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Rajkot

Rajkot is a city in the state of Gujarat in Western India. Rajkot rather appeals to spiritual tastes. As in Ahmedabad, many ashrams, that offers the teachings of yoga and meditative retreat, are located in the city and its surroundings, amidst forested hills and beautiful lakes. These traditions are not apparent to foreign visitors, especially to those in a hurry.

Understand
Rajkot is most famous as the place where Mahatma Gandhi pursued his early education. The city is also famous for traditional sweets and dandiya/garba raas dances. Founded in 1620 by a member of Jadeja clan, whose descendants ruled the city until 1947, Rajkot gained economic importance in the early 19th century, under British protectorate. Farmers' and traders' councils were encouraged to grow under British Rule. Later the city plunged into the industrial Age with the first years dominated by casting industries. Even today Rajkot is a wealthy city that ranks the 22nd-fastest-growing city in the world. It's also one of the cleanest cities of India.

Rajkot lies in the middle of Kathiawar peninsula, halfway between Ahmedabad and Porbandar. It's well worth one or two days stop although it's not a monumental city.

Gujarati is the main language. Hindi is next most popular. A good number of people will have a working knowledge of English too.

Get in
Being one of the major cities of Gujarat, Rajkot is well connected to other cities by air and land transport. For tourists, it's usual to either board a flight from Mumbai (for international arrivals) to Rajkot. For others who are already in India, it's advisable to reach Ahmadabad (either by train or by flight), and then take a quick bus ride to Rajkot.

By bus
Rajkot is quite well connected to the entire region of Saurashtra and rest of Gujarat by buses. If you will be flying out of Ahmedabad, there are some buses that leave from Rajkot and drop you to the Ahmedabad airport. They drop you just outside the airport, so be ready to walk about 10 minutes to get to the entrance, but its paved and many people are walking that way. A lot of private bus companies have a very well established network around the state with comfortable bus options (e.g. Patel Tours and travels, Eagle travels, Neeta travels.)

Get around
As Rajkot lies in the middle of the Saurashtra region, it is very easy to visit many famous places from here, whose relatives distances from Rajkot are small.

Commuting inside the city can be done via BRTS which covers the roads around the city, but the most favorite is using Auto-richshaws (best to negotiate the rate of travel before sitting inside).

See

Buy
Want to shop? If at all you are a typical shopper who wants to buy clothes, jewellery, watches etc., then you can visit the malls of Rajkot. But if you want to buy the regional specialties, then you may go for the local bazaars

Eat
Being the cultural and commerce capital of the Saurashtra district, one can expect to find many unique and delicious foods in Rajkot.
 * For breakfast, generally Ganthiya is a very good option. Ganthiyas here are of many types like Fafda (wide thin strips of Gathiya, generally savored with Jalebi, and Sambhara, a juicy salad mix of grated beets, mangoes and spices), Vanela (bite sized pieces of Gathiya), Bhavnagari (Spicy Gathiya) etc. Ganthiya is made from Besan along with some spices and water which is made into a batter then fried in oil. Khaman and Dhokla are also very famous breakfast options. Bhakri (a hard Indian Bread) is also generally taken in breakfast, although it is generally made only in homes and not available with street hawkers.
 * Poha, Jalebi, Sweet Samosa, Sweet Kachori etc. You could get them at Kotecha Chowk. At some places you may also get some south Indian varieties like idli, vada etc. (kotecha chowk).
 * For something spicy, one can go for Dabeli (bread with spicy potato filling, stuffed with spicy peanuts and served with sauces), Spicy Ghughra (spicy potato filled dumpling), Pav Bhaji, Panipuri, Ragda pattice, Dahi puri and many more fast-food items. These food items are generally sold evening onwards (with hawkers opening usually opening 5:30PM onwards).
 * Rajkot is also famous for its Kathiawadi Thali, with many good restaurants offering it.
 * For the Sweet-toothed, Chikki, Peda are some of the sweets that Rajkot is famous for. There is a special shop famous for Peda named Jai Siya Ram Pendawala at Yagnik Road. The famous shop for Chikki is Jalaram Chikki at Limda Chowk.
 * There is one stop destination for your sweets and namkeens. Different items of Rashikbhai Chevdawala is also famous for breakfast. Items like Farali Chevdo, Pauva Chevdo, Jariwali Wafer, etc. are delicious. For sweets, there is a good variety in peda and barfis.

Go next

 * The city of Jamnagar is 90 km from Rajkot.
 * Mount Girnar and the Gir forest (abode of the Asiatic lions) are about 100–150 km from Rajkot.
 * Somnath temple is around 200 km from Rajkot.
 * Diu is some 200 km from Rajkot with beautiful beaches and pleasant weather.
 * Virpur is around 60 km.
 * Dwarka is about 220 km from Rajkot.
 * The Kutch District is some 200 km from Rajkot.
 * Upleta
 * Porbandar: Port region and birthplace of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi)

title: Rajkot


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Rajpura

Rajpura is a city in the Malwa region of Punjab state in India.

Understand
Rajpura is a small city in Patiala district. Rajpura is basically divided into two parts: Old Rajpura and Rajpura Town, which was formed by Maharaja of Patiala Riasat (King of the Patiala Kingdom) when he donated some land to rehabilitate a clan called Bhawalpuriaas which had migrated from Bhawalpur in Pakistan after the partition of India in 1947. The language of Rajpura is Saraiki.

Get in
It's 230 km. from Delhi and 42 km from Chandigarh capital of Punjab state. It's also first city whan you enter the Punjab State from Ambala NH1.

See
Rajpura has a Qila (fort) which is believed to have been built by the Mughal Emperor Sher Shah Suri for his army. The town is located on the Sher Shah Suri Marg (road) built by him.

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

title: Rajpura


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Rajshahi

Rajshahi is the capital of Rajshahi Division in Bangladesh. The city is near many ancient capitals of Bengal, notably Lakhnoiti (or Lokhnaboti), and Pundra. Rajshahi is famous for trade in many exotic items, including pure silk, mangoes and lychees. Attractive silk products are cheaper in Rajshahi than anywhere else in the country, with the city often referred to as the 'silk city'. There are also a number ancient mosques, shrines and temples in and around Rajshahi.

Understand
Rajshahi is the capital of Rajshahi District and Division in northwestern Bangladesh. The Rajshahi municipality was established in 1876, one of the first in Bangladesh. It has a population of 1.6 million people (2022). One of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent, the Padma, runs along the southern end of the city.

The city is home to many educational institutions, leading to a large student population and the nickname of "education city". The city of Rajshahi was declared as the happiest city in the world by the World Happiness Survey in 2006.

By bus
It takes approximately 5 hours by road to reach Rajshahi from the capital, Dhaka. A number of bus services are available from Dhaka via Natore, some with air-conditioning. Bus services to other major districts are also available from the bus terminal.

Bus services include Hanif Enterprise, National Travels, Shamoli Paribahan, Desh Travels, Grameen Travels. Bus fare: non-AC Tk 710, AC Tk 1400.

By train
There are a number of luxurious intercity services between Dhaka and Rajshahi each day. The main ones are the Padma Express, the Silk City Express and the Dhumketue Express.

 * Silk City Express - Dhaka to Rajshahi at 2:40PM and from Rajshahi to Dhaka at 7:35AM.
 * Padma Express - Dhaka to Rajshahi at 10:45PM and from Rajshahi to Dhaka at 4PM.
 * Dhumketue Express - departs Dhaka at 6AM, reaching Rajshahi at noon, and departs Rajshahi at 11:20PM, reaching Dhaka at 4:50AM.

The Silk City Express does not operate Sundays, the Padma Express has no service on Tuesdays, and the Dhumketue Express does not run Mondays.

The major station for long-distance trains is, located north of the city centre.

By car
The journey from Dhaka is 261 km, taking approximately 5 hours, depending on traffic. You must cross the famous Jamuna Bridge to reach the city.

Get around
Local transport in Rajshahi city primarily relies on auto-rickshaws, which are affordable and readily available throughout the city. They serve as a convenient mode of transportation, with reasonable fares. Additionally, tempos, small buses operating on fixed routes, offer another option for getting around the city. Buses are less common and often overcrowded but can be useful for longer journeys. Private car and taxi services are available but tend to be more expensive.

Rajshahi boasts relatively well-maintained and extensive sidewalks compared to many other cities in Bangladesh. Most of its roads feature adequate footpaths, though they may be narrower in comparison.

Further afield
For more detail, see Rajshahi District article.

Do
The Padma River is a major river in Bangladesh and a popular spot for boating. You can take a boat ride on the river and enjoy the scenic views of the surrounding countryside. The best time to go boating is during the dry season, from November to April. Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and shoes that you don't mind getting wet. If you are taking a boat ride on the Padma River, be sure to bargain for a good price.

Buy
Look for both traditional and western style clothes at Rajshahi stores.

Eat
Some nice restaurants and fast food places are available in the city.

