossoró (2 hours) by Nordeste stop here.
 * São Benedito runs more frequent, although somewhat slower buses to Fortaleza. R$ 15..
 * Shared taxis leave for Fortaleza as soon as they are full, and will drop you off virtually anywhere in the city. R$ 25 per person. Arrive early! Hard to find co-riders after 08:00.
 * Minibuses leave for Canoa Quebrada from the cathedral (from the bus station walk 15 minutes straight along Av. Cel. Pompeu.) several times each hour, 06:00-00:00. 20 minutes, R$ 2.

Buy

 * A huge Super Frangolandia supermarket on the outskirts of the city, direction Canoa Quebrada.

Drink

 * Carnaval here is one of the liveliest of the state, parts of the party being held in nearby Canoa Quebrada and Majorlândia.

Sleep
Quite a few pousadas.

title: Aracati


text:
Arad

There is more than one place in the world called Arad. You might be looking for:

 * 1) Arad (Israel): a city in Israel
 * 2) Arad (Romania): a city in Romania

title: Arad


text:
Arad (Israel)

Arad (Hebrew, ערד) is a small city in Israel that lies on the border between the Negev desert and the Judaean Desert.

Understand
Tel Arad, the site of the ancient city of Arad, is located some 10 km west of the modern city centre. Arad is a great centre for hiking and exploring the northeastern part of the Negev desert.

Modern Arad was founded in 1962 by young Israelis, most of them ex-kibbutzniks and ex-moshavniks, who were seeking an environment free of the urban ills of overcrowding, traffic, noise and pollution. Although not noted for its great beauty, the town's growth has closely followed a well-designed master plan. Arad's present population is approximately 28,000 (2003 estimate) and reflects the broad spectrum of Israeli society with a special emphasis on recent immigrants.

Get in
Take a bus from Beer Sheva. There are also less frequent buses from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other cities. Check the schedule for those ahead of time.

From Beer Sheva
From the Beer Sheva central bus station, line 386 (express), 387 (direct) and line 388 (higher frequency, but more intermediate stops) run to Arad. The price is ₪8.70.

From Tel Aviv
From Tel Aviv (Arlozorov terminal only), lines 389 and 421 run to Arad. Each line has only 2-3 trips per day each direction. Line 421 continues to the Dead Sea.

In addition, line 550 runs from Bnei Brak to Arad, approximately 9 times per day.

From Jerusalem
From Jerusalem, lines 554 and 555 run to Arad. These lines are oriented to the Haredi sector, so they start in Haredi neighborhoods rather than the central bus station. Together these lines have about 9 trips per day in each direction.

Get around
There are 5 local bus lines (Lines 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12) that serve all parts of the city. These lines are operated by Metropoline.

Having said that, Arad can easily be explored on foot.

See

 * Camel herds, owned by the local Bedouins, can be spotted along the main road before and after the.
 * Camel herds, owned by the local Bedouins, can be spotted along the main road before and after the.
 * Camel herds, owned by the local Bedouins, can be spotted along the main road before and after the.
 * Camel herds, owned by the local Bedouins, can be spotted along the main road before and after the.
 * Camel herds, owned by the local Bedouins, can be spotted along the main road before and after the.

Do
There are some hiking destinations east. Align with the local tourist information.

The following lookouts are used as hiking or biking destinations from Arad: and.

Buy

 * The biggest shopping mall,, is located in the centre of the city
 * The is famous for its weekly market on Mondays

Sleep
There are apparently many private rooms available for rent here – try the usual suspects.

Go next

 * Masada – A former Roman fortress on top of a mountain. The only road access to the west side of Masada is through Arad. This route is popular for those arriving early for sunsets.

Besides that, Arad is a great location for trips to all directions including:
 * Dead Sea – One of the most famous things to see/do in Israel and Jordan.
 * Judaean Desert – Visit its various attractions, next to the Dead Sea.
 * Beer Sheva – University town, but does not much cater for tourists and especially backpackers.
 * Mitzpe Ramon – Great site, hikes and views on the edge of a giant crater.
 * Eilat – Holiday town in the far south with border crossings to Jordan and Egypt.

title: Arad (Israel)


text:
Arad (Romania)

Arad is an industrial city of some 160,000 population (2011) at the western edge of Romania, close to the border with Hungary. It is a regional transportation hub and a convenient place to stop over on a journey between those countries.

Understand
There is an intact Vauban-style fortress and an interesting old town with a great number of historic buildings. Most of them date from the Habsburg era, ranging from Baroque to Art Nouveau. While some have been renovated, others are left in a state of dilapidation.

The city's cultural life is marked by a Philharmonic Orchestra, several theatres and a museum complex. The latter is particularly interesting for history buffs, as it showcases evidence from various eras of human history that have been discovered in this area. The Arad county wine route starts a few kilometer east of the city.

By train

There are five direct trains a day to Budapest Keleti, taking 4 hr 30 min, fare 100 lei. (This includes an hour waiting at the border; there's also a one-hour time switch between Romania and Hungary.) The last direct train is at 15:30, but there's a 17:00 indirect route taking six hours. The 01:00 train is a through-service to Vienna.

There are only two direct services to Bucharest, both overnight, 11 hr. The best daytime connection is via the midday train to Timișoara.

