text:
Magnitogorsk

Magnitogorsk (Russian: Магнитого́рск muhg-nee-tah-GOHRSK) is a city in Russia.

Understand
The "Magnetite mountain" that lends the place its name was once its chief feature, a mountain almost entirely composed of iron ore. It was heavily mined, and the iron locally smelted, throughout the 1930s, during the days of Stalin's Five-Year-Plans. The mountain's mines have been mostly exhausted by the present day, but Magnitogorsk still sees heavy smelting activity processing ores from other parts of Russia and other former Soviet republics. The years of smelting have taken an ecological toll on the city.

By plane
There are two flights per day to Magnitogorsk from Moscow's Vnukovo airport and Domodedovo International Airport (Utair).

By train
There is only one train from Moscow to Magnitogorsk, and only on odd days.

By car
You can reach Magnitogorsk by car by routes M7 or M5 through Ufa.

See
Magnitogorsk is home of Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works, and has hockey club Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL, the "Steel Foxes".

Stay healthy
Be aware that Magnitogorsk is a heavily polluted town.

title: Magnitogorsk


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Magnolia

There is more than one place called Magnolia:

United States of America

 * Magnolia (Arkansas) - a town in Arkansas.
 * Magnolia (Delaware) - a town in Delaware.
 * Magnolia (Illinois) - a town in Illinois.
 * Magnolia (Iowa) - a town in Iowa.
 * Magnolia (Minnesota) - a town in Minnesota.
 * Magnolia (Mississippi) - a town in Mississippi.
 * Magnolia (New Jersey) - a town in New Jersey.
 * Magnolia (North Carolina) - a town in North Carolina.
 * Magnolia (Ohio) - a town in Ohio.
 * Magnolia (Texas) - a town in Texas.
 * Magnolia (West Virginia) - a town in West Virginia.
 * Magnolia (Wisconsin) - a town in Wisconsin.

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

title: Magnolia


text:
Magnolia (Arkansas)

Magnolia is a city in Timberlands region of Arkansas.

Get in
Magnolia is located off HWY 79, southwest of Pine Bluff. Bounding south, at the intersection of HWY 79 and 82 E. you'll find Magnolia's business district. The closest major cities are Texarkana, TX; Little Rock, AR; and Shreveport, LA. These three cities are major not only for its commerce, but for its airports as well. The best way route of transportation is a motor vehicle, but If you need to fly in, you will need to come into one of these airport locations and then rent a car!

Get around
Magnolia is pretty large in acreage, but the bulk of its commerce, residences, and other facilities are located radially from the court square. If you know North St., Jackson St., Vine St., Main St.(US HWY 371 S. and 82 E.), and US HWY 79 you can get anywhere and everywhere in the city. These streets take you to the churches, banks, eateries, shops, etc. the town has to offer. Not to mention, most of these streets take you to the historical Court Square!

See

 * Magnolia Trees Magnolia derives it name from the approximately one-hundred-and-fifty-year-old (per the Hester Brothers' best recollection) Magnolia trees that surround the downtown courthouse. The downtown area is clean, vital and features several murals chronicling Magnolia's history.
 * World Championship Steak Cook-Off, which has been featured on the Food Network. The festival takes place on the third weekend in May and is a popular stop for Arkansas politicians stumping for office.
 * Southern Arkansas University (SAU). SAU is known for its world-class rodeo team and agricultural business program.
 * Wilson Memorial Garden Just off the square. Magnolia is overflowing with its magnificent art and murals, but as a new structure, this garden is absolutely breath taking from the waterfalls to the vast collection of botanicles.

Do

 * Lake Columbia West of city, Enjoy fishing and water sports.
 * Logoly State Park North of city

Eat
In addition to unique dining establishments, chains such as Dairy Queen, KFC and McDonald's are well-represented.

Drink
Columbia County was a dry county, but has since lifted its ban on selling alcohol.

title: Magnolia (Arkansas)


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Magnolia (Delaware)

Magnolia is a town in Kent County, Delaware. It is nestled between the towns Rising Sun and Little Heaven. Magnolia is south of Dover, the state capital, and is about a mile away from the St. Jones River. Similar to the surrounding towns, Magnolia has great small town appeal. To give you an idea of just how small it is, the entire town has two stop lights. It was founded in 1885 by Thomas H. McIlvaine, John B. Conner, Thomas Draper, James L. Heverin, William S. McLain, John W. Wall, Alexander Jackson, Jacob Prettyman, and Captain James Grier.

Magnolia is the namesake of the Magnolia Tree, the favorite of the Duke of York, who once owned the land that came to be known as the town of Magnolia. The city was home to 277 people in 2020. It is a common spot for tourists to drive through on the way to the beaches in southern Delaware.

The town is a family-friendly place, home to two local schools, McIlvane Elementary School and St. Thomas Moore Preparatory. The town emanates a very strong sense of community. It is as sweet as its name suggests. The small town appeal is really what makes Magnolia special. People are very close knit and this is adds to the sense of safety individuals feel around town. Although you have to travel outside of the town's limits for more shops, sleeping, and eating places, not having access to these things has a sort of calming effect on people who do not want the hustle and bustle of even small city life (like the town of Dover).

Understand
On average, the warmest month for Magnolia is July while January is the coldest. Magnolia sees its fair share of rain and is quite humid in the warmer months.

The town is centered on Main Street. This area is home to some of the town's most notable places.

The story behind the town's boundary lines is quite interesting. When the boundaries were first decided, the founders believed that creating the boundaries in the shape of a circle would be representative of brotherhood. Although, the expansion of the town has come up many times, if you search Magnolia on Google Maps today, you will still find the original circle boundaries decided by its founders. Magnolia consists mostly of small housing developments and farming land. Many new developments went up over the past few years during the housing boom. As one might expect, the town has a number of beautiful Magnolia trees.

By car
By turning off Rt.1 heading south toward Milford and turning left onto Barkers Landing Road, you will drive right into the town of Magnolia. You can also get to Magnolia by following Rt. 10 to Main St. There is no public street parking in Magnolia. The town is so small that it is not necessary to have parking garages or other paid parking spots.

Get around
The town is so small that it is easy to get around just by walking. Most areas in Magnolia have sidewalks so getting around in this manner is not difficult at all.

See

 * [[Image:Magnolia Fire Company.JPG|thumb|Magnolia Fire Company,Town Hall, and Magnolia town water tower]]
 * [[Image:Lowber House Magnolia.JPG|thumb|The Matthew Lowber House]]
 * [[Image:Lowber House Magnolia.JPG|thumb|The Matthew Lowber House]]

title: Magnolia (Delaware)


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Magnolia (Texas)

Magnolia is a city in the North Barrier Coast of Texas.

Get in

 * Biggin Hill Airport

title: Magnolia (Texas)


text:
Magog

Magog is a town of 25,000 people (2011) in Quebec at the northern end of Lake Memphremagog.

Understand
Magog flourished in the 19th century thanks to the construction of flour, saw and card mills by Ralph Merry III, the founder of Magog. Arriving in the region around 1797, he constructed the first dam on the north side of the river, between an island and a stream, where the railway now lies.

The town’s original name was “Outlet”, as it is located where the lake drains. For the same reason, the parish of Saint-Patrice-de-Magog, founded in 1861, carried the name Saint-Patrice-d’Outlet at the time. Outlet was the official name for many decades, although Magog started appearing on official documents in 1783.

In 1850, Outlet became Magog, which was incorporated on January 28, 1888 as a village, and in 1890 as a town.

Magog became a city in autumn 2002 when it merged with Magog Township, which covers a large area divided into three districts by two shores of Lake Memphremagog and the Town of Omerville, formerly a parish attached to Magog. In a historical context, this merger appealed to a strong sense of mutual ownership based on over 200 years of sharing and developing a common land.

By car

 * From Montreal take the Autoroute 10 East. Take exits 115, 118, or 123.
 * From Sherbrooke take the Autoroute 10 West. Take exits 115, 118, or 123.
 * From Vermont take I-91 North to Canadian border (Rock Island border crossing between Stanstead, QC and Derby Line, VT). It becomes Autoroute Joseph-Armand Bombardier (route 55). Take exit 29 or 33.

Summer

 * Memphrémagog Arts Circuit
 * Swimming and water sports
 * Golf and mini putt
 * Horseback riding
 * Tennis
 * Cycling
 * In-line skating
 * Stroll through the Baie-de-Magog park
 * Paintball
 * Visit vineyards

While you’re having fun in the water, keep an eye out for Memphré, a legendary lake creature that has been making waves for over 200 years. Memphré has been seen over 225 times, with sightings dating back to 1798.

Winter

 * Skating on the ice path that borders Lake Memphremagog
 * Snowmobile trails

Events

 * Traversée Internationale du Lac Memphrémagog swimming event
 * Magog-Orford Grape Harvest Festival, fall

Eat
The main street of downtown Magog offers great dining and retails options. Whichever restaurant you choose, look for the traditional comfort food, poutine (french fries, cheese curds, and gravy) or smoked meat.

Connect
Twenty Cogeco Wi-Fi network access points are available free of charge at Main Street and Merry Street in the downtown core.

title: Magog


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Mago National Park

Mago National Park is in south-western Ethiopia, towards the border with South Sudan and Kenya. It is east of the Omo River, and stretches south towards the Chew Bahir basin. Omo National Park is on the western side of the Omo River.

Mago National Park is rich in wildlife with few human inhabitants. The vegetation is mainly savannah grassland and savannah bush, extending across an area of 2,160 km². Mammal species total 81, including hartebeest, giraffe, roan antelope, elephant, lion, leopard and perhaps even a rare black rhino. Temperatures swing between 14 and 41 and rainfall is low.

Understand
The areas along the lower Omo river are populated by probably the richest diversity of ethnic groups and cultures in all of Ethiopia, including the Aari, Banna, Bongoso, Hamar, Kargo, Kwegu, Male and Mursi peoples.

title: Mago National Park


text:
Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar is the largest hill station in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra state. It's at an altitude of 1372 m above sea level in Satara district, about 120 km southwest of Pune.

Understand
Due to its high altitude, the town has a cool climate and offers many pleasant walks. There are several lookout points which offer spectacular views of the surrounding hills and valleys. There is an old Shiva temple in the forest, which is the source of five rivers, including the Krishna river which is the second longest river of peninsular India. It is a very good place to visit.

Mahabaleshwar is visited by many thousands of tourists every year. It is well connected by bus with the important towns of the region. There are numerous hotels for every budget. The peak season is March–May; it rains very heavily from June to September.