Go next

 * Natore District - Borders the district in the east, just beside Rajshahi City.
 * Gaud - a historical centre with important mosques, which extends into the Gour (West Bengal) region of India
 * Puthia - A temple town located 23 km away. Best explored on a day trip

title: Rajshahi


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Rajshahi Division

Rajshahi Division is in Bangladesh.

Cities

 * — a booming agricultural industry of sugar and jute and potato
 * —home to the ancient Buddhist wonder at Paharpur
 * — stunning rajbari mansions and palaces
 * — the capital of the division, a major university and the Puthia complex of temples
 * (Bogura) — the ancient capital of Pundravardhana with old Hindu mansions
 * — site of many royal palaces (rajbaris) and Hindu temples
 * — the landing for one of Bangladesh's greatest infrastructure feats, the Jamuna Bridge
 * — a complex of ancient Hindu temples consisting of towering spires and intricate terracotta ornamentation. Alos colonial styled mansions belonging to local landlords
 * — a complex of ancient Hindu temples consisting of towering spires and intricate terracotta ornamentation. Alos colonial styled mansions belonging to local landlords

Other destinations

 * — a historical centre with important mosques, which extends into the Gour (West Bengal) region of India.
 * Paharpur — a small village 5 km. west of Jamalganj in the greater Rajshahi district where the remains of the most important and the largest known Buddhist monastery south of the Himalayas, Somapura Mahavihara, has been excavated. This 7th century archaeological find covers approximately an area of 27acres of land. The entire establishment, occupying a quadrangular court, measuring more than 900 ft. externally on each side, has high enclosure- walls about 16 ft. in thickness and from 12 ft. to 15 ft. height. With elaborate gateway complex on the north, there are 45 cells on the north and 44 in each of the other three sides with a total number of 177 rooms. The architecture of the pyramidal cruciform temple is profoundly influenced by those of South-East Asia, especially Myanmar and Java.

Understand
Rajshahi Division was split in half on 25 January 2010, with the northern eight districts becoming part of the new Rangpur Division.

Talk
Bengali is spoken widely. English is spoken by many in the larger towns and cities.

By plane
Shah Makhdum Airport near Rajshahi is served by all major domestic carriers, Biman Air, Novoair, and US-Bangla Airlines.

title: Rajshahi Division


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Rakhiv

Rakhiv (Ukrainian: Рахів) is a town in Western Ukraine. It's the highest located town in Ukraine (430 m above sea level).

Understand
It is one of Hutsul culture capitals.

By train
Direct connections with such cities are available: Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and others.

Tickets are available on Ukrzaliznytsia website and in mobile app (iOS, Android).

By bus
Buses from Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv operate daily.

Tickets are available on BlaBlaCar.

Get around
There are regular bus connections (every 1-2 h) from 06:45 to 18:00 between Rakhiv and Luhi (Луги), one starting point for the hike to Hoverla. Check out the exact times at the bus station, so you do not miss the last bus on the way back, otherwise you have to walk for 4 h or hitchhike.

See
Rakhiv is one of the places that consider themselves located in the geographical centre of Europe. See the monument erected by Austro-Hungarian geographers in 1887, located in Dilove village (12 km from Rakhiv).

Do

 * Hiking – Some of the highest mountains in Ukraine are located nearby: Hoverla, Brebeneskul, Pip Ivan.
 * To reach Hoverla, you best catch an early morning bus to Luhi (Луги). You can hike out somewhere else towards the main highway and head back to Rakhiv with another bus. Or you hike back to Luhi and take the same bus out. Otherwise, you can also stay overnight in the national park, there are many huts and shelters that are good if you have a warm sleeping bag. Checkout OpenStreetMap to find the huts - there is even a proper shelter to stay overnight near the summit of Hoverla.
 * Pop Ivan summit (2,022 m) features ruins of a Polish observatory called White Elephant.

Sleep

 * Hotel Rakhiv
 * Hotel Rakhiv
 * Hotel Rakhiv

Go next

 * Chernivtsi – If you want to remain in Ukraine and came from Lviv originally, you can head further to Chernivtsi, which has two slow bus connections (5 hr) per day from Rakhiv.
 * Romania is only a stone's throw away, and Rakhiv is optimal if you planning to head further into this direction.

title: Rakhiv


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Rakiura Track

The Rakiura Track is a tramping (hiking) track in Rakiura National Park on Stewart Island, off the south of the South Island of New Zealand. It is a loop track that starts and finishes near Oban, Stewart Island's main settlement, and is usually walked in three days.

Understand
The Rakiura track is long, but the complete route to and from the village of Oban is  including sections on the road at either end. Entry to the track is at sea level, and the highest point is approximately.

The track may be walked in either direction and forms a circular route from Oban, where there are ferries and flights from near Invercargill. The track is normally walked in three days, but if you can keep up a good pace, can be done in 2 days or 1 long day in summer.

The track is also very suitable for day walks. A water taxi is available from Oban to Port William. This allows either the first day to be done in reverse as a day walk, or the route for days 2 & 3 to be done as a longer day walk. The day 1 route is probably the most interesting to do as a day, as there are good coastal views and some beach sections.

The track has two huts and three campsites, which must be booked in advance with the Department of Conservation. The huts have bunks and mattresses (24 each), toilets, heating and cold running water. They do not provide cooking facilities, cooking utensils, linen, showers or toilet paper. The campsites have toilets, sinks, cooking shelters and a water supply. You need to take all your sleeping gear, food, cooking and eating gear (eg, portable stove), lighting (torch or candles), rubbish bag and toilet paper. You will also want wet-weather gear and insect repellent.

There are several places to stay in and around Oban before or after the hike; these are best booked in advance.

Transport
If you don't want to walk between Oban and the track ends, you can arrange a shuttle. See the Outdoor Adventure Shop at 14 Main Rd or Oban Visitor Centre in the Red Shed at 12 Elgin Terr near the wharf.

Walk
The route described here goes anti-clockwise around the track. This means that you have the longest road section of route at the start.

Oban to
5km

From the centre of Oban follow Horseshoe Bay Road up over a small hill to Horseshoe Bay beach. As an alternative there is a track around the coast Horseshoe Point Track, but this is a bit of detour.

Then walk along (or around) the beach and take Lee Bay Road at the far end of the bay. The official start of the track is by the beach at Lee Bay.

Lee Bay to
8.1km

The track follows the coast to Magnetic Bay. Here the route turns inland, but Port William hut is a small diversion to the north at the other end of the beach. There are two parts of this route which use the beach, with inland alternatives at high tide. It might be better to time your walk for low tide.

The first km is an easy section (there are even a couple of wooden benches) to Little River. As a day walk you could head back from here over Garden Mound. The track then crosses Little River on a wooden footbridge and along the beach for about 300m. After this there is a brief climb and the path goes through the forest for 2km with occasional glimpses of the sea.

The track then descends to Maori Beach. The first part has an inland alternative, and the paths rejoin at the campsite. The historic sawmill (on the high tide route) is an interesting diversion 5 minutes back from the beach. The track then goes along the length of the beach to a suspension bridge over an inlet at the far end.

Port William Hut to
13km

This section is inland through lush forest.

North Arm Hut to
11km

This section loosely follows the coast of the Paterson Inlet to the main road near the airstrip.

Fern Gully to Oban
2km

It is then a short walk on Main Road down to Half Moon Bay. There is a picnic table at the end of the track/ start of the road for you to enjoy a celebratory drink or bar of chocolate.

Stay safe
Ensure you follow the precautions outlined on the Department of Conservation brochures and any other information provided to you.

Go next

 * The North West Circuit Track is a longer, more rugged 10-day hike around Stewart Island, with smaller huts. The first day and last day are the same as for the Rakiura Track. This route can be extended by including the Southern Circuit.
 * Milford Track on the South Island
 * Routeburn Track on the South Island
 * For other tracks, see Tramping in New Zealand.

title: Rakiura Track


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Rakvere

Rakvere (Tarbapea in ancient Estonian, Weisenberg in German, Rakowor in Russian) is Estonia’s fifth largest city and situated the northern part of the country, 20 km south of the Gulf of Finland and approximately 100 km east of Tallinn and west of Narva.

Understand

Its earliest signs of human settlement date back to the 3rd-5th century.

Nowadays, Rakvere is an attractive and rapidly developing town with quite an interesting character. The modern Rakvere perfectly reflects the phenomenon of the Estonian province: with visible lowliness and calm, a turbulent cultural life flows here. Every day there is a play or a movie in the theatre, there are a lot of cafés and restaurants in the city, and the architecture is diverse and quite original.

Rakvere is the place where the first Estonian Punk Song Festival took place. It’s also the host to the well-known international rock music festival “Green Christmas.” Since 1994, a biannual international theatre festival, called Baltoscandal has taken place in the unique, friendly and slightly crazy atmosphere of Rakvere. The city is also known in Estonia for its youthful hip-hop and electronic music scene. So it’s no wonder, that the motto of Rakvere is “full of power”.

