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Senegal

Senegal is a country in West Africa. Formerly a French colony, it is the westernmost country in the Old World.

Senegal is an excellent destination for anyone interested in exploring and learning about African culture. Visitors will be able to experience a huge range of cultures and traditions in this diverse country.

Although Senegal is not usually on most travellers' lists, the country offers plenty of attractions and things to do. Fishing enthusiasts will be interested to know that Senegal is one of the best places in the world to catch fish. The Senegalese are known for their kindness and hospitality, and you can expect to be treated with immense respect as a visitor.

Cities

 * – capital city
 * – former capital of Senegal and French West Africa
 * – center of Mouride religious brotherhood
 * – center of Mouride religious brotherhood
 * – center of Mouride religious brotherhood
 * – center of Mouride religious brotherhood
 * – center of Mouride religious brotherhood

Other destinations

 * Ports and harbours : Matam, Podor, Richard Toll, Dakar, Palmarin
 * Places of religion and contemplation : Keur Moussa, Touba, Tivaouane
 * Interesting islands : Fadiout + Joal, Ile de Gorée, Karabane
 * Nature reserves : Niokolo-Koba, Delta du Saloum, Parc National des oiseaux du Djoudj, Reserve de Palmarin
 * Stone circles : Nioro du Rip, Keur Ali Lobé, Sali, Kau-Ur to Wassau, Ker Batch

Climate
Senegal has a tropical climate that is both hot and humid for much of the year. The rainy season, from May to November, has strong southeast winds while the dry season from December to April is dominated by the hot, but dry, harmattan wind. Lowlands are seasonally flooded and there are periodic droughts.

Terrain
Generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in the southeast with the highest point only 581 m near Nepen Diakha.

Prehistory and Ancient Kingdoms
The earliest known human settlement in Senegal existed over 350,000 years ago. The Stone Circles of Senegambia (now World Heritage Sites) may date back as far as the 3rd century BC. Not a lot is known about the earliest civilizations, but there were many paleolithic and neolithic civilizations around the Senegal River.

The Tekrur Kingdom (Tekrour), formed around the Senegal River in Futa Toro (Fouta Toro), is one of the earliest recorded Sub-Saharan kingdoms. Although the exact formation date is unknown, historians believe it began in the early 9th century, around the same time as the Ghana Empire formed in the east. Parts of eastern Senegal were ruled by the Ghana Empire as it expanded but Tekrur was more concentrated in Senegal (although the southern regions were inhabited by ancestors of the Wolof). It was during Tekrur rule that Islam came to Senegal in the 11th century from the Almoravids in the north. The Tekrur rulers first converted to Islam and most of the kingdom soon followed. After the Almoravids attacked the Ghanaian Empire, it slowly lost power and influence, giving rise to the Mali Empire in 1235.

The Wolof Empire (Djolof) was formed in the 13th century from many smaller states to the south of Tekrur as a tributary state of the Mali Empire. Unlike their northern neighbors, they were not converted to Islam; they were animists. The Tekrur Kingdom was weak by this time, so the rising Wolof and Mali Empires exercised heavy influence over them (the Mali Empire also considered Tekrur to be a tributary state). The Wolof Empire obtained full independence from Mali in 1360 with its capital at Linguère and overtook territories to the south around the Gambia and established many groups as vassals, such as the Sine Kingdom in 1400. The Wolof Empire became quite powerful and at the height of its rule saw the arrival of the Portuguese.

Portuguese arrival and the fall of the Wolof Empire
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in Senegal at Goree Island in 1444. They were searching for a new spice route to India but soon established ports in Goree and on the Cap-Vert Peninsula (present-day Dakar). The Wolof and Portuguese established trade relations, providing wealth to the empire. Europeans paid well for war captives, who they sent off as slaves, and the natives were able to bring the slaves to them so that they didn't have to go inland. Senegal was one of the most profitable ports early on in the slave trading business and the strong Wolof were able to sell many captives from weaker regions. Their tributary, the Sine Kingdom, was also quite active in selling captives to the Portuguese. Members of the Waalo Kingdom (a Wolof vassal state) were commonly the victims of captive raids. Sometimes the Europeans incited wars in order to ensure more captives while in other cases, the money they paid was incentive for natives to start conflicts just to capture slaves.

While profits were great in the beginning, the Atlantic slave trade soon crippled the empire as the Cayor Kingdom separated from the Wolof in 1549 and the Sine Kingdom became independent in 1550, cutting the Wolof off from the coast and from trade and business with the Portuguese. Along with internal problems, the Wolof were also plagued by outside problems. As a former tributary state of the Mali Empire, the Wolof maintained strong ties with Mali through trade with the empire, but as the Songhai grew stronger, they seized much of Mali's territory, further isolating the Wolof. Furthermore, the Denianke Kingdom (Denanke) had taken over territories to the north, including Takrur, and had attacked the Wolof's northern territories, which they struggled to maintain. By 1600, the Wolof Empire had disbanded, although one of the territories remained a Wolof state.

French conquest
The location and success of trade in Senegal made it a hot commodity among Europeans. The Portuguese, British, French and Dutch all wanted the territory, particularly Goree Island. In 1588 the Dutch were able to overtake the Portuguese and expanded trade. France established its first post in Saint-Louis. The Dutch and French were both keen to take control of the other's territory, and fears of the growing powers of the Dutch Republic came to a head in the Franco-Dutch War. The war took place in Europe, but while the Dutch defended their homeland, the French attacked Goree Island and ousted the Dutch from Senegal, claiming it for France in 1677.

When the British took the territory during the Napoleonic War, they abolished slavery in 1807. Upon its return to France, the French agreed not to reinstate slavery, so slave trade in Senegal fell sharply during the 19th century but the country's rich resources were still in demand, and the French soon went inland to claim the territory.

During the time Europe was fighting over the coastal settlements, the Senegalese still had control of the land. The Waalo Kingdom existed around the Saint-Louis trading post, so they had a treaty with the French in which the French would pay them for goods and they would provide protection for the traders. When French ambitions turned to colonisation, they started by conquering their Waalo allies in 1855. Around the same time, the Toucouleur Empire had conquered the Futa Toro, which formed out of an Islamic revolution among citizens in the Denianke Kingdom in 1776 who were tired of being persecuted. The Toucouleur unsuccessfully tried to drive out the French in 1857, and the Trarza from Mauritania who supported the Senegalese kingdoms were also threatening French advancement.

The French built a series of forts along the coast and river. The Trarza were told they would not be attacked as long as they stayed north of the Senegal River and they did, thereby allowing France to establish greater control over northern Senegal. The construction of the Dakar-Niger Railway made it much easier to maintain control of the region; Senegal was in French control by 1895 and officially became part of French West Africa in 1904.

French Senegal to independence
The French created the Grand Council of French West Africa to oversee the territories and only French citizens and citizens of the Four Communes in Senegal were able to become members. The colonized people were only considered to be French subjects, so they were prevented from gaining power. However, in 1914 Blaise Diagne was able to prove he was born in one of the communes (Saint-Louis) and became the first black man elected to oversee the colonies. He then passed a law to allow citizens of Dakar, Saint-Louis, Rufisque and Goree to vote in French elections and he sent many West Africans to aid France in World War I.

