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Thousand Islands

The Thousand Islands are an island group split between New York's North Country and Eastern Ontario, lying on the Canada-US border, where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River. It is a very scenic and popular summer cottage area.

Understand
The Thousand Islands is one of the most scenic spots in Ontario and northern New York. Some 1,864 islands (defined as anything permanently above water that can support at least one tree) dot this portion of the St. Lawrence River that straddles the Ontario/New York border. During the 18th and most of the 19th century, it was a choke point on the St.Lawrence and therefore of vital military importance for both the young United States and the British colony of Canada. The colonial and military influence is still visible on the Canadian side in towns like Kingston, which was established in 1673 as Cataraqui, a small and then-distant French military outpost which controlled entry of fur trading vessels into the Great Lakes. During the War of 1812, Kingston and Oswego were British and American strongholds in the region.

Passenger rail came to Gananoque in 1856 and to Clayton in 1873. Multiple steamboats left Clayton's docks for elaborate hotels on various islands. At the turn of the 20th century, the Thousand Islands were mainly a retreat for the wealthy, some of whom bought a private island for their summer mansion. Dubbed Millionaire's Row, these lavish homes are visible by taking a boat cruises down the river. For New York City's elite in 1874–1912, the region was close enough to be readily accessible by train and steamship but distant enough to be a welcome break from city life of the era. A similar pattern took place in the Adirondacks, where rail transport from Albany and New York City brought the well-to-do in search of waterfront sites to construct "Great Camps" as a luxury of their era.

The popularisation of the now-famous "Thousand Islands" salad dressing dates to this period; while accounts differ, the dressing appears to have originated in Alexandria Bay or Clayton where New York City stage actress May Irwin requested the recipe from Sophia LaLonde (wife of local fishing guide George LaLonde Jr.) to pass it on to George Boldt of Waldolf-Astoria hotel fame (who built Boldt Castle in the region for his wife, Louise). Boldt brought the recipe back to the chefs of the grand New York City hotel, where it would gain fame and popularity.

On the Canadian side, Garden Island was once a shipbuilding centre; the history of the former Calvin Shipyard is recorded in Kingston's Marine Museum of the Great Lakes. As the current Wolfe Island ferry (unlike its predecessors) has never stopped at Garden Island, the settlement is largely a ghost town. A few cottages remain, accessible only seasonally by private watercraft.

The largest of the thousand islands, the 20-mile (32 km) long Wolfe Island, was a primarily-agricultural community once home to many tiny, local dairies; among a thousand regional recipes collected from across Canada by the authors of a Laura Secord Canadian Cook Book is a "Wolfe Island Cheese Soufflé". The cheesemakers are now long gone, as are docks and customs facilities which formerly welcomed ships at what was once Port Metcalfe at the easternmost end of the island. A canal which once took vessels from Kingston across Wolfe Island to Carleton Island (NY) and the US mainland rests abandoned. Many farms and cottages remain; a modern addition to the island are forests of electric generation windmills which stand three hundred feet (100m) above the otherwise-rural landscape. The island is popular among bicyclists because of its easy accessibility by provincial ferry from downtown Kingston.

While air travel allowed New York's jet set to travel the world, the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad (RW&O, New York Central) brought its last rail passengers to Clayton's ferry terminal (now Frink Park) in 1951; Gananoque's 1884 Thousand Islands Railway boarded its final passengers in 1962. Amtrak's closest stop is now Syracuse. While mainline Windsor-Quebec corridor passenger trains still run east-west on the old 1856 Grand Trunk (CN) lines through Gananoque Junction (and a rare few may even briefly stop), the tracks to the waterfront are gone. In some places (such as Carleton Island NY) what were once magnificent mansions built in the era of the Thousand Islands as playground for New York's wealthy now stand as deteriorating ruins. Grindstone Island once housed a small community and a pair of one-room schoolhouses. While the ferry to Clayton (New York) no longer runs and the schools are now closed, a handful of residents remain.

Now, the region is mainly cottage country, extremely popular during July and August holidays. Various state or national parks have been established in the islands by both nations; many are accessible only by cruising on small craft, with Wellesley Island State Park as the notable exception.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
From the US mainland the Thousand Islands region is served by Interstate 81, which meets the St. Lawrence River at Fisher's Landing (between Clayton and Alexandria Bay). From there, the Thousand Islands Bridge crosses Wellesley Island to Canada, while NYS Route 12 follows the river. On the Canadian side, Highway 401 is often fastest; a more scenic route is to take the 1000 Islands Parkway westward from Brockville or the former Ontario Highway 2 from Kingston.

Bus and train travel is available to Kingston (although none are centrally located in that city) and limited services are offered in Brockville and Watertown. A shuttle bus serves the casino in Gananoque from Kingston. No scheduled intercity carriers cross the border in-region and many small towns are only reachable by automobile or by chartering a bus. Kingston Airport is no longer served by commercial passenger flights.

The following cities are local and serve as points of access to the region:
 * Kingston has year-round ferry service to Wolfe and Howe islands.
 * Brockville has access to the 1000 Islands Parkway and to tour boats.
 * Watertown is also less than thirty miles distant on I-81.

Individual attractions in these cities are not listed on this page, with the exception of base infrastructure (such as boats or car ferries) needed to get to the islands.

These towns are on the mainland in areas in the heart of the Thousand Islands; many are departure points for tour boats or provide marinas and facilities needed to access the region:
 * Alexandria Bay, Cape Vincent and Clayton in northern New York
 * Gananoque and Lansdowne in eastern Ontario.

Privately-owned ferries had served the region since the 1800s; just one of these remains in service today from Horne's Point (officially Point Alexandra) on Wolfe Island to the US mainland at Cape Vincent. A mix of local, county and provincial ferries serve a few key Canadian islands today.

A magnificent international bridge across Hill Island (Canada) and Wellesley Island (USA) was officially opened by president Franklin D Roosevelt and Prime Minister MacKenzie King on August 18, 1938; CBC radio and Pathé newsreel archives recall Roosevelt's 1938 message of international solidarity, proclaimed at the Canadian side of the then-new bridge on what would be the eve of World War II (1939-1945): "This garden spot of nature, this bridge stands as an open door. There will be no challenge at the border. There will be no guard to ask a countersign. Where the boundary is crossed the only words must be 'Pass, friend'."

Ferry services
Wolfe Island is served year-round by a free ferry from downtown Kingston. Wellesley Island is bisected by an Interstate highway. Heart Island (New York), as home of Boldt Castle, is reachable by tour boat from various small towns on both sides.

Many individual national park islands, ghost towns and private cottages are only accessible by private watercraft.

Boat rentals are available in Alexandria Bay, Clayton, Gananoque, Rockport and Brockville. Bicycles may be rented in Gananoque.

Only a small number of the islands are reachable by bridge or ferry:

The following islands were formerly served by ferries but are now sparsely-populated or are ghost towns:
 * Carleton Island (New York)
 * Garden Island (Ontario)
 * Grindstone Island (New York)

The only access to the remaining islands is by boat and therefore seasonal.

International crossings
There are two main US-Canada crossing points in the Thousand Islands region.
 * The Thousand Islands Bridge system, made up of five individual spans linking the State of New York with the Province of Ontario through Wellesley Island (on the American side) and Hill Island (on the Canadian side), links Interstate 81 to Ontario Highway 401 and the 1000 Islands Parkway in the heart of the region. A single toll must be paid to cross onto the islands (but not off them) from either country.
 * A seasonal, privately-operated ferry runs between Cape Vincent, New York and Wolfe Island, Ontario (where another ferry on the opposite side of Wolfe Island operates year-round, free of charge to Kingston). Total time from Kingston to Cape Vincent (two ferry crossings) is a little over an hour. Both ferries are popular for cyclists heading to Wolfe Island.

An additional bridge crossing at Prescott-Ogdensburg is marginally out-of-region and primarily serves Ottawa-Hull.

Get around
A number of different ferries and tour boats depart from Gananoque, Alexandria Bay, Rockport and Clayton.

For many islands (some of them Canadian or New York State parkland), cruising on small craft is the only access. Pleasure boats may be rented.

Dive charters are available from multiple vendors in Kingston.

Some vendors also rent bicycles:

Fuel stations are available on Wellesley Island (near the southernmost of the two I-81 exits on the island) and Wolfe Island (in Marysville village) but prices tend to be higher than on the respective mainlands. In general, Canadian fuel prices are exorbitant by US standards (Ontario's double-digit HST is a tax on a price which already includes 25 cents/litre of fuel-specific taxes) so international travellers are advised to leave Clayton or Alexandria Bay on a full tank. Portable tanks for outboard motor boats can be filled more economically at highway fuel stations than at dockside; many marinas sell petrol but prices are less competitive.

When converting fuel prices, note that there are 4.5 litres in an Imperial gallon or 3.78 litres in a US gallon. Fuel is dispensed in litres in Canada and in US gallons in New York State.

See
There are at least two unincorporated villages on the islands; Marysville is on the north shore of Wolfe Island (facing Kingston) and Fineview is on Wellesley Island (near I-81 and Thousand Islands Park). Each has a post office; the town hall for the Township of Frontenac Islands is in Marysville village. Landmarks in these villages (none of which exceeds a thousand people) are listed here.

Do

 * During the summer season, a good selection of island boat cruises are offered from Gananoque, Clayton, Brockville, Kingston, Rockport, Wellesley Island and Alexandria Bay (see "Get around", above, for listings).
 * There are enough shipwrecks to fill a book (ISBN 9780968143704 - Treacherous Waters: Kingston's Shipwrecks, 1997, Cris Kohl); three historic War of 1812 ships (HMS Prince Regent, HMS Princess Charlotte and HMS St. Lawrence) were scuttled near Kingston and may be of interest to divers.

Parks
Various parks are located on islands and only accessible by boat:

Eat

 * The Back Kitchen and Maplemarsh Farm on Amherst Island. Dining hall is open seasonally, Victoria Day to Labour Day. The farm grows vegetables for the local farmers' market.
 * The Back Kitchen and Maplemarsh Farm on Amherst Island. Dining hall is open seasonally, Victoria Day to Labour Day. The farm grows vegetables for the local farmers' market.

Connect

 * is in Marysville village (1211 Main Street, Hwy 96, Wolfe Island K0H 2Y0) and on Amherst Island (5695 Front Road, Stella K0H 2S0 +1 613-389-0417).
 * The is on Old Bridge Road on Wellesley Island (44392 County Rd 191, Fineview 13640). US parcel receiving service is available at, at the northbound I-81 offramp near the USPS.
 * The is on Old Bridge Road on Wellesley Island (44392 County Rd 191, Fineview 13640). US parcel receiving service is available at, at the northbound I-81 offramp near the USPS.

