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Lyttelton

Lyttelton is the seaport satellite town of Christchurch in New Zealand, lying just over the Port Hills from Christchurch.

Understand
Lyttelton provides a safe, sheltered deepwater harbour, as it lies in the caldera of an extinct volcano. The town's steep streets are a novelty for many Christchurch drivers, who rarely encounter a hill (unless they deliberately drive to the hill suburbs on the edge of the city).

Lyttelton was established as a seaport in the late 1840s. The early settlers had to walk over the Bridle Path - so named because the path was so steep that horses had to be led by the bridle as they could not be ridden. In the early years, Lyttelton provided a trans-shipment point for cargo bound for Christchurch. Passengers and light cargo would travel over the Bridle Path on foot or horseback. Heavier cargo was shipped in shallow draught coastal vessels back around the coast, across the treacherous Sumner bar and into the estuary to Ferrymead or, later, Steam Wharf, just down the Heathcote River from where the Tunnel Road meets Ferry Road.

New Zealand's first public railway was built to link Christchurch and Lyttelton, opening from Christchurch to Ferrymead in 1863 and then to Lyttelton once the 2.6-km Lyttelton Rail Tunnel was completed in 1867. In 1964, the rail tunnel was supplemented by the 2.0-km Lyttelton Road Tunnel. Between 1895 and 1976, steam ferries operated an overnight service between Lyttelton and Wellington, linking New Zealand's two main islands.

Lyttelton was extensively damaged in the 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. Several historic buildings were damaged beyond repair including the famous Timeball Station, which was rebuilt in 2018.

By car
There are three ways by car from Christchurch into Lyttelton:
 * Through SH 74/Tunnel Rd (sometimes called Tunnel Rd Mwy). The tunnel is probably the best bet if you're unfamiliar with driving on the left and squeamish about steep twisty turns on hills. Although New Zealand roads are pretty good and you do get a great view going over the hills.
 * Over the Port Hills along Dyers Pass Road (past the Sign of the Takahe)
 * Via Gebbies Pass, though this is a rather indirect route and is probably only a practical alternative if southwest of Christchurch.
 * Over the Port Hills along Evans Pass Road and down the newly reopened Sumner Road.

By bus
Take the number 28 bus from the Bus Exchange to Rapaki/Lyttelton.

By foot
Walk the Bridal Path from Heathcote.

By boat
If you are arriving by small boat, it pays to be aware of the information on the Approach and Navigation section of the World Cruising and Sailing Wiki.

Get around
The town of Lyttelton is very small but very hilly. The streets usually have a nice European charm to it, but it also means that driving will be unpleasant (as it was intended). The best way to get around the town is entirely on foot, even if you have a car, unless you are leaving the town proper.

There are buses that run within the town, but the distances are too short to justify realistically waiting.

Buy

 * Lyttelton Farmers Market is an authentic farmers market in the School grounds every Saturday morning, 10AM - 1PM. Not necessarily the cheapest food in town, but always fresh, local, and seasonal. Food available ranges from fruit & veggies to bread, coffee, home-baking, farm eggs, local honey and cheeses, preserves and relishes, etc etc. There is usually some live music and always a lively collection of marketgoers, great people-watching.

Go next

 * Akaroa

title: Lyttelton


text:
Lytton

Lytton is a village of about 250 people (2016) in the Fraser Canyon in the Thompson-Nicola region of British Columbia.

About 1,700 people live in the immediate area in rural areas and on reserves of the neighbouring six Nlaka'pamux communities. Lytton overlooks the convergence of two of British Columbia's largest rivers: the Thompson and the Fraser.

Understand

The community included the Village of Lytton and the surrounding community of the Lytton First Nation, whose name for the place is Camchin, also spelled Kumsheen ("river meeting").

History
The area has been inhabited by the Nlaka'pamux (formerly the Thompson Salish) people for over 10,000 years. It is one of the earliest locations settled by non-natives in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. It was founded during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush of 1858–59, when it was known as "The Forks".

Lytton was on the route of the Gold Rush in 1858. The same year, Lytton was named for Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the British Colonial Secretary and a novelist. For many years Lytton was a stop on major transportation routes, namely, the River Trail from 1858, Cariboo Wagon Road in 1862, the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880s, the Cariboo Highway in the 1920s, and the Trans-Canada Highway in the 1950s. However, it has become much less important since the construction of the Coquihalla Highway in 1987 which uses a more direct route to the British Columbia Interior.

The town was destroyed by a wildlife on June 30, 2021.

Climate
During summer heat waves, Lytton is often the hottest spot in Canada, despite being north of 50° in latitude. Due to the dry summer air and a relatively low elevation of 230 m (750 ft), summer afternoon shade temperatures sometimes reach 35 °C (95 °F) and up and occasionally top 40 °C (104 °F). Hot summer temperatures are made more tolerable by low humidity. However, the heat can be intense with usually clear blue skies and blazing sunlight – heat also radiates from the valley's slopes, and forest fires are not uncommon during the summer.

Lytton's climate is also characterized by relatively short and mild winters (although December and January average monthly temperatures are just below freezing), with Pacific maritime influence during the winter ensuring thick cloud cover much of the time. Cold snaps originating from Arctic outflow occur from time to time, but tend to be short-lived, and mountains to the north block extreme cold from penetrating the Fraser Canyon.

Lytton is much drier than communities to the south, but certainly wetter than some of the driest spots in the British Columbia interior such as Spences Bridge, Kamloops, and Osoyoos. However, Lytton has the driest summers in the interior of British Columbia, and indeed, one of the driest summers of all places in Canada. Maximum precipitation occurs in the cooler months, with the late autumn and early winter constituting the wettest time of the year.

By car
Lytton is on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) between Vancouver and Kamloops. It is approximately 3½ hours from Vancouver and 1½ hours north of Hope.

By train
Although railways pass through Lytton, VIA Rail Canada's closest train stops are in Ashcroft, 80 km to the north, and North Bend/Boston Bar, 44 km to the south.

By boat

On the river's west side are Indian reserve communities of the Lytton First Nation and the Stein Valley Nlaka'pamux Heritage Park via trails from the confluence of the Stein River with the Fraser. From the ferry, a route known as the West Side Road leads through the Nesikep and Texas Creek areas to Lillooet and British Columbia Highway 99; the route south from the ferry is much more difficult but leads to North Bend-Boston Bar. When the ferry is out of service due to ice or low water levels on the Fraser River, pedestrian access is available via a walkway on the Canadian National Railway bridge crossing the river.

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

title: Lytton


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M'Hamid

M'Hamid is a small village in Zagora region of Morocco, 98 km after Zagora, one of the two places in Morocco where Sahara begins (another is Merzouga). It is "the end of the road" (the last point of the route national N°9), after it is only sands of Sahara, shepherds and caravan trails.