Senegal and French Sudan (modern Mali) joined to form the Mali Federation in 1959. The following year, France agreed to give them independence and on 20 June 1960, independence was achieved. Senegal defected from the Mali Federation and became an independent state in August 1960. Senegal briefly joined the Gambia to form the nation of Senegambia in 1982, but the two nations separated before the decade ended. Issues with separatists in the southern Casamance region of Senegal have occurred since the 1980s, but a peace treaty was signed in 2004 that has held to this day.

Senegal is often praised for its incorporation of all its ethnic and religious groups into a peaceful society. In the 21st century, Senegal is generally recognised as having a high rate of economic growth and development.

People
The Wolof are the largest ethnic group in Senegal forming 43% of the population. The Fula and Toucouler are the second biggest ethnic group forming 24% of the population. The Bassari and Bedick make up 9% of the population.

Senegal is officially secular but is a very largely Muslim country (92% of the population). The 7% of the population who are Christians included Léopold Senghor, Senegal's very influential and long-ruling first president. Quite a few other religions are represented among the remaining 1% of the population, including traditional African religions.

Talk
Wolof is the native language of some Senegalese people, but you will find that almost everyone speaks it. Knowing the basic Wolof greetings and phrases will go a long way in getting you better service and prices.

French is the official language and learnt by all Senegalese in school, so it is a very useful language for visitors to know. While some Senegalese merchants speak English, most business is conducted in French or Wolof. Other languages used in Senegal include Sereer, Soninke, Pulaar, Jola and Mandinka.

The basic Muslim greeting is often used: Salaam Aleikum - Peace to you. The response is Waleikum Salaam - And unto you peace.

Entry requirements
Senegal has open borders, which means that citizens of almost every country in the world can obtain a visa on arrival.

Citizens of Yemen, Hong Kong, Macao, and Kosovo must apply for a visa at their local Senegalese consulate/embassy.

By plane
Blaise Diagne International Airport in Dakar opened in late 2017. The old Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport that became too small for the increasing number of passengers still handles some international flights to nearby countries.

Delta Air Lines flies to Dakar on most of their US-Africa services, and service from JFK airport takes roughly 8 hours. South African Airways flies direct from New York and Washington-Dulles in just about 7 hours (8½ on the return trip). Other airlines route through Europe such as Brussels Airlines (Brussels), Air Senegal (Paris-Orly), Air France (Paris-CDG), Royal Air Maroc (Casablanca), Iberia (Madrid, Gran Canaria), TAP (Lisbon) and others (5½ to 6 hours). There are flights from various parts of Africa operated by Kenya Airways (Nairobi) and others.

By car
It is possible but a little bit difficult to get into Senegal by car. Senegal prohibits the import of cars that are more than eight years old, but if you are only staying for a short while, and agree to take your car out of the country, you should (eventually) be allowed through, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Senegal allows the import of cars older than five years.

By train
A railway between Dakar and Bamako, Mali has fallen into disrepair and no longer operates. The trains only run within Dakar and to its suburbs.

Get around
Taxi, taxi-brousse, taxi-clando, car-charette, and transport commun (cars rapides) Buslines in Dakar and around Dakar are maintained by SOTRAC (Société des Transports en commun de Cap Vert), now managed by a private company and called Dakar Demm Dikk. Car hire is available in Dakar (city and airport) and sometimes in MBour and Saly Portudal.

The main method of travel around the country is by sept places (from the French for "seven seats," literally questionable station wagons in which they will pack seven people so that you are basically sitting on the next person's lap throughout the journey). You can also come with a group and rent out an entire sept place, but this will be expensive. If you are obviously a tourist, they will try to rip you off, so make sure to set a price before you agree to a driver. If you want to travel more comfortably, buy 2 seats. There are set prices to often-travelled locations. The price per seat from Dakar to Ziguinchor, for example, is CFA9,500.

Little ride hailing app works in Senegal.

Keep in mind that if you wish to drive your own car, there are few street signs (mostly speed limits) and almost all of them are disregarded. Many streets are considered one way, but are never marked as such, and there are almost no stop signs. Heavy traffic areas such as Dakar are best left to experienced drivers and the bold. To get around, one must be willing to dart into traffic, or else, stay stuck at an intersection for a while.

A tollway near Dakar allows you to drive around Rufisque. Especially during peak hours, this is worth the CFA400 (for a regular car), as traffic jams in Rufisque can easily take up to 2 hours.

See
With arid desert and lush rainforests, Senegal boasts a stunning array of sights, sounds and flavours.

 * Lac Rose owes its name to its pink colouring for swimming and is also the terminus of the Dakar rally.
 * Parc National du Niokolo-Noba is one of Senegal's major national parks and an international biosphere reserve.

Do

Money
The currency of the country is the West African CFA franc, denoted CFA (ISO currency code: XOF). It's also used by seven other West African countries. It is interchangeable at par with the Central African CFA franc (XAF), which is used by six countries. Both currencies are fixed at a rate of 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs.

The West African CFA franc is to be renamed the "eco" by the end of 2020. It would continue to be fixed to the euro.

Coins of the West African CFA franc come in denominations of 1-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100-, 200 and 500 francs CFA. Banknotes of the West African CFA franc come in denominations of 500-, 1,000-, 2,000-, 5,000 and 10,000 francs CFA. West African CFA franc coins bear a common design on both the obverse and reverse sides and are valid in eight states that make up the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA; Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine). West African CFA franc banknotes share a common design on both the front and back sides and are valid in eight states of the Monetary Union, one difference is the code letter within the serial number, denoting the member states of the Monetary Union that uses the West African CFA franc.

ATMs
Ecobank accept Master Card and Visa card at their ATMs. Outside major cities, ATMs are non-existent, and credit card transactions unheard of.

Maps
Tourist maps are available at the tourist offices.

International Driving Permit (IDP)
If you want to explore the country by car, you need one.

Vaccines
A yellow fever vaccine is required, together with the vaccination certificate, to enter Senegal. However, it is not checked on a regular basis.

Mosquito repellents
Buy at least a mosquito net (preferably permethrin-impregnated) and a good repellent (preferably DEET-based). Permethrin can be washed into clothing and will remain in the garment for a month before the effectiveness of the product wears off and should be reapplied.

Eat
Be careful with food prepared by the road, as it could be cooked in unsanitary conditions. Western-style meals are available and can be found at restaurants in various parts of Dakar, Thies, Saint Louis and other towns and near the big hotels in the Petite Côte and in some other tourist regions of the country.

If you want to try genuine Senegalese food, you can buy it at many restaurants; or alternatively, you can make it yourself with the food gathered fresh from the markets or supermarkets.

The official dish of Senegal is ceebu jen (or thebou diene), which is rice and fish. It comes in two varieties (red and white, named after the respective sauces). The Senegalese love ceebu jen and will often ask if you've ever tried it, and it is definitely part of the experience. Even better if you get the chance to eat with your hands around the bowl with a Senegalese family. Keep your eyes out for the delicious, but elusive ceebu jen "diagga", which is served with extra sauce and fish balls.

Other common dishes are maafe, which is a rich, oily peanut-based sauce with meat that is served over white rice. Yassa is a delicious onion sauce that is often served over rice and chicken, yassa poulet or with deep fried fish yassa jen.

Drink
If you intend to explore the arid area of Senegal (Saint-Louis & Ferlo), you need to drink several litres of water a day. Even in Dakar, dehydration is possible during warmer months if you do not drink sufficient water.

Work
There are many opportunities for people to make a difference in Senegal. Projects Abroad is a volunteer organisation based in St Louis with opportunities to help out teaching English, caring for underprivileged children, teaching sport or being a human rights advocate amongst other things. Volunteers get to stay with local host families, which is a huge honour.

