text:
Tangier

 * See also Tangier (Virginia).

Tangier (Ar. طنجة, Tanjah, Fr. Tanger) is an important port city in Morocco. The third most populous city in the country, it's a popular entry point to Morocco and Africa as a whole due to its proximity to Spain, and an interesting destination in its own right.

Understand

"Tangier is more New York than New York … Then you must see how alike the two places are. The life revolves wholly about the making of money."

- Paul Bowles (1910-1999)

Tangier is a fascinating Moroccan city to visit. It has many of the things that travellers love—a sense of exotic mystery, interesting history, beautiful vistas, unspoiled beaches, and friendly people. It is an interesting mix of the cultures of north Africa, Spain, and France and indeed has a very international history, and has traditionally been home to people from several different cultures. At the beginning of the 20th century, for instance, a quarter of the city's population were Europeans and another quarter Jewish.

Founded sometime in the 5th century BCE, Tangier has been part of all major empires in the region throughout history. During the last centuries major European powers have contested for the city at the southern bank of the Strait of Gibraltar in order to gain control over the traffic between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. This game even brought France and Germany to the brink of war in 1905. Deemed too important to be controlled by a single country, it was under joint international control from 1925 to 1956 (during that period known as the Tangier International Zone). During World War II and the Cold War it was also a major center for spying activities by major powers, as well as a playground for gamblers, crooks and millionaires. Also, several Western cultural personalities such as William S. Burroughs, George Orwell, Henri Matisse and the rock band Rolling Stones have spent some time in Tangier. The American author Paul Bowles lived there for most of his life.

Today the city with a little less than a million inhabitants is the third largest city in Morocco, an important port, center of industry and a popular destination for daytrippers. Frequent ferries make the short crossing from Europe each day, and many cruise ships sailing between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic often include Tangier as a port of call. The Spanish coastline, 30 km away can be seen unless there's haze or fog.

Quite appropriately, Tangier is the birthplace of Ibn Battuta, considered by many to be one of the greatest travellers of all time and on a level with the Venetian Marco Polo. This Berber visited most of the known world at that time including most African regions north of Uganda and Eurasia as far as China.

Climate
The northwest of Morocco is the wettest part of the country. Compared to the south of the country, the summers are milder and the winters can be relatively cold. Facing the Atlantic directly, temperatures in Tangier are usually even a couple degrees cooler than at the Spanish side of the strait.

Notable districts

 * Medina — the old town of Tangier is quite compact compared to the likes in other Moroccan cities. Still, it's easy to lose your orientation in its labyrinths of alleys. Landmarks include the Grand Mosque and several souks (markets).
 * Kasbah — the northwestern part of the medina is made up of the Kasbah or fortification. The main building here is the Dar el-Makhzen that has served as residence for sultans and European colonial lords. Today it is a museum.
 * Ville Nouvelle — the new city around Boulevard Pasteur is the commercial center of Tangier. Though not an attraction in any sense, it's where to go to find banks, cafés, modern shops and such.

By plane
Tangier receives flights from the largest cities in Western Europe and Morocco, most of them operated by budget carriers like RyanAir and AirArabia.

Getting there/away: no public transport available. Grand taxis depart from the arrivals exit, with fixed prices per destination—price for a full taxi (so consider arranging a group to share it beforehand)... day 05:30–22:30, night 22:30–05:30 (as of Dec 2023):
 * Tangier city center: 100/150 dirham; Tangier train station: 120/180 dirham; port of Tangier Med: 300/450 dirham
 * Asilah: 200/300 dirham
 * Tetouan: 350/525 dirham
 * Larache: 350/525 dirham

Cheaper options:
 * Take a grand taxi to Asilah (20 dirham) or Gueznaia and exit when the road goes off to the airport (it's signposted). It’s a 1.8-km walk from there on a not-too-ugly road. Coming from the airport, a grand taxi running into Tanger can be easily caught at the crossing. Local buses run on the main road so it should be possible to catch one at the junction (N1-airport).
 * Take a petit taxi or local bus to the university in Boukhalef (Faculty Science And Technology). From there it is 2.5 km to the airport. There is no sidewalk and for a short part, no houses, but seems well transited and people walk on the sides. Petit taxis from the university to the airport are 30 dirham. Also, buses 1, 2, and 20 go to the university in Boukhalef
 * If you are coming by coach from the south: Rabat, Casablanca, ask the driver to drop you at the N1-airport junction, or in Boukhalef and walk or take a petit taxi.

For more international connections you may also consider the airports of Rabat or Casablanca. From there you can take a high-speed train or intercity bus to Tangier.

By train
The country has an excellent railway system with 1,893 km (1,176 mi) of track and a fine intercity passenger service. In 2018 a high-speed rail service opened between Tangier and Casablanca, via Kenitra and Rabat. Travel times have been greatly reduced with a full length trip taking just over two hours. Regular intercity trains are available from Oujda, Fez and Meknès amongst others. A convenient way of travelling to and from Marrakesh is by using the overnight train, taking just under 10 hours. The train offers both couchettes and sleepers. All trains in Morocco are operated by ONCF, online ticketing are available.

If travelling from Europe, there are trains from several cities in southern Spain to Algeciras, across the Gibraltar Strait.

By bus
Tangier, as it's typical for Morocco, has two long distance bus stations: CTM one exclusively for CTM buses and Gare routière serving all other bus companies. Supratours coaches depart from the train station making them a convenient option in case the next leg involves travel by train.

By boat

There are two ferry lines from Spain: Tarifa–Tangier and Algeciras–Tangier Med. Another option would be Algeciras–Ceuta route. Tickets for foot passengers generally cost around €40 single/€70 return (as of Jun 2023).

If travelling as a foot passenger from Algeciras to Tangier, it is usually more convenient to take a connecting bus to Tarifa (see below) and then a ferry from there to Tangier Ville port rather than a direct ferry from Algeciras to Tangier Med port, which is miles away from Tangier.

 * Tarifa–Tangier Ville. There are two companies operating this line: FRS and Intershipping. There is not much of a difference, crossing always takes about one hour. The number of departures vary during the year, in the summer FRS has five departures in each direction, Intershipping ten. However, during major holidays and summer weekends, it can get really busy and chaotic in the ports. At that time there is reportedly even a risk that you don't get on the ferry you've reserved a ticket for, but have to wait for a later one. If you are coming from Algeciras, there is a free shuttle bus to Tarifa included in the ticket. (The shuttle bus departs in front of the ticket offices in Algeciras harbour.)
 * is beside the medina, and a few hundred metres from the ville nouvelle.
 * Getting there/away: The government has been partially successful in reducing the number of touts, money changers, taxi drivers and fake guides hassling people. Nevertheless, expect to be talked into something. Make sure to look like you know where you're going, politely refuse any offers of help or ignore the fake guides completely. The taxi rank is inside the port area where you are likely to be mobbed by requests from many drivers. There is no queuing system: just take the taxi which you have agreed a fare with and are comfortable with. The blue coloured petit taxis are substantially cheaper and used more by locals and are preferable to the cream coloured grande taxis who are mostly unmetered. Be sure to fix the total prize (not per person) before departing and haggle!
 * Algeciras–Tangier Med. Operated by Intershipping, twice daily, €22, tickets can only be bought at Algeciras terminal (i.e. no online ticketing).
 * Motril (port close to Malaga and Granada) — Tangier Med route operated by Balearia, once daily, 8 hrs.
 * If you're coming from further north, GNV sails from Genoa with a stopover in Barcelona to Tangier Med, the cheapest ticket is €120 from Genoa one-way (as of Jan 2023).
 * Besides, there is an irregular (no more than 2 departures per month) passenger service from Gibraltar to Tangier Med operated by FRS, 1:30 h, €37.50 (as of Jan 2023).
 * Ferries from Algeciras with Tangier as their destination do not sail to the port in Tangier city, but instead to the about 40 km further east, which requires an additional 45–60 minutes ride. Note that almost all trucks crossing the strait will use this line instead of the Tarifa–Tangier line, which is more popular with tourists.
 * Getting to Tangier Med port:
 * By local bus from Tangier, 7 dirham (as of Sep 2022). The blue Alsa bus, numbered I-3, makes its first trip outbound from Tanger Ville station around 06:30 and its last inbound trip from Tanger Med at around 22:00, no precise timetable exists, departures roughly every hour. Buses are not available later at night, if you arrive late, you will need to get a grand taxi. Besides, there is an intercity bus connecting Tangier with Fnideq (Moroccan town close to the border with Ceuta), which passes Tangier Med, 10 departures daily. Tangier Med's bus stop is a white shelter without signs on the main road about 400 meters from the ferry terminal.
 * By grand taxi. Grand taxis inside the port charge 300 dirham per car. If you want a cheaper ride walk instead onto the main road towards Tangier, where the standard price is 30 dirham per seat (as of November 2022), or up to double that late at night.
 * Algeciras–Ceuta. Yet another alternative would be crossing from Algeciras to Ceuta and overland into Morocco. Prices are similar to the Tangier Ville and Tangier Med routes.

By car or motorcycle
When coming into Tangier by car, be careful of hustlers on motorbikes who will ride alongside you and attempt all manner of dodginess.

You can come by car by ferry from Algeciras and Tarifa in Spain or through the Spanish enclave of Ceuta (reached by ferry from Algeciras and ports in Spain). The ferry crossing varies from 1 hour to 3 hours. Shortest and cheapest will be from Tarifa to Tangier taking around 40 min. Tarifa is probably the most laid-back option as far as ports are concerned.

If you're coming from more southern parts of the country, take the toll highway from Rabat which is in a good shape.

Get around

Tangier is very easy to navigate around; the two main roads are Boulevard Mohammed V which runs from near the Medina through the ville nouvelle and Boulevard Mohammed VI (formerly Ave des FAR) which runs along from the beachfront from the port to Malabata. The exception is the Medina (old town), a complex array of alleyways some of which can only be accessed on foot. Mohammed V has a whole range of clothes shops, pharmacies and cafes as well as Hotel Flandria, Hotel Rembrandt. Hotel El Minzah lies just off this road. Mohammed VI runs along the beach front where you will find numerous hotels (Rif, Ramada, Sherezade, Solazure, Tariq, Movenpick), bars, discos, restaurants and cafes. Most hostels are on the roads heading uphill near the port area and in the Medina.

On foot
Walking is perhaps the best way to see the relatively compact Tangier. In the old town it's also the only way to get around, although you will occasionally encounter locals speeding on scooters along the narrow and bumpy alleys.

By car
The speed limit in the city is 40 km/h. The traffic can be quite busy and chaotic with not only all kinds of vehicles but also pedestrians on the lanes. However, there is also a heavy police presence supervising and directing the traffic, often replacing traffic lights. You should better have some familiarity with Tangier before driving yourself in the city, there are usually not many opportunities to stop and look where you should be going.