Stay safe
The St. Lawrence Seaway is a busy shipping channel; there are dangerous shoals and strong currents in some narrow portions of the river. Mariners must carry up-to-date charts and safety equipment at all times. A license is required to fish in Ontario or New York State; Canada also requires operators of motorised recreational vessels to carry proof of competency. Some boat rental operators offer short, introductory training lessons which may be advisable for inexperienced sailors before taking the helm of unfamiliar watercraft. In the most extreme weather, it may be best to leave the boat in the harbour or harbor and remain on dry land for safety's sake.

The international boundary has come under closer scrutiny in the post-September 11, 2001 era and the concept of being "waved through" Customs in either direction no longer applies. It is no longer possible to travel without a passport. In 2009, the United States began deployment of Predator drones on its northern borders. In 2011, Canadian officials attempted to seize a boat from a US recreational fisherman in Canadian waters despite the boat having neither landed nor anchored in Canada. The border situation only got worse during the Trump administration (January 2017-January 2021) and degraded further due to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-21. Even before the pandemic, travellers have routinely been turned back at the border even for minor police incidents in which they were neither charged nor convicted. Canadian firearms laws are restrictive by US standards, so it may be best to check requirements in advance or leave any hunting rifles at home.

This is a freshwater region and (except in areas where channels are kept open by icebreakers or ferries) the waters do freeze in winter, leading some to attempt to drive snowmobiles or other vehicles across the ice to the islands. Depending on ice conditions, this can be extremely dangerous - particularly in early spring when the ice begins to thaw. Stay off the ice if at all possible.

Go next

 * Gananoque, Leeds and the 1000 Islands are mid-region on the Ontario side, between Kingston and Brockville
 * Alexandria Bay and Clayton are mid-region on the New York side, about 25 miles (40 km) north of Watertown
 * Sackets Harbor and Hammond, New York face onto Lake Ontario, just west of the 1000 Islands

title: Thousand Islands


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Thousand Oaks

Thousand Oaks is a city in Ventura County in Southern California. It is the largest city in the Conejo Valley, which it shares with Agoura Hills and Westlake Village. Newbury Park on the west and Oak Park on the east are districts of Thousand Oaks.

Get in
Thousand Oaks is best accessible by automobile. It sits at the junction of the California Route 23 and United States Route 101 Freeways. The 101 connects to the San Fernando Valley through Agoura Hills. On the west, it crosses the conejo grade and connects on to western Ventura County and points along the Central Coast. The freeway portion of the 23 travels north to Simi Valley and Moorpark.

The Conejo Valley is also connected to points west and south through several scenic canyon roads through the Santa Monica Mountains. The Oxnard Plain can be reached on Potrero Road, which twists and turns through a steep ravine to emerge near California State University Channel Islands (Formerly Camarillo State Mental Hospital). Visitors can reach Malibu and the Pacific Ocean by Westlake Boulevard (designated as the southern portion of California 23). These roads can provide stunning vistas, and are frequented by bicyclists, motorcycle and car clubs, and the occasional group of joyriding teenagers, so visitors are advised to be aware of their surroundings, share the road, and exercise caution.

Airports in close proximity to Thousand Oaks are Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Hollywood Burbank Airport in Burbank. There are also small public airports in Camarillo, Oxnard, and Santa Paula, but these are general aviation only and offer no commercial service.

Public bus service is available from Los Angeles, Oxnard, and other towns in the area, but may not be very frequent.

Get around
Like much of suburban California, Thousand Oaks is designed around travel by car, and walking or biking can be difficult or even hazardous due to traffic. Some of the primary retail and commercial streets do have dedicated bike lanes, however.

Public transit options are minimal, but Thousand Oaks does offer the TOT busline, but service is sporadic and runs only every hour to hour-and-a-half. The western terminus of Los Angeles County's LA Metro bus #161, connects from the Metro Orange Line stop at Warner Center in the San Fernando Valley at the Thousand Oaks Transit center just west of the southbound US-101 Rancho Road exit.

Do

 * The Santa Monica Mountains south of Newbury Park offer some beautiful hiking trails. Access is located at the end of Lynn Road.
 * Two Winds Ranch on Reino Road offers horseback riding, with both regular lessons and day rides on the trails in the mountains.
 * Two Winds Ranch on Reino Road offers horseback riding, with both regular lessons and day rides on the trails in the mountains.

Go next

 * Camarillo. A quiet bedroom community living alongside one of the largest factory outlet complexes in the greater Los Angeles area.
 * Los Angeles. Visit the de facto home of the entertainment industry, and the largest city in the western United States. L.A. is an enormous city with an extremely varied geography.
 * Malibu. An exclusive coastal community and home to the rich and famous, and features miles of beautiful public beaches.
 * Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Known as "Los Angeles' Backyard" this national park contains both the mountains and the beaches.

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

title: Thousand Oaks


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Thrace

Thrace is a region in the southeast Balkans, bordered by the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean Sea, the region of Macedonia, and the Balkan Mountains.

The boundaries of Thrace have always been vague: the only fixed point is that Istanbul and the Bosphorus stand at its eastern edge. For the last 200 years or so the name has meant the segment of Europe within about 400 km of Istanbul. The ancient Thracian people occupied a larger region, and the term "Europe" was first applied to their lands. In Greek mythology they were the tribe of Thrax, son of Ares the god of war - they were described as warlike, but those accounts reflect times when they were in conflict with Persia, Greece or Rome. They were probably an Indo-European people who became distinct from the Dacians of Romania around 1000 BC. They were united as the Odrysian kingdom from the 5th to 3rd century BC but were otherwise disparate. They became assimilated into Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire and vanished, leaving a legacy of artworks, burial mounds, and some place name elements, along with their musical tradition, elements of which survive in the modern folk styles of the area. From medieval times their region lay within the Ottoman Empire.

The present layout of Thrace reflects the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, which adjusted national borders after the Great War, and mandated population exchanges to reduce ethnic tensions:
 * Northern Thrace (Северна Тракия) is in Bulgaria and includes the Upper Thracian Plain, the Bulgarian part of the Rhodope Mountains, and the smaller Strandzha and Sakar.
 * Western Thrace (Θράκη) comprises three prefectures of Greece: Evros (which includes the island of Samothrace), Rhodope and Xanthi.
 * Eastern Thrace (Doğu Trakya or Rumeli) is the European part of Turkey. Although geographically this includes Istanbul, that's a metropolitan region spanning both sides of the Bosphorus and described on separate pages.

All three countries usually refer to their portion as simply Thrace, since from their point of view the geography is inverted: thus in Turkey "Eastern Thrace" is the furthest west of the entire country, and so on. In each, "Thracian" is a distinct regional identity, but of course refers to modern inhabitants. The original Thracians disappeared from history around the 4th century AD, and after 1600 years of subsequent conquests and civilisations in the region, it's difficult to learn much about them.

title: Thrace


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Thredbo

Thredbo is a village and ski resort within Kosciuszko National Park in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. It is located on the Alpine Way and is 1380 metres above sea level.

Understand
Thredbo is probably the closest thing Australia has to an alpine village. It lies just on the snowline, and has a variety of accommodation, ski lodges, restaurants, and even a heated swimming pool. Accommodation is just a short walk or shuttle bus ride to the ski lifts in the winter, and the town is still alive during the summer months, with bushwalks, mountain biking, and even some snowplay well into summer. By comparison Perisher Valley is a large ski resort, with more lifts and more skiing area during winter. However it is not a summer destination, and all you will see there is a large carpark. There is some accommodation there also, but little alpine village atmosphere.

By plane

 * The nearest airport with scheduled services is the Cooma–Snowy Mountains Airport . From there you can rent a car or get a coach to Thredbo.

By car

 * Thredbo is about 2.5 hours drive from Canberra, and 1 hour from Cooma, and around 6 hours drive from Sydney. The drive from Melbourne is also around 6 hours via the Alpine Way.  A nice drive during summer, but can be subject to snow and ice during winter.  Check road conditions.

National park entry fees apply to vehicles and are payable at entrance stations on roads into the park and other locations. There is also a fee for bus passengers. The fee for a car in winter is $27 per 24 hours. In summer it is $16 per vehicle per day. Drive-through (non-stop) passes for the Alpine Way are free.

Chains must be carried during winter, and you must know how to fit them. If chains are required, signs will be placed in the appropriate chain fitting bays, however quite often chains are not required.

By bus
Winter timetabled trips:
 * Greyhound daily from Sydney and Sydney Airport, Canberra and Canberra Airport, and Jindabyne.
 * Murrays daily from Canberra via Jindabyne, Saturdays from Sydney
 * Snow Express Fridays and Sundays from Canberra and Canberra airport

There are several tour companies that offer bus travel as part of a package, including Ski Kaos and Oz Snow Adventures.

Many skiers and boarders stay in Jindabyne and travel to Thredbo as a day trip. Services timed for day trips include:
 * Snow Link Shuttle

The NSW Trainlink coach services now service Jindabyne all year round. During summer, the final part of the trip to Thredbo is still problematic by public transport. A taxi is a possible, but expensive, option.

Get around
Thredbo adopts a half-assed "car lite" model that's in many ways the worst of both worlds: cars are allowed, but parking is next to impossible even in the summer and explicitly prohibited overnight (with limited exceptions if your accommodation has its own parking; most don't). The expectation is that you'll leave your car at the free giant parking lots at Friday Flat, and either walk the 15 min on foot or catch a shuttle bus.

The village itself is walkable, but the village is on a steep hill, most streets do not have dedicated footpaths, and roads may be icy. However, traffic moves very slowly and it is quite common for people to walk to and from the village and their accommodation. In summer, mountain bikes are everywhere, so keep an eye out.

Free shuttle buses run around the village on about 15 minute intervals in winter. There are three routes:
 * Route 1 (Red): minibuses that run along Crackenback Drive, Diggings Terrace (without stops), and Bobuck Lane, then Friday Drive to and from Valley Terminal and Friday Flat only
 * Route 2 (Green): minibuses that run along Diggings Terrace and Banjo Drive, return along the same route, then Friday Drive to and from Valley Terminal and Friday Flat only
 * Route 3 (Orange): large buses that run between Valley Terminal and Friday Flat with intermediate stops at accommodation on Friday Drive.

The Green and Red routes are designed for visitors staying in accommodation higher in the village. Maps for all three routes can be found at https://www.thredbo.com.au/the-village/road-transport/

Resort riding
The entire resort is open to both skiers and snowboarders. In 2021, single day lift passes are priced as follows:

Multi-day and early booking discounts are available, particularly in shoulder periods (12–25 Jun, 13 Sep–4 Oct). Full pricing is here. Due to reduced demand for COVID-safety purposes, lift passes should be booked well in advance of travel. Multi-day passes do not include any rest days (ie, there is no "4 days in 6" pass as in years up to 2019).

