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Bahrain

The Kingdom of Bahrain (Arabic: البحرين, al-Baḥrayn) is a Middle Eastern archipelago in the Persian Gulf, tucked into a pocket of the sea flanked by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The kingdom combines modern Arab culture and the archaeological legacy of 5000 years of civilisation.

The island is home to forts including Qalat Al Bahrain which has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Bahrain National Museum has artefacts from the country's history dating back to the island's first human inhabitants some 9000 years ago and the Beit Al Quran is a museum that holds Islamic artefacts of the Qur'an. Some of the popular historical tourist attractions in the kingdom are the Al Khamis Mosque, which is one of the oldest mosques in the region, the Arad fort in Muharraq, Barbar temple, which is an ancient temple from the Dilmunite period of Bahrain, as well as the A'ali Burial Mounds and the Saar temple. The Tree of Life, a 400-year-old tree that grows in the Sakhir desert with no nearby water, is also a popular tourist attraction.

Bird watching (primarily in the Hawar Islands), scuba diving, and horse riding are popular tourist activities in Bahrain. The Manama Souq and Gold Souq in the old district of Manama are also popular with tourists.

Cities

 * (المنامة, al-Manāma) – the capital of Bahrain.

 * (مدينة حمد, Madīnat Ḥamad)
 * (مدينة عيسى, Madīnat ʿĪsā)
 * (المحرق, Al-Muḥarraq) – the kingdom's former capital
 * (الرفاع, Ar-Rifāʿ)
 * (سترة or سِتْرَة, As-Sitra)

Other destinations

 * (المحافظة الجنوبية, Al-Muḥāfaẓat al-Janūbīyah) is the sparsely populated southern part of Bahrain. The Formula One racetrack is here.
 * (جزر حوار, Juzur Ḩawār) just off the coast of Qatar are popular with birdwatchers.

Understand
Bahrain is the smallest of the independent Persian Gulf states, and has often had to walk a diplomatic tightrope in relation to its larger neighbours. The country has few oil reserves, but it has established itself as a hub for refining and for international banking, while also achieving a socially liberal monarchy. A string of political unrest culminating in the demonstrations in 2011 and the subsequent government crackdown exposed significant discomfort as well as sectarian and social cleavages. Although the population is predominantly Shi'a Muslim, the royal family is Sunni Muslim.

Despite being much closer to Qatar, the Hawar Islands are part of Bahrain after a long, drawn-out sovereignty dispute between the two nations, with the International Court of Justice affirming sovereignty to Bahrain in 2002.

It displays relative social liberalism compared with more conservative neighbouring countries, where Islamic law is applied in a much stricter way. For example, alcohol is legal here. Although Bahrain has a heavily petroleum-based economy, its political, social, and cultural peculiarities helped it develop a fairly cosmopolitan middle class and a politically conscious working class.

Bahrain means "two seas" in the Arabic language.

Electricity
The standard is 220 V 50 Hz. Most outlets are the British standard BS 1363 type. U.S., Canadian and Continental European travellers should pack converters/adapters for these outlets if they plan to use their electrical equipment in Bahrain.

Climate
The best time to visit Bahrain is November–March, with October and April being just bearable. Take along a sweater during December–February as evenings can be cool (about 15 °C/60 °F). Bahrain's summer, May–September, is very hot and humid, though occasional cool northerly winds provide some relief. More frequent are the qaws, the hot, dry summer winds that can bring sandstorms.

Rain is occasional, and happens only in the winter season.

History
Bahrain has a rich history going back 5,000 years and was the site of the ancient Dilmun civilization.

As one of the earliest places to convert to Islam, Bahrain was famous for its pearling industry. After a period of Arab and Persian rule, it was then ruled by the Portuguese Empire. The House of Khalifa has ruled Bahrain since 1783.

Following successive treaties, Bahrain remained a British protectorate until its independence in 1971. Since then, it has been ruled by a constitutional monarchy.

Visitor information

 * Bahrain

Visa
Citizens of 67 countries may obtain a 14-day visa-on-arrival, while citizens of 114 countries, including all those eligible for a visa-on-arrival, are eligible to apply for a 14-day online visa. Check the web-site of the Ministry of Interior for the latest details. If your nationality is not eligible for either of these, or if you are visiting for purposes other than tourism or business, you will require a sponsor in Bahrain to file your visa application for you. With the normalisation of relations between Bahrain and Israel in 2020, Israeli citizens are now eligible for the online visa.

The cost of visa on arrival is 5BD.

Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) do not need a visa to enter Bahrain and may stay indefinitely. A short stay visa will be granted on arrival to residents of GCC member states as well regardless of nationality.

By bus
The Saudi-Bahraini Transport Company (SABTCO), tel. +973-17252959, runs eight buses daily from the Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) bus station in Dammam via Khobar in Saudi Arabia, across the King Fahd Causeway, to the bus terminal next to the Lulu Centre in central Manama.

The service uses comfortable aircon minibuses with a trailer for luggage. Tickets cost BD 6/SR 60 and can be purchased in advance, although they'll squeeze you in without a reservation if there is space. As crossing the Causeway involves two passport checks and two customs checks, figure on 2 hours for the trip, plus any traffic delays at busy times like Thursday evenings. At congested times, buses may actually be slightly faster than private cars, as they can use separate lanes at immigration and customs.

Bahrain Saudi Transport & Tourism (BASATCO) offers what seems to be similar buses for a slightly lower fare of BD 4, although four times a day only (2011).

By car
The 26-km King Fahd Causeway connects Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Unofficial taxis, found hanging around bus stations at both ends, but they are often illegal. From Khobar, before the causeway entrance taxis can be found to Manama for BD25/SR250. This includes bridge toll of SR25 (BD 2.5). Uber is available from here for around SR115-125 (BD 11.5 - 12.5) plus toll.

By boat
While the occasional cruise (specifically those of Italian line MSC) calls at Manama, there is no scheduled passenger service overseas.

By taxi

The official rates start at BD 1 plus 0.200 fils per kilometre. Cabbies will often ask for ridiculous prices. Most taxis now use their meters. Rates vary from BD 3-5 for a ride within Manama.

The airport gives guidelines as to the official way of calculating taxi fares. An extra BD 2 will be added if you take a taxi waiting at the airport.

On the whole taxis offer a good service but you do encounter some bandits. When travelling from the airport always use the white with red roof or London-style taxis. There is a rule if the meter is not used there is no charge; hold your ground on this and call the police, and the driver will cooperate very quickly with the correct fare for the trip.

Finding a taxi can be difficult, although major hotels and malls usually have a few waiting outside. Some privately owned companies operate in the kingdom, the most popular of which are:
 * Speedy Motor Service Radio-Meter Taxis SMS Radio-Meter Taxi is the oldest & most popular radio-meter taxi company in the Kingdom, and the most reliable. Advance booking of taxi is possible, and they operate a 24-hour service, 365 days a year. Be punctual - they can come a few minutes before the time you gave. Call +973-17 682999
 * Bahrain Taxi Online Get meter taxi online within 10 minutes. Tel: +973-36688614
 * Bahrain Limo is the sister company of the transport giant "Saudi Bahraini Transport Company" (SABTCO) which provides luxurious bus and limousine services across the King Fahad Causeway.
 * Bahrain Taxi Group Radio taxi services with more than 973 taxi drivers driving orange and white cars equipped with radio meters and most of them with credit card devices. Booking online taxi services is available and can be applied by filling the form and with placing a call to call center +973 66966976.

However, there have been occasional reports of taxi drivers trying to charge overly expensive fares (like BD 50 for a short trip, when it should be BD 5), though they are generally rare. Sticking to the official taxi services is usually your best bet.

There are many unofficial taxis operated by expats (mainly Asian). While illegal, they are popular for their low prices, and are generally reliable as well. You're likely to know them through word-of-mouth.

By bus
There are also public buses that run to many parts of the island, however it may not be as robust as what you may expect elsewhere. Bus fares are low; English-language schedules and maps are available online.

For tourists the most important route is A1 (Airport-Manama). To get to the Bahrain Fort take A2 from airport via Manama and get out in Seef, from there walk 2 km to the fort.

By car
If planning on visiting several sites, consider renting a car. Prices are BD 10+ per day (or from BD 150 per month) but allow you freedom to drive around the island. A map or a GPS is strongly advised, as road signs can be scarce, and it is not too difficult to go from one part of the country and land up in another, though fortunately the country is small. When using a GPS navigation system it is possible for it to direct you onto dirt roads which are unsuitable for smaller cars. Speed limits are generally 50 km/h in the roads and 80-120 km/h in the highway. Fines for breaking the traffic law are high, though the rules are not always properly enforced. It is common for drivers to change lanes without using the indicator - watch out for that as it can be frustrating.

If you own a car, you will need to go to the GDT for a vehicle inspection every year (if your car is at least five years old) - be aware that there may be a large queue depending on when you come. Once (and only when) that is done, you can renew the vehicle registration online - do this not more than 3 months after the inspection or you will need to redo the inspection again.

Getting a driving licence
As a visitor, you can use an international driving licence or often from your home country to drive in Bahrain. Otherwise, you can exchange your driving licence for a Bahraini equivalent if it comes on a list of countries (the UK, US and GCC countries all qualify), and for non-GCC licences, if it has not expired yet. Otherwise, you will need to take driving lessons of at least 22 hours (if you've never driven) or 6 if you have prior experience, and generally cost BD 7 per hour for up to 2 hours per day. To start, you need to obtain a learner's licence (schedule the appointment at the GDT/General Directorate of Traffic using Skiplino), which will also involve a quick eye check (though be early - even 12:30 pm can be too late and you will be asked to come back later!). Then you'll need to get an approved driving instructor - finding a good one can be difficult and can require some searching from your side, with instances of driving instructors training you for less than the agreed time but collecting the full fees not unheard of. All driving instructor cars are now with an automatic transmission (up to about 2015 they were purely manual). There is a large driving instruction "playground" that your instructor will make you practice on (covering the basics such as traffic signals, roundabouts, traffic signs, lane changes etc), and also some training would be done outdoors - how much would depend on the instructor as the test itself is mainly, but not entirely, indoor-focused.

Once you have gotten the minimum number of hours, you can schedule a driving test on the government website. The test will focus on indoor (mainly testing common driving skills) and some outdoor driving, with the very final section being reverse parking. The test is short but fairly harsh - even one mistake can result in a fail depending on the severity (though this can also depend on the testing official) and it is common for people to pass on their second or third attempt, though you should not face any surprises on what would be tested. There is no theoretical test as is the case in some other countries. If you fail, you have to take at least 8 additional hours before taking the next test. If you fail 4 times, you risk a one-year cooldown period before the next test.