At many places there are official car guards (carrying a badge) who help you park and will watch over your vehicle for a fee.

By taxi

There are two types of taxis in Tangier. Grands taxis are cream-coloured mini-vans. Petits taxis are regular cars, painted turquoise. Petit taxis are common, but if the vehicle you want to take has no meter make sure you agree on a price first, and haggle! Grand taxis are also called "taxi collectif" and depart from stations when full (6 people). At stations, grand taxis have fixed prizes. However, they can also be waved down on the street (if they have any free spot), in which case the prize should be discussed before departing.

Most locals in Tangier will be unfamiliar with what we call the ville nouvelle. To help with agreeing fares and generally with navigating using taxis—the central main thoroughfare is simply known as the "Boulevard", the beach area as "Playa", the port as "Marsa", the medina as "souk barra", the hilly area to the west of Tangier with the Golf Course and Race Track as "California", the residential area heading towards the main road to Tetouan as "Idrissia", the thieves market as "Casa Barata".

For trips outside city borders, you have to take a grand taxi–petit taxis are not allowed to take you there.

A return day excursion by private grand taxi to Chefchaouen is €50–100, and your driver will wait for you in Chefchaouen until you've finished. However, you can also just wait for a grand taxi to fill up with locals and save substantial money.

By bus
Virtually all points of interest are located in or near the old town within walking distance from each other. If you wish to go elsewhere in the city and don't want to take a taxi, your other option is public bus (network map ). A ticket for a ride on the green city buses costs 3.5 dirham as of April 2016. Some bus lines run very infrequently (more than two hours between buses).

See

Tangier is a city where there are rather few individual sights. Instead, the whole city can be considered one single big sight. Take a simple walk along the beach (Ave Mohamed VI) to enjoy what the city is famed for. In the you can see fishing boats bringing in fresh fish everyday. There are also restaurants serving very fresh fish. Moreover, here you can also see the frequent fast ferries arriving from and departing to Tarifa.

The medina
The, ie. the old town is probably Tangier's biggest attraction. Its narrow streets and many businesses are a quite interesting experience. You will very likely get lost, though. Also, be aware that both touts on the street and shopkeepers are very eager at selling you everything from fezzes and bracelets to mats and fake Rolexes (also see the stay safe section below).

Landmarks in the medina include Grand Mosquee, the nearby petit souk and the fortress (Kasbah).

Grand Socco and nearby

Elsewhere and around the city

 * Caves of Hercules near Tanger, Morocco.jpg
 * Caves of Hercules near Tanger, Morocco.jpg

Do

Walk around the city. Get happily lost in the medina, which is most active in evening and night. Alternatively walk along Boulevard Pasteur with its view to the sea from Terrasse des Paresseux or the beachfront Avenue Mohammed VI and in the port area and look at the fishermen bringing in their catch. When walking around, there are plenty of opportunities for shopping, described in the next section.

For nice views of the city and the seas, head to the aforementioned Terrasse des Paresseux, Kasbah or to the famous Café Hafa in the Drink section.

 * Football:
 * Football:

Buy

The medina is full of small shops, though beware that some of them are tourist traps and salesmen are seemingly outright desperate to get you to buy stuff in which you are not interested. Much of the brasswork is made in other towns but is available here. Leather goods are also available. Stay away from the tourist traps and you may find the price quite agreeable. Colourful leather slippers, men's and women's clothing can be reasonable priced. When shopping here, bargaining is essential as there are no fixed prices. It is advisable to negotiate prices in dirham rather than euros.

There are other markets notably the souk in the medina (mainly vegetables, clothes and tourist items) and in Ben Mekada (vegetables). The latter does not cater for tourists and is known as one of the "rough spots" of Tangier and, where, in the 1980s, there were bread riots.

Eat

There are restaurants serving most major cuisines in Tangier. Though while you're here, why not try out the specialties of Maghreb; different types of tagines (stews) and couscous as well as mint tea?

In the morning a "locals" cafe will give you a cafe au lait for 5 dirham. (Cafes where tourists congregate will charge you 10 dirham.) Usually there is a bread vendor at the cafe (by the port or the madina) who will serve you bread with cheese and honey for another 5 dirham. It's perfectly okay to buy your bread/breakfast elsewhere and eat it outside at the cafe. If the bread guy is next to the cafe the waiter will often collect.

You may quickly bore of tagines and street food is a great option for snacking throughout the day. Fresh orange juice costs about 5 dirham; sandwiches of egg, peppers, and sauce are about 10 dirham. Yogurt mixtures can be particularly creative, such as avocado and almonds, or fruit mixtures. Tiny stalls in the souk sell cooked vegetables like eggplant, with rice, and other tasty treats and a meal there can cost 10 dirham or so. In the early evening you may find squares of chickpea cakes sprinkled with salt and paprika.

In the evening, go to the plaza next to CTM bus station. There are several cafes and restaurants facing the plaza. The price and services are good because of the keen competition. Just wandering around in the medina will bring you across numerous Moroccan restaurants offering similar dishes, quality, and prices (main dish around 7 dollars), so you can basically just choose one at random and probably be satisfied.

Vegetarians will find plenty to eat in Tangier and Morocco in general, but vegetarian tagines can become boring after a couple of days and often contain lamb stock. Street food is a lot more creative and fun. If you've brought a camping stove, shop at the souk and make your own. Though, do remember to wash the fruits well. Or you can opt for pizza, Chinese or Indian all of which are available in Tangier.

Tap water isn't dangerous, but for visitors it is much safer (and inexpensive) to drink bottled water.

Budget
There are some fresh off-the-boat seafood restaurants for locals in the port behind the warehouses. At the port entrance, walk towards the water and keep to the right. It's on the docks towards the farthest point out behind some buildings; all outdoor seating for the most part. Order a tray of shrimp, a (big) salad and the calamari and fish tray. No menus or prices but it's quite inexpensive and authentic. For about 60 dirham you will get a serving of fish and seafood for one person that could easily feed two, including salad, bread and beverages.

Many cafes also serve snacks and many bars on the beachfront serve tapas. Also, some familiar global fast food brands have restaurants in Tangier.

Splurge
Many of the luxury hotels, including the iconic Hotel Continental, offer a good selection of both Moroccan and continental fare, though at prices much higher than what you will find elsewhere. There are also many restaurants along the Ave Mohamed VI (the beachfront) where one can enjoy a nice meal with a glass of wine on the beachfront.

Drink
There are many places in Tangier to drink. Much depends on the current owner who tends to give the place a certain ambiance. Popular bars/discos with foreign (and local) clientele include Casa Pepe, Sable D'or, Morocco Palace, Marco Polo (popular with truck drivers) and hotel bars such as Ramada and El Minzah.

You could opt for a coffee, and there are no shortage of cafes; some of which are the best in the country. Some have amazing views (cafe Hafa), some good coffee, some are popular (cafe Tropicana, cafe Celine Dion), some with music (cafe in the Dawliz complex), some have good cakes (cafe Oslo), some are places to relax after a hard day shopping (cafe Madam Porte, cafe Vienna), and some are rather sleazy.

Fresh fruit juices are sold by street vendors during the summer months. The cafes also serve fresh fruit juices and often have wpanache, a delicious mix of fruit juices often with milk, apple and almond.

Sleep

There are plenty of hotels to choose from in all categories. Rates may vary depending on the season. Many riads (traditional Moroccan mansions) nowadays function as hotels, with nightly rates around 300–500 D. These can be found mostly in the medina.

Budget
There is an enormous number of small hotels and hostels in or near the medina, nightly rates are 50 - 300 dirham. At these establishments, showers and toilets are communal and hot water costs extra. There are also a lot of small hotels at the port, which is walking distance to both the medina and the new city. To find these little hotels you exit the port of Tangiers and in about 100 m you'll see the Hotel Biarritz (white with hand-lettering in blue). Turn right up the rutted, dirty little alleyway next to it (yes, this is a street) and wind your way uphill to find several small hotels off the main drag on the unmarked Avenue Magellan.

Stay safe

Generally, central Tangier is a very safe city compared with many places in Europe though this does not necessarily apply to the suburbs. The only trouble you may encounter are the persistent touts whom you should ignore, or the con-men ready to fleece you (by trying to chat up to you then sometimes offer to smoke hashish), and you will encounter these almost exclusively in the medina. There are policemen everywhere and you will probably feel safer than at home. Tangier is generally safe for lone women.

Dressing like a local will help you blend in and get good reception from merchants, who will often quote you actual prices instead of inflated tourist prices. There are lots of expats in this city that speak Spanish first, then English and then French. A polite no thank you and then simply ignoring touts does get rid of them.

This is not the case if you are visiting Tangier as part of a tour (e.g. a day tour from Costa del Sol or a cruise excursion). In this case, as of May 2015, the souvenir touts are going to follow your group during the whole time you're in the medina. Yes, they may have interesting looking stuff for sale, but if you buy anything from anyone of them it will mark you as an easy target and the other ten touts in the gang will surround you until you get back on the tour bus. Save your shopping for the shops, which you will stop at. They are also eager to get to sell you something, but they do at least have a larger selection and won't follow you along.

If you are lost in the medina, you can easily find your way out by going uphill (souk/English church/Nouvelle Village) or down (port). Children and young men may ask you for money to lead you out (a couple of dirams), or to the Cafe Central, but if you are asked if you are lost and do not want help, say "Yes, but happily," and usually that gets a laugh and solitude.

When arriving via ferry from Spain, be aware that con men will await you at the harbour and offer you help filling in the immigration sheet (or just do it unquestioned) or advise you where you would get some tasty local food (and then of course expect a majestic tip). They can be quite persistent. Best not to talk to them at all.

Also, check the current exchange rate when you need to change euros. Don't simply trust the rate that locals tell you (even if different people confirm the same rate).