Learn

It might also be a good idea to learn some basic Wolof, since not everybody can speak French. In addition there are many other languages such as Toucouleur, Serere, and Peul. However, almost everyone can speak Wolof. Therefore knowing Wolof would be a big help.

Stay safe
Although highly exaggerated, there is still fighting going on in the Casamance region of Senegal.

The "struggle" goes on between the government and the Mouvement des forces démocratiques de la Casamance (MFDC). It would be wise to avoid travel to this area. If this is not possible, at least first check with the embassy for the latest situation. To find out how much the situation has improved look at this IRIN News report:

In Dakar, take care when walking the streets: petty theft and scams are abundant. You will be approached by aggressive street vendors who will follow you for several blocks. If refused, often accusations of 'racism" will be leveled at white non-local non-buyers. Also, pickpockets use the following two-person tactic: one (the distraction) will grab one of your legs while the other (the thief) goes into your pocket. If someone grabs your clothing, beware the person on the other side more. Wear trousers/shorts with secure (buttons or snaps) pockets and leave your shirt untucked to cover the pockets.

Be cautious of people claiming to have met you before or offering to guide you. Often, you will be led to a remote location and robbed. Women need to be particularly alert as they are frequently targeted at beaches or markets.

Finally, there have been instances of street stall vendors grabbing cash out of non-local shoppers' hands and quickly stuffing the money into their own pocket. After the money is in their pocket, they claim it is theirs and the victim is not in a position to prove otherwise or protest effectively. Be careful with your cash: do not hold it in your hand while bargaining.

Carry some sort of identification. Police pull over vehicles and check for proper papers occasionally. If you are caught without your passport (a copy of a passport is recommended), the police may try to solicit a bribe; they may even go as far as to take you to the station. Most of the time they are bluffing, and one should not give into such corruption, but some officials may be wicked enough to force the issue. Use this advice with caution: the simplest way to prevent this is just to carry identification.

Homosexuality is a big taboo in Senegal and punishable with 1 to 5 years' imprisonment. LGBT travellers should be extremely cautious. Do not tell anyone about your sexual orientation.

Stay healthy
Get necessary vaccines before arrival. Officially, certification of yellow fever vaccine is required upon arrival if coming from a country in a yellow fever zone, but it is not commonly checked.

Take anti-malarials.

Avoid tap water and all dishes prepared with it. Bottled water, such as Kirene which is most common and bottled in Senegal, is widely available and inexpensive.

To prevent serious effects of dehydration, it is wise to carry around packets of rehydration salts to mix with water, should you become dehydrated. These are widely available at pharmacies and are inexpensive. Alternatively, a proper mix of table salt and sugar can replace these.

Respect
The Senegalese in general are very friendly and hospitable.

Etiquette

 * As this is a Muslim-majority country, the standard greeting is "Salaam Aleikum" as opposed to "Bonjour".

 * As is the case in much of West Africa, always greet people wherever you go. Not doing so is considered extremely rude. As a foreigner, you might get some leeway, but still, greet and acknowledge people to not stand out like a sore thumb.

 * Never beckon a Sengalese person directly, even if they have done something wrong in your opinion. The Senegalese are quite sensitive to being beckoned directly, and it is considered very rude. As a tourist, your words might have an even greater impact.

 * Although Islam is the dominant religion, Senegal is a secular state and the form of Islam practiced by most Senegalese is liberal. Senegal is one of the few rare examples of religious tolerance and diversity. Interfaith marriages are common and there are no sectarian tensions whatsoever. You won't offend a Senegalese person by discussing religion; it's a highly popular conversational topic.

 * Do not enter mosques and other religious places wearing shoes. It is disrespectful.

 * Foreign women can expect to get many marriage proposals from Senegalese men. Handle this with a sense of humour, and caution.

 * As far as dress goes, be aware that anything shorter than knee length is inappropriate. Tank tops are generally accepted in larger towns but should be avoided as much as possible.

 * Shake hands as a greeting. Warning: there are some men and women from a specific Muslim sect (hibadou) that do not touch members of the opposite sex. Do not be offended if a member of the opposite sex does not shake your hand, it is their culture. Instead, clasp your hands together and clutch them to your heart in greeting.

 * Never use your left hand to shake hands or give something to someone as this is considered disrespectful. However, if you are close to a person, it is customary to shake their left hand when parting for long periods of time. It is a wrong that must be corrected at some point in the future, so it is a way of saying that you will see each other again someday.

Sensitive issues
As a tourist, you may be asked by people to give money or gifts. Even if you feel compelled to, do not give out anything to anyone. However noble this deed might be, you could be encouraging people (unintentionally) to be dependent on foreign visitors and this, in turn, could give people more of a reason to harass tourists.

If you really want to make a difference in the community, it is recommended that you go to local schools, the écogardes at the park, or ask the hotel staff. The principal can distribute school supplies to children in need.

title: Senegal


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Senggigi

The Senggigi region is the main tourist destination on the island of Lombok in Indonesia. The main town is Senggigi, and the whole area is well known for its beautiful west facing beaches.

Understand
The Senggigi region is formed by several adjacent yet subtly different areas all lying along the same 2 lane coastal road. The boundaries of each area can seem rather ill-defined. While pockets of development can be found in some areas, long stretches of open undeveloped land lie in between. Nightlife and major restaurants are concentrated in the central township of Senggigi. The first time visitor should be aware of these distinct regional differences. Booking a hotel in Senggigi could mean a relatively remote location where the town centre can only be reached by taxi or public transport.

 * Mangsit — a little to the north of Senggigi township, it has a well established hotel strip running along a long tranquil sweeping beach with traditional outrigger boats resting on the sand. Mangsit is the gateway to the northern area of activities at Gili Islands, Tanjung and Mount Rinjani. It has well established resort hotel choices but few other tourist activities, such as shopping and nightlife. Mangsit can be quickly and conveniently reached from the centre of Senggigi by taxi or public bemo.
 * Kerangdangan — in a large quiet bay to the immediate north of the Senggigi township with some rental villa's in the valley behind the beach.
 * Senggigi (centre) — not a typical tourist resort town, such as may be found in Bali where a day can be spent shopping and socialising at the local bars and restaurants. However there are enough bars, pool tables, TV screens with sports broadcasts, relaxing lounge areas and beach side restaurants to keep people occupied should that be their focus. Many visitors use Senggigi as a home base and take day trips to the waterfalls, the Gili Islands, or go exploring the still authentic villages, temples, and forest habitat found within a couple of hours drive.
 * Batu Bolong — is to the immediate south of Senggigi and has a sparsely spread out collection of hotels, cafes, restaurants, several karaoke establishments and a large barn-like nightclub along the coast road. A smaller restaurant and hotel strip is concentrated at the Senggigi end. It feels in the most part like a southern satellite extension of the Senggigi township. In the valley behind Batu Bolong is a large housing complex catering to Indonesian and expatriate long term residents and visitors. Taxis, or bemo if during daylight hours, give very quick access the centre of Senggigi.

Both Mangsit and Batu Bolong are more focussed on the hotels along their respective beachfronts where at night the centre of Senggigi has a more lively street feel to it with live music playing and people moving about from one venue to another.

Lombok's tourism sector has struggled, and tourism activity in Senggigi went through a very subdued period with many developments halted and businesses closed.

