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Tasikmalaya

Tasikmalaya is a city and regency in the East Parahyangan region, in the south east of Western Java in Indonesia.

Understand
The city of Tasikmalaya has a population of about 716,000 (2020). The city is surrounded by the regency of Tasikmalaya. The city is also known simply as Tasik, which means 'sea' or 'lake' in Sundanese.

By car
Tasikmalaya is on Java's southern route (National Road 3) between the city of Bandung and Central Java. To get to Tasik from Bandung, you will need to take the road over the Nagreg mountain pass. The journey takes about 2.5 to 3 hours if traffic conditions are good. However, serious traffic congestion is common on the mountain pass road.

By bus
The main bus terminal of Tasik is on the northwestern side of the city. There are very frequent buses from various bus terminals in Jakarta, including at least hourly buses from Kampung Rambutan terminal in East Jakarta as well as Lebak Bulus terminal in South Jakarta. There are also very frequent buses during daytime from Bandung's Cicaheum terminal. In Bandung, it is also an option to wait for buses to Tasik at the Cileunyi toll gate, as all buses from Jakarta pass there.

While buses from Jakarta and Bandung are the most frequent, there also regular buses (at least several per day) from Cirebon, Yogyakarta, and Semarang, and from towns and cities nearby, such as Kuningan, Ciamis, Banjar, and Pangandaran. Finally, there are daily buses from the port of Merak as well as from Surabaya.

By train
is on the northern side of the city centre. The station is served by 6 economy class trains per day from Bandung (Kiaracondong station), of which two begin in Jakarta. In addition, there are six business and/or executive class trains per day from Bandung (central station). In the other direction, the trains have various destinations throughout Central and East Java, including four daily trains from Surabaya.

By plane
There is only one flight per day to visit Tasikmalaya from Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport, Jakarta.

Get around
Travel around the city by using available angkot (public minivans) to take you to several place in Tasikmalaya. Other options to get around include becak (cycle rickshaw) and delman (horse carriage).

Do

 * Mt galunggung volcanic crater.jpg

Buy

 * Wood Craft - Find the traditional wood craft from Tasikmalaya at Rajapolah, a well known Wood Craft Tourism district located at northern part of Tasikmalaya.
 * Payung Tasik - An umbrella ala Tasikmalaya.
 * Bordir Tasik - Traditional embroidery made in Tasikmalaya, can be found at Kawalu district.

Eat
A traditional type of food from Tasik is nasi tutug oncom, which is rice mixed with 'oncom' (fermened soy bean tailings) that is fried or grilled.

Sleep
There are many hotels in Tasikmalaya to choose from. There is a cheap hotel, Merdeka, right down the road by the train station. Hotel Aden is also quite cheap at around 50,000 per night.

Go next

 * Garut — town known for volcanic hot springs, on the other side of the Galunggung volcano.
 * Pangandaran — a beach town to the southeast, popular among both locals and foreign tourists.

title: Tasikmalaya


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Tasmania

Tasmania (palawa kani: lutruwita) is the island state of Australia, southeast of the mainland. Tasmania encompasses the main island of Tasmania, the 26th largest island in the world, and over 1000 smaller islands, both inhabited and uninhabited. It is the smallest state in Australia by both area and by population, with just over 500,000 permanent residents. Over 45% of Tasmania is protected by national parks and world heritage sites, and it features diverse climates, flora and fauna, many of which are found nowhere else in Australia, and a rich heritage, both Indigenous and post-colonial.

You'll find the inhabitants notably more polite, friendly and helpful than in big cities on the mainland such as Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Other

 * Macquarie Island is a Subantarctic island around south-southeast of Tasmania. While it's administered as part of the Huon Valley, it's geologically, physically, and ecologically closer to many other Subantarctic islands, particularly the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands.

Cities and townships

 * – the state capital and largest city located in the south of the island
 * – beach town on the east coast
 * – the fourth largest city in Tasmania
 * – home to the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, third largest city
 * – gateway to southern Tasmania
 * – the second largest city
 * – historic mining town on the west coast
 * – home to many old buildings dating back to the 19th century as well as the oldest bridge in use in Australia
 * – one of the most isolated (and beautiful) parts of Australia and the largest centre in western Tasmania.

Other destinations
Tasmania has some of the most beautiful and diverse scenery not just in Australia but also the world. Over 45 percent of Tasmania is protected in national parks so you can't make a visit here without checking at least a couple of national parks out. The UNESCO World Heritage site Tasmanian Wilderness covers about a quarter of Tasmania. There's a park for every season and for every person. Discover spectacular landscapes from highlands carved by glaciers, including the only fjords in Australia, to quiet solitary beaches, from cool and silent rainforests, to colourful alpine wilderness wild flowers. Tasmania's 19 national parks encompass a diversity of unspoiled habitats and ecosystems which offer refuge to unique, and often ancient, plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth.

 * – mountain with a ski resort.
 * – perhaps Tasmania's most visited offshore island
 * – one of Tasmania's most iconic landmarks and contains the Overland Track, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness.
 * – part of the Tasmanian Wilderness, home to several waterfalls. It is Tasmania's second largest national park.
 * – known for its beaches and bay.
 * – another mountainous national park, just one hour away from Hobart
 * – one of the more visited national parks in Tasmania, and a popular skiing area
 * – former convict settlement and a
 * – Tasmania's largest national park in the southwest of the island, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness . It is a good place to spot the Southern Lights.

History
Tasmania has been inhabited by humans for approximately 60,000 years. Between around 6,000 BCE, sea levels rose and Aboriginal Tasmanians were entirely isolated from the rest of the human race, until the first contact with Europeans in 1777.

The first reported sighting of Tasmania by a European was on 24 November 1642 by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. Captain James Cook landed at Adventure Bay in 1777. Matthew Flinders and George Bass first proved Tasmania to be an island in 1798–99.

The first European settling of Tasmania was by the British at Risdon Cove on the eastern bank of the Derwent estuary in 1804. Penal settlements were established at Sullivans Cove (Hobart), Maria Island, Sarah Island, and Port Arthur. The colony changed its name from "Van Diemen's Land" to "Tasmania" in 1856. The Colony of Tasmania existed from 1856 until 1901, when it federated with the five other Australian colonies to form the Commonwealth of Australia.

Geography

Located in the Southern Ocean separated from mainland Australia by the Bass Strait and from New Zealand by the Tasman Sea, Tasmania is Australia's smallest state, with an area of 68,400 km² (26,410 square miles). It is comparable in size to the Canadian province of New Brunswick or the country of Ireland. It's within the range of the notorious "Roaring Forties" winds that encircle the globe.

Tasmania's population is focused in the southeast and north in the regions around the cities of Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Devonport.

The Midlands (the area between Hobart and Launceston) is the driest region of Tasmania and is primarily used for cattle and sheep grazing. The Huon Valley and the area between Launceston and Burnie is used for both agriculture and horticulture. The Central Highlands, the West Coast and the Southwest Wilderness are all mountainous forested areas, a majority of which are protected inside national parks.

Tasmania is very mountainous: while its tallest mountain, Mount Ossa, at 1,617 m (5,305 ft) is not that high compared to global standards, the mountains are what characterise Tasmania. Much of Tasmania is densely forested, with Southwest National Park and neighbouring areas home to some of the last pristine temperate rainforests in the Southern Hemisphere.

Politics
Tasmania is one of the six founding members of the Commonwealth of Australia. It is separated into 29 smaller local government areas.

Like all other states except for Queensland, Tasmania has a bicameral parliament; the Parliament of Tasmania consists of the Legislative Council (upper house) and the House of Assembly (lower house). In state elections, there are 5 electorates, each consisting of 7 members each (as of March 2024).

There are four influential political parties in Tasmania. The Tasmanian Liberal Party is the state's centre-right party and is a division of the Liberal Party at the federal division. Tasmanian Labor is a centrist/centre-left party and a branch of the Australian Labor Party, of which it shares many similar values. The Tasmanian Greens, a branch of the Australian Greens, is a minor party, is a left-wing environmentalist party and is considered to be the successor of the United Tasmania Party, the world's first Green party; this was the first time where an environmentalist party had some success in politics. The Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) is another minor but populist/right-wing party with a strong regional focus on Tasmania and Tasmanians.

Climate
Tasmania typically has more rainy days than anywhere else in Australia, with "four seasons in a day"  being often the norm. The southwest and West Coast in particular receive a great amount of rainfall - so much of it that it is considered uninhabitable. Both cold waves from Antarctica and heatwaves from the mainland can reach the island anytime. The sea temperature is rather low throughout the year, even in the north.

Tasmania has a cool temperate climate, comparable with that of northern Europe and/or Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, with the following seasons:

 * Spring from September to November, with frequent snowfalls at higher elevations.
 * Summer from December to February. It has about 15 hours of daylight from 5:30AM to 8:30–9:30PM.
 * Autumn from March to May. Changeable weather.
 * Winter from June to August. High areas receive a good amount of snowfall. It has the least daylight with about 9 hours a day from 8AM to 4:30PM, but sometimes even earlier, especially in the Huon and Far South.

Economy
Tasmania's main industries are mining (including copper, zinc, tin, and iron), forestry, agriculture, fresh produce (fruit & vegetables, dairy, seafood, beer and wine), and tourism. The economy is affected by the Bass Strait, and how the freight and transport issues of goods into and out of the island are costed and subsidised, at times there are more Tasmanian-born people in Melbourne, than there are in Tasmania, due to the nature of the Tasmanian job market.

Holidays
National public holidays can be found in the main Australia article.