Go next

 * Asilah — Town at the ocean with a splendid white medina and a lots of beaches, 20 km south. Grand taxi 50 dirham, bus 11 dirham.
 * Larache — A lively and non-touristy town 85 km to the south featuring beaches and the Phoenician-Roman ruins of Lixus at the estuary of river Loukkos.
 * Chefchaouen — Some 120 km southeast. This is a traditional Rif mountain village with blue and white houses surrounded by beautiful forested countryside.
 * Tetouan — The other major city in the region, 60 km to the southeast. It has what some people call the prettiest medina of the country, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The coast further east features sand beaches, resorts and good diving.
 * Ceuta — 65 km northeast, this is a Spanish enclave on the African mainland. The road there passes Jbel Musa which in antiquity was known as one of the Pillars of Hercules (the other one was the Rock of Gibraltar)
 * Mainland Spain — You can buy train, bus and ferry tickets at the stations and ports listed above, although you may find it easier to purchase ferry tickets from travel agents rather than face the gauntlet of touts at the port. If you plan on leaving by ferry, it is important to note that the ferries from Tanger Med to Algeciras often do not follow a set schedule, and departure times can change even within a day of having purchased tickets. One alternative is to take a fast ferry to Tarifa, because these are more likely to run on time and at least one of the companies provides a free bus to the port at Algeciras. You can also flag grand taxis at the major bus stations and ferry port. If you're leaving Morocco, spend or exchange your dirham to another currency first. Legally, you may not bring out more than 1000 dirham, and you will probably not be able to exchange them abroad.
 * Otherwise, buses and trains take you south to other major cities in Morocco such as Rabat, Marrakech and Casablanca.

title: Tangier


text:
Tangkoko Nature Reserve

Tangkoko Nature Reserve is in Northern Sulawesi (Sulawesi Utara), on the north-eastern tip of Sulawesi island of Indonesia.

History
The first conservation area at Mount Tongkoko was established in 1919. To this, the Duasaudara area has been added in 1978, and the Batuangus and Batuputih areas in 1981, together encompassing a total of 8718 ha. Visitation is only allowed in the Batuputih area.

Flora and fauna
Located at the foot of Dua Saudara Mountain, the area is comprised of rolling hills and valleys with a variety of hardwood trees and unusual plant life.

The animal life is also quite varied, and one can often view Tarsius tarsier (the world's smallest primate), black tailless monkeys, maleo birds, wild pigs, and kuskus (marsupials). Tangkoko Batuangus Reserve offers a suitable protective environment to help prevent these animals from becoming extinct. A local tour operator can provide an experienced guide who can assist in spotting the wildlife.

Responsible tourism
If you are here, you are most probably looking for the Tarsier. Remember that they are a nocturnal animals, they are active at night, and therefore they are very sensitive to light. Do not use your torchlight on the animals (the guides will do it for you), and do not use your flash when you are photographing them (or other animals). If your equipment is unable to take a good quality photo without flash, flash is not going to help much to make great photos, but it will be a great annoyance for the animals.

There's no system in place to regulate the guides. Some of them do not follow the Park rules (e.g. using too many torchlight, directing the torchlight directly to the animals' eyes, feeding them, waking the nocturnal animals in the afternoon). Reprimand such guides, and do not give them tips on top of the agreed guide rates.

Get in
Tangkoko National Park is about 50 km from Manado, in the northern sector of Bitung. It takes 1 to 2 hours to reach from Bitung or Manado.

You can hire a private car or a private tour to reach the place; or by taking a public transport Angkot, from 'Paal2 Terminal' in Manado towards Bitung (Rp 10,000), ask the driver to drop you off along the way towards 'Batu Putih' or Tangkoko, and then transfer to an open aired pick-up truck (also Rp 10,000).

Fees and permits
Entrance fee to the Tangkoko Nature Park is Rp 100,000 per person for foreign tourists, and Rp 5,000 for locals.

Guides and Rangers charge Rp 100,000 to 200,000 per person (note: not per group) for a hike through and around the Nature Reserve, depending on the trip type (morning or afternoon), and day of the week (Sunday is typically more expensive).

See

 * There is a tiny village nearby that you can walk to for a while.
 * Black beach just beside the village.

Do
The tarsiers are the top attraction, but they don't come down from the trees until dusk; so you need your dive lights for the hour walk out of the woods.

Spending an overnight is also worth doing.
 * Day 1: (13:00-14:00) Transfer by Safari Tours bus or AC 4 pax vehicle to Nature Reserve. The 2 hour drive to the 9000 ha national park is quite scenic as we pass through small villages.  Upon arrival, immediately check in to a homestay.  You will then be guided by local forest rangers (and Safari staff) in search of the Black Crested Macaque (Black Monkey indigenous to North Sulawesi), hornbills, and couscous, as well as other fauna specific to the reserve.  Depending on what time it gets dark, you will head into the denser part of the jungle as the sun is setting, where you will (most likely) be able to get photographs of the Tarsius Tarsier (the world's smallest primate).  After it is completely dark and the Tarsier have departed for their nightly foraging, you head back to the homestay for a basic traditional dinner.
 * Day 2: Rising early, you will again hike into the forest with local rangers, where you will have the best opportunity to view more birds, and certainly the Black Crested Macaque as these monkeys are earlier risers and are searching out food along the coastline at Tangkoko. After several hours, it's back to the homestay for a traditional breakfast, and prepare to go back to Manado or Bitung.  Arrive in Manado between 09:00-11:00.

Eat
Eating options are a bit limited in this place, and the price is more expensive than Manado. Usually, overnight guests stick to their accommodation.

Sleep
Losmen (simple guesthouses) are available for overnight stays.

Connect
Broadband internet has not reached this area yet. Only Telkomsel network is running, and the internet is unstable and slow. Guest houses are offering Wi-Fi from their mobile phone hotspot.

Go next
Getting out is a bit tricky. Either you hop on the public transport the same way you go in, or get an accommodation to arrange transportation to Manado, Bitung, or the airport.

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

title: Tangkoko Nature Reserve


text:
Tangshan

Tangshan (唐山; Tángshān) is a city in Hebei.

Understand
Tangshan is a large administrative area known as a prefecture. Within this prefecture are the urban areas of Tangshan proper and several other cities, including Zunhua, which is home to the Eastern Qing Tombs, as well as Luanzhou and Qian'an.

According to the 2020 Census, Tangshan's urban population is 2,549,968, making it the 45th largest city in China. It is renowned as the country's largest steel-making city. Since 2013, Tangshan has been reducing its steel output to improve air quality in the region.

Get in
Tangshan Sannühe Airport is located 20 km from the city center. For those traveling from Beijing, both Beijing Capital Airport and Beijing Daxing Airport offer the option of an inter-provincial bus service.

High-speed rail service between Beijing Railway Station and Tangshan Railway Station takes between 60 to 100 minutes. There are also frequent regular-speed rail services between Tangshan North Railway Station and Beijing.

Get around
The earthquake memorial and park in the centre of town on Xinhua Road is an important focal point.

Tangshan is among the largest Chinese cities without a subway system.

Eat

Seafood is a big part of Tangshan cuisine, featuring an abundance of crabs, shrimp, and clams freshly caught from the Bohai Sea, during the months when a fishing ban is not in effect. To experience a wide variety of local seafood, visiting one of the city's seafood buffets is recommended.

title: Tangshan


text:
Tangting

Tangting is a town in Kaski, Nepal.

Understand
Tangting is a beautiful Gurung village located just outside of Pokhara, Nepal. Set in the lap of the Annapurnas, it has yet to be reached by the mainstream tourist influence that has changed much of the usual trekking routes. It retains a pristine atmosphere and cultural integrity that truly touches the soul. For the adventurous and able traveler, Tangting is absolutely a must-see, and not just see, but experience.

The people of Tangting are beautiful, kind, and friendly.

Get in
To get to Tangting is an adventure in itself. First you take a jeep from Pokhara. These jeeps run from Kahu Khola, about 10 km east of Lakeside. Taxi drivers will know it. The jeeps run 5 or 6 times daily to Jhaundu. From there, you walk. The trail is not entirely clear so it's best to go with someone who knows (a guide). Call the Deu Maya Tour and Travel Company or go to the office in Lakeside for help.

Get around
Getting around in Tangting is all walking of course. The "streets" are cobblestoned and scenic.

See
Nauju

Do
Get the chance to participate in village life!

Buy
Hand-woven fabrics, magic munch biscuits, tomatoes that grow on trees!

Eat
Dhindo, ghundruk,

Drink
Chyaang, raksi

Go next
Same way you got in. It is important to be flexible with your plans and ready for an adventure.

title: Tangting


text:
Tanguiéta

Tanguiéta is a town in Northern Benin

Understand
Forget Natitingou. The new Natitingou is Tanguiéta. With a more concise city center and a better small town feel, Tanguiéta is also a crossroads and an ideal place to stop and spend a night on your way to the gorgeous waterfalls in Tanangou (40 km on dirt road, a 3000F motorcycle ride), the National Park Pendjari (an additional 15km past Tanangou), the Saturday millet beer market in Tayacou (10 km, 1000F motorcycle ride on the Cobly road) or heading up to Burkina Faso.

Get in
From Cotonou, there are two bus services that leave at 7am and arrive in Tanguiéta around 4pm. This is your best bet. The companies are Confort Lines and Coton' Bus. Confort Lines has less leg room but gives you a free sandwich. Coton' Bus has more room, is an independent company and not a behemoth like Confort Lines and was also the first company to provide service to Tanguiéta. Both provide free bags of treated water. Your choice. There is also a return bus each day, again leaving Tanguita at 7am and arriving in Cotonou at 4pm.

Get around
One can walk most distances in town. Zemi rides range from 100-300 FCFA. There is no need for car services while moving around town.

Buy
Market day is Monday and Tanguiéta is at its busiest.

Check out the millet beer market in neighboring Tayacou if you are in Tanguiéta on a Saturday. It doesn't get started until the afternoon but promises lots of yummy millet beer and dancing old folk.

Sleep
Campement Tata, Tanguiéta The camp is located on the outskirts of Tanguieta close to a traditional Tata Somba. The camp offers rooms with fan, shower, toilet and TV. There is a small restaurant with traditional and European meals for visitors.

Hôtel Atakora, Tanguiéta The Hotel is located in centre of Tanguieta above Quidata supermarket. The hotel offers 10 comfortable with air conditioning, shower, toilet, water heater and TV. Food is available in the cafeteria.

Hôtel Baobab, Tanguiéta Hotel Baobab is located in Tanguiéta towards Porga. The hotel offers 16 bungalows style rooms constructed similar to the local architecture. All rooms have a shower and a toilet: 14 rooms have fan for and 2 rooms are air-conditioned. The restaurant is located under the shade of old trees which offers European and African dishes.

Hôtel Cascade, Tanguiéta The Hotel Cascade is located at the exit of Tanguiéta towards Batia. The hotel is open all year and offers 8 rooms with a fan, shower / toilet.

Relais de Tanongou Located at the entrance of the waterfall in Tanongou Hotel Relay offers a relaxing place to rest. There are 6 bungalows rooms with a fan, shower / internal or external toilet. The restaurant offers European dishes. The relay offers a minimum service from 1 June to 30 November.

Hébergement chez l’habitant, Tanongou In the village of Tanongou people are offering rooms in their homes and will provide traditional cuisine. Rooms are equipped with mosquito nets, lights, showers and toilets. The rooms offer a unique opportunity to immerse into village life

Camp Numi, Batia Camp Numi is near the entrance to the National Park Pendjari in Batia. It offers six rooms with water heater, shower and a toilet. There is a pool and a restaurant with European cuisine

Hôtel Pendjari, Parc Pendjari Hotel Pendjari is the only hotel in the park. The hotel has a total of 43 rooms and bungalows. There is also a swimming pool and restaurant. The hotel is open from 1 December to 31 May.