While the official driving age is 18, you're allowed to start training two months before (but the exam date must be on or after the 18th birthday).

Motorbikes
Bahrain is not known to be particularly a "motorbike" country, but active communities do exist. The first stage of getting a motorbike licence is the same as for the car - go to the GDT, pass the eye check, and get the learner licence documents (this phase costs BD 47). However, from then on, the process has little in resemblance with the process for getting a car licence. Knowing Arabic (or Hindi/Urdu) is a significant advantage, as not all of the officials speak English (and if you look like an Indian/Pakistani, expect to be spoken in Hindi even if you do not understand it). Note that women are allowed to get a licence, but very few tend to get a bike licence. If you can exchange one from another country, that's a better choice.

 * You'll need to go to the "Public Security Driving School" building on the other side of the driving school complex and ask for "new date". You'll be sent to a room with other students (for bike, heavy vehicles etc - anything except a car licence comes here). Be prepared to wait for hours. When it's your turn, you'll be given the training days (which would be a continuous block of five days from Sunday to Thursday). Expect this to be two months (or more) from the current date in the summer, and up to 6-7 months in the winter - you should aim to start the process as soon as possible as a result. In the uncommon case that the block overlaps with public holidays (which they won't tell you about - and can't in cases such as Eid when the date is not known in advance), they will automatically allow you to complete the remaining days in the following week.
 * During this time, get the necessary safety gear. A helmet is mandatory - beware that many use cheap helmets (that often have the name of a delivery company) - these are not recommended as they are not safe. A good helmet costs BD 50 onwards, and can be found in specialist motorbike shops. A pair of riding gloves is also recommended. If you have no prior experience with riding, it's strongly recommended to get some private training if you can afford it (see below).
 * On the training days, you'll be trained by the police officers. They are competent but are known not to teach well (for example, they may give unclear or no feedback at all despite prompting - most of the students have had prior experience riding in their native countries), often have a short temper, and some of what they teach go against general norms (for example, you'll be told only to use the rear brakes). You'll be trained on Honda CB Unicorn 160 bikes, which are relatively low-powered but are popular amongst delivery bikers (and you'll notice that the majority of people applying for a bike intend to join a delivery company or work as a delivery boy for a restaurant).
 * You'll be asked to ride in circles (initially on a smaller circle for those starting without experience). When the trainer decides that you're good enough, they'll take you on a round outside. This is the exact path you'll take in the test, so it's important to be aware of the important bits in the route (such as roundabouts, changing lanes etc).
 * If you do well, you can be asked to take the test as soon as two days into the training (which means that if you pass it, you can get the licence without having to complete all five days of the training). Conversely, if you run out of days (which can happen if you fail the test, or if the trainer decides that you're not ready for the test), you'll be sent back to the building to get "extra date". These come in blocks of 2 days (and cost BD 8 respectively). Unlike the "new date" phase, you should be able to get the next two training days within one or two weeks (at most). As with the first phase, be prepared to wait an arbitrary amount of time inside.
 * When the trainer decides that you're ready for the test, they will fix a date for you (unlike the case for a car, you have no choice, and for most people, it's going to be a Thursday), and you'll have to pay BD 16 (the trainer will tell whether it must be done on the same day or on the day of the test). On the "test date", you'll wait as usual, till an examiner (a police officer again) is available for you. Unlike the training phase, you'll ride in front of the examiner (not back). The route is exactly the same, and while chances are that one or two minor mistakes won't be an issue, they still tend to be strict and you can expect to fail for a variety of mistakes (for example, not using the indicator when changing lanes, or forgetting to cancel once you've made the change).
 * If you've passed the test, you'll be sent back inside the building and (again after waiting for potentially hours) your name would be called, and you would be asked to pay BD 20 to get the licence. Note that car and bike licences are separate and are not on the same card. Once you've gotten the licence, you are free to ride any kind of bike; unlike some other countries, there are no power restrictions for young or inexperienced riders.

The unfortunate reality is that the majority of the people applying for a bike licence intend to work as deliverymen, and this is evident in the choice of bikes and safety gear. 150cc bikes as a result are popular - this is not recommended as such bikes can struggle to pick up fast enough in a country as road-dense as Bahrain (most non-deliverymen get at least a 300cc bike). Similarly, many use low-quality helmets - and it's rare to see people wear other protective gear (such as jackets and knee protectors). This is again a bad idea, as crashes and deaths do occur. Similarly, there are regular reports of deliverymen flouting traffic rules, which they are often pressurised to due to demands from customers and restaurant owners (as their goal is to deliver as quickly as possible - some are paid by the number of deliveries). Most people reading this page are unlikely to be in that group, but it's important to provide context on why most people see bikes of a certain type.

Fuel
Petrol vehicles are predominant in Bahrain, with diesel being significantly less prevalent. Either way, it is highly subsidised by the government - it used to be the case that petrol was cheaper than water. While prices have increased since then, they are still cheaper in comparison with the rest of the world, especially because Bahrain does not peg its petrol prices to some benchmark. This is partially the reason high-performance V6/V8 vehicles are common here, even through a 2.0 L engine would be more than enough.

Petrol stations are scattered around the country (mainly from the government-owned Bapco), and you'll always get two kinds of petrol - Mumtaz (95-octane petrol) and Jayyid (91-octane petrol), with the latter being about 20 - 30% cheaper. The latter is perfectly fine for daily use in most cars. Some have a Super 98 option as well. Unlike those in some other countries, you'll always be served by an attendant, and you aren't supposed to fill the car yourself. Cash and Sadeem (petrol card) are always accepted; credit cards are generally (but not always) accepted as well. Many petrol stations also have some kind of convenience stores.

Talk
Arabic is the official language, although English and Persian (Farsi) are widely spoken. Urdu and Hindi are also understood and spoken by many Indians and Pakistanis on the island, with Malayalam being another popular language.

See

Do

Bahrain has a history dating back 5000 years, from the ancient Dilmun period through the Islamic era. The country offers three forts which have been meticulously restored and opened to the public, although a lack of signs and general promotion by the country's tourist industry sometimes makes finding these sites difficult.

The high temperatures in Bahrain make sea activities seem extra tempting and water sports are extremely popular in Bahrain, with tourists and locals indulging in their sport of choice all year round in the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf. Sailing and scuba diving are particularly popular.

Although a desert country, Bahrain boasts an international 18-hole grass golf course, which is about 15 minutes outside the capital, Manama. The par 72 championship course features five lakes and is landscaped with hundreds of date palms and desert plains.

City Centre Bahrain is the most popular mall in Bahrain, which includes a cinema, a water-park, and a lot of western brands, but there are many others scattered across the country of varying sizes.

Enjoy riding a camel along a highway.

Purchase souvenirs and buy some authentic pottery at A'ali Village Pottery.

Haggle for goods at the local souk markets.

Bahrain, despite being largely Muslim, has luxurious hotels that are known for observing Christmas, because of a number of emigrant Christian expats. The festive event also sees malls display wreaths decorated with countless Christmas ornaments.

Mobile
There are several telecom operators available in Bahrain, the most popular being Batelco (which is the oldest), Zain and STC Bahrain (formerly called Viva). It is pretty easy to get a prepaid SIM (where you reload before using) at the airport, or at many cold stores (small shops) around the country, and Batelco has one designed for travellers (though it would be cheaper to just get a regular prepaid). Free home delivery of the SIM should also be possible. 3G and 4G are universally available in the country, and 5G is being rapidly rolled out. Batelco removed 2G support at the end of February 2021. It is possible to get a reasonably decent internet package for BD 5 - 10 per month depending on provider (which would give you 5 - 10 GB of data); this should be enough for the average traveller.

International calling charges will depend on the country; calls to the Indian subcontinent are usually the cheapest, though a VoIP service such as WhatsApp/Skype is recommended if you plan to do a lot of international calling. Bahrain's international dialling code is +973, and is always 8 digits - landline (and faxes) will normally start with 17, while common prefixes for mobiles include 3, 66 and so on. The list does expand, Bahrain being one of the more mobile-dense countries with its proliferation well beyond 100%.

Internet
Internet access can be found in many malls (Seef Mall, City Centre are known to provide; Ramli Mall and Sitra Mall do not or only have the 15-minute Bahrain Wi-Fi service) and restaurants; it's hard to find out beforehand whether they provide it so you may need to call up if this particularly bothers you. Some malls subscribe to Bahrain Wi-Fi, where you can get a 15-minute free trial per device per 24-hour period (entering fake details works, and you can get an additional 15 minute period by toggling Android's MAC randomisation feature or otherwise changing the MAC address) which can be enough depending on your use-case. Some shops in these malls provide Wi-Fi for free as well.

Money
The currency in Bahrain is the Bahraini dinar, denoted by the symbol " .د.ب " or "BD" (ISO code: BHD). It is divided into 1000 fils. One dinar is worth US$2.66, as the exchange rate is fixed, making this one of the world's highest-valued currencies (second only to Kuwait). This can take some getting used to: that seemingly cheap BD 10 taxi ride is in fact almost US$27 and thus an extortionate rip-off.

The dinar is a fully convertible currency, and there are no restrictions on its import or export. Denominations for coins are 5 fils, 10 fils, 25 fils, 50 fils and 100 fils (500 fils coins are rarely seen, but are valid). Denominations for banknotes are 500 fils (BD 1/2), BD 1, BD 5, BD 10 and BD 20.

Being fixed to the US dollar means that it is effectively pegged to the Saudi riyal at 1:10. Saudi Riyals (SAR) are accepted almost everywhere at that rate, although odds are you'll get your change in dinars and hotels may try to screw you out of a few percent. If coming in from KSA, there's no reason to change your money, but do try to get rid of any excess dinars before you leave the country, as they're hard to exchange elsewhere, even in Saudi Arabia.

Costs
Like most Gulf countries, Bahrain is not cheap. A decent dinner can cost around BD 5 - 15, and even more if you're with a family, and car rental at BD 10-20/day is reasonable, but hotel prices will put a dent in your budget: a perfectly ordinary room in a "good" hotel can set you back BD 50. Do not travel to Bahrain during the annual F1 race in April if looking for reasonable prices, as hotels will quadruple their rates. A room at the Gulf Hotel during this race could cost you upwards of BD 300/night.

Shopping

 * See Manama for detailed shop and mall listings.

There are several major malls in Bahrain that offer international and luxury labels shops and boutiques, supermarkets and so forth, as well as food courts, contemporary and traditional cafes, play areas and arcades, cinemas (3D & 2D) and even an indoor water park.