There are two points at the bottom of the mountain where chairlifts depart. Valley Terminal is the departure point for lifts to most of the intermediate and advanced terrain. Friday Flat is the beginner area but is also a departure point for intermediate and advanced runs in the north east of the resort. Rental gear and lift passes are available at both Valley Terminal and Friday Flat.

Major skiing and snowboarding areas of the resort are:
 * Friday Flat: the introductory area. Friday Flat includes a magic carpet area (Syd's Snowrunner) for first day learners, and a 4-person chairlift to a larger beginners area as beginners progress. It is also the meeting point for all group lessons at any level, and the departure point of the Gunbarrel chairlift.
 * Merritts Mountain / Cruiser: a top of the resort area above Friday Flat. It features shorter (1–2km) harder beginner and easier intermediate runs together with a few advanced runs. It is accessed from Friday Flat on the 4-person detachable Gunbarrel chairlift or Valley Terminal on the slow 2-person Merritts chairlift. Merritts is where beginners progress in lessons following Friday Flat. Since descending from Merritts back to Friday Flat is only possible on more difficult intermediate and advanced runs such as High Noon, Dream Run and The Schuss. Thus, downloading (riding down) both the Gunbarrel and Merritts chairlifts is allowed.
 * Central Spur: intermediate and advanced runs on the top half of the resort in between the Cruiser area and Crackenback, served by two T-bars: Antons and Sponars. This area can be accessed by reaching either the Cruiser or Crackenback areas from the bottom and then traversing.
 * Crackenback: the longest resort runs, accessed by the 4-person detachable Kosciuszko chairlift and 2 person Snowgums chairlift from Valley Terminal, including the longest runs Super Trail (3.7km, rated intermediate) and Village Trail (5km, rated beginner).
 * The Basin: a wide area above Crackenback and above the treeline. While rated for beginners and easier than the Crusier area beginners runs, it is only accessible by the Kosciuszko chairlift which does not allow downloading, and thus only used by advanced beginners and up, able to descend Crackenback via the Village Trail or other more difficult runs. It is served by a T-bar.
 * Karels: an area accessed by another T-bar above The Basin. The top of Karels is the highest altitude lifted point in Australia. There are several short intermediate runs back to The Basin, and Karels and The Basin together are also the starting point for Thredbo's most advanced runs including Funnel Web and Cannonball, which descend to the side of the Crackenback runs.

Learning
Group lessons and children's lessons are available as an add-on to lift ticket purchases, private lessons must be booked separately through the ski school office. For complete beginners, a slightly cheaper "First Timer" lift and lesson ticket is available that restricts your first day to the Friday Flat area.

2-hour group lessons for all abilities meet at Friday Flat at 9:30AM, 11:30AM, and 2PM. Private lessons meet at either Friday Flat or Valley Terminal. Skiing lessons for children aged 3–6 are available at Thredboland at Friday Flat, either a full day including lunch or afternoon program. Skiing and snowboarding lessons are available on the same schedule for older children aged 7–14 in the Freeriders program, meeting at Friday Flat. A fee of $85 applies to everyone, regardless of age.

Tobogganing
Until 2018, tobogganing was allowed in a dedicated area near the Snowgums chairlift boarding area, but in 2018 resort management banned tobogganing and other snow play anywhere in the resort.

Backcountry
Backcountry ski and snow-shoeing tours are offered by:

Summer

 * Climb Mount Kosciuszko Australia's highest mountain. Take the year-round chairlift (adult $25 return, $19.50 one way; child $12.50 return, $11 one way) up to Crackenback. From there it is a gradual 6.5 km walk (13km return) with a gradual incline, mostly on metal walkways, to the 2,228m summit of Mt Kosciuszko. There is only one continent where the highest peak is so accessible, and a person of moderate fitness can do the return walk easily in a day.  Keen hikers can continue to Mt Townsend, the second highest peak, but there is no formed track and it is not such an easy climb so you need to be confident of your hiking and navigation skills. Mt Kosciuszko can also be climbed from Charlotte Pass, where you can park your car, and avoid the lift fees.
 * Bushwalking
 * Mountain bike riding
 * Bobsled. There is a metal half tube.
 * Climbing and abseiling
 * Fishing
 * Golf
 * Horse riding
 * Tennis
 * Whitewater rafting

Eat

Sleep
Thredbo accommodation is a mix of hotel rooms, self-catered apartments, and privately and cooperatively owned lodges. Lodges are typically somewhat communal, with shared lounges, and may be a good place to meet fellow travellers. The village is small; most accommodation is within a 1km walk of the chairlifts.

In winter, many accommodation providers only accept bookings from Friday to Sunday (2 nights), Sunday to Friday (5 nights) or Sunday to Sunday (7 nights).

Particularly in ski season, it's cheaper to stay in Jindabyne, but this adds a "snow commute" of 30 to 60 min each way.

Stay safe
Thredbo skiiers and snowboarders should adhere to the Alpine Responsibility Code.

Assistance in the event of an accident is provided by

Medical assistance is available at At other times of the year, the nearest doctors are in Jindabyne. The nearest small hospital with emergency facilities is in Cooma and the nearest major hospitals with specialist care are in Canberra.

title: Thredbo


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Three days in Singapore

Three days in Singapore is your guide to see the sights of Singapore.

Understand
The following itineraries illustrate three ways to spend one day in Singapore. They all assume you will start from and end your trip at your lodgings. You can select the activities that sound interesting to you and follow them in any order, including mixing and matching the morning/afternoon/evening sections from the three different itineraries as you like.

All listed prices are in Singapore dollars. The estimates provided below do not include food, drinks or the cost of transportation between the hotel where you are staying and the locations of the first and last destinations stated in each itinerary.

Prepare
Getting around Singapore is easy. Equip yourself with a bottle of water and the free Singapore Tourist Map is recommended. If you plan on using the subway system, or MRT as it is known in Singapore, you should consider buying the pre-paid EZ-Link card or NETS FlashPay card. Using either card not only helps you to avoid the queue at the ticketing machines, it also helps you to save a bit of money as the fares are slightly lower. There is a non-refundable fee of $5 to purchase either card.

Another way is to buy the Singapore Tourist Pass (available at selected TransitLink Ticket Offices). Pass options are: 1 day ($10), 2 days ($16) or 3 days ($20). This pass lets you enjoy unlimited rides on the MRT/LRT and public buses. There is a refundable deposit of $10 (refund the pass within 5 days to collect back the $10 deposit).

Day 1
The Tourist Loop

If you have to pick one itinerary out of the three listed here, this is the one. Be forewarned however that this itinerary follows very closely the typical itineraries devised by tour groups and what you will mostly see will be limited to the touristy face of Singapore.

Approximate cost per person for admissions and transport: $50.

Morning

Get up bright and early to beat the heat. Skip the hotel buffet and start your day with a Singaporean breakfast of kaya toast, runny eggs and strong sweet coffee, also known locally as kopi. Kaya is the Singaporean's equivalent of the British marmalade or the New Yorker's cream cheese, and is made of coconut milk, sugar and eggs. The Singaporean breakfast is available in any corner coffeeshop, known more affectionately by the locals as the Kopitiam, for about $2, but if you want to taste what is considered to be the best kaya toast in town, you will want to figure out the location of the nearest Ya Kun Kaya outlet. Incidentally, the word Kopitiam is formed by joining the Malay word kopi with the Hokkien (a Chinese dialect) word for a shop; hence, the coffee-shop and the etymology of this word is illustrative of many of the words that are spoken by the typical Singaporean. As a matter of fact, the typical Singaporean seems to be incapable of carrying on a conversation without mixing in words from two or more languages (usually Mandarin Chinese and English). So, if you hear a foreign-sounding word in the middle of an English sentence, you haven't heard wrong -- the word is probably not in English.

Before it gets too hot outside, head to either the Singapore Zoo, which is particularly great for the kids, or the Jurong Bird Park, which is the more romantic option. The Zoo and the Bird Park opens at 8:30AM, entrance fee to the Zoo is $32, and $28 to the Bird Park. Buy the tickets online by Visa or MasterCard to enjoy a 10% discount.

The easiest way to get to either attraction is to take the taxi (approximately $10 if you start from the city centre).

Afternoon
By noon you will be hot, sweaty and probably a little peckish. Make your way down to Orchard Road, or more specifically Ngee Ann City (also known as Takashimaya), to begin the shopping portion of your tour. Unlike America's malls, which occupy acres and acres of land, Singapore's scarcity of land forces its malls to develop skywards. Among the many malls in Singapore, Ngee Ann City is considered to be the premier mall destination, hands down, and boasts an amazing number of high-end boutiques, including Tiffany, Cartier, Louis Vuitton; and Takashimaya, which is Japanese for the equivalent of Neiman-Marcus or Harrods.

Start off with a quick lunch in the food court located in Ngee Ann City's basement. Dependable Singaporean-Chinese chain Crystal Jade has no less than 4 outlets scattered throughout the mall (the ones in the basement are cheap, those on top cost more), Sushitei (2nd floor) serves up very good conveyor belt style sushi, Central (Basement 1) has a modern take on Hong Kong cuisine, and if you're still pining for more options, the lower basement food court has more options than you can shake a chopstick at.

Your course from here onward depends on your interests, there are literally dozens of shopping malls along Orchard Rd stretching in both directions from Takashimaya. Up on the third floor is Kinokuniya, Singapore's largest bookstore. If Takashimaya's lower floors aren't enough, across the road is Paragon, full of yet more expensive luxury brands. If you're looking for something specific and can't find it, just ask the friendly crew at the Singapore Visitor's Centre at Orchard Road (near Somerset MRT station, Exit C). But do yourself a favour and avoid buying any electronics in Lucky Plaza, a notorious pit of ripoff artists.

Evening

By 5-6PM the temperatures will start to drop and it's time to get back to sightseeing. Find the nearest MRT station (the likely candidates are Orchard, Somerset and Dhoby Ghaut, all along Orchard Road) and take the MRT to Raffles Place and head out via Exit H, which will bring you to the southern side of the Singapore River.

The first bridge to your right is Cavenagh Bridge (1), the oldest bridge still standing. Don't cross it yet, but do pause to admire the original sign advising that cattle are not permitted to cross.

The massive white colonial building just past the bridge was Singapore's general post office, but it has been resurrected as the Fullerton Hotel (2), one of the city's best (and most expensive).

Keep walking down the bank of the river, at one point crossing a road and then promptly heading back down to the riverside. Soon enough you'll see Singapore's official committee-designed symbol the Merlion (3), half-lion, half-fish, staring purposefully out at tourists snapping away from the observation deck just opposite. Join them and you'll be treated to a stunning view of the Central Business District's skyscrapers and the Marina Bay Sands casino across the bay.