Understand
M'Hamid gets fewer visitors than Merzouga and therefore is less touristy. However, it is also more remote and therefore overall more expensive, while in Merzouga the dunes are right next to the village. M'Hamid is about 7-8 hr by car from Marrakech and 5 hr from Ourzazate.

M'Hamid is next to the last major oasis one encounters on the way south into the greater Sahara. The area was historically important as the site (Sidi Khalil) where trade caravans gathered (some as large as 5,000 camels) before setting off to Timbuktu and other destinations. Little of its interesting history is to be found on websites or in tourist guide books, but knowledgeable locals share the facts and stories with pride and a touch of melancholy.

M'Hamid is also known as Bounou, once a thriving village made out of a mix of local Ait Atta berbers, Local drawa, and local Hassani tribes. The villages of Oulad Youssef, Oulad Mhaya and Ezouaya, amongst others, are scattered throughout the oasis. Local people get around on foot but small motorbikes are very popular too. Donkey carts are in widespread use for transporting goods.

The environment is harsh and fragile. You are urged to appreciate how scarce water is in the town. In the past taps went dry by early afternoon on many days. Despite this and to the severe frustration of locals, a number of the hotels have swimming pools. Choose wisely where you invest your money... it seems more sensible to head to the Moroccan coast if you are keen for a swim, desert temperatures notwithstanding.

Erg Chegaga
Erg Chegaga (or Chigaga) is one of the largest and most impressive sand dune systems in the Moroccan Sahara Desert. It is about 50 km west of M'Hamid, near the southeastern end of the Draa Valley. Erg Chegaga covers an area of around 35 km, with some dunes reaching heights of up to 60 m (almost 200 feet). The vast expanse of sand dunes, which can change shape and location due to wind and weather, creates a stunning and ever-changing landscape.

The Erg Chegaga dunes are less frequented by tourists than the more famous Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, offering a more authentic and remote desert experience. The dunes are especially popular for those seeking the quintessential Sahara experience, with its breathtaking sunsets, starry night skies, and traditional Berber camps.

The best time to visit Erg Chegaga is during the cooler months, from October to April, when daytime temperatures are more comfortable for exploring the dunes. Night-time temperatures can drop significantly, so it's essential to dress appropriately and bring warm layers.

By bus
You can take a CTM bus from Casablanca, Marrakech, or any city along the N9 road (Ouarzazate, Zagora, Tagounite). From Ouarzazate the trip is 80 dirham; from Marrakech it is 160-190 dirham. CTM leaves from Marrakech at around 11:15 and from Ouarzazate at 16:00 and arrives M'hamid around 21:45 (as of Mar 2017). M'Hamid is listed by the CTM as "Lamhamid Ghozlane". Other bus companies include Supratours, and Voyages Farah.

By car
There is an asphalt road to M'Hamid so you can reach the village from Ouarzazate by virtually any car. The trip from Ouarzazate is memorable, passing through small villages, the regional center of Zagora, and over a pass into the open desert.

Get around
M'Hamid is a small town that is easily explored by foot.

See
There is a mosque in town, but as with the rest of Morocco, is not open to non-Muslims. A kasbah is about 2 km away on the road out of town (take a left at the mosque). The kasbah is inhabited by black Africans who came from Mali many years ago.

Do
The main thing people come to M'Hamid for is trips to desert to see the. Getting out is basically what one does in M'Hamid. Camping in the desert, trekking and expeditions to the high dunes are very popular. You can do them overnight or for several days, by camel, 4x4, motor bike or quad bike. If you plan to take two activities in desert, consider starting with a less intensive experience and proceeding to a more adventurous. Overnight trips can be arranged by many outfitters in M'Hamid.

Buy
Markets on Mondays: vegetables and fruits brought from other regions by camels.

Besides that, nothing special with typical tourist shops selling mediocre carpets and usual stuff.

Eat and drink
There are no bars in M'Hamid. It is a very conservative town that strictly observes local laws banning alcohol.

Ensure that you carry sufficient supplies of food and water if venturing into the desert.

Camping
Most tourist companies working in town offer tent rental for your own trip to desert.

Cope
There are numerous begging children in the village, presumably thanks to many tourists arriving directly from the airport to M'Hamid to spend large sums on 4x4 treks.

Go next
Nowhere ... "end of the road" as mentioned at the beginning. Enjoy!

title: M'Hamid


text:
M'zab

M'zab is a limestone plateau in Saharan Algeria and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its collection of desert fortress-cities is exotic to the point of surrealism.

Understand

The M'Zab Valley is a deep, desert valley dotted with five walled cities from the 11th century. Although each one is independent of the other, Ghardaïa is often used to refer to all five collectively. Each town sits on top of a rocky outcrop, with the surrounding sandstone houses leading up to a tall minaret that doubled as a watchtower. The architecture of the cities is of a Libyan-Berber style. The old town centres often contain large, fortress-like mosques and public buildings, with narrow lanes weaving down the hill to the walls. These cities sit within an oasis filled with palm and fruit trees, where locals would traditionally dwell in the hot summer. The locals have retained much of their tradition and customs, and travellers will be able to recognise this while visiting the area.

Cities
M'zab is made up of five separate "cities," which essentially serve as separate urban centers of one large "Pentapolis," home to over 350,000 people.

 * Beni Isguen
 * Bounoura
 * El-Ateuf
 * Ghardaïa — the largest city of the valley, with a population over 100,000.
 * Melika — a small and less remarkable center, but one that offers the best views of both Ghardaia and Bounoura.

Outside the Pentapolis of the valley, there are two other Mozabite oasis towns far to the north:
 * Guerrara
 * Bérianne

Get in

It is possible to fly into Ghardaia from Algiers as Air Algerie has a few flights every week. There are also flights from and to Constantine, Bechar, Illizi, Oran and Tamanrasset. There are also buses coming into Ghardaia from Algiers and Setif (9 hours). There are also buses coming in from In-Salah and Adrar/Timimoun. There is also a bus from Biskra (7-9 hours, 960 dinar).

Go next
Ghardaia is well-connected with buses headed to different parts of the country.
 * Algiers — 10 hours
 * El Goléa — 3.5 hours. 400DA
 * In Salah — 10 hours
 * Ourgla — 3 hours
 * Sétif — 9 hours. 950DA
 * Timimoun — 7 hours. 900DA

title: M'zab


text:
Maasai Mara National Reserve

Maasai Mara National Reserve is in the southwest of Kenya. The Maasai Mara is not a National Park, but rather a National Reserve belonging to the Maasai people and administered by the local county councils. It is one of the best known and most popular reserves in Africa.