Statewide public holidays

 * 8-Hour Day (Labor Day): Second Monday of March (Eight Hours Day)
 * Recreation Day: First Monday in November (Except areas that observe Royal Hobart Regatta)

Regional public holidays These apply to smaller areas of Tasmania:

 * Wednesday not earlier than fifth and not later than eleventh day of January: Devonport Cup (Devonport only)
 * Last Wednesday of February: Launceston Cup (Launceston and surrounds)
 * Second Monday of February: Royal Regatta Day (Southern Tasmania only)
 * First Tuesday of March: King Island Show (King Island only)
 * The Friday nearest the last day of November: AGFEST (Circular Head only)
 * The Friday before the first Saturday of October: Burnie Show (Burnie, Waratah-Wynyard and West Coast)
 * Thursday before the second Saturday of October: Royal Launceston Show (Launceston and surrounds)
 * The Friday before the third Saturday of October: Flinders Island Show (Flinders Island only)
 * The Friday before the third Saturday of October: Royal Hobart Show (Southern Tasmania only)
 * The Friday nearest the last day of November: Devonport Show (Devonport, Kentish and Latrobe only)

Time zone
Tasmania follows the same time zone as New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory: Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10). Like the two southeastern states, Tasmania also observes daylight savings and follows the Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time (UTC+11) between the first Sunday of October and April.

Tourist information

 * Disvover Tasmania website

By plane
There are no international scheduled flights to Tasmania, except seasonal flights from New Zealand. All other flights must come through mainland cities. There are seasonal flights over Antarctica.

 * Flights to Hobart from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast as well as Auckland.
 * Flights to Launceston from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
 * Flights to Burnie and Devonport from Melbourne.
 * Flights to King Island and Flinders Island from Melbourne.

See the local guides for more information.

By ferry
There is only one ferry route, which are the two Spirit of Tasmania Ferries from the Spirit of Tasmania terminal in Geelong and arrive at Devonport. See the Devonport article for the details of the ferry. It takes a full night (or the full day during peak summer periods) for the crossing and takes vehicles, bikes, foot passengers and pets.

The crossing can be a little choppy at times, but provides beautiful sunsets and costs around $200–300 each way (excluding the cost bringing a vehicle). You have the option of booking one of a range of a cabins or a reclining chair for the journey.

Crossings can also be part of cruise ship itineraries.

Rental car companies usually do not allow you to take their vehicles into or out of Tasmania on the ferry. If you have rented a car on the mainland and need one in Tasmania, it's best to drop the car off in Geelong, Victoria; rental cars are available at the Devonport terminal.

By car
Tasmania is perhaps Australia's most car-centric state: driving is not just the most convenient way to get around, but it is also the most practical. Cars can be brought into Tasmania from Geelong on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, or hired upon arrival through the major operators typically found on the mainland. Car rentals typically do not permit taking the car on the ferry crossing. Car rentals also generally prohibit driving on unsealed roads, which are very common in Tasmania.

Tasmania's speed limits are more liberal than the three states on the mainland's East Coast. By default, the maximum urban limit is 50 km/h, 80 km/h on gravel roads and 100 km/h on rural roads. However, on most rural roads, the government has practically adopted a "drive to conditions approach" by setting a 100 km/h limit on even the most windiest of roads with few to no slow or overtaking lanes. In practice, if you're new to the area, you may struggle to even travel 80 km/h on these roads, but the limit is for those who are experienced with such road conditions. Remember, if you are not comfortable driving 100 km/h on "100 km/h changing road conditions" roads, you do not have to drive 100 km/h. You may also encounter 110 km/h limits on the Midland, Bass and Tasman Highways.

Tasmania has four main road classifications: National Highway, A-routes, B-routes, and C-routes. The only national highway is Tasmanian National Highway 1 comprising of the Brooker, Midland and Bass Highways between Hobart and Burnie. A-routes (numbered between 2 and 10) connect major regional centres, B-routes (numbered between 10 and 85, in addition to 110) connect minor towns to major regional centres or highways, while C-routes (numbered between 101 and 854) are smaller roads that typically connect B-routes to an even smaller destination. A route number does not necessarily reflect the road quality: until 2019, the A5 (Lake Highway) through the Highland Lakes was unsealed, and other A-routes such as the A3 are more windier than many B-routes in the north.

Many major roads, even A-routes, wind their way through mountain passes and along coastlines, narrow and with few overtaking lanes, and some sections of remote roads may be in need of repair. Direct roads on the maps may take longer than you think. Take care on some of the winding or secondary roads, since some ute drivers and locals may try to overtake on dangerous stretches of road or tailgate you if you aren't travelling fast enough. Some local drivers, especially in suburban and semi-open areas (e.g. Bass Highway), will also tailgate and attempt dangerous manoeuvres to pass or overtake you, especially if they see you are driving a hire car.

Be especially careful driving between dusk and dawn as this is when the wildlife is most active: keep on the lookout for wallabies, devils, possums and others. Tasmania has the unfortunate distinction of being the roadkill capital of the world. Wallabies and wombats can make a mess of your vehicle if hit. The Tasmanian government generally advises you drive 65 km/h between dusk and dawn and 45 km/h in some places like the Tasman Peninsula (Tasman Island).

Exploring the forests can often lead to a maze of forest roads. A GPS can come in handy for finding your way out, although they are not always up to date.

By bus
Buses can be an option if time is on your side, but otherwise isn't a feasible way of getting around. Planning is advised since services can be infrequent. Redline Tasmania and Tassielink are the main long distance bus companies, with population centres serviced by Metro Tasmania for Burnie, Hobart and Launceston and Merseylink that provide services to Devonport and Latrobe. If you are not in a major town (e.g. Hobart, Launceston) bus services can be infrequent, expensive and hard to rely on. Make sure you have a copy of the timetable with you.

 * Redline Tasmania destinations include:
 * Derby, Scottsdale and Bridport (to and from Launceston)
 * Low Head and George Town (to and from Launceston)
 * Dodges Ferry and Sorell
 * Tassielink bus lines include:
 * Coles Bay, Bicheno and Swansea (to Hobart)
 * Hobart to Huon Valley (via Kingston, Ranelagh, Cygnet, Geeveston, Dover)
 * Hobart to Campania (via Cambridge and Richmond)
 * Dunalley, Tasman Peninsula, Eaglehawk Neck, Port Arthur, Nubeena
 * Launceston to Cressy (via Evandale, Perth, Longford)
 * Strahan to Burnie (via Queenstown)
 * Metro Tasmania connects different suburbs in Burnie, Hobart and Launceston.
 * Merseylink routes are:
 * Route 170, 171: West & North Devonport
 * Route 172, 173, 174: South Devonport & Miandetta
 * Route 175: East Devonport
 * Route 176: Ambleside
 * Route 178: Latrobe (via Tarleton & Spreyton)
 * Route 180, 182: Ulverstone to West Ulverstone & Devonport
 * Route 183: Port Sorell (via Hawley & Shearwater)
 * Route 184: Devonport-Sheffield via Railton
 * Route 708: North West Express

Transport Tasmania, a government-run bus service, has infrequent buses to Queenstown, Strahan, Burnie, Coles Bay, St Helens, and other towns.

By train
There are no public train services. The many railways seen crossing minor roads are used for freight only. The only passenger railways in Tasmania are heritage services that use vintage equipment. The West Coast Wilderness Railway, a tourist train which runs between Strahan and Queenstown on the West Coast, is perhaps the best known, passing through some incredibly scenic areas. The trip takes about 3 hours with lunch included (very slow compared to the 30-minute car journey).

By plane

 * Par Avion offer scenic flights across the state and services into Melaleuca in Southwest National Park.
 * Airlines of Tasmania offer flights between Launceston and Cape Barren Island.
 * Sharp Airlines offer flights to Flinders Island from Launceston and flights to King Island from Launceston and Burnie.

By bicycle
Bicycle touring is a popular way to see cities Tasmania, but driving on rural roads can be very dangerous. Bicycle rental companies can be found in major cities and towns.

Wildlife

If you spend any time in the bush you are very likely to see:
 * Kangaroos, wallabies, and pademelons are everywhere throughout Tasmania.
 * Wombats can be found in many national parks and mostly come out at night.
 * Ringtail and brushtail possums only come out at night.

Less common wildlife include:
 * Echidnas are rarely seen in the bush. They're more easily spotted when crossing roads.
 * Bandicoots and Potoroos are at the small end of the jumping marsupial scale.
 * Platypus are very elusive. If you are persistent and very quiet and still you may find one rummaging at the bottom of a creek.
 * Eastern and Spotted-tail Quolls very rarely seen.
 * Tasmanian devils are rarely seen in the wild. They can sometimes be spotted along roadsides eating roadkill at night and sometimes on the edge of rural towns.

Landmarks

 * kunanyi / Mount Wellington is a large mountain that rises above Tasmania's capital city. Visitors can drive to the top, where a viewing lookout is located, and well maintained walking tracks are located in the foothills. A coffee van operates at the Springs, a picnic area mid way up the mountain.

Five world heritage listed convict sites are located in Tasmania, in the northeast and south of the island. The best known is likely Port Arthur.
 * Bay of Fires is one of Tasmania's most popular tourist destinations, located between Eddystone Point and Binalong Bay. Bay of Fires has beautiful blue water, red rocks, and sandy white beaches. Enter through Binalong Bay which is 10 minutes from St Helens.  This area offers a wide range of activities including camping, boating, bird watching, fishing, swimming, surfing, and walking along the coastline.
 * Cataract Gorge is a unique, natural formation within a two-minute drive from central Launceston known to locals as The Gorge. After walking 15 minutes from central Launceston along Tamar River into Gorge, you then follow the pathway along the cliff face looking down onto South Esk River. On the southern side, called the First Basin, there is a cafe, swimming pool, and Launceston's beach. The northern side, known as the Cliff Grounds, there is a kiosk, restaurants, swimming pool, and a chairlift across the river. The Cataract Gorge Reserve is one of Australia's most fascinating urban parks.
 * Hastings Caves include Newdegate Cave, the largest cave in Australia open to tourists. Tour magical chambers of flowstones and shawls, then relax in a thermal pool. Formations in the cave are spectacular and include flowstone, stalactites, columns, shawls, straws, stalagmites and the unusual helictites tendrils of calcite that grow in all directions in tiny filaments.
 * Mole Creek Karst Tasmania's only national park featuring caves. Among many features are the King Solomon and Marakoopa Caves, both of which can be viewed with Tasmania Park Service guides leading you. The two caves are distinctly different and a separate entry ticket is required for each. Tour times are staggered throughout the day.
 * Port Arthur is the best preserved convict site in Australia. Many years ago, this site played a key role in the colonial system of convict discipline. During your experience, you will have the chance to take guided tours of the Commandant's House, Parsonage, Trentham Cottage, Junior Medical Officer's quarters, historic buildings and ruins of the Penitentiary, Barracks, Guard Tower and military precinct, Hospital, Paupers' Depot and Asylum. Port Arthur is surrounded by beautiful bushland and trails available to explore the land around you.
 * Ross is another convict town, but is not listed as a world-heritage site. It's known for its convict-built bridge and its old female factory, both of which are popular stopover destinations for those travelling on the Midland Highway between Hobart and Launceston.
 * Salamanca Place in Sullivans Cove, is Hobart's favourite hang out. Salamanca is lined with a long row of sandstone buildings built in the 1830s. You can wander under the heavy stone arches to find craft and design shops, jewellers, coffee shops, restaurants, bookshops, fashion boutiques, and the Salamanca Arts Centre and artists’ galleries. Every Saturday there’s the Salamanca Market, where you can buy anything from a handmade wooden toy or a hand-spun, hand-knitted sweater to fresh fruit and vegetables or a 50-year-old china plate.
 * The Nut is located at the historic village of Stanley, in far north-west Tasmania. The Nut, a sheer-sided bluff is all that remains of an ancient volcanic plug. A walking track climbs to the summit of The Nut, or you can take the chairlift, with spectacular views across Bass Strait beaches and over the town. There is accommodation and an excellent campground in Stanley, and the town is a good base for exploring the forests and coastlines further west.