For Transylvania, take the mid-afternoon train running through Deva (3 hr) and Sibiu (6 hr) to Brasov (10 hr).

There are two direct trains to Iași (one daytime 14 hr, one overnight 17 hr) via Cluj Napoca. There's one other direct and two indirect services to Cluj Napoca (5-6 hr).

By bus

Arad is on the main highway E68 between Budapest and Bucharest. There are buses every hour or two to Timisoara (60-90 min); change there for Bucharest. Buses run every 30 min to Budapest, the fastest in only 2 hr.

For Transylvania, four or five buses run daily to Deva (3 hr), Sibiu (5 hr) and Brasov (8 hr). There are four buses to Cluj Napoca (4-6 hr).

By plane

The nearest international airport is Timisoara (Traian Vuia, ) 40 km south, with 6 or 7 flights a day to Bucharest, and other European destinations. Budapest airport 230 km north-west has more extensive connections.

Get around
Most sights, eating and accommodation are a short walk from City Hall. Buses and trams run along the main strip here, Bulevard Revolutiei. At its north end this curves west into Calea Aurel Vlaicu, with the bus and railway stations. Taxis and car hire are readily available.

See

 * Art Nouveau architecture (or Secession style, as it was called in Austro-Hungary) – Several highly decorative examples of this early 20th-century style, similar to those found in Budapest or other cities of the former Danube Monarchy, with their elaborate floral or geometric ornamentation. However, most of them are in a rather sad state of preservation. Notable instances include:
 * (Str. Goldiș Vasile 1-3)
 * (Str. Horia 3-5/Str. Episcopiei 2)
 * (Str. General Vasile Milea 19)
 * (Str. Goldiș Vasile 1-3)
 * (Str. Horia 3-5/Str. Episcopiei 2)
 * (Str. General Vasile Milea 19)

Do

 * Just east of the Palace is the Mures river, with a promenade for strolling, and a children's play-park.
 * Football: FC UTA Arad play soccer in Liga 1, the top tier. Their Francisc von Neuman Stadium (capacity 12,700) is 500 m west of the railway station.

Buy
Try to avoid shopping in the city center—quite expensive.

The city has 2 market areas where you can buy fruit and basic foodstuffs, plus some days of the week there are also more affordable markets than in the city center, where prices are similar to any European country, in other words expensive.

Arad has several shopping centers on the outskirts of the city, there are A MAKRO that in Romania is called METRO, BILLA, although the city is well supplied, due to its proximity many Romanians go to neighboring Hungary to shop where they are even cheaper, in the towns across the border.

Eat and drink
Strings of cafes, restaurants and bars on Bvd Revolutiei just south of City Hall.

Go next
The main options are to go west towards Budapest, or south via Timișoara towards Bucharest, or east into Transylvania.

 * Timișoara – 50 km south (50 min by train), the capital of the Banat region and "Little Vienna"
 * Sânnicolau Mare – 65 km southwest
 * Békéscsaba – 90 km northwest (2 hr by train)
 * Lugoj – 100 km southeast (2 hr by train)
 * Szeged – 100 km west
 * Oradea – 115 km north, city known for its rich Art Nouveau architecture
 * Deva – 155 km southeast (3 hr by train)
 * Szolnok – 170 km northwest (3 hr by train)
 * Hunedoara – 170 km southeast, Corvin Castle, also known as "Dracula's castle"

title: Arad (Romania)


text:
Aragalur

Aragalur is a historic village 70 km from Salem, Tamil Nadu.

By bus
Buses will be available from Attur, Thalaivasal, V.Kootrodu and kallakuruchi

Get around
This is a small village that you can walk around. If you reached here by bike (bicycle) or motor cycle or Taxi, you can go around using it.

By bus
You may take 6,31 and Saradha bus at Attur or Thalaivasal. Another bus runs Aragalur to Kallakuruchi 3 times per day. One mini bus from Thalaivasal and another one form V.KootRoad.

See
This village has many temples including Sri Kamanada Eswar and Solesvara (Ashlar walls)- dedicated to Lord Shiva and Karivarada Raja Perumal dedicated to Lord Vishnu. There is also a 6-foot-tall Buddha idol in the village of Thiaganoor on the outskirts of the Aragalur.

There will be a pooja conducted in Kamanada Eswar Temple for Lord Bhairavar on Astami star day which is coming after full moon day at midnight which will give many blessings to the pilgrim.

Buy
as a hub for the neighboring villages, the village Sandy (Farmers' market) is held on the Wednesday. There, you can get the fresh farm produce sold mostly by the farmers themselves. The market street has Mom and pop shop that cater to the daily needs of the population.

Eat
More than 10 hotels are there.

Drink
The liquor trade in Aragalur and rest of Tamil Nadu is now run by the government.

Stay healthy
While at Aragalur it is advisable to drink only bottled water. There are several brands that you can choose from: Aquafina (Pepsi), Kinley (Coca Cola), Bisleri, Hello. It's advisable to boil tap water before drinking.

Aragalur summers are humid and sultry; it's better to step out with an umbrella, bottled water and some oral rehydration salts (available from pharmacies, the brand name is Electral). These come in handy if you happen to get dehydrated.