Mahabaleshwar is extremely famous for strawberries, accounting for 85% of the strawberry production in India.

By bus
Mahabaleshwar is easily accessible from Pune and Mumbai. You can take a tourist bus (Volvo) from Mumbai, departing from Dadar East, Sion or Vashi. The ride will take you 6 hours and will cost around ₹1500. An ordinary AC bus will cost ₹200. The Volvo bus from Pune is operated by private companies (Neeta and Konduskar), and they charge approx ₹400 each way. The Govt. Express bus from Swargate starting 5:45AM and every hour with a price of ₹120 per individual. Private cab tours to Mahabaleshwar from Pune and Mumbai are operated by Vasa Cabs.

By car
Mahabaleshwar is about 120 km by car from Pune, and 247 km from Mumbai.

From Mumbai, the trip takes about 5 to 6 hours if traveling via Panvel through Mahad and Poladpur. A better option is to take the Mumbai-Pune expressway and the highway onwards from Pune to Satara; this route is 40 km longer but only takes 5 hours, and has easier driving (the road is straighter). You have to get off this highway at a place called Sirur and then travel via Wai and Panchgani to Mahabaleshwar.

On arriving by car, the Municipal council charges a fee of ₹50 per head, which is collected on entry points to the town and is valid for seven days. The Panchgani Municipal council also charges an entrance of ₹50 per vehicle if you are just passing through on your way to Mahabaleshwar.

By train
You can also reach Satara by train from Mumbai or Bangalore. Mahabaleshwar is 47 km from Satara and takes little more than one hour from there.

Time of arrival
Try to arrive here in the morning because most of the hotels have a check-in time of 9AM. If you arrive later you may have to wait until another room becomes vacant.

You can get latest timetable for buses for Mahabaleshwar here.

Get around
Mahabaleshwar is built on a plateau and getting around is quite easy. Taxis (cabs) and buses leave from the center of town near Irani's petrol pump opposite the club. Taxi drivers charge only ₹50 for ferrying at local places within or around New Mahabaleshwar. Taxi service for sightseeing or local ferrying is centrally regulated with the office opposite the gate to the Govt Bus Stand.

The main destinations are the "points", named after prominent British administrators who found these splendid locations with unbeatable views. The points are located at various edges of the plateau in different directions. Rental cars and taxis can get there quickly. Over the years, most people hire a car from wherever they are coming from to conveniently go around the points. The roads are narrow and not well maintained. Expect extremely heavy traffic and jams all over if you are visiting over the weekend or a public holiday. Parking lots are non existent near the points and so cars are parked along the road side making it even more difficult to reach the points. For the more adventurous, horses are available in town and there are lovely shady bridle paths for delightful rides. The best way to get around is by bus which is provided by Govt. You can book ticket prior day only. Cost is around ₹80-85 per person. Govt. Bus has two tour, one is Pratapgad darshan in morning 9:15AM and Mahabaleshwar darshan in noon 2:15PM (4 hours covering 11 Points Arthur, Kate, Strawberry farm and finally ending with Sunset, a semi-luxury bus 37 seats. The driver speaks only in Marathi with some Hindi. During off-season there is only one bus but during season three buses ply on this Darshan. Beware of monkeys.) They are best.

See
Although there are close to 25 'Points' in Mahabaleshwar, lots of these points would give you the same view (of mountains/valley) from a slightly different angle. The following are a must:
 * Shri Kshetra Mahabaleshwar (Old Mahabaleshwar). It is 8 km from new Mahabaleshwar, north side from S.T. Stand of the Mahabaleshwar. It is a holy place of lord Shiva. Also there is UGAM (Origin) of the rivers- Krishna, Savitri, Venna, Gayatri and Koyna,
 * A must see is a water well in the heart of market in the compound of the Library which is almost 150 years old. It still provides water to locals and is some 100 feet deep.
 * A must see is a water well in the heart of market in the compound of the Library which is almost 150 years old. It still provides water to locals and is some 100 feet deep.
 * A must see is a water well in the heart of market in the compound of the Library which is almost 150 years old. It still provides water to locals and is some 100 feet deep.

Do

 * Play poker
 * Play poker
 * Play poker
 * Play poker
 * Play poker
 * Play poker

Buy
The bazaar is in the center of town and consists of a pedestrian-only street with shops selling everything from fancy locally-made walking sticks to snacks and the specialty of the region - roasted chickpea nuts. At the far end of the bazaar stands a Mahabaleshwar institution, Imperial Stores, owned and run by generations of the Irani family. Here you can get anything from videos to provisions to ice cream to beer.

Eat
Strawberries, mulberries and carrots are the specialties of Mahabaleshwar. One should not forget to try the Corn grown locally available in both roasted and boiled form. Corn patties made from it is delicious. The food prepared with local vegetables has a unique taste and one should also try the small tomatoes which look like cherries! Don't forget to have the staple food of Maharashtra, the Vada Pav, which is deliciously prepared by the local vendor next to the Hanuman Temple in the main market.

Almost all the hotels have their own restaurants. Hotel DreamLand, Hotel Panorama, and Hotel Shreyas have nice restaurants and good food, and all three are close to the State Bus stand. Many hotels, like Hotel Regal, Bharat Hotel and Hotel Rajesh, serve a buffet meal in a platter, also known as the 'Gujarati thali'. However, eating at the hotels you stay is excessively costly.It is advisable to take meals at other restaurants as an outsider. Hotel Panorama, which is just behind the Govt Bus Stand, offers good quality veg food at reasonable cost.

 * Hotel Templeview - Vegetarian restaurant at old Mahabaleshwar for excellent parathas Rajasthani favorites. Hotel Woodland is another good option.
 * Hotel Templeview - Vegetarian restaurant at old Mahabaleshwar for excellent parathas Rajasthani favorites. Hotel Woodland is another good option.

Sleep
Never go to Old Mahabaleshwar for accommodation; it's better to stay near the bus stand. However, the Old City is better if you want to enjoy nature or the calm of the forest.

Splurge
These hotels can cut a few more bucks from your wallet and these cost in range of ₹3,000-5,000 per night, depending on season.

Go next

 * Nashik - An ancient holy city. About 210 km from Pune.
 * Shirdi - A town in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. There are many buses connecting Pune to Shirdi (200 km, 5 hour ride). Shirdi was where the saint Sai Baba lived till his samadhi in 1918. Today, it is a pilgrimage center and millions of his devotees from all over the world come each year to pay their respects.

title: Mahabaleshwar


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Mahad

Mahad is a city in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. So many people have this wrong impression that it is famous for Ganesh Temple which is one of the 8 Ashtavinayak temples, but there are two cities having similar names. The city which comes in Raigad district is not a place among the Ashtavinayak.

Get in

 * From Mumbai Mahad can be reached by road from Mumbai by NH17. All State transport buses going towards South Kokan stops at Mahad. Mumbai Mahad distance is 175km.
 * From Pune Many state transport buses runs between Pune and Mahad. There are two routs to reach Mahad from Pune one is via Bhor-Varandha Ghat and another new route is Via Tamhini ghat. Mahad Pune distance is around 105km.

By train
Mahad is not on rail line Konkan railway but nearest rail station is Veer which is 16km from Mahad towards Mumbai on NH17 All passager trais and very few express stops at Veer.

 * KR3    +RATNAGIRI PASS  DADAR(15:35)  VEER(20:22)
 * KR5    +DIVA SWV PASS  PANVEL(07:05)  VEER(09:58)

Get around
Mahad is only a small town and easily enough covered on foot.

See

 * Chavadar Tale, a lake
 * Raigad Fort — Samadhi (tomb) of the great Maratha warrior, Shivaji Maharaj, who brought the Hindu revolution to Islamic India
 * Gandharpale Caves-- Gandharpale Caves[], also called Mahad Caves is a group of 30 Buddhist caves, 105 km south of Mumbai on Mumbai-Goa Highway near Mahad. The caves are located near the NH-17 and well connected by road.
 * Hot water springs at Village SAV
 * Old Shiva Temple (Vireshwar Mandir)
 * Shivtharghal The Great Maharashtrian Saint Ramdas had written the great holy book Dasbodh here.
 * Great Water Falls and green natural beauty.
 * Land of Freedom Fighters and revolutionary freedom moment of India.
 * Old River Port from where small commercial and traveler launches (boats) travel to the Bay of the Arabian Sea via the river way

title: Mahad


text:
Mahahual

Mahahual (also spelled Majahual) is a city in the municipality of Othón P. Blancothe, state of Quintana Roo on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, a short distance northeast of Belize.

Understand
Mahahual used to be a quiet and friendly small fishing town off the beaten track. However a large cruise ship docking jetty dubbed "Puerto Costa Maya" has been constructed just up the beach. Every day a couple of cruise ships dock and the occupants are disgorged onto the town to drink, shop, swim and ride jet skis and quad bikes. However the further south away from the cruise ship dock you go the quieter the town becomes, so it's still possible to have a quiet time of it, especially at some of the hotels south of town.

In 2007, Hurricane Dean landed just north of Mahahual. It heavily damaged the cruise ship dock and destroyed much of the small village. The village was rebuilt, cruise ships returned, and many nice hotels opened.

A new seaside malecon runs from the main road to the southern end of Mahahual Pueblo. The malecon is a pedestrian walkway with the beach to the east and businesses to the west. Many nice restaurants and shops line the Malecon. The town has several ATMs.

If you are looking for quiet tranquil beaches, away from the crowds, drive through Mahahual and continue 4 km along the coastal road. After passing the small bridge of Rio Bermejo (hardly a river, more a small stream connecting the mangrove waters with the ocean) you will find small ecological hotels, restaurants and rental houses, all beachfront. Electricity is generated with solar panels, wind mills and most of the businesses use a generator as a back up. Rain water is captured on roof decks and collected in systerns used to shower and flushing toilets.

When you arrive at km 15, there is a turn off to the right, take it to either return to Mahahual or continue to Xcalak. If you continue on the beach road, you will find lots of empty bays,only a few rental houses on the road side.

By bus
From the bus stop of Bacalar and from the bus station and airport of Chetumal, ADO bus service is available to and from Mahahual twice a day. From the Chetumal airport ADO charges M$255 (April 2022). It costs less altogether to take a taxi from the airport to the Chetumal main bus station and an ADO bus from there for M$150 (April 2022).

From Chetumal Caribe buses depart from the main bus station and colectivos from the old bus station in the street Salvador Novo. In Bacalar you can join the buses and colectivos at the intercity bus stop.