Understand
The Maasai Mara National Reserve (also Masai Mara) is visited by thousands of tourists each year, who come here to watch the many different wildlife and birdlife species in the reserve. The reserve is especially famous for the high amount of predators, such as lions, cheetahs, and leopards, and the 1½ million wildebeest which migrate through the Mara and cross the crocodile infested Mara river.

It is notable that Masai Mara is one of the few wildlife reserves in Africa where it is possible to see not only the "Big Five" but also the "Big Nine" Animals within a day's game drive. The "Big Nine" are the lion (Panthera leo), the African elephant (Loxodonta africana), the leopard (Panthera pardus), the African (Cape) buffalo (Syncerus caffer), the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum), the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), the zebra (Equus quagga) and the hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius).

The best kept secret of the Mara is the Mara Triangle, the north western part of the Maasai Mara which is managed by the Mara Conservancy on behalf of Trans-Mara County Council - the rest of the reserve falls under Narok County Council. Although one third of the Mara, the Mara Triangle has only two properties within its boundaries (compared to the numerous camps and lodges on the Narok side) and has well maintained, all weather gravel roads. There are several camps that lie outside the reserve but close to Oloololo Gate of the Mara Triangle, which means in turn that guests staying at these camps will normally be brought into the Mara Triangle area for their game drives. The conservancy rangers patrol regularly which means that there is almost no poaching and therefore excellent game viewing. There is also strict control over vehicle numbers around animal sightings which means a better, more authentic, experience when out on a game drive.

Though the Mara has good numbers of wildlife all year around, it is more lively during the annual Great wildebeest migration when it is estimated that close to a million plus animals migrate into the reserve from Serengeti National park in the south. The migration does not start exactly at the same time each year. It typically starts off some time between July to early August and begins to tail off by mid September when most of the splinter groups within the large wildebeest herds will have crossed over into Masai Mara. Although animals can be seen at any time of the year in May/June it's difficult due to the rainy season with muddy paths.

It is advisable to avoid booking Safaris that have too many destinations or parks to visit within single itinerary. This is often the case with the one-week safaris offered by the major international tour operators. With too many parks and too little time, one has little time left to fully explore the location or really observe the amazing wildlife in each of the parks and reserves as much time is lost traveling from one place to the next.

Check “hot offers” particularly intensely because their program might be completely firm and the accommodations often outside the parks. A good location of the lodge is very important in the Mara. They often use mini buses instead of Jeeps packed with 6 persons, which is the maximum number of seats in a mini bus. You can imagine how packed you are if everyone has a small bag plus photo equipment.

History
Arrowheads and pottery discarded by Neolithic man 2,000 years ago have been found in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Since the 17th century the Masai people have occupied the area - of course together with the wildlife, who are the true landlords here. The Maasai Mara National Reserve as it appears today was established in 1961, and covers 1,510 km² (583 sq miles).

Landscape
The Maasai Mara is characterized by four different kinds of topography: sandy soil and small bushes to the east, the Siria Escarpment forming a spectacular plateau as the western boundary of the reserve, lush grasslands and woodlands around the Mara River and open plains with scattered bushes making up the largest part of the reserve. The landscape is very varied and has a romantic feeling to it, as can be witnessed in the film Out of Africa, which was filmed here in 1985.

Flora and fauna
When visiting the Maasai Mara you are likely to see the famous Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Especially lions are common here, and have grown relatively accustomed to their two-legged visitors, which makes them easier to spot. The Mara Plains are teeming with wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, impala and Thomson's gazelle. Also cheetahs, hyenas and jackals are seen regularly in the reserve. In the Mara River large amounts of hippos and crocodiles are enjoying their lives - the crocodiles are especially happy in July and November when thousands of wildebeest migrate across the river causing a sumptuous feast for the hungry crocodiles.

Birdlife in Maasai Mara are abundant and diverse. Species such as eagles, ostriches, storks and vultures are among the more than 50 different birds of prey.

Climate
Maasai Mara is 1,500-2,200 m (4,900-7,100 ft) above sea level, which makes the climate slightly damper and milder than in other similar regions. Highest temperatures in daytime is 30°C/85°F (warmest in December and January, coldest in June and July), at night the temperature rarely drops below 15°C/60°F.

The rainy season is April-May and November. In these periods some parts of the Mara will get very muddy and practically inaccessible. The dry season occurs from July to October. This is the best time to visit the Maasai Mara as a lot of herbivores indulge in the plants grown long and lush after the rains - and, in these months you will stay clear of heavy showers.

By air
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is accessible by regularly scheduled flight from Nairobi Wilson Airport year-round. Flights can often run from Samburu, Lewa Downs, Nanyuki or Mombasa if sufficient demand. If you have a small group, a charter is also an option. The aircraft will land on one of the small Mara airstrips, and from here you need to transfer by car to your particular lodge. Many lodges and camps offer pickups. The flight from Nairobi takes around half an hour, but may land at several Mara strips. Frequency for all airlines depends on the season. Some flights only operate subject to minimum passenger numbers.
 * is a reliable state airline
 * Safarilink (in combination with Coastal aviation) also offers connecting flights from Tanzania via the land crossing at Migori/Tarime.

By road
If you go by car from Nairobi the drive will take you five hours during the dry season, and up to seven hours in the rainy season. By car you can enter the game reserve through these gates:, , , , and Sand River.

The roads in the reserve can become flooded or turned into mud puddles in the rainy seasons in April, May and November.

A lot of travel agencies organise safari trips to Maasai Mara. You can book a package tour, which allows you to put all transportation to and in the park in their hands.

Fees and permits

 * Entry fee is US$80 per person per night.
 * You can book your tour of the National Reserve with a reliable tour operator that will usually bundle the park fee, the accommodation, and the safari car and driver fees to make sure that you can enjoy your adventure and not have to worry about the details.

Get around
Moving around in Maasai Mara National Reserve must only take place by car - preferably by 4-wheel safari vehicles. Because of the wild animals it is absolutely forbidden to move about on foot outside the camp sites and lodges.

See
The main attraction of this game reserve is, not surprisingly, game viewing. Go on morning, afternoon and night drives over several days in order to see as many as possible of the resident animals, such as lion, leopard, elephant, zebra, giraffe, Thomson's gazelle, hyena, rhino, hippo and the thousands of migrating wildebeest that makes this park so famous.

Many camp sites and lodges offer game drives with experienced drivers and skilled, well-informed guides. These are well worth your money, as they will provide you with priceless knowledge and help you spot animals you wouldn't see on your own. And please catch as many sunuppers and -downers as you can.

Maasai Mara's most famous sight is the Great Migration, a great animal migration event that takes place in July and August every year.

There is a Maasai village near Oloolaimutiek gate of this game park. It is a good experience and will help you to deepen your understanding of the Maasai's culture and simple way of life.

Buy
You can buy strings of beads or beads already made up into necklaces and other pieces of jewellery at the gate and outside the entry to the park.