A visit to the local souq is a must. There you can negotiate the price on “rolexes”, jewellery, and many other gifts. The souq is also home to many excellent tailors. If you're there for long enough (say a week) then you can take a favourite clothing item in and they will "clone" it precisely in any material you select from the huge range available.

Since January 2019, most products and services have a VAT (value added tax) of 10% with some exceptions at 0%, which is usually included in the product cost. Bahrain does not have personal or corporate tax however unlike most other non-GCC countries.

Importing
It's likely that many products you're looking for would be expensive in Bahrain (or straight-up unavailable, especially for specialist goods such as customised laptops), and hence importing personal goods is popular. Common options include

 * Amazon (from amazon.ae and the US store) - they deliver directly using international shipping
 * any other store, and you use something like Aramex's Shop and Ship to deliver to Bahrain. Some stores in the US don't deliver to such addresses as a result, and you may face trouble paying with a non-US card (they are likely to give errors).

It's important to note that

 * if the value of the good is over BD 300, you'll be hit with a 10% customs duty
 * depending on where and how the product is brought, you may not be able to claim warranty.

Tipping
Tipping is generally not done, though it's fine to tip the underpaid and overworked delivery person that brings your food or delivers your groceries.

Tobacco
They can be found in most supermarkets and cold stores, though like most countries, cigarettes are heavily taxed (200%, called as the sin tax) and a pack generally costs BD 2 (~$5.5). The legal age to buy them is 18. The duty free shop offers them for cheaper prices and (for some reason) does not have most of the health warnings that a retail-sold packet has. In any case, quitting is a better choice and nicotine patches can be found at most pharmacies.

Shishas are also common in some cafes and restaurants and can also be found in supermarkets. Again, they are not healthy.

E-cigarettes/vaping has exploded in popularity and there are many specialist shops that offer them now. There are also dedicated tobacconists, though harder to find.

Eat

 * See Manama for detailed restaurant listings.

Bahrain has an impressive dining scene, with numerous restaurants to choose from. The main dining area is Adliya, where you can take your pick among numerous cafes, trendy lounges and restaurants. There are also traditional Arabic restaurants around the country.

Restaurants in Bahrain run the gamut for cheap stalls offering local food to fancy restaurants in fancy hotels. American fast food franchises are ubiquitous. Western (mostly American) style-foods and franchises can be found around the malls and in the city centre, offering food for upper mid-range prices.

There is even a popular alley in Juffair called 'Americans' Alley', this is due to the huge variety of American-based restaurants in that area. Signature dishes
 * Machboos (also known as Kabsa) - mainly made from a mixture of spices, rice (usually long-grain basmati), meat and vegetables
 * Muhammar - a sweet rice dish which is typically served with fish

Snacks and bread
 * Samosa - a fried or baked pastry with a savory filling, such as spiced potatoes, onions, peas, lentils, ground lamb or chicken.
 * Khubz (flatbread). Available in almost all supermarkets and cold stores.

Desserts
 * The most popular traditional dessert is Halwa Showaiter, also known as Halwa Bahraini. It is a jelly like halwa made with corn starch, saffron and various nuts.

Traditional Bahraini food is very hard to find in restaurants, and is typically confined to the homes of locals. If you have Bahraini friends, being invited home for a meal is the best chance you have to sample the local cuisine.

Home delivery
Home delivery (that is, having food delivered to your place of residence) is offered by the restaurant itself in some cases. With the pandemic, the popularity of third-party delivery services (the most popular being Talabat) has exploded and the majority of restaurants support home delivery today, if not by the establishment themselves. Talabat, PizzaHut, KFC etc require either Bahrain phone number or GCC number to register. Unless you have a very good reason (keep in mind the distance from the restaurant to your residence), do not pester or call up the restaurant or delivery person. The delivery people (who are paid relatively low) have to handle the harsh weather and traffic to get the food to you, and it is imperative that you respect them for that. There are complaints that deliverymen, pressured by restaurants and customers, break traffic rules, overspeed or worse end up in accidents themselves. Of course, if you can a perfectly valid alternative is to get the food yourself from the restaurant (this is called as takeaway).

Vegetarian/vegan
Vegetarian food is easy to get in Bahrain - considering the large Indian population, you can simply go to any Indian restaurant and you'll have a wide variety of vegetarian options (some of which are pure-veg in that they do not have any non-vegetarian food). Other than that, while restaurants will usually have something to cater for those who don't eat meat, it can vary wildly with the restaurant - it's unlikely that you're going to find much in a small Arabic restaurant, if at all. The supermarkets and fast-food chain restaurants will usually have some vegetarian options too.

Vegan options are limited outside of specialist and high-end restaurants (and supermarkets), and you may end up struggling to find good options. Some restaurants may not understand what it means to be vegan and may confuse it with vegetarian.

That being said, there are occasionally discounts on "fake meat" products - check the clearance/discount section, with the provision that some of them label egg products as vegetarian.

Drink

 * See Manama for detailed nightlife listings.

Bahrain has relatively liberal laws regarding alcohol and has long been a favorite getaway for visitors from Saudi Arabia and other nearby "dry" countries — don't be surprised to see Arabs in thobe and gutra sipping cool brewskis as they watch dancers strut their stuff in the nightclubs. However, alcohol can only be served by four-star hotels and higher, and you wouldn't find it in supermarkets.

Under Bahraini law, any sign of having consumed alcohol may be taken as prima facie evidence of driving under the influence, which can lead to imprisonment and/or fines of up to BD 1,000.

Coffee, called gahwa ( قهوة ) locally, is considered a part of the traditional welcome in Bahrain. It is usually poured into a coffee-pot, which is called dalla ( دلة ) in Bahrain. It is served in a small cup made for coffee called finjan ( فنجان ).

Learn
Mostly public schools, but enough private schools to serve majority of overseas. Bahrain School, British School of Bahrain, St Christopher's School educates to British GCSE, A-level and IB qualifications and has a very diverse base, with students from many ethnic backgrounds, although most British expats working in Bahrain send their children there, however they can be extremely expensive. There are also schools (the most notable one being Indian School Bahrain) mostly frequented by the children of Indian expats.

Also many private universities and the University of Bahrain is in Sakhir next to Bahrain International Circuit.

Work
The majority of the population in Bahrain are expatriates (they make up 57% of the population). Some expats work in the financial sector however the majority are engaged as labourers, policemen, drivers and lower class lowly paid artisans. Conditions for many of these people are poor and there are regular allegations of human rights abuses and 'Modern Day Slavery', with employers taking the passports of workers (though Bahrain does not practice the kafala system present in some other GCC countries such as Qatar), though things are improving. Labourers are often paid rates as low as BD 150 (or even lower), and have to spend hours in the hot sun - so much that a law exists preventing people from working outside between noon and 4 pm during July and August.

For some expats, life is easy with the clubs, cocktail parties, dinners and balls which remain one of the last throwbacks to the British empire. However for others it is extremely hard and dangerous. In former times it was the tradition that employers provided benefits to expat employees including;
 * 1) House or housing allowance
 * 2) Medical insurance
 * 3) Free flights home every year
 * 4) An additional salary of a minimum of 15 days for every year worked (there are slabs according to the number of years worked)

However, this is widely no longer true with 'Lump sum' self-sufficiency 'local hire' contracts now becoming the norm.

There is a 1% charge on salary (gosi tax) which goes to subsidize the unemployed, but a lot of employers are giving their employees an additional bonus by paying it themselves instead of deducting it from the salary.

Some executive positions used to have their children's education sponsored, however this is now dwindling.

Working hours differ across different industries. Government offices work from 07:30 to 14:00 and the private sector tends to be 07:30 to 18:00 or longer for Asian expatriates. Friday and Saturday is the official weekend for all public sector establishments as well as government schools and universities.

One of the major difficulties for expatriates in Bahrain is debt. The economy is in many ways structured to encourage expats to live right on the edge of their earnings and it is virtually impossible for most people to save money. There are legal processes which result in a 'travel ban' being placed on expatriates in a matter of minutes if they are unfortunate enough to get into debt. An effect of the travel ban is that the work permit is automatically suspended thus meaning that the expatriate cannot work to pay off the debt not can he/she leave the country. Many expats have been stuck in Bahrain for years caught in this dilemma and a significant number have died in the country unable to travel for treatment or afford medical bills.

Stay safe
During 2011, a state of near civil war broke out in Bahrain, with many deaths, hundreds of injuries, and a large number of activists and health professionals arrested and tortured. Though the crisis has mostly died down since then, problems occasionally occur, and visitors should be cautious when visiting sensitive areas (black billowing smoke from burning tyres is a telltale sign that something is wrong there).

The ordinary social crime rate in Bahrain is fairly low and violent crime is rare. However, burglary, petty theft, and robberies do occur. Incidents of petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching are reported especially in the old market areas known as souks. Most hotels have discos frequented by some unsavoury characters. Though the hotels have proper security systems (including cameras) installed, there are instances of tourists having their rooms burgled.

If you are in the streets of Exhibition Avenue (near Hoora), take care, as women may encounter unfriendly experiences with (mostly) Saudis, who are mostly drunk. If you do go there at night, it is a good idea to be accompanied by a man. There is a police station in Exhibition Avenue, which you can go to if needed.

Stay healthy
Drink plenty of water. April through August can be very hot (up to 50°C) and humid, and can occasionally feel like a lot hotter. Use an umbrella to protect you from the harsh sun. It is important to stay hydrated, especially if you are outdoors during the day. Bottled water is sold practically everywhere in the city from "cold stores" to major supermarket chains at reasonable prices. In the souk, walking vendors offer small chilled bottles but you may end up paying more than the bottle is really worth. If you are living in Bahrain for an extended period of time, you can set up an arrangement for a neighbourhood cold store to deliver bottled water to your flat, or sign up for water delivery through several companies on the island. Many cold stores (and some hotels) also deliver your goods (or food) free to your hotel or flat, though you may wish to tip the peron delivering who often has to ride in the hot sun for a low salary.

Though tap water is reported to be potable, bottled or boiled water is recommended for drinking.

In an emergency, call. There are many public health centers (that charge BD 7 per visit for expatriates); the Salmaniya Medical Complex is the largest government hospital and is free to all residents and citizens.

Respect
Bahrain is a fairly gracious host nation but it is imperative to demonstrate respect and courtesy in reference to their particular cultural practices and religion at all times. Bahrain is an Islamic country where you should behave conservatively. For example, appearing in public places under the influence of alcohol, wearing overly revealing outfits and public displays of affection should be avoided. The Bahraini community is staunchly pro-Palestine, so posting otherwise on social media can lead to heavy criticism and you may find yourself without a job, or even arrested.