If you are coming from the north like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, check on the ADO app or website to find out if there are ADO buses serving this route. Otherwise go to an ADO bus station and ask at the ticket counter whether there are second class buses for that route. And you could ask your accommodation in Mahahuala whether there are colectivos from Limones. Then you could take a Mayab bus from Tulum, Cancun or Playa del Carmen to Limones and change there to a colectivo to Mahahual.

By tour
Organized tours are also available from a variety of companies. You will not necessarily be over run with the tourists from the cruise ships, when they leave you have this sleepy town to yourself. Things switch quickly from bustle to mellow.

By cruise ship
The is in the east of the village.

Get around
Your best bet is to rent a car. Most travelers land in Cancun. It will take over four hours but do not confuse this area with Cancun. Four hours gets you to an entirely different world.

See

Do
There are many tours offered from Costa Maya port and the town of Mahahual to meet all kinds of demands. Enjoy the many restaurants and shopping along the sandy beaches located in town. Venture out onto the water with unlimited water excursions. Enjoy the culture and charm of this small and diverse village.

Water excursions
The barrier reef, which is part of the Meso American Reef, just off shore offers opportunities for snorkeling or scuba diving, and keeps the waters of the Caribbean safe for kayaking. This reef is the 2nd longest barrier reef in the world being just over 900 km long, starting at Puerto Morelos in Mexico, stretching down past to Belize to terminate at Honduras.

You can find many water excursions from town, including catamarans, paddleboards, fishing, jet skis and flyboard.

Beaches
The beaches of Mahahual are often restaurant concessions that provide many services to you. You can find great food and drinks and massages on the beach. The nice sandy beaches provide great swimming and snorkelling opportunities.
 * Puerto Angel Beach
 * Puerto Angel Beach

Mayan ruins
There are several sites of Classical Period Mayan ruins close enough for a day-visit. Mexican law requires a fee of about US$5 for the use of video cameras at these sites.

Buy
The town has several ATMs: one is in the "Casitas", a subdivision adjoining the port, at the Mobius internet/DVD rental store; another is located at Luna De Plata, a kilometer south of the pueblo; a third is an HSBC bank ATM within the town's only Pemex station, 4 km west on the main access road. Cash is still the best option as many times the ATM machines do not work or are out of cash. (updated in 2012)

Sleep
Staying just a few kilometers outside of town south along the beach will keep you from the majority of the cruise traffic.

Go next
Your next destination for staying can be:

To the south

 * Xcalak - Remote village for great fishing and diving

To the south-west

 * Bacalar
 * Xul-Ha
 * Chetumal. From there to the islands of San Pedro or Caye Caulker in Belize

To the north

 * Valladolid
 * Tulum

title: Mahahual


text:
Mahajanga Province

Mahajanga is a region of Madagascar.

Cities

 * Antsohihy
 * Befandriana Nord
 * Port Berge
 * Marovoay
 * Marovoay

Eat
Absolutely a necessity in visiting Majunga is to have brochettes and beer at the waterside while watching the sunset over the water. Head towards the water and swing a left at the fat baobab tree and you will find loads of lovely little wooden hotelys set up to enjoy the sunset and breeze. Should not miss this!

title: Mahajanga Province


text:
Mahale Mountains

Mahale Mountains National Park  lies on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Western Tanzania.

Understand
Named after the Mahale Mountains range that is within its borders, the park has several unusual characteristics. First, it is one of only two protected areas for chimpanzees in the country. Another unusual feature of the park is that it is one of the very few in Africa that must be experienced by foot.

The park headquarters is in the park at GPS: -6.035154, 29.741279.

Another office of the park is further north at the air strip at GPS: -6.011507, 29.764750.

Get in
There are no roads to get into Mahale. You need to do the last bit by boat.
 * Get to Kigoma, from there take the MV Liemba to Lagosa. Then choose between the following:
 * Take the park boat to the park entrance (US$200). The MV Liemba can radio them, so they can come and get you from Lagosa.
 * Take a local boat to the park entrance. Depends on your language and bargaining skills. Very tough to arrange. Only very few people in Lagosa speak English and they may not be there when you arrive at the beach or may not offer boating services.
 * Take a motorcycle from Lagosa to the airstrip (about 30-40 minutes and TSh 15,000 per person - DoyLaBs), where an official park office is located. They are able to arrange further transport.
 * Airstrip to Kasiha Bandas (about 19 km by boat) will cost you Tsh 66,150. See calculation in "Get around".
 * They will also have you buy the ticket for the boat to take you back. The city closest (and therefore cheapest) to the northern boundary of the Mahale Mountains National Park is Kililani. From there you would need to figure out a way to get back to Lagosa to take the MV Liemba.

 * Official Park Boat In a brochure, they claim they can also pick you up in Kigoma with their boat. Since the distance is about 180 km the cost will be quite high and may be at around TSh 800,000 (one way). This is an estimation based on the actual charges for shorter distances (see below). Check with the park official for the price. Depending on your group size and the capacity of the boat, this may still be reasonable to do. However, keep in mind that this will take a while and you will miss the experience of sailing with the MV Liemba.
 * Charter plane You can fly in with a private charter plane. Usually these flights are arranged as part of complete package with the stay in the park. The Nomad camp offers this. Also the Mbali Mbali can arrange this. If you get lucky you can hitch a ride with a plane. It may get cheaper then, but will still be expensive. From the air strip take the official park boat.

Fees and permits

 * US$20 Chimpanzee Trekking per group
 * US$80 entrance fee per person per 24 hours

Get around

 * Walk
 * Take an official park boat
 * Prices depend on fuel consumption and rather arbitrary calculations (see difference in kilometers and difference in fuel below) by the park officials. They claim one liter fuel costs TSh 3,150 and charge an additional 40% of the fuel price for wear and tear (Oct 2014). Examples of charged prices in Oct 2014:
 * Airstrip to Kasiha Bandas (about 19 km): 25 liters (TSh 47,250) + 40% Wear and Tear (TSh 18,900) = TSh 66,150
 * Kasiha Bandas to Kalilani (about 14.5 km): 15 liters (TSh 110,250) + 40% Wear and Tear (TSh 31,500) = TSh 110,250

See
Chimpanzees, hippos, crocodiles, fish, monkeys, leopards (very rare)

Do
Fishing, kayaking, trekking

Eat
What you bring, if you stay at the self-catering bandas.

Drink
What you bring, if you stay at the self-catering bandas. If you bring water purification tablets (e.g. Micropur Forte) you can easily use the exceptionally clean water from the lake.

Sleep

 * Kasiha Bandas (GPS: -6.117289,29.730789) are self-catering. A kitchen with basic equipment can be used. Bring your own food. US$40 per person per night will be charged when entering the park. Bandas have two Queen size bed and sleep two persons (or two couples?). They are very well kept and nice.
 * Other camps, including Mbali Mbali (GPS: -6.129121, 29.731559) and Nomad  (GPS: -6.138535, 29.733037), are quite expensive and offer full board. If you can afford them, they are probably a very comfortable option.

Camping
Not possible.

Backcountry
You are not allowed to walk freely on your own. You need to book a tour or hire a park guide.

Cope

 * Bring money and mosquito nets
 * There is no ATM anywhere. All park related fees (e.g. activities) can be paid with a Visa credit card. It doesn't hurt to make sure you have some money for tips or are able to pay some things in cash.
 * If you plan to stay at the self catering bandas, bring water purification tablets (Micropur Forte).

Stay safe
Ask your guide about any danger from crocodiles. They have been seen here (GPS: -6.084762, 29.729438).

Go next

 * Kililani - the first village north of the park headquarter. It is between the park headquarters and the air strip.
 * Lagosa (if you want to take the MV Liemba back to Kigoma or (after 14 days) onwards to Zambia.

title: Mahale Mountains


text:
Mahallat

Mahallat (pop.50,000) is a city in Markazi Province, Iran. It is a place of culture and warm mineral water. In ancient times it was an important location for Zoroastrianism.

Get in
You can take bus from Tehran or Isfahan direct to Mahallat.

Mahallat also has two bus terminals.

Do
Sarchesmeh Atashgah Flower Village

Sleep

 * Hotel Agsha

title: Mahallat


text:
Mahan

Mahan is a town in Kerman (province), 30 km from Kerman, on the road to Bam.

Get in

 * By car Mahan is connected to Kerman by a freeway.
 * By bus From Kerman, Khajoo squre.
 * By private cars From Kerman, Khajoo squre, or Sarasiab square.

Get around
Apart from Bagh-e-shazdeh, everything is in walking distance. You can go to Bagh-e-shazdeh by taxi.

See

 * Aramgah-e-Shah Ne'matollah Vali mosque (entrance fee 25,000 rials)
 * The tomb of Shah Nur-eddin Nematollah Vali, poet, sage, Sufi and founder of an order of dervishes, has twin minarets covered with turquoise tiles from the bottom up to the cupola.
 * Karavan Sarai the old Karavan sarai is an impressive building with good views from the roof. Ask the friendly lady at the tourist office to take you there.
 * Historical house the only historical house that is still in its original condition. No entrance fees, don't pay the touts who hang around the house.
 * Bagh-e-Shahzade a few kilometers out of town, a beautiful example of a mughal garden, excellently maintained, with many cool water features.
 * Shazdeh Garden, one of nine Persian gardens inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Drink
Like in other cities in Iran, drinking alcohol is illegal but you can buy many types of drinks like Doogh, Fruit juices, Black tea, Soft drinks (both international makes such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi , and their brand names including 7up, Sprite, Fanta, etc., and local makes such as ZamZam, Ma-o-sha'eir and so on from the markets.

Go next
By bus or savari to Kerman.

title: Mahan


text:
Maharashtra

Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र Mahārāṣṭra) in Western India is the third-largest state of India by size and the second-largest by population. It stretches from the west coast to the interior regions with a variable climate. Maharashtra contains India's most industrialised region, the Mumbai-Pune belt. Agriculturally, too, the state is one of India's more advanced and well-irrigated.