Do

 * Trout fishing. Trout Guides and Lodges Tasmania Incorporated (TGALT) is the industry body, that was voluntarily formed in 1981 as the Tasmanian Professional Trout Fishing Guides Association. Its primary purpose was to provide anglers with a source of guides that they could be assured, would provide a safe, appropriate and professional service. During 1995 the Association was expanded to specifically include trout fishing lodges as full members.
 * The Great Tasmanian Bike Ride - held in early February.
 * Bicycle touring and mountain biking - there are some great places to ride your bicycle in Tasmania.
 * Scuba diving - Tasmania is home to some of the best temperate diving in the world. Along with its giant kelp forests and numerous shipwrecks, the waters reefs also offer an array of unique marine plants and animals. There are many dive sites along the coast, the most popular sites are at Bicheno, Bay of Fires, Flinders Island, Fortescue Bay, Tasman Peninsula and Maria Island.
 * Off road touring - Tasmania is a very rugged and heavily forested region, tourists happen to miss out on some incredible places if they do not have a vehicle with four-wheel-drive. Visitors can explore these trails with an experienced operator or either form or tag along with a group. Before exploring, make sure you have a current map of the area. In 2003, Tasmania changed the co-ordinate system used for all maps from AGD 66 to GDA 94. Also, ask the local land manager for the latest information on the condition of the area you plan to use and permits.
 * Wildlife watching. Because of its separation from mainland Australia, Tasmania is home to animals and plants that are rare or even extinct in other areas around the world. If visitors are watchful, they are very likely to witness these species on trails or near streams. Tourists can also be by a tour guide to point out these animals so you won't miss them! Some of these rare mammals include the Tasmanian Devil, Platypus, Echidna, Sugar Glider, Eastern Quoll, and Forester Kangaroo.
 * Hang gliding and the Flying Fox. Hollybank Treetops Adventure takes visitors across treetops and gives them the experience of seeing Tasmania's forests in a whole new way - bird's-eye view! These canopy tours last for 3 hours and are led by highly trained professionals. Not only do guests take part in this unique adventure by soaring across about a kilometre of cable but they also learn about the forests below them.
 * Kayaking. After landing in Hobart's Airport, you are a mere 20-minute drive away from beginning your kayaking experience. Visitors can explore Tasmania's beautiful coastlines and search out secret coves by kayaking. There are professional kayak guides based in Hobart, Kettering, Port Arthur, Coles Bay, Launceston, and Strahan.  Kayak travel through Tasmania's beautiful landscape offers relaxation and exhilaration that tourists will not want to miss out on.
 * Adventure activities including abseiling, all-terrain vehicles, bicycle touring, caves and caving, diving, jet boats, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, sky diving, swimming, surfing and whitewater rafting.

Hiking
No trip to Tasmania is complete without hiking. While many of the state's important natural attractions have since been linked by road, many photogenic locations still require you to hike or walk the very least, even if it's just for a few hundred metres (which wouldn't be considered hiking by most Australian standards).

Contrary to the mainland, the vegetation seen on hikes is starkly different – and the temperate forests here tend to be more well-preserved. Conservation laws in Tasmania are stronger, so you may not find anything more than a boardwalk in some remote trails.

If long-distance hiking isn't your gist, the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service has created the 60 Great Short Walks. See Hiking and bushwalking in Australia § Tasmania for more about trails, and Tasmanian national parks § Hiking about the grading system.

On some trails, you must register before you hike. In many cases, this can as simple as writing your name and phone number on a book inside a mountain hut, but the entire purpose of this is for the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure that you come home safely. Weather can rapidly change and it's easy to become stranded in the Tasmanian Wilderness. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Popular trails and/or trails that Wikivoyage has an article on:
 * Overland Track: the iconic bushwalk from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. Bookings are essential during the main walking season (November to April).
 * South Coast Track: the bushwalk along the south coast of Tasmania, from Melaleuca, to Cockle Creek. Fly in by aircraft and take a 6-day walk back home.
 * Three Falls Circuit: a 7.5-km hike covering three impressive waterfalls in Mount Field National Park

Buy
One of Tasmania's most famous products is leatherwood honey, and there are numerous honey farms on the island in which you can purchase this.

Like elsewhere in Australia, tipping can be considered very unusual, however, most of the time, it's well appreciated. Most Tasmanian's wages are well below the mainland so don't be surprised if the people here are a lot more grateful. On the other hand, unlike in the US, you probably won't be frowned upon at if you don't - because tipping in Australia is quite unusual.

Tasmanian businesses no longer give out free plastic bags. Most local government areas also ban single use plastics for takeaway food.

Eat
Tasmania has a wide variety of culinary offerings. Tasmania produces a wide range of cuisines, both quintessentially Australian foods, and a wide range of international offerings. Tasmania has a diverse immigrant community which has contributed to a colourful range of cuisines. Tasmanian produces much of its own food, including many crops you wouldn't expect, such as saffron, tea, truffles and wasabi. Many regions of Tasmania have particular specialties, for example King Island produces gourmet cheeses and beef and the Huon Valley is most famous for apples.

Being surrounded by the sea, it is no surprise that Tasmania also has a strong seafood culture, with many dedicated seafood restaurants offering salmon, abalone, scallops, oysters, mussels and crayfish. Curried scallop pies are a particularly well known Tasmanian specialty.

There is a list of vegetarian and vegetarian friendly eateries in Tasmania.

Drink
Tasmania has many exceptional world class beers, whiskies & wines.

There are two major breweries in Tasmania; Cascade Brewery in Hobart and J. Boag & Sons Brewery in Launceston, which each offer tours. A number of boutique beer makers and distillers are spread around the state.

You can tour the Tasmanian Wine Routes easily by car or on guided tours. The island's Wine Routes include the Tamar Valley, north of Launceston along both sides of the Tamar River and east to Pipers River; the Derwent, Coal River and Huon Valleys (together comprising the Southern Wine Route), an easy drive from Hobart; and the growing wine regions of the North West and the East Coast.

Tasmania is the centre of Australia's craft whisky industry, and there are numerous distilleries throughout the state. Due to the similarity of Tasmania's climate to that of Scotland, Tasmanian whiskies are primarily based on Scotch whiskies. Unlike in other areas, there is no large-scale commercial whisky distillation in Australia, and the industry is dominated by small boutique distilleries. Two of Tasmania's most important distilleries are Sullivans Cove in Cambridge, and Lark in Hobart, both of which have won prestigious international awards.

Tasmania also has a strong cider culture, with a number of small to medium boutique cider producers including Willie Smiths, Pagan Cider, Franks Cider and Lost Pippin. The Tasmanian cider industry operates a Tasmanian Cider Trail for those who want to undertake a self-guided tour, and Willie Smiths celebrates an annual Mid Winter Fest, including traditional wassailing - the pagan practice of scaring the evil spirits away from the apple trees.

Tasmania is also home to several craft vodka and gin distilleries. There are also a wide range of local non-alcohol beverage producers. Tasmania has several well-regarded tea companies - the Tasmanian Tea Company, Tassie-T and the Art of Tea - whose drinks can be found in local restaurants and boutique grocers. Hartz and Juicy Isle both produce local sodas and cordials, and Westerway Farms and Juicy Isle continue to produce Tasmania's famous blackcurrant cordial, once made by Cascade.

The legal drinking age is 18 years. It is illegal either to purchase alcohol for yourself if you are under 18 years of age or to purchase alcohol on behalf of someone who is under 18 years of age. The only legally acceptable proof-of-age documentation are an Australian drivers licence, state-issued proof-of-age card, Keypass card or a passport, and it would be wise to carry one if you want to purchase alcohol or tobacco and look under 25 - vendors will frequently ask for ID for anybody who looks to be 25 or younger. In Tasmania, foreign drivers licences and foreign ID cards are not legally acceptable as proof of age documentation, and people who are unable to produce a passport or valid Australian ID will be refused service. Only actual ID documents will be accepted; photographs or photocopies will not be accepted.

Sleep
There is a variety of accommodation options available across the state, from camping through to 5-star luxury. Tasmania is particularly renowned for its hosted bed and breakfast accommodation where you can experience a different way of life in a whole range of different properties, including heritage listed and more modern properties in stunning locations.

There are four YHA (Hostelling International) branded hostels in Tasmania and a number of independent operators spread around the state. Prices range anywhere from $10-30.

Respect
Tasmanians are generally more laid-back and friendly than their mainland counterparts. They are usually very willing to help you out or give advice when asked.