Hôtel Porga, Porga Hotel Porga is located at the entrance of National Park Pendjari in Porga. The hotel is also 7 km from the border between Benin and Burkina Faso. The hotel offers 12 rooms and 3 bungalows with fans. A restaurant is available to visitors. The hotel is only open during the dry season from 15 December to 31 May.

Go next

 * Pendjari National Park - safari trips available to see big wildlife

title: Tanguiéta


text:
Tanji

Tanji is a fishing village of 15,000 people (2013) on the western cost of the Gambia.

In Tanji you can view the whole industry from making boats and nets, catching fish, salting, smoking and freezing fish.

Taxi
D1000 from the resorts with green taxis, 250 with yellow taxis.

Get around
You can easily walk around Tanji.

See

 * Smokeries
 * The Fishing boats returning home around 17:00.
 * The Fishing boats returning home around 17:00.

Buy

 * There is a small market
 * Smoked fish

Eat
There is a small restaurant on the north side close to the main road. Drinks are D25.

Go next

 * It is possible to go to the island that is off the coast from Tanji.

title: Tanji


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Tanjung

Tanjung is a beach town on the north west coast of the island of Lombok in Indonesia.

Understand

Tanjung is a developing tourist destination on mainland Lombok. There are five resort-style hotels in the area including Lombok's most prestigious resort, The Oberoi Lombok at Medana Beach. The Kosaido Golf Club is located on the nearby Sire Peninsula. The Medana Bay Marina provides modern mooring and anchorage services to the area. Tanjung is also the administrative capital of the new North Lombok Regency and so the township has a growing regional administrative sector with offices and support services. There is also a traditional produce market and a small regional public transport hub in the town.

Orientation
Tanjung is traversed by a single two lane road that follows the west coast of the island from south of Ampenan and continues northward to circumnavigate Mount Rinjani in the north of Lombok and then traverses the greater part of the east coast toward the south.

Get in
Lombok International Airport, is south west of Praya in south central Lombok. This new international airport will provide facilities for wide bodied aircraft and more modern terminal facilities and cargo facilities. Please see the main Lombok article for more details on the new international airport and connecting services to the Tanjung area.

Metered taxis normally operate in the Tanjung area and service Bangsal, Sira, Medana, Senaru and other destinations throughout Lombok.

The established hotels and resorts of the Tanjung area may offer pick-up transfers to and from the airport. You will need to enquire at the hotels for this service and ensure you book ahead.

Some visitors travelling from nearby Bali prefer the option of taking a fast boat across from Bali direct to the Gili Islands, or to west coast tourism centre of Senggigi further to the south. Travel agents or the operators can normally assist with any necessary transfers.

If you are frugal or intrepid and take the slow ferry from Bali, it's best to arrange transport in advance from the ferry dock at Lembar to Tanjung. Travel agents on Bali offer transport from any point in South Bali to Tanjung, including the ferry ticket.

Marina facilities
The newly established Marina at Medana Bay has 25 mooring buoys in more than 5m of water for 35-45ft vessels and anchorage space for another 20 vessels.

The marina facilities were established in 2009. Soon after opening the facility hosted over 90 yachts during the September 2009 Sail Indonesia event.

In late July 2010 participants of Sail Indonesia – Sail Banda 2010 set sail from Darwin Sailing Club in northern Australia. After congregating in Labuhan Bajo on the western tip of Flores in early September 2010 they travelled on to Medana Bay on the north-western coast of Lombok prior to moving on to Bali and Kalimantan. Medana Bay was an official stop-over on the 2010 and 2011 itineraries and is expected to be included again in the coming events.

The mooring basin is centred on 08°21.833’S and 116°07.750’E with an approach transit point almost due north at 08°20.432’S and 116°07.685’E. A current Sea Chart and sea approach tracks are available on the Marina's website. Medana Bay is sometimes called Teluk Dalam, meaning Deep Bay.

The Marina also provides on site accommodation services.

By bemo
Bemos can be hailed down for short trips around the Tanjung area or further on to Bangsal and other destinations along the coast. Fares are inexpensive.

If travelling to Bangsal in a bemo, be aware that they do not call at Bangsal itself, but stop in nearby Pemenang, from where you can walk or ride a cidomo (horse cart) to Bangsal Harbour

Prices vary at times so try and watch what local customers are paying for a similar distance to your own and if really in doubt just include Rp 1,000-2,000 extra. If 'chartering' an empty Bemo to a particular destination, be careful to clarify the exact amount of payment required prior to getting on board. Bemos operate on the main coastal road, and at times may travel into some of the nearby kampungs and beach areas.

Many Bemo drivers are reluctant to venture further up the west coast than the northern end of Mangsit just north of Senggigi, as the passenger densities drop dramatically from there on. If you are travelling up the west coast from Ampenan or Senggigi toward Tangung the driver may want to turn back at some point if he does not have sufficient passengers.

Make sure you plan well for any trips around the area using public transport and ensure you have a means to contact a taxi service to return to your hotel should your travel plans become disrupted in the later hours of the afternoon or evening.

Bemos have normally stopped running by dusk on the west coast of Lombok.

Travel agents can also get you on semi-regular shuttle services, which connect Tanjung, the airport, and the harbours of Lembar (for Bali) and Bangsal (for the Gilis).

By taxi
Bluebird is the most common taxi available in the Tanjung area. Bluebird and white+coloured Express Taksi have a radio dispatch system and are equipped with meters which should be used by their drivers at all times. Although there are not normally a lot of taxis present this far north they do service this area. Taxis can be booked in advance either by calling them yourself or by booking through your hotel.

 * Bluebird *
 * Express *

By car
Expect to pay a daily rental rate of Rp 150,000-175,000 (low end mid-late 1980s Suzuki mini jeep-Jimmy) to Rp 400,000 for a Toyota Kijang or Izuzu Panther.

It may be better to rent a car further to the south (for example in Senggigi) as there is a wider range of services available there. Otherwise enquire at your hotel. A car and driver is a sensible option unless you are familiar with driving in the region. Please see the main Lombok article article for more detailed information on driving in Lombok.

By motorbike
To hire a motorbike, expect to pay around Rp 50,000 (early 2010) for most models and possibly more in peak season when demand for rentals can be very high. As with cars, it may be better to rent a bike further to the south. Otherwise enquire at your hotel. Please see the main Lombok article article for more detailed information on driving in Lombok and ensure you obtain and use a helmet when riding a motor bike.

By ojek
Prices are negotiable but a rule of thumb is Rp 5,000 Rupiah for a short trip with a local motorbike rider if the destination is nearby.

By horse cart
Horse-pulled carts, known as Cidomo, are very common in the Tanjung area. They are a good method of transportation for short distances e.g, from your hotel to the local market. Make sure to agree the price before the journey — Rp 10,000 is the maximum price to pay for a short journey.

By boat
Traditional fishing boats known as perahu ply the waters around Tanjung, and are instantly recognizable due to their outriggers: two lengths of extra large bamboo sealed at either end and attached to the hull by bars on both sides. As with a catamaran, these afford greater stability in heavy swells. They can also be chartered on the nearby beaches at Bangsal and Teluk Nare, either directly from owners (in which case some knowledge of Bahasa Indonesian or Bahasa Sasak will come in handy) or via a travel agent or local guide, who will of course take an often generous commission.

Speedboats and small charter vessels also link to Senggigi as an alternative to the road route. Speedboats also offer an alternative means of travel to the Gili islands. The majority of these are either based or land at Teluk Nare to the south of Bangsal and offer a more expensive alternative to the sometimes stressful process of chartering a traditional boat or using the public ferry from Bangsal. Speedboat charters are also available for sightseeing trips.

By bicycle
Traffic is relatively light and the Tangung area has quite level grades. Speeding trucks on Jalan Raya Tangung require special caution. Travel by bicycle is quite possible in this part of the island and provides a very different cultural experience to other means of transport. Please see Senggigi article for more detailed information.

See

Popular excursions that can be done in a day trip include:

 * On the sea — take a boat across to the Gilli Islands for lunch or some snorkelling
 * Village — visits including weaving villages and other handicraft producers
 * Waterfalls — visits and walks around nearby Senaru

Do
Most of the tourism activities in Tanjung revolve around the resort areas at Sire beach and Medana, with diving, snorkelling, and hiking activities available. Tanjung is well situated for day trips to Mount Rinjani and Senaru, The Gilli Islands, and the north east coast. According to local legends two of the oldest villages on the island, Bayan and Sembalun, were founded by a prince of Majapahit. Both villages are readily accessible and are nearby to the Tanjung area.

Traditional therapeutic massages and spa treatments are available in the hotels and local traditional masseurs are available.

Fishing and boat charters are available to explore the area along this part of the west coast of Lombok.

Nearby golf courses are a popular destination for many visitors and local golfers. The Sire Peninsula in Tanjung has an international 18-hole championship course.

Participate in a local Sasak community program in the Tanjung area by joining a locally run volunteer program or visiting one of the locally initiated community development projects. Several options are available for visitors involving coral regeneration, land management and rehabilitation, and agricultural development programs. Or you can just join with a group of local people, help out and join in with what-ever they are doing during their day. Specific skills are not a requirement for participation. Some visitors choose to go and live in a native village and help the women working in the fields. English-language and skill-teaching programs are encouraged and involve stays of around 3 weeks minimum. Opportunities are available for very short visits through to longer stays with integration into a more specific program. For a stay to experience and work in a hill village, a few days would be sufficient as a minimum to have time to adjust and settle in.

Buy
The Tanjung area is a quiet area, and tourism activity is restricted to the Medana peninsular and parts of Sire Beach. There are not a lot of beach hawkers or tour guides touting for business on the beaches, other than at the nearby Bangsal area which serves as a departure and arrival point for much of the boat traffic going to and from the Gilli Islands.

There is a large public market area and many local shops in and about Tanjung selling local requirements from building supplies to food stuffs.

Eat
The hotels and resorts of the Tanjung area offer Western and Indonesian style cuisine with wine and drink service in a hotel or resort setting. There are few eating venues catering to international tourists in the Tanjung area other than within the larger established hotels and resorts of the area. The more intrepid visitor may like to set forth and try some of the small local eating houses many of which are along the main highway passing through the Tanjung district. Otherwise a trip to Senggigi to the south may be required to access a wider range of venues catering to local and international tourists.

Sleep
The Tanjung area does not offer any mid-range accommodations, and the choice of budget are almost all on the Gili Islands, at Senaru on the slopes of Mount Rinjani or southward toward the Senggigi area.