Cities
Here are nine of the most notable cities.
 * (Bombay) — the summer capital of Maharashtra, also the commercial capital of India

 * — the winter capital of Maharashtra, the city of oranges, at the geographical centre of India

 * — more than 500 years of history, with traces of Nizamshahi, Shah Jahan and Peshwas

 * — educational hub in east Maharashtra, the home of Goddess Ambadevi

 * (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) — the city of 52 doors, famous for its Mughal monuments and Ajanta caves

 * — the home of Goddess Ambabai

 * — a holy city of Sikh Religion

 * — the city of pilgrimage - The Grape city

 * — the cultural capital of Maharashtra, known as the Oxford of the East with old town, museum and excellent restaurants

Other destinations

 * — eight Temples of Lord Ganesha

 * — one of the 12 Jyotirlinga in India

 * — formerly a wildlife sanctuary, this park forms part of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve with Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. This area is home to the Bengal Tiger and Indian leopards, sloth bears and bison. Sambar deer and blackbuck are also present. There are also several species of amphibians, reptiles and birds as well.

 * — world famous for its caves of three religions, a total of 30 caves are divided into Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves. Ellora is also the abode of Grishneshwar, the 12th Jyotirlinga in India

 * — part of the Meighat Tiger Reserve, this park has a large variety of mammals, fish and butterflies. The water crocodile was reintroduced into the Gagda and Dolar rivers

 * — has Earth's only meteor crater in basaltic rock

 * — popular forest resort with a lake found in the Navegaon hills with a diverse variety of mammals, fish and birds. Opportunities exist for a jungle safari, sailing on the lake or staying in a tree-top house.

 * — Mahatma Gandhi's "village of service"

 * — the largest national park in Maharashtra designated as a Tiger reserve, besides tigers, one may see Indian leopards, sambar deer, Indian python, and Indian cobra. With nearby Tadoba Lake, a large diversity of birds can be appreciated by the avid bird-watcher. A variety of butterflies and insects are also found here. For visitors, jungle safari trips via Gypsy vehicles and buses with local guides can be arranged

Talk
The principal language spoken is Marathi. Hindi and English are widely spoken and understood. Mumbai is fairly cosmopolitan, with many languages, including English being spoken. Konkani is a minority language closely related to Marathi, spoken by the eponymous Konkani community. Though Konkanis are common in the Konkan region, they are a minority everywhere.

Get in
All the cities of Maharastra all well connected by rail, air and road.

By plane
Maharashtra has the following important airports:

 * 1) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai : The main air hub of the state and the country. It has excellent service to all major cities of the world as well as most Indian cities. International non-stop flights are available from London, Paris, Frankfurt, Seoul, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Atlanta and other cities. Domestic flights connect to Delhi, Bangalore, Goa, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Nagpur and many other cities in India.

 * 1) Pune International Airport (Lohagao Airport), Pune : Connected mainly to other Indian airports (Delhi, Goa, Bangalore).

 * 1) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur : Well connected to other Indian cities. Some international flights are available.

There are other, smaller airports in the cities of Aurangabad, Nashik, Kolhapur, Nanded and Shirdi. Except for Aurangabad Airport, which has regular flights scheduled, other airports have only occasional flights. If you do intend to fly to these cities anyway, make sure you have good knowledge of your flight details because flights are rare. It is much easier to reach these cities by road or railway.

By train
Maharashtra is also well connected with other parts of India by rail. Maharashtra is served by Western Railway (WR), Central Railway (CR), Konkan Railway (KR) and South East Central Railway (SECR) zones.

Rail travel is quite cheap compared to travelling by road. Trains in India, although faster than cars/buses, are quite slow due to the terrain and also due their sheer length (it is not unusual for a train to have up to 24 coaches). Travelling a distance of about 600 km takes about 10-12 hours.

Mumbai is served by both WR and CR. Trains to Mumbai from other parts of India are abundant and you should have no difficulty to find one which suits you if you check the Indian Railways timetable. If you intend to travel through the coastal region (Konkan) to Mumbai, it is highly recommended to take one of the several trains on the Konkan Railway line. The journey is full of beautiful scenery, from sea coasts and rivers to mighty waterfalls and green forests amidst farming villages and towns. The line also has the highest railway viaduct in Asia and the longest railway tunnel in India. Unless you take the Vande Bharat Express along the way, the journey from Madgaon in Goa to Mumbai CSMT takes about 12 hours. However, do not make this journey during the monsoons (June–September) as landslides are frequent and the railway tracks frequently sink in the soft, wet ground.

Pune is an important railway junction on the Central Railways and receives trains from all parts of India. It is also an important terminus for trains leaving to many cities.

Nagpur is another important junction of both CR and SECR. Being close to the geographical centre of India, trains travelling north–south as well as east–west pass through Nagpur and stop there. Therefore, Nagpur is pretty much reachable directly by train from most of the major cities of India.

Most other major cities in Maharashtra also have direct rail connectivity with other parts of India, but trains may be fewer in number. An alternative is to change trains from one of the major junctions/termini in Maharashtra, from where there are many trains to other parts of Maharashtra. Major railway junctions are Manmad, Bhusawal, Wardha, Purna and Kurduvadi, apart from the cities mentioned above.

By car
Seven national highways connect Maharashtra to other parts of India.

 * 1) NH 48 connects Delhi and Chennai. Passes through Mumbai, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur.
 * 2) NH 53 connects Hajira (Gujarat) and Paradeep (Odisha). Passes through Dhule, Jalgaon, Akola, Amravati, Nagpur, Bhandara.
 * 3) NH 44 connects Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) and Kanniyakumari (Tamil Nadu). Passes through Nagpur.
 * 4) NH 65 connects Pune and Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh). Passes through Solapur.
 * 5) NH 50 connects Solapur and Mangalore (Karnataka).
 * 6) NH 63 connects Nizamabad (Telangana) and Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh). A tiny length passes through Sironcha on the eastern tip of Maharashtra.
 * 7) NH 66 connects Panvel and Kanniyakumari. Passes through Mahad, Chiplun, Sawantwadi.

There are numerous other roads but the national highways are the best maintained of all. Some highways may require you to pay tolls at the state border. Many highways have a police checkpost at the state border, although they will not stop you if you don't arouse their suspicions.

By bus
Bus services are provided by state transport corporations as well as by private bus companies.

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) runs a comprehensive network of buses, popularly known as ST buses, within and outside the state. There are 3 classes of buses. The commonly seen red buses are inexpensive, non-AC buses intended for cheap travel. They run between various cities in Maharashtra and adjacent states. Particularly, they connect all the capitals of adjacent states (Gandhinagar/Ahmadabad, Bhopal, Raipur, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Panaji) to at least one city in Maharashtra. But these buses are not very comfortable, especially for long-distance travel as they stop at many villages en route. Another class is of semi-luxury, non-AC buses having separate cushioned seats per passenger. These are popularly known as 'Asiad' buses and have a green or purple top.

The new fleet of luxury buses (Shivneri and Ashwamedh) provide more comfortable, air-conditioned travel at slightly higher prices, although the price is lesser compared to private buses. Look for blue coloured (Shivneri) or orange-brown coloured (Ashwamedh) buses bearing the MSRTC logo. (Some buses may have 'M.S.R.T.C.' written on the front windshield.) Typically, semi-luxury and luxury buses will stop only at a few places indicated on the route information in the front.

Tickets can be purchased on boarding the bus, but it is more convenient to reserve a ticket in advance (at a bus depot, authorised agent or online) to save the trouble of finding a seat for yourself.

The state owned bus companies of some adjacent states (GSRTC, MPSRTC, APSRTC, KSRTC, KTC) also provide similar types of bus services to Maharashtra.

Many private buses also ply between major cities of Maharashtra and adjacent states. The service offered is quite similar to state-owned semi-luxury and luxury buses, but at higher (typically about double, or more during tourist season) prices. Seats in such buses can be booked from one of the numerous bus agents like Redbus, Abhibus, and MyTicketBuddy that run small agencies in any medium-sized (or larger) city.

Beach resorts
Coastal Maharashtra (Konkan) has some of very beautiful beaches. With a 720 km coast line, there are beautiful beach destinations almost every 50-100 km, starting from Dahanu in the Northern part of the State to Sindhudurg, at the Southern tip.

Some popular beaches are: While the beaches in Bordi, Gorai, Juhu, Alibag, Kashid and Murud-Janjira are well-developed, with multiple accommodation choices, the rest remain still off the tourist circuit. The primary reason is lack of good accommodation choices. At most of the other beaches, the only decent stay options are properties owne and managed by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), a govt. organisation. These MTDC resorts have amazing location with great views, but being govt. run, these are not among the best in service, activities and food.
 * Bordi
 * Gorai-Madh
 * Juhu
 * Girgaon Beach (Chowpaty)
 * Alibag
 * Nagaon, Alibaug
 * Kashid
 * Murud-Janjira
 * Harihareshwar
 * Ganpatipule
 * Tarkarli
 * Vengurla
 * Terekhol
 * Devgad beach
 * Taramumbari
 * kunkeshwar beach
 *  Pirvadi Beach (Uran)

Hill Stations
Popular hill stations in Maharashtra are -
 * Matheran
 * Mahabaleshwar
 * Panchgani
 * Chikhaldara
 * Bhandardara
 * Amboli
 * Raigad
 * Lonavala

Other sites

 * National Parks at Mumbai
 * Meteor Crater at Lonar
 * Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai
 * Astavinayak yatra
 * Shirdi
 * Windmills at Chalalewadi

Do

 * River rafting, mountain biking and kayaking at Kolad

Trek the Sahyadri
The Sahyadri range of mountains is an impressive hill range in the western parts of Maharastra running north to south. There are many peaks in these ranges with medium height, highest being 'kalsubai' peak. Many of the hills have been converted into Forts by Chatrpati Shivaji and later Maratha rulers, some forts are even older. Many of the forts are in ruins, but still there is a lot to see and experience. Every fort has its own importance and interesting bravery stories of Shivaji and his soldiers (मावळे). Hence trekking the forts and hills in the sahyadri's has a charm of its own. Especially in the monsoons, its a place to die for, with lush greenery and pure waterfalls abundant in the hills. The treks range from very simple to absolutely tough. These western ghats are accessible from major cities like Mumbai, Pune and Nashik.