Pharmacies
Thangam Medicals and Sellam Medicals

Money changers
Indian Overseas Bank

Post & telegraphs
Aragalur Post

'Telephone Booths' or public telephones are operated in the village. Look for painted booths with the letters PCO (Public Call office, local calls), STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) and ISD (International Subscriber Dialling). All booths have electronic metering and you pay what's displayed on the meter. (Included in the metering is a nominal ₹2 as service charges) You'll also get a receipt if you insist on one.

Go next
ஆறகழூர

title: Aragalur


text:
Aragon

Aragon (Spanish and Aragonese: Aragón, Catalan: Aragó) is a region in the north of Spain. Despite seeing limited tourist traffic compared to other regions, it holds a wealth of unique sights, with villages and towns rich in architectural history picturesquely extending on the hillsides and in the valleys in the midst of the barren, mountainous countryside

Cities

 * — capital of Aragon, with a large cultural and architectural heritage
 * — an ancient Celtiberian city that became a Roman city, then an important centre of Islamic Spain
 * — the mudejar towers of churches in the old city are renowned, and the skyline is dominated by a castle, parts of which date back to 850 AD
 * — gateway to the Pyrenees, an area rich in Romanesque architecture, ski resorts and stunning landscapes
 * — a stopping point en route to the Pyrenees
 * — a desert region known for the Laguna de Sariñena, a wildlife protection area for migrating birds
 * — capital of the namesake province, with a wealth of picturesque architectural heritage

Towns and villages

 * — a medieval town surrounded by mountains with a 12th-century church and an 11th-century castle
 * — noted for its pink-hued sandstone buildings —
 * — a great place for canyoning, walking, rock climbing, abseiling, and ornithology
 * — a town surrounded by snow-capped Pyrenean mountain peaks
 * — known for impressive old international railway station
 * — a village with an impressive basilica and a Buddhist monastery
 * — a town of pretty stone houses, surrounded by formidable mountains, with lots of hiking trails
 * — a gateway to the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park
 * — a small village with an historic monastery
 * — a small village with an historic monastery

Other destinations

 * (Huesca). is the third highest mountain in the Pyrenees.
 * (Zaragoza) — the birthplace of King Ferdinand II of Aragon has an exceptionally well preserved historic centre, with city walls, churches, a plaza, and a palace
 * — a ghost town destroyed during the 1937 Spanish Civil War, now said to be haunted. Visitors have reported paranormal activity around the Plaza de la Cruz, the mass grave, and the towns 2 churches.

Understand
Aragon is the heart of what was in the Middle Ages the Crown of Aragon, which also included regions like Valencia, Murcia, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Venice, the South of Italy, Sicily and some Greek colonies. In the 15th century, its King Ferdinand married Isabel of Castile and formed the Kingdom of Spain. Although it used to have its own language, Aragonese, and laws, over the centuries most of them were lost and it became more like Castile.

Nowadays, Aragon, despite its large size, has a population of only 1 million, making it largely uninhabited, with the capital, Zaragoza, holding over half the population.

Nature
Some interesting plants even for a non-biologist are:
 * Blackberry: can be found on the slopes of Guara and Pireneus mountains.
 * Acorn: There are two types of non-oak acorn, and at least one of them grows on bushes rather than on trees.

Talk
Spanish is spoken in Aragon by the whole population.

Aragonese (Aragonese or Castilian: aragonés, also known as fabla), is spoken in the north, but is not recognized as an official language. This language is similar to Catalan and Castilian with some Basque and Occitan influences. Catalan is also spoken in the East of the region (Catalan: 'Franja de Ponent, literally West Strip, being West of Catalunya), though it has no official status.

Get in
Aragon is connected to France by roads and tunnels (Somport) but not by train. It has no coast, so it's not accessible by boat.

There is an airport in Zaragoza, served by low-fare carriers offering flights to secondary airports in some European countries, as well as domestic flights. As the Madrid-Barcelona high-speed railway line runs through Aragon, you can also use the airports in Madrid–Barajas Airport and Barcelona, which offer many more international and intercontinental connections.

By car
Roads are high quality in the region and its towns. Even if you go canyoning or other active sports, you typically don't require a 4x4 as you always leave your car in a carpark near the starting point of your activities.

By bike
Cycling is a very popular sport in this region as the roads are very high quality.

See

 * Isabena valley, a beautiful but very desolate valley in the alta ribagorza
 * Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon — ten UNESCO World Heritage Listed buildings around the region
 * Monte Perdido/Mont Perdu — located at the border to France, it's the third tallest mountain in the Pyrenees and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List
 * Visit the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in Ordesa-Viñamala

Do

Rock climbing: Los Mallos for serious climbers.

Hydrospeed: Ideal time is April-May, as it requires much water in the rivers.

Whitewater rafting: Multiple operators and a kayaking school can be found in the town of Campo; some rafting can be found in Murillo de Gallego.

Hiking : routes can be find in Senderos turisticos de Aragon. Also, you might want to follow the guides of Sobrarbe geopark, where you can find a lot of hinkings trails. You can download a gpx file with 351 tracks here, and you can find the individual files here.

Canyoning: According to outdoor activities operators, Aragon canyons are the best in Europe (most long and intensive) and third in the world--and there are up to 150 canyons available in the region. In summer, about 16 canyons are in active use. May is ideal time for experienced canyoners: almost every canyon have just enough water, and water is warm enough. June-July and September is good for well-fit canyoners. August is a peak season for non-experienced canyoners looking for fun with minimal effort.