Get in
Bus and train schedules are easily available online – read more under Estonia.

By car
Rakvere is a short distance from the Tallinn-Narva road and the Rakvere-Pärnu road #5. Tallinn 100 km, Narva 116 km, Tartu 133 km.

Get around
The major landmark is the castle and its mountain, which stretches from north to south, along Pikk Street to the west – the most historic part of the city. The central square (Turu plats) is located in a couple of blocks to the east.

On foot
Most attractions of Rakvere are within walking distance. The most distant point of interest is the railways station in the north of the city.

By bus
The public transport buses are operated by GoBus Rakvere – there is a total of 5 bus lines. All of them go at intervals every hour and are unlikely to be useful to the traveler, as the sights are in walking distance. The schedules can be found at Rakvere town website. Load a Pilet.ee mobile app to buy tickets.

See

 * Pikk Street – Completely preserved pre-revolutionary buildings, a kind of "assorted": stone mansions of the Russian type, typical for the Baltic wooden houses and, of course, the ubiquitous brick style. Particularly interesting are the one-storey mansion of the 18th century, later designed for modernity (Pikk 16), a wooden building of optics from 1887 with intricate carvings (Pikk 17), and a wooden dwelling house of the late 18th century (Pikk 21).
 * Wooden architecture – In addition to the various houses of the 19th century – more interesting from the ethnographic point of view – there are very nice buildings in the spirit of Art Deco. This includes the county government (Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 5, opposite the theatre), the apartment houses Koidula 4 and Adoffi 3 near the central square (Kastani 17), and the kindergarten (Koidula 14). These houses were built during the inter-war period.
 * Pre-revolutionary stone architecture – Represented by the dark red building of the court (Tallinna tn 3, 1786-87), where the exhibition house is now located, and the neighbouring manor house (Tallinna tn 5), in which the city administration is located. Go to the arch and into the yard – there are still some manor buildings of a completely German type. Another more monumental courthouse can be found at Lai 6, built at the end of the 19th century.
 * Pikk Street – Completely preserved pre-revolutionary buildings, a kind of "assorted": stone mansions of the Russian type, typical for the Baltic wooden houses and, of course, the ubiquitous brick style. Particularly interesting are the one-storey mansion of the 18th century, later designed for modernity (Pikk 16), a wooden building of optics from 1887 with intricate carvings (Pikk 17), and a wooden dwelling house of the late 18th century (Pikk 21).
 * Wooden architecture – In addition to the various houses of the 19th century – more interesting from the ethnographic point of view – there are very nice buildings in the spirit of Art Deco. This includes the county government (Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 5, opposite the theatre), the apartment houses Koidula 4 and Adoffi 3 near the central square (Kastani 17), and the kindergarten (Koidula 14). These houses were built during the inter-war period.
 * Pre-revolutionary stone architecture – Represented by the dark red building of the court (Tallinna tn 3, 1786-87), where the exhibition house is now located, and the neighbouring manor house (Tallinna tn 5), in which the city administration is located. Go to the arch and into the yard – there are still some manor buildings of a completely German type. Another more monumental courthouse can be found at Lai 6, built at the end of the 19th century.
 * Pikk Street – Completely preserved pre-revolutionary buildings, a kind of "assorted": stone mansions of the Russian type, typical for the Baltic wooden houses and, of course, the ubiquitous brick style. Particularly interesting are the one-storey mansion of the 18th century, later designed for modernity (Pikk 16), a wooden building of optics from 1887 with intricate carvings (Pikk 17), and a wooden dwelling house of the late 18th century (Pikk 21).
 * Wooden architecture – In addition to the various houses of the 19th century – more interesting from the ethnographic point of view – there are very nice buildings in the spirit of Art Deco. This includes the county government (Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 5, opposite the theatre), the apartment houses Koidula 4 and Adoffi 3 near the central square (Kastani 17), and the kindergarten (Koidula 14). These houses were built during the inter-war period.
 * Pre-revolutionary stone architecture – Represented by the dark red building of the court (Tallinna tn 3, 1786-87), where the exhibition house is now located, and the neighbouring manor house (Tallinna tn 5), in which the city administration is located. Go to the arch and into the yard – there are still some manor buildings of a completely German type. Another more monumental courthouse can be found at Lai 6, built at the end of the 19th century.
 * Wooden architecture – In addition to the various houses of the 19th century – more interesting from the ethnographic point of view – there are very nice buildings in the spirit of Art Deco. This includes the county government (Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 5, opposite the theatre), the apartment houses Koidula 4 and Adoffi 3 near the central square (Kastani 17), and the kindergarten (Koidula 14). These houses were built during the inter-war period.
 * Pre-revolutionary stone architecture – Represented by the dark red building of the court (Tallinna tn 3, 1786-87), where the exhibition house is now located, and the neighbouring manor house (Tallinna tn 5), in which the city administration is located. Go to the arch and into the yard – there are still some manor buildings of a completely German type. Another more monumental courthouse can be found at Lai 6, built at the end of the 19th century.

Buy
Rakvere has got several big shopping centres both for clothes and home electronics.

Sleep
Budget accommodation is sparse in Rakvere. Better try the surrounding villages, or head for one of the observation towers in Lahemaa National Park.

Go next

 * Tallinn – The capital, and financial and cosmopolitan centre of Estonia, with a medieval Old Town. Beautiful and expensive.
 * Jõhvi – The capital of the county, but rather uninteresting from a travellers point of view.
 * Püssi – A poor but now recovering town with an interesting artificial mountain made of ash from its oil shale power plant, which has been depositing ash in the location since the 1930s. Nowadays, the mountain is used for motocross.
 * Käsmu – A coastal village inside of Lahemaa National Park.
 * Võsu – A coastal small borough inside of Lahemaa National Park.
 * Narva – Estonia's eastern-most and third largest city, on the Narva River, which is the border with Russia. Famous for the Hermann castle, right opposite of the Ivangorod's castle, and the Kreenholm factories. Even though it might seem grey and dull.

title: Rakvere


text:
Rakvice

Rakvice is a village in south Moravia, Czech Republic. It claims to be a winery village. Rakvice has about 2,200 inhabitants. It is in a flat, rural part of the country.

Get in
The village has a very convenient location between the cities of Břeclav and Brno. A frequent railway touches the village and makes the journey to approximately 20 km distant Břeclav and 40 km distant Brno fast and comfortable.

Drink
Rakvice Has a number of pubs.

In the closest vicinity of the railway station, there is a café Lusi, where coffee is rarely served, unlike beer.

In the village center, you can find Beseda, a cheap and dirty low-end pub, that is frequented mostly by the local working class.

Just upstairs in the same building, there is the Rakvice bar, which serves the cheapest Absinthe in the wide region. It has bad ventilation though and the staff tends not to be the friendliest ever. It is open until 03:30, which makes it the latest-night pub in the village.

Réva is a fancy restaurant, where you can get decent meals.

Janami is a pension, where you can get accommodation. It is on the very edge of the village, in a part where one would hardly ever find one's way. It is in the school's vicinity and it is hard to say if it is still inside of the village. The locals use the pension for drinking beer and gathering.

Next to the local pond, the pub Rak ("cancer") is located. It is perhaps the cheapest pub in the village, soft-drink-wise.

Other two pubs are Pivoňka, where minor events like concerts take place and U Průdků, called "Dolní" by the street it is in.

title: Rakvice


text:
Raleigh

The capital of North Carolina and the largest city of the Research Triangle, Raleigh is the primary political and economic driver of the metro area. Indeed, business and politics are the main draws to Raleigh, which lacks the more trendy feel or active arts scene of Durham or Chapel Hill to the west. However, a concerted effort to expand the residential base and move events downtown has led to significantly expanded retail and restaurant options in the downtown core. Also, visitors will find many of the state's cultural institutions here, namely a major performing arts center downtown and three state museums, and a college town atmosphere in the neighborhood around the campus of North Carolina State University, the state's largest university.

Understand
As of 2020, the city had a population of about 468,000, with a metro area population of about 1.4 million.

History
Raleigh is one of the few U.S. state capitals that was specifically established and planned to serve as a capital. Its location was chosen partly for being near the center of the state and partly because it was close to Isaac Hunter's Tavern, where North Carolina legislators and other government officials liked to stay. The story goes that the commissioners couldn't decide on an exact plot of land until Isaac Hunter and his friend Joel Lane had the idea of throwing a big party with plenty of local jam and whiskey. The next morning, the hungover commissioners voted 5–1 for a plot owned by Joel Lane himself.

The new city was established as the state capital in 1792 and was named for Sir Walter Raleigh.

Visitor information
The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau operates the. The Visitor Information Center (VIC) is at 500 Fayetteville Street between the Raleigh Marriott City Center and The Raleigh Convention Center. or. The VIC is open Monday through Saturday, 9AM to 5PM and offers brochures, event calendars, coupons, maps, and other visitor information. Stop by and pick up a brochure or visit the website to view a visitor guide online or order one to be mailed before your trip.