On the other side of the river you will spot two odd-shaped dome like buildings likened, depending on your interpretation, like giant insect eyes, or a durian fruit split in half. This is the Esplanade, a venue devoted to the music & fine arts.

Retrace your steps and cross Cavenagh Bridge (or the preceding Anderson Bridge) and walk along to the north side. To your left is Empress Place (4), now housing the Asian Civilisations Museum and the excellent but pricey IndoChine restaurant complex, also housing Bar Opiume and Siem Reap Cafe. Just past Empress Place is a statue of Sir Stamford Raffles (5), the iconic founder of Singapore. Go on, join the other tourists and have your picture taken in front of it with the CBD skyscrapers as the backdrop, that's what it's there for.

With that, the sightseeing portion of today's trip is now complete and you can concentrate on eating and drinking.

Cross Cavenagh Bridge and turn right: the long strip of restored, brightly lit and bustling shophouses in front of you is Boat Quay, a favourite hangout for Singapore's expat crowd. The food here is expensive for what you get, but it's worth stopping at Harry's Bar (6) and sip on a refreshing pre-dinner gin and tonic ($10).

Push your way through the restaurant touts all the way to the end of Boat Quay and cross South Bridge Road, still following the river. A little way down you will find an outlet of Jumbo Seafood (7), famed for the iconic Singaporean dish chilli crab (around $3/100g). Order a side of mantou dumplings to sop up the delicious sauce and dig in — and leave the nice clothes at the hotel, because this dish can get messy!

After dinner, keep on walking and you'll soon spot the bright lights of Clarke Quay and (further down) Robertson Quay. There are countless pubs, bars and clubs here which change rapidly, just spot one with a crowd and join in. In the unlikely event that you don't find anything to your liking, grab a cab (or keep on walking) for the short hop down to Mohamed Sultan Rd or Singapore's most famous nightclub Zouk. Most establishments stay open until the wee hours and there's usually discounted entrance or happy hours before 10, so party on until dawn!

Day 2
Culture Vulture

Today's excursion concentrates more on the cultural side of things, with loops through Chinatown and Little India.

Approximate cost per person for admissions and transport: $10

Morning

Find your way onto the MRT North East Line and get off at Chinatown station Exit A. This will deposit you on Pagoda Street, right at the heart of Chinatown.

Immediately to your right as you come out is an outlet of Bee Cheng Hiang (1), a famous shop — now franchised, and the yellow-and-red signs can be seen all over Singapore — that sells sweet barbecued roast pork. During Chinese New Year, queues here can stretch for hours! Ask for a free sample and buy a box as a souvenir for any friends back home.

A few houses down the road to your left is the Chinatown Heritage Centre (2), an excellent and informative museum of Chinatown's history and development. Admission fee is $10.

Keep on walking down the road, past the many stalls hawking what is mostly touristy kitsch. Pagoda Street ends on South Bridge Road and, immediately to your right, you will see the Sri Mariamman Temple (3). Take off your shoes and walk in to take a look, pausing to observe the intricately carved gopuram (gate statuary) above the entrance and the nonchalant cow statues perched on the roofs. Free admission but donations are welcome.

Further down South Bridge Road you will see (and smell) a number of Chinese herbal medicine shops, ready to cure anything that ails you with unlikely ingredients including dried seahorses and snake skin. Poke around and maybe pick up a bag or two of cheap and tasty dried fruits. After the shops, you'll soon spot a gigantic gold/red coloured four-story Chinese pavilion: this is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (4), completed only in 2007. The holy relic in question is housed on the fourth floor, and if you arrive before 6PM, you'll have a chance to gaze upon it from a distance before the exhibit closes for the day. On the roof, you'll find 10,000 miniature Buddhas and a giant Tibetan-style prayer wheel.

Feeling peckish enough for lunch? If yes, you can turn right onto Smith Street (5) for a row of gentrified hawker stalls prettified for tourists (although many only open for dinner), or left into Maxwell Food Centre (6), which doesn't score many points for ambience but does serve some very good local food. Pick the stall with the longest queue and dig in! Be sure to leave some room for dessert at Tong Heng (7) at 285 South Bridge Road, famed for its egg tarts ($1).

Properly stuffed, it's time to take a break and digest all that at Tea Chapter (8), just down the street at 9 Neil Road (pick the right fork of the crossing), where you can be introduced to Chinese tea ceremony for as little as $8. This is not an experience to be rushed, particularly if you opt for one of the better grades of tea, so sit back and watch carefully as the staff shows you how to pour and appreciate a proper cup of tea. You can also buy Chinese tea and utensils from here.

Afternoon

It's time to bow politely to China and take the MRT to India. Head back to Chinatown MRT station and board the North-East Line (three stations away) to Little India MRT station.

Take Exit C and walk down Bukit Timah Road. The big building to your left is Tekka Centre, a large wet market that sells all sorts of fresh meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables. Worth a look if you haven't seen one before, but the meat section is not for the squeamish.

The first road to your left is Serangoon Road, the central artery of Little India. Across the road is Tekka Mall/The Verge (1), Little India's first and only air-con mall, but of more interest is the low-rise building to the left, which houses the Little India Arcade (2). This is a collection of small shops and stalls that sell all sorts of Indian items, some geared for tourists, but most are for the locals. Note the flower garlands, for decorating home shrines, and the little leaf packets with something red and white inside: this is paan, a mildly narcotic concoction of betel nut and lime. Go ahead and try some, but the taste is bitter, it stains your teeth red and you need to keep chewing for 20 minutes to get any buzz.

Return to Serangoon Road and walk up the street. Explore the countless little shops here, one specializing in bangles, another in incense, many in Indian music and Bollywood DVDs.

Soon to your right you will see Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple (3). This is Little India's oldest temple, dating back to 1881, not as grand in size as Chinatown's Sri Mariamman but usually much busier. In February (usually), this is also the starting point of the procession for Thaipusam, celebrated in Singapore and Malaysia by devotees who attach heavy weights and portable shrines to their skin with skewers (kavadi) and carry them kilometers across the city to another shrine. Free admission but donations are welcome.

Keep walking down Serangoon Road until you see Serangoon Plaza. The road leading right from here is Syed Alwi Road, home to a shopping extravaganza like no other, the inimitable Mustafa Centre (7). Open 24 hours every day, this perennially packed discount department store will happily sell you absolutely anything imaginable: on the same trip you can easily pick up a high-end camera, a tube of toothpaste, five kilos of mangoes, a golden necklace, some Bollywood DVDs, a box of imported Bisquick pancake mix, a washing machine and five meters of patterned silk. Next, you can get a suit tailored at Mustafa Tailor, eat fish and chips at Mustafa Restaurant, buy tickets at Mustafa Travel Agency, exchange your leftover Omani rials at Mustafa Exchange and collapse into a cheap room at Mustafa Hotel. While you can find pretty much anything you need here, electronics are a particularly good buy as prices are extremely competitive and there's no hassle or risk of ripoffs. Just don't expect much in the way of attentive service!

Hungry yet? If it's already dinnertime, there are countless options in the vicinity, and if you're adventurous by all means consider some fish head curry — Banana Leaf Apolo (5) and Muthu's (6), on nearby Race Course Rd, are both famous for this. Good yet less fishy options include Delhi, for somewhat upmarket North Indian fare just Serangoon Road, and Komala Vilas (4), for vegetarian South Indian goodies with outlets both back where you came from and a little more up the road on Serangoon.

Properly curried up, lug your big bags of Mustafa goodies across Serangoon Rd, down Birch Street and into the air-conditioned coolness of the Farrer Park MRT station, from where you can head back to your hotel to rest your aching feet.

Day 3

Beach Bumming

A frank confession: by South-East Asian standards, Singapore's beaches aren't all that great. But the other options within easy day-tripping distance aren't that much better, so if you have precisely one day to spare, you could do better by heading to Sentosa, Singapore's island getaway. Bring along sunscreen, a swimsuit and a towel!

Drinks and food are more expensive in Sentosa, so it's good to bring along something to eat and drink. One possible source to stock up on drinks and food at cheaper prices, are the supermarkets located at level one, inside the Vivocity or HarbourFront shopping mall.

Admissions and transport fees to Sentosa: $4 by Monorail, $1 by Bus~RWS8, free by walking in

Morning
Start by finding your way to HarbourFront, the southern terminus of MRT North-East Line, and then follow the signs towards the cable car — getting there involves crossing through a shopping mall and then a parking lot. Purchase a return ticket on the ground level ($29 including admission to Sentosa and Cable Car Museum), then head up by elevator.

The crossing takes just 5½ minutes and gives good opportunities to gawk at the Port of Singapore (to your right), the massive Cruise ships at the Cruise Center below and the fancy condos to your right. After climbing up to a tower you'll start your descent to Sentosa; to your left is the Resorts World, home to Singapore's second casino and Universal Studios theme park.

The cable car will drop you off at the center of Sentosa. History buffs may wish to visit Images of Singapore & Madame Tussauds ($39) nearby, for a sanitised, kid-friendly version of Singapore's history, but the Sky Tower and the Merlion don't really have much to offer (you've already seen the same views from the cable car).

Hop onto a Red or Green Line bus and head one stop to Underwater World ($29.90), one of the best of Sentosa's attractions: this is a giant aquarium packed with sharks, manta rays and all sorts of weird and wonderful sea creatures. Next door is Fort Siloso, an authentic colonial-era British fort, where you are introduced to life as a soldier of the British Empire and taken through various well-done exhibits covering Singapore during World War II. (Not suitable for very young children, although older ones will probably get a kick out of it.)

Afternoon
Hungry yet? Avoid the awful cafeteria at Underwater World and head a few steps down to Siloso Beach, where you will find a number of decent restaurants including Sakae Sushi, Trapizza and hot Ibizan nightspot Cafe del Mar, which doubles as a restaurant during the day.

Take the Beach Tram through Beach Station (where you need to change trams) down to Dolphin Lagoon, which is kind of cheesy — dolphins and seals jumping through hoops and all that jazz — but free with your Underwater World ticket. Try to time your visit for the "Meet the Dolphin and Seals" sessions at 11AM, 2PM, 4PM and 5:45PM.

By now even the most determined traveller is going to feel a bit hot and sweaty. Head on back to Palawan Beach, right next to Dolphin Lagoon, which features the self-proclaimed Southernmost Point of the Asian Continent (a claim vigorously disputed by Malaysia) and the hip Cafe del Mar, a franchise of the Ibizan superclub. Peel down to your swimsuit, order a fruity cocktail and dip into the pool while watching the beach babes/hunks strutting their stuff.

Once you've had your fill of relaxing at the beach, there are two ways to continue.