Canyons are both in Sierra de Guara and Pireneus. In the whole region, there's no places for horizontal abseiling (like moving over a rope above a river from one side of canyon to another). Most canyons were originally discovered and gone through in 1970s. Alquezar is the main starting point for canyons in Aragon.

Equipment to bring for commercial canyoning specific for this region: shoes for slippery stones.

Canyons

 * Aigueta de Barbaruens: Features: About 15 jumps up to 10m (several of them in quite unexpected locations); 2 to 4 abseils (two of them are better as high jumps); several slides, including 5m-long and a twisting one (hands-up only). T-shirt is recommended on your way from parking to the canyon: windy even in August; no direct sunlight; bush is not always easy to go through. 70% of canyoning time is spent without direct sunlight. Serious level difference between entry and exit. In late August, very clean water well under 10°C.
 * Alcanadre
 * Balces
 * Basender
 * Cabrito
 * Chimiachas
 * Formiga: Typical durations: 3 hours in canyon; 45min walk to entry to canyon from nearest parking; 20min to walk from exit from canyon to parking. Features: several jumps (up to 7m); about 5 slides (one face-down; another with 2-3m high jump); two jump-unders; two abseils (one dry at the entry, and one near waterfall with slippery vertical rock). Small section of via ferrata preceding the entry. In late August, very clean 14°C water. No T-shirt is necessary.
 * Fornocal: exit is 2nd closest to Alquezar
 * Monzon
 * Pionera
 * Portiacha
 * Río Vero: exit is closest to Alquezar
 * Sarratanas
 * Trigas

Eat
Borraja:

Ternasco:

Trenza de Almudevar y Huesca:

Longaniza:

Drink
Excellent wines of the region: Somontano, Cariñena, Borja, Paniza, Calatayud, Lecera and Valle de Jalón.

Go next

 * Catalonia — the economic heart of Spain with Barcelona as most popular tourist destination
 * Valencia — to the south of Aragon, with a beautiful Mediterranean coastline
 * Castile and Leon — the dry centre of Iberia
 * Navarre — small province to the west of Aragon south of the Pyrenees

title: Aragon


text:
Aragonda

Aragonda is a village in the Chittoor district of India.

See
You can see kanipaka vinayaka swamy temple and tirumula

Anjaneyaswamy Temple

This village is located 13 kilometers away from kanipakkam village, Chittor District Ardhagiri Anjaneyaswamy Temple is famous for pilgrims after the Kanipakam under TTD.

Do
Nice scenery. One lake has mineral water which is used as a medicine.

Buy

 * Jaggery sugar
 * Aragonda is famous for mangoes.

Drink
Bottled water.

Sleep
In nearby Chittor.

Go next
There are frequent buses to Chittoor, and jeeps are also available. From Chittoor, one can go to any other place in the region.

title: Aragonda


text:
Araguari

Araguari is in Northern Minas Gerais in Brazil.

Understand
In 2020, it was home to 118,000 people.

Climate
The year is divided into two periods, the rainy season from November to April and the dry season from May to October.

Get in
Araguari is a less known place in Brazil, and require some distance traveling. It is advisable to go with a local guide, or someone who has been there before.

Distances to Araguari:
 * Belo Horizonte 569 km (354 mi)
 * Rio de Janeiro 1,000 km (620 mi)
 * São Paulo 623 km (387 mi)
 * Brasília 397 km (247 mi).

Main highways serving the municipality:
 * BR-050 - São Paulo - Brasília: allows for south/center-west integration, and connecting with the Belém/Brasília reaches the north of the country.
 * MG-223 - Allows for the integration of the region of the Triângulo Mineiro with the capital of the state, Belo Horizonte, connecting with BR-365 and with BR 050.
 * MG-413 - It connects Araguari with Goiânia and all the center-west of the country.
 * MG-748 - It connects Araguari to BR-365, interconnecting with the north of Minas Gerais as far as Montes Claros.

See
On the northern boundary of the municipality is an immense complex of hydroelectric power stations (Emborcação and Miranda), which form several lakes. In addition to the energy supplied these are great tourist attractions, providing opportunities for fishing and the practice of water sports.

Do

 * Surfing the tidal wave of Araguari Pororoca on the Araguari river in Brazil. The wave, known for its crushing height and speed, is extremely difficult to surf and offers the additional threats of anacondas, crocodiles and parasitic fish.

Eat

 * While there, try out some of the local Brazilian food.

Sleep

 * Accommodation is cheap, and there is really no need or venue to book ahead of time.

title: Araguari


text:
Arak

Arak, also known as Soltan Abad, is a major industrial city of 550,000 and the capital of Markazi Province in Western Iran.

By air
The airport is mainly for domestic flights, but there's a few seasonal international flights.

By train
There are multiple daily trains from Tehran, with a travel time of around five hours, as well as regional trains from nearby cities. In addition, an overnight trains connects with the eastern city of Mashhad.