By car

 * Interstate 40 goes to points west including Durham, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Asheville. 2½ hours east on I-40 is Wilmington.
 * Interstates 85 and 95, though they do not directly enter Raleigh, provide easy access to the city from up and down the Eastern Seaboard; large access routes from these interstates provide easy access to the city.
 * US 1, the East Coast corridor route, cuts through Raleigh on its way from New York to the Florida Keys; within the city limits US 1 is known as Capital Blvd.

By train
Amtrak provides train services to Raleigh; the Piedmont runs three times per day from Charlotte, a trip of just over three hours. There are also two daily long-distance routes: the Carolinian and Silver Star lines, both of which head north through Richmond, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia to New York City. Southbound, the Carolinian follows the Piedmont south to Charlotte and the Silver Star heads south through Columbia and Savannah to Florida. The new, at 510 W Martin St, has completely replaced the old station.

By bus

 * Megabus stops in nearby Durham.
 * Megabus stops in nearby Durham.

Get around
Within the I-440 Beltline are mostly fashionable older neighborhoods and the NC State University area. The North Raleigh neighborhoods are aligned along the "spokes of the wheel"—major thoroughfares emanating from the I-440 loop and passing through the northern edge of the much larger I-540 loop.

Downtown Raleigh provides easy travel and access through its grid of one-way streets. If you're just passing through, the major thoroughfare is Capital Boulevard (US 401), which splits into Dawson Street heading south and McDowell Street heading north. From the west, it is Hillsborough Street, interrupted midway by the state Capitol building. To the east, it continues as New Bern Avenue (US 64).

The I-440 Beltline was once denoted with "Inner" and "Outer" labels, but they have been phased out in favor of "East" and "West." I-440 West used to be the Outer Beltline, and I-440 East used to be the Inner Beltline. I-440's concurrency with I-40 through the souther portion of Raleigh has also been removed; therefore, the Beltline no longer loops back on itself.

Raleigh is known for particularly aggressive parking enforcement and towing, so be sure to follow all parking signs and rules. Most parking meters have been converted to electronic pay stations that accept coins and MasterCard/Visa. Most metered areas are only enforced on Monday-Friday from 8AM-5PM. Some parking garages are free on evenings and weekends as well, but "special event" rates are common during major downtown events regardless of the time or day.

By bus
For information on routes, schedules and fares, check GoTriangle.org, for a helpful trip planner.

Regional Passes are available by GoTriangle and can be purchased at the Regional Transit Center (901 Slater Road, Durham), and one-day passes can be purchased on buses. (Tell the driver you want to purchase a day pass before inserting money into the farebox.) Regional Passes will work on GoTriangle, GoRaleigh, GoDurham, and GoCary buses.

GoRaleigh offers a lower cost alternative to the Regional Day Pass what will work only on GoRaleigh buses called the GoRaleigh Day Pass. GoRaleigh Day Pass can be purchases directly from the bus driver or at the GoRaleigh Station in Downtown Raleigh.

By taxi
There are 36 licensed taxi operators in Raleigh of varying quality. Spanish speakers will appreciate Amigo taxi.

Do

Eat
Due to the large influx of residents from around the USA and the world as well as the large student population, there is a fairly large variety of cuisine available at a wide range of prices. And, being a Southern city, there are still plenty of options for traditional Southern food and a few modern interpretations of those traditional foods. Of course, no visit to North Carolina would be complete without trying some NC-style barbecue pork. There are actually two major styles in the state: Lexington-style (named after Lexington, NC) which uses only the pork shoulder and is served with a tomato and vinegar sauce and Eastern-style which uses the "whole hog" and is served with a vinegar-based sauce. Both styles are available around Raleigh and some restaurants include both types of sauce on the table.

Mid-range

Food trucks
Thanks to relaxed regulations first in Durham and later in Raleigh, the Triangle area has a lively food truck scene with a wide variety of cuisines available in street food form from burgers and pizza to Chinese dumplings and Belgian waffles, and of course, barbecue. Many have since expanded to brick and mortar locations as well and a few popular restaurants have launched their own trucks. At lunchtime, trucks can usually be found near office parks with few restaurants nearby or on college campuses (there is almost always at least one truck serving weekday lunch on NC State's Centennial Campus). In the evening they often serve dinner at local breweries (see Drink below). Downtown Raleigh hosts occasional food truck "rodeos" featuring over 50 trucks from as far as Charlotte. See their website for upcoming dates and links to truck websites. A partial list of trucks that occasionally serve Raleigh is given below.

Drink
Southwest Raleigh, particularly the area along Hillsborough Street, resembles a college town, so there are plenty of places to find a drink. What is more, the city has a number of microbreweries. For cheaper places, try near the campus of North Carolina State University on Hillsborough Street. (A scene in "Bull Durham" was filmed in Mitch's Tavern.) The downtown area known as Glenwood South has a few more upscale bars and is located between Glenwood Ave and Harrington Street and between Peace Street and Hillsborough Street just northwest of downtown. The City Market area around Moore Square and the area around Fayetteville Street also offer a good mix. Those not from the American South should be sure to order "sweet tea". Sweet tea, along with Sundrop and Cheerwine, has long been considered a native beverage, and is served in most restaurants. The sweetness will vary in accordance with the locale, but is nevertheless much sweeter than any tea served elsewhere in the nation.

Sleep
Downtown, there are three major hotels: the Clarion, Marriott City Center, and the Sheraton.

Stay safe
Raleigh's crime rate is below average for an American city of its size (and one of the lowest in the Southern USA), but one still must be cautious and intelligent. In particular, stick to the busy and well-lit parts of downtown after dark, and avoid the neighborhoods immediately south or east of downtown after dark. The NC State University campus and vicinity are safe and heavily trafficked during the day and evening, but use the university's public safety escort service in the early hours of the morning. Throughout Raleigh, you should think before using an automated teller machine (ATM) after dark, unless it's in a mall or other heavily travelled, well-lit area.

Consulates
Raleigh has only a few consulates. If the country you're looking for isn't listed here, try Charlotte, Atlanta, or Washington, D.C.

 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇹 Guatemala
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden

In the Triangle

 * Chapel Hill, about from Raleigh, is home to the University of North Carolina (UNC-CH). Chapel Hill has many good restaurants and bars on Franklin Street, adjacent to the UNC campus.
 * Durham about away, the home of Duke University. Durham has many trendy cafes, bars, theaters, art locations and four-star restaurants.
 * Pittsboro, home to a tiger sanctuary, and the tiny nearby town of Bynum on the Haw River
 * Wake Forest, about away, features access to the vast Falls Lake Park Recreation Area and boasts a small downtown carefully preserved in time.

Further afield

 * Charlotte
 * Greensboro
 * Hanging Rock State Park
 * Wilmington
 * Winston-Salem

title: Raleigh


text:
Ralik

Ralik is an island chain of the Marshall Islands.

Cities and atolls

 * Atoll
 * Island

title: Ralik


text:
Rama

Rama is a city of 59,000 people (2019) in Caribbean Nicaragua. It is along the Escondido River which branches off into three other rivers: the Sumi, Rama, and Escondido. It is home to an important Atlantic/Caribbean port.

Understand
Rama is an old settlement, whose name is reminiscent of their first settlers, the Caribbean indigenous Rama, once populate the territories of the present municipalities of Bluefields and Rama. Unlike the Miskito, this ethnic group did not subordinated to the British and other European nations from 1633. Ethnicity also fought pirates and Spanish conquistadors who sought to enslave during the conquest.

The municipality increased its importance in the late 19th century, with the beginning of the extraction of timber, rubber and banana enclave by US companies. This economic activation caused a strong flow from other parts of the country and of citizens of Chinese origin, who were primarily devoted to trade. The construction of the Managua-Rama highway facilitated successive waves of migration of peasants.

Get in
There is also a direct bus from San Carlos (Nicaragua)
 * By boat from Bluefields (US$10, 1 hr 30 min).
 * By bus from Managua (US$6, 5 hr 30 min).

By taxi
This city is small and there are at least 7 taxis available to take you from Rama to the nearby towns of Puerto La Esperanza US$1 or less), El Recreo ($1 or less), Pricilla ($5 or less). Taxi drivers here are locals generally very kind, remember they have to drive back to their original starting point and may not have a passenger to take back, so be a little generous (tips always welcome) if you tip well they'll even wait for you (for a reasonable amount of time and look for you if you need a ride the next day).

By bus
There are at least 2 local buses running from Rama to Esperanza to El Recreo all day. You can also get a ride on buses arriving and departing from Managua and Juigalpa. (check schedule at terminal)

See
Visit Libreria el Maestro. It's right on the main road you can't miss it. They sell everything there from school supplies, to fabrics, clothing, electronics, even washers! Family owned business.

Stay healthy
Mosquito Alert! There are lots of mosquitos in Rama (they make a wonderful serenade), be sure to spray on repellent or sleep with a "mosquitero" (thin soft net that covers over the bed).