Option 1: If you've had your fill of Sentosa, take the Red/Green Line bus to the Merlion, take the obligatory souvenir snapshots, then take the series of escalators back to the cable car station. Take the cable car back across to HarbourFront, but don't get off yet — instead, continue straight onto Mount Faber for nice sunset views of Singapore. The Jewel Box houses several restaurants here is a little pricy, but the rooftop Moonstone is a nice place for a drink. And that's it for today. Take the cable car back to HarbourFront and head out in search of dinner.

Option 2: If night is falling but you're still in the mood for more Sentosa, take the Beach Tram back and catch the 7:40PM or 8:40PM shows at the Wings of Time, a multimedia extravaganza with singing, dancing, lasers, pyrotechnics and more. Tickets cost $18 and it's best to book them early, as the show is popular, especially on weekends. You can settle down for dinner at the food court, the Malaysian Food Street (closed on Wednesday) near the Sentosa Express's Waterfront monorail station, you can either hop on a bus to the cable car station or just party the night away at Cafe del Mar.

title: Three days in Singapore


text:
Three Forks

Three Forks is a town in Montana along the Lewis and Clark Trail. About 2,000 people live there.

Understand
Three Forks is named because the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers converge here. They form the start of the Missouri River.

Get in
Three Forks is on Interstate 90. Exit 278 is the intersection for Montana Highway 2.

The nearest commercial airport is Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Belgrade.

Get around
Three Forks is small enough to walk. You will need a car to see any nearby sites.

Do
If you're into rodeos, then you are in for a treat. Three Forks is home to the Three Forks Rodeo, and several other horse related events.
 * 'Montana Antique Aircraft Association Fly-In is an annual event at Pogreba Field.
 * 'Montana Antique Aircraft Association Fly-In is an annual event at Pogreba Field.

Go next

 * Bridger Bowl Ski Area (45 miles east) is a highly popular ski area with 2,000 acres of skiable terrain. Top elevation is 8,800 feet.
 * Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park (18 miles southwest) offers guided tours daily from May 1st to September 30th. They also have camping, rental cabins, and a quaint cafe and gift shop. Be prepared though; the tours are two miles long, take two hours and there are over 600 stairs to navigate. It is usually hot, with little shade, so bring water and sunscreen.
 *  Virginia City (60 miles south) is the original capital of the Montana Territory and iconic "wild west".

title: Three Forks


text:
Three Pagodas Pass

Three Pagodas Pass (Thai: ด่านเจดีย์สามองค์ Darn Chedi Sam Ong) is on the Thai-Myanmar border, but accessible to foreigners only from the Thai side. It is between Sangkhlaburi in Thailand and Payathonzu in Myanmar.

Understand
Three Pagodas Pass was for centuries on the main land route between India and South East Asia. The strategic location was last exploited during World War II by the Japanese, who used POW labour to build the infamous Death Railway to ferry supplies to Burma from Bangkok.

Get in
From Thailand: the nearest major town is Kanchanaburi. There are frequent bus services from Kanchanaburi to Sangkhlaburi (4-5 hr), from where you can continue by pick-up truck (30-40 min, departures hourly). There is the option of taking a bus directly from Kanchanaburi to Three Pagodas Pass.

From Myanmar: the nearest town is Payathonzu, however foreigners can only get there using the border crossing from Thailand. The border crossing at Three Pagodas Pass is in a state of flux, but was reopened in 2010. As of Jan 2012 it was open to Thai citizens, but not to foreigners.

Get around
At the final songthaew stop, either walk (head for the Three Pagodas and then turn right) or take a motorbike to the border (you will be very limited in what you'll be able to visit without a motorbike).

At the Thai border, you need a photocopy of your passport and 2 passport photos; your passport will be held at the checkpoint, and you must return on the same day. At the Myanmar checkpoint, you need US$10 or 500 baht. Thus, it's best to change some baht to US$ before leaving Kanchanaburi. There are no banks here; the nearest (Siam Commercial Bank) is back in Sangkhlaburi. You need US$ only for the Myanmar entry permit. Once in Myanmar, Thai baht is accepted for everything else.

You will not receive any passport stamps (neither Thai exit or entry stamps, nor Myanmar entry or exit stamps), hence this border crossing cannot be used for "visa runs".

Back at the border, your passport will be returned and you can head back the same way you came.

See
The Thai side of the pass consists of the three smallish chedi, a couple of shrines, a market oriented around Burmese goods (carved wood, gems, textiles), and the border gate to Myanmar.

In Myanmar you can take a look at a few temples as well as a market. None is really in any way very special. However there is one temple that is up on a hill, from where you get a great view across the border.

Buy
Burmese wooden furniture, jade carvings, and textiles are popular purchases.

Eat
On the way from Sangkhlaburi there is a concrete bridge. Down to the right is a small restaurant on the river. There is also another restaurant on the roadside just past this on the right hand side that does meals for around 50 baht per plate.

Stay safe
The area around the pass has occasionally been the site of skirmishes between the Burmese Army and various Karen and Mon rebel groups. Any such activity will mean that the pass is closed, so risk to tourists is non-existent.

Go next
There are only two ways: either back to Kanchanaburi or by crossing the border to Payathonzu in Myanmar.

title: Three Pagodas Pass


text:
Three parallel rivers

The Three parallel rivers region is in Yunnan, China, in part of the same complex of mountain ranges as the Himalayas, at the eastern end of the Himalaya proper. Descending from Tibet, three mighty rivers here run parallel to each other for over 200 km (125 miles), carving out vast canyons, before diverging halfway across Asia, nourishing billions and giving rise to splendid civilizations. Parts of the area are a ; the UNESCO page says "The site consists of 15 protected areas (in eight geographic clusters) ..." The three rivers (listed east-to-west) are:
 * the Yangtze, China's greatest river, empties into the East China Sea near Shanghai
 * the Mekong, Southeast Asia's lifeblood, empties into the South China Sea near Ho Chi Minh City
 * the Salween, Myanmar's second river, empties into the Bay of Bengal near Kyaikkami

Their mouths are thousands of kilometers apart, flowing into different seas. Their headwaters are also fairly widely separated. However, in this region they are quite near each other, flowing along three enormous more-or-less parallel gorges which wind through a region of large mountains.

The three rivers have different names in this region than downstream and the names in Chinese do not sound anywhere near their names in English. To avoid confusion when communicating with locals, it is advisable to memorize the Chinese pronunciations. The Salween is Nù Jiāng (怒江), the Mekong is Láncāng Jiāng (澜沧江), and the Yangtze is Jin Sha Jiang (金沙江).

The Irrawaddy River follows a similar path but is not included in this park area because its gorge lies across the border in Myanmar. Nor is the Yarlong River (called the Bramhaputra in India) which has the world's largest canyon in Tibet, west of the Three Gorges.

Understand
These are large rivers running through large mountains. The scale is absolutely mind blowing; the gorges are 3000 meters deep (twice the depth of the Grand Canyon). Due to the isolation of the valleys, the area is remarkably diverse in many ways: climate, plants, animals, ethnic groups, languages and culture.

The mountains
India and the rest of Asia are on separate continental plates which are colliding, and the impact creates the world's largest mountains. The truly huge ones (many over 7,000 meters and 14 over 8,000) are further west, in the main Himalayan Range along the India-Tibet border in areas like Nepal, Ladakh or Gilgit-Baltistan. However, the parallel rivers region also has many quite substantial peaks, more than 100 above 5,000 m and several over 6,000. For comparison, Mont Blanc (the tallest mountain in Western Europe) is 4,810 m and Mount Whitney (highest point in the 48 contiguous United States) 4,421. Alaska has one mountain, Denali, at 6,200 m and three others above 5,000. Canada has none over 6,000 and five above 5,000. Eurasia's highest mountain outside the Greater Himalayan region is Elbrus in the Caucasus at 5642 m.

The tallest peak in this region at 6,740 m (22,100 feet) is Kawagarbo (or Kawa Karpo or several other spellings); it is comparable to Aconcagua in Argentina, the tallest in the Andes and tallest outside Eurasia at 6,961 m. As the crow flies, Kawagarbo is only 20 km (about 12 miles) from the town of Shenping which is on a highway. The mountain is sacred to Tibetans and pilgrims often make a circuit around it on foot.

Kawagarbo has never been climbed, and an attempt would be illegal (see ).

The rivers
All three rivers in the park, and the Irrawaddy across the border, are on Wikipedia's list of the world's largest rivers. Here is a summary, comparing them with some other well-known rivers:

The area has gorges several thousand meters deep as the rivers cut through the mountains. Downstream, in level lowland territory, these rivers become relatively gentle, but here in the mountains they are quite vigorous and dangerous.

Climate
The climate is very diverse. The latitude is almost tropical, but the region is at quite a high altitude, so the basic climate is temperate. In winter, much of the area can get quite cold, especially at higher altitudes.

However, with the complex structure of mountains and valleys, there is a huge range of micro-climates. Two valleys only a few miles apart may have quite different weather because one gets more sun or the pattern of wind and rain is different.

Flora and fauna
Large parts of the area are forested, mainly with conifers, and some of the highest peaks are covered in snow year round, but other areas have different micro-climates so the variety of both plants and animals in the region as a whole is unusually large. The UNESCO citation adding this region to the World Heritage List describes it as "an epicentre of Chinese biodiversity ... one of the richest temperate regions of the world in terms of biodiversity".

People
Mountainous terrain tends to protect minorities from either conquest or assimilation, so the population in this area is also quite diverse. China has 56 officially recognized ethnic groups, of which about half can be found in Yunnan and several in this region.

The Hengduan mountain range which includes the gorges is in the former Tibetan province of Kham, and Khampa Tibetans are still the largest ethnic group in the region. However, Kham is no longer used as an administrative division; all of its former territory is now considered part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region or the Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan. The sub-range which includes Kawagarbo now forms a part of the Yunnan/Tibet border, and this region is south of that at the northern end of Yunnan.

Get in
Being on the northern edge of Yunnan bordering Tibet means all access has to come from the south. This usually starts in one of the three Tea Horse Road cities: Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-la. Each city has an airport with Lijiang usually being the cheapest, Shangri-la a close second and Dali ridiculously expensive. There are also trains to Dali and Lijiang, and buses to all three cities.

For the Jinsha (Yangtze) and Lancang (Mekong) valleys, take a bus on the national road G214. (See Yunnan tourist trail)

For the Nu (Salween), take a bus up the provincial road S228. Starting from Dali usually require a change in bus in Liuku.

Treks into the region, most taking a week or more, are organised by various agencies. Treks to the Lancang (Mekong) and Jinsha (Yangtze) valleys mostly start from either Lijiang or Shangrila. Treks to the Nu (Salween) valley mostly start from Bing Zhongluo Xiang. Tours of the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve often start from Tengchong.

Nearly all travellers should expect to join a trekking group or at least to hire a local guide. The area is remote and isolated, the terrain is difficult, almost no-one speaks any foreign language, and there are several different local languages none of which travellers are likely to know. Some of the locals speak Chinese or Tibetan, but often with a heavy local accent that will be difficult for travellers.