If you want to support local communities do not buy trinkets from the camps and lodges and instead buy them from a local village - 'manyatta'.

Lodging

 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.

Camping
In the Mara Triangle part of the Maasai Mara there are both public and private campsites available to use. For full details of payment amounts and availability of campsites go to the Mara Triangle website.

Go next
If you're heading next for Lake Naivasha or Nakuru you can get off in Mai Mahiu at the junction of the Old Naivasha Road, so you can skip the Nairobi traffic jams. From there frequent matatus head north.

 * Tsavo West National Park
 * Tsavo East National Park
 * Nairobi
 * Mombasa

title: Maasai Mara National Reserve


text:
Maasin

Maasin is a city and the capital of Southern Leyte. It is located at the southern tip of Leyte island.

Understand
One of its claims to fame is that the current (since 2016) popular but controversial President of the Philippines, Rodriguo Duterte, was born there. His family have long been important in local politics.

By plane
You can now fly from Maasin to/from Cebu city with Air Juan. There are also Airports near Maasin at Ormoc or Tacloban.

By boat

 * Maasin to Macrohon by Cokaliong Shipping lines.
 * There is also a ferry from Maasin to/from Ubay on Bohol Island.
 * There is now a Weesam Express fast ferry to/from Maasin to Cebu City.
 * You can also get a jeepney to Bato port and get a 290-peso ferry to Cebu from there.

By bus & minivan

 * There is direct bus trips from Manila to Massin at the Ali Mall terminal in Cubao, Quezon City and Pasay City.
 * There are buses and Minivans between Maasin and Sogod via Bato. Baybay, Ormoc, Tacloban
 * Philtranco has two buses a day to/from Manila via Tacloban and Legazpi City.

See

 * Busay Falls
 * Guinsohotan Falls
 * Maasin Cathedral
 * Monte Cueva Shrine
 * Bogo Bird Paradise

Go next

 * Baybay
 * Tacloban
 * Ormoc
 * Metro Cebu
 * Sogod

title: Maasin


text:
Maassluis

Maassluis is a quaint town in South Holland, Netherlands the city centre of which has barely changed in a century's time.

Understand
Maassluis was founded around 1340 as a settlement by a lock in the river Meuse, hence its name consists of Maas (Meuse) and sluis (lock). The settlement was first known as Maeslandsluys, as the settlement was part of Maesland. During the Eighty Years' War, work was started on defence works for the town, but the city was captured by the Spanish before the works could be completed.

Maeslandsluys was separated from Maesland in 1614, after which it switched its name to Maassluis, which is how we know the city today. Maassluis requested city rights in December 1813 and gained said rights two months later. During the nineteenth century, Maassluis became known for its shipping company L. Smit & Co. and maritime salvaging company W.A. van den Tak, which after fusing together became known as Smit-Tak. This maritime history is still visible in modern-day Maassluis.

By car
From Amsterdam and The Hague, follow the A4 heading for Schiedam and Rotterdam. Follow this highway until you're at Knooppunt Kethelplein (Kethelplein Interchange), where you head for Vlaardingen and Hook of Holland. This will get you onto the A20 heading for Maassluis, which is reached by using exit 7 on the A20, followed by a turn to the left.

From Bergen op Zoom, follow the A4 heading north. The A4 will have different names throughout this route (A59 and A29), but all you need to do is head straight heading for Rotterdam. Once you find yourself on the end of the A29, shortly after exit 20, head west onto the A15, shortly after which you turn north onto the A4 again. This will get you to Knooppunt Kethelplein (Kethelplein Interchange), where you head for Hook of Holland (Hoek van Holland). Again, Maassluis is found by using exit 7 followed by a turn to the left. If you were to come from the east of the country, then follow the A15, which starts in between Arnhem and Nijmegen.

By public transit
To get to Maassluis via public transit, you can use trains to get to Schiedam Centrum. From here, either take bus 126 to Maassluis, 712 to Maassluis West or 713 to Hook of Holland or, should you travel to Maassluis in the second half of 2018 or later, use the Rotterdam Metro's line to get to Maassluis, which has three stations to its name:,  and. Of these, the first mentioned will most likely be most useful to you, as it is the closest to the city centre.

Get around
The city centre of Maassluis is perfectly navigable by foot. Since the city is stretched along the Nieuwe Waterweg, the Hoekse Lijn (Rotterdam Metro line B) does a rather fine job of connecting Maassluis. As for buses, line 126 sort of serves as a city bus, having many stops in Maassluis.

See
The Steam Boat museum. On Hoogstraat (High street) cost: €4. You get to see the last seagoing steam powered tug the "Furie".

Grote Kerk that towers above the town.

Eat
Restaurants abound in the central section of the city.

Try De Zoete Inval (Tea Room) on Dr Kuyperkade 15. Nice scones, coffee and tea.

Sleep
There is only one hotel in Maassluis, but two more can be found across the Nieuwe Waterweg in Rozenburg, which can easily be reached via a ferry across the water.

Go next
Following the Nieuwe Waterweg, you will find Hook of Holland downstream, the beachfront of which can be reached directly using the Rotterdam Metro's line B. Upstream you will find Vlaardingen, Schiedam and Rotterdam. Going north you'll find Naaldwijk, Delft and The Hague, the latter of which can be reached using the Rotterdam Metro's line E.

Other nearby destinations include:
 * Brielle - The first city to turn against the Spanish during the Dutch war for independence.
 * Spijkenisse - A modern city just south of Rotterdam.
 * Dordrecht - A historical city that once was one of the six largest cities in the county of Holland.
 * Kinderdijk - One of the best known attractions of the Netherlands, being world famous for its windmills.

title: Maassluis


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Maastricht

By many considered to be the most beautiful city of the country, Maastricht is the southernmost city in the Netherlands. It's the capital of the province of Limburg and famous for what the Dutch call the "Burgundian" way of life. Dutch and international visitors alike flock in to enjoy this "joie de vivre" and indulge in the many fine dining, arts, culture and shopping opportunities in town. The river Maas runs through the city, offering some scenic views, and the lovely cobblestoned centre is full of historic buildings and impressive cathedrals. Whether you're here for sightseeing or just to shop till you drop, this is a great place to spend some time.

Understand
Situated within walking distance of Belgium and cycling distance of Germany, Maastricht claims to be the oldest city in the Netherlands (a claim it shares with Nijmegen). It is an especially popular tourist destination in the Netherlands because of its historical old centre and broad shopping possibilities. The city is home to approximately 122,000 people (2019). The University of Maastricht attracts many national and foreign students to the city. Geographically, the city is split in half by a major river (the Maas), with the majority of commercial activity being concentrated on the Western bank of the river, and the train station and the Bonnefanten Museum on the Eastern side.