Eat
There are lots of snack and side dishes in Maharashtrian cuisine. Some quintessentially Maharashtrian dishes are:

Surali Wadi: Chick pea flour rolls with a garnishing of coconut, coriander leaves and mustard. Lots of items actually..further delicacies can be obtained in any typical maharastrian home. Pav bhaji: This speciality dish from lanes of Mumbai has mashed steamed mixed vegetables (mainly potatoes, peas, tomatoes, onions and green pepper) cooked in spices and table butter. The vegetable mix is served with soft bun shallow fried in table butter and chopped onion. Sometimes cheese, paneer (cottage cheese) are added.
 * Vada pav: Popular Maharashtrian dish consisting of fried mashed-potato dumpling (vada), eaten sandwiched in a bun (pav). This is referred to as Indian version of burger and is almost always accompanied with the famous red chutney made from garlic and chillies, and fried green chilles. Interestingly rarly vada pav are home made. Very famous in Mumbai.
 * 'Chivda: Spiced flattened rice. It is also known as Bombay mix in Foreign countries especially Great Britain.
 * 'Kande Bhaje: Very famous dish made of cutted onions & 'besan'. Specially demanden in rainy season.
 * Pohe: pohe or poha is a snack made from flattened rice. It is most likely served with tea and is probably the most likely dish that a Maharashtrian will offer his guest. During arranged marriages in Maharashtra, Kanda Pohe (literal translation, pohe prepared with onion) is most likely the dish served when the two families meet. Its so common that sometimes arranged marriage itself is referred colloquially as "kanda-pohay". Other variants on the recipe are batata pohe (where diced potatoes are used instead of onion shreds). Other famous recipes made with Pohe (flattened rice) are dadpe pohe, a mixture of raw Pohe with shredded fresh coconut, green chillies, ginger and lemon juice; and kachche pohe, raw pohe with minimal embellishments of oil, red chili powder, salt and unsauteed onion shreds.
 * Upma or sanja or upeeth: This snack is similar to the south Indian upma. It is a thick porridge made of semolina perked up with green chillies, onions and other spices.
 * Matar-usal- pav' :It is a dish made of green peas in a curry with onions, green chillies and sometimes garlic. Its eaten with a western style leavened bun or pav. Another form of Matar usal is made in konkan areas or by brahmins especially in Pune - this has a gravy of coconut, coriander, ginger-garlic and green chilly ground together and then fried into a Phodni. Some water and green peas are added and boiled till the peas are cooked and have absorbed the taste of all the condiments.
 * Misal Pav:Quintessentially from Kolhapur. This is made from a mix of curried sprouted lentils, topped with batata-bhaji, pohay, Chivda, farsaan, raw chopped onions and tomato. Also some times eaten with yogurt. Bread is a must.
 * Kothimbir vadi': Coriander (Cilantro) mixed with chick pea flour and Maharashtrian spices. There are plenty of variants of this dishes some deep fried, some stir fried and some steamed.

Saoji curry is special gravy mainly used in preparing non-vegetarian (chicken and mutton dish); But can also be used to prepare vegetarian dish (Potato, Paneer or Soya Chunk). Saoji chicken or Mutton is famous for its spicy taste and is highly recommended to all the spicy food lovers. Nagpur is famous for 'Saoji chicken'.

Soups
 * Solkadhi - prepared from coconut milk and Kokam
 * Tomato saar - Maharashtrian spicy tomato soup
 * Kokam saar - Soup prepared from dried fruit of Garcinia indica
 * Varan - plain non-spicy or lightly spiced daal lentil with split Pigeon pea (Toor dal)
 * Katachi Aamti - Sweet, hot and sour soup prepared from Chana or Chickpea dal

Pickles
 * Ambyache lonche (mango pickle)
 * Limbache lonche (lemon pickle)
 * Awlyache lonche/Murabba' (amla pickle)
 * Mohoriche lonche (mustard pickle)
 * Ambe-haladiche lonache (fresh turmeric pickle)
 * Mirachiche lonache (Chilly Pickle)
 * Sakhar amba (Sweet Pickle of Mango)

Sweets Also Khava (Mava of Nandura. District - Buldhana.)
 * Puran Poli: It is one of the most popular sweet item in the Maharashtrian cuisine. It is made from jaggery (molasses or gur), yellow gram (chana) dal, pain flour, cardamom powder and ghee (clarified butter). It is made at almost all festivals. A meal containing puran poli is considered "heavy" by Marathi people.
 * Gulachi Poli : Made specially on Makar Sankranti in typical Brahmin households, the Gulachi poli is a heavy meal similar to the Puran Poli. It is made with a stuffing of soft/shredded Jaggery mixed with toasted, ground Til (white sesame seeds) and some gram flour which has been toasted to golden in plenty of pure Ghee. The dish is made like a paratha i.e. the stuffed roti is fried on Pure ghee till crisp on both side. Tastes heavenly when eaten slightly warm with loads of ghee.
 * Modak: is a Maharashtrian sweet typically steamed (ukdiche modak). Modak is prepared during the Ganesha festival around August, when it is often given as an offering to lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, as it is reportedly his favorite sweet.
 * Karanji: is a deep fried dumpling with a filling of grated coconut sweetened with jaggery and flavoured with powdered cardamom seeds. It is also known as Kanavale. It is one of the popular sweets prepared for Diwali celebrations.
 * Gulab Jaam: are balls made of dense milk (Mava/Khava) and bleached wheat flour fried in ghee (clarified butter) and then dipped in sugar syrup.
 * Shevaya chi Kheer: is prepared by cooking shevaya (vermicelli) in milk. The preparation is sweetened with jaggery or sugar, flavoured with powdered cardamom seeds and finally garnished with chopped nuts. Kheer is also made of Rice, Semolina, and Dudhi (white gourd).
 * Anarsa : It is made from soaked powdered rice, jaggery or sugar.

Drink

 * Coconut water is very famous
 * Kokam Sharbat (Sharbet)

Respect
Try to feel the cultural vibes, and integrate yourself into the rich Hindu cultural heritage. While in Maharashtra, respect the sentiments of the Marathi people. When meeting a Marathi person, greet them with the words "Jay Maharashtra!" This little gesture of friendliness will mean a lot. When at a shop, greet the shopkeeper by saying "Jay Bhavani jay Shivaji!" This directly appeals to the Maratha nationalist feelings deep in the heart of every Marathi. They will welcome you as one of their own, and you may also get extra discount.

Go next
Maharastra

title: Maharashtra


text:
Maha Sarakham

Maha Sarakham (Thai: มหาสารคาม, also spelt Mahasarakham) is a city and province in Isaan.

Understand
Maha Sarakham means "city of great education" and is aptly named considering it hosts seven institutions of higher learning, among them, Maha Sarakham University, Maha Sarakham Vocational College, and Maha Sarakham Technical College. Hence, it is called the "Takasila of Isaan" ("Takasila" was an Indian centre of learning in ancient times). Maha Sarakham is the Buddhist centre of Isaan, as many Buddhist archaeological artefacts are found here, which include a relic of Lord Buddha in Na Dun district. Such evidence leads to the theory that this place once was the location of an ancient kingdom dating back to 1,500 years ago. A pagoda is built on that spot to mark the glory days of Buddhism and to serve as a venue for important Buddhist rites.

Because the city is primarily a college and university town, costs for food and housing are quite low. A large part of the resident population are teachers and staff of the many schools in the city. As expected, the population waxes and wanes in tune with the annual academic calendar cycles of semesters and summer breaks as students flow into and out of the city and its environs. Maha Sarakham University alone boasts nearly 50,000 students, having surpassed the student population of Khon Kaen, a nearby much larger city with Khon Kaen University.

Maha Sarakham's central location is a convenient base from which to explore Thailand's nearby neighbours, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Directly east is Friendship Bridge Two, spanning the Mekong River at Mukdahan, where one can cross a narrow section of Laos and be in Hue, Vietnam by the end of the day. You can also travel south to Si Saket where it is now easy to cross over into Cambodia, relatively close to Siem Reap and the famed Angkor Archaeological Park. Four hours north, at Nong Khai, one can cross the original Friendship Bridge into Laos, from which point it's just 22 km to the capital city of Vientiane.

Maha Sarakham is also at the very geographic centre of Isaan, making it a convenient base from which to explore all of Isaan. Most sightseeing destinations in Isaan are no more than a three or four hour bus ride in nearly every direction from the city. This includes the Mekong River communities to the north and east (Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, etc.) and the famous ancient Isaan temple ruins to the south and southeast (Phanom Rung, Khao Phra Vihan, etc.). Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), three hours to the southwest, is the gateway to Khao Yai National Park which showcases Southeast Asian flora and fauna, where elephants and tigers roam free.

Get in
From Bangkok:

First class/VIP bus service is available to/from Bangkok direct to Maha Sarakham. There are about 8 buses daily. Overnight buses to Bangkok leave Maha Sarakham between 20:30 and 22:00. The fare is about 400 baht.

In Bangkok, buses leave from Mo Chit Northeastern Bus Terminal and in Maha Sarakham, about one block south of the SermThai Shopping Plaza.

Within Isaan

Regular bus service from several nearby cities is also available daily. Banner signs at the bus station are printed in Thai and English. You may either purchase a ticket before you get on the bus, or just pay after you get on the bus.

A bus ticket to/from Khon Kaen is about 48 baht one-way. The fare from Roi Et to Maha Sarakham is about 45 baht.

The last bus out of town is often at 18:00 or 19:00, so inquire before you stay too long.

Get around
Public transportation in the city is limited to songthaews, motorcycle taxis, and tuk-tuks. The dark blue songthaews leave from the central bus station and travel north on Hwy 213 to Thakhongyang and Maha Sarakham University, about eight km west and north of downtown. The drivers will stop anywhere along the way when the passengers signal with a buzzer. Cost is about 10 baht. Pay on exiting the songthaew.

Buy
There is a modern shopping center ("SermThai") on the main street between the bus station and the Takasila Hotel. Here you will find the obligatory KFC restaurant, Swensons, a four-plex cinema (almost always Thai only, no English subtitles, even for Western movies, several banks as well as excellent street food vendors.

An even newer shopping centre can be found about 5 km north of town on Hwy 213. It is a Big C department store surrounded by many smaller shops and restaurants.

Go next

 * Khon Kaen
 * Kalasin
 * Roi Et

title: Maha Sarakham


text:
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is in the South Andaman district of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Understand

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is a national park of India in Wandoor on the Andaman Islands 29 km from Port Blair. The park is on the South Western coast of South Andaman, in the Bay of Bengal. The park's boundary runs along the coasts and sometimes along islands within the range of latitude between 11°22, 06" and 11° 36 -34" N and longitude between 92° 30.00"W and 92° 40.33' E covering a total area of 281 50 ha (281.5 km²).

15 islands and several islets of the labyrinth group of islands, like Alexandra, Red Skin, Boat, Hobday, Tarmugli, Grub, Chester, Snob, Bell, Pluto, Malay, Jolly Boys, Riflemen, Twins and parts of Rutland island make up this park.

The park was closed for rehabilitation after the 2004 tsunami but has since reopened, with damage seeming to be less than had been reported. Red Skin and Jolly Bouy islands are open during tourist season in an alternate fashion to save the biodiversity surrounding the islands.