You should also mind that it is never a good idea to bring up the 1996 Port Arthur Massacre (the worst mass shooting in modern Australian history), even when you are outside Port Arthur as it may be a sensitive issue to some, even if they were not present at the scene. On the contrary, Tasmanians are very laid back when talking about the island's convict history, people here are unlikely to be offended by it.

In the bush
Bushwalking can be a truly breathtaking experience in Tasmania, but be sure to obtain the right gear, local advice and maps. Always sign the logbook at the beginning and end of each walk. Mobile coverage is limited in wilderness areas. The main dangers of bushwalking are getting lost and/or suffering from hypothermia. Tasmania's weather is notoriously changeable. Be sure to take a good raincoat and warm clothes with you even on a sunny day because an hour or two later it could be pouring with rain. If undertaking more serious bushwalking a map and compass is a must, as is a good sleeping bag and tent for multi-day walks.

Mosquitoes are present all year round. There are no mosquito-born viruses. A good repellent is advisable if going into the bush.

Wildlife
There are three species of snake in Tasmania: copperhead, white-lipped, and tiger. The tiger snake is one of the most venomous snakes in the world, but don't let that deter you. No one has died from a snake bite in Tasmania since 1977. All three use the same anti-venom so identification of the snake is not important. Most snakes will slither away as soon as they hear you coming.

Water
While in wilderness areas the water may be good to drink, but it is still highly recommended that you boil before consumption. If in touristy areas, such as The Overland Track, always boil your water or risk gastro.

Bushfires
During the Tasmanian bushfire season, which runs from roughly October to March, be vigilant and keep aware of local news. Bushfires can start and spread rapidly, even in urban areas. Many Tasmanian towns have just one exit, so it is worth planning ahead - even if a bushfire is hours away, it may be too late to leave if you wait.

In times of high fire danger, it may be worth reconsidering any activities that take you too deep into the bush. Check the Bureau of Meteorology website to assess the fire rating before going. The Tasmanian Fire Service provides an incidents list on its website, but this may be several hours out of date at times. ABC Local Radio (936 AM in Southern Tasmania, and a variety of frequencies in Northern Tasmania) is often the most up to date with emergency information, and can also be accessed online or on your phone.

Go next

 * Geelong and Melbourne are obvious next destinations, with the former easily reachable by ferry and the latter by plane.
 * Antarctica from Hobart has scheduled flights during summer months

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

title: Tasmania


text:
Tassili n'Ajjer Cultural Park

Tassili n'Ajjer Cultural Park is in Saharan Algeria. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand
The Tassili n'Ajjer mountain range gained world fame after the discovery of ancient rock art in the 1930s. Over the years, more than 15000 petroglyphs and paintings were identified, as were a great number of archeological remains. With numerous stone tools and artifacts, ceramics, burial mounds, enclosures and general habitational remains, Tassili n'Ajjer has provided archeologists with a wealth of information about life in the region in Neolithic times. Therefore, it is considered one of the most important sites of prehistoric cave art in the world.

As if all of that wasn't enough, Tassili n'Ajjer Cultural Park boast some stunning Saharan landscapes. Today, the massive Tassili itself is as good as uninhabited but the park attracts a good number of tourists and researchers alike.

Landscape
Although the magnificent archeological treasures are the centre point of attention, the landscapes of Tassili n'Ajjer alone make a visit more than worthwhile. Centuries of changing climates and erosion have resulted in stunning geological formations of eroded sandstone rocks, creating an almost lunar landscape with so-called "rock forests" often reaching as far the eye can see. To see the most of the parks natural panoramas requires multiple day trips, but the majestic canyons and countless arches - most without official names - make up for all efforts you'll have to make.

Climate
As temperatures reach serious low points in December and January, and extreme highs from April to September, the main trekking seasons are October-November and February-March.

Get in
The nearest town and starting point of most tours into Tassili n'Ajjer is the oasis city Djanet. Air Algerie operates regular flights between Algiers and Djanet. The connection with flights to Paris, for example, are good, with rather short transfer times. Getting there from Paris should be possible in a 7-hour time frame, with return tickets (including the Algiers-Djanet flight) starting under €600. Furthermore, there are flights between Djanet and Illizi, In Amenas, Ghardaïa, and Ouargla.

If you're travelling overland, route N3 runs through the park to Djanet, but there's as good as no organized bus transport. Hitchhiking is a possibility, but comes with all the obvious risks. There is a bus to the Libyan border, but the prices for that trip are high and rising. In short, the main alternative to flying in, is driving in with you own (rented or not) vehicle. The road is long and mostly without great landscapes, but for independent travellers an overland approach was the preferred method for a long time. However, after the 2003 kidnappings regulations for overland travel tightened, making guides compulsory and off-track driving off-limits. As a result of these rules and the bureaucratic hassle that came with it, prices rose significantly.

Fees and permits
Access to the park and its sites is restricted, and you'll need to buy a permit to enter, plus a separate one if you want to take pictures. These can be obtained via all government-approved tour agencies or a Tassili Cultural Park conservationist. Typically, you should get your permit just the same day.

Get around
You are allowed to work your own way around the authorized areas of Illizi, Bordj-el-Haous, and Djanet Fadnoun, but visiting the sites is only allowed when accompanied by an official tour guide. Tours include jeep rides, but to reach the plateau at the Tassili top, you'll have to rely on your own legs and some donkey or dromedary help. There is no road to the top, but you can choose from 3 passes: Afilalet, Assakao, and Aroun. Dromedaries can only access the Assakao pass, but donkeys manage all three options. As trips to the top take several days, count on taking lots of water and of course camping equipment.

Arranging a tour and supplies is relatively easy, as there are many small travel agencies around. Normally, it is possible to arrive in Djanet and set up a trip leaving the next day. There is no public transport available to get around the massive park.

See

 * Ancient rock art: petroglyphs and paintings depicting prehistoric life. You'll encounter images of cattle and wildlife, as well as figures, festivities and hunting scenes. Unfortunately, some of the most well-known images have been damaged due to copying by early discoverers and later travellers. Nevertheless, there are plenty of other, equally wonderful paintings that remain. Note the nature of wildlife depicted, which bears witness to the much moister climate of those ancient times, when there were lakes and rivers, and ample game to allow for human occupation of the area.
 * Rock formations and unique panoramas. Thousands of years of erosion by water and wind have sculptured a unique and massive collection of arches, labyrinths of sandstone streets and pinnacles, natural amphitheatres, steep gorges and other spectacular landscapes.

Do
As you'll need a guide to take you to the rock art sites, booking a tour is one of the first things you'll have to do. There's a good number of small agencies. Feel free to look around a bit and ask around. Prices can vary and are constantly rising. At the larger agencies, prices around 60 euro per person per day are not unusual.

Eat
In Djanet, several basic restaurants are around and easy to spot in the centre. Once you're out in the park however, no food facilities are available. Everything you need, you'll have to take with you. When choosing a tour you typically have the choice between all-in versions, where camping equipment, food and water are provided for you, or a no-frills tour where you'll have to bring your own. In that case, make arrangements with your tour agency for sufficient pack animals.

Sleep
You might expect that the considerable foreign interest in Tassili n'Ajjer over the years would have led to ample facilities in the park and in Djanet. However, it has not. Lodging options in Djanet are limited and basic, and once you're headed into the park itself there are no facilities other than some stone windbreaks that previous travellers have left for your convenience. As for camping gear, it is possible to rent all or some of it, but bringing your own is the best idea still.

Djanet
Most travel agencies offer basic lodging for their customers, but don't expect a lot more than a simple field bed or even just a safe place to put down your sleeping bag.

Around the sites
There are a number of designated camping spots, in an attempt to keep travellers litter from spreading too much. Your guide will typically determine where to sleep, and will in most cases refer to one of these spots. In several places, piled stone walls indicate trash areas. Leaving any litter there, or taking it with you, is preferred over burning, or burying it in the sand.

Stay safe

 * Political situation: Tassili n'Ajjer covers a massive area of Algeria, on the border of Libya, Niger and Mali. Make sure to check the situation in the area prior to booking, as it is not the most stable of regions.
 * Snakes and scorpions are to be avoided. Although snake bites in this area can be fatal, the animals are rare and easily spotted as they leave distinctive marks in the sand. Also, they typically don't come towards people. To be sure however, don't camp too close to vegetation and don't walk into thick undergrowth. Scorpions are less rare but also less deadly. Take the same precautions you would in all countries where scorpions are found: check your shoes before putting them on, and don't put your hands or feet into rock crevasses.

title: Tassili n'Ajjer Cultural Park


text:
Tasucu

Taşucu is a little town with Mediterranean style buildings and cobblestone streets on the coast of Cilician Mountains, Southern Turkey.

By minibus
There are frequent minibuses to the town from Silifke, 15 km away. They can be flagged down at the main road next to the. Silifke has buses to Karaman, which has daily trains between Adana and Konya, thence to Istanbul or Ankara.

By car
The town is served by D400, the main highway between Antalya and Adana. The road east to Silifke is wide and smooth, whereas the road west is narrow and very winding through the mountains to Alanya.

By boat
A car ferry operated by Akgunlerdenizcilik runs between Taşucu and Kyrenia (Girne) in Northern Cyprus, taking six hours. According to the winter schedule in 2019, it departs three times a week from each city: from Taşucu on Sun, Tu & Th, and from Kyrenia M, W & F. Ferries for both destinations leave at 23:30. This is the only car ferry between Cyprus and Turkey, and the only ferry to run all year.

Med Star runs ferries to and from Tripoli, Lebanon twice a week, weather permitting. These are available to trucks and pedestrians.

Get around
Taxis will charge you 15 TL from the ferry terminal to the bus station.

Buy
There is a supermarket near the yacht marina, not affiliated with any chains, and the prices are almost the same as anywhere else in Turkey. They accept credit card payments if your purchase is more than 3 TL, otherwise cash only.

There are two ATMs in front of the ticket-office at the port where the ferries leave for Cyprus; they look out of place and battered, but accept foreign cards and are in working order.

Sleep
There are guesthouses/hostels (pansiyon) near the shore/yacht marina. There is also a 4-star hotel in the west exit of the town.

Connect
The telephone code for Taşucu is 324.