Tourist information
The VVV is a branch office of the Dutch national tourist agency. The office offers maps, souvenirs, and local, regional, and national travel suggestions. It is at Kleine Staat 1, in the city center. For information about all cultural events in Maastricht, try to find a copy of the Week in Week uit. They are distributed all around the city. Maastricht.nl is the city government website.

Talk
Due to its location close to the border, large and internationally oriented events and of course the many foreign students and visitors, you'll find that plenty of Maastricht's inhabitants speak languages besides their own. Don't worry if you don't speak Dutch, as you'll be well able to get by with English, German or sometimes even French. Locals amongst each other typically speak the city dialect Maastrichtian, a variant of Limburgish, which is widely spoken in the region. Even for Dutch natives from the north, this tonal dialect is not necessarily intelligible. Although Maastrichtian seems to be losing words and grammar as younger generations use it, it is still widely used and locals tend to be proud of it; street signs in the city are often dual language, showing both the Dutch and the Maastrichtian name.

By plane
Maastricht-Aachen Airport can be reached by bus with Veolia route 59, Maastricht-Sittard and vice versa, and stops at Maastricht train station. A ticket from the Maastricht train station to the airport costs €4.50.

Centrally located in the Euregion, major airports in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany can be convenient from travellers to Maastricht.
 * Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is the country's main airport with a wide array of international connections to all parts of the world. It is over 2½ hours from Maastricht by train, requiring a change in either Amsterdam, Utrecht or Sittard along the way.
 * Brussels Airport the main airport of neighbouring Belgium is a good alternative as it also serves a long list of international destinations. It's about a 2-hr drive, but a train trip to Maastricht requires transfers in Brussels North and Liège. Private taxi and minibus transfers are available.
 * Düsseldorf Airport is only a 70 min drive, but the train trip takes about 2½ hr. There is however a bus run by DB that does the trip from Düsseldorf Central Bus Station to Maastricht in 1½ hr.

A number of other, smaller airports with low cost carrier connections are within easy reach of Maastricht. Eindhoven Airport (90 min), Rotterdam The Hague Airport (2½ hr), Brussels South Charleroi Airport, Weeze Airport (NRN) in Germany and Cologne-Bonn Airport (also in Germany) are all worth checking out for common discount carrier destinations.

By train
Maastricht is well served by train, with, near the centre of the city, and , in the south. There are two trains departing from Maastricht Station to the northern destinations every hour. Some popular destinations include:

Prices in this table are one-way and non-reduced fare. For more information check the NS English language website. Local trains will take you to Valkenburg, Heerlen & Kerkrade, four times every hour.

Coming from Germany with the Deutschland-Ticket just put in the destination Maastricht on the DB app or website and choose "regional/local transport only". You have 2 options: • Taking a train (every 30 min) from Aachen or Herzogenrath to Maastricht. Here you need to buy an extra ticket from Herzogenrath to Maastricht for €9 (Feb 2024). • Taking the bus line 350 (every 15 min) from Aachen to Maastricht. Here you need an extra ticket for Vaals-Maastricht for about €6 (Feb 2024).

Rail travel in the Netherlands
There is an extensive rail system in the Netherlands. Travelling by train is generally a good experience in the Netherlands, although Dutch people will often complain that the trains are late and full. National train services are run by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), and an elaborate timetable system including price information is available on their website. Prices for trips are determined by distance, with longer distances costing less per km than shorter ones. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office in the train station's main hall, but you can save yourself an extra service fee by buying your train ticket from a yellow-and-blue electronic ticketing machine (note that some machines only accept European pin passes/debit cards and only older machines accept coins). Wherever you plan to buy your ticket, make sure you buy it before boarding the train, as it is not possible to buy a ticket on-board and you'll risk a €35 fine (in addition to the ticket price). Tickets can be bought as either one way tickets, or as a same-day or same weekend return. If you plan to return in the course of a couple of days, you should simply buy two separate one way tickets.

International trains
An hourly service connects Maastricht with Liège, Belgium. Although there is no longer a direct, high-speed connection between Maastricht and Brussels, Belgium, you can catch an express train in Liège and take it to Brussels. From there you can switch trains to Paris and London.

An hourly service also connects Maastricht with Aachen, which is linked to the rest of Germany by ICE trains.

For further information on international train journeys, check timetables and train fares at the Belgian Railways, the French Railways, or German Railways websites.

By car
There a two motorways from and to Maastricht: A2 (Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Sittard, Belgium and France - "Route du Soleil") and A79 (Heerlen, Aachen).

By bus

 * Bus 350 from Aachen serves Maastricht every 15 min all days. Generally, travellers pay about (Feb 2024) for a one-way ticket. Travel time is approximately one hour from Aachen. See 9292.nl for timetables.
 * Belgian busses come and go to Hasselt, Tongeren, Lanaken and Liège.
 * Semi tours travels on Tuesday ("Utorak") to/from Bosnia via Belgium, passing Maastricht, to Amsterdam. Return trip around €150, reservation by phone at the Belgian office. Bus stops at the central station.

By foot
This is by far the most attractive option as it allows travellers to see the beautiful winding streets in the centre of the city, as well as experience the cultural melting pot that Maastricht's location allows. A particularly nice walk outside of the centre is along the river, from St Servaas Brug (The Stone Bridge near the entrance to the city) down to the JFK Bridge (near the bottom), which goes through Maastricht's largest park. Visitors can then cross the JFK bridge and go to Maastricht's modern art museum - the Bonnefanten (see below).

Maastricht Running Tours offers guided city jogging tours in Maastricht or their green surroundings. During tours you get to see more and you do your work out at the same time. The Highlight tours is about 6 km (1½ hours). During several stops on the tour you get to hear the interesting stories behind the most interesting sights of the old historical center. The pace is very easy and adapted to the group. If that is still too much exercise you can pick up a City Walking Tour Guide (€1.60) from the VVV Tourist Office at Kleine Staat 1 and tour the town at your own pace.

By bike
There are thousands of bicycles in Maastricht, often the young gents giving their girlfriends a lift on the parcel carrier at the back, with the girls sitting "side saddle". A charming sight, and you can join in the bicycle culture very easily, there are several bicycle hire shops in Maastricht. You can explore the flat country of South Limburg. Dutch traffic law is heavily biased towards the cyclist, so you might find cars slowing down to let you pass when they are pulling in to a side street which you are about to cross - no sane car driver is going to cut you off since in the case of an accident the cyclist is always presumed innocent unless grossly negligent. Also while there are many one-way streets in Maastricht, almost all (if not all) of them have a cycle lane going the other way up the street.

Maastricht Gulpen Cycle Route (53 km). Exploring the river valleys of South Limburg.

Maastricht Pietersberg Cycle Route (21 km). Ancient quarries and forts along the River Meuse.