Things had improved, and new shops and tourism ventures opening. Senggigi is again popular with visitors seeking out the stunning scenery and unique culture and flavours of Lombok.

Get in
Senggigi is 15-20 min north of the outskirts of the island's capital Mataram, but more than an hour from the airport.

Lombok's international airport Bandara Internasional Lombok (BIL), is near the city of Praya on Jalan Raya, Tanak Awu Lombok Tengah in central south Lombok, and about 50 km southeast of the Senggigi tourism precinct of West Lombok.

By taxi
Airport Taksi, Bluebird metered taxi, and Express metered taxi serve the international airport. A metered taxi from Bandara Internasional Lombok to Senggigi costs Rp 135,000-155,000. A taxi from the Mandalika Bus Terminal in Sweta on eastern outskirts of Mataram will be around Rp 60,000-65,000. Taxis use a meter and the charge is determined by time and distance. A Rp 17,500 airport taxi surcharge is payable when departing the airport in a taxi. Coupons are available at the Taxi Service counter immediately outside the airport terminal doors.

The main Lombok has for more details on the international airport and connecting services to Senggigi.

By airport bus
A public bus service is available from Bandara Internasional Lombok to service passengers wishing to travel to and from either Mataram or Senggigi. The 8 DAMRI buses serving the route are air conditioned and have a capacity of approximately 40 passengers.

The DAMRI bus services depart Senggigi from 03:00 and are listed as departing every 1½ hr until the last departure from Senggigi at 20:00. The bus is meant to take about 1½ hr but the trip time may be closer to 2 hr.

DAMRI services also depart from the Mandalika terminal every hour and proceed to the airport, commencing at 04:00 with the last bus leaving that terminal at 19:00.

The fare to Senggigi is Rp 25,000, and from the Mandalika terminal it is Rp 15,000. Buses arrive and depart from immediately south of the Art Market on Jl. Raya Senggigi and from in front of the terminal building at the airport. Tickets are purchased on the bus.

Bluebird taxis are normally readily available in Senggigi to fulfill any requirements for travel onward to destinations that are further to the north.

By bemo
In daylight hours the a public bemo is available inside the parking area of the Ampenan market and on the road way outside, the charge to travel up the coast to Senggigi is around Rp 5,000, plus extra charges for any larger items of luggage carried.

Bemo are also available to travel down the western coast from locations in the north of the island. Bayan, Tanjung and Pemenang have public terminal areas, the facilities at the terminals are quite rudimentary and resemble a parking area rather than a formalised terminal or interchange.

By shuttle car
Arriving in the Lombok airport, from Bali by ferry and you haven't booked an end-to-end travel package then getting from Lembar or the airport to Bangsal can sometimes be problematic. You can take a shuttle car service to Bangsal from Lembar, Mataram or Senggigi.

Hotel transfer services
Some of the larger hotels offer pick up transfers to and from the airport. You will need to book ahead for this.

By bemo
Bemos are small covered pick-up trucks with narrow padded seating benches in the rear. They are the main means of short and medium distance transport in the rural and coastal areas of Lombok and can be hailed down on many streets. They will happily take you even short hops around Senggigi and the fares are inexpensive.

An approximate fare from Senggigi to the produce markets in Ampenan is Rp 4,500-Rp 5,500/person. Prices for set distances can vary at time. Try and watch what local customers are paying for a similar distance to your own and if really in doubt just include Rp 1,000-Rp 2,000 extra. If chartering an empty bemo to a particular destination be careful to clarify the exact amount of payment required prior to getting into the vehicle.

Many bemo drivers are reluctant to venture further up the west coast than the northern end of Mangsit Village as the passenger densities drop dramatically from there on. The driver may want to turn back at this point if he does not have sufficient passengers.

Bemos have normally stopped running by dusk on the west coast of Lombok.

Travel agents can also get you on semi-regular shuttle services, which connect Senggigi, the airport, and the harbours of Lembar (for Bali) and Bangsal (for the Gilis).

By taxi
Both the Bluebird and white coloured Express Taksi have a radio dispatch system and both companies cars are equipped with meters which should be used by their drivers at all times. Flag fall is approximately Rp 4,250 and the meter ticks up a few hundred rupiah for every hundred meters past 2 km. Taxis can often be hailed down on the street around Senggigi with the exception of the dark blue Airport Taksi the use of which is limited to arriving airport passengers only. Taxis can be booked in advance either by calling them yourself or by booking through your hotel. Late at night they can often be found congregated near the Marina nightclub in Senggigi. Taxis can often be found parked opposite the Holiday Resort in Mangsit and on the hill above the Sheraton resort at the northern end of Senggigi township both day and night.

By car
Renting a car is also an option and there are many places to rent from in the Senggigi area. Expect to pay Rp 150,000-Rp 175,000 (low end mid-late 1980s Suzuki mini jeep-Jimmy (2x4) to Rp 450,000 for a late model Toyota Kijang (2x4). Check over the vehicle very carefully before signing the rental agreement.

By motorbike
To hire a motorbike, expect to pay around Rp 80,000 for one or two years old automatic scooter models and possibly more in peak season when demand for rentals can be very high. Thoroughly check over the motorbike before signing the rental agreement. In Indonesia a helmet is required at all times, lights should be illuminated whilst on the road.

By ojek
Prices are negotiable but a rule of thumb is Rp 5,000 if the destination is nearby.

By horse cart
Horse-pulled carts, known as Cidomo, are very common around Senggigi and all across Lombok. They are a good method of transportation for short distances such as from your hotel to a restaurant. Make sure to agree on the price before the journey and before alighting the cidomo. Rp 10,000 is the maximum price to pay for a short journey.

By boat
Traditional fishing boats known as perahu ply the waters around Lombok. They are instantly recognisable due to their outriggers, two lengths of extra large bamboo sealed at either end and attached by bars on both sides like a catamaran affording greater stability in heavy swells. They can also be chartered on the Senggigi beaches, either directly from owners (in which case some knowledge of Bahasa Indonesian or Bahasa Sasak will come in handy) or via any travel agent, who will take an often generous commission.

By bicycle
Traffic is relatively light throughout the island so travel by bicycle is quite possible and provides a very different cultural experience to other means of transport. Some of the hotels have bicycles available and Senggigi has a bicycle tour operator.

See

 * Pura Batu Bolong, 2 km south of Senggigi. Small Hindu temple located in a scenic spot at a small headland overlooking Senggigi beach, named after a rock (batu) with a hole (bolong).  At the tip of the this headland is an empty chair representing Brahma, the Hindu God of Creation.  Free entry, but you'll have to 'borrow' a sash (Rp 10,000 a throw) from one of the urchins if you don't have one already.  Sunsets seen from here can be very impressive.
 * Senggigi Beach, A spit of sand stretching out from central Senggigi. This is Senggigi's raison d'etre but, by Indonesian standards, it's not all that spectacular.  The beach is a sometimes a little dirty, the hawkers can be a nuisance and the Senggigi Beach Resort has grabbed most of the land.  Some local surfers brave the smallish waves. The pathway around the peninsula can be a pleasant promenade. The sunsets can be very beautiful.
 * Kerangdangan beach, On Sunday afternoons Kerangdangan beach is a popular destination for Lombok residents. They go there to wander about and socialise or sit on the sandy beach or grassy area behind the warungs. People often take a swim in the sea and later eat satay and other snacks made by Kerandangan villagers and sold in the beachfront warungs.  There are also two small and more expensive venues with informal outdoor dining in a cluster of small barugas with big cushions and relaxed service. They are set a little back from the beach and are open most days and nights.  Full menus are available at these two venues and they offer an interesting alternative to the Senggigi township offerings. Access to the area is not obvious and the number of beachside warungs has been reduced due to a large parcel of land being annexed for a new development. Look for an entrance toward the northern end of the bay.