Go next
Kyrenia by ferry (see Get in by boat).

title: Tasucu


text:
Tatai

Tatai is in Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains, near the town of Koh Kong.

Understand
Highway 48, the one road that connects the border town of Koh Kong to the rest of the country, passes through largely untouched jungle. The road crosses three large rivers, with each bridge being built in a small town. Tatai is the nearest of such towns to Koh Kong and lies 19km to the west. The next town west is Andoung Tuek.

Get in
Highway 48 is the only road. Several companies' buses serve the town, connecting it to Koh Kong, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.

Get around
The town is tiny so get around on foot. Boats are available for trips on the river.

See

 * Pristine jungle - guesthouses can organize expeditions

Do
Marvel at nature. Take a boat trip.

Buy
Not much to buy. No bank or ATM.

Eat
The town's economy appears to be based mainly on it being a truck stop. Places to eat are plentiful.

Go next
Tatai Waterfall is nearby. Other waterfalls are also accessible.

title: Tatai


text:
Tatajuba

Tatajuba is a small village in Ceara, famed for its moving sand dunes which once forced the whole settlement to move ahead of it.

Understand
Mostly done as a daytrip from Jericoacoara, but could easily be a stopover to or from Camocim.

Get in

 * Daily 4x4 along the beach to Camocim in the morning; To Jericoacoara in the afternoon.
 * Sobral

Get around
All walkable

See
The roofs of the "old" village sticking up through the dunes.

Sleep
Several small inns.

title: Tatajuba


text:
Tataouine

Tataouine is a city in Tunisia. The name of the town was immortalized in Star Wars as "Tatooine", but most of the filming was not done here, but at Matmata.

Get in
SRTM operates long-distance buses from Gabes.

Get around
Since public transport is limited, and most of the ksars are a few kilometers out of town, renting a car or hiring a taxi for the day may be the best choice to see the interesting spots around Tataouine.

Buy
Corne de gazelle (gazelle horn) is a local pastry found in the pastry shops (pâtisserie).

Sleep
Medenine is the next big city and has more accommodation options.

Go next
Maztouria, Ksar Daghara, Gattoufa, Ksar el Air, Ghomrassen, Kirchaou

 * Matmata, another filming location of Star Wars, featuring traditional underground cave houses
 * Douz, the gateway to Sahara and a good starting point for desert tours

title: Tataouine


text:
Tatarstan

Tatarstan (Russian: Респу́блика Татарста́н rees-POOB-lee-kuh tuh-tuhr-STAHN) is a region (republic) in the Middle Volga, bordering Ulyanovsk Oblast to the southwest, Chuvashia to the west, Mari El to the northwest, Kirov Oblast to the north, Udmurtia to the northeast, Bashkortostan to the east, Orenburg Oblast to the southeast, and Samara Oblast to the south.

Cities

 * — the Tatar capital is a big and attractive city (the third most wealthy in Russia), very much worth a visit for its impressive kremlin, largest mosque in Russia, and just to soak up the Tatar culture
 * — a mid-sized oil city
 * — a major Soviet industrial city
 * — a big oil city
 * — an old, small city notable for the ruins of an 11th century Volga Bulgarian castle, the birthplace of the great Russian landscape painter Ivan Shishkin, and the site of the Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva's suicide
 * — a mid-sized city which has an important regional transit hub and shipbuilding yard; the famous Raifa Monastery is nearby

Other destinations

 * — The world heritage listed ruins of the historic capital of Volga Bulgaria is considered in some ways to be the spiritual center of Tatarstan. The city walls and towers remain and the site was a pilgrimage destination for Muslims of the Soviet Union, who came here on a "Little Hajj," when barred from traveling to Mecca.
 * (Volga-Kama Nature Reserve)
 * Raifa section
 * Island
 * — a small village not too far from Kazan, which is next to the archaeological site and museum-reserve of Old Kazan
 * — a small village not too far from Kazan, which is next to the archaeological site and museum-reserve of Old Kazan

Understand
Tatarstan is a nation within a nation. Tatars are Russia's largest minority at about five million people. Although they are named after a Mongol tribe, the Tatars trace their origins to the ancient Volga Bulgars, who inhabited the Volga Region since at least the days of Ancient Greece, and who were conquered by the Golden Horde, which set up the powerful Kazan Khanate. They are predominantly Sunni Muslim, but have significant numbers of Orthodox Christians as well.

Kazan is the undisputed capital of the region and should be the principal destination for any traveler in the region. The Russian capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible was a truly momentous event in human history, marking the beginning of the end of Turkic and the rise of Russian dominance over the northern Eurasian continent. Today, it is perhaps the most interesting and vibrant city in the entire Volga Region, as the center of Tatar culture and also just as a big city with a lot to see and do.

Talk
Tatar and Russian are the official languages of the republic.

Get in
Kazan's airport services flights from international cities such as Tashkent, Kyiv, Simferopol, Baku, Istanbul, Antalya, Dubai, and Frankfurt, as well as numerous Russian airports, including two daily flights from Moscow. The Begishevo Airport receives flights from Istanbul, Tashkent, Antalya, Simferopol, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and many other Russian cities.

The main rail line in the region is the Moscow-Kazan-Yekaterinburg Railway, which passes through Zelenodolsk, Kazan, and Agryz.

Kazan has the largest port on the Volga River and can be reached by boat from virtually any city in European Russia that has a river port.

Eat
Tatar cuisine is very different from Russian cuisine—more similar to other Central Asian cuisines (e.g., Uzbek). And it is really good. It is a diverse cuisine with a lot to try and food-lovers should make a point of hitting the many good restaurants in Kazan.

Drink
The national drink "qatiq," as with many Central Asian nations, is made from fermented milk. Despite of being predominantly Muslim, Tatars don't avoid alcohol.

Work
Since Tatarstan is one of the most socially and economically successful and developed regions of Russia, and its most developed national republic, the region and especially its capital city Kazan attracts not only foreign workers and immigrants, but also residents of other regions of Russia. Even many residents of Moscow have their second or third house or apartment here. There are a lot of jobs and high salaries. Tatarstan attracts migrant workers from underdeveloped regions of Russia, as well as foreigners. Of the foreign immigrants and labor migrants, the most people here are from Uzbekistan (Tatars and Uzbeks consider each other kindred peoples and understand each other without an interpreter), as well as from Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Turkmens, Azerbaijanis, Kazakhs and Kyrgyzs also consider Tatars to be brothers, while Tajiks consider them to be co-religionists.

Stay safe
The Republic of Tatarstan is now one of the safest (in every sense) regions of the Russian Federation, although from the 1970s to the late 1990s it was one of the gangster regions where Russian and Tatar gangs ruled, especially in the cities of Kazan, Naberezhnye Chelny and Nizhnekamsk. The city of Kazan is now recognized as one of the safest cities in Russia. Kazan is presented as the third capital (after Moscow and Saint Petersburg) of Russia, and is very tourist, where there are a lot of police patrols, so you can follow the usual precautions here, since pickpockets are also rare here.

title: Tatarstan


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Tatebayashi

Tatebayashi (館林) is a city in Gunma prefecture in the Kanto region of Japan.

Understand
Situated on the Kanto Plain approximately 60 km north of Tokyo, Tatebayashi City covers an area of 61 square kilometers sandwiched between Watarase River northward and Tone River southward. As of 2007, the city has an estimated population of 80,629. This city prospered as a castle town since 1590 and is now a cultural town with the motto of "Clean water and green vegetation". From spring till early summer, many people visit this town to see moss phlox, cherry blossoms, azaleas, Japanese irises and in winter swans fly to Tatara Lake from Siberia.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By train
The Tōbu Isesaki line express train Ryōmō, which requires seat reservations, stops at Tatebayashi on its run between Asakusa and Akagi (or Kuzuu or Isesaki). It takes one hour from Asakusa and 50 minutes from Kita-Senju.

By car
Take the Tatebayashi exit from the Tōhoku Expressway and follow National Route 354 west toward Ota. National Route 50 runs along the north beyond Watarase River. National Route 122 runs from the north, Ota to the south, Hanyu. National Route 354 runs from the east, Koga to the west, Ota.

See

Go next

 * Ashikaga - Historical home of the Ashikaga shoguns. About 30 mins by car.
 * Sano - Sano Premium Outlet, Sano ramen-noodles and Sano Yakuyoke Daishi. About 30 mins by car.
 * Ota - Industrial areas where many foreigners are working. About 30 mins by car.
 * Itakura
 * Meiwa
 * Chiyoda (Gunma) - town. Not to be confused with Chiyoda ward, Tokyo
 * Oizumi
 * Hanyu
 * Gyoda

title: Tatebayashi


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Tathra

Tathra is a town of 1,700 people (2016) on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales. Nearby points of interest are the Old Tathra Wharf, Mimosa Rocks National Park and Bournda National Park.

Get in
Regional Express (Rex) fly into Merimbula Airport from both Sydney and Melbourne. Free Spirit Airlines has also started to fly into Merimbula from Melbourne. Distance from Merimbula airport to Tathra via road is 28 km. Hire cars are available from Avis, Hertz and Europcar at the airport.

Tathra Road connects the regional centre of Bega 18 km to the west. Until the early 21st century, Tathra Road was known as the Snowy Mountains Highway, which now runs between Bega and the Hume Highway via Cooma and Tumut.

The Sapphire Coast Drive connects Tathra with Merimbula 25 km to the south and Tathra-Bermagui Road connects to the fishing port of Bermagui 44 km to the north.

Tathra is served by the local bus company Sapphire Coast Bus Lines.

Get around
You can walk just about everywhere here. Parking is adequate at the beach, but a walk from most directions is a better experience than driving.

See

 * Bournda National Park — Bournda National Park starts at Kianinny Bay, at the southern end of Tathra, and runs south for about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi). There is a walking track near the coast, along most of its length.
 * Bournda National Park — Bournda National Park starts at Kianinny Bay, at the southern end of Tathra, and runs south for about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi). There is a walking track near the coast, along most of its length.
 * Bournda National Park — Bournda National Park starts at Kianinny Bay, at the southern end of Tathra, and runs south for about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi). There is a walking track near the coast, along most of its length.