See

 * Baghe Nezam Lashgar (Esmaeili)
 * Saraye Mehr (In the Bazaar)
 * Koohe mostofi
 * Park Amirkabir
 * Park Jangali
 * 'Bagh-e-Vahsh the zoo was first opened to investigate the pollution from the industries mainly from the Aluminium plant on animals
 * 'Pol-e-doab an old mud based bridge built over sharra river
 * Darreh-e-Gerdou famous for its walnut trees and ranges, it is very popular place for morning exercises and weekend getaways.
 * Museum of Artifacts
 * Mojtama-e Tafrihi-i.e. Amirkabir
 * Darreh-e-Gerdou famous for its walnut trees and ranges, it is very popular place for morning exercises and weekend getaways.
 * Museum of Artifacts
 * Mojtama-e Tafrihi-i.e. Amirkabir

Buy
Known for their hand-knotted carpets which are generally referred to as Sarouk rugs, known for their exceptional quality and ability to withstand decades of wear

title: Arak


text:
Araku Valley

Araku Valley is hill station in the North Coast region of Andhra Pradesh in Southern India. It is about from Visakhapatnam and many travellers visit this town as part of their trip to Visakhapatnam. In 2011, it was home to 57,000 people. It is a coffee plantation, and there is also a honey industry.

Understand
Araku is blessed with enchanting beauty of the hills and greenery, interspersed with streams and rivulets. The morning fog is particularly lovely here. This area is often referred to as Ooty of Andhra. It is a valley in the Eastern Ghats inhabited by several tribes.

Araku Valley is definitely not a day trip, but the APTDC facilities can serve as a decent lodging. Book your APTDC rooms early. November to February are the best months to visit and making an early reservation in the lodges is advisable as Araku Valley has few lodges and hotels.

By train
. A slow, passenger train leaves the Vizag station early in the morning (at 6:50AM), and the train ride is enjoyable. Arrive at least an hour before its departure to get a seat. The train runs through small mountains and tunnels. "Shimiliguda" railway station, on the route, is the highest railway station in India on broad-gauge track.

By bus
There are buses that operate from APSRTC that have a daily tour as well as normal operations.

By car
You can also hire a taxi or car for as much as ₹2500 for a round trip and a night stay at Araku.

Get around
Take a walk around the small town in the early morning while the fog is still there to catch the beauty of a hill station. Getting around Araku Valley is limited by limited public bus service. At APTDC lodge, cabs can be hired for a day trip through the valley to Borra caves; the ride is amazing.

See and do

 * Coffee museum, which is just outside Mayuri Resort (Andhra Pradesh Tourism), is also 1 min walk from the Araku Bus Stand. It covers the history of coffee plantations and also sells coffee.
 * Coffee museum, which is just outside Mayuri Resort (Andhra Pradesh Tourism), is also 1 min walk from the Araku Bus Stand. It covers the history of coffee plantations and also sells coffee.
 * Coffee museum, which is just outside Mayuri Resort (Andhra Pradesh Tourism), is also 1 min walk from the Araku Bus Stand. It covers the history of coffee plantations and also sells coffee.

Eat
Bamboo chicken is a local specialty. Indian, Chinese, Continental and as well as local South Indian dishes are also available here.

Drink
Aruku valley has coffee plantations, and you can taste their coffee at Aruku valley coffee house near to the bus station in Aruku

Sleep

 * Andhra Tourism Resort.
 * Dhimsa Resorts, Phones: 08936-249555, 08936-249786
 * Hill Park Resorts.
 * Haritha Valley Resort, Phones: 089362 49202, (free breakfast, Wifi)
 * RRK Resort, Phone: 086883 09090
 * Tyada (on Araku-Vizag road). AP tourism runs a resort a there, which is the only place to stay there.

Go next

 * Visakhapatnam

title: Araku Valley


text:
Aral

Aral (Арал) or Aralsk (Аральск, formerly, and in Russian) is a city in Kazakhstan.

Understand
Aral is a former fishing village in Western Kazakhstan near the Aral Sea. In 1920, Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin asked the people of Aral to give fish to feed starving Russians, which they did. The story is commemorated by a mural in the Aral train station. Aral has suffered because of the retreat of the Aral Sea. Many tourists come to Aral in order visit ship cemeteries, which, like the Aral Sea itself, are quickly disappearing. Many locals use the metal from the abandoned ships to build fences and walls, and in many ship cemeteries all that is left are skeletons of ships.

Get in
The closest major city to Aral is Kyzylorda, which is about 12 hours away by train. Trains leave from Astana and Almaty to Aral. The train from Astana does not, however, stop in Almaty. Trains from Astana to Aral will take about 2 days to reach their destination.

Get around
Aral is a very small city to walk around in; there are taxis but they are basically unnecessary. The train station is about a 15-minute walk from the main hotel. There are two main streets: Makhataeva, on which you will find the hotel and Aral Tenizi office, and Abilhayir Han (Абилхайыр хан), on which you can find some small shops and internet, this is also the road to follow north to get to the train station. Абилхайыр хан used to be called Gorky and may still be known as such in some travel guides.

See
Aral does not have many attractions and most tourists are not interested in the town. The old harbor is just outside the hotel and it is possible to walk out to abandoned ships on the dry seabed from there.

Jeep tours can be booked, and in a half an hour you can reach a ship cemetery or the Aral Sea. For information on sights and tours contact Aral Tenizi. The Aral Tenizi office is a few houses down from the hotel on 10-12 Makhataeva.

Do
Jeep tours can be arranged to various places along the Aral Sea, including various ship cemeteries.