Maastricht-Biking offers 2 hour guided city tours off the beaten track.

By bus
The city has a bus system called the Stadsbus ("City Bus") that travels over most of the city and to surrounding areas. Tickets can be bought on the bus, or you can buy an OV-chipkaart. It is a magnetic card which you can recharge with chosen amount of money (minimum €5). This card costs €7.50 and can be bought at the train station, also at the vending machine at the station or in the Veolia Transport service point (Veolia is Maastricht's bus transport company). When you enter the bus, you have to put the card close to the yellow card reader which will 'check you in' at the beginning stop. When you go out from the bus, you have to do it again to 'check out'. The amount of money for the trip will be taken from your card. It is much cheaper than buying a ticket from the bus driver. 'Strippenkaart' is no longer valid in Maastricht.

By car
Travelling by car can be painful in Maastricht, largely because most of the city centre is pedestrian-only, constant roadworks and closed roads, and also due to the horrendous (€2.60 an hour, max 2 hours per ticket placement) parking rates. It is often easier to park your car outside the town centre and either walk or bus into the city.

If you need to park for the day, try one of the parking areas on the edge of the centre such as: Machines take coins and local EC cards.
 * the free (for 48 hours) P+R Maastricht Nord, which is right at a bus station with a 10 minute ride to the city centre, a day ticket with return costing €2 p.p for 2 or €5 for 3-5 people
 * the Spinx, which costs €2.30 an hour but with a maximum day charge of €9
 * the Stadtpark parking under the west side of the Kennedybrug (bridge), which costs €1.40 an hour, €6 for day ticket

By train
Trains run four times per hour between Maastricht Centraal Station, and Maastricht Randwyck station (at the South of the City), at a cost of €2.20.

City Centre
Perhaps one of the best (free) sights of Maastricht is simply to admire the two town squares in the centre of the city and the many old buildings around the street near the university and town wall:

Carnival
Few Dutch cities take their carnival celebrations as seriously as Maastricht and when the weather is nice, the omnipresent music, laughter, costumes and parades might even make you think of Rio. It's a major happening and the highlight of the year for many of the locals. For a day or three, virtually all of regular life comes to a standstill as the mayor symbolically hands over the key of the city to Prince Carnaval, who is always accompanied by his jester and "council of eleven" advisors. Shops, museums and other institutions close their doors and people from all over the country flock to Maastricht to join in the merry celebrations that go on from late in the morning till the early hours of the next.

Start of the season
The whole thing -locals call it Vasteloavend rather than carnival- starts as early as November. As eleven is the fool's number, the carnival season is opened at the 11th of the 11th, at 11:11. The Vrijthof is the stage for the first events and the first appearances of Maastricht's zate hermenikes, or drunken bands. They are small music bands, often in costume, often deliberately performing in a slightly amateurish way. A "blue ship" travellers the streets, a tradition going back to the 12th century and linked to the theme of Hieronymus Bosch's painting: The ship of fools. For outsiders, things may seem quiet after that, until the actual spring celebrations, but in reality numerous parties are organized behind closed doors during those months, typically involving a satiric sort of stand-up comedy in local dialect.

Main events
For outsiders, the spring celebrations are most interesting. Dates vary as they are related to Easter, but the main events take places on Saturday to Tuesday.
 * On Saturday the new prince takes over town, parading (usually at 13:11) from the central station to the market square, where the mock-transition of power takes place.
 * Sunday sees the main parade, full of colourful carts, individual acts and thousands of spectators in costume. It leaves around 13:55 from Wijck and travellers towards the city centre. Princes (some city districts or clubs have their own, and some from neighbouring towns join the parade) throw candy on the crowds.
 * Monday is family-day, with a children's parade pulling through the centre, towards the Vrijthof.
 * The Zate hermenikesconcours on Tuesday has all the little bands roaming the streets, competing to impress a jury on the Vrijthof. Be warned that the music is only part of the competition, and it's a funny show rather than a concert. On Wednesday, the day after, cafés all over town serve raw herring or head cheese with rye bread to their guests.

Green, yellow and red are the official carnival colours and alaaf! is heard everywhere as a greeting. Dressing up is not obliged, but you don't want to be and outsider, pick up at least a few carnival gadgets (widely available in the days before).

Buy
Shops are generally open between 09:00 and 17:00 but many are closed on Monday morning. Thursday some shop are open until 21:00. Also Sunday opening between 12:00 and 18:00.

 * Visit the European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) This art fair is among the world's leading art fairs with buyers from all over the world.
 * 'Regular' shopping centre, known for its exclusivity. The main shopping area is between the Vrijthof and the river south of the Markt; should however also check out the more specialist shop over the other the side of the Sint Servaasbrug.

Eat
There are many excellent places to eat in the town. Key areas to peruse are around Onze Lieve Vrouweplein, Vrijthof, Maaspromenade and Wycker Brugstraat. Also around Tongersestraat, close to the Economics and Law faculties of the Universiteit Maastricht.

Eating out in Maastricht is not always cheap, with most restaurants catering more to a posh older crowd rather than the student population. On weekdays there are a number of good and relatively low-priced sandwich outlets, as well as the usual fries based take-aways.

Drink
Maastricht has many bars, restaurants, pubs and dance clubs, located on Vrijthof and Market Squares, and in the centre of downtown it's nearly impossible to walk around and not see anything to do.

 * Maastricht is great for a night out (Maastricht is home to both a University & Institute). Therefore, lots of students, also lots of foreign companies are based here so a mixture of international pubs & clubs can be found here.

Bars

 * Be sure to check out these places to go drink and have a good time: The Highlander, Falstaff, Twee Heeren, Metamorfoos, C'est La Vie, Take5, De Allabonneur, and especially the make!-bar.  They all are very welcoming and have great music to dance to.

"Coffeeshops"
In the Netherlands, the policy regarding soft drugs (such as weed, hash and magic mushrooms) is lenient. Therefore, there are several coffee- and headshops where you can buy these products. You can buy up to 5 grams of marijuana. Make sure you bring your identification card or driver's licence with you, because the shops are very strict about age and they will check it no matter how old you look. You have to be at least 18 years old to enter a coffee- or headshop. As of May 1, 2012, only those with a Dutch passport and clubpass are being allowed entry.

The coffeeshops in Maastricht have a lot (2.2 million annually!) of foreign customers, so they are able to understand Dutch, English, French and German. The Mississippi boat is the most popular with coffeeshop visitors from abroad. It is a coffee shop built in a large boat which lays in the Maas river and is certainly worth visiting. However it is regarded as having overpriced products and lower quality by locals and connoisseurs. Recommended are; Black Widow, a small coffeeshop located outside of the city centre that has reasonable prices and good quality, Easy Going for its centrality and Heaven 69 for the open roof diner. Club 69, just around the corner of the Cool Running, is the oldest, smallest but most laid back one in town. For tourists other than Dutch, German or Belgian, there is a coffeeshop at Koestraat near the Beluga restaurant that is outside of the "union" and will serve you.