The rest of the islands that come under the National Park are still not open to public and is protected by the forest department.

The park is under the overall administrative control of the Chief Wildlife Warden of the forest department of A&N islands administration. Though the park is uninhabited, there are 8 villages adjacent to the parking area with a population of about 3000 (1981 census).

History
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Wandoor, was established on 24th May 1983 for the protection of marine life including corals and nesting sea turtles.

Landscape
The area is dotted with islands, most of them within visual distance from each other. The islands are rocky and most of them are covered with mangroves or tropical forests. Exposed parts of the land are beaches and rock faces. Beaches open for tourists are shallow.

Flora and fauna
The area includes a vast stretch of enchanting marine waters, bushy vegetated islands, magnificent coral reefs and sparkling sandy beaches and mangroves. Rich marine life consists of a variety of coral reefs, colourful fishes, molluscs, shells, starfish, turtles, salt-water crocodiles, etc.

One can also view a variety of birds like White-Bellied Sea Eagle, Parakeets, Andaman Teals, Herons, Terns, Waders, and Swifts. To see these, one would require more than a few hours in the park and thus a serious birdwatcher should consider taking special permission from the forest department for a longer stay.

Climate
Climate is typically tropical. During Oct-Feb is most comfortable. Nights are quite cool and comfortable.

June to August is monsoon and practically all tourist activities are closed down due to heavy rains.

Get in
Wandoor, a small fishing hamlet, is the entry point to the park. Wandoor is about 30 km from Port Blair.

One can reach Wandoor by hired taxi or by bus in about 45 min from Port Blair.

The local bus service is reliable and offers economical alternatives to taxis. Buses are available from and for Port Blair every 30 min or so. Tickets cost ₹10 one-way. Local buses ply from 6AM to 8PM.

The Tourist Department of Andaman runs 2-3 minibus trips each day. The return trip costs about ₹90. The buses start from Andaman Teal House and can be boarded from the office of the Director of Information and Publicity and Tourism (IP & T), Port Blair.

Fees and permits
The general visitors permit you to receive on arrival is good for her, but additional fees will apply when hiring a boat or arranging a dive trip since this is a National Park.

To enter the park, you need an entry permit. The Forest Department permit costs ₹50/person and is available at the counter on Wandoor jetty. Normally only 150 permits are issued each day on a first-come, first-served basis, but in high season the number of permits is sometimes increased by the Forest department.

Each camera requires an additional permit of ₹25.

Apart from the parking permit, you need a ticket for the boat ride to Red Skin island which is for ₹300/person and includes a small boat ride in a glass bottom dingy, snorkelling and return.

Plastic bottles and bags are not permitted in the park and one needs to deposit money for each bottle carried. The security deposit is ₹100 for up to 3 bottles. On completion of the trip, you are expected to show the required number of bottles to the forest official to claim your deposit.

Jute bags are available in the forest office for hire.

Boat operators approved by the forest department seem to be the only means to get around. One may explore hiring smaller dingoes for moving around the park. Apart from boats in Wandoor jetty which take you to the park, locally powered boats are also available at Wandoor beach which takes you around for snorkelling in glass bottom boats.

See
Although the island is small, you may explore the forest through the pathway made inside. It is not advised by the authorities to go into the jungle.

The island also has a great white sand beach to sit back and relax.

Do
The alternative to other overrun tourist spots in the Andamans. Snorkelling here is excellent during the season when the water is flat and clear. A very professionally run PADI/CMAS dive centre is now at Wandoor.

Buy
As a marine park, it offers an opportunity for excellent snorkelling.

Eat
It is a must to carry food and water to Jolly Buoy as you won't find anything there. You can pick up something from Wandoor, however, visitors are advised to bring packed lunch packs and water bottles from Port Blair. Please do not throw rubbish. Keep Wandoor Beach clean!

Food options are limited in Wandoor. There are few small joints which offer limited options of eating. One can get "puri" (fried Indian bread) and potato, peas, and gravy for breakfast & lunch.

There are some small eating joints near or on Wandoor beach (~1.5 km from Jetty) which offer Indian, Chinese and seafood.

Drink
Packaged water, aerated drinks and fresh coconut water are available in Wandoor. Visitors should carry their own water when entering the park.

Beer or other drinks are available at bars or resorts nearby.

Lodging
There are a few resorts and hotels at Wandoor, like Sea Princess or Anugama resort. Food and refreshments are available at these places. There are bars where one can get a cold beer.

title: Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park


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Mahé

Mahé is the largest and most populous island in the Seychelles, home to 90% of the country's population and its largest airport. It is home to the national capital, Victoria. The island is named in honor of the 18th century governor of Mauritius. Mahé is dominated by the granite peaks of Morne Seychellois National Park.

The key reasons for visiting are the white sand beaches such as Beau Vallon and Anse Royal, the waters of St Anne National Park, the numerous hikes available, and the colonial architecture.

Mahé is the main hub for Seychelles island hopping.

Cities

 * — the national capital.
 * — probably the most popular beach in the islands

Other destinations

 * Cerf Island
 * Marnelle Island
 * Sainte Anne Island

By plane

 * - The airport is located near the capital Victoria. The airport is the home base of Air seychelles. You will find a bus station in Victoria and taxi outside the terminal.

By boat
It is possible to book your tickets on Seychellesbookings.com.

By bus
The island has a good and cheap public bus system. The buses are easily recognisable with their blue colour. The bus fare is Rs. 7 regardless of your destination. Make sure to have Rs. 25 or less. Bigger bills are not accepted on the bus. You can view and download the timetable in SPTC website. Bus services operate throughout the day, from 05:30 to 20:30.

By taxi
Taxis are the most expensive way to get around, but they can still be the best option in some situations. Taxis are a good option for those who opt for a "static" vacation: if you booked a room in a large resort, and only want to go out one or two days of your vacation.

By car
Getting around on Mahé can be quite a time consuming exercise without your own vehicle. On average a rental car in Seychelles costs SR1,200 per day. It is often possible to arrange car pick-up / drop-off from the airport, your accommodation or the ferry terminal.

By bike
Mahé is only 28 kilometres (16 mi) in length. Biking around the island will get you where you want to go at your own pace. You can find bike rental places. However, streets can be narrow and the island is hilly. So it might be tiring and time consuming.

See

 * Victoria - This is the island capital. You will find the Victoria Clock Tower, which is now a national monument. Sir Selwyn-Clarke Market is a colourful market, where you will find stalls of fresh fish, exotic fruits and island spices. It is best to visit the market early in the day. The city is also home to museums such as the National Museum of History and the Natural History Museum.
 * Morne Seychellois National Park - The park extends on 20% of Mahé land area. It was created in 1979 and is made up of variety of habitats. You will find the Morne Seychellois which is Seychelles’ highest peak (905 m). 12 trails are available for hiking (from 1 to 2 hours), If you do not have time for a walk, you can take a scenic drive from Victoria to Port Glaud, which cut through the park.
 * Ste. Anne National Marine Park - just 5 kilometers off Mahe's northeast coast, these 6 small islands are very popular. Glass-bottom boats are available in Victoria and will transport you in about 20 minutes to the clear waters of the marine park. You will be able to see corals and fishes. Ste. Anne Island was Seychelles’ first settlement over 240 years ago.
 * Beau Vallon - The bay is home to Mahé's most popular beaches. It is a 2 km stretch of white sand from Bel Ombre to Mare Anglaise. You will find dive centers and other aquatic activities as well as hotels, restaurants and bars.
 * Seychelles National Botanical Gardens - Located just outside Victoria, in Mount Fleuri, this is one of Seychelles’ oldest national monuments. You will find native plants such as Coco de Mer, giant tortoise and fruit bat colonies.
 * Craft Village - visiting the Craft Village is a good way to experience traditional Creole culture. The property focuses on Creole architecture, arts and craft, and gastronomy. You will be able to visit the "Gran Kaz" Plantation House built around 1870,  "La Kaz Rosa" a typical 20th century working class home and the "Maison de Coco", a house built of coconut products  You will also be able to participate in craft workshops.

Do

 * Snorkelling - Mahé has a lot of great snorkelling spots such as the National Marine Parks: Ste. Anne or Port Launay. However, the parks will ask you an entrance fee. Anse Major, Petite Anse, Anse Diri in Bel Ombre are also great snorkelling spots. It is best to bring your own equipment, but if you forget, masks and fins are available to rent.
 * Go to the beach - Mahé is known for its beaches around its coastline. You could head to Anse à la Mouche and Anse Soleil, which are ideal for swimming.
 * Diving - There are over 30 dives site around Mahé! You will find granite boulders, reefs, shallow banks, and plenty of fishes. Whale sharks and manta rays can be encountered. Dive operators are offering courses for all levels: from half-day dive to a certification program. Check out Ennerdale wreck and Shark banks.
 * Surf - Mahé is home to a variety of reef and beach breaks. Water is warm all year round. Popular surfing spots are Grand Anse,  Anse Gaulette, Anse Poules Bleues  and Beau Vallon.

Eat

Drink
Mahé's nightlife is concentrated in Victoria. Most hotels and resorts have their own bars

title: Mahé


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Mahebourg

Mahebourg is a city in Mauritius.

Go next

 * Blue Bay

title: Mahebourg


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Maheshwar

Maheshwar is a city in Madhya Pradesh in India.

By road
There is regular bus service from Indore to Dhamnod (every hour) and on a daily basis to Maheshwar. There are buses to/from Dhamnod every 30 minutes.

Buy
Maheshwar is known for Maheshwari handloom sarees and dresses.

Sleep

 * Narmada Retreat - This is a resort run by the MP tourism development corporation on the banks of the Narmada river. One can do advance reservation on-line. This is a scenic place and good for a leisurely vacation away from the large cities. There are rooms (2 per building) with AC facing the Narmada river. The resort has a good restaurant and the staff prepare many varied recipes, including North Indian and Western food upon request. Phone:07283-273455

Go next

 * Omkareshwar
 * Mandu
 * Indore
 * Hanuwantiya

title: Maheshwar


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Maibara

Maibara (米原) is a city in Shiga, Japan.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site, jointly with adjacent Nagahama City.