Buy
There are very few shops in Aral. A main market is housed west of the main square and past the train tracks selling fruit and vegetables. Other smaller shops near the town centre by the hotel sell bread, jam, confectionery, drinks, noodles, etc.

Eat
Aral does not offer much diversity in dining. There is one restaurant across the street from the hotel which serves a variety of Kazakh dishes. This is the largest restaurant in town and able to make a wide variety of dishes. Other restaurants can be found around town (many of them with the name Chin Son) that offer fewer options, so be prepared to eat manty and shashlyk here. All menus will be in Russian.

Sleep
There is one hotel in Aral, called "Aral" at 4 Makhateava St. It has two floors of rooms and one restaurant. The rooms are quite simple and many have small tubs but no showers. Expect to pay about 4,000 tenge per night. Homestays are available and for this you should ask around. If you do not speak Russian, try looking lost and asking for komnaty (комнаты, "rooms").

Go next
To leave Aral, buy tickets at the train station for your desired destination. Be sure to include what class you would like to travel in. Kupeyny is second class and has four berths and a closing door. Third class has six berths and no doors, for a long train ride it is not the most comfortable but is good for meeting locals, who will most likely be very curious about you.

title: Aral


text:
Aral Sea

The Aral Sea, what once was the fourth largest inland body of water in the world, and now more aptly dubbed Aralkum ("Aral Sands"), is in Central Asia, divided between Northern Uzbekistan (Qaraqalpakistan) and Southern Kazakhstan.

Cities

 * Aral - its fishing economy was dependent on a sea that is now disappearing
 * Moynoq - a former harbour town with health risks caused by pollution and unemployment
 * Nukus - the closest major city to the Aral Sea, and a good place to start trips to the shore; has a ship graveyard 200 km from the sea

Understand
The Aral Sea is not a place for sunbathing or swimming. It is a disaster zone, a scar on the Earth, proof of the destruction humanity can wreak on nature.

History
The Aral Sea has two rivers that flow into it – Amu Darya and Sir Darya, known in ancient times as the Oxus and Jaxartes respectively. The Soviet Union dug channels from both rivers for the cotton fields; this was the beginning of the disaster.

Some time around 1960, the Aral Sea started shrinking. In 1986, with the falling sea level, the former sea divided into two separate parts: the North Aral Sea in Kazakhstan, and the South Aral Sea mainly in Uzbekistan. Thanks to a dyke built in 2005 between the two parts by the Kazakhs, who are more prosperous and less dependent on agricultural irrigation than their southern neighbours, the northern part somewhat stabilized, or even regained some of its lost territory as much as to allow some low-scale commercial fishing, but is still a far cry from its former self. The southern part is yet to receive such a helping hand, and will likely have to do without in the foreseeable future — or perhaps forever, as the Uzbek government, implicitly conceding that the sea will never return, started afforestration of parts of its former bed in the 2010s in an effort to subdue pesticide-laden dust storms. So the southern sea is far, far away from its former banks and, unless in an exceptional year with much precipitation, still receding.

Landscape
The landscape is interesting, especially bearing in mind that you are walking on what used to be the bottom of the sea. There are sea shells all over the ground and dry sea plants. The places around are hilly and plain, as it is a deserty place. But it is beautiful to see.

Flora and fauna
Just desert plants.

Climate
In summer it is very hot and in winter very cold, so advisable to go there from March-May, September-November.

Get in
It is not so easy to get to the Aral Sea itself; it is a long and tough way through the desert, and your best bet is to arrange jeep tours from Nukus in the Uzbek side, or from Aral in the Kazakh side.

The journey from Nukus to the Aral Sea takes about 8 hours. Each jeep holds four people. You will camp there for one day. You can take your own camping gear or rent gear from the company. Travelers are responsible for cooking their own food; the driver will help with the fire and he has pots. Sharing the food with the driver is traditional. The drivers speak Russian.

A taxi from Nukus to Moynaq costs around US$70, and the asking price in hotels is around US$100. For a day trip, start early as it is 3-3½ hr one way. Marshrutkas also go to Moynaq via Kungrad.

Trying to get there without any guidance would not be a wise thing to do, because there is no road and no road signs.

title: Aral Sea


text:
Arambol

Arambol is a village in North Goa, India.

Understand
Arambol Beach attracts many international tourists, mainly during the winter season between November and March. Arambol has a distinct bohemian feel which is no longer found in other areas, such as Calangute and this inevitably attracts many alternative travellers. Arambol beach is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Goa, amongst many other popular locations including Vagator, Anjuna and Palolem.

A short walk north off the main beach is a smaller beach with a "fresh water lake" close to the sea. The water here is a mixture of fresh water and sea water. The jungle valley, enclosed between low hills hide a spectacular banyan tree.

Arambol is expanding quickly, and prices are rising for real estate, rent, foods and services.

Get in
Arambol is approximately a two-hour drive from the Dabolim Airport.

Buses go from Pernem a few times every day.

Do
Enjoy the beach. Arambol has a long beach, both rocky and sandy, with a nice headland where you can climb and find a nice view, and small altars. Its main draws are the nearby hot water springs, paragliding and relative quietude. The experienced Anjuna travellers like to stay here and move to Anjuna area only for parties and markets.

Buy
During the season many traders from all over India come to Arambol to sell their goods and merchandise.