Senggigi is a popular launch point for other activities on Lombok. Without the hassle of Mataram, you can visit several other locations and come back to the same hotel each night. Tour operators can arrange these trips for you at around Rp 350,000 for a very basic short trip for the day including a private car and driver. Excursions to more distant locations are up around Rp 800,000-1,000,000 and would most likely include a guide for the day. Overnight trips are easily arranged and the necessary accommodation charges for a guide and driver should be quite modest.

Popular excursions that can be done in a day trip include:

 * Village visits, including weaving villages and other handicraft-producers.
 * Waterfall visits. There are some very interesting waterfall and village destinations open for tourism visits in the northern part of the island.
 * Scenic drive the coastal road to the north of Senggigi has been extensively upgraded turning this road into a popular scenic route with stunning vistas of quiet kampungs, traditional rural activities, near deserted beaches and bright green rice fields with mountain backdrops. It has steep climbs over some of the headlands affording panoramic views of the coastline and the Lombok Strait. The drive northwards up the coast from Senggigi is a popular destination for young local couples and families going on Sunday outings. It is a stunning scenic and normally reasonably quiet drive and is serviced by small traditional roadside shops and warungs. Sundays can get a bit hectic on the roads, especially toward sunset.

Do
Most activities around Senggigi revolve around diving, snorkelling, and hiking.

Surfing
Senggigi has some surf shops in the town, but there are much better areas on Lombok for surfing.

Scuba diving
Several of the major local operators have offices in Senggigi. They also offer snorkeling trips

Snorkelling
For extra interest and safety it is best to go with a diving buddy that has local experience with the currents and underwater geography of the coral reefs off Senggigi, Mangsit and Gili Islands.

Bicycle rides
Some of the hotels rent bicycles for riding around the Senggigi precinct, see the By bicycle section.

Massage
Traditional therapeutic massages are provide by local Sasak women both on the beaches, including Mangsit beach and at many of the hotels. It must be understood these are strictly traditional therapeutic massages provided by local Sasak practitioners.

 * Santai Beach Cottages at the southern end of Mangsit beach or Windy Beach Cottages at the northern end are a good place to enquire. Ask at the reception desk and they will summon one of the local traditional masseurs from the beach or nearby kampung for you. Santai will provide a nice beachside massage and fresh juices and tea can ordered from the hotel. At Windy Beach Cottages at the far north end of Mangsit Beach local village women have an arrangement to use a comfortable screened baruga in the hotel grounds.  Enquiries can be made at reception or by yourself on the beach if not perturbed by often over interested beach traders. Bookings can also be made at the cellphone shop opposite the entrance to Windy Beach Cottages.

Buy
Lombok-style woodenware, decorated with local creatures and geometrical patterns in shades of black, brown and red, is sold in several shops in town. The tall masks are quite distinctive, though potentially difficult to get on the plane home. Boxes and bowls are also numerous. It's not as intricate and refined as Balinese arts, but it has a distinctive look and charm, and is quite inexpensive.

Make sure you are aware of your home countries import and quarantine restrictions as some require wood to be fumigated and inspected for vermin and pests. Nearby Australia for example has very strict regulations and failing to declare many items including those made of timber, seeds and some shell items may lead to heavy penalties and confiscation. Check your home countries import regulations and do not forget to declare the goods on the way in when you get back home or when passing through 'transit' countries such as Australia if you are clearing customs there.

Persistent hawkers push Komodo freshwater pearls on tourists, and will sometimes follow visitors for the length of the town. The pearls are quite pretty as costume jewellery, and make nice gifts or souvenirs, but the hawkers play on a misunderstanding of their market value. They will often quote a starting price of around Rp 300,000 for a strand, though they can be had for as little as Rp 35,000. Pearls for sale on the street tend to be the left-overs of the industry, with more flaws and variations in shape. They are normally fresh-water pearls and contrary to popular belief some of these come from China. Longer strands cost more. Better quality strands (rounder, more uniform pearls with fewer flaws) ought to cost more, though the hawkers seem not very sensitive regarding quality and will let you pretty much pick the one you want. Genuine (salt water) Lombok pearls are readily available and high quality examples can be found at one of the many speciality pearl dealers in Lombok.

There are also many handicraft items available as well as sometimes very good copies of antique artefacts such as Kris and many small traditional Sasak, Hindu and Buddhist items from Lombok's past as well as from nearby Sumbawa, and Bali

If you lose your watch or sunglasses, never fear. Street vendors are always at hand to provide a replacement.

 * Senggigi Square.
 * Senggigi Plaza.

Senggigi has plenty of ATMs in several locations along the main road passing through the main township.

Eat
There are plenty of eating options in Senggigi, with a surprising array of Western-style dishes on the menu. Alas, local chefs are often better with the names than the recipes for Western favorites, and seem to follow a philosophy of "when in doubt, add more butter." Promoters will follow you along the street offering business cards, 10% discounts, and free "cocktails" to draw you in. Beware of discount offers, and before you bite, ask if VAT and service will be added to the bill. A promised 10% discount can quickly become a 10% surcharge after they hit you with tax and service.

Local budget roadside and beach eating

 * Warungs and small eating houses, Many roadside warungs sell local food to local people and visitors can join in. Some have very good food at a very reasonable price. Look for the busy ones and make sure you understand what you are buying. Watch and see how popular a warung is with the locals and you will have a strong indication of value and quality. The taxi driver rule is a good one to apply and it works in Lombok as well as anywhere else and they generally know where to eat and where not.
 * The Senggigi beach has a warung on the beach. It mostly serves satay (beef or chicken) and is very popular with the locals. Lucky vegetarians may happen to run into the local gado-gado woman that walks along the beach dishing out delicious and spicy Indonesian salad.
 * The Senggigi strip including Batu Bolong and Mangsit have warungs and small eating houses.
 * At Kerungdangan there are many traditional warungs all along the beach and the area is most popular on Sundays when local villagers and people from the city and elsewhere will go there to visit the beach and eat traditional foods such as Satay. You need to look for the entrance running toward the beach from the main road. A token entrance fee is charged for cars and motorbikes (on the way out) and the normally quiet and pretty beach is worth a visit anytime. Sunday is the big day here.
 * Klui beach is the next bay north from Mangsit beach is also a popular destination on Sundays. It offers an alternative to the tourist haunts of Senggigi. Have a coffee sitting on the beach or in the warung, a token exit fee is charged on weekends if entering by cars or motorbike from the highway.
 * On the hilltop between Klui beach and Lendang Guar-Setangi beach you can find Warung Manah and Adil right on the coastal highway on bend at the top of the headland. Laid back and very basic, tea, coffee, other drinks, light snacks and sometimes light meals. Occasionally tourists will stop there, normally it is just frequented by locals from the nearby village or passing by and city day trippers on the weekends. Great place to break a drive up the coast and enjoy the view to Bali or the sunset over Mount Agung.
 * The roads and kampung lanes of Lombok are often lined with such places to eat. Some are better than others, and then there are the ones that are plain scary and that no sane person would ever eat anything from. They are always a good place to meet the locals and have a snack, light meal, a class of tea or coffee. Best to ask for no sugar (tanpa gula) unless you like it very sweet.