Buy
Oysters at Tathra Oysters, Aviaries at On the Perch.

Connect
You will need to have a mobile phone connected to Telstra to have any chance of the patchy reception. Some establishments have WiFi.

Go next
If heading north visit Bermagui along the coast road (44 km). Bega is the regional centre (17 km inland to the west).

title: Tathra


text:
Tatra National Park (Poland)

The Tatra Mountains are a mountain range which forms a natural border between Poland and Slovakia, and are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains.

In both countries, the English translation of their part is "Tatra National Park". However, in Polish, it's Tatrzański Park Narodowy - while the Slovakian side the name is Tatranský Národný Park.

Cities

 * - most popular Tatra city in Poland
 * - most popular Tatra city in Poland
 * - most popular Tatra city in Poland
 * - most popular Tatra city in Poland
 * - most popular Tatra city in Poland
 * - most popular Tatra city in Poland
 * - most popular Tatra city in Poland
 * - most popular Tatra city in Poland

Other destinations

 * - the western part of the park

Talk
Tatra mountains span across border between Poland and Slovakia, so most people you may meet there will speak in languages of these countries, but communicative English is also very common. Staff at mountain refuges should be able to communicate in English too.

By foot
Most interesting part of these mountains is under national park protection, so if you want to see it, you will have to walk a lot. Mountain range has many trails for both experienced and novice hikers, so navigation is not a problem, but checking difficulty of trail before setting of is mandatory if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises. Another thing worth noticing is that some harder trails are one-way only, and can be pretty dangerous under bad weather conditions.

By bus
On the Polish side, the bus is the best way to get around outside the national park, because buses are cheap (3zł ~ €0.7), arrive and depart very often, and sometimes it is possible to negotiate the route.

By train
There is a railway parallel to mountain range in Slovakia, so in addition to being convenient means of transport it provides astonishing views on High Tatras. In the winter it is also good for getting from one ski resort to another.

title: Tatra National Park (Poland)


text:
Tatranska magistrala - Smokovec to Chata pri Zelenom Plese

This is a part of the Tatranska Magistrala hiking trail between High Tatras and Belianske Tatras.

Understand
While this trail involves a fair amount of climbing, it is not technically difficult and most of the slopes are not steep, it's more of a steady climb. It will take you from the town of Stary Smokovec along the slopes of Lomnicky Stit and up onto Velka Svistovka (2030m), with nice views onto the plains below. There's three mountain huts long the way -, and.

Prepare
Due to rocky terrain, hiking shoes are highly recommended.

Get in
The trail begins in the town of Stary Smokovec, which can be easily accessed by car or the High Tatras tram.

Walk
This trail begins in Starý Smokovec, where you can either hike up to (45min) or take the cable car up. There is a marked trail going up, but it's quicker and easier just to follow the cable car tracks. From Hrebienok, continue along the red trail to Zamkovskeho chata. While it is possible to continue along the red trail without going to Zamockeho chata, the 5min detour is highly recommended as you can get variety of refreshments there.

From Zamkovskeho Chata continue along the red trail, which will climb steadily until reaching Chata na Skalnatom Plese, and will lead you along the dwarf-pine covered slopes of Lomnicky Stit. Chata na Skalnatom Plese is an end point of the chair-lift from Tatranska Lomnica and offers various refreshments. There is a mountain lake (pleso) to see as well.

You continue along the red trail, which still climbs steadily into more rocky terrain, eventually peaking once you reach (2038m) This is the highest point of the trail. Continue along the red path (there will be some very minor climbing sections) down to Chata pri Zelenom Plese. Have a beer, enjoy the views of the Zelene Pleso and surrounding peaks. From here, you begin the descent down along the valley floor. Follow yellow and then the blue trail. At Metalurg intersection swich back to yellow trail. You will end up in Tatranska Lomnica, where you can catch the tram.

Go next
You can take a detour along the green (then blue) trail from Hrebienok and see the (creek) along the way (this will set you back about 20min). The trail will cross the red trail again at a bridge across the creek, where you follow the red trail from there to Zamkovskeho chata.

From Chata na Skalnatom Plese there is also the possibility of taking the chair-lift either to (2190m) (great views into Mala Studena Dolina), which in winter serves the skiers as well or even the separate chair-lift to  (2634m), which is the second tallest peak of high Tatras (and the most easily accessible) with great views all around. Note that this might take significant amount of time in the latter case. If you have had enough, or the time is running short, you can either hike down to Tatranska Lomnica from here along the green trail or take the chair-lift down.


text:
Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park

Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park is a provincial park in the North Coast-Nechako region of British Columbia. It is part of the Kluane-Wrangell-St. Elias-Glacier Bay-Tatshenshini-Alsek UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The park covers an area of 9,580 km² (3,700 sq mi), which is larger than Cyprus.

The park is situated in the northwestern corner of British Columbia, bordering the American state of Alaska and the Canadian Yukon Territory. It is nestled between Kluane National Park and Reserve in the Yukon and Glacier Bay & Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks and Preserves in Alaska. It is part of the Kluane-Wrangell-St. Elias-Glacier Bay-Tatshenshini-

Understand
The park was established in 1993 after an intensive campaign by Canadian and American conservation organizations to halt mining exploration and development in the area, and protect the area for its strong natural heritage and biodiversity values.

History
Over the centuries, numerous indigenous peoples lived in this area, including the historic Tlingit and Southern Tutchone, who built fishing villages along the rivers. The eastern edge of the park follows an ancient trade route used by the Chilkat (a Tlingit people) to barter with the Tutchone.

In the mid-19th century, the sudden breakup of a natural dam on the Alsek River caused a severe flood. The dam had been formed by the advance of a glacier across the entire Alsek River channel; the obstructed river formed a large temporary lake upstream of the blockage. A wall of water 7 m (23 ft) high and 15 m (49 ft) wide swept an entire Tutchone village into the sea at Dry Bay, killing all the inhabitants.

Tatshenshini-Alsek was one of the last areas of British Columbia to be mapped and explored. In the 1960s the first geological exploration for minerals took place in the area. Significant copper deposits were found in the vicinity of Windy Craggy Mountain, in the middle of the Tatshenshini region. In the mid-1970s two companies began rafting the Tatshenshini (aka "the Tat", a term also used to refer to the region) and Alsek rivers for the first time. In the mid-1980s a proposal surfaced to develop Windy Craggy peak into a huge open-pit mine.

In 1991 Tatshenshini International was established, linking together the top 50 conservation organisations in North America. An extremely intensive campaign followed in Canada and in the United States, particularly the U.S. Congress and eventually the White House, when the active involvement of then Vice-President Al Gore was enlisted. The BC government under Premier Harcourt decided in June 1993 to protect Tatshenshini-Alsek as a Class A park.

In combination with the adjoining national parks, this completed protection of the world's largest international park complex. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) proposed the area for protection as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Kluane-Wrangell-St. Elias-Glacier Bay-Tatshenshini-Alsek transfrontalier park system comprising Kluane, Wrangell-St Elias, Glacier Bay and Tatshenshini-Alsek parks, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 for the spectacular glacier and icefield landscapes, in addition to the importance of its habitat for grizzly bears, caribou and Dall sheep.

In 1999, a party of sheep hunters found artifacts and remains of a young male at the foot of a glacier in the park; he was later called Kwäday Dän Ts’ìnchi, or "Long Ago Man Found". The well-preserved frozen body turned out to be between 300 and 550 years old. Representatives of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations were consulted for this find on their historic territory, and they named the young man. In addition, they agreed to scientific and DNA testing of the remains. Researchers recruited volunteers to see if people could be found who were genetically related to the "iceman". Some 241 volunteers were tested from the area Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, and related peoples in Yukon, British Columbia and Alaska. Seventeen living relatives, including two sisters, were found in the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations who are related through a mitochondrial DNA match of the direct female line. Fifteen of these 17 identify as Wolf clan, suggesting the young man also belonged to that clan. In the matrilineal kinship system, children are considered born into their mother's clan, and descent is figured through the mother's line.

Landscape
The Alsek and Tatshenshini rivers flow through the park in glacier-carved U-shaped valleys. These valleys through the coastal mountains allow cool, moist ocean air into the cold interior. The quick change from ocean to interior environment, frequent floods, landslides and avalanches, a varied geology and great elevation changes have together created an exceptionally diverse range of habitat conditions.

Alsek Ranges are situated there and Mount Fairweather, at 4,671 metres (15,325 ft) is the province’s highest peak. The Tatshenshini-Alsek area lies in a region of high earthquake activity. Slippages along the Fairweather and Hubbard/Boarder Faults to the west and the Denali Fault to the north cause regular quakes.

Flora and fauna
Tatshenshini-Alsek Park supports a large grizzly bear population. A green area that cuts through a barrier of mountain and ice connects coastal and interior grizzly bear populations and provides a perfect habitat. The park is the only Canadian home of the glacier bear. This extremely rare blue-grey colour phase of the black bear is found only within the park and just over the border into the United States.

As well as bears, Tatshenshini-Alsek Park also supports Dall's sheep, and exceptional numbers of mountain goats, Kenai moose, grey wolves, eagles (bald and golden), falcons (peregrine and gyr), and trumpeter swans. Along the coastline, sea lions and humpback whales can be seen.

The valley of the upper Tatshenshini is characterized by open sub-alpine forests, often with extensive poplar stands and alpine tundra. The poplar stands are unusual because of their dense alder thickets and carpets of “northern ground cone”, a parasitic plant, rarely found in the province, which is an important grizzly bear food. The broad middle reaches of the Tatshenshini flow past extensive gravel bars, large alluvial fans and the jagged ridges of the Alsek Ranges. The sloping fans and gravel bars are carpeted in meadows of flowers at a scale uncommon in the province.

Below the mouth of the O’Connor River, the Tatshenshini is dramatically different. The river pours through a braided channel that is over a kilometre wide; expansive views of the glacier-covered St. Elias Ranges dominate the west. Here the coastal influence begins to be felt, while high winds and heavy snowpacks are common. Scientists studying the area say the mixed spruce-willow-birch forest found along this stretch of the river is unique in BC.