Eat
Cafés and restaurants have mushroomed all along the shoreline, from the small "Sweet Water Lake" beach all the way to Mandrem.

Sleep
There are no major hotels in this area due to local pressure. Room rates are available at reasonable rates when compared to tourist laden beaches such as Baga and Candolim.

title: Arambol


text:
Aran

There's more than one place called Aran or Arran:

Azerbaijan

 * Arran - see Southern Azerbaijan and Talysh Region

Canada

 * Arran - a village in the east of the province of Saskatchewan

Iran

 * Aran va Bidgol - a city in Isfahan (province)

Ireland

 * Aran Islands - an archipelago of three islands in County Galway, West Ireland
 * Arranmore (Árainn Mhór) an island in County Donegal, northwest Ireland

Thailand

 * Aranyaprathet (Aran Yaprathet) - a border town also known simply as Aran, in Sa Kaew (province), East (Thailand)

United Kingdom

 * Isle of Arran - the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, in South West Scotland
 * The Aran mountains, near Bala in Snowdonia, North Wales

title: Aran


text:
Aran Islands

The Aran Islands (Oileáin Árann) are three islands in County Galway in the west of Ireland. They have stark treeless scenery of barren limestone which makes the green of their fields and heathland shine all the brighter. They're dotted with prehistoric forts and early Christian sites, and are within a short ferry ride or an even shorter flight from the mainland.

Islands

 * Inis Mór is the largest and most visited of the islands, with prehistoric and early Christian sites, and dramatic cliffs.
 * Inis Meáin, the middle island, is the least touristy, so you'll probably have its ancient sites to yourself.
 * Inis Oírr, the smallest and closest to the mainland, has prehistoric forts but mostly its ruins are medieval.

Understand
Around 340 million years ago in the early Carboniferous age, great layers of limestone were deposited in the west of Ireland. Later glaciation wore them down and at the end of the last Ice Age 11,000 years ago, sea levels rose by 100 m. This sundered the Aran Islands from the mainland limestone area now known as the Burren in County Clare. The smooth limestone table began to weather into a fissured pavement known as "clints and grikes". There was no topsoil, no trees, and very little fresh water, because the rainfall plunged underground. The Burren bedrock is riddled with cave systems and perhaps these will one day be discovered on the Aran Islands.

It was a bleak prospect for farming. There was a collection of dirt in the fissures, the grikes, which supported Alpine-type wild flowers, and which could be eked out to use as soil, with seaweed added for fertiliser. Fishing was essential for food. The islands were places to flee to, not to conquer. The first wave of construction dates from around 1100 BC, though one tomb on Inis Meáin goes back to at least 2500 BC. The ancient builders were the Builg, who may be the same as the mythical Fir Bolg, who supposedly lost the battle to rule Ireland but were awarded the region of Connacht as a booby prize. One thing they were not short of was rocks. Great stone forts were erected, and fields were cleared by heaping stones into the drystone walls that crisscross the islands.

Early Christian refugees from the mainland, later venerated as saints, settled in the 6th century, and medieval churches were built over their cells. These are ruined but survive because there were no later major phases of building to obliterate them. Along with the forts, they're the main visitor attraction today.

Talk
The three islands are Gaeltachtaí, areas where Irish is the main language, spoken by almost everybody as a first language. So you'll seldom see the Fáinne, the badge of proficiency in Irish as a learnt language. Everyone is fluent in English, but signs are in Irish: English equivalents (e.g. "Inisheer" for Inis Oírr) are unofficial. These pages give both versions of place names but give prominence to the English version simply to help with pronunciation.

By boat
There are two ferry routes from the mainland, from Rossaveel 40 km west of Galway year round, and from Doolin in County Clare in summer. All ferries sail to on Inis Mór, taking 40 min; they call at  and  on the way out or back. This may mean a 90 min sailing time to an island that's closer to the mainland. Day trips are feasible.

From Rossaveel Aran Island Ferries sail at least twice a day year round, with eight a day at the height of summer. In summer 2020 an adult return fare was €30. A shuttle bus from Eyre Square in Galway connects with all sailings, return fare €9. Never bring a vehicle (even a motorbike) to the Aran Islands, park at Rossaveel anywhere that won't inconvenience residents or harbour users.

From Doolin the Doolin Ferry sails 3 or 4 times a day Mar-Oct taking 40 min, foot passengers only, €30 return.

By plane
Aer Árann fly several times a day from Connemara (or Minna) Airport at Inverin, 31 km west of Galway city. There are at least a couple of flights daily year round, more in summer, with a return fare (in 2020) of €50. Flying time is just 10 min and a day trip is always feasible. The aircraft are a pair of rinky-dinky BNF Islanders that only take 9 passengers; they rattle around in the breeze and are often cancelled in bad weather.

The airfields on, and  are each about 1 km east of their island's ferry pier.

The flights from Connemara are all turnarounds, with no inter-island flights. Connemara has no other flights so it's not connected to the global air network. The Aran flights are a PSO - a public service obligation, subsidised by the government to support island life. There are always fraught negotiations and brinkmanship over the continuation of such PSOs: the present contract runs to autumn 2021.

Bus 424 runs every hour or two from Galway via Spiddal and Inverin (passing within 1 km of the airport) to Rossaveel ferry pier.