Talk
Maastricht is a very multilingual city, and it is not uncommon to regularly hear people speaking Dutch, English, French and German. In addition, many locals speak in the widespread local dialect Maastrichts, which is a variety of Limburgish. Street names tend to be written in both Dutch and Maastrichts, which has a French influence. Consequently, there are many languages to learn in Maastricht, both in the city or through lessons.

Stay safe
As with much of the Netherlands, Maastricht is a safe city if you are not looking for trouble. Pickpocketing and muggings have been known to occur in less tourist-friendly parts of the city, but tourists are rarely targeted.

Religious services

 * El Fath Mosque. Sint Lucassingel 70.
 * Tevhit Mosque. Weustenraadstr 24.
 * Damascus Road International Church, Stay Okay Hostel, Maasboulevard 101. Su 11:00, service in English
 * All Saints Maastricht International Church (Anglican), Onze Lieve Vrouw Kerk, 1st and 3rd Sundays 10:30, service in English
 * Saint John Chrysostom Orthodox Church, St. Maartenslaan 37. Check website for service times.

Holy mass in Catholic churches in Maastricht:
 * Sint Servaas Basilica, Keizer Karelplein. Sa 18:00; Su 10:00, 11:30; M-Sa 09:00 (Sint Servaas chapel)
 * Onze Lieve Vrouwe Basilica, Onze Lieve Vrouweplein. Sa 17:00 (crypt), 18:30; Su 09:00, 10:00, 11:30; M-Sa 09:30
 * Sint Matthiaskerk, Boschstraat 99. Sa 17:30; Su 11:15; Tu-F 08:30
 * Sint Petrus Banden, Oude Kerkstraat 10 (Maastricht Heer). Sa 19:15; Su 08:30, 09:45; M-F 19:00
 * Basiliek van het H. Sacrament, Markt, 6231 LR Meerssen. Su 11:00; M Tu 19:00; W F 08:00

See also English-language Church Services in the Netherlands.

Go next

 * World War II Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial: take the [[Image:NLD-N278.svg|28px]] 9.5 kilometers (6 miles) east of Maastricht. The cemetery is just west of the village of Margraten. Open daily except for December 25 and January 1; 09:00 to 17:00. The cemetery is the final resting place for 8,301 American military dead. A monument is inscribed with the names of 1,723 Americans whose remains were never found or identified. The site contains a chapel and museum with three engraved operations maps describing the European Campaign.
 * Caves in the Sint Pietersberg: Although the limestone caves are actually mines, it is nice to take a guided tour through the belly of the berg. In the Second World War, the Dutch stored their national arts collections in a vault in the hill, and a lot of engravings - some more old than the other - are to be admired. Entrances lie at several places on the mountain, and are well within walking distance of the town center. Plan in advance to make sure you can get in.
 * Fort Eben-Emael: A Belgian World War II fort no longer in use, but open to the public on certain weekends. Very close to Maastricht, just south across the Belgian border.
 * Valkenburg aan de Geul: This historic town was besieged many times and many traces remain to be seen, including Valkenburg castle. Along with tours of the old mines there is also a popular spa and a casino.

title: Maastricht


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Mabaruma

Mabaruma is the regional administrative centre near the Venezuelan border in Guyana, a very small town of only about 800 inhabitants.

Get in
There is a supply boat that arrives from Georgetown every other week, but this is definitely not the recommended way to reach Mabaruma. Trans Guyana Airways has daily flights from the Georgetown municipal airport. There are tight luggage restrictions so be sure to check out the limits before heading to the airport. A passport is required for non-citizens even though this is an internal flight.

Do
From the Kamaka docks, a boat can be hired to visit Almond or Shell Beaches on the Atlantic. These are both remote and beautiful.

Buy
This is a cash-only society. There are no banks or bank machines. In addition to the Guyanese dollar, U.S. cash may be used at a few places and Venezuelan currency is readily accepted.

A few local crafts can be found. A women's cooperative, selling local items, has a shop in Kamaka.

Drink
Rum and beer can be purchased everywhere. Drink only bottled water. It is easy to acquire.

Sleep
The Broomes Hotel which is actually located midway between Mabaruma and Kamaka (15 minute walk to either) is the place to stay. Monty Broomes, the owner, sees to it that the guests are comfortable and fed. There is a set meal served at specific times. The rooms have fans but no air conditioning. Private baths are in each room but expect cold showers!

Stay safe
Malaria is a concern. Arrive with proper medication and repellent.

Go next
Almond and Shell Beaches can be visited as day trips.

title: Mabaruma


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Mablethorpe

Mablethorpe is a town in Lincolnshire.

Get in
By Car: A52

By Rail: There is no rail links, Mablethorpe railway station closing in 1970

By Bus: Interconnect 9 from Skegness bus station

Sleep
Plenty of small hotels and B&Bs

Connect
As of Nov 2022, Mablethorpe and its approach roads have 4G from EE and Three, but only a patchy signal from O2 and Vodafone. 5G has not reached town.

title: Mablethorpe


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Mabul

Mabul Island (Pulau Mabul in Malay) is a small island off the south-east coast of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. The island is known as one of the best muck diving (viewing exotic and/or small organisms in the sediment at the bottom of the ocean) destinations in the world.

Understand
The island is covered in palm trees and fringed with fine beaches. It is a famous diving spot for divers, both international and local alike, and is well known as the macro diving paradise.

It is located near Pulau Sipadan.

Get in
Make your way to Semporna, then take a boat from there. The journey takes about 30 minutes by speed boat, 1½ hours by slow boat. Resorts and lodges provide boat transfers for their guests. Visitors can also come in on day tours by joining a dive trip organized by one of the dive operators in Semporna.

You can also easily get a boat at the public jetty in Semporna for RM 75 (Feb 2020) one way per person (60 rm with a good bargaining which is still expensive for a short 45 minutes boat ride, but everything is overpriced 5 times in Mabul, specially accommodation!)

Get around
Mabul is small enough to be explored entirely on foot. There are no roads or cars. Boats take visitors to various diving and snorkeling sites around the island.

See
Mabul possesses beautiful sandy beaches lined with coconut palm trees. However, the indiscriminate throwing of litter by the local fishermen does much to detract from this beauty, particularly on the island's west side.