Go next
Most people go directly on to Big Corn Island via Bluefields

title: Rama


text:
Ramallah

Ramallah or Ram Allah (Arabic رام الله Rāmallāh) is a small city in the West Bank region of the Palestinian Territories, located 15 km (10 miles) north of Jerusalem. Since the inception of the Palestinian National Authority, Ramallah has acted as the de facto capital city of the Palestinian administration. The neighboring town of Al-Bireh has over the years fused together with Ramallah and is covered in this article too.

Understand

Modern Ramallah was founded in the mid-16th century by the Haddadins, a Jordanian tribe of brothers descended from Ghassanid Christian Arabs. The Haddadins, led by Rashid Haddadin, arrived from east of the Jordan River near the Jordanian town of Shoubak. The Haddadin migration is blamed for fighting and unrest among clans in that area. According to living descendants of the original Haddadin family members, Rahid's brother Sabra Haddadin was hosting Emir Ibn Kaysoom, head of a powerful Muslim clan in the region, when Sabra's wife gave birth to a baby girl. According to custom, the Emir proposed a betrothal to his own young son when they came of age. Sabra believed the proposal was in jest, as Muslim-Christian marriages were not customary, and gave his word. When the Emir later came to the Haddadins and demanded that they fulfill their promise, they refused. This set off bloody conflict between the two families. The Haddadins fled west and settled on the hilltops of Ramallah, where only a few Muslim families lived at the time. Today the town has a Muslim majority, but Ramallah retains its title as a historically Christian Palestinian town.

In 2017, the city had a population of 39,000, and the metro area 153,000.

Ramallah is known for its religiously relaxed atmosphere; alcohol flows freely and movie theaters and the cafes along its main streets are well attended. Ramallah is, without question, the cultural capital of the West Bank, with a highly educated and fashionable population. It is also the hub of Palestinian feminist activity; the city's women frequently attend university rather than marrying early, and several cafes run exclusively by women are used to fund local feminist organizations.

While there, it is easy to make small talk with the locals. Unless you are firmly anti-Israeli occupation, it is advisable that you do more listening than actual talking yourself, however. For the most part, Palestinians are glad to share their problems and plight with any western visitors.

Get in
Tourists with passports outside the Middle East have no problem entering or exiting Ramallah. Make sure to have your passport and visa stamp with you. Even though you will probably not need your passport to enter, you will be required to show your passport and stamp in order to re-enter Israel. Once through the checkpoint, it is a short drive to downtown Ramallah. Bear in mind that it is illegal for Israelis to enter Ramallah, under Israeli law.

On the way back, if you have an Israeli visa stamp or visa paper with your passport from when you arrived in Israel, then just stay on the bus as it arrives at Kalandia. (Many passengers will get off here to go through a different security check.) A couple of border guards will come on to the bus to check passenger ID documents. They will probably speak English well and may ask some questions about where you are from.

By bus
There is on Al-Nahder St. that serves buses from Nablus, and probably other destinations north. There are at least three other bus stations in the city which also serve various destinations. Nevertheless, they are all pretty close to each other.

From Jerusalem the best connection to Ramallah is bus/sherut/serves 218 (and sometimes 219). It departs from the Nablus Road station close to Damascus Gate on Nablus Rd (aka Derech Shchem) and will take you all the way to before mentioned bus station near the central square of al-Manara. The price is ₪10-20, and it takes around 45 minutes.

From Bethlehem take a shared taxi (Sherut/serviis) from the Bethlehem bus station at Manger St. in the center. The trip takes 45 min all the way around Jerusalem and costs ₪20.

From Jericho take a shared taxi (Sherut/serviis) from the central roundabout with the garden in the middle. The taxis are waiting on the western side of the roundabout. To increase your "luck", you can also wait at the roundabout out of the city with the mosque. Even hitchhiking from there makes sense. The trip to Ramallah takes less than an hour for less than ₪15. The exact price is listed in the tourist information on the central roundabout in Jericho centre.

From Nablus the trip is ₪10.5 and it takes about an hour. Ask around from which bus station in Nablus the correct (big) bus starts.

It is worth asking the drivers before you get on to double-check the bus is going to the right destination. You might be surprised how many of them can speak basic English. There are two main types of buses. There are small ones with about 20 seats, and biggers ones that look more like coaches and are much more comfortable. They all cost the same, and there is usually a rush of passengers pushing their way onto the buses.

By taxi
From Jerusalem's Damascus Gate you can find taxis to Ramallah for approximately ₪80-100 depending on your bargaining skills. You can also take a taxi to Kalandia checkpoint and walk through, picking up another taxi on the other side. It costs about ₪30 from Kalandia to Ramallah centre.

By car
Heading north from Jerusalem on road #60, you will arrive to Ramallah very quickly. You will have to pass one Israeli checkpoint on the way: Kalandia.

By plane
There is no airport with scheduled passenger flights in the West Bank, so the only nearby passenger airports are Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, then heading towards Jerusalem or Queen Alia in Amman then heading towards Allenby Bridge aka King Hussein Bridge and passing through it - Visa on arrival for Israel is available for most common nationalities. Ovda Airport near Eilat also sees international flights, but the connection from there to Ramallah is not all that straightforward and more time-consuming.

Get around
It is easy to find a taxi to get around Ramallah (for ₪10 fixed charge, or the amount specified by the fare-meter). Car rentals are also available, but seldom needed. As the city center is relatively small, it is not hard to walk to most destinations downtown (including the old city.) Service shuttles (shared taxis) are also available from downtown to most suburbs and to the outskirts of the city at relatively low prices (₪2.5 inside the city and up to ₪6 to nearby towns and villages). Make sure to confirm a price before getting into a taxi.

See
The city is one of the most vibrant ones in the West Bank. In Ramallah, a few historic and religious sites are present. However, the downtown streets are a must see during the day, as the city is often really congested.

 * Hisbeh produce market, see below.

Do
Tourism, in the traditional sense, is almost non-existent in Ramallah compared to other cities in the region. If you are visiting Ramallah, it is probable that you are doing so for political, business, and/or humanitarian reasons - expect to have lots of staring, curious (but always friendly) eyes looking at you as you walk though town.

Learn
Ramallah is the home of the Friends School in the Palestinian Territories. The school has two campuses, one for grades 1-6 and is located near the old city. The other is for grades 7-12 and is located near the old police station destroyed by an Israeli air strike. The schools are famous for their international learning environment, intensive English language focus, and liberal learning atmosphere. The schools are private and have a number of notable Palestinian alumni.

The city also has a number of public and private schools that serve a good number of the West Bank youth population. Private schools with specific religious affiliations can also be found.

In the twin city of El-Bireh, there is also a school for the blind that also serves as a vocational center.

Birzeit University, which is in the neighboring town of Birzeit, is one of the Palestinian Authority's leading educational institutions. The University offers a large number of study options and at different levels for students. It also has several links with international institutions, and often has a number of international students attending it. The PAS (Palestinian and Arab Studies) program is popular with internationals visiting or working in the West Bank who want to learn Arabic and take classes on the history and politics of the Palestinian Authority.

The city also has branches for Al-Quds Open University, which offers continuing education opportunities to many Palestinians.

There are a number of vocational training centers in the city, neighboring towns, and refugee camps.

Work
Ramallah is a vibrant Palestinian business hub, especially as most international agencies and governmental offices are located in the city. However, with the immigration of Palestinians from other cities in the West Bank to Ramallah, there is a highly competitive job market and many Palestinians, especially young men come to the city seeking work. The most popular career portal In Ramallah and Palestine is Jobs in Palestine. Here you can find most jobs advertised by INGOs, NGOs, and local companies.

Major working opportunities in Ramallah include information technology, pharmaceuticals, development cooperation, and the public sector. Restaurant and coffee shop jobs are also available, mainly during the summer. Agricultural jobs are minimal in the city, but a few can be sought in neighboring villages.

For foreigners, work opportunities tend to include consultancies in certain private sector markets - IT is most common. The vast majority of foreigners working in Ramallah are doing development or humanitarian work. A significant number are focused on human rights and advocacy. A number of UN agencies work directly in the West Bank and many, such as the UNDP, maintain office in Ramallah.

Volunteering opportunities are common in small and medium-sized Palestinian NGOs as well as some international NGOs. Volunteering is an excellent way to get to understand an organisation and the field they operate in. Most local NGOs will appreciate foreign volunteers, particularly if they have good written English skills, enabling them to support fundraising work. Volunteers are often paid small sums to cover basic travel costs but this varies. If you are planning to volunteer, have enough money to support yourself as Ramallah is not a cheap place to live. you could also volunteer in some new small projects as the first youth hostel in the city (Hostel in Ramallah) and through the hostel there are some other projects as an organic farm or refuge camps http://hostelinramallah.com

Buy
There's not a huge amount to do in Ramallah if you are just visiting. A great way to spend your time could be to dip in and out of shops. Shop-keepers are among the most ready-to-talk and many have colourful lives. It gives you a good reason to walk around and take your time.