When out in places where local Arabs can be found it is advisable to wear long trousers, rather than shorts (it is not possible to visit some government offices and museums if you're wearing it), and women shouldn't wear a see-through dress. However, in beach clubs and hotels, swimsuits, bikinis and shorts are okay to wear. Do not show signs of affection to members of the opposite sex in public. Couples have been arrested for kissing in public and it is just not socially accepted. Always avoid any confrontation and never become involved in an argument, especially with a local.

As an Islamic country, Bahrain has a negative attitude towards children born out of wedlock. Before travelling, pregnant women are advised to consult the hospital in their destination to ensure access to emergency care and the possible legal consequences in the absence of a marriage certificate.

In certain cases, Islamic Sharia law applies in criminal cases. Sharia offences include alcohol abuse, adultery (extramarital affairs) and homosexuality. The "wearing of gender-unconforming clothing" is also prohibited. Pregnancy outside marriage can also lead to a conviction.

Drug use is punishable up to life and penalties for possession of even small quantities of drugs are severe.

While freedom of expression is often better than its neighbouring countries, that does not mean that you can make unnecessary comments - defamation of the king is a punishable offence and the local newspapers are generally pro-government. Bahrain is religiously tolerant by the standards of the Gulf, and is the only Gulf country with native Christian and Jewish communities.

During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking in public is strictly prohibited, and offenders risk a fine or even a jail term. Restaurants will be closed during daylight - while they may appear to be open after lunchtime, that's actually them preparing for the breaking of fast and you will not be able to order anything until Iftar.

title: Bahrain


text:
Bahr el Ghazal

Bahr el Ghazal is in South Sudan.

Cities

 * – claimed by South Sudan and Sudan, and controlled by Sudan
 * (Nyamliell
 * (Nyamliell
 * (Nyamliell
 * (Nyamliell
 * (Nyamliell
 * (Nyamliell
 * (Nyamliell
 * (Nyamliell

Other destinations

 * – Disputed between Sudan and South Sudan
 * – Disputed between Sudan and South Sudan
 * – Disputed between Sudan and South Sudan

Understand
The name of the region, Bahr el Ghazal, comes from the same name of the river.

Get in
Wau Airport

See

 * St Mary Cathedral in Wau

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

title: Bahr el Ghazal


text:
Baia Mare

Baia Mare is a city in north-western Romania.

Understand
Baia Mare is the largest city in the Maramureş region. The old neighbourhood and the lovely park together with the charming sites around the town and the interesting history of the place are worth visiting. The new parts of the town might seem unsightly for some.

By train

There are three trains daily from Bucharest or Cluj, one from Timisoara and one from Vienna via Budapest. Check timetables on CFR's website.

By bus

 * Volanbusz runs daily(?) buses from Budapest to Baia Mare via Satu Mare during the summer for only Ft4,500 (youth fare).

 * Fany runs multiple daily buses from Cluj-Napoca (3 hr, 40 lei, Sep 2018) and Sibiu. Fany buses arrive at their own autogara, not at the Autogara Baia Mare, which is a 30-min walk (or 8-lei taxi, Sep 2018) away.

By plane

The closest airport with more international connections is Avram Iancu International Airport in Cluj-Napoca.

By taxi
It is not very expensive—minimum charge is 5 lei.

Do
Baia Mare is the main transportation hub and largest economic center in Maramures, but the city itself is quite ugly and industrial. If you come in to either the train station or the bus station, you will instantly notice this as they are some of the worst in the European Union. Consider getting out to smaller villages across the northeastern mountain pass to experience the "real" Maramures.

Hiking and mountain biking
There are a couple of marked trails that will make a nice day trip on the hills around Baia Mare. For reliable maps, GPS navigation, comprehensive trails and map information, consult OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. Or just download the according GPX or KML files for such trails on OpenStreetMap through Waymarked Trails.

Eat
The old city center has many options, usually most of the pubs will have some type of food available for you. Most of them are OK.

 * Il Padrino (Strada Scolii nr. 9) – Pizzeria
 * Restaurant Pronto (Strada Victoriei nr. 146) – Good and cheap traditional full meals. The restaurant is basic, but the cooks are said to be the best in town. To get there is going to be a little difficult unless you have a bike or a car, cause it is quite far from the city center.

Sleep

 * Eurohotel, Bulevardul București 23
 * Hotel Carpati, Str. Independentei nr. 2
 * La Fontana, Str. Closca nr. 11

Go next

 * Sighetu Marmației
 * Satu Mare

title: Baia Mare


text:
Baicheng

Baicheng (白城 Báichéng) is a city in the northwestern corner of Jilin Province in China.

Understand
The area around present day Baicheng was a longtime hunting ground, and no farming was allowed until 1902, but now agriculture and agriculture industry play a major role. Baicheng was established in 1908 and was named Baicheng in 1938. The railways running through the city were etablished in the 1920s and 1930s and made Baicheng a regional transportation hub. Agriculture related industry, textile industry, a thermal power plant, a paper mill and other smaller plants are the industrial basis of the city. Two nature preserves are located nearby. The population is around 300,000 in the city and 2,000,000 in the county.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Changchun.

By train
Trains from Beijing leave from Beijing North, take 16–18 hours and costs ¥126-383.

There are also connections from Harbin (7 hours; ¥32-114), Changchun (5 hours ¥29-47), Dalian, (15 hours; ¥78-242) and Shenyang (7 hours; ¥67-206).

By bus
Buses from Changchun take 3–4 hours.

Get around
The city is relatively small and has occasional traffic jams, however multiple forms of transportation are available.

By bus
Most of buses are convenient and you can wait for them for little time. But some of buses that are in villages or far from the center of city are not very convenient and you have to wait for them for long time. Thankfully, the bus fare is not expensive and the fare of some buses is only ¥1 or ¥2, and more expensive fare is just over ¥5. Furthermore, the fare is that you can take the bus from starting point to end point. Besides, as for payment, you can cash payment for every bus, but as for some of buses, you can use a swipe card.

By taxi
There so many taxis in Baicheng city. You can take the taxi everywhere, so to speak. The color of taxi is between white and green and the environment in the taxi is common comfortable. The taxi fare is also cheap. Within 2.5 km, the fare is ¥5, but as for over 2.5 km, you should pay ¥1 every 100m as extra payment. In addition, as for time that you use the taxi over 5 minutes, you should also pay ¥1 for every 5 minutes as extra payment. But the city is not very big, you normally don't have to pay much money.

On bicycle or on foot
As the saying goes, “All roads lead to rome.” The roads in Baicheng like this old saying, you can take the bicycle or on foot go anywhere you want to go if you like doing it. Once you know your immediate surroundings, you'll find that Baicheng isn't such a huge place and the pedestrian approach can be an enriching experience. You can surely use GPS to find or go your destination it is also a convenient way. But if you want to go shopping, amuse yourself and so on, you may however need a Chinese-speaking friend to help you with registration or troubleshooting.

See

title: Baicheng


text:
Baie-James

Baie-James (James Bay) is a region in Northern Quebec. It is also called Jamésie or Eeyou Istchee.

Understand
It encompasses over 350,000 km² between the 49th and 55th parallels and covers about 600 km from east to west and about 600 km from south to north. It is almost the size of Germany.

Two types of vegetation cover the region. The forest is sprinkled with groves, hardwoods, a wide variety of bushes, edible plants, and wild berries. A little further north, the undergrowth thins out, the hardwoods gradually disappear and the spruces become smaller in sizes and number; the boreal forest gives way to the taiga. The cladonie or caribou moss grows very slowly and it takes several years to form large green fronds that line the shallow soils and acidic region.

The forest is home to at least forty species of mammals, including wolves, lynx, foxes, bears and moose. Ducks, snow geese, snowy owls, eagles, falcons, ptarmigans, Canada geese, and loons figure among the bird life of the region.

Anglers travel a long way to fish for walleye, lake trout, brook trout, pike and other species in the region's crystal-clear waters.

Towns and villages
There are a few small towns (and no major cities) in the James Bay region:
 * , is the region's main centre, a mining town of about 7500 people, and serves as the point of entry into this remote and northern region and the end of the paved road.
 * (Cree village municipality) — formerly Fort Rupert, one of three original Hudson's Bay Company posts on James Bay
 * (Cree village municipality, population 500 (2011))
 * (Cree village municipality) — a village of about 1400 people
 * (Cree village municipality)
 * — a village of 470 people that has services for travellers: two fuel stations, hotel, motel, campground (summer only), a general store, restaurants, gift shops, and a hospital

Understand
James Bay is far from the beaten path and traditionally the home ground of hardy native groups such as Cree and Inuit.

The region's natural resources, particularly its abundant hydroelectric energy, attracted outsiders from the 1970s onward. The area remains remote by Québec standards as the bulk of colonisation has long followed a beaten path that sticks heavily to the St. Lawrence and Ottawa river valleys in the south of the province.

Climate
Northern weather and climate is widely variable and often inhospitable. In June, it may be hot (25°C, 80°F) during the day but cool (10°C, 50°F) at night with June overnight temperature near freezing not uncommon. In winter, expect bitter, Arctic cold.

You need some kind of bug protection, and in hot temperatures, one must find a way to keep cool while inside a bug screen of some kind. In a vehicle, about the only way to be comfortable is to keep driving with open windows. Luckily, there are frequent rivers which, while somewhat chilly, are good for swimming.

By plane

 * Wemindji Airport : Served by Air Creebec with connections to Montreal-Trudeau, Val-d'Or, Chibougamau, Chisasibi, Eastmain, Kuujjuarapik, Nemaska, and Waskaganish
 * There are flights M-F to Waskaganish via Air Creebec from Montreal, Val D'or, Chibogamau and all other Cree communities.
 * There are flights M-F to Waskaganish via Air Creebec from Montreal, Val D'or, Chibogamau and all other Cree communities.

By bus

 * Operates a bus route between Val-d'Or and Chisasibi via Amos and Matagami. Travel time to Chisasibi from Val-d'Or is 11 hours, from Amos is 10.25 hours, and from Matagami is 7.75 hours.

Get around
The James Bay Road is a paved road leading north along the lower reaches of Hudson Bay. It provides access to four Cree communities located along the shore of James Bay, and extends north to Radisson, located at a large hydroelectric dam project. There is paved road to the Cree community of Chisasibi. To reach the three Cree communities of Waskaganish, Eastmain and Wemindji, you must traverse long stretches of gravel road, generally about 90 km of gravel road each.