Private villas
Villas listed here are completely private individual properties with their own pool. (The label 'Villa' is one of the mostly widely abused words in the Indonesia travel industry.)

Connect
Mobile phone towers ensure you're never out of touch. Telekomsel's Simpati SIM card has a reasonably good signal in the Tanjung area. XL Axiata and Indosat SIM cards also provide coverage in the area. Coverage can be unreliable and inconsistent.

Cope
Several hospitals are located in the main city of Mataram including the islands main public hospital Rumah Sakit Umun and also the Risa Hospital in Cakranegara near Mataram mall.

 * Please see the Lombok main article for a list of medical facilities available in Mataram.

Emergency service

 * The reality is that unless within the confines of the main city of Mataram/Ampenan/Cakranegara an ambulance is normally too far away to provide prompt transport in the case of a true emergency. Most often a taxi, police vehicle or a private car is used to get someone requiring urgent medical attention to a hospital. The ambulances in Lombok are more often used in the role of assisted patient transport rather than for first responder/paramedic supported emergency assistance and transport.
 * The reality is that unless within the confines of the main city of Mataram/Ampenan/Cakranegara an ambulance is normally too far away to provide prompt transport in the case of a true emergency. Most often a taxi, police vehicle or a private car is used to get someone requiring urgent medical attention to a hospital. The ambulances in Lombok are more often used in the role of assisted patient transport rather than for first responder/paramedic supported emergency assistance and transport.

Go next
Much of Lombok can be accessed easily from the Tanjung area.

 * Take a boat to the Gili Islands for snorkeling or diving and partying on Gili Trawangan. The cheapest way to reach Gili Trawangan is on a public boat which departs from Bangsal from 08:00-17:00 (but rarely later than 16:00) for Rp 10,000. Charter boats can also be arranged or take a speedboat from Teluk Nare a little to the south of Bangsal. Cidomo horse carts hang around on the main road in Pemenang waiting to ferry visitors the short distance to the Bangsal beach landing point that cannot be accessed by taxis and bemos
 * Climb Mount Rinjani, an active volcano (access can be suspended for extended periods during the rainy season).
 * Visit Bayan and Sembalun.
 * Take a road trip to Tetebatu a small town about 2 km from the southern boundary of Mount Rinjani National Park. Traditional Sasak handicraft artisans are spread throughout the villages in this area. When in Tetebatu visit the nearby town of Kotaraja, the best known location in Lombok to witness traditional Sasak stick fighting.
 * Travel south down the scenic west coast highway past Bangsal, through Pemenang and the beaches of Teluk Nare, Nipah, Malimbu, Setangi, Klui, Mangsit, Senggigi and Batu Bolong, then on to Ampenan and the provincial city of Mataram.
 * Travel to the island of Bali by fast boat from the nearby Gili Islands, from the airport in Ampenan or travel further south down the west coast to the port of Lembar and take one of the larger vehicular ferries to Panangbai on the east coast of Bali.

title: Tanjung


text:
Tanjung Batu

Tanjung Batu is a city on Kundur island in the Riau archipelago. It has a busy waterfront and a couple of streets lined with shops. Its not the most charming of towns, unlike Tanjung Balai on Karimun which somehow has more atmosphere. Nevertheless, the town is very quiet and relaxed, except for the many ojek (motorcycle taxis) drivers who will constantly yell out to you and ask whether you want a ride (or, if you are a man, a woman!). The main commercial streets are Jalan Merdeka where the market is, and the shop-lined Jalan Jend Sudirman. The waterfront is also interesting with many boats loading and unloading goods. Just relax and enjoy the feeling of being in a timeless tropical port.

Get in
There are ferry services from Karimun and even from Moro, the village on Sugibawah island.

See
Most buildings here have an additional "bird house" on their roofs, housing thousands of swallows. The owners will harvest "birds nest" - a protein-rich gelatin-like substance formed from the saliva of the swallows - which is in high demand by the Chinese who consume them as a health supplement.
 * Cetiya Sasana Kitri (福朝廟) - at Jalan Usman Harun, unique red calabash in front of the temple differentiate it from others
 * Vihara Dharma Shanti Kundur (泰安廟) - have a stroll and enjoy the breeze in the late evening. Spacious, with tables and chairs. The door is painted with guardian deities, probably one of the great spot in the town.
 * Masjid Raya Nurussalam

Do

 * Fishing, relax and karaoke at Hotel Gembira and Restaurant Gembira.
 * Visit the wet market in the morning. Hive of actvity, where many fresh items are sold. Can see chicken slaughtered, and plucked clean. Fishes prepared fresh.
 * At the side of Vihara Dharmma Shanti, there has a Warnet called Polaris Computerindo for kids who love to play computer games like DOTA Allstars or Counter Strike.

Eat

 * At Jalan Jenderal Sudirman (Jalan Besar) in front of Masjid Raya and Vihara Dharma Shanti, there are chicken rice and a kind of clear soup.
 * At Jalan Merdeka, there are food courts called Pujasera\Akau\Pasar around 5-6 PM to midnight-1AM.

Drink
For bottled drinking water get the local produced AVIGA spring water from PT. Citra Alam Sumber Wita costs Rp 2.000 for a 1500 ml bottle.

Heineken beer costs Rp 15.000 at Ah Kun's Saho Seafood Restaurant (三好海鲜煮炒) and Rp 17.000 at Hotel Gembira restaurant, respectively. The Restaurant Gembira the Place more Relaxing.

Buy

 * You can do shopping in Mini Market Gembira at Jl. Jend. Sudirman Komplek Gembira No. 18. Tel: +62-779-22235.
 * Also you can shop in the Jalan Jend. Sudirman straight line were there are many shops you can find. There are also some stores like Toko Sogo, and Toko Joni.

title: Tanjung Batu


text:
Tanjung Pandan

Tanjung Pandan is the capital city of Belitung Regency on the island of Belitung, Indonesia.

Understand
Tanjung Pandan is a nice but mostly unremarkable town, with most original Dutch colonial buildings in good shape. No traffic jams and polite drivers. Has a neat wharf area and traditional Bugis and Malaya fishing fleet. Very friendly and respectful locals.

People
The majority of the people in Tanjungpandan are Hakka Chinese and Belitung Malay. The religion of the Malays is predominantly Muslims, while the Chinese are mainly Buddhist, Catholic or Protestant.

By taxi
There is transportation to towns across the island by taxi, either official or unofficial. Taxi Angkasa is the only legal taxi company operating throughout the island. They use meters for rides and claims itself as the cheapest option, but it is highly recommended to reserve by calling when or before you arrive. If you stick to unofficial cabs, be sure to haggle furiously or you will be ripped off. If you are traveling using a coach provided by your tour or have pre-arranged your transportation, most likely they will be standing by.

See
Downtown Tanjung Pandan is quite interesting due to the many Dutch Colonial buildings and shop houses. Most of the governmental buildings are the original Dutch buildings and the old Dutch tin mining housing compound is still kept up.

Connect
Indonesian national mobile operator like Telkomsel, Indosat, and XL Axiata are covering this town.

Religious services
The area is predominantly Muslim.

Go next

 * Manggar, East Belitung regency capital city.

title: Tanjung Pandan


text:
Tanjung Pinang

Tanjung Pinang (Tanjungpinang) is the main town on the island of Bintan, and the capital of Riau Islands province.The town has an instantly likeable 'feel' despite being somewhat of a culture shock after squeaky clean Singapore. The local people are very friendly and most will rustle up a few words of English, particularly if you try out your few words of Indonesian! The town wraps itself around several hillsides with different types of housing amidst a plethora of mosques, churches, Buddhist temples, shop-houses, cafes and general confusion!

Understand
This is the capital of the province of Riau Islands, that separated from the Riau mainland in 2002. The city is fast growing with a population around 228,000 (2020). It is a trading, shipping, shopping and tourism "seafood" center in the region. There is no logical centre to the town, but most things radiate out from the ferry port.

By plane

The easiest option to get from the airport to the city is to take a fixed price cab, which will cost around S$3-5 to central Tanjung Pinang. Fares elsewhere on the island will cost around twice as much.

The neighbouring island of Batam, which is accessible by ferry from Tanjung Pinang, has a larger airport, which is served by flights to more destinations, as well as a few international flights from Malaysia. For most international travellers though, the easiest way to get to Tanjung Pinang would be to fly to Singapore and take a ferry from there. If connecting to a flight from Singapore, you must be on the ferry to Singapore at least 4 hours before the departure time of your flight. Bintan is 1 hour behind Singapore, so be sure to factor that in when checking schedules.

By boat
The Sri Bintan Pura ferry terminal at Tanjung Pinang at the southern end of Jalan Merdeka is the main passenger port of Bintan and is used by all domestic and international services from the city. It is a visa-free for most ASEAN citizens and a growing number of EU countries as well as being a visa-on-arrival port; see Indonesia's Get in section for visa details.

 * From Singapore's Tanah Merah ferry terminal (TMFT), there are 5-7 direct ferries every day on Penguin, IndoFalcon and Wavemaster (+65-6786 9959). The ferry fare is S$28-40/50 one-way/return. There are two trips on M-F and three trips during Sa, Su and public holidays, taking about 2 hours each way. There are regular shuttle buses between TMFT and Changi Airport, costing S$3 each way, and taking about 15 min in good traffic. Tanjung Pinang's time zone is one hour behind Singapore, so keep that in mind when looking at schedules, particularly if you need to connect to a flight out of Singapore.
 * Alternatively, take a ferry from Singapore's HarbourFront to Batam Centre ferry terminal. Then take a taxi direct to Telaga Punggur (S$6), from where you can connect to another ferry to Bintan (journey time 60 min, departures every 30 min, $5/8 one-way/return).
 * From Malaysia; there are also less frequent connections from Stulang Laut port of Johor Bahru, Malaysia (three hours away).
 * From other Riau Islands with varying frequency. The Bintan Resorts on the northern part of Bintan, Tanjung Pinang is about 50 minutes by speedboat, although connections are not frequent. See the main Bintan article for ferry connection details.

Especially on weekends, it's advisable to reconfirm your ferry tickets out as soon as you arrive. If you're staying with a large resort, they can usually take of this for you, so enquire when booking... but if you're on your own, you cannot do this at the ferry terminal and instead need to find the appropriate travel agent, none of whom are located near the port! IndoFalcon's agent is next to the Laguna Hotel, while Penguin's agent can be found in the Bestari Mall.

By road
Buses and taxis link Tanjung Pinang with the port of Tanjung Uban at the northwestern end of Bintan where there are speedboats to/from Telaga Punggur on Batam. The bus fare from Tanjung Uban to Tanjung Pinang bus terminal is about Rp10,000 (as of 2005, 3 hr). The bus terminal is 7 km east of town. Angkut (passenger vans) shuttle between the terminal and town. From the port of Kijang (where Pelni ships dock) over 20 km to the east, there are bemos and taxis to Tanjung Pinang.