Budget restaurants

 * Cak Por-cafe tenda, Jl. Raya Senggigi, (opposite Senggigi Abadi supermarket and the BNI bank and ATM). This cafe tenda (roadside marquee) provides traditional local dining at very reasonable prices and has an interesting menu. The BBQ fish and their nasi goreng seafood is delicious and very good value. The BBQ chicken dishes are a little small but tasty. Local sambal is normally served with meals and a tomato salad can be ordered. Staff are helpful relaxed, and friendly. They have many juice drinks and cold beer. It is dining "tenda" (under a tent) sitting at rough plywood tables set back a little from the road. Closed Sundays, opens at dusk and often until very late, it is very popular with both locals and visitors.

Mid-range

 * Bale Tajuk, Jl. Raya Senggigi. Small but popular eatery offering a range of local and Western dishes, including a fairly decent Lombok style ayam taliwang Rp 20,000.
 * The Office. A tourist and expat oriented restaurant and bar on the water behind the market near the Sheraton. Its barn-style building is attractive, but the food is hit-and-miss and rather expensive. The soto ayam and chicken sandwich are pretty good though. They have a pool table a nice view of the beach and cold beer.
 * Papaya Cafe, Jl. Raya Senggigi, (not far from the Perama Office). Worth a visit for their Chinese or Italian food. Rp 35,000 to Rp 50,000 will get a good main course. The restaurant has a rustic atmosphere with a spacious dining room open to the street. Live music plays every night after 8PM. The sound level can be a bit excessive for dinnertime conversation and in later hours becomes quite loud.
 * Cafe Bumbu, Jl. Raya Senggigi. (in front of Papaya Cafe). Thai style food. Rp 30,000-50,000 will get a good main course. During the night it provides candle lit tables.
 * Taman, Jl. Raya Senggigi, (near the Senggigi Beach Hotel). Serves Indonesian, Western and Indian food for a reasonable price. Expect to pay around Rp 30,000 upward for a main dish. They can disappoint at times, especially their breakfasts. They have an attached bakery selling rather ordinary breads and cakes. A hotel shuttle service is provided in the near Senggigi area but the driving style may give considerable alarm to many passengers.
 * Yessy Cafe, Jl. Raya Senggigi, (near the Sheraton Hotel). Indonesian, Western and Thai food for a reasonable price. Expect Rp 30,000 for a main dish. Friendly staff with complimentary hotel pickup and returns within the Senggigi area. The tax surcharge may surprise as it is not mentioned on the menu but is added to the bill total.
 * Coco Beach, Kerandangan beach. (just north of the Senggigi township and hidden away near the beach at the far end of the Kerandangan beach). Look for a small sign on the beach side of the roadway as you travel along Jl. Raya, Kerandangan. Mixed menu with Indonesian and European style food. Cold beer and other refreshments available. Choose carefully from the menu. May add a surprise tax surcharge to the bill.

Splurge

 * Ye Jeon, Senggigi Plaza 2F. Korean restaurant. Probably the only one in all Lombok. Single dishes are reasonable (try the bibimbap, Rp 35,000) but sets with a full spread of banchan appetizers are pricier at Rp 80,000 and up, with 21% service/tax slapped on top. It may disappoint some people familiar with Korean food. There is an eclectic range of souvenir items available on their ground floor level.
 * Ye Jeon, Senggigi Plaza 2F. Korean restaurant. Probably the only one in all Lombok. Single dishes are reasonable (try the bibimbap, Rp 35,000) but sets with a full spread of banchan appetizers are pricier at Rp 80,000 and up, with 21% service/tax slapped on top. It may disappoint some people familiar with Korean food. There is an eclectic range of souvenir items available on their ground floor level.

Drink
Senggigi's nightlife still suffers from far more supply than demand, with punters thinly spread and bars desperate for customers. Still places open and close but on Friday & Saturday nights the young crowd from Mataram push in a bit of life.

 * Happy Cafe, Jl Raya, Senggigi, live band with something extra. Local expats seem to come together here every Saturday night. A good place to start your night. 20:00-01:30.
 * Club 69, Jl.Raya, Senggigi. Karaoke and nightclub with ladies that entertain and encourage customers to sing with them. Open 20:00-02:00.
 * Club 69, Jl.Raya, Senggigi. Karaoke and nightclub with ladies that entertain and encourage customers to sing with them. Open 20:00-02:00.

Sleep
Try to avoid lodging near the mosque if you are a light sleeper, as the call to morning worship can be quite loud.

Private villas
Villas listed here are completely private individual properties with their own pool and self contained support facilities including food preparation areas. One should always remember the label 'Villa' is one of the mostly widely abused words in the Indonesia travel industry.

 * Villa Qunan - is a stylish luxury 2-bedroom villa with private pool and luxurious facilities, wonderful gardens and breathtaking sunset views across the Lombok Straits to Bali. US$295
 * Villa Qusia - is a luxurious 3-bedroom villa on the hill above the village of Mangsit, good views of Bali’s Mt. Gunung Agung across the Lombok Strait. US$474
 * Villa Qusia - is a luxurious 3-bedroom villa on the hill above the village of Mangsit, good views of Bali’s Mt. Gunung Agung across the Lombok Strait. US$474

Hospitals
Several hospitals are located in Mataram including the islands main public hospital Rumah Sakit Umun, Risa Hospital in Cakranegara near Mataram mall and RS Harapan Keluarga in Selagalas east of the city.
 * Please see the Lombok main article for a list of medical facilities available in Mataram.

Connect

 * Internet cafes, the town of Senggigi has many WiFi hotspots in cafes, restaurants and hotels, plus several internet cafes. #G services are normally available though they may fall back to EDGE and GRRS in some parts of town or at peak load times.
 * Internet cafes, the town of Senggigi has many WiFi hotspots in cafes, restaurants and hotels, plus several internet cafes. #G services are normally available though they may fall back to EDGE and GRRS in some parts of town or at peak load times.

Go next
Much of Lombok can be accessed easily from Senggigi.

 * Take a boat or ferry to the Gili Islands for snorkelling or diving
 * Climb up Mount Rinjani, an active volcano (these can be suspended for long periods during the rainy season but normally reopens by the beginning of April)
 * Travel northward up the scenic coast road to Tanjung and further north to Bayan
 * Visit Kuta and Tanjung A'an in Lombok's south

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

title: Senggigi


text:
Senigallia

Senigallia is in the Ancona region of Marche, Italy.

Understand
A fishing port town of 45,000 people (2017) in the Marche region, it has a well preserved castle called.

Senigallia is also known for the beach. The sand is very special being uncommonly soft. For this reason, Senigallia is also known as "Spiaggia di Velluto" ("Velvet beach"). On the beach you can also have a drink and enjoy music at the.

"Take a stroll like an Italian"- at around sunset (when it is cooler) just after, or right before dinner, every Italian heads to "Il Corso" a main street in the town to say hi to all their neighbors, catch up on gossip, and meet friends.

Get in
Senigallia is well connected by car, since the Adriatica highway has an exit for the town.

Many trains stop at the city train station, though to catch most of the Intercity (and higher) trains serving the Adriatica train line, you will need to catch a local train and take a connection in Ancona, Pesaro, or Rimini.

Get around
The universal way of getting around in Senigallia is by bike. You will find people of all ages using bikes to move around the small town.