Fees and permits
National park tickets in China are never cheap. Set aside ¥300 for a single park.

Get around
Having three enormous valleys going in parallel means all roads must follow the valleys. Going north or south is easy. Going east or west is hard.

The Jinsha (Yangtze) and Lancang (Mekong) valleys are separated by the Bai Mang mountain (白茫雪山). National Road G214 connects between the two in a three-hour drive over a 4300-meter high pass (白茫雪山垭口).

The Lancang (Mekong) and Nu (Salween) valleys are separated by the much higher Meili mountain (梅里雪山). Driving between the two requires going south to Dali, east to Liuku, north to Bengzhongle. The other option is a two-day hike of a 5000-meter pass. Bring a guide and be prepared for the unexpected.

Sleep
Feilaisi is the major hotel strip in upper Lancang valley. Bing Zhongluo Xiang is the major tourist town in the Nu valley. Guest house comfort levels quickly deteriorate once outside of these tourist centers. Expect clean sheets, hot water and clean toilets to be hard to find.

Stay safe
There is some risk of altitude sickness. Anyone heading into this region should get well acclimatised to altitude before setting out. Most travellers can easily do this along the Yunnan tourist trail; Kunming is at 2000 m (nearly 7000 feet) and all the other towns on that route are higher.

More generally, the area is remote, mountainous and not much touristed; be certain your health, skills, and equipment are adequate for the conditions. Nearly everyone should either take an organised tour or hire a local guide.

The entire park is geologically active. Landslides can happen during and after heavy rain. Avoid being on the road in such weather.

Respect
Kawagarbo is sacred to Tibetans; an attempt to climb it would be sacrilegious. It would also be illegal; in 2001, local government passed laws banning all climbing attempts on cultural and religious grounds. This applies to both Kawagarbo and a number of nearby mountains.

There are many other mountains in the area that can legally be climbed. Consult local guides if you want to find them.

Go next
The treks here all start from towns along the Yunnan tourist trail, so the rest of that route is the obvious place to go.

Once out of the mountains, there are many other possibilities. From Kunming there are trains to anywhere in China and planes both in China and beyond. On the ground, some routes east from the area are described in Hong Kong to Kunming overland, and west in Overland to Tibet. One could also head south toward the Banana Pancake Trail through Southeast Asia, or north to link up with the Silk Road.

title: Three parallel rivers


text:
Three Rivers

Three Rivers is a city in Tulare County in California's San Joaquin Valley. It is the gateway to the south entrance of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Get in
Three Rivers is located 35 miles (56 km) east of California SR-99 via SR-198.

Stay safe
Fire and emergency medical services are provided by the Tulare County Fire Department. 41412 South Fork Drive. +1 559 561-4362.

Go next

 * Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

title: Three Rivers


text:
Three Rivers (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Three Rivers:

Canada

 * An historic English name and an uncommon variant name for Trois-Rivières in Mauricie, Quebec.

South Africa

 * Three Rivers (Gauteng) - A town in Southern Gauteng.

United States of America

 * Three Rivers - A town in Tulare County.
 * A nickname for the city of Pittsburgh, where three rivers meet.

title: Three Rivers (disambiguation)


text:
Thrissur

Thrissur (originally Thirusivaperoor, formerly Trichur) is a popular city and district in the central part of Kerala in Southern India. It is known as the cultural capital of Kerala, with numerous cultural institutions, art centers, museums, etc.

Understand
Thrissur is one of the oldest cities in Kerala. The legend says that the city was the town created by Lord Parasurama (6th incarnation of Lord Vishnu) soon after formation of Kerala, by creating a large Shiva temple. The entire city is formed around the grand Shiva temple known as Vadakumnathan Temple. The temple is in the center of a mega roundabout that is in area. This roundabout is known as Swaraj Round. All roads connect to this.

Perhaps when Indians think of Thrissur, the first image would be the famous Thrissur Pooram festival, the most colourful and spectacular temple festival of Kerala. This is also known as largest festival in Kerala. The festival is at the Vadakkumnathan temple grounds, in April or May. The city is equally famous for the final celebrations of the Onam festival, which is the national festival of Kerala. It hosts the famous Pulikali during Onam celebrations in August or September (depends on Malayalam calendar). Apart from festivals and culture, Thrissur is also well known as one of the best shopping centers in Kerala for silks and gold ornaments. The city is also known as Entrepreneurial City, due to presence of large number of entrepreneurs working in various trades.

History
The word Trichur is the anglicized form of the Malayalam name of the town Thrissur which in turn a shortened form for Thiru-Siva-Peru-Uur, meaning 'Place named with Lord Siva'. The name is appropriate, for Thrissur derives its main glory from Vadakunnathan Temple, (Vadakum Nathan, Lord of the North) that dominates the topography of the town. Trichur is of hoary fame, and the origin of Vadakkunnathan Temple is ascribed to Parasurama, the legendary hero who is said to have reclaimed Kerala from the sea by throwing an axe across the sea from the north. In historical times it was a suburb of Musiris port of Chera Kings mentioned in Silapathikaram of Sangam Tamil Period.

From very early times Thrissur has been a centre of learning and, with the decline of Buddhism and Jainism and the establishment of the supremacy of Brahmanism during the revival of Hinduism, Thrissur became an important centre of Sanskrit learning. The great Adi Sankara had taught Advaita here. After his travels in different regions of India he is believed to have come back and settled in Thrissur and died here. Sankara Acharya's disciples Hastamalaka, Thotaka, Padmapada and Sudhachara established in the town four Madams, namely the Northern Madam, the Middle Madam, the In-Between Madam and the Southern Madam respectively, all of which are extant except the In-Between one.

Thrissur occupies a prominent place in the history and culture of Kerala and is said to be the cultural capital of the state. It is also one of the main trade centers in the state. The present Thrissur District was carved out of a bigger District of the same name on 1 Apr 1958. It derives its name from the location of its headquarters at Thrissur. The town is built around a hillock atop which is the Vadakkumnathan Kshethram or temple which has Shiva as the presiding deity.

Thrissur rose in importance due to Raja Rama Varma, popularly known as Sakthan Thampuran who ascended the throne of Kochi in 1790. Large areas of Thrissur were captured by the Zamorins of Kozhikode in the 14th and 15th centuries. In the latter half of the 18th century, Tipu Sultan held sway over Thrissur until the European domination began under the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the English.

Long ago, the vast open area around the temple was a magnificent teak forest called Thekkinkadu. Today, the forest has given way to one of the most important examples of Kerala's architecture which often does away with the imposing gopurams of South Indian Temples. This temple features low, tiled roofs, an abundance of woodwork, and the famous koothambalam or theater hall with sloping roofs of metal plates within which is performed the dramatic art form chakiar koothu. The Vadakkumnathan temple is also well known for its murals depicting scenes from the Mahabharatha as well as exquisite paintings and carvings.

The south east corner of the district is bounded by Tamil Nadu. The Periyar, Chalakudy, Karuvannur and Ponnani (Bharatha Puzha) are the main river systems in the district.

A place of great antiquity, Thrissur was also known by such names as Vrishabhadripuram and Then Kailasm in ancient days. The famous Kerala Kalamandalam, Cheruthuruthi, founded by the late poet Vallathol Narayana Menon, is in Thrissur District. The Kerala Sahitya Academy and Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy are situated in Thrissur town.

Visitor information

 * Tourism information

By plane
Cochin International Airport of Kochi is 51 km south of Thrissur City with direct flights from the Middle East, Singapore, Maldives, Europe and Sri Lanka. Calicut International Airport of Kozhikode is 80 km north of Thrissur City. Alternatively reach Chennai (Madras), Bangalore, Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, or other Indian cities and then by train.

By train
Thrissur City is well connected and serviced by rail to all major cities in India. Thrissur Railway Station is a major railway head in South India and is the busiest railways station in Kerala in terms of train halts. Daily trains are available to Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Mangalore and Hyderabad. Google is providing free wifi facility in association with Railway in Thrissur Station.

By bus
You can also get in to Thrissur City by bus from cities like Kozhikode, Kannur Mangalore, Kochi, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Mumbai and Coimbatore.

By road
Thrissur is well connected by NH 544 and NH 17 to other cities like Kochi, Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai and Pollachi by road.

Get around

 * Bus: Private bus service system and Government-run KSRTC is a good choice for travelling.
 * Autorickshaw: Auto rickshaws are the main form of local transport, if you don't have your own means of transportation. Autorickshaws running in the city limits are to use fare meters, while the ones from the adjacent areas need not use them. However it is a rule that such autorickshaws without metres should not pick up passengers within city limits. There is a pre-paid auto rickshaw counter at Thrissur Railway Station.
 * Taxi: Local taxis are also available at cheap rates. Please note that there are no local taxis (yellow cabs or the one's having yellow roof and black body). The taxis known as 'Tourist taxis' are meant for long travel or one day trips.Uber taxi services are available in Thrissur with basic fare ₹40
 * Car: There are many car rental companies offering cars with drivers or self-drive.
 * Bike: Bikes are available for rental in Thrissur City. This is available for a week or more than that.
 * Walk: Many places of attractions are near by each in the city limit other so you could walk between them.

City

 * The church houses the tallest church tower in Asia at 79 metre (260 ft) height called the Bible tower.
 * The church houses the tallest church tower in Asia at 79 metre (260 ft) height called the Bible tower.
 * The church houses the tallest church tower in Asia at 79 metre (260 ft) height called the Bible tower.

Rural

 * Chalakudy Muncipality Kalabhavan Mani Memorial Park is a beautiful park made by the Chalakudy Muncipality, commemorating the deceased actor, Kalabhavan Mani. It hosts playgrounds, and paths to walk on. Visit the park in early mornings and in late afternoons.
 * Chalakudy Muncipality Kalabhavan Mani Memorial Park is a beautiful park made by the Chalakudy Muncipality, commemorating the deceased actor, Kalabhavan Mani. It hosts playgrounds, and paths to walk on. Visit the park in early mornings and in late afternoons.
 * Chalakudy Muncipality Kalabhavan Mani Memorial Park is a beautiful park made by the Chalakudy Muncipality, commemorating the deceased actor, Kalabhavan Mani. It hosts playgrounds, and paths to walk on. Visit the park in early mornings and in late afternoons.
 * Chalakudy Muncipality Kalabhavan Mani Memorial Park is a beautiful park made by the Chalakudy Muncipality, commemorating the deceased actor, Kalabhavan Mani. It hosts playgrounds, and paths to walk on. Visit the park in early mornings and in late afternoons.