25 minutes to the fantastic Trikora beach on the east part on Bintan Island. Tanjung Pinang is about an hour and forty-five minutes south by car from Bintan Resorts on the northern part of Bintan.

Get around
Central Tanjung Pinang, including the old part of town which is built on stilts, is small enough for you to move around on foot. If you want to move further out, such as to Bintan Mall, Bestari Mall, Bintan Center, Trikora beach, open air "Akau" restaurant, Buddhist " Kelenteng Senggarang" temple taxis are the easiest way for foreigners. Buses exist but are seldom easy to understand as stops are rarely marked, drivers do not speak English, and there is no information available for them on paper.

By taxi
Only take taxis from the main road. 'City Taxis' charge $3 if you request to leave the urban area. The taxis are affordable once you have successfully bargained. Fix your price firmly before boarding the taxi to avoid any problems. A 40-km trip to Trikora Beach should cost $5.

By motorcycle taxi
There are also the thousands of motorcycle taxis called ojek waiting to ferry you around, although consider this more of an "adventure" way to travel and is not necessarily safe.

By minibus
Minibuses known as Angkutan Kota operate on fixed routes, they carry six to eight passengers and charges per person vary with the distance is another useful way to roam around. The fare is fixed at Rp. 3000 within the city. To stop at your destination, just shout "'pinggir' or 'kiri'" pak.

By boat
Regular boats to Penyengat Island cost Rp5,000/person, starts from small alley at Jalan Pos. But you have to wait a while to have the boat full. You can hire own boats for a much more expensive cost.

From Jalan Pelantar I you can go to Senggarang, cost about Rp5,000 (1-way) per person for a small boat. You may need to wait for a while to have the boat full or you can hire own boats but need to bargain beforehand.

From Jalan Pelantar II you can go to Kampung Bugis.

By land
Tanjung Pinang today is a sprawling Indonesian town, with mosquitoes and rats running under stilt houses on the coast at low tide and anonymous concrete blocks marching up the hills. However, the area around Jl. Pelantar II still retains the town's Chinese heritage, with densely packed shophouses hawking all manner of goods.

 * 500 Luohan Temple. Buddhist temple that contains a fantastic sculpture park. The star attractions are the 500 arhats (Eng: "perfected ones"; Mandarin: "luohan"). All of them have different poses and expressions. The temple is 10 minutes drive from Tanjung Pinang.
 * There is also a newly built Buddhist temple which house the largest sitting Guan Yin (Goddess of mercy) in South-East Asia. Locate approx. 10 miles from Tg. Pinang downtown.
 * The old ruler's palace and royal tombs, among them the grave of the respected Sultan Haji, who also was creator and author of the first Malay Language grammar book, are among the legacies left by the Riau sultanate.
 * The cultural center for stage performances of Malay music and dances is located in Tanjungpinang. The center organizes regular festivals and other performances such as music and dance.

 * Raja Haji Fisabillah Monument, downtown Tanjung Pinang. 28m tall and raised in memory of the national hero Raja Haji who died during the heroic battle of Malacca against the Dutch in 1784. He was a famous Malayan king and had his castle on the island Penyengant right outside Tanjung Pinang. Unfortunately the very statue of Raja Haji had been removed by local government due to safety issue - It had been partially worn out. So you can only see the base of the monument now.
 * Kelong, 'Kelong' is a stilt house the fisherman built for breeding or trapping of fish, some are built mainly for commercial use but, there are a few that offer stays on the 'Kelong'. Most of them are built away from the bustling town thus, it's a perfect getaway if you're looking for some peace and quiet. Cost is around S$20 per room for 2 per night, meals can be arrange with the operator as some provide fresh catch from the sea. Also fishing trip in the open sea can also be arrange with the operator. It's good way to explore and learn how the local do their fishing the 'Kelong' way.

By water

Take a walk down to the docks and find yourself a little boat to take you for a round trip around the harbour (10 Singapore Dollars or less). Tanjung Pinang is built into the water and being on the water is the best way to see it.

For a longer trip, rent a guide - who will arrange a boat or boats - at one of the piers (i.e., at the end of Jn Pelantar 1 or 2), and go and see Penyengat, Senggarang and Sungai Ular Temple in one go. Price is up to negotiation, may be S$30-40 for two persons. Watch out to get only one person showing you around, and make it crystal clear in the beginning that price is all-inclusive.

 * Penyengat Island. Places to visit include the Masjid Raya - the old vice-royal mosque, which locals claim is made "from egg" (the mortar, that is, not the whole building). There are also a few more mosques and graveyards to see, some of which include royalties.
 * Senggarang Temples is a temple complex including Chinese and Hinduist worshipping places. This includes a 40-armed statue and several animal deities. From there, you can walk to a stilt house village, where there is also a temple that a tree has grown into. There are boats going from Tanjung Pinang piers to Senggarang frequently, haggle for price.
 * Sungai Ular Buddhist Temple, or Snake River Temple, is a little way up the so-called snake river (for its windings). The best (and probably only) way to get there is by boat. Go there for some gory murals depicting the Chinese version of hell.

Do
Fishing Many Singaporeans often use Tanjung Pinang as a departure point for fishing trips. The vessels used are usually made of wood and are rarely equipped with GPS or any modern equipment. Yet they are often booked solid six months ahead.

Shopping
Tanjung Pinang is famous for its wooden handicraft, and Indonesian-designed textile. Everything else is cheap with some products lower than 10% of the prices in Europe.

 * Ramayana Shopping Mall (Jalan Wiratno No. 1), a double-storey shopping centre. Sells clothes and apparel on the first floor, with a rather understocked supermarket and gaming arcade on the second. The mall also contains a fast-food restaurant and an Internet cafe.

Products:

 * Keropok (Deep-fried crackers) - Buy keropok from the wholesaler in the main marketplace at the old part of town (Jalan Plantar II). They will be at least 50% cheaper than at the resorts.
 * Fakes: Just like in most of South-East Asian countries, pirated goods are available openly. DVD and music CD are everywhere, often not more than one Singapore dollar for a DVD. Quality is "ok". You can test the quality before you buy.
 * Tea & Coffee: The most popular brand for tea in Tanjung Pinang is called Teh Prendjak by PT.Panca Rasa Pratama. It has a very unique flavor that you can find in nowhere. Most tourists will buy them as gifts.
 * Also are the 'Kaya' (a local bread spread) made from coconut and egg are a must try, some may find it too sweet for their liking.
 * Electronics: Very competitively priced in Tanjung Pinang. The shops carry many of what you may need. When buying electronic goods, remember that Singapore uses 240 V voltage with a British-style three-pin plug.
 * Cameras & Watches: The main street from the Ferry Terminal has a selection of camera shops. Prices are significantly lower than in many other countries.

Eat
Tanjung Pinang has many seafood restaurants, and prices are low by Singaporean (or even Western) standards, Try crab (ketam) and gong-gong, a local mollusk.

Padang restaurants, named after the town of Padang, can also be found throughout Tanjung Pinang. In a Padang-style restaurant, the table will quickly be set with dozens of small dishes filled with highly flavored foods such as curried fish, fried tempeh, stewed greens, chili eggplant, curried beef liver, fried chicken, and of course, sambals, the spicy sauces ubiquitous at Indonesian tables. Customers take - and pay for - only what you eat from this array of dishes.

As for local delicacies you might want to try

"Bak Kut Teh" - The Chinese Pork Rib Soup (Pricing between Rp20,000 - Rp 25,000) can be found at Jl. Potong Lembu or Around Jl. Pelantar II area.

"Otak-otak" (Costs mostly Rp1,000 (buy 10 get 2 free)) can be found at Jl. Pelantar II.

"Wet kway teow" - rice noodle (Pricing between Rp12,000 - Rp20,000) can be found at Jl. Pasar Ikan, Jl. Tambak, Jl. Potong Lembu.

Or, head to the local food court just across the street from the ferry terminal. There is also the Potong Lembu street food court on Jalan Potong Lembu. A large range of Indonesian, Chinese, Thai and other Asian dishes are available. Beer is also sold and on several tables it was being consumed by locals, suggesting that it is socially acceptable. The atmosphere is rustic to say the least, but it is incredibally atmospheric and the food 'anak' - delicious!

Other national delicacies such as Pempek, Sup Ayam Kampung, Gado-gado, Soto, Special BBQ of Chicken and Fish are also available in a comfortable modern coffee shop like " Sweet " located at Jalan Bakar Batu No.102 C so near that it takes only 5-10 minutes walk from the International Harbour.

For those who are vegetarian, there is a Chinese vegetarian restaurant (Bumi Maitri) at 'Suka Berenang'. They open until 21:00 everyday and the price is very reasonable.

Sam's Anna Jalan Yos Sudarso, is a thatched roof, open sided seafood restaurant located next to the sea. They serve excellent chilli crabs and other seafood dishes at prices far below Singaporean ones. Service is fine without ever being slick, partly as being a large restaurant there is a long distance from the serving hatch to tables. It's located in the Eastern part of town. Be warned that there are two Sam's Anna's in town, the one on Jalan Lr Sutami being a burger joint aimed at local teenagers!

Drink
Alcoholic drinks are available in most of the cafes and restaurants, nonetheless of being the country with the largest Muslim population. Non-Muslim Indonesian drink alcohol only in social setting. Despite this, no-one has a problem with others drinking and many local Muslims are happy to sell it.

If you like to drink new things, try the local "Double Kiwi", which comes in clear (i.e. vodka-like) and amber (i.e. whisky-like) fashions, at only 15-20 degrees alcohol.

Driving
Avoid drinking while driving. While in the old time, you might be stopped for drink driving and could "settle" your way through with $10-20, the policeman might now charge you with bribing attempt instead. As a consequence, you might be jailed for up to 3 months and the officer would get a stipend for US$1,000.

If you are stopped by police for any offence, just ask to write you up and pay the summon letter directly to the nearest bank. This would be a cheaper, faster and risk free settlement.

Budget

 * Bong's Homestay, Lorong Bintan 2, off Jalan Bintan. Probably Tanjung Pinang's oldest and best-known backpacker place, Bong's hasn't changed in twenty years and it's still cheap (Rp40,000/night) and no-frills (fan only, bucket-shower).

Mid-range

 * Bintan Beach Hotel. 3 km from town, has an attached mall and waterfront park and most of the regular resort facilities. One of the two hotels with a swimming pool. The other is comfort hotel.
 * Bintan Beach Hotel. 3 km from town, has an attached mall and waterfront park and most of the regular resort facilities. One of the two hotels with a swimming pool. The other is comfort hotel.