Car traffic has increased, though, and sometimes even in this bike heaven you begin to feel the need for protected bike lanes. Actually, there is practically only one bike lane, which runs along the whole "Lungomare".

Moving by car, though sometimes unavoidable, can be sometimes difficult, especially in summer, when the city is full of tourists. Parking in particular can be a difficult task.

The centre of the town is mostly closed to non-resident car traffic.

There are a few bus lines, but the service is not very frequent.

title: Senigallia


text:
Senj

Senj is a town with a population of around 8,000 on the Adriatic coast of Kvarner region of Croatia.

Camping

 * Camp Skver is located in the centre of Senj, right next to the coast. Since it's a coastal location, only non-shady places are available. It comprises a traditional tavern, decorated in the old style of the littoral region, offering national fish specialities. There is a little harbour for small boats and powerboats besides the camp. Price: 2 person + 1 tent + 1 car: appr.

Go next

 * Plitvice National Park is about 100 km away, that is about 2 hours of driving.

title: Senj


text:
Senja

Senja is the second largest island in Norway. The island is situated in Northern Norway, between the city of Tromsø and the town of Harstad.

Regions
Since 2020 Senja is a single municipality, with its administration in Finnsnes. Formerly the island was divided into four municipalities. The eastern, central and northern parts belonged to Lenvik, which also encompasses large tracts of the mainland. Berg and Torsken were on the western side, facing the Atlantic, and Tranøy was situated along the southern coast of the island.

Towns and villages
The town of Finnsnes is on the mainland. From here the Gisund bridge leads over to Senja. The hamlet on the Senja side is called Silsand. Gibostad is a picturesque village further north along the straights of Gisundet, and Vangsvik is south along the same waterway.

The more picturesque villages, though, are found on the western side. Fjordgård (Fjord farm) is the starting point to famous Segla and Hesten mountains and offers views to Husøy. Husøy (House island) is flat island surrounded by dramatic mountains. Mefjordvær has a picturesque lighthouse and some old buildings, again with fabulous landscapes around. Gryllefjord is the biggest village on the west side, with a more modern feel. Torsken is an ancient centre with an 18th c. church.

Other destinations
Ånderdalen National Park is a relatively small national park on the southern side of Senja. However, the variations are huge.

Talk
Senja has its own particular accent of Northern Norwegian, that is particularly pronounced on the west coast. Texas-style rounded r's and high intensity are characteristic traits. Sami dialects reminiscent of the one in Northern Sweden used to be spoken in inland hamlets, but Sami is today a dying language on the island.

Get in
Finnsnes is easy to reach by plane (Bardufoss airport) from Oslo. Several catamarans depart for Harstad and Tromsø daily. There is also a catamaran connection nine times a week to Lysnes (Northern Senja) with onward bus connections from Tromsø. From Skrolsvik on the southern tip of Senja, there is a catamaran connection to Harstad.

All year around, convenient car ferries go from Brensholmen near Tromsø to Botnhamn in northern Senja. In summer, there is a car ferry from Gryllefjord to Andenes at the northern tip of Vesterålen.

Get around
Basically, there are good bus connections from Finnsnes out to most of the western villages. However, getting between the villages on the western side are difficult by public transportation. Good planning is essential.

If you have your own car, there are reasonably good roads all over the island. Be aware of the tunnels between Senjahopen and Skaland on the west coast. Curiously enough, they don't seem to appear on maps, but provide a fantastically scenic and convenient road on the west side.

See
Basically, the reason to go to Senja is to see the rugged coastline on the Western side. Largely overseen by most tourists, tourist brochures and tour operators, this is one of the most dramatic parts of Norway, and easily competes with the neighbouring Lofoten. Be warned that the road on the Western coast is both very narrow and windy, and can be challenging for larger vehicles. Make sure to stop at some of the villages and beauty spots, like Fjordgård, Husøy, Mefjordvær, Bøvær and Torsken. The inside of Senja is comparatively less dramatic, with forests, lakes and rounded mountains. The Ånderdalen National Park is a relatively small national park, but with varied coastal and inland scenery, including a pine forest.

Sights in the traditional sense play second fiddle on Senja, but the following attractions add spice to a Senja visit:

 * Segla mountain in Fjordgård offers good hike and mesmerizing views of the fjord. A beautiful spot for hiking and must visit place for instagram lovers.
 * Torsken Church in Torsken (near Gryllefjord) is an 18th c. wooden church.
 * Kaperdalen Sami Museum in Kaperdalen (midway between Finnsnes and Sifjord on the west coast) is a restored Sami farm built of turf huts.
 * Tranøy Church on the small island of Tranøy off the south coast of Senja is another 18th c. wooden church.

Itineraries
Whatever you do, drive along the rugged west side. Drive to Botnhamn, either from Finnsnes or by ferry from Brensholmen near Tromsø. Then continue along the west coast, making detours to Fjordgård, Husøy, Mefjordvær and Bøvær, down to Gryllefjord and Torsken. Then either cross back to Finnsnes or take the ferry across to Andenes.

Do

 * Hike beautiful mountains that Senja has to offer. Popular choices include Segla, Barden, Hesten, Kongan/Kongeporten, Grytetippen, Keipen etc.
 * Explore inner Senja with kayaking on lakes.

Eat
Fresh fish is all the rage, cod in the winter, coalfish in the summer. Try out skreimølja in the wintertime, fish, roe and liver cooked together. In summer, there is seimølja, same thing, but with coalfish (saithe). Feskekake, fish burgers, are slightly less rustic.

 * Skarvesteinen Kafé at Husøy offers a bit of everything, with a fantastic view towards Øyfjord. Try their Kvæfjordkake, a dream of a rum cream and merengue cake.

Drink
Moonshine? A few local pubs are found in the villages. Note that pubs are only open in tourist season (early Summer to Spring).

Stay safe
Senja is the kind of place where one forgets to lock the door. The major threat to the visitor is the visitor himself. Raging storms, rocky terrain and low population density call for caution when venturing into the elements. That said, there are plenty of beauty spots that can be reached even by inexperienced nature lovers. It's all about informing oneself before heading out.

A number of low key deep sea fishing resorts is found along the west coast. If you're out fishing, make sure to take weather forecasts and safety instructions seriously.

Go next
In the summer, taking the ferry to Andenes is the first step to the magnificent drive to Å, at the Westernmost point of the Lofoten.

title: Senja


text:
Senmonorom

Sen Monorom is the capital of Mondulkiri Province in Eastern Cambodia.

Understand
Sen Monorom lies at an altitude of 800 m which makes it a little bit cooler than Phnom Penh, especially at night.

The city is rapidly developing and so is the tourist industry. You will not find untouched or unspoiled nature or ethnic groups. But even though you might not be the first tourist to lay your eyes on Sen Monorom it is probably one of the least visited areas in Cambodia and many of the ethnic groups still live much as they always have, but this may soon end if the tourist industry keeps growing.

Get in
From Phnom Penh: vans and buses take one hour to get through the Phnom Penh traffic before they hit the open road, so leaving at night or very early morning has its pluses. The east—west linking Sen Monorom to Phnom Penh via the junction town of Snuol (head north from here for Kratie, Stung Treng and Ratanakiri; head south for Loc Ninh in Vietnam) and Kampong Cham is not in great shape. Potholes mark the road from Phnom Penh, making it bone-jarring much of the time. (Kim Seng Express minivans don't have working aircon, so trips can be hot until sundown. Not all their seat belts are in working order. Mekong Express is not an express. Rithya collects many bad reviews for unsafe driving and over-crowding. Indeed, passengers from perhaps half of all minivan companies report 'terrifying' driving.)