You will never find everything under one roof, but for a basket of common necessities, you will need to visit a baker, grocer, butcher, pharmacy and mini-market. Ramallah city centre, despite the development and growth of some new stores retains a small-town feel due to the protections for tenants that mean many shops have been in the same location for decades (rent agreed at the outset cannot be increased, so in many cases is only a few USD per year).

Butchers in Ramallah normally sell meat (Beef/Lamb) or chicken. If they sell both, they are separated and attended by different people. One of the best butchers is on Tireh Street about 1 km from Al-Manara. The butcher will cut the meat to your specification and will mince it for you while you wait for no extra charge. If you ask for barbeque meat, you will also get a mix of coriandar, garlic and spices ready for BBQ.

Eat
Eating should be no problem in Ramallah, regardless of the budget of visitors.

The bakery on Al-Quds street where the buses emerge from the bus station is one of the best in town. The staple is 'kmaaj' or pitta bread. A bakery in the Old City (Ramallah Tahta) produces brown kmaaj and sliced bread.

Also the Arabic variety of ice cream in many places in Ramallah is worth trying - a very different and more gooey and sticky version of what is available in the west. Regular ice cream can be found everywhere also. Try Rukab's and Baladna ice cream shops on the main street.

There are a huge number of falafel and shawarma places on all of the main streets. A filling falafel or hummous pita sandwich with a drink should run you around ₪4-6 from any of the common downtown restaurants. At nicer restaurants, such a combination will run you a bit more.

A large shawerma, kebab, or chicken sandwich goes for around ₪10-15 in most restaurants. A hamburger, fries, and a drink go for around ₪15-25 depending on the restaurant. Abu Alabed is an excellent shawerma place located in the old city next to fish and chips restaurant. Big Bite located at the end of the main street offers a wide range of hot and cold sandwiches.

The city has a number of upscale restaurants. A nice steak or seafood dish will cost around ₪80. "Darna", "Angelo's", "Azure" are all nice options for upscale dining.

Drink
Although predominately Muslim, Ramallah is still a Christian town, hence Ramallah's large restaurants usually serve alcohol. Expect a selection of imported beers (Heineken, Corona, etc.), spirits, and perhaps red or white wine. Do not display public intoxication, as at best, it is rude and inconsiderate to your Muslim hosts. At worst, it could be dangerous.

The city's active nightlife and its relatively liberal culture makes it a hot destination for visitors from other cities including Jerusalem during the weeknights and weekends.

During the night, a good number of shops are still open, especially during the summer. A common habit of the citizens of the city is going out for a drink, dinner, or an argila (flavoured tobacco waterpipe). The city's various coffee shops, bars, and restaurants are a must see/visit. The nicer ones are often available closer the older city and on the road going to Betunia, while some good ones can also be found outside the city center.

Fruit juice
Palestinians love fresh fruit-juice. For under ₪10 you can get a large juice with a mixture of anything from Pomegranate to Orange juice.

Coffee shops
Ramallah offers a wide variety of coffee shops ranging from the local low-scale ones serving Arabic Coffee for ₪2, to those fancy places serving the same item for ₪10-15. Try the Arabic drinks (Arabic coffee, mint tea, sahleb, etc.), cappucinos and lattes, and fresh juices and cocktails at the numerous cafes around downtown and in the suburbs.

'Coffee shops' are places to drink coffee and smoke waterpipes. The term Argila is often used in Ramallah to describe the waterpipes, while shishah is also used at some places. You might even see a 'hookah' or 'Hubbly Bubbly'. You can also smoke arghila in almost any restaurant, although some have special areas for them.

You can order normal ('aadi') or fresh ('fresh'). Fresh means the tobacco is placed in a piece of fruit like an orange (or even a watermelon). It has a smoother flavour but is more expensive. You should also choose your flavour. Common flavours are double-apple ('tufateen') and lemon and mint ('limun-w-nana').

Depending on the location and type of restaurant of cafe, the price of smoking a nice and soothing tobacco waterpipe costs anywhere between ₪8-30. The cheapest places do have an unwritten men-only rule, however.

 * Also try "European" and "Karameh" on main street.
 * Also try "European" and "Karameh" on main street.
 * Also try "European" and "Karameh" on main street.
 * Also try "European" and "Karameh" on main street.

Bars
Popular local places to get served alcohol are Zan's, Zryiab, Stones, Angelo's, and Sangria's. They all serve food as well and the local Palestinian beer "Taybeh" (which can challenge most European beers). For more robust beer lovers, Taybeh also comes in a delightfully rich tasting dark version although this isn't as widely sold as the lighter ale.

Most neighborhoods, particularly traditionally Christian ones have a couple of stores that sell beer, wine and spirits.

Stay safe
Generally speaking, Ramallah is safe for non-Israeli foreigners. The Palestinian residents are usually quite happy to have foreign nationals visit them. Theft is relatively rare, although do not interpret that statement as an OK to let your guard down.

Bear in mind that although Ramallah has been under military occupation for a long time, the city is relatively stable. However, very rarely the Israeli military enters the city to arrest wanted Palestinians. This usually only happens in the dead of night, and they disappear before anyone realizes that they were there. However, the Israeli military can enter Ramallah bluntly, and in large numbers. If this should happen while you are staying in Ramallah, do what the majority of Palestinians do, and stay inside until they leave and away from any soldiers or military vehicles. Do not assume that just because you are a foreign national that you will be safe.

That said, Ramallah hasn't seen any widespread violence since 2006 and it is highly unlikely to happen (unless there are escalations with Israel, which will be very apparent via international media). In the cases where the Israelis enter, it is usually to arrest a wanted Palestinian in an outskirts refugee camp in the middle of the night. They will rarely enter the city centre, so as to avoid an unnecessary confrontation with large crowds of civilians.

Diplomatic liaisons

 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇷🇴 Romania

Go next
As mentioned above, there are at least four bus stations in Ramallah. Simply ask around or at your accommodation which one is the relevant one for your next destination.

 * Jerusalem – Besides the Dead Sea, a central focus for most people coming to this region.
 * Nablus – One of the oldest cities in the world and famous for its kunafa/kenafeh.
 * Bethlehem – The biblical birthplace of Jesus and hometown of David, surrounded by Mar Saba Monastery and Herodium (Herodion) Park.
 * Jericho – One of the oldest settlements in the world and the Middle East, and a great starting point for Kalya Beach at the Dead Sea.

title: Ramallah


text:
Ramanagara

Ramanagara is in the Southeastern Karnataka region. It is situated in a valley surrounded by rocky hillocks, around Bangalore. It has an average elevation of 747 metres (2450 feet). It is surrounded by the Anna-Thama rock formation on the left, Handi-Gundi on the right. The present town has an Agrahara on the left bank of the Arkavati with a temple of Arkeshwara built in later Vijayanagara style. Ramanagara is also famous for the huge rocky outcrops. Those that are popular for Rock Climbing are; Savandurga, Ramadevarabetta, SRS betta and Thenginkalbetta.

Rock climbing is an adventure sport that is hugely popular in Ramanagara. The eye-catching granite cliffs 60 to 70 feet in height are favorite with rock climbing enthusiasts. These are at a distance of around 50 kilometers from Bangalore, on the route to Mysore. Rock climbing is great as a hobby and we say it's even better than visiting the gym.

It is home to some of the world's oldest granite outcrops. Ramanagara is famous for its silk market, one of the biggest in India, giving it the other name of Silk town. In Ramanagara we will get a chance for Bouldering - This is all about climbing up boulders. It's often used as training for improvement of climbing and strength skills. Then after we will go for Rappelling or Abseiling - means getting down from a steep rock with the help of a rope and safety gadgets. This uses the same techniques as mountaineering. Then we will come to our last activity which is Chimney Climbing – In this, climbing is done in the gap between two rocks. We have to use our body to crawl across and climb.

Get in
Buses that connect Mysore to Bangalore generally stop at Ramanagara on the way. Rail services are available from Bangalore.

Do
rock climbing

title: Ramanagara


text:
Ramat Gan

Ramat Gan (Hebrew: רמת גן) (Translation: Garden heights) is a city in Israel, to the immediate east of Tel Aviv, which almost acts as an extension of it. Ramat Gan is an eclectic town famous for many things totally unrelated to each other, including diamonds, football, malls, chocolates, Iraqi restaurants, a religious university, and an open-space African safari with lions. Small green public gardens are plentiful and all streets are tree-lined.

Understand
Ramat Gan was founded in 1921 as a moshav (a communal farming community). Over time the population grew as Tel Aviv sprawled, and today the population exceeds 135,000.

Northwest Ramat Gan features a cluster of sparkling skyscrapers, which, at night, impresses you with a magnificent Manhattan-style skyline. There, you will find the tallest building in Israel (75 floors), right next to the two skyscrapers comprising of the diamond stock exchange. This area, called the Boursa, turns at night into a sleazy collection of brothels and illegal casinos.