Fees and permits
The BC Parks River fee (2018): All trips on the Tatshenshini and Alsek Rivers, which end at Dry Bay Alaska, require a permit issued through the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Make sure you have the necessary permit before paying the fee; do not pay this fee if you do not have a permit.
 * Prime Season dates - $125 per person, per trip, for Dry Bay takeouts, between July 6 and August 30
 * Shoulder Season dates - $100 per person, per trip, for Dry Bay takeouts, for all other dates

Do

 * Kayakers and rafters are drawn to the two magnificent river systems.
 * Hikers and mountaineers confront a near-endless pristine wilderness that includes everything from alpine meadows to the jagged edges of the Alsek Ranges and Mt. Fairweather, at 4,633 metres the province’s highest peak.
 * Mountain bikers can explore old mining roads and other interesting and challenging terrain.
 * The Haines Highway provides an opportunity to see much of the same unusual plant and animal diversity that river users experience.

Buy, eat, and drink

 * Haines Junction, Yukon, is the nearest settlement.

Lodging
There are no lodges in the park.

Camping
There are no serviced campsites in the park.

Backcountry
Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.

Respect
During your trip through Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, you are in the traditional lands of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. You are guests on traditional native lands, and if you stop at Shäwshe (Dalton Post), you are on lands legally owned by the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. Please respect their land use regulations and requirements.

No motorized vehicles are allowed off the highway, except in the winter when snowmobiling is allowed within a specified area. Take special care to minimize impact on the landscape. Please pack out your litter and plan any camping or campfires so there is no evidence of your passage.

Stay safe
The Tatshenshini-Alsek area lies in a region of high earthquake activity. Slippage along the Fairweather and Hubbard/Boarder Faults to the west and the Denali Fault to the north cause regular quakes. The Yakutat Gap, about 150 km off of the Alaska coast has registered some of the biggest earthquakes in history.

title: Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park


text:
Tatsuno

Tatsuno (たつの) is a city in Hyogo.

Tourist Information Site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in
There are two train lines that run through Tatsuno, the Sanyo Main Line and the Kishin Line. On the Sanyo Main Line, the only station within the city is Tatsuno Station. If you're traveling on the Shinkansen from the west, it is one stop from Aioi Station or a short train ride from Himeji Station if you're coming from the east. The Kishin Line travels northwest through the city from Himeji to Sayo (and continuing on further to Tsuyama and eventually terminating in Niimi). There are 5 stations along the Kishin Line in Tatsuno. Those wanting to travel to the former castle town area should get off at Hon-Tatsuno Station.

Eat
Tatsuno is famous for production of sōmen (very thin wheat noodle) and soy sauce.

Go next

 * Ako
 * Aioi
 * Himeji
 * Kamigori
 * Sayo
 * Shiso
 * Mimasaka
 * Shoo
 * Tsuyama

title: Tatsuno


text:
Tattenhall

Tattenhall is a village in Cheshire. It hosts the ruins of a 13th-century castle, and sits along the Sandstone Trail, a long-distance walkers' path, between Frodsham to Whitchurch.

Understand
Tattenhall is a village and civil parish, 8 miles south-east of Chester, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population was recorded as 2,079.

Drink
There are two pubs in Tattenhall.

Connect
As of Oct 2022, Tattenhall has 4G from EE, but little or no signal from O2, Three or Vodafone. 5G has not reached town.

title: Tattenhall


text:
Tatvan

Tatvan is a town in Eastern Anatolia, on the western shore of Lake Van.

Understand
The town of Tatvan stands on the western shore of Lake Van (Van Gölü), a soda-salt lake also known locally as Van Denizi (“the sea of Van”). This lake, the largest in Turkey, lies 1640 metres above sea level and is ringed by high mountains, so the area has a harsh continental climate. The ridge behind the town was a lava flow from nearby Mount Nemrut 250,000 years ago, blocking the valley outflow and creating the lake. The area remains seismically active; the last major earthquake was in 2011.

The region is historically important as the centre of the Urartu and Armenian kingdoms. It later came under the rule of Byzantines, Seljuks and then the Ottomans - see main Wikipedia entry for history.

Tatvan's main importance to travelers is as a transport hub. It's the eastern terminus of the railway from Ankara, with onward connections by road.

By train
A direct train, the Vangölü Ekspresi, runs twice a week from Ankara to Tatvan. The journey is scheduled to take 24 hours but is often long delayed. There are couchettes and a sleeping car and a buffet with breakfast and snacks. The main stops along the way are Kayseri, Sivas, Malatya and Elazığ, see Turkish Railways TCDD for online timetables and ticketing. The train connects (in theory) with the ferry across the lake to Van, for the train to Tabriz and Teheran, though this service has often been suspended. There is no railway between Tatvan and Van, nor plans to build one, so this is a strategic gap in the Eurasian rail network.

Vangölü Ekspresi is scheduled to arrive early afternoon, but it's sometimes early evening. However you may still be able to reach Van the same evening – get off at the main station, walk across the small road and the park to the main road and ask. Trains first call at the main station before continuing to the ferry station at the ferry port. The train back to Ankara departs at 10:30.

Additionally, a regional train connects Tatvan with Elazığ, via numerous smaller villages.

By boat
A ferry crosses the lake between Tatvan and Van, three per day at irregular times. The crossing takes about four hours.

By car
Highway D300 is of a good standard, mostly dual-carriageway, and connects westward to Bitlis (20 km) and eastwards to Van (100 km).

By bus
Buses run several times a day to Ankara (17 hours), Istanbul (23 hours) and all major cities in Turkey, some involving a change to a connecting bus: see Kamil Koc website for times and prices. Buses run from the, 2 km north of town centre. They also stop in the centre, and ticket offices are found here.

Frequent dolmuşes run from town centre to Van (100 km, 2 hrs) via the south lake shore, Highway D300. There are no direct services around the north shore. For transport to Doğubeyazıt and into Iran, go via Van.

Get around
The town is small enough to walk.

The road to the crater lake is cobbled but good and wide enough even for big motor caravans, or you can bargain for a taxi, which will take less than an hour to get there. However as of 2023 the short teleferique part of the way up is not working.

See

 * Akdamar Island – The island with an old Armenian church. 90 minutes by road or dolmus from Tatvan towards Van. Get off at the highway port or the marina just before Gevas.

Do

 * Enjoy the lake side and take notice of the fact that this is a salt-soda lake
 * Go hiking on Mount Nemrut and visit the Lake in the Nemrut crater. Enjoy the beautiful panorama on the Van lake!
 * Go hiking on Mount Nemrut and visit the Lake in the Nemrut crater. Enjoy the beautiful panorama on the Van lake!
 * Go hiking on Mount Nemrut and visit the Lake in the Nemrut crater. Enjoy the beautiful panorama on the Van lake!

Buy
Remember to stock up on food the night before if you're taking the train towards Ankara, as it departs early and has no catering. Lots of bakeries and groceries along main street, plus a big shopping mall in town centre with a Carrefour supermarket inside.

Eat & drink
You're probably destined to eat Turkish again; this region doesn't have the cosmopolitan offerings found in Europe. Innumerable small cafes and eateries along main street but for a clean enjoyable meal with lake views, try the fast food court on the second floor of the shopping mall.

Sleep
A handful of hotels are located in the town centre along, or just off, the main street near the post office. Most hotels are clearly signed; the following directions assume you are walking south on the main street (lake to your left) having arrived by bus or train. By car from the west you'll enter town the same way, along highway D300. Google Street View is of limited help here as there's a Jandarma base in the town centre so the view has been redacted.

Camping by the lakes on Mt Nemrut is free, but consider the altitude, the logistics and the weather outlook, and the amount of litter can be off-putting.

 * the white life hotel, beautifull located near the lakesite. Certainly one of the best in town. Fully renovated in 2023, with Nice and spacious rooms and high Quality beds.
 * the white life hotel, beautifull located near the lakesite. Certainly one of the best in town. Fully renovated in 2023, with Nice and spacious rooms and high Quality beds.
 * the white life hotel, beautifull located near the lakesite. Certainly one of the best in town. Fully renovated in 2023, with Nice and spacious rooms and high Quality beds.

Connect
There are internet cafes along the main street. There is one just upstairs from the office of Van Gölü Seyahat bus company in the town centre, open till late at night and very convenient if you need to fill time until your departure.

As of Dec 2020 there is 4G in Tatvan from Turkcell and Vodafone, with variable coverage of the surrounding highways, but Türk Telekom has a poor signal. 5G has not yet reached this area.

Stay safe
There are bear (ayı in Turkish) warning signs in the crater. If you do see one it is probably not a good idea to try and feed it as they can become habituated to humans. Even if you feel safe it is not fair to future visitors.

Go next

 * Erzurum to the north
 * Malatya to the west
 * Diyarbakir, Hasankeyf, and Southeastern Anatolia to the southwest
 * Van – An easy day trip from Tatvan. See that page for transport to Doğubeyazıt and into Iran.

title: Tatvan


text:
Taukkyan

Taukkyan is a city in Yangon Division of the Irrawaddy region in Myanmar.

title: Taukkyan


text:
Taung

Taung is a town of 18,000 people (2011) in the North West Province. Taung is mainly known for its cultural background and holding cultural events such as the annual Cultural Calabash.

Understand
Even though Taung is a small town it has many villages.

The name means place of the lion and was named after Tau, the King of the Barolong. Tau is the Tswana word for lion.

See
Taung has recreational fields such as "taung covered ground" where many of sports activities take place.

Here is also the Mmabana where many many activities are offered such as dance (any kind of a dance), drama, karate, music, love-life programmes and gymnastics.

Taung is known for the skull of a child that was found there in one of the villages, Buxton.

Taung also has a big large dam (the Taung Dam) which was built by President Kgosi Mangope in the early years of presidency. He was also the founder of Mmabana taung and Mangope dam.

Do

 * The annual Cultural Calabash takes place in September usually 22nd-25th.
 * The annual Cultural Calabash takes place in September usually 22nd-25th.

title: Taung


text:
Taunggyi

Taunggyi is the capital of Shan State in Eastern Myanmar.