Splurge

 * Melia Bintan Permai Hotel (10-15 min walk from Ferry Terminal). It is a pleasant hotel fully air-conditioned with hot shower. From Standard Rooms to Suite the price range from S$58-108. Your stay comes with complimentary breakfast. Attached to the hotel is a kelong behind it with full view of the other islands and terminal. Check-out time is noon.  The services provided by the hotel is extremely friendly.
 * Pelangi Hotel & Resort, Jalan D.I. Pandjaitan Km.6 (About 15 minutes from ferry terminal), tel. +62 771 21982 / 318888, . Facility :  Wifi, pool, gym.  Rooms rate S$36-80. the folks there are very very nice.

Connect
There are several Internet cafes called "warnet" in Tanjung Pinang. You can find one at Bintan Mall in downtown 200 meters from the Ferry Terminal. Another place is the everpopular Ramayana Shopping Mall in uptown. Some hotels have Internet connections, but be forewarned, their speed is slow. There are also a few Internet cafes located along 'Tambak', which is within downtown, costing between Rp5000 to Rp6000 an hour.

Go next
Tanjung Pinang is the best place to catch ferries to the other islands in the Riau and Lingga archipelagos, including Batam, Tanjung Balai karimun, Galang, Moro, Tanjung Batu, Lingga, Singkep, and the Natuna Islands. Tickets can typically be bought at the ferry terminal to these places and are typically only a few dollars for even long journeys. Beware that the notion of time is loose, cancellations can happen, and ferries may arrive at alternate ports during bad weather. Knowledge of some Malay or Indonesian (or even Mandarin) is recommended as there are few English speakers outside of Tanjung Pinang. However, the archipelago is extremely scenic and if you have the time to explore, it is highly recommended to see the thousands of uninhabited tropical islands in their natural beauty, which you will come across in any ferry travel through the region.

title: Tanjung Pinang


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Tanjung Resang

Tanjung Resang is located in Mersing District, Johor, Malaysia. Although not as well-known as other East Coast seaside areas, such as Desaru or Kuantan, Tanjung Resang's main attractions are its beach and serene surroundings.

Get around
To get in and around Tanjung Resang, invariably you'll need to drive or ride a motorcycle. There are no buses that go to Tanjung Resang, though you can get a taxi from Mersing, about a 15 minute drive. Some cycling enthusiasts use their racing or mountain bikes to get to Tanjung Resang, but given the mostly rough terrain there, a mountain bike is better.

See
The view from Gunung Arong's peak is a sight not to be missed. Not only can you see the entire Tanjung Resang bay, but on a clear day even Pulau Tioman is clearly visible.

Other Tanjung Resang sights include the various pods of dolphins that inhabit the bay, as well as the 2, at times 3 meter beach break surf that rolls in during the December to February months.

The wildlife around Tanjung Resang jungle is interesting too. Expect to see snakes, monkeys, as well as wild boars, flying foxes, eagles, otters, porcupines, scorpions, civet cats and countless exotically-plumed bird species.

There are also a few small Malay kampungs still in their authentic state.

Do
Scale Gunung Arong and enjoy the spectacular view from its summit at over 200 metres. At the foot of Gunung Arong there's a waterfall and natural pool, great for a quick dip to refresh yourself after the climb.

Other Tanjung Resang activities, especially during the Northeast monsoon, include surfing, kite-boarding, windsurfing and skim-boarding. During this time of the year (November-March) the winds pack quite a punch, whipping up the seas to impressively-sized swell and beach surf, ideal for high-wind sailors and wave-surfers.

During the milder Southwest monsoon (May-October), the area is somewhat shielded from the winds by the jutting capes, rendering the waters calmer and clear and thus more suitable for more recreational sailing, sailing classes, as well as kayaking, snorkeling, freediving, scuba diving, fishing, stand up paddling and island-hopping boat trips.

That said, outside the Tanjung Resang bay the winds at times can still good enough for high-speed windsurfing.

Tanjung Resang's pristine hinterland also lends itself for eco-tourism, off-roading and hiking.

Eat
Lastly, while in Tanjung Resang, sample the kerupuk lekor, a local delicacy.

title: Tanjung Resang


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Tanjung Uban

Tanjung Uban is a small town on the western side of Bintan Island, 7 km from Lobam Industrial Estate

By bus
If you are already in Tanjung Pinang (the province's capital, south to Tanjung Uban), you can take a bus ride from Batu 10 Bus Terminal to Tanjung Uban. The 2-hour trip by bus will cost you Rp. 15.000. Besides, you can also take a speedboat from Tanjung Pinang to Lobam Port and then take ojek (motorcycle taxi) to Tanjung Uban. It will save you a lot of time but it will cost you more.

By boat
Tanjung Uban can be reached from Telaga Punggur sea port (Batam) by speedboat in about 15 minutes. During the monsoon season (October-January), people usually take the slower ferry (locals call it "Ro-Ro") to avoid high wave although it takes about 45-60 minutes trip. The cost for speedboat ride from Tg. Uban - Punggur is about Rp. 30.000-40.000, while the ferry ticket is half of speedboat's ticket.

Get around
You also can rent a car, and go around the tanjung uban, one day cost Rp 250.000 without petrol. and you can drive to Bintan Lahgoon Resort in about 30 minute.

title: Tanjung Uban


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Tam Kỳ

Tam Ky is in the Central Coast of Vietnam.

Understand
The city is linear in shape, spreading along three major roads that run north-west to south-east. Quang Nam state's third city, Tam Ky is often passed over by visitors, amenities, and services, in favour of historic Hoi An or cosmopolitan Da Nang.

By train
Tam Ky is a major stop on Vietnam's north-south reunification rail line, and is served by all trains running the HCMC-Hanoi and Hanoi-HCMC routes. The station (Ga Tam Ky) is south-west of the city center.

By bus
A local bus makes frequent runs from Da Nang to Tam Ky, possibly via Hoi An. Tam Ky is also an inevitable obstacle for virtually every bus moving along Vietnam's North-South highway 1. There are two major bus stations, one at each entrance/exit to the city, generally serving destinations in their respective directions. Locals often don't know this though, as they generally stand on the side of the road and wave down the bus they need. Since many vehicles passing through for larger destinations (e.g. Da Nang to Quy Nhon) often don't make stops at the stations, you would be well advised to do as the locals do.

Get around
Quang Nam state's network of semi-urban buses serves the city and surrounding areas, however routes and times are difficult to discern, and drivers will often refuse to board foreigners who only want to make short trips. Stops are generally well posted, but routes are confusing, often backtracking. Buses may move at a crawl in the city as they look to pick up more passengers. Fare is 6,000 dong for trips less than 10 km.

From the train station to the beach at Tam Thanh (~11 km), a meter taxi should cost 100-150,000 dong, and a xe om (motorbike taxi) about 60,000 dong. There are no official motorbike rental businesses in close proximity to the train station: try further afield or take your chances by trying to convince a random to lend you their bike for cash. Buses 7 and 8 serve this beach roughly hourly.

See

 * There is a large museum on nicely maintained grounds
 * Lang Chai Tam Thanh is a fishing village that a Portuguese NGO helped promote by creating attractive murals on many of the village's homes. Free to visit, though consider offering your support by stopping for a snack or paying for secure parking. It's 2 km north of the main intersection at Ha Thanh (Tam Thanh) beach.

Do

 * Go to the beach. There are very few Westerners there, and fresh seafood.

Buy
This city has an ATM.

Connect
As of April 2017, there are a half dozen gaming shops (which double as internet cafes) within a few blocks of the train station. Cellular reception is excellent.

Go next

 * Tam Hai is a pleasant and untouristed island about an hour South-East of the city. Its sights (a hill, an abandoned cemetery, a cement well) are underwhelming but residents are pleasant. Bring exact change to avoid overpaying, or try to keep perspective while the locals get you for a few cents here and there.
 * If you're in Tam Ky you're probably on your way north to Hoi An or Da Nang or south to Quang Ngai or Quy Nhon

title: Tam Kỳ


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Tannersville

Tannersville is a city in Pennsylvania. It is only notable for CamelBack Mountain, the affiliated water park and hotels, and a Great Wolf Lodge

Get in
Tannersville is accessible from Exit 299 on Interstate 80

title: Tannersville


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Tanohata

Tanohata Village (田野畑村) is a small village on the coast of Sanriku in Iwate, it has some spectacular landscapes along its coastlines.

Understand
Unlike to other parts of Japan, Tanohata has somewhat different landscapes and lifestyle than any other part of country. It sandwiched between deep mountains and wide ocean. The cliff edge is rather rough and steep yet most of areas are still untouched. In the deep forest, there are many wild animals such as bear and eagles living next to human habitats. Because of its current location, making this village unique for producing farming and fishing products in plentiful hands, at same time.

Main reason to visit here to admire the natural beauty of Sanriku coast landscape, while being in real rural life by participating its learning experience programmes which are run by local people. Not to forget eating fresh seafood dishes that you've never seen them before!

Tourist Information Site
The village's official site has a Japanese-only section on tourism with nice photos.

Get in
The easiest way to approach is from Miyako or Kuji via Sanriku Railway (三陸鉄道). Kuji is served by JR Hachinohe Line from Hachinohe, and JR Tohoku Bus link from Ninohe. Hachinohe and Ninohe are both linked with JR Tohoku Shinkansen Services. While Miyako is linked from Morioka by JR Yamada line or Kenpoku Bus Express 106. (The bus service is far frequent than the JR.) From either Miyako or Kuji, the train should take about 50 mins to Tanohata station. Sanriku Railway has approximately hourly services in each directions. The village has two stations, Tanohata station and Shimanokoshi station.

At least but adventurous option maybe to hire a rent-a-car from Morioka station. Driving in this region is less stressful than in cities like Tokyo. National Road 455 is the shortest route from Morioka, passing through picturesque Gando-ko and Sotoyama lakes and peaceful Iwaizumi town. Morioka to Tanohata takes roughly 2hrs. (Please note, the road condition may be difficult in Winter, when snow may fall heavily.)

Get around
There are limited commuter bus links mainly serving for locals connecting between settlements, the village hall and medical center. Only useful bus service for tourist is the line between Tanohata Station and Kitayamasaki Cape which usually connect train arrival times. The single journey costs ¥300 and pay to the driver. The journey takes about 30 min.

Monday-Friday

 * From Tanohata Station 06:46, 10:32, 12:05, 14:00, 16:00

 * From Kitayamasaki 07:17, 11:25, 13:23, 15:32, 16:30

Saturday-Sunday (Jun-Oct only)

 * From Tanohata Station 10:32, 12:05, 14:00, 16:00

 * From Kitayamasaki 11:25, 13:23, 15:32, 16:30

There is also a bus route between Kitayamasaki and Fudai village via Kurosaki cape (although twice a day, not weekends). ¥420 single. The journey takes about 20 min.