The James Bay Road passes through a vast and unpopulated region. There is not much traffic. While driving, you see nothing but trees, rivers and rocks for long periods of time. Wildlife that may be seen include black bear, fox and moose. The most common wildlife to see during June are ravens and dragonflies.

The quiet and isolation along the James Bay Road can be unnerving. People who are not used to such a vast wilderness may feel some discomfort and fear. In some people, it can lead to exhilaration. After a day or two, one gets used to the isolation. There is traffic along the James Bay Road, but most vehicles are driving very fast to try to cover long distances quickly. The James Bay Road officially begins in Matagami, however the transition from northern Quebec farm country to boreal forest happens between Amos and Matagami. As you travel north out of Matagami, you will notice that the trees become smaller and smaller as the hours and days pass. The further north you go, the fewer people you will see.

Fuel is available 24 hours a day in Matagami, Relais Routier and Radisson. If you fill your tank whenever you pass through these locations, you should not have to worry about running out of fuel (depending on your vehicle's range!) Fuel is also available in the Cree communities of Waskaganish, Eastmain, Wemindji and Chisasibi.

In order to best travel the James Bay Road, here are a few suggestions. Drive slowly to allow the driver to enjoy the view and to reduce fuel consumption. Plan on taking two or more days to drive from Matagami to Radisson. Stop at all major rivers and take a walk along the river. Spend time at all waterfalls and climb the rocks a bit. Quite often the natural impulse is to drive as fast as possible to a destination, however, when you reach the James Bay Road, you should take time to enjoy the trip.

See
Visit a Cree community. Chisasibi has a paved road to the village, however Chisasibi is somewhat industrial. It is not the best village to learn about Cree life and culture. There is a gravel road from Chisasibi to the James Bay Coast. When you near Chisasibi, do not take any of the side streets, and follow signage to the barge. As you approach the barge site, take a left and continue on to a boat launch. Most boats there are freighter canoes.

Wemindji is an excellent location to observe a Cree village. You must travel 96 km of gravel road from the James Bay Road to Wemindji. In 2009, there was an exhibit of how the Cree tipis were constructed near the boat launch in town. Wemindji appears to be a prosperous town with a great deal of construction. Wemindji is surrounded by islands and a chain of lakes that are connected to James Bay.

North of Chisasibi is Longue Point, a dramatic location which appears to be the furthest north that one can drive to the coast of James Bay. It is a launch site for freighter canoes and in winter is a starting point to snowmobile on the ice of James Bay. To find Longue Point, cross the LeGrande 1 dam near Chisasibi and follow the gravel road to the end. This is truly the end of the road and about as far as you can drive north along the bay.

Do
Fishing in the rivers and lakes along the James Bay Road is permitted with a Quebec fishing permit. In the areas surrounding the Cree communities, you must have a guide to fish. Generally there are signs in areas where fishing is prohibited to non-natives.

Buy
There are grocery stores in Matagami and Radisson. There is a grocery store in the centre of Chisasibi. There may be grocery stores at Wemindji and Relais Routier. When entering the James Bay region, you must carry enough food and water for several days (minimum). Most campgrounds have no water wells. You may wish to take water directly from the rivers. A pail with a rope tied to the handle makes fetching water from rivers much easier.

Sleep
There are a number of official and unofficial campsites along the highway which as of 2009 were free (with a requested donation of $5 per day). The official campsites will typically have a picnic table and pit toilet. Many of the official campsites are near rivers or lakes, and in some cases are next to beautiful waterfalls. Most campsites are gravel, which is not particularly suited for tenting. If you plan on tenting, take a sturdy ground cloth. There are numerous logging roads and turn-offs that one could take and overnight in the wild along the way. A self-contained camper van or motor home are ideal for travel in the James Bay region.

There s a lodge in Waskaganish.

Stay safe
This is a remote and northern region. Encountering big city crime is improbable, but wildlife (such as bears) may pose a hazard. Expect to cover long distances on desolate gravel road with no services and no mobile telephone service between villages. Help is not always close at hand in remote areas in the event of medical emergency, vehicle breakdown or collision with wildlife.

There are mosquitoes in most places, and deer flies in some places. The bugs do not seem to be more aggressive or annoying than in more southern areas such as Michigan or Ontario, however because the whole area is bush, there are few or no built up areas to escape to, to avoid the insects. Having a place to rest with bug screens is a must. Bug headnets and bug jackets are a good idea to preserve your sanity. Long pants, socks and long sleeve shirts are good to help protect from insects. Staying away from trees and brush, and finding spots in the open in windy areas will help reduce the annoyance of insects.

Go next

 * Head back south through Chibougamau-Chapais. From there, one may go southwest to Val d'Or or southeast to Chicoutimi-Jonquière.

title: Baie-James


text:
Baie-Saint-Paul

Baie-Saint-Paul is the cultural, economic, and administrative centre of the the Charlevoix region of Quebec. It is known for its art galleries, shops, restaurants, accommodation and its offer of recreational tourism activities.

Baie-Saint-Paul has a very attractive town centre along Rue Sainte Anne and Rue Saint Jean Baptiste. Joining at Place de l'Église, the town square where the town church stands, both streets form a narrow continuous main street lined with attractive small town buildings. The business district with art galleries and restaurants is along Rue Saint Jean Baptiste between Place de l'Église and Rue Forget/Rue Saint Pierre.

Baie-Saint-Paul is a gateway to the region's natural attractions (grandiose landscapes of valleys and mountains, its superb border of the river, its maritime space, its streams and bodies of water, its magnificent forests), its picturesque architecture, its regional history (in particular the astroblème of Charlevoix), its artistic and cultural life, as well as the products of the soil, the regional services and its artists and craftsmen.

Understand
Baie-Saint-Paul is a town of 7,400 people (2021). Baie-Saint-Paul was designated as one of the "Cultural Capitals of Canada" of 2007 by the Department of Canadian Heritage (along with five other communities), in the category of less than 50,000 inhabitants. In addition, the municipality of Baie-Saint-Paul is a member of the Federation of Villages-Relais du Québec.

History
Almost 400 million years ago, the fall of a meteorite significantly modified the relief of Charlevoix, creating a crater 54 km in diameter; it is the eleventh largest impact site identified on earth. The impact zone was along the St. Lawrence River; 60% of the astroblème covers the north shore of the river and 40% is located under the river's water. The astrobleme begins on the southwest side a few kilometres west of Baie-Saint-Paul, up to Cap-à-l'Aigle, on the east bank of the Malbaie River, in La Malbaie. The centre of the astrobleme was Mont des Éboulements (summit at 768 m), formed by the effect of the raising of the crater bottom following the impact. Since this impact, the crater has undergone significant metamorphosis under the effect of various erosion agents, making it more difficult to recognize its outline, particularly the part submerged in the St. Lawrence River. Consequently, experts define this ancient impact structure as the astrobleme. Inaugurated in 2014, an interpretation centre dedicated to the Charlevoix astrobleme is open to the public; this interpretation centre is housed in the former Club House of the Manoir Richelieu in La Malbaie.

The place gained some prominence in the 1770s when Doctor Philippe-Louis-François Badelard named a disease he was researching the "Baie-Saint-Paul maladie". This illness was the subject of one of the first medical publications done in Lower Canada.

It is also where Cirque du Soleil began in 1982 under the name "Club des Talons Hauts" (High Heels Club), and the location of the first show using the name Cirque du Soleil during "La Fete Foraine de Baie-Saint-Paul" in 1984.

Geography
The mountain at Amédée, and Cap-aux-Corbeaux overlook on the east side the lower valley of the Gouffre river; while the "montagne des Florent" (400 m), Les Tourelles and La Pointue overlook the west side. In the western part of the territory which stretches as far as Savane Lake, the main summit is the Montagne du Lac à l'Ange (1071 m) and the Montagne à Roch (513 m).

The main hamlets of Baie-Saint-Paul are:
 * west side of the Gouffre river: Saint-Placide-Nord, La Mare, Saint-Placide-de-Charlevoix, Dufour and Bas-de-la-Baie;
 * east side of the Gouffre river: Cap-aux-Corbeaux.

Most of the municipal territory is zoned agricultural, except the urban area in the southern part. Hors de la vallée de la rivière du Gouffre, le territoire municipal est surtout forestier et montagneux.

Climate
Baie-Saint-Paul has a humid continental climate with vast seasonal differences. Summers are mild and moderated by its proximity to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. In winter, interior Canada influences the climate with frequent cold waves.

By car

 * From Tadoussac (122 km, time: 1 hr 56 min), take the Tadoussac-Baie Sainte-Catherine ferry; take route 138 (westbound) to the village of Baie-Saint-Paul.
 * From Quebec (93 km, time: 1 hr 7 min), take route 138 eastbound, to the village of Baie-Saint-Paul.

Train operator

 * Route:
 * Operates a daily train between Quebec City and La Malbaie with stops in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Baie-Saint-Paul, Les Éboulements, and Saint-Irénée. The trains departs in the morning from Quebec City and in the afternoon from La Malbaie. This tourist train runs 125 km with views of the Saint Lawrence River and mountains. In Baie-Saint-Paul, the train stops at both 50 rue de la Ferme and 104 rue Sainte-Anne stations.

By bus

 * Operates a daily route between Baie-Comeau and Montreal including stops in Forestville, Tadoussac, Baie-Sainte-Catherine, Saint-Siméon, La Malbaie, Clermont, Saint-Hilarion, Baie-Saint-Paul, Saint-Tite-des-Caps, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Boischatel, and Quebec City. Trips toward Baie-Comeau start from Quebec City and do not include a stop in Montreal.

Viewpoints

 * East side of rivière du Gouffre
 * West side of rivière du Gouffre
 * West side of rivière du Gouffre
 * West side of rivière du Gouffre
 * West side of rivière du Gouffre

Art galleries
Art galleries are a specialty of this small town.

Eat
Since March 2020, in the context of health measures resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, several restaurants or dining rooms in Charlevoix have transformed the mode of meals at the tables into take-out or by delivery service. In general, restaurateurs have shown great resilience by updating their website, integrating interactive and automated applications for remote orders, as well as displaying the menu, opening hours, their mode of operation (e.g., by reservation, car service), health measures required (e.g., vaccination record, mask, distancing), other services (e.g., caterer, shops, accommodation, access for the disabled, wi-fi, take-out, delivery), contact details and often the history of the restaurant or site. Considering the evolving context of the pandemic and government measures, it is recommended that customers obtain information from each establishment by consulting their respective website.

title: Baie-Saint-Paul


text:
Baihe

Baihe (白河镇), Erdao Baihe or Erdaobaihe is a town of 4,000 people in Jilin Province.