Get around
The ferries from the mainland always call at Inis Mór and usually at the other islands. This means an inter-island trip is possible most days year round, and a day-trip is feasible most days in summer.

Walking is the primary transport on all three islands. On Inis Meáin and Inis Óirr it will likely be your sole method, as those islands are compact, everything's within a km or two, and the paved lanes soon give way to boreen - stone-and-grass tracks. Beyond the tracks are deeply fissured limestone "clint and grike" pavements.

Inis Mór however is 14 km long, with a collection of sights 2-3 km east of Kilronan village, then the main sights are 7-10 km west. The spine road is paved and both standard and mountain bikes can be hired.

All the islands have tours, by minibus or pony cart. There's even a day-trip from Dublin by rail and air, a frenetic excursion. These are a good option if you're short of time or the weather is iffy, but it means you'll be disgorged into places in a group, and may lose out on the atmosphere.

See

 * on Inis Mór is a 3000 year-old stone fort dramatically sited on the edge of a 100 m cliff. It's in a D-shape, which may be the original design, or perhaps it was oval and has lost half to cliff erosion. There are walls 6 m high and 4 m thick, walkways, chambers, and the puzzling defence known as chevaux de frise.
 * Other well-preserved prehistoric forts on Inis Mór are Dún Dúchathair, Dún Eochla and Dún Eoghanachta.
 * Dún Conor is the main prehistoric site on Inis Meáin. Carrownlisheen Wedge Tomb dates back at least to 2500 BC, by some distance the earliest human structure on these islands.
 * Early Christian sites are in two phases. Several saints came here around the 6th C, a few to settle but others to continue their mission on the mainland: Aran plays the same role for Ireland that Iona plays for Scotland and Mount Athos for Greece. Around the 10th-12th C there was a phase of church building on those earlier sites, which needed to be close to a water supply which thus became venerated as a "holy well". Examples on Inis Mór are St Enda's, the Seven Churches complex, St Ciaran's, and Teampall Bheanáin which is an oratory rather than a church. On Inis Meáin is Templesaghtmacree, and Inis Oírr has the churches of St Cavan and St Gobnait.
 * O'Brien's Castle on Inis Oírr is 15th century, with several other medieval ruins nearby.
 * Lighthouses: the first Inis Mór light was in the wrong place and you couldn't see it anyway. It still stands, but was replaced in 1857 by lighthouses on the Brannock Rocks just west of Inis Mór, and on Inis Oírr.
 * Puffing Holes are blow holes, found in many places around the coasts. The best of them are by the east tip of Inis Mór.
 * on Inis Oírr is the shipwreck seen in the opening scene of Father Ted. It ran onto the rocks in 1960 and the crew were dramatically rescued by breeches buoy. Later storms threw the ship ashore on the island.

Do

 * Swim: all the islands have sheltered sandy beaches on their north side. You'll need a hot drink after! The oddest bathing experience is the Serpent's Hole on Inis Mór, a rectangular pool connected to the sea by a submerged passage.
 * Scuba dive at the many dive sites around the islands. There are no diving facilities so you'll have to bring a self-sufficient trip. Dry suit recommended.
 * Ted Fest is held in March by admirers of the Father Ted TV sitcom, first screened on Channel 4 1995-98. Most of the TV locations were on the mainland, but the opening scene of "Craggy Island" depicts the coast of Inis Oírr. Ted Fest to date has only been held on Inis Mór but the organisers hope to broaden it to other islands. If Ted Crilly gets his sly hands anywhere near the funding, that'll probably be Tahiti.
 * Cleasthon is a road race held in late spring on Inis Oírr. Distances are 5k, 10k and 20k, they don't stretch to a marathon.
 * Craiceann Bodhran Festival is a masterclass and series of gigs with Irish bodhran drums. It's held on Inis Oírr over four days in June.
 * Currach Racing is held in August off Inis Oírr. A currach is a traditional lightweight rowing boat.

Buy

 * All three islands have convenience stores in their main village.
 * There is an ATM in Kilronan on Inis Mór, and one within the Siopa XL store on Inis Óirr; nothing on Inis Meáin.

Eat & Drink

 * The pubs all do good bar food. They keep to much the same hours and rules as on the mainland, don't be coming to Aran for all-night sessions and wild partying. If it's a stag or hen party you're intending, go to Gomorrah.
 * Commendable pubs include Tigh Joe Mac, The Bar and Joe Watty's all on Inis Mór, Teach Ósta on Inis Meáin and Tigh Ned on Inis Oírr.
 * Inis Meáin is the standout for fine dining, at Inis Meáin Restaurant, and (just as you were beginning to despair of finding really good Guatemalan cuisine on Aran) the Tig Congaille.

Sleep

 * Inis Mór has the widest choice, with camping, glamping, hostels, B&Bs and small hotels.
 * Inis Meáin has a handful of B&Bs; the two hotels are more like restaurants with rooms.
 * Inis Oírr has a hostel, a few B&Bs and a hotel.

Connect
As of June 2020, you can get a mobile signal on Inis Mór in Kilronan and a little way up the lane west. There's no coverage anywhere else in these islands, though individual properties and the ferries may have a connection.

Go next

 * It's back to the mainland either via Doolin in County Clare, or via Connemara in County Galway.

title: Aran Islands