Monday-Friday

 * From Fudai Station 13:40, 15:00

 * From Kitayamasaki 14:20, 15:30

Taxi is available from Tanohata or Shimanokoshi stations.

If you are driving in Tanohata, Sub-Primary Kendo road 44 is a scenic route going through dramatic landscapes from mountains and seashores onto Fudai village, while National Road 45 runs through highground in the middle of Tanohata village.

Do
Following activities can be arranged by "Banya Eco-Tourism" project run by Tanohata Network, 0194-37-1211.

 * "Sappa" Fishing Boat Adventures Riding real small fishing boats "Sappa" and going through cliff gaps and tunnels where fishemen usually catch and pick sea-urchins, Wakame seaweed etc. Driven by real fishermen. ¥3,500 per person, Minimum 2 people.
 * Kitayamasaki Nature Trecking Guide A walking guide will take you places in deep and wild. The route can be pre-planned according to your request. ¥3,000 per hour.
 * Shell Art 7 Using shells and making your original accessary such as necklace and photoframe etc. ¥500-1,500 depending what you like to make.
 * Tsukuehama Ban-ya Experience Visiting fishermen's hatch near the shore, learning about the life of fishermen. ¥3,000 per person.
 * Ban-ya cooking Experience Using fresh catch of the day, learning how to open Sea-urchin etc. Eating seafood at Ban-ya fishermen's hatch afterwards. ¥2,500 per person. Minimum 2 people.
 * Deai ni Kanpai (Home visit) Additional to Fishing Boat Adventures, visiting fishermen's house and experience what the real life would be living in the countryside, walking around neighbourhood and having dinner around the table. Name "Kanpai" means "Cheers". ¥30,000 per two persons, ¥5,000 extra per person.

Buy

 * Salmon. Sanriku coast is famous for Salmon in Japan.
 * Tanohata Dairy Products. "Milk" is widely known in Northern Tohoku region and can be purchased in chain stores. "Drinkable Yogult" is Tanohata's proud item. "Ice-Cream" is also homemade and sold at giftshops in the village.
 * Seaweed. Crunchy, good taste and long life which is ideal for gift.

Go next

 * Fudai
 * Noda
 * Kuji
 * Iwaizumi
 * Miyako
 * Kuzumaki
 * Kawai
 * Hirono
 * Hashikami

title: Tanohata


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Tansen

Tansen is a city in Western Nepal. It's an old western Newari city with an amazing history and some marvelous Nawari architecture. It is a wonderful "hill station" in development with great views of the Himals and very interesting Palpali culture and history.

Understand
It lies about 30 km north of Butwal and 120 km from Pokhara. Approach roads are mostly good but winding. Altitude is higher than Kathmandu (4600 ft/1500 m) so weather is lovely during the hot monsoon season!

By plane
Via Kathmandu to Bhairahawa Airport, one of Nepal's busiest, takes 45 minutes, and costs about US$200 for foreigners and US$115 for nationals. Carriers include Buddha Air, Yeti Air, Rs. 160 airport tax applies for all domestic flights. Change to bus, taxi, or jeep to drive north about 2½ hours to Tansen.

By bus
Via New Delhi, Gorakhpur, Sunauli India/Belahiya Nepal, Bhairahawa, Butwal. 24 - 30 hours. Change to bus/taxi/jeep to drive north about 2½ hours to Tansen.

Via Kathmandu, Narayangarh/Bharatpur (var. Narayanghat), Butwal, Tansen. 7 - 10 hours.

Via Pokhara, Palpa/Tansen, (potholed, windy road, but beautiful views) 4-6 hours about Rs. 250.

By train
Via New Delhi - Gorakhpur and see Gorakhpur-Tansen, below. Total time approximately 14 - 20 hours.

Transfer to narrow gauge track to Nautanwa. Transfer to taxi/bus/rickshaw to Sunauli, India (about 5 km). Cross border to Belahiya and Nepal's Immigration. Transfer to bus/taxi rickshaw for 3 km to Bhairahawa. Change to bus/taxi/jeep to drive north about 2½ hours to Tansen.

Via Kolkata (Calcutta), Patna, Gorakhpur and see Gorakhpur-Tansen, below. Total time approximately 12 - 14 hours.

Gorakhpur - Tansen. At Gorakhpur you can transfer to narrow gauge line to Nautanwa and then to taxi/bus/rickshaw to Sunauli, India (approximately 5 km). These trains can be infrequent so it may save time to hire a taxi from Gorakhpur to Sunauli, about two hours. From Sunauli cross border to Belahiya and Nepal Immigration formalities. Then find bus, taxi or jeep to drive north about 2½ hours to Tansen via Bhairahawa and Butwal.

By car
Very good but windy roads up from Butwal and down Pokhara. It is accessible with good roads from the south (Butwal) and from the north (Pokhara).

Get around
There are no rickshaws or taxis in Tansen. But as it is a small town the best option is walking. The better hotels can arrange a vehicle or a motorcycle hire. You can rent a bicycle at some guest houses. Like most hill stations Tansen lies on the side of a hill so walking at times is invigorating

See

 * Amar Narayan Temple This temple is a traditional three-tiered pagoda-style temple built in 1806. It has well-carved doors and has some intricate woodwork. It has erotic figures on the roof struts. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful temples outside of Kathmandu Valley. The temple was built by Amar Singh Thapa, who annexed Tansen to become part of Nepal.

 * Bhagwati Temple This temple, near the Tansen Durbar, was built in 1815 to commemorate the victory over the British at Butwal. It was renovated in 1935 and 1974 after earthquakes. In the area there are small temples dedicated by Ganesh, Saraswati and Siva.

 * Tansen Durbar/Palace In the center of the town lies a 64-room palace, a representation of arts and crafts of the ancient Palpa. In January 2006, Maoists launched attacks in Tansen. They fought with local authorities and bombarded many ancient buildings including the palace which had housed government offices. Many historical buildings including the Tansen palace was destroyed.

Do

 * Srinagar Park Can be a bit crowded and noisy on Saturdays with Nepalese picnicking but still the jewel of Tansen. With hiking trails weaving in and out of the forest on a clear day you can see the peaks of Kanjiroba far to the west, then Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhare/Fishtail and the Annapurnas, Manaslu and Gauri Shankar. Especially dramatic at sunrise or sunset watching the sun rise or set from east to west.  You can estimate the earth's diameter by timing this.  An easy hike of about a kilometer from the bazaar, uphill.

 * Palpa Ranighat Visit the old ruins of a palace set on a massive rock bed at the bank of the Kali Gandaki river for viewing palace garden, stone walls, and a small shrine. This palace was built in 1892 by Governor Khadka Shamser in memory of his wife Tej Kumari, and is often called the Taj Mahal of Nepal. It is a 2-5 hour hike one way down from Srinagar Park. The path is well marked, the way/walking is not difficult and of course has wonderful forest and village sceneries and chances for wildlife/bird viewing. You can spend the night at a small guesthouse, Rs. 100 per bed, in Ranighat. On the way back following the river there are a few nice natural pools excellent for a little swim. The total trek there and back is 23 km.

 * Bhairabsthan Or Kal Bhairab is an easy trek of 10 km from Tansen, brings you to a beautiful spot, the Bhairabsthan temple. From here you can view Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Machhapuchhare and witness cultural attractions. The temple has a large Trishul (Trident), and it receives a large number of visitors on every Saturday and Tuesday. People sacrifice animals and offer grains, and fruits to please the Hindu God Bhairab, whose figure is believed to be kept hidden under the floor of the temple and the figure is identically to the Kal Bhairab status of Kathmandu, located at Durbar Square. Kal Bhairab is the Nepalese God of Destruction. Temples dedicated to him are located in many parts of Nepal.

 * Tanahu is a beautiful hill town, which is only about 32 km southeast of Tansen, linked by a road. It is a favroute nearby destination of Tansen town. Tanahu offers beautiful natural forests, farm lands and views of the mountains and valleys. You can enjoy the Rambha forest, Rimbha lekh and Kaaude and Hatti pond (Lekh or Tal in Nepali).

Buy

 * Palpali Brass Search the bazaar for good deals on famous Palpali brass wear such as kuruwas, diwas, and statuary still produced in and around Tansen.

 * Dhaka Cloth the most popular hand woven cloth of Nepal comes from this region. The Nepali topi (national cap) is made of Dhaka and You can see the weavers at work on their looms or see a bazaar of Dhakas in Tansen.

Eat

 * Nanglo West, a branch of a Kathmandu-based Nanglo's and Bakery Cafes, has a pleasant indoor and outdoor seating area. It serves really good Nepali and Newar food, and decent Western food.

 * Doko Restaurant has Tibetan and Newari food.

 * Hotel Srinagar has a good restaurant.

Go next

 * Pokhara is not too far away

title: Tansen


text:
Tanta

Tanta is the 5th largest city in Egypt.

Understand
The city is one of the oldest cultural and religious settlements in Egypt, and also home to a large and prestigious university, Tanta University.

Understand
Tanta is famous for the mosque and festivals of Sayed Ahmad al-Badawi, and also for the delicious sweets made in that area.

By train
There are frequent daily connections from Alexandria, Cairo, and Port Said. is centrally located, just south of the city centre.

By bus
Minibuses and Peugeot shared taxis abound in other cities.

Get around
The easiest way to get around is by taxi. A ride will cost LE 1.5-2 for short distances, and may reach LE 3-4 for long distances at rush hours. Another option is to take one of the public minibuses.

See
The Ahmad Al-Badawi mosque and Al Azher schools were founded hundreds of years back. The sayed al-Badawi mosque is spectacular and can get very very crowded during the festival seasons. Gold and crystal chandeliers, impressive tile work, painted wood, and stained glass decorate this holy place in Tanta's downtown. You can certainly walk there from the train station, it's probably less than 1 km. There are custodians at the mosque to hold onto your bag or backpack while you are making the prayers or touring the mosque.

Buy
traditional sweets canes and wicker work peasant vests, underwear, and crocheted caps

Eat
Near the Mosque of Sayed al-Badawi, on one of the streets to the right side if you're facing the mosque, is a fuul and ta'amiya restaurant called Abu Sina. It's packed with locals eating the delicious fuul. For LE 10 LE, you get two plates of fuul, gargeer, babghanoush, tahini, ta'miyas, salad, tomatoes, potato salad, pickles, and one can of pop. Plus it was absolutely delicious!

You can also buy some delicious sweets from hallawyat masr or if you want to get some other eastern sweets go to adly sweets.

Drink
Rural conservatism is apparently on the decline, as one sees women and men in coffee shops, including near the main mosque. Enjoy a drink of karkadee or yansoon, in addition to the traditional tea or coffee.

title: Tanta