Annual festivals or events

 * Aanayoottu (Feeding of elephants): It's a festival held in the precincts of the Vadakkunnathan temple in Thrissur C, The festival falls on the first day of the month of Karkkidakam (timed against the Malayalam calendar), which coincides with the month of July.
 * Feast of Saint Raphael, Ollur: This is an annual festival held in Ollur, near Thrissur City, since 1839. It draws thousands of pilgrims.
 * Puli Kali:Puli Kali literally means 'tiger play'. This event happens on the fourth day of Onam, where Puli Kali troupes from all over the Thrissur City assemble to display their skills.
 * Thrissur Pooram: The Pooram of all Poorams, is the most spectacular festival of this cultural capital celebrated at Vadakkumnathan Temple every year during April–May. Though non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple, Kerala’s grandest temple pageantry, which includes colourful processions of caparisoned elephants and a midnight fireworks display, parasol exchanges, drum concerts can be witnessed from the crowded streets of Thrissur City. The two devaswams- Thiruvampadi and Paramekkavu- explore and exploit every source at their command to make this annual festival a memorable one.It is celebrated with a colourful procession of caparisoned elephants, parasol exchanges, drum concerts, display of pyro-techniques and refreshing scenes of public participation. During the festival season, Thrissur, popularly known as the temple town turns into a town of colour, music and mirth.
 * Tourists (with passport), can sometimes get special tickets to this event offered for free which allow them entry onto a 'Guests' viewing platform which has a great view of the whole event. To get these tickets you'll meed to take your passport to the tourist office, which is about a 10 minute north of the central temple where the festival takes place. If you do get these tickets, arrive early as the seating is unassigned and often over sold. The main festivities of elephants and the parasol showdown run from about 5PM to 7PM.
 * If you are only in town for a day, don't take your backpack with you, it's much too crowded. You can leave it at the train station coat check securely. To do so you will need locks on all parts of your bag (needed by the guard to accept your bag, and easily bought for about ₹30 from a small corner store seller just up at the top of the steep railway road), a train ticket (₹28 to erankulam worked fine), and ID for them to write down.

Eat
There are many small houses in the small lane near Dolors Basillica which specilizes in selling fresh vellayappams and other delicacies. One should definitely try the delicacies from there.

Sleep
Much of the budget accommodation is on the southern streets coming away from the temple. Some hotels charge only ₹300 per night. During peak times like the yearly Poorum, expect accommodation prices to skyrocket to ₹3000 and many places have to be booked out in advance.

Other alternatives during peak times are to stay at Guruvayoor, connected by 40-minute train, which has ample accommodation.

Stay safe
Thrissur City is generally a safe city for a regular tourist. Take the precautions which you would be regularly taking in various other small cities in India. Beware of pickpockets. Certain areas near the bus stands and railway station may not be a good place for women moving around alone in the nights.

Thrissur City has three police stations. The East Police Station located in between the Municipal Bus Stand and 'Sakthan Thampuran' Bus Stand. The West Police Station is located at the suburb of Ayyanthole next to the District Collectorate (HQ of the civil administration). The Traffic Police Station is just opposite to the East police station quite close to the Police Club and the Fire Station. Regular patrols of the law and order and the traffic police are present in various parts of the town.

For help dial:
 * 100 - Police Control Room
 * 101 - Fire Brigade Control Room

Health care

 * Amala Medical College, Amala Nagar
 * Aswini Hospital, Karunakaran Nambiar Road, Thrissur
 * Balya Hospital for Children, S.T Nagar
 * C.A.M Hospital, Olarikara
 * Co-Operative Hospital, Shornur Road
 * Daya Hospital, Thrissur
 * District Hospital, Round East
 * Elite Hospital, Koorkenchery
 * E.S.I Hospital, Kanjani Road
 * E.S.I Hospital, M.G.Kavu
 * GEM Hospital, Convent Road
 * Govt.Medical College Hospital, Mulankunnathukavu
 * Jubilee Mission Medical College, Mission Quarters
 * Lakshmi Nature Cure and Yoga Center, Viyoor
 * MAcare Medical and Dental Clinic Valapad, Thripayar
 * Metropolitan Hospital, Kokkalai Road
 * Mother Hospital, Kanjani Road
 * St.Joseph Mission Hospital (a.k.a Choondal Hospital), Choondal
 * Sunethri Ayurvedic Hospital &Speciality centre, Chiyyaram
 * Trichur Heart Hospital, S.T Nagar
 * Vaidya Ratnam Ayurveda Hospital, Ollur
 * West Fort Hospital, West Fort
 * West Fort Hightech Hospital, Guruvayur Road

Go next

 * Kochi
 * Palghat

title: Thrissur


text:
Phrumsengla National Park

Phrumsengla National Park (formerly Thrumshingla National Park) is located in Eastern Bhutan.

Understand
The 768 km² of this national park is located within the boundaries of four districts: Bumthang, Lhuentse, Mongar and Zhemgang and it was established in 1998. The highest peak within the park is around 4,000 m.

Landscape
The altitude within the park ranges from 1,000 to 4,000 m.

Flora and fauna

 * Alpine forests in the north and subtropical broad-leaf in the south
 * Red pandas, snow leopards and tigers

Climate
Ranging from a low of -28 °C to a high of +21 °C.

title: Phrumsengla National Park


text:
Thulo Sailung

Thulo Sailung  is a village on the Indigenous Peoples Trail in the Ramechhap district of Nepal.

Understand
At 3,300 m Thulo Sailung offers magnificent views over Kalinchowk to the Annapurna, Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Rowaling, Everest and Kanchenjunga ranges, to the South the Mahabharata hills roll over the Sun Koshi River and down to the Terai below.

Thulo Sailung is regarded by the Tamangs as the abode of the territorial deity, Sailung Phoi Sibda Karpo, Sailung’s ‘White Male Lord of the Earth’. The chorten on top of the hill of Sailung is claimed to be the seat of this divine protector and the Tamang Community are the ‘custodians of the land’.

See

 * The four groups of stone chorten on the summit are related to the Tamang Communities in the surrounding area – the groups on the highest point facing south over Ramechhap, today in ruins, are the largest. At the chortens Buddhist Priests perform ‘mandala offerings’ for the rebirth of the souls of the deceased. The lingos surrounding the Chorten were erected during Tamang death rituals and are left there to succumb to the forces of nature. The main rituals held here are Buddhist offerings to the souls of the deceased. During the festival of Saun Purnima, held on the full moon of July/August during which Tamang pilgrims crowd around the ruined Chortens at the highest point of Thulo Sailung. Nowadays, no blood sacrifices are permitted on Thulo Sailung. The shamans have surrendered to Buddhist dominance and refrain from offering blood to the fierce female deities.
 * The three rocks - tiger, snake and cow representing the Hindu, Buddhist and Shamanic simultaneous rivalry and co-existence
 * Padmasambhava’s Footprint
 * Gaurighat cave - where it is believed that on full moon nights ‘milk’ is said to ooze from the stalagtites. The cave is believed to be a source of fertility and health. Pilgrims pray for sons, relief from illness and for personal success and wealth.
 * Buddha’s Gate or the Door of Dharma is another cave locally known as has an exit hole that almost too small for human passage. It is believed that only the most devout Buddhists who have not committed any sins can pass.

title: Thulo Sailung


text:
Thun

Thun is a small city in the Bernese Highlands of Bern Canton, Switzerland. Its surface area is 21.7 km², and it had about 44,000 inhabitants in 2017.

Understand
The area of what is now Thun was inhabited since the Neolithic age (mid-3rd millennium BC). The name of the city derives from the Celtic term Dunum, meaning "fortified city". It fell to Rome in 58 BC, when Roman legions conquered almost all Switzerland, and soon became one of the main centres of Roman administration in the region.

The Romans were driven out of Thun, and out of the rest of Switzerland, by the Burgundians around 400 AD. The Aar became the frontier between the Christian Burgundians and the Pagan, German-speaking Alemanni, who lived north. Thun was mentioned for the first time during the 7th century, in the chronicle of Frankish monk Fredgar.

The region of Thun became a part of the Holy Roman Empire in 1033, when Conrad II gained the title of King of Burgundy. The emperors entrusted the Zähringen family, centred in Bern, to subdue the unruly nobles of central Switzerland. Around 1190 Duke Bertold V of Zähringen, built a castle in Thun and expanded the city. After Bertold's death in 1218, his territories went to Ulrich III von Kyburg.

In 1264 Thun received state rights and in 1384 the town was bought by the canton of Bern. Thun was the capital of the Oberland canton of the Helvetic Republic.

In 1819 a military school was founded in the city, which later developed in the main military school in Switzerland. Thun was connected to the railway network of Switzerland in 1859 and telephone access was made available in 1888.

By train
Thun is located just outside the Berne metropolitan area and is served by its suburban trains: the S1 of the Berne S-Bahn operates from Berne to Thun in 30 min, and the S4+S44 lines in 40 min (via Belp). A quicker way are intercity trains from Berne (17 min). It is also possible to take the S1 from the southwestern Bernese suburbs and Fribourg and the S4/S44 from Belp, where connection to Berne airport is available by bus. In addition non-S-Bahn suburban trains (designated R or RE) operate from Thun to Hasle-Rüegsau through the eastern Bernese suburbs (the RE trains continue to Solothurn in the northern metropolitan area, making limited stops Thun - Hasle-Rüegsau). IC trains from the canton Valais, Interlaken, Zürich, Basel and a few ICE trains from Frankfurt stop at Thun.

For more information:

By car
Thun is easily reachable with the national motorway A6 from Berne or Spiez and has two exits (Thun South, Thun North).

By foot
Thun isn't that big, and you can reach most places by a short walk. Ask the Tourist Information at the railway station for a map. A historical walking path through Thun can be found on the Tourism Department's web site.

By bus
Thun has an efficient and expansive local bus system, with many convenient stops. The STI brings you all around the city and into neighbouring communities. Ask at the office in front of the railway station for timetables, or check the STI web site.

See

Schadau Park

 * It features Swiss Gastronomy museum.
 * It features Swiss Gastronomy museum.

Do

 * Football: FC Thun play soccer in Challenger League, the second tier. Their Stockhorn Arena (capacity 10,000) is 2 km west of city centre near the A6. In 2025 it hosts games in the UEFA Women's Euro Finals.
 * Shopping in the Bälliz-Street/Obere Hauptgasse
 * Have a swim in the Aare River or Lake Thun. If you are there in summer, you should visit the "Strandbad Thun"; you can swim in the lake and have a beautiful view of the Niederhorn, Niesen, Stockhorn and Jungfrau peaks
 * Have a drink on the Muehleplatz
 * Take an acrobatic flight in a 1930s Swiss military biplane, based at the Thun Airfield:
 * Go sailing or surfing (Sailing, Surfing)
 * Rent a bike for free with ThunRollt and ride along the River or Lake (the ride is particularly nice in the direction of Hünibach)

Stay safe
The Aare is a strong river. It can be very dangerous to swim in it; you need skill and background to do it safely. For the first time, go to the "Schwäbis-Bad". It is organised, has guards, and the cost is very affordable.