Get in
Most of Maibara's visitors come in by train and never see more than the station. A major junction, Maibara is a Shinkansen station between Kyoto and Nagoya. Shinkansen travelers to Maibara typically use it as the gateway to Hikone, one station south. It is also the eastern terminus of some kaisoku and shinkaisoku (translated as rapid and new rapid) commuter trains from Kansai and the western terminus for all trains from Ogaki and some from Toyohashi. Some of the trains from Kansai go on further to Nagahama, Omi-Shiotsu, and Tsuruga. Be aware that some eastbound rapid and special rapid services terminate at Yasu, which is short of Maibara when coming from the west. The northern cities of Kanazawa and Fukui are connected to Maibara via the Limited Express Shirasagi (en route to Nagoya) and the Thunderbird (en route to Osaka).

Go next

 * Lake Biwa - Japan's largest lake
 * Hikone - one of Japan's less-known castle towns is only a few stops away
 * Nagahama
 * Taga
 * Higashiomi
 * Tsuruga
 * Sekigahara
 * Ogaki
 * Gifu

title: Maibara


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Maicao

Maicao is a city in the La Guajira department in northeastern Colombia, near the border with Venezuela.

Get in

 * Cross the border from Venezuela
 * From Riohacha and Santa Marta. It is 76 km from Riohacha.

Get around
There is no ATM in the bus terminal, you'll have get a taxi driver to drive you to the city center.

See

 * The Monumento a la Identidad is a sculpture made by Cartagena artist Alfredo Tatis Benzo. This monument is also known as "El Abuelo de las Barbas del Maíz" (lit. 'The Grandfather of the Corn Beards') in reference to how Maicao received its name.
 * The Plaza Bolivar has a statue of Simon Bolivar by the artist of the municipality, Vespaciano Ruiz Pichón.
 * San José Church is the patron saint of the municipality.
 * San José Church is the patron saint of the municipality.

Do
Maicao is a great border town. Everything is for sale here, most of it of dubious legality. The city sits on one point of a triangular shaped smuggling operation. Home appliances and large goods come here via Panama, offloaded at the port of Puerto Bolivar. Gas, food and other subsidized goods come over the border from Venezuela, using primarily Indian footpaths.
 * A trip to the vast market is a must for any visitor. Everything from fake iPods, to outdated American department store merchandise and Amazonian fruits is on offer. Negotiate hard.

Eat
The trading atmosphere of Maicao means a broader range of options than elsewhere in the region. Of particular note are the two Arab restaurants in town, which serve reasonable shawarma, chicken, and hummus, along with fries.

Other options include roast chicken, soups, with both Colombian and Venezuelan flavors.

title: Maicao


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Maidenhead

Maidenhead is a large riverside town in the county of Berkshire in the South East of England. Like many towns, Maidenhead has lost some of its historic charm, and the town centre is a little uninspiring and overdeveloped in some parts. It does however retain some handsome 18th- and 19th-century buildings. The area near the river, locally known as Maidenhead Riverside, however, is a picturesque contrast to this, offering stunning views of the Thames and Chiltern Hills, along with scenic walks towards the villages of Cookham, Marlow, Bray and Windsor and Eton.

Understand
Maidenhead has a population of about 70,000 people (2019).

The constituency of Maidenhead and Windsor is the most affluent area of the UK, with house prices often exceeding those of Central London. Its position on the River Thames, surrounded by beautiful countryside, and close proximity to the capital, Oxford and Windsor is unrivalled making it a gold-mine for commuters. It is one of the safest Conservative seats in the UK; its member of parliament is Theresa May, who served as prime minister from 2016 to 2019.

Local information

 * Maidenhead.net website

By train
Maidenhead is on a major train line from London Paddington to Reading, with Reading also providing connections northward and good connections to The West Country.

The Elizabeth Line has connections to areas within West London such as Acton and Ealing en route to London Paddington. When it is fully connected sometime in either late 2022 or mid-2023, faster connections to eastern London will be provided.

By car
Maidenhead is situated on Junction 8/9 of the M4 providing fast connections both east to London and west to Wales. The town is bypassed by the A404, which connects Maidenhead to the M40 in 15 minutes, allowing good connections north.

By plane
Generally, London Heathrow Airport is the best flight connection from Maidenhead. It's a 20-minute drive down the M4 or a 1-hour train journey.

London Gatwick Airport is also popular, as flights there are often cheaper. However, the hour-long car journey is the best way for getting to the airport, so taxi costs may be incurred.

By taxi
There are a few reputable taxi services in Maidenhead like Maidenhead Taxis & Minibuses U want & On-Time to name a few, they will pickup and drop off locally and nationally 24 hr a day.

Get around
There are good bus links, you can get most buses from Frascati Way in the town centre, or near Boots on the high street.

Maps & Guides of Windsor & Maidenhead page contains maps for the area, including cycle routes and local facilities.

Buy
The town centre is a fairly typical one, containing most high street shops, including Next, Virgin Megastore, Boots, Superdrug, Marks and Spencer, and TopShop.

Eat
Indian restaurants are well recommended. There are also decent Thai and Chinese restaurants. One of Britain's culinary capitals, the village of Bray, is a very short distance away.

Drink
Surrounding villages and suburbs have some excellent ancient pubs. Non-chain bars include Phatz Bar, good for live music, as well as Coco bar. In the lively village of Burnham:

Sleep

 * Rooms to rent in Maidenhead - Thieves Garden self-catering apartment for short term lets. Thieves Garden provides well-equipped accommodation.

Stay safe
Maidenhead has a low crime rate, but drug addicts can be seen begging on the High Street during daytime.

Go next

 * Go north to Cookham — a picturesque village between Maidenhead and Marlow. It is a traditional English country village with a hugely popular gallery and excellent but expensive restaurants. Trains link Cookham with Maidenhead every hour. Or walk there along the river, about 1 hour.
 * Go south east to Windsor, bypassing Bray, on the A308
 * Go north west to Marlow following the A404— another attractive Thames-side town.

title: Maidenhead


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Maidstone

Maidstone is the county town in Mid-Kent, in the South East of England on the River Medway.

Understand
Straddling the river Medway, Maidstone is the economic, administrative and agricultural centre of Kent. For many years the major employment in the town was provided by the agricultural markets, insurance brokers and the toffee factory to the south of the river. Nowadays, however, many residents use Maidstone as a base to commute into London, or are employed within the retail, administrative or service sectors within the town.

By air
The nearest major airport is London Gatwick Airport, which is 42mi/67km away.

By car
Maidstone sits south of M20, which (with the A20) connects with London, Ashford & Folkestone. The A26 runs west to Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells & Brighton, and the A229 heads north to Chatham, and south to Hastings.

Town Centre Car parking
Recommended that you park in The Chequers Centre car park (east end of Town Centre, enter from Padsole Lane or King St).

Town Centre Coach parking
At A249 Sittingbourne Rd.

By bus
Local buses are operated by Arriva Kent and Surrey, Nu-Venture and ASD Coaches

Buy your ticket from the driver when you board the bus.

Maidstone Park & Ride operates Mondays to Sundays. See the Kent County Council Park & Ride website.

By train
Trains run every 30 minutes from London Victoria, taking an hour to Maidstone East and continuing to Bromley South and Ashford International (another 30 min). (Eurostar no longer stops at Ashford or Ebbsfleet, so from the Continent you have to ride to Victoria then come out again.)

is central in town. It has a ticket office and machines, a waiting room, toilets and shops. There is step-free access to all platforms.

Trains run hourly from Strood, taking 25 min via New Hythe to Maidstone Barracks and Maidstone West, and continuing to Paddock Wood (for Tonbridge, Ashford International, Folkestone and Dover).

is just an unstaffed platform halt, with ticket machines but no other facilities. Access to both platforms is via steps.

has a ticket office open M-Sa for the morning rush into London, and the waiting room and toilets are only accessible then. There is step free access to platform 2 for trains towards Paddock Wood. Reaching platform 1 step-free involves staff assistance to use the level crossing, only available in rush hour.

By bus
Various bus companies provide local bus services in and around Maidstone.

 * Arriva provide most services
 * Nu-venture provide more countryside services
 * Stagecoach provides services to Ashford

Paper timetables can be obtained at the Visitor Information Centre at the Town Hall in the High St. or online.

Buy your ticket from the driver when you board the bus.

By taxi
If there is a large group of you, then it may be easier and cheaper to get a taxi from one of the local taxi companies, as Maidstone's bus service is not the cheapest!

 * Streamline Maidstone: +44 1622 750000 iPhone App or Textbooker available
 * Cavalier Taxis: +44 1622 754000 (24 Hour)

By Coach

 * Scotland & Bates

Do

 * Football: Maidstone United play soccer in National League South, the sixth tier. They're a phoenix club formed after the original club went bust in 1992. In 2024 they shocked Ipswich, a first tier side, by knocking them out in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Their home ground Gallagher Stadium (capacity 4200) is 200 yards north of Maidstone East railway station.
 * Kent Flower Show - In July, one of the largest agricultural festivals in Britain
 * Kent Flower Show - In July, one of the largest agricultural festivals in Britain

Go next
Other places of interest in the Maidstone area
 * Tonbridge and Hop Farm Country Park
 * Sittingbourne
 * Ashford
 * Rochester
 * Sevenoaks

title: Maidstone


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Maiduguri

Maiduguri, also known locally as Yerwa, is a city of 800,000 people (2021 estimate) in Northeastern Nigeria. It is the capital of the Borno State. Since 2009, it has been the heart of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Understand
Maiduguri is the principal trading hub for north-eastern Nigeria. Its economy is largely based on services and trade with a small share of manufacturing.

Maiduguri is home to three markets which include a modern "Monday market".

Get in
There have been no passenger services to Maiduguri, the government wants to reestablish the rail link and have made several promises of renewed traffic "soon". Don't hold your breath, though. The old is north of city centre.

Buses are the main form of land transport and ABC Transport amongst others offers overnight from Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and daytime buses from Kano and Jos.

Travelling by car is not possible, due to insecurity on all national highways in and out of Maiduguri preventing travel by anyone except local people. NGOs, UN and government staff are forbidden from travelling more than a few kilometers out of Maiduguri by road, and attacks, robberies, and informal checkpoints either by Islamist insurgents or common criminals is extremely common. National roads A3, which continues towards N'Djamena, and A4 passes by the city.

Get around
You will occasionally see large convoys of military jeeps, passenger vans, and black SUVs driving through the city at high speeds with sirens on. Do not attempt to overtake or cut into these convoys, which mainly transport government officials between the airport and Government House. To pass the time, try and count the number of vehicles in the convoy: the higher the number, the more important the person. Convoys of over 50 vehicles are not uncommon.