Get in
See Changbaishan National Nature Reserve

See

 * Changbaishan National Nature Reserve - main gateway into the park

Eat
The Yanleyuan Restaurant, opposite the train station, has good food, serves local specialities such as mushrooms and rare fungus, and the restaurant owner is the man to see for arranging any activities within the local area.

Budget

An alternative is to ask around the little family restaurants by the station. Many of them have rooms where you can stay for as little as ¥10 per person. The restaurant owners would appreciate it if you keep a low profile, as the PSB disapproves of foreigners using this option.

Go next
The train is the best way to leave the Changbaishan region, although there is supposedly a bus that leaves every morning at 6.30AM for Jilin (7hr; ¥41) and then on to Changchun (12hr; ¥49).

title: Baihe


text:
Baijnath

Baijnath is a town in Himachal Pradesh, India. Its temple is one of twelve jyortilingas in India, and sees a large number of visitors each year.

Get in
Baijnath, a small township in the Dhauladhar range of western Himalayas, 16 km from Palampur in the Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh is famous for its 13th century temple dedicated to Siva as Vaidyanath, ‘the Lord of physicians’. Originally known as Kiragrama, the town lies on Pathankot-Chakki-Manali highway (National Highway No. 20) almost midway between Kangra and Mandi. The present name Baijnath became popular after the name of the temple. The town is located on the left bank of the river Binwa, a corrupt form of ancient Binduka, a tributary of river Beas. (32° 3’ North lat. And 76° 41’ East long.)

Do
World recognized paragliding site bir-billing is 12 km from here, you can have the fun of paragliding and some site seeing at local moanastory

and local market full of local handicrafts and world famous Kullu shawls.

title: Baijnath


text:
Baikal-Amur Mainline

The Baikal-Amur Mainline (Russian: Байка́ло-Аму́рская Магистра́ль bigh-KAHL-uh uh-MOOR-skuh-yuh mah-gee-STRAL') or BAM (Russian: БАМ) is a railway line that crosses Russia, running parallel to the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Understand

The BAM splits from Trans-Siberian Railway at Tayshet, some west of Baikal lake, and passes the Baikal from the north at Severobaikalsk. It then goes parallel to the Trans-Siberian Railway all the way to the Pacific Ocean. You can expect great landscapes, admirable views of Baikal lake and a lot of high bridges and tunnels.

The railway was built primarily for military reasons as a backup to the Trans-Siberian, which runs quite close to the Chinese border. The first stage, from 1930 to 1953, was built largely by Gulag prisoners, including German and Japanese prisoners of war, and an estimated 150,000 people died in the process. Work halted due to Stalin's death, but started again in 1974 as a Komsomol project, this time "with clean hands only" (in Brezhnev's words). The line was officially completed in 1984, although actual work continued until 1991. While the military strategic function was thankfully never tested in earnest, the fact that it passes through even sparser populated regions than the Transsib, is not fully electrified (the Transsib has been electrified end to end since the 21st century) and has single track stretches have made it a comparatively low traffic line which is however important for local forestry and as a "lifeline" of otherwise hard to reach communities.

Get in

While Tayshet is the official starting point of the BAM, most travelers coming from Western Russia start their journey at Irkutsk, the nearest large city. Irkutsk is on the Trans-Siberian and has trains and, in the summer high season, ferries across Lake Baikal to Severobaikalsk.

The BAM terminates at Sovetskaya Gavan on the Pacific Ocean, but most visitors opt to stop at Komsomolsk and head from there to Khabarovsk in order to rejoin the Trans-Siberian to Vladivostok, another option is ending the BAM trip on Vanino and cross the Tatar strait to Sakhalin where you can continue your journey to Japan.

Go

For most of its length the BAM is single track. It is also not fully electrified. BAM was a huge Soviet project, and workers from all parts of the Soviet Union were brought to construct it. While traveling on the train pay attention to station buildings. Often they symbolize (in their architecture) the region from where the building crew came. Many of these workers married and stayed there, so you can find settlers from distant parts of the former Soviet Union along the line.

A number of years ago, there were rumors about construction of a second track and another wave of workers came seeking work and remained. Construction didn't start.

Sometimes trains stop at turnouts in remote locations to let trains from the other direction pass. There are a few passenger trains going from Moscow all the way to the Pacific; however, there are many local trains, with the main traffic being wood transports from the Siberian forests.

Taishet to Lake Baikal

 * Taishet — western terminus, junction with Trans-Siberian Railway (0 km).
 * Sosnovye Rodniki — minor timber port (129).
 * Chuna (142).
 * Vikhorevka — railway administration (269).
 * Bratsk — major city, just off the line on a spur from the Anzebi station (282).
 * Bratsk Dam — train runs across the dam.
 * Vidim (463).
 * Shredneilimskaya — on the Ust-Ilimsk reservoir (546).
 * Zheleznogorsk-Ilimsky — mining town (554).
 * Khrebetovaya — junction with spur to Ust Ilimsk (575).
 * Kuta River (entering Lena Basin).
 * Ust-Kut — Lena River port (715).
 * Lena Vostochnaya (736).
 * Zvyzdnaya (786).
 * Kirenga (890).
 * Kirenga River.
 * Ul'kan (931).
 * Delbichenda (1005).
 * Baikal Mountain Tunnel.
 * Daben (1014).
 * Laike Baikal (1064).

Lake Baikal to Tynda

 * Severobaikalsk — the principal town on the north side of Lake Baikal (1064 km).
 * Four small tunnels along the lake.
 * Nizhneangarsk (1104).
 * Novy Uoyan (1257).
 * Enter Severomuysk Mountains.
 * Severomuysky Tunnel (1385-1400).
 * Taksimo (1484).
 * Muya River
 * Shivery (1548).
 * Vitim River.
 * Kuanda (1577).
 * Kodar — beginning of Kodar Mountains, tunnel (1664).
 * Novaya Chara (1734).
 * Khani — only BAM town in Yakutia, northernmost point on the line (1879).
 * Olyokma River, into the Amur Basin.
 * Tynda — at the junction with the partially complete Amur-Yakutsk Mainline (and the Yakutsk "highway"), which will eventually lead to far-flung Yakutsk, and the Little BAM branch south to the Trans-Siberian Railway (2364).

Tynda to Komsomolsk

 * Bridge over Zeya Reservoir (2704 km).
 * Bureya River Bridge (3205).
 * Novy Urgal — junction with branch south to Trans-Siberian Railway (3315).
 * Dusse-Alin Tunnel (3403).
 * Postyshevo (3633).
 * Evoron Lake (3697).
 * Komsomolsk-on-Amur — biggest city on the BAM, junction with branch south to Khabarovsk on the Trans-Siberian (3837).

Komsomolsk to Sovetskaya Gavan

 * Amur River Bridge (1734 km).
 * Pivan (0 km — numbers restart here).
 * Selikhin (51).
 * Sikhote-Alin Mountains (95-340).
 * Mongokhto (403).
 * Vanino — easternmost station, small port on the Sea of Okhotsk, junction with branch to Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, and the Trans-Siberian, and ferry to Sakhalin (441).
 * Sovetskaya Gavan — small port, naval base, and terminus of the BAM, south of Vanino, rarely visited by travelers (467).

Go next

 * Komsomolsk is one starting (or ending) point for the Russia to Japan via Sakhalin route.

title: Baikal-Amur Mainline


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Baikonur

Baikonur (Kazakh: Байқоңыр Bayqongyr, Russian: Байконур Baykonur) is a city in Kazakhstan but is administered by the Russian government.

Understand
Baikonur is famous worldwide for its cosmodrome, the site of many spacefaring feats including the first operational ICBM, the launch of Sputnik and the launch of the first manned orbital flight by Yuri Gagarin. The modern town of Baikonur was built near the existing village of Toretam (Төретам), the name still used by the railway station, and was known as Leninsk (Ле́нинск) until renamed in 1995 by then-president of Russia, Boris Yeltsin.

The cosmodrome is rented by Russia with a contract extension until 2050 signed in 2005. Russia and Kazakhstan are both unhappy with the US$115,000,000 yearly rent and thus Russia is building another spaceport on Russian territory to be less dependent on Kazakhstan. The replacement spaceport has already had its first launch in 2016 and was planned to be fully operational by 2018, taking over most launches now handled in Baikonur through the 2020s.

Baikonur was a closed city during the Soviet era, and remains one today. However, unlike during the Soviet era, it is now possible to visit on a guided tour.

Get in
The easiest way to visit Baikonur, and the only way to visit the cosmodrome, is by guided tour. Prices vary wildly but are always steep: a one-day tour starting from Almaty starts from US$700 per person, while a multi-day excursion from Moscow can cost US$5,000. As the cosmodrome area (6,000 km2) is rented by Russia, no Kazakh visa is needed if you fly in directly from Moscow.

By plane
Baikonur's two airports, Krainiy (in city) and Yubileyniy (in cosmodrome) serve only semi-regular chartered flights from Almaty and Moscow. The nearest town with scheduled service is Kzyl-Orda (267 km away), which has scheduled daily flights to Almaty and Astana on Air Astana.

By train
Baikonur's station, Toretam, is on the Moscow-Almaty main line. The station is 1445 km from Almaty and the trip takes around 27 hours on an express train.

Do

 * Hike into Baikonur Cosmodrome. It takes slightly longer than expected, roughly 40 km each way, and it is best done at night to avoid the guards.

Sleep
If you're on an official tour, there are hotels in Baikonur in which you can sleep. However, if you are visiting the area in a private capacity, then you will struggle for accommodation.

title: Baikonur


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Bailey Island

Bailey Island is an island in Casco Bay, Maine.

Get in

 * By car, down US Route 24.
 * By ferry, from Portland on Casco Bay Lines.

See
Visitors will enjoy the sight of lobster traps stacked in the front yard of houses on Bailey Island.

title: Bailey Island


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Hamilton Parish

Hamilton Parish is on the island of Bermuda.

Understand
At the middle northeastern section of the island chain, the parish is split in two by the large Harrington Sound, occupying all but the south and northeastern ends of its coast.
 * Baileys Bay is a district known for its caves.
 * Flatts Village is a small area with an aquarium, restaurants and a few shops, built around Harrington Sound's connective inlet to the Atlantic Ocean. The narrow inlet forces the tidal waters to flow at a surprisingly quick rate.  It's not a place to spend all day, but worth a visit if you're touring Bermuda for a few days.

By taxi
Bailey's Bay is less than five minutes taxi ride from Bermuda's airport ($10), or about twenty minutes ($20-$25) from downtown Hamilton.