Connect
As of Dec 2022, Thun and its approach roads have 5G from all Swiss carriers.

Go next

 * Bern
 * Interlaken
 * Spiez

title: Thun


text:
Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay lies at the far northwestern point of the Great Lakes of North America. It is a transportation bridge between the rich agricultural Prairies of Canada and the rest of the world, via the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway which connects it to the Atlantic Ocean. In 2021, it had a population of approximately 109,000.

Understand
European settlement in the region began in the late 17th century with a French fur trading outpost on the banks of the Kaministiquia River. It grew into an important transportation hub as its port was an important link in the shipping of grain and other products from western Canada, through the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence Seaway, to the east coast. Forestry and manufacturing played important roles in the city's economy. They have declined and been replaced by a "knowledge economy" based on medical research and education. Thunder Bay is the site of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute.

The city takes its name from the immense Thunder Bay at the head of Lake Superior, known on 18th-century French maps as Baie du Tonnerre (Bay of Thunder). The city is often referred to as the "Lakehead", or "Canadian Lakehead", because of its location at the end of Great Lakes navigation on the Canadian side of the border.

Thunder Bay developed until 1970 as two rival towns: Fort William and Port Arthur a few kilometres apart. Today the town names are used for districts.

Climate
The Thunder Bay area experiences a humid continental climate that is influenced by Lake Superior, with especially noticeable effects in the city's north end. This results in cooler summer temperatures and warmer winter temperatures for an area extending inland as far as 16 km. The average daily temperatures range from 17.7 °C (63.9 °F) in July to −14.3 °C (6.3 °F) in January. The average daily high in July is 24.3 °C (75.7 °F) and the average daily high in January is −8.0 °C (17.6 °F).

Thunder Bay holds Ontario's record for coldest day with wind chill, 10 January 1982, when the local temperature dropped to −36.3 °C (−33.3 °F), with a wind speed of 54 km (34 mi) per hour for a wind chill temperature that dipped to −58 °C (−72.4 °F).

The city is quite sunny, with an average of 2121 hours of bright sunshine each year, ranging from 268.1 hours in July to 86.2 hours in November, sunnier than any city in Canada located to the east of it. Winters are comparatively dry with the snowfall being very limited and temperatures much colder than in Houghton, Michigan on the U.S. side of the lake, where the climate is marked by heavy lake-effect snow.

Destinations
Has scheduled service to Thunder Bay from Montreal, Ottawa, Sault Sainte Marie (1.25 hours), Sioux Lookout (45 minutes), Toronto (2 hours), and Winnipeg (1.25-1.5 hours).

Flights to Thunder Bay from various small communities in northern Ontario. Seasonal service to Thunder Bay from Calgary and a few Mexican and Caribbean destinations. The airport doesn't have any direct flights to the United States of America.

Ground transportation

 * One local transit bus passes every 30-40 minutes daily.
 * Taxi to downtown costs about $30.
 * The Airlane Travelodge and Valhalla Inn operate hotel shuttle buses.

By train
Thunder Bay is not served by passenger rail. The nearest passenger route is VIA Rail's The Canadian, which serves the towns of Longlac (310 km northeast) and Sioux Lookout (391 km northwest), as well as the tiny village of Armstrong (256 km north). As well, White River (385 km east) is the western terminus of VIA Rail's Sudbury—White River train.

By car
Thunder Bay is served by Highways 11 and 17, which are both part of the Trans-Canada Highway. West of the city, the highways are separate, but north of the city, the highways merge into one until they split up east of Nipigon. From the east, it is a 7-8 hour (700 km) drive from Sault Ste Marie and from the west, it is a 7-8 hour (720 km) drive from Winnipeg.

Do not expect to hitchhike in from Winnipeg; drivers in the area are notorious for drivers not stopping to pick up anyone while on those main highways.

There is no easy way to Duluth, across the US border, other than driving there.

By bus

 * Operates the following routes to Thunder Bay:
 * Between Thunder Bay and Longlac including stops in Nipigon and Geraldton. Travel Time to Thunder Bay from Longlac is 4.25 hours, from Geraldton is 3.5 hours, and from Nipigon is 1.25 hours.
 * Between Thunder Bay and Sioux Lookout (5 hours). In Sioux Lookout, there is a timed connection available most days to and from Winnipeg.
 * Between Thunder Bay and White River including stops in Nipigon, Schreiber, Terrace Bay, and Marathon. Travel time to Thunder Bay from Nipigon is 1.25 hours, and from Marathon is 4 hours, and from White River is 5.25 hours.
 * Bus routes operating to Thunder Bay:
 * Between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay along two routes:
 * Via Kenora and Dryden. Travel time the Thunder Bay from Winnipeg is 8.75 hours, from Kenora is 5.75 hours, and from Dryden is 4.25 hours.
 * Via Kenora and Fort Frances. Travel time the Thunder Bay from Winnipeg is 9.75 hours, from Kenora is 6.75 hours, and from Fort Frances is 4 hours.
 * Between Thunder Bay and Sault Sainte Marie including stops in Red Rock, Nipigon, Schreiber, Terrace Bay, Marathon, White River, and Wawa. Travel time to Thunder Bay from Nipigon is 2 hours, From Marathon is 4.5 hours, from White River is 5.75 hours, from Wawa is 7.25 hours, and from Sault Sainte Marie is 10 hours. Through connecting transfers in Sault Sainte Marie and Sudbury, it is possible to reach Toronto and Ottawa.
 * Between Thunder Bay and Sault Sainte Marie including stops in Red Rock, Nipigon, Schreiber, Terrace Bay, Marathon, White River, and Wawa. Travel time to Thunder Bay from Nipigon is 2 hours, From Marathon is 4.5 hours, from White River is 5.75 hours, from Wawa is 7.25 hours, and from Sault Sainte Marie is 10 hours. Through connecting transfers in Sault Sainte Marie and Sudbury, it is possible to reach Toronto and Ottawa.

Get around
Thunder Bay isn't known for being a walkable city. This is largely due to its Twin-Cities heritage which causes the city to be very spread out. Until 1970, the city was two separate large communities (Fort William and Port Arthur) separated by a swamp that has since been built up into an area of suburban big-box stores, shopping malls and chain restaurants known as "Intercity". City council seems to be developing the north end (Port Arthur) into an entertainment district with the Marina Park as its centrepiece, and the south end (Fort William) into a business district. Within each of these districts (North end and South end downtown cores) walking is certainly viable in the non-winter months. During most of winter months, you should bundle up.

By bicycle
The city is expanding its network of bicycle paths. Transport by inline skates can work well on these paths, but sidewalks are often too mottled to afford any speed or efficiency on skates.

Do

 * The area has a large Finnish population, so saunas are common and popular.
 * Take a walk around the harbour in the north end.
 * Visit the amethyst or agate mines.
 * Take a walk around the harbour in the north end.
 * Visit the amethyst or agate mines.
 * Drive west of Thunder Bay to Quetico Provincial Park: some of the best canoeing in the world awaits!
 * You can also canoe on White Otter Lake, near Quetico and Atikokan. Visit White Otter Castle, a three-storey wooden cabin single-handedly built by Jimmy McQuat on the shores of the lake. Legend is that Jimmy built it for his sweetheart and then got jilted. There is a walking trail from the castle area that leads to an abandoned World War II prisoner-of-war camp, but this has not been restored for tourists. Be careful of rusted metal and sharp edges in the camp.
 * Drive west of Thunder Bay to Quetico Provincial Park: some of the best canoeing in the world awaits!
 * You can also canoe on White Otter Lake, near Quetico and Atikokan. Visit White Otter Castle, a three-storey wooden cabin single-handedly built by Jimmy McQuat on the shores of the lake. Legend is that Jimmy built it for his sweetheart and then got jilted. There is a walking trail from the castle area that leads to an abandoned World War II prisoner-of-war camp, but this has not been restored for tourists. Be careful of rusted metal and sharp edges in the camp.

Consulates

 * 🇫🇮 Finland

Go next
Isle Royale, a wilderness park, lies within sight in Lake Superior. Commercial ferries from Grand Portage, Minnesota provide the nearest official access to the island, but it's accessible from Thunder Bay by private boat.

title: Thunder Bay


text:
Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries

The Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary (Thai: เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่าทุ่งใหญ่นเรศวร) and Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (ขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่าห้วยขาแข้ง) are adjacent parks in the Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi, and Tak Provinces of Western Thailand. At 622,200 hectares combined, they form the largest protected area in Southeast Asia, and were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. They are best visited from Uthai Thani.

Landscape
The reserves consist of almost every kind of forest found in Thailand, including mountain virgin forest, dry virgin forest, and pine forest. They have a total area of about 5,775 km². They are the watershed of rivers flowing to Srinakharin Dam.

Flora and fauna
The relatively unspoiled nature of the reserves makes them an ideal home to various rare and endangered animals such as wild buffalo, rhinoceros, wild elephants, tapirs, leopards, wild bulls, et al.

Get in
There are 2 routes to the Huai Kha Khaeng reserve:

 * Enter through the reserve headquarters. Take the Uthai Thani-Nong Chang Rd (Hwy 333) past Nong Chang to Rte 3438 (Nong Chang-Lan Sak) to km53-54, then turn left onto a laterite road for about 14 km.
 * Access to the Thungyai Reserve is harder, as the roads are poor. Take the route Thong Pha Phum-Sangkhla Buri near Huai Suea to Khli Ti Village, a distance of 42 km. After that, there is an intersection leading to the Wildlife Sanctuary Headquarters at Huai Song Thai, another 40 km.

Fees and permits
Designated points in both sanctuaries, listed below, are open to visitors. Access anywhere else in the parks or staying overnight requires permission, obtained by writing at least 15 days in advance to the Director of the Wildlife Conservation Office at the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkhen, Bangkok. Tel. +66 2 5614292-3 ext. 765.

Get around
Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary has 3 points through which visitors can tour the area:

1. The area around the reserve headquarters is in Lan Sak, 34 km from the district. The area has an exhibition building and the Sup Nakhasathian Memorial. The Khao Hin Daeng walking nature trail is about 4 km long. There is also the Pong Thian viewpoint.

2. The area around the Cyber Forest Protection Unit in Huai Khot is the site of the Huai Kha Khaeng Nature and Wildlife Study Centre to be set up by a private organization of Suep Nakhasathian Foundation under the approval of the Royal Forest Department. The centre consists of a study hall, a nature trail that with direction and information signs, trail side exhibitions, and viewpoints.

3. The area around Huai Mae Di Forest Protection Unit in Ban Rai has a nature study walking trail installed by the park.