Stay safe
Maiduguri is the epicenter of the Islamist Insurgency in Northeast Nigeria and, despite heavy military presence and relative security within the confines of the city, militants are able to move freely only 20km from the city center. Rocket and mortar attacks on targets within Maiduguri, particularly in the west of the city around the airport, are common. Bomb attacks within the city have not happened for some time, but cannot be ruled out. Any person coming to Maiduguri for the first time should be well acquainted with War zone safety.

Maiduguri is an extremely unsafe city with high rates of violent and non-violent crime and occasionally communal violence. Risks range from pickpocketing to muggings and abduction for ransom. The lack of mains electricity within the city means that much of it is very dark after nightfall. Do not walk on the streets at night and ensure that the doors to your accommodation are locked securely. You should aim to stay in accommodation with high, barbed wire walls and armed security if possible.

If you find yourself approaching a protest or demonstration where people seem agitated, calmly but quickly turn your vehicle around and drive away. Do not attempt to pass through crowds in a vehicle. Demonstrations in Maiduguri are illegal, and can quickly devolve into violence on the side of either police or demonstrators. Foreigners may be targeted at such events.

It is recommended that you hire a vehicle with a driver while in Maiduguri. Ensure that drivers have all relevant credentials and that vehicles are in good condition.

The city is under a perpetual state of curfew although the exact times are adjusted by the military theatre command month-by-month, usually coming into force somewhere between 9pm and 11pm. Cars stopped at one of the numerous military checkpoints after curfew WILL be extensively questioned and you are unlikely to be let go without paying a "special fine" to the men on duty. Do not take photographs of military personnel or government installations.

Cope

Go next

 * N'Djamena
 * Yola

title: Maiduguri


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Maijishan National Park

Maijishan National Park (麦积山国家公园) is in Gansu province.

Understand
The 194 cave shrines of this "Gallery of Oriental Sculpture' on a perpendicular mountain cliff southeast of Tianshui, provide shelter for 7200 stone and clay figurines and 1300 m² of murals. The clay figures, crafted to the smallest detail and blending lifelike imagery with spiritual resonance, are paragons of ancient Chinese clay sculpture.

Get in
Bus from Beidao district of Tianshui. From Tianshui South station, take bus 5 or 60 (¥7, about an hour, last return at 16:40). From Tianshui station, take bus 34 (¥5, about an hour, slightly longer hours of operation).

Fees and permits
Admission to the park is ¥90. If you don't want to walk 1.5km to the base of the cliff, you can pay ¥15 extra (return) to ride a shuttle golf cart.

Get around
You can pay for a shuttle to get you 1.5km closer to the base of the cliff. The grottoes themselves can only be accessed on foot, via a complex network of walkways and stairways.

See

 * Colossal Buddhas - several colossal Buddhas grace the side of the mountain
 * Gallery views - view from the galleries of the surrounding landscape
 * Botanical gardens - plants brought from near and far

title: Maijishan National Park


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Mai Khao

Mai Khao (หาดไม้ขาว Hat Mai Khao) is a beach on the northwestern coast of Phuket, Thailand. It's also known as Airport Beach or Sa Nam Bin Beach (the Thai word for "airport"), as it's very close to the airport. The northern portion is known as Hat Sai Khao (หาดทรายแก้ว), a long sandy beach with groves of Casuarina trees along the shore.

This was once a nesting area for the endangered giant leatherback turtle, but unfortunately due to egg poaching, resort development, and pollution they no longer nest here. Mai Khao Beach is often incorrectly described as "pristine" by some of the resort brochures and websites. In reality, that is far from the truth. There is much pollution scattered along the length of the beach, especially during low season which has never been cleaned except areas directly in front of the few resorts. Most of the rubbish could be disposed of with regular cleaning by the national park staff and sustainable waste management programs with volunteer assistance. The area around Mai Khao is still very quiet and natural but although declared a national park in 1981, it is seriously in danger of over-development in the near future as landowners give in to the high prices offered by developers and plans are approved by corrupt government officials with no public inquiry.

Get in
Public transport is very limited or even non-existent from the airport and unless you understand Thai it is easier just to get a taxi which takes about 20 minutes to the village or any of the resorts along the beach.

Mai Khao Beach is easily accessible from Hwy 402. There are few public roads but if you only want to see the beach the best way is to follow the signs to Turtle Village and carry on past the large hotels and you will find yourself on the quietest beach on Phuket. This is part of the national park, but you will not be charged for entry or parking in this area. Some resorts will not take kindly to you using their parking facilities and you will be told to leave, so it's better to stick to the public roads unless you are a customer. From the village there is a road that leads directly to the beach via Mai Khao Dream Resort.

Get around
Ignore the taxi and hotel touts as you arrive at Phuket International Airport and walk a short distance just to the right of the building. There you will see a "Taxi Meter" kiosk where you will be able to get a taxi for a more realistic price. It should cost no more than 350 baht (less than USD10) including a 100 baht airport tax. If you can find a driver to turn on the meter the cost will be even less. Journey time is around 20 minutes. Some hotels in Mai Khao will offer transfers which are highly recommended as you will be sure of arriving at your chosen destination without being taken to shops and travel agents on the way where the taxi drivers earn commission just for taking you there.

Taxis in Phuket are probably the most expensive in Thailand. Be prepared to pay a high price in comparison to Bangkok or further north.

There are local buses that will take you to Phuket town for only 50 baht each way. You will have to either walk to Hwy 402 (about 2 km) or get a lift from someone. Most of the local people are friendly and will go out of their way to help you and do not expect anything in return.

The bus journey takes about 90 minutes to town and is an experience in itself but is reliable and inexpensive. Do not expect a luxurious journey unless you are willing to pay. You can also board a bus from the main highway to Phang Nga, Krabi, Surat Thani and other nearby towns. Long distances such as Bangkok will usually require that you have paid for a ticket in advance at the bus station in Phuket or from a travel agent.

Motorbike and car hire is readily available all over Phuket and best to arrange near the airport as there are many hire shops around there making the prices more competitive. A small automatic motorbike should cost a maximum of 300 baht/day and cars such as a new Honda Jazz or small saloon around 1,000 baht/day including insurance. Note that you will not be insured unless you have a full driving license accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP). You can get these from motoring organisations in your home country.

See
The beach area from Nai Yang to Sarasin bridge which includes Mai Khao is part of Sirinat National Park. In the undeveloped areas you will see many plants and fauna including rare species of birds, lizards, snakes, fish, and marine life.

Do
If you want shopping and entertainment, Mai Khao Beach is definitely not for you unless you are willing to travel about 1 hour each way. Patong or one of the other beaches south of the airport is more suitable for such activities. Being in the north and most undeveloped part of the island Mai, Khao is a great place to stay if you like nature and long walks on the beach or just relaxing. The sea here is not safe for swimming in low season between May-Nov. The best time for calm seas is around Jan. This is also one of the busiest months and it's a good idea to book well in advance.

Eat
All the resorts have their own restaurants on-site but tend to be a bit pricey. Some great ice cream at Swensons in Turtle Village and a small overpriced supermarket where you can buy all your favourite foods from home.

Local restaurants are the best for value and taste and should not be avoided. Some of the best are right on the beach just before Sarasin Bridge. Here you can eat authentic local food by the sea in a bamboo sala which is all freshly cooked unlike some of the hotels further south.

If you are a bit more adventurous the world is really your lobster! Many villagers will put a few tables outside their house and sell various local food which is cheap and very tasty. Around Mai Khao village there are also local markets open in the afternoons every day of the week where you can buy fresh produce for cooking in your apartment or barbecued snacks to eat on the spot and hoards of fresh fruit of every variety.

Drink
There are no bars as such in Mai Khao but any restaurant serves a good range of drinks although most are expensive. Most local shops provide tables in their forecourt where you can relax with a cold beer and chat with the locals.

title: Mai Khao


text:
Maiko National Park

Maiko National Park is in the Congo Basin region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Understand
This massive 10,400 km2 park is about halfway between Bukavu at the Rwandan border, and Kisangani. The park has not been developed for visitors—there are no airstrips, no lodges, and no amenities to speak of. There is just one 4x4 track leading from Bafwasende to some small villages within the park. The park is located in an undeveloped section of the DRC and is home to many primitive tribes along with rebels, who have made their home in the park at the end of past conflicts. The people within the park practice subsistence hunting, which doesn't bode well for the park's wildlife, which is facing significant pressure. The park is managed by the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) which, despite the absence of rangers and facilities, is responsible for entry permits. ICCN has control over the park in law, but villages of rebels and native tribes retain practical control over the park.

History
The park has its origins in the Bakumu Hunting Reserve established by the Belgian colonial administration in order to protect the land and its wildlife from being affected by mineral exploitation. Following their defeat in 1964, many Simba rebels found this road-less & inaccessible region to be the perfect location to settle. In 1970, President Mobutu established the park. More rebel groups made their home in the remote corners of the park in the late 1990s and around 2007. The first survey of the park was done in 1989, while more thorough surveys were conducted around 2005-6 & 2010. While the park is remote and inaccessible by all accounts, attempts to provide humanitarian aid (like schools & health centers) have only begun around 2010 and in the coming years efforts to provide access to the park and basic facilities will—hopefully—come to fruition.

Landscape
Dense equatorial forest and two major rivers - the Oso and the Lindi.

Flora and fauna
Three of the country's spectacular endemic animals occur here: the Eastern Lowland Gorilla, the Okapi, and the Congo Peacock. Also Forest Elephants and Leopards. The park is home to numerous endemic & rare species and, almost certainly, many rare species yet to be documented. However, the presence of former rebels who have made their homes in the park, along with illegal mining and poaching means that many species are threatened with extinction. One example, a new gorilla subspecies first documented in a 2005 survey was not found and believed extinct in a 2010 survey.

Fees and permits
A permit is required from the ICCN for approximately US$100. Their nearest office is in Kisangani (+243 099 770 02895). ICCN headquarters are at Virunga National Park.

Get around
There is just one 4x4 "road" leading from Bafwasende to some small villages within the park. There are some off-piste 4x4 tracks for only the most die-hard overlanders in properly-equipped vehicles can tackle.

Sleep
There are no lodging facilities within the park. Visitors should plan to bring their own camping supplies and may be able to spend the night in one of the scattered villages.

title: Maiko National Park


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Maimana

Maimana (Persian:میمنه) is the capital of Faryab Province in West Afghanistan.

By road
Maimana is connected by road to Herat and Mazar-e Sharif, but both routes are dangerous, rough, and best avoided.

Stay safe
See the warning on the Afghanistan article for information on the security situation.

title: Maimana