The rest of the city, just like its name, is residential with green gardens here and there. Some embassies (including the EU delegation) are located here, instead of Tel Aviv. A lot of political wheeling and dealing goes on at the Ramat Gan Sheraton City Towers, which is a preferred hang out for Likud Party primaries conferences.

In the northeast, you will find the first successful shopping mall in Israel (Kanyon Ayalon) surrounded by huge outlet stores. Next to it are a shooting range ("mitvach"), the biggest soccer stadium in the country, and the Ramat Gan National Park.

On the southeast side of town is Bar Ilan University, which combines university studies with an orientation towards the religious Jewish community.

Ramat Gan is also associated with chocolates, as those passing by the "Elite" factory on Jabotinski Road would catch sweet whiffs of chocolate in the blending.

Last but not least, Ramat Gan is known as Baghdad Town. Most Jewish refugees from Iraq settled here in the 1950s and made Ramat Gan their home. As a result, many Iraqi restaurants can be found here.

Talk
As Ramat Gan was mainly settled by Iraqi Jews, Arabic is spoken by some elderly residents. However, the younger generation has been completely assimilated into mainstream Israeli culture and largely only speaks Hebrew.

By bus
The easiest way to get to Ramat Gan from Tel Aviv is by bus.

 * From the Tel Aviv central bus station: Lines 21, 31, 51, 52, 53, 54, 60, 68, 70, 160, 525, 531
 * From the Tel Aviv Central (Arlozorov) train station: Lines 1, 42, 51, 53, 55, 60, 61, 65, 68, 69, 70, 82, 142, 138, 160, 161, 238, 240, 524
 * From the Jerusalem central bus station: Line 400 goes directly to Ramat Gan. However, if you are going to the western parts of Ramat Gan, it is more efficient to take line 480 to the Arlozorov train station, which is just outside Ramat Gan.

By train
Trains go from most cities to the, which is walking distance to the Ramat Gan business district (Boursa). To get elsewhere in Ramat Gan, take a local bus from the train station.

Get around
The city center is small enough to walk around. For longer distances, take a bus. Ramat Gan is integrated into the greater Tel Aviv bus network, so there are few routes that serve Ramat Gan specifically. Line 65 goes almost everywhere in Ramat Gan - the stadium, Bursa, city center, and several neighborhoods, finally ending at the Sheba hospital in the southeast.

Eat
Don't miss the best Iraqi-style Shawarma in Israel at Shemesh on Jabotiski Road. There are plenty of fast food joints along Jabotinski. On the edge of Ramat Gan (Next to Bialik Street), practically already in Givatayim, there is the most famous Sabich restaurant in the universe, "Oved".

Drink
Clubs and bars are scarce, just catch a taxi to Tel Aviv (₪30).

Stay safe
When in the Safari, don't get out of your car! The lions or hippos may attack you. That is about the only danger in Ramat Gan.

title: Ramat Gan


text:
Ramea

Ramea is a small island village in Southern Newfoundland. In 2004, Ramea was chosen as the site of a hybrid wind-diesel electricity generation project.

Understand
From 2011 to 2021, its population fell from 526 to 388.

Ramea sits on Northwest Island, one of a group of five major islands off the south coast of Newfoundland. The island is approximately 3.14 km long by 0.93 km wide (1.95 miles by 0.58 miles). The remaining major islands in the archipelago are Great (or Big) Island, Middle Island, Harbour Island, and South West Island.

Ramea is home to a lot of plants, which include the purple pitcher plant and bakeapple. The island and surrounding islands serve as a fall and winter home to many migratory seabirds.

History
The community was settled in the early 19th century for its proximity to rich fishing grounds and safe anchorages. It became a thriving fishing village. It was probably named for Le Ramée, a street in Saint Peter Port, the capital of Guernsey.

From 1949 to 1970, businesswoman Marie Penny owned and operated John Penny & Sons, one of the largest frozen fish companies in Newfoundland during the 20th century. Since the cod moratorium of 1992, the isolated community has struggled to survive, having declined from a peak population of 1,120 in the 1970s.

Wind energy
In 2004, Ramea was chosen for the site of Canada's first wind-diesel demonstration project. Six 65 kW wind turbines were installed on the island to demonstrate that the Wind-Diesel Integrated Control System can be used to displace diesel power generation by introducing wind to the island's grid and to show significant energy efficiency and reliability for northern, remote or isolated locations. The wind-diesel pilot program generates around 1 million kWh/yr and offsets approximately 750 tonnes of emissions annually.

Get in
Ramea is accessible via the Provincial Ferry Service, from either Burgeo or Grey River.

Get around
The Ferry from Burgeo to Ramea is capable of carrying vehicles, and there are roads in Ramea for cars. The relatively small size (1.89 km2) of the town, however, means that any destination is within walking distance.

See

 * Operational wind-diesel generation plant
 * Northwest Head Lighthouse, one of the last remaining staffed lighthouses in Canada

Do

 * Hike: there are several hiking paths, including one that takes hikers on a circuit around the island and to the wind-diesel plant. Walking to the island's highest point on top of Man O'War Hill offers excellent views of archipelago and across to White Bear Bay.
 * Music: Every year the islands plays host to a Rock Island Music Festival of traditional music on the second weekend of August. Local bands, outdoor bingo, hot turkey supper prepared by the Ladies Auxiliary, kids' games hosted by the Wolf Cubs (junior Boy Scouts), adult dance, casserole dinner, Sunday brunch after church. So, it's not just the music that's traditional....

Drink
There is a liquor store on Main St at Lodge Rd, west of the ferry dock.

Sleep

 * 2 Four Winds Inn, 1 D. O. T. Rd. Phone #: +1 709 625-2002. A Bed and Breakfast situated in the heart of the Island at an old historic home established at the peak of Ramea's Cod boom. It hosts 5 bedrooms, 3 with a private baths. The large living room and dining room are available to guests at all times.
 * 2 Four Winds Inn, 1 D. O. T. Rd. Phone #: +1 709 625-2002. A Bed and Breakfast situated in the heart of the Island at an old historic home established at the peak of Ramea's Cod boom. It hosts 5 bedrooms, 3 with a private baths. The large living room and dining room are available to guests at all times.

Connect
There is a post office opposite the ferry dock.

title: Ramea


text:
Ramechhap

Ramechhap District is in Nepal, immediately east of Kathmandu. It stretches from the Sun Koshi river to the base of the Everest range, with elevations varying from 488 m at the Sun Koshi to Numburchuili peak at 6,909 m. Spread before you are rolling foothills dotted with isolated farming communities, crowned by an array of snow peaks that will leave you breathless. Rhododendron forests give way to bamboo groves which in turn vanish into the tantalizingly close Himalayan peaks, and the dominant religion changes from Hindu to Buddhist.

Do

 * Trekking in Ramechhap takes you beyond mainstream tourism and allows you to escape the congestion of commercialized trekking routes. Ramechhap offers an experience not found elsewhere in Nepal. You'll meet people from different Indigenous communities and learn far more about them and their culture than on conventional tours.
 * Numbur Cheese Circuit.
 * Indigenous Peoples Trail.
 * Activities that are performed for guests, could, in some cases, disappear from these communities which are increasingly influenced by the factors of modernization, urban sprawl and international development. In addition, trekking in Ramechhap increasingly responds to the growing interest among urban Nepali to rediscover, taste, appreciate and maintain contact with their rural roots. It fosters integration while respecting and celebrating local culture.

Drink

 * Junar (a type of orange) juice
 * Rhododendron juice
 * Bel (wood-apple) juice

title: Ramechhap


text:
Rameswaram

Rameswaram (இராமேசுவரம் Irāmēcuvaram) is a town on Pamban Island, in Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It's known for Ramanathaswamy Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site with ornate corridors, huge sculpted pillars and sacred water tanks. Together with Varanasi, it is considered to be one of the holiest places in India for Hindus and part of the Char Dham (four abodes) pilgrimage.

Understand
It is separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is about 40 km from Mannar Island in Sri Lanka. It is in the Gulf of Mannar, at the tip of the Indian peninsula. Pamban Island, also known as Rameswaram Island, is connected to mainland India by the Pamban Bridge.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Madurai and is 174 km from Rameswaram. Most of the major Indian cities have daily flights here.

By train
Rameswaram [RMM] is directly connected via daily trains from Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Chennai. Direct connectivity from Coimbatore and Kanyakumari is available but not daily. You might find it difficult to find a direct train from North Indian cities.

By road
Connected with all important towns of Tamil Nadu, City Buses are available including night services. Point-to-Point services, Tourist taxis, auto/cycle rickshaws and horse carts are also available. The taxi charges for a small car (Indica) is around ₹5 per km. It costs around ₹1800 for the return trip from Madurai to Rameswaram. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) operates Rameswaram – Tirupathi daily service.

Buy
If you are interested in buying seashell items, visit the Leema Shopping near Dr Kalam's House. You can get quality items in a comparatively well priced than elsewhere in Rameswaram.