By car
From Hamilton, take Middle Road or North Shore Road east for about 15 minutes.

By bus
Busses #1, #3, #10 and #11 pass through Flatts Village on their way between Hamilton and St. George's. If coming from the airport, take direction "Hamilton". If coming from Hamilton, take direction "St. George's".

Get around
The district of Baileys Bay is less than a mile long. If you are fit enough to walk five city blocks, then you can walk. There are usually taxis going back and forth from the airport that can take you a short distance if you need it.

Flatts Village is small enough to walk around on foot. Public parking is available across the street from the aquarium. Roads are very narrow and not all have sidewalks -- keep close to the curb and walk single file.

Buy

 * Memorabilia from the Swizzle Inn

Drink

 * Swizzle Inn's famous rum swizzle.

Go next

 * Smith's Parish is to the southwest.
 * St. George's Parish is to the northeast.

title: Hamilton Parish


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Bailieborough

Bailieborough is a town in the east of County Cavan in northwest Ireland, with a population of 2683 in 2016. It's within an hour's drive of Dublin and is mostly a commuter town. Originally it was Killycolley or Coill an Chollaigh, "the wood of the boar", but in the early 17th century William Bailie of Ayrshire was awarded the lands by James I of England. He settled the area with loyal Scots and built a fine mansion, but reckoned the village huddled at its foot was unsightly. So he swept away Killycolley and re-sited the town 2 km further south, no doubt long mulling over a suitable name before coming up with "Bailieborough". The land changed hands several times and in the 19th century Sir William Young built the Victorian town you see today.

Get in
Bus Éireann 108 runs three times M-Sa and once on Sunday from Kells, taking 30 min via Mullagh. Kells has buses from Dublin city and airport.

Bus 107 connects Kingscourt with Navan, with four M-Sa and one on Sunday. Navan likewise has buses from the city.

By road from Dublin follow M3 / N3 via Kells and Virginia, 55 km, just under an hour.

Get around
You need your own wheels to get anywhere; a bike would do.

See

 * is a pleasant place for woodland walks and fishing. It was the estate of Bailieborough Castle, a country mansion that burnt down in 1918 and was entirely demolished in the late 1930s.
 * is the anglicised version of Dún an Rí; its main feature is the Church of the Immaculate Conception. 3 km northeast is Cabra Castle, now a hotel, see Sleep.
 * is mixed forest with walking trails and sculpture, dog-friendly. Car €5, coins only.

Do

 * There are boats for hire on Bailieborough Lough.
 * Golf: the nearest course is in Virginia.
 * Golf: the nearest course is in Virginia.

Buy

 * Tesco in Bailieborough is open M-Sa 08:00-22:00, Su 10:00-20:00.

Eat

 * Fox's is your best bet in Bailieborough. It's on Main St, open M-Sa 10:00-01:30, Su 12:00-01:30.
 * Also in Bailieborough are a couple of pizzerias and a kebab place; the Chinese has folded.
 * Kingscourt along Main St has Taste of India, Peking, Royal Star and a burger takeaway. See Sleep for Cabra Castle.

Drink

 * Lemon Tree on Barrack St is round the corner from Nixty's, and Crossan Bar is top of Main St.
 * Kingscourt pubs are Wishing Well, M & F's, The Block Malone's, Blake's and Gartlans.
 * Terra in Bailieborough manufacture Irish liqueurs, their main brand being Molly's Irish Cream. No tours.
 * Terra in Bailieborough manufacture Irish liqueurs, their main brand being Molly's Irish Cream. No tours.

Sleep

 * Other B&Bs in Kingscourt are Dun a Ri House and Teach T-Mac, with Plantation Lodge east on R165.
 * Other B&Bs in Kingscourt are Dun a Ri House and Teach T-Mac, with Plantation Lodge east on R165.
 * Other B&Bs in Kingscourt are Dun a Ri House and Teach T-Mac, with Plantation Lodge east on R165.
 * Other B&Bs in Kingscourt are Dun a Ri House and Teach T-Mac, with Plantation Lodge east on R165.

Connect
As of March 2021, Bailieborough has 5G from Eir and Three, but practically no signal from Vodafone.

Go next

 * The coast from Dundalk to Drogheda is lined with sandy beaches. The whole county decamps there on fine weekends.
 * Kells has the medieval abbey which formerly housed the Book of Kells - it's now in TCD Library in Dublin.
 * Cavan Town is in the midst of the "drumlin belt", and Lough Oughter is studded with islets.

title: Bailieborough


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Bainbridge (Georgia)

Bainbridge is a city in the Plantation Midlands of Georgia.

Understand
Bainbridge is located north of Lake Seminole on the Flint River in southwest Georgia. Fishing, camping, sightseeing and waterskiing are popular with locals and visitors alike. Bainbridge hosts many bass fishing tournaments due to its size and proximity to the lake. Several Wildlife Management Areas provide abundant hunting activities.

Get in
Many visitors arrive in Bainbridge via US Highway 27 or US Highway 84. It is one hour north of Tallahassee Regional Airport and four hours south of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International  via US Highway 27.

See
Bainbridge / Decatur county has many historic homes and markers.

Do
The area has shopping, golf, camping, fishing, hunting and sightseeing.

Buy
There are several shopping areas in Bainbridge that include local, regional and national merchants.

Eat
Bainbridge has many local restaurants.

Sleep
Stay locally at motels or campgrounds.

title: Bainbridge (Georgia)


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Bainbridge (New York)

Bainbridge is a town of 3,200 people (2016) in New York.

Get in
Interstate 88 passes through the town, following the Susquehanna River. New York State Route 206 intersects I-88 and New York State Route 7 at Bainbridge village.

title: Bainbridge (New York)


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Bainbridge Island

Bainbridge Island is an island city on the Kitsap Peninsula within the Puget Sound region of Washington state.

Bainbridge Island is a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle. Crossing the Agate Pass Bridge at the north end of the island will take you to the Kitsap Peninsula.

Culture
Like many Pacific Northwest residents, Bainbridge Islanders are socially progressive, outdoorsy, and physically active, with nearly every resident active in kayaking, sailing, hiking, skiing, running, biking or soccer. Bainbridge Island is a predominantly white, highly educated, and — as a by-product of isolated island life — culturally and socially sheltered community. The island was once a poets' commune in the 1970s and 1980s, when many West-Coast artists, poets, and musicians converged to bask in the island's serene environment. Artistic and cultural events and organizations still abound, at perennial Pegasus Coffee, The Harbour Pub, The Lynwood Theatre, and The Bainbridge Performing Arts Center, which has its own improv comedy troupe. There is a refreshing alternative scene for people over 40 involving yoga, martial arts, and social activism. The island is becoming increasingly gentrified, with many retirees settling down, particularly since it was voted the #2 place to live by Money Magazine in 2005.

By car
Cross the Agate Pass Bridge on Highway 305 from the Kitsap Peninsula on the north end of the island.

By public transit

 * Jefferson Transit (JT) #7 ... connects Poulsbo North Viking Transit Center to Port Townsend via Port Ludlow. From the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal take Kitsap Transit #390 to North Viking Transit Center in Poulsbo and transfer to JT #7
 * Sound Transit Link Light Rail 1 Line goes to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from the Pioneer Square Station (nearest to the ferry terminal) in downtown Seattle.
 * Sound Transit Link Light Rail 1 Line goes to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from the Pioneer Square Station (nearest to the ferry terminal) in downtown Seattle.

Get around
Arriving by ferry there are usually cabs at the ferry terminal and Kitsap Transit has busses that meet each ferry. It is a short walk into Winslow, the primary shopping district on the island.

By public transit
The following Kitsap Transit routes serve as local commuter runs from the Bainbridge Ferry Terminal to other parts of Bainbridge Island during weekday afternoons and to the Ferry Terminal during the mornings for local commuters and travelers staying in B&Bs, local campgrounds, or with a local and going into Seattle for a day trip:
 * 93 To Hidden Cove Rd & Hwy 305 along Manzanita Rd
 * 94 To Blodel Reserve in Agate Point.
 * 95 To Miller Rd & Tolo near Battle Point
 * 96 To Days Rd & Phelps in Sunrise
 * 97 To Lynnwood Center in Crystal Springs
 * 98 To Fort Ward State Park
 * 99 Bill Point to Eagle Harbor in Barkentine and Blakey Hill.
 * 106 To Tolo and Battle Point at Fletcher Bay

See
Bainbridge Island has several beautiful gardens and museums open to the public.

Do
Bainbridge Island is a great destination for bicycles - rolling hills and spectacular scenery. During the summer you'll find bike rentals near the ferry dock and year 'round you can rent or purchase bikes at Classic Cycle. Each February the Chilly Hilly, one of the classic bike rides kicks off the bicycle season with a ride around the island. You can get information on this ride from Cascade Bicycle Club.

Birdwatching
The Kitsap Audubon Society has been actively meeting since 1972 and has a broad coalition of birders actively tracking and sharing sightings since then. They also maintain an active website with updates of the latest sightings, suggestions on areas for birders and even a regular newsletter. They also developed a checklist of birds likely to be seen birds in the area.

The state Audubon society developed 'The Great Audubon Birding Trail' which includes key migration flyways. Flyways are major north-south routes of travel for migratory birds and likely areas to see birds along the route extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Fort Ward Park on Bainbridge Island is one of only a handful of areas in the region to be named to the list.

Sea kayaking
With many small bays and inlets in the area, Bainbridge Island is one of the more popular places to kayak in Puget Sound and is popular for beginners and experienced kayakers alike. Thick forests of majestic pine and deciduous trees and dozens of creeks and estuaries dot the coastline. Or just explore Kitsaps many harbor towns like Bainbridge Island that cater to kayakers with shops and restaurants accessible from the water. Harbor Seals, Otters, Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and Blue Herons are common sites while the occasional viewing of an Orca or Grey Whale is not out of the question.

Kayak trails
Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate and scenic travel destinations.

Scuba diving
Scuba diving the cold waters of Puget Sound takes a bit more gear and training than other warm water locations, but the rewards are incredible. The area contains some of the best diving in the world and many areas are accessible from the Kitsap Peninsula. The state offers a guide to parks with launch sites here.

Conservation areas
Well-known to regional scuba divers, Orchard Rocks Conservation Area is located south west of Bainbridge Island in the waters and bedlands of Rich Passage within a 400-yard radius of Orchard Rocks day marker. The natural bedrock and boulders provide habitats for rock associated fish and invertebrate species. Copper rockfish and quillback rockfish once were common at this site. Brown rockfish and lingcod are common, red Irish lord, buffalo sculpin, striped seaperch, and pile perch. Kelp greenling, painted greenling, cabezon are consistently present in the reserve. Invertebrates include red rock crab, spider crabs, red sea cucumber, and orange sea cucumber. Harbor seals frequently visit the site and are often seen hauled out on the exposed rocks at low tide. California sea lions are also commonly observed at the site and may be seen hauled out on nearby navigational buoys.