A minivan from Phnom Penh costs US$15 and takes about 7 hours.

The bus service from Siem Reap has about 50-50 good and very negative reviews. The main complaint is that it's sold as an express minivan taking 8 hours, but the company often puts passengers (without warning) in an older-style bus that makes many stops and takes 13 hours.

The north road to Ban Lung in Ratanikiri is passable in the dry season, but not too fun in the wet season. The best route is still the long way round via Kratie, but that may change.

Get around
The centre of Sen Monorom is quite small and can be explored on foot, but a bicycle can also be a lot of fun. However, if you want to venture off into the forest then the easiest way to get around is on a motorbike.

See
There is not much to see in the city. There is a small market next to the bus station. This is the gateway to Mondulkiri Province, a unique part of Cambodia. Sen Monorom is not touristy and has jungle, rolling grass fields, hill tribes, waterfalls, and winding dirt roads.

Buy
You can buy scarves and other handicrafts made by the minority people in the shops around the city as well as coffee and honey. Nature Ledge and the Middle of Somewhere provide genuine hand woven scarves and crafts if you are after a more authentic product.

Eat

 * Bamboo Cafe (in the middle of the main street, opposite Hefalump). Cheap, safe, cool. Good quality Khmer food + Western drinks such as apple juice, & fresh passionfruit juice. Nice teenage kids serving the tables (chance for a Khmer lesson, which they enjoy giving). US$3.
 * Bamboo Cafe (in the middle of the main street, opposite Hefalump). Cheap, safe, cool. Good quality Khmer food + Western drinks such as apple juice, & fresh passionfruit juice. Nice teenage kids serving the tables (chance for a Khmer lesson, which they enjoy giving). US$3.
 * Bamboo Cafe (in the middle of the main street, opposite Hefalump). Cheap, safe, cool. Good quality Khmer food + Western drinks such as apple juice, & fresh passionfruit juice. Nice teenage kids serving the tables (chance for a Khmer lesson, which they enjoy giving). US$3.
 * Bamboo Cafe (in the middle of the main street, opposite Hefalump). Cheap, safe, cool. Good quality Khmer food + Western drinks such as apple juice, & fresh passionfruit juice. Nice teenage kids serving the tables (chance for a Khmer lesson, which they enjoy giving). US$3.

Go next

 * By bus to Kratie, 4 hr.
 * By bus to Siem Reap, 10-13 hr, US$11. Those buying an 'express mini-bus' ticket sometimes find themselves on an old-style bus making many stops.

title: Senmonorom


text:
Sentul

There's more than one place called Sentul:

Indonesia

 * Sentul (Indonesia) - a suburb of Bogor, West Java

Malaysia

 * Sentul (Malaysia) - a suburb of Kuala Lumpur

title: Sentul


text:
Seonyu Island

 * Seonyu island is a public park in the Yeongdeungpo district of Seoul, the capital of South Korea
 * Seonyu island (선유도) is also a relatively remote island popular with holiday makers near the city of Gunsan in North Jeolla province in South Korea

title: Seonyu Island


text:
Seoraksan National Park

Seoraksan National Park (설악산국립공원), also spelled Soraksan, is a national park in Gangwon, South Korea.

Understand
Located in the relatively remote north-east of the country, the Seoraksan National Park covers an area of 400 km2 and is known as the backbone of Korea, and offers a great deal of scenery with its mountains, cliffs and waterfalls. The mountains have multiple hiking courses, valleys, and cultural artifacts hidden in each valley, and are internationally renowned as a habitat for rare plants and animals. UNESCO designated the region in 1992 as a Biosphere Reserve.

History
Seoraksan as a National Park began in 1965, when 163 km2 of the Nature Protection Area was designated as a Korean Natural Monument number 171. This area was the further expanded in 1982, when 393 km2 was designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and has been continually expanded since then.

The main attraction of the Seoraksan national park is Seorak Mountain, also referred to as Seolsan and Seolbongsan. The name of the mountain, Seor-ak, refers to its size ('ak' meaning 'big') and the white, snowy color of its peak ('seor' or 'seol'), since its snow would not easily melt, keeping its high altitude rocks in a permanent state of white.

Seoraksan, or Seorak Mountain, peaks at 1,708 metres (5,603 feet), and is the third largest mountain on the Korean Peninsula. Seorak Mountain is the highest mountain in the Taebaek Mountain Range, which is the N-S trending belt which along the eastern margin of the peninsula. The Taebaek range, mainly composed of a single body of Jurassic granite, gently slopes inland to the west, with a significantly steeper decline to the east, falling into the Eastern Sea.

Get in
Sokcho City bus number 7 ventures into the Park Village of Seorak-Dong and up to the park gates. There are express buses running from Gangnam Express Bus Terminal (in Seoul) to Sokcho City roughly every 30 minutes.

There are flights to the nearby (and extremely quiet) Yangyang airport from both Seoul Gimpo and Busan's Gimhae International Airport

There are express buses to Sokcho (속초) from two bus terminals in Seoul: Dong Seoul bus terminal and Gangnam Express bus terminal.

The park happens to be accessible from Vladivostok in Russia's far east via a ferry connection to nearby Sokcho.

Fees and permits
₩3,500 per adult, cash only.

See

Do

Hiking Courses

 * Gwongeumseong Fortress Course : travel time is 1hours and 30 minutes. Distance is 1.5 km. The grade of difficulty is low with a bit of slope.
 * Geumganggul Cave Course : travel time is 1 hours and 40 minutes. Distance is 3.6 km. The grade of difficulty is low with a bit of slope.
 * Biryong Falls Course : travel time is 50 minutes. Distance is 2.4 km. The grade of difficulty is low with a bit of slope

Eat
There are many restaurants but very few of them are western restaurants. Owing to the proximity of the ocean (10 km) you will find exceptional seafood.

Interestingly, the locals crave Mexican food and all yearn to go to America someday. As an effort to satisfy their concerns and also as a means to cater to the taste of westerners, Korea's one and only Chipotle was established in August 2015 through the aid of the Korean government.

Lodging
There are plentiful lodgings in the Seorak-dong region of the park ranging from luxury hotels to smaller motels and a youth hostel. Try the wonderful Seorak Tourist Hotel, the only accommodation located within the actual park for upwards of US$100 per night but worth it. The motels in the park village 2 km from the gates also offer acceptable lodgings. A decent room at any of these with a TV and shower will run about US$35 but may be higher at the peak seasons of summer and autumn.

Camping
There is a campground outside of the park near the park village of Seorak-dong about a 5 minutes drive from the park gates.

Backcountry
The campground is at the base of the park. It is also a rock and boulder mixture sitting in a river flood plain. If you plan on camping bring an inflatable mattress and expect a lumpy sleeping area. It is extraordinarily beautiful area featuring a granite upwelling of 1000 to 1500 m mountains. The mountain range is no more than 5–10 km from the ocean. Sadly, access to the beach is blocked by barbed wire and chain link fences as a legacy of North Korea spy teams from 1998. When they were discovered they attempted an armed escape and casualties were experienced on both sides.

Stay safe
Be cautious of mountain wenches who will offer small samples of delicious berry wine and then sell you a bottle of something else that sadly resembles Jinro house wine in taste.

title: Seoraksan National Park