Eat and drink
Several Marwadi Bojanalays, semi-sponsored restaurants for charity, are near the temple's west entrance and serve good food at a reasonable price.

Go next

 * Kanyakumari - A train 'Rameswaram Kanyakumari SF express' departs thrice a week (Monday, Thursday and Saturday) at 8:45PM from Rameswaram railway station and arrives at Kanniyakumari at 4:05AM, with plenty of time to reach Kanniyakumari beach and catch the spectacular sunrise. Do consult the latest railway timetable for schedule changes. There is also a bus to Kanniyakumari twice a day. It leaves at around 7AM and 7PM. It is an atrocious journey through awful roads and takes about 4 to 5 hours but it goes direct.Train runs on Ramanathapuram, Manamadurai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil routes whereas Buses passes through Ramanathapuram, Kilakarai, Ervadi, Sayalgudi, Tuticorin, Tiruchendur (East Coastal Road).
 * Madurai - There are 3 passenger trains that depart from Rameswaram daily and do not require prior reservation. Departure times are 5:25AM, 5:35PM and 12:05AM. The journey takes roughly 4 hours and is quite comfortable, with the day trains offering not to be missed views. Do consult the latest railway timetable for schedule changes. There are frequent buses as well.
 * Chennai - There are two express trains, Sethu Express and Rameswaram express (referred as Boat mail earlier) running on all days.
 * Coimbatore - A weekly train, Rameswaram-Coimbatore express running on every Wednesdays.

title: Rameswaram


text:
Ramla

Ramla is a city in central Israel, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Understand
Ramla was the only new city to be founded within the current boundaries of Israel during about 1,200 years of Muslim rule; in all other cases, they were built on top of preexisting cities. Today it has a mixed Arab and Jewish population of 66,000 people.

By bus
Buses run frequently from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Rishon LeZion, Modiin, Ashdod and other cities in central Israel.

Get around
All sites of interest to tourists are within a 15-minute walk of the central bus station.

Inside Ramla, Kavim operates four local bus lines (4, 5, 7, 8), and three lines to Lod (11, 13, 15).

See

 * The old city next to the market is an abandoned area of old buildings dating to the Ottoman period and earlier.
 * The old city next to the market is an abandoned area of old buildings dating to the Ottoman period and earlier.
 * The old city next to the market is an abandoned area of old buildings dating to the Ottoman period and earlier.
 * The old city next to the market is an abandoned area of old buildings dating to the Ottoman period and earlier.
 * The old city next to the market is an abandoned area of old buildings dating to the Ottoman period and earlier.

Go next

 * Lod - Next to Ramla, it is quite similar as a place to live, but has fewer attractions for visitors.
 * Rishon LeZion - the major city between Ramla and Tel Aviv
 * Modi'in - the major city between Ramla and Jerusalem
 * Jaffa - The southeastern part of Tel aviv, and close atmosphere to Ramla

title: Ramla


text:
Râmnicu Vâlcea

Râmnicu Vâlcea is a city in southern Romania.

By train
There are six-seven trains each day from Sibiu, four from Craiova and two from Bucharest.

By bus
There are buses from Bucharest, Sibiu and Cluj-Napoca belonging to companies such as Dacos, Antares, Ionescu.

See

 * Cetăţuie Church
 * Cetăţuie Church

Do
Philharmonic orchestra Ion Dumitrescu

Connect
Wi-fi: you can find wireless internet in the mall or around it.

Eat
A cheap restaurant is Belvedere.

Sleep

 * Pensiune Valentina Tel: +40 250 732 611. E-mail: office@valentina.ro

title: Râmnicu Vâlcea


text:
Ramona

Ramona is a small Inland town of San Diego County. The town is a working town and unfortunately does not offer much for tourists.

Get in
Ramona can be accessed through a limited number of roads and highways. From North County, one can take State Route 78 east. From San Diego, one can take State Route 67 north.

Eat

 * D'Carlo's: 1347 Main Street, (760) 789-4340. The best place in Ramona to sit down and have dinner. Great steak, Prime Rib is their specialty. Everything on the menu is great and cheap for the quality of the food.

Mexican food
Like every town in San Diego County, Ramona has a bunch of great Mexican food that can be hard to find if you don't know the area.

 * La Cocina: 681 Main Street, (760) 789-8332. Excellent burritos and salsa, but everything they have is great also. This is a good place to get a quick meal.
 * El Michoacan: 780 Main Street. A big open restaurant with a wood fire pit, noted for its roast meats (carne asada), but it is all good. This is more of a place to sit down and enjoy a beer.
 * Mañana's: Main St. Solid fast food Mexican, open 24 hours.
 * Mi Ranchito: 1028 Main Street, (760) 789-0368. Quick and cheap, the crazy fries are pretty good.

Burgers and Diners

 * Boll Weevil: 2548 Main Street, (760) 788-1392. Good big burgers and fries, a good country joint to go watch the game and hang out. This place is pretty classic Ramona.
 * Ramona Cafe: 628 Main Street, (760) 789-8656. This is some of the best diner food around and the best place in Ramona to have breakfast.

Go next

 * Escondido
 * Julian

title: Ramona


text:
Rampur (Himachal Pradesh)

Rampur (Bushahr) is a town in Southern Himachal Pradesh, around 120 km from Shimla on the Hindustan Tibet Road (National Highway 22).

Understand
Rampur is the capital of the erstwhile Kingdom of Bushahr at an altitude of 900 m.

By bus
Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) runs frequent buses from and to Shimla.

By taxi
Taxis can be hired from Shimla for ₹1,500 per day (as of 2010).

Go next

 * Reckong Peo
 * Kalpa
 * Sarahan
 * Chhitkul
 * Sangla

title: Rampur (Himachal Pradesh)


text:
Ramsar

Ramsar is a city of 36,000 people (2016) on the Caspian coast of Iran. It is a popular sea resort for Iranian tourists. The town offers hot springs, the green forests of the Alborz Mountains, and the Ramsar Palace (vacation palace of the last Shah).

Understand
The Ramsar Convention is a 1971 international treaty for the conservation of wetlands. It was signed and named after here, and established the worldwide Ramsar sites, under protection as per the treaty.

See

 * Markooh spectacular views
 * Javaherdeh Village which is an important tourist attraction in Ramsar county. It offers beautiful scenery of seemingly endless green fields, snow-capped mountains, vast dense woods, rolling green hills and picturesque north-Iranian farms and villages. The houses in this area of Iran has unlike many other areas of Iran roofs that are tilted rather than flat.
 * Tamashagage Jhazar
 * Ramsar Museum Palace, Rajaei St. Pays homage to a former royal family summer house.
 * Ramsar Museum Palace, Rajaei St. Pays homage to a former royal family summer house.

Do

 * The Sea Park that reaches to the beach is a good place for a stroll.
 * The Casino
 * Hot Spring
 * Hot Spring

Eat

 * Tooska restaurant

Sleep

 * Ramsar Parsian Hotel, Rajaei St. This hotel lies next to the old Ramsar Hotel and recreates its splendor.

Go next
27 km south of Ramsar and 2700 m above sea level in the Alborz mountains is Javaher Deh village, which is an important tourist attraction in Ramsar county.

title: Ramsar


text:
Ramsey

There is more than one place called Ramsey:

Isle of Man

 * Ramsey (Isle of Man) - A town in the Isle of Man.

United Kingdom

 * Ramsey (Cambridgeshire) - A town in Cambridgeshire.
 * Ramsey (Pembrokeshire) - An island in Pembrokeshire.

United States of America

 * Ramsey (New Jersey) - A municipality in New Jersey.

title: Ramsey


text:
Ramsey (Cambridgeshire)

Ramsey is a small market town in Cambridgeshire. Ramsey is an historic fenland town with an abbey founded in 969. It's a quiet place where you can experience rural England but has enough life and facilities to enable you to stay there. It makes a good base to explore the surrounding area.

Understand
Ramsey is not a major tourist destination so would suit those wanting to get off the beaten track.

Get in
Buses run every hour or two from Huntingdon to the centre of Ramsey.

The surrounding countryside is ideal for cycling with little traffic and no hills. As such, it is practical to get to Ramsey by bike.

Get around
Ramsey is small enough to walk around.

See

 * St Thomas a Becket Church is architecturally interesting.
 * Abbey remains.

Do
Cycling.

Each August there is a major 1940s weekend at nearby (20 minutes' walk) Upwood airbase.

Buy
The town has two supermarkets and some old-fashioned shops.

Eat
There are a few restaurants and takeaways in the town so you won't go hungry.

Drink
There are a few pubs.

Sleep
Ramsey is small enough for you to be able to see everything in a day trip from a nearby city.

Go next
If you don't have your own transport then you'll need to take a bus.

title: Ramsey (Cambridgeshire)


text:
Ramsey County

There is more than one place called Ramsey County:

United States of America

 * Ramsey County (Minnesota) — A county in Minnesota.
 * Ramsey County (North Dakota) — A county in North Dakota.

title: Ramsey County