There are several other popular dive sites centered around Blakely Harbor accessible by boat including wreck diving a 70' long wooden shipwreck simply known as The Boss. To find this site go to Blakely Harbors southern shoreline that heads out to Restoration Point. At about the midpoint of this shoreline, you will see a yellow buoy in about 50 feet of water. This is a PADI dive buoy marking The Boss which is maintained by local divers. The hull of the boat is in about 50' of water and is easily recognizable as it is covered in a field of white Plumose Anemones.

Hiking

 * Gazzam Lake Preserve on the west side of the island has entrances with parking lots at the north (end of NE Marshall Rd (47.624953, -122.566241)) and south (end of Deerpath Ln NE (47.609650, -122.563666)) ends of the preserve. The network of trails provides views of Gazzam Lake and across Port Orchard Channel to Illahee.
 * The Grand Forest is a very large park/preserve with an extensive trail network that has multiple access points and parking lots, ranging from Battle Point Park (far west end of the trail system (47.659836, -122.574855)), a parking lot along Miller Rd NE (47.657004, -122.560544)), a parking lot at the curve in the south half of Mandus Olsen Rd NE (47.650477, -122.547834), a parking lot along the north half of Mandus Olsen Rd NE (47.659562, -122.547742), the end of McRedmond Ln NE (far east end of the trail system (47.654076, -122.537260)), and from other surrounding roads.

Eat
There are a variety of excellent restaurants on Bainbridge, with a full-range of cuisines and price-ranges.

Go next
Seattle is to the east via Washington State Ferry The rest of the Kitsap Peninsula is to the west via the Agate bridge.

title: Bainbridge Island


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Baiona

Baiona (or Bayona in Spanish) is a town 20 km south of Vigo in Galicia, Spain. It's a tourist town with a medieval historical centre by the outlet of the Vigo Bay. Its population of just over 12,000 (2018) rises to around 45,000 in the summer with tourists. Since it is on the Portuguese Way path of the Camino de Santiago, 30,000 hikers also visit every year.

Understand
Baiona is a small town in the south part of Vigo Ría. Other than tourism the major economic activities revolve around fishing.

History
Baiona has had many names in its history: Stuciana, Abóriga, Balcagia, and Erizana.

Baiona was the first place in Europe to hear the news about the discovery of America. On March 1, 1493, Caravel La Pinta arrived in Baiona commanded by Martín Alonso Pinzón. This caravel was part of first Columbus' voyage to America.

By plane
The closest airport is Vigo airport (30 km). Other options are Santiago de Compostela (129 km) or Porto in Portugal (160 km).

By train
The closest train station is in Vigo. Then you will need a bus to get Baiona.

By bus
There are buses every 30 minutes from Vigo on weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays there are buses every hour. The company providing this service is called ATSA and the buses are red.

By car
AP-57 motorway ends in Baiona. It is connected to AP-9 from A Coruña and A-52 from Ourense.

Get around
You can go for a walk along the seafront promenade (paseo marítimo) that will take you less than 1 hour from Paseo Pinzón (on west) to Ladeira beach (on east).

There is a taxi stand at the port (5 minutes walking from town hall).

Beaches
There are six beaches in Baiona:

title: Baiona


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Bairnsdale

Bairnsdale is a town in the East Gippsland region in the state of Victoria, Australia. It has a population of about 10,000.

By train
Trains run several times per day to and from Melbourne's Southern Cross and Flinders St Station, via Sale and Traralgon. The trip takes a little under four hours and costs $39 each way for adults, half that for children.

V/Line and Premier coaches have connections directly to Sydney, Canberra and the New South Wales South Coast.

By car
Bairnsdale is situated on the Princes Hwy (A1) approximately 3.5 hours east of Melbourne. If you are following the coastal route between Melbourne and Sydney you will pass through the town. If you are heading to Bairnsdale and Gippsland from Sydney, the route through Canberra, the Monaro through to Cann River will save you time over the coastal route. A scenic (but much slower) diversion is through Delegate.

By plane
There are scheduled flights from Melbourne Tullamarine Airports to often Rex, but Qantas Link and Virgin also have flights to Bairnsdale. The airport is 10km away from the actual town itself, but there's no car hire at the airport. You'll need to walk, but C106 is a pretty simple and straightforward walk. Additionally, when you're at the C106/A1 junction, there's no sign telling you to go which way, but simply head east (right) towards Orbost and Bairnsdale.

Get around
Most of the town is small enough to be walked. However, on a freezing winter's day, you might want to stock up on a jacket or two, as it does get very windy.

Do

 * East Gippsland Rail Trail starts from Bairnsdale and travels through Nicholson, Bruthen, and Nowa Nowa, to Orbost.
 * Kayak Hire at Butter Factory Wharf on the Mitchell River.
 * Bairnsdale Speedway
 * Bairnsdale Speedway

Eat
Bairnsdale has a good selection of restaurants and food places.
 * Cafe Main - Vietnamese Pho Shop Princess Highway, West Bairnsdale.
 * David Lucke's Fresh Food Market, locally owned and operated food store. Low price and high quality fresh fruit, meat, vegetables and seafood. Specialty, boutique brand food and gourmet products, located on the Paynesville Rd on the banks of the Mitchell River.
 * David Lucke's Fresh Food Market, locally owned and operated food store. Low price and high quality fresh fruit, meat, vegetables and seafood. Specialty, boutique brand food and gourmet products, located on the Paynesville Rd on the banks of the Mitchell River.

Go next

 * Paynesville

title: Bairnsdale


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Bairrada

Bairrada is a wine region in Beira Litoral, Portugal.

Cities
Bairrada contains the following municipalities:
 * Águeda (southern portion)
 * Anadia (entirely)
 * Aveiro (civil parish of Nariz)
 * Cantanhede (mostly)
 * Coimbra (partially)
 * Mealhada (entirely)
 * Oliveira do Bairro (entirely)
 * Vagos (partially)

Understand
Bairrada, situated between the urban centres of Agueda, Aveiro, and Coimbra, stretches from north to south. The region mainly comprises vineyards and contains the municipalities of Anadia, Cantanhede, Mealhada, and Oliveira do Bairro. From east to west the region runs from the base of the Caramulo and Buçaco mountains to the sands of the Atlantic.

The area of Bairrada is. Vineyards occupy around. In the 1970s, this corresponded to 37% of the volume of the total agricultural production in the central region.

title: Bairrada


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Bais

Bais City is one of the cleanest and safest cities of the Philippines in Negros Oriental province. The main tourist draw is whale and dolphin watching in the Tañon Strait between Bais and the neighbouring island of Cebu.

Understand
The city has a population of more than 76,000 (2015). The major economic activity is sugar cane growing with a few wealthy families dominating both the local politics and economy. The central market has just been re-built as a large two-storey building of unusual design but pedicabs still ply the streets as a legacy of a Dutch NGO's project to alleviate rural poverty.

Get in
The most common route to Bais is by bus from Dumaguete, though it is also possible to reach it directly from either Cebu City or Bacolod.

By boat
Into Dumaguete from Metro Manila, Cebu City, Tagbilaran, Dapitan or Cagayan de Oro and then by Ceres Bus every half hour to Bais.

By bus
Bais is on the main long distance bus route between Bacolod, Kabankalan City and Dumaguete. One can also take a Ceres Bus from Cebu City that travels directly to Bais via a 35 min roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro} ferry between the Southern tip of Cebu island at Bato and Amlan just south of Tanjay. Other Ceres buses set passengers down at Lilo-An so they can take the faster passenger-only boat and shorter 15 min crossing to Sibulan just north of Dumaguete.

Get around
Moto-tricycles are rather confusingly termed pedicabs in Negros Oriental, and are usually underpowered by 200cc motorcycles considering that they often carry more than 8 people and sometimes up to 15! The cycle rickshaws are certainly quieter on Bais's flat streets and the commercial centre is very compact.

See

 * Central Azucarera de Bais (CAB) Established in 1918 as the first two sugar centrals of Tabacalera in the country, pioneered in the manufacture of paper from bagasse. CAB propelled the province’s sugar industry into a top dollar earner. Buildings, early machines, implements and locomotives used for hauling sugar cane in olden times are on display, making the visit truly informative and interesting.

 * Baldwin Locomotive The Baldwin locomotive rests on memories of its heyday as the dean of the hacienda workhorses. The Central Azucarera de Bais was established in 1918 and the Baldwin locomotive was integral in the stimulation of the growth of the Negros Oriental sugar industry.
 * Lag-it Beach A magnificent seven kilometre stretch of powder-white sand that disappears in the clear waters at high tide, a unique adventure for swimmers.
 * White SandBar Reef Its shoreline is a vast stretch of powder-white sand that disappears at high tide, leaving sparkling azure waters, ideal for swimming and snorkeling
 * Talabong Mangrove Park A 400-hectare protected mangrove forest which is a natural habitat and nesting place of birds and other wildlife. Talabong Mangrove Park is accessible by boat at high tide and visitors have to walk through a 5,968 split-bamboo boardwalk before reaching the park. There is a troupe of semi-wild macaque monkeys here.

Do

 * Sipong Festival held every 7 September. A spectacular thanksgiving for the fruits of labour in the hot fields and the cold sea, by the native Baisnons of a city renowned as the cradle of the province’s sugar industry and as home of dolphins and siganids (danggit). The formal Mass in the Cathedral is preceded by choreographed street dancing with colourful floats and parades that the whole city has been preparing for weeks.
 * Get a group together and hire a barca from Capiñahan Wharf in South Bais Bay for about and go Dolphin and Whale watching in the Tañon Strait. Afterwards the barca can moor for some snorkelling in the coral area beside the white sand bar.
 * Open air ballroom dancing in the Plaza in front of the new Mercado de Bais on Friday and Saturday evenings. These are family occasions and there are tables and chairs laid out to eat barbecued foods. Free!
 * Play tennis on the well maintained, municipal courts on tarmac - good floodlighting at night.
 * Play volleyball in the outside municipal auditorium - good floodlighting at night.

Connect
Bais Tourism Office.

Go next

 * From Bais City you can ride a tricycle going to Polo. The minimum fare of tricycle is and it is only 5 minutes' travel.
 * Tanjay (tan-high) is a city of 80,000 about 50 km from Bais City.

title: Bais