Do
Scuba diving - While its famous neighbour Sipadan is a home to large pelagic species, Mabul is the place to find the smaller macro species. Scorpionfishes, frogfishes, nudibranchs, crocodilefishes, various crustaceans and many other interesting and rare forms of marine life can be found here. Most dive sites are quite shallow - 12-18 m - with a maximum depth of around 30 m in a few places. Visibility is around 5-8 m at the real muck sites like Froggy Lair, Paradise Reef, and Seaventure Platform, reaching around 15 m at the seaward site Lobster Wall. Turtles can also be seen in places, although by far not as many as at Sipadan.

Most of the dive shops, if not all of them, are operated by the home stay and resorts. They don't like divers to live but dive with other operators. They also may not allow you to dive with them if you're not staying with them.

Snorkeling - A few sites close to shore are suitable for snorkeling, primarily around Paradise Reef anr Lobster Wall.

In front of Borneo Divers, you can swim just from the beach and for free to see good corals and many fish and even turtles if you're lucky. Unfortunately there are also lots of plastic bags floating in the water. Beware of the boats, too.

Buy
Besides small shops in resorts and lodges there are no shops on the island.

Eat
Resorts and lodges provide their guests all meals. Very much overpriced for what you really get, like everything in Mabul, while the local people are so poor. It's a shame. Far better value to eat in one of the few small restaurants own by the local inhabitants, like Mabul Café Papa & Mama in the center of the real village, just at the rear of Scuba Jeff resort: big plate of fried rice with chicken RM 5 or huge hamburgers RM 3 to RM 5, noodles, soup, drinks, all at very reasonable prices and with good quality (Feb 2020). Also small barbecue stands in the village selling at lunch and dinner time grilled tuna: RM 3 per slice, enough for one person.

Drink
Resorts and lodges provide drinks to their guests. Other than that there are no choices on Mabul.

Sleep
There are several resorts in the island, all overpriced and very expensive for Malaysia (even for the dorms) as there are no local guest houses but only big resorts. It's a kind of rip off but you don't have other choice if you want to stay on Mabul.

Go next
Take a boat back to Semporna.

title: Mabul


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Macaé

Macaé is a city of 262,000 people (2020) in northern Rio de Janeiro state that is often referred to as "Cidade do Petróleo" ("City of Petroleum").

Understand
This is the base for most of Brazil's offshore oil exploration.

Get in
The urban area of the first district is accessed through Imboassica by those who come from the Baixadas Litorâneas by the RJ-106 highway, through Aroeira by those who come from the Baixadas Litorâneas by the BR-101 highway, and though Cabiúnas by those who come from other municipalities of Northern Rio de Janeiro.

The city is 180 km from Rio de Janeiro.

Frequent buses from Rio de Janeiro and Vitória.

The route from the long-distance bus station, in the Central Zone of Rio, to the Macaé station is made by the bus company "1001".

See

 * The Monte Elísio manor house was erected at the foot of a small rise, on Avenida Santos Moreira, in the Visconde de Araújo neighborhood. Today it is the headquarters of the Nossa Senhora da Glória Institute. Its construction took place in 1852, obeying the neoclassical and in the internal part, highlight for the wooden staircase, with the initials of Visconde de Araújo.
 * The Monte Elísio manor house was erected at the foot of a small rise, on Avenida Santos Moreira, in the Visconde de Araújo neighborhood. Today it is the headquarters of the Nossa Senhora da Glória Institute. Its construction took place in 1852, obeying the neoclassical and in the internal part, highlight for the wooden staircase, with the initials of Visconde de Araújo.
 * The Serra de Macaé is a set of districts in the municipality that has, among other attractions, waterfalls, canoeing events and traditional festivals in honor of the patron saint. Its main access is via the RJ-168 highway.
 * The Serra de Macaé is a set of districts in the municipality that has, among other attractions, waterfalls, canoeing events and traditional festivals in honor of the patron saint. Its main access is via the RJ-168 highway.
 * The Serra de Macaé is a set of districts in the municipality that has, among other attractions, waterfalls, canoeing events and traditional festivals in honor of the patron saint. Its main access is via the RJ-168 highway.

Do

 * Carnival: parades of painted oxen, carnival blocks, the parade of samba schools, held on Linha Verde.
 * The municipality contains part of the Central Rio de Janeiro Atlantic Forest Mosaic of conservation units, created in 2006.
 * Its most famous beaches are Cavaleiros and Pecado.
 * The Macaé Oilers play American Football.
 * The Macaé Oilers play American Football.

title: Macaé


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Macapá

Macapá is the capital of Amapá, and one of the most deserted state capitals of Brazil. The locals call it "the capital of the middle of the world", as the equator runs through the city. In 2020, it was home to 513,000 people.

Climate
As a city cut by the equator and with a climate similar to cities like Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, get ready for intense heat, high temperatures and high humidity in Macapá. Regardless of the time of year, temperatures don't vary much and stay pretty much the same. The maximums are usually 31 ºC (88 ºF) and the minimums reach 24 ºC (75,2 ºF).

The rainy season occurs from December to July. Despite being an inconvenience for those who want to go outdoors, during the rainy season, there is a tidal wave called Pororoca, which takes place in Macapá between April and June. These are huge waves that are formed when the Amazon River meets the Atlantic Ocean. The pororoca is a tourist attraction that even allows surfing championships to be held.

Get in
Macapá is to the north of the immense mouth of the Amazon River, in a region covered by Amazon rainforest, and is separated from Belém by Marajó Island and is completely isolated geographically from the Brazilian capitals, having a land connection only with French Guiana. The only way to get to Macapá from Brazil is by plane or boat.

By boat

 * Boats from nearby Santana from Belém (24 hours), Santarém (30 hours, hammock R$ 120, cabin R$ 250) and Manaus (5 days), among other smaller destinations.

By bus

 * There are buses from Oiapoque on the border of French Guyana. Travel time varies greatly with the rains.

Get around
Metered taxis and moto taxis abound; some buses.

See

 * [[Image:Equator Line Monument, Macapá city, Brazil.jpg|thumb|The Marco Zero Monument, where the equator passes through Macapá]]
 * [[Image:Fortaleza São José de Macapá.jpg|thumb|Cannon at the Fort of Macapá]]

Do

 * There are a number of small beaches around the city, particularly popular on Sundays. The easiest to access is Fazendinha, with direct buses from the centre.

Eat
There are various restaurants and churrascarias just next to the fort at the riverside. They offer meals for R$7 to R$20 (March 2016) and are a popular spot for locals to grab their lunch (11:30 to 14:00).

Budget
All these are around the fort:

Drink

Bar Rods

At the river side and relaxed atmosphere.

Sleep
Most mid-scale hotels give a straight 20-30% discount on posted prices.

Go next
By boat from nearby Santana to Belém (24 hours), Santarém (40 hours, hammock R$ 125, cabin R$ 250) and Manaus(5 days), or by bus or 4WD to Oiapoque (7 to 12 hours, depending on road condition) 3 buses/day official price R$115 (February 2017).

title: Macapá