Get in

You can buy an express bus ticket to Taunggyi easily at car tickets sale centre, usually in markets. There are many kinds of expresses. Examples are JJ, Elite, Taung Paw Thar, Shwe Taung Yoe and Shan Ma Lay. Ticket prices vary according to the distance between where you are and Taunggyi, but it is not more than 20,000 kyat. The express doesn't pick you up, but some express companies arrange for a small van or car to take you the express gate. When you get to the express gate, all you need to do is to show your passport to a person in charge. Then you can get on the express and enjoy the ride to Taunggyi.

By plane
Taunggyi does not have its own airport. The nearest airport is at Heho, with frequent domestic flights from Yangon, Mandalay and Nyaung U (Bagan).

Get around
Taunggyi is a relatively small town and there is a conspicuous lack of taxis and rental bike services. The easiest way to get around is to walk.

See
Taunggyi is best known for the annual Fire Balloon festival held for one week near the beginning of Nov each year. For most of every day, hot air paper balloons several metres in length in the shape of various animals are launched and sent floating over the town (if they don't spontaneously combust on take-off, a relatively common occurrence). In the evening the carnival really gets going with the launching of more traditionally shaped balloons carrying cargoes of sweets and fireworks. Definitely one of Myanmar's must-see events, but be warned that hotel prices increase by about 50% during the festival. It's popular with locals, but hardly any foreigners attend.

The market in Taunggyi is worth seeing. Shan noodles and Burmese sweet tea can be purchased at low cost, and CDs and VCDs are cheap and abundant. Another attraction of the market is the abundance of Pa-O (distinguished by interesting headscarves) women selling fresh produce and inexpensive tea from the Shan hills.

Buy
Widely available in Taunggyi is surplus military gear from the Tatmadaw. Coats, tank tops, bedsheets, bags, canteens, etc. You can find vendors all along the central marketplace. Tank top 1,000 kyat, large messenger bag 4,500, a single bedsheet is around 3,000.

Eat
There are mainly two kinds of people in Taunggyi. They are Shan and Pa Oe' ethnic groups. When you are in Taunggyi, you can see differently between Shan and Pa Oe' people, because many Pa Oe' wear their traditional black costumes and they put cloths around their heads because it is not only traditional but also to keep their heads warm since it is cold in Taunggyi. Pa Oe' foods are not popular among tourists and foreigners. But they quite like Shan noodles. If you are in Taunggyi or somewhere in Myanmar where Shan noodles are available, make sure to taste them, because they are fantastic!

Besides, you may also like Ngar Hta Minn Nel (yellowish fish rice), Wet Tha Chin ( reddish pork rice), Kyat Tha Chin (reddish chicken rice) and Htoe Huu Nwe (noodles with yellowish paste made from a type of bean powder).

Drink
You should try the taste of green tea there. It is available free at almost every tea shop, restaurant and monastery (you can drink as much as you wish if you like and you can ask for more if it runs out).

Sleep
There are many hotels, especially in downtown Taunggyi. Prices for staying at hotels are not usually expensive. But during Tha Zaung Dyne festival (also called Fire Balloon festival), prices are sky-high. Many people all over the country come to Taunggyi to enjoy the festival. So if you cannot find a place to stay at all, you can stay at a monastery by asking the abbot for permission. No-one will ask for you to pay for a stay at a monastery, but you can donate money if you wish. Nearly all monasteries in Myanmar offer not only a place to stay but also food and drink if you ask for them.

Go next

 * Loikaw by the road south from, which is 20 km east of Taunggyi. South of Loikaw and west of the Salween River in the mountains between 1,000 and 1,500 m is where the Kayan people live, including the famous Padaung women with their golden brass neck coils that seem to stretch their neck (but actually cause a lower shoulder). It is also possible to go to Inle Lake first and then head south.

title: Taunggyi


text:
Taungoo

Taungoo (Toungoo) is a town and district in Bago Division, Myanmar.

Get in
Taungoo is about 275 km from Yangon. The old road to Taungoo took about 6-7 hr. The new road makes it only 3-4 hr.

 * By train Taungoo is halfway to Mandalay from southern destinations, including Bago. The track is rough in places, but it is far from the most uncomfortable rail journey in the country. The meals are unexceptional (try the pork noodles), but getting to the meal car can be an interesting experience.

Get around
It is the mid-way to Yangon or Mandalay if you want to go by car. Good for your night stop and rest. Tourists stop overnight at Taungoo when they travel from Golden Rock to Inle or Mandalay by hire car.

See

 * There is a small restaurant with outstanding fishhead soup (muhinga) between Happy Restaurant and the mountain. Look for a small building with two tables and a baby hammock inside. Ask prices first, some restaurants have been rumored to charge more than 2,500 kyat for a basic local meal, which the local people consider to be scandalous.
 * There is a local pick-up that goes up the mountain, but it only runs in the early morning.
 * There is a local pick-up that goes up the mountain, but it only runs in the early morning.
 * Pho Kyar elephant camp is about 2 hr from Taungoo, if you love nature and elephants.

Go next
You might want to think about heading to, which is about 210 km northeast of Taungoo. South of Loikaw and west of the Salween River in the mountains between 1,000 and 1,500 m is where the Kayan people live, including the famous Padaung women with their golden brass neck coils that seem to stretch their neck (but actually cause a lower shoulder).

title: Taungoo


text:
Taunton

There is more than one place called Taunton:

England

 * Taunton (England) - The county town in Somerset.

United States of America

 * Taunton (Massachusetts) - A city in Massachusetts.
 * Taunton (Minnesota) - A town in Minnesota.
 * Taunton (New York) - A town in New York.

title: Taunton


text:
Taunton (England)

Taunton is the county town of Somerset, a county in the south-west of England. Taunton has several landmarks room its thousand-year history, and is famous for its cider.

By air
The nearest airports are at Bristol Airport, to the north-west and Exeter Airport , to the south-west, both about away.

By road
By road, leave the M5 motorway at exit 25. Taunton has a railway station on the main line from London Paddington (typical journey time 2 hr 5 min) to Exeter (25 min), Plymouth (1 hr 30 min), and Penzance (3 hr 40 min). Bristol is 35 min away by rail.

By train
has many rail connections:
 * First Great Western operate direct trains to London Paddington and to Worcester and Great Malvern.
 * CrossCountry operate services to Taunton from Birmingham, Leeds, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
 * Both companies run direct trains to Bristol and Cheltenham Spa, Exeter, Paignton, Plymouth, and Penzance.
 * For train times, see National Rail Enquiries.

By bus
Buses link to Wellington, Bridgwater, Yeovil, Exeter, and Chard.

South West Falcon operates a service connecting Bristol, Taunton, Exeter and Plymouth. A single fare from Plymouth to Bristol is £28. Tickets can be booked online in advance, but reservations are not strictly required.

Get around
Traffic in Taunton is awful. A park and ride service (the Taunton Flyer) provides transport between the town centre and a large car park at Silk Mills.

The best options are to walk or take a bus. However, the bus and railway stations are a good 15 minutes' walk apart!

By bus
Buses are frequent during the week, but evenings and Sundays are very limited. Buses operated by Firstbus - They are expensive.

Do

 * Cricket at
 * Rugby Union: Taunton Titans play in National League 1, the third tier. Their home ground is Veritas Park on Hyde Lane, two miles east of town centre.
 * Rugby Union: Taunton Titans play in National League 1, the third tier. Their home ground is Veritas Park on Hyde Lane, two miles east of town centre.
 * Rugby Union: Taunton Titans play in National League 1, the third tier. Their home ground is Veritas Park on Hyde Lane, two miles east of town centre.

Buy

 * Farmers Market is held on High St on Thursdays.
 * Farmers Market is held on High St on Thursdays.

Eat
All of the major fast food chains are represented, including two branches each of Subway and McDonalds. The town has a range of coffee shops, including the major chains Starbucks, Costa and Caffè Nero.

 * , opened in 2021, is on Pound Lane in Bishop's Lydeard 8 miles northwest of Taunton. It's modern British cuisine, served Th-Sa 12:00-23:00, W & Su 12:00-16:00.
 * , opened in 2021, is on Pound Lane in Bishop's Lydeard 8 miles northwest of Taunton. It's modern British cuisine, served Th-Sa 12:00-23:00, W & Su 12:00-16:00.
 * , opened in 2021, is on Pound Lane in Bishop's Lydeard 8 miles northwest of Taunton. It's modern British cuisine, served Th-Sa 12:00-23:00, W & Su 12:00-16:00.
 * , opened in 2021, is on Pound Lane in Bishop's Lydeard 8 miles northwest of Taunton. It's modern British cuisine, served Th-Sa 12:00-23:00, W & Su 12:00-16:00.
 * , opened in 2021, is on Pound Lane in Bishop's Lydeard 8 miles northwest of Taunton. It's modern British cuisine, served Th-Sa 12:00-23:00, W & Su 12:00-16:00.
 * , opened in 2021, is on Pound Lane in Bishop's Lydeard 8 miles northwest of Taunton. It's modern British cuisine, served Th-Sa 12:00-23:00, W & Su 12:00-16:00.

Connect
As of May 2022, Taunton has 5G from EE and Three, and 4G from O2 and Vodafone.

Go next

 * West Somerset Railway, run by volunteers. Recapture the age of steam.
 * Glastonbury, a place of pilgrimage,.
 * Cheddar Caves and Gorge,.

title: Taunton (England)


text:
Taunton (Massachusetts)

Taunton is a city in Massachusetts with a population of 59,000 (2020). It is nicknamed the "Silver City" for its tradition as a center of silversmithing, and the "Christmas City" for its festive Christmas displays on Taunton Green. Taunton is the economic and cultural hub and county seat of Bristol County.

Berkley is a town with a population of 7,000 (2020). Its church was founded in 1737.

Dighton was established in 1668 and has a rich history that reaches back to before America gained its independence. With a population around 8,000 (2020), it's a rural secret off the beaten path. Since it has no major highway access, its growth has been slow compared to the rest of the region.

Raynham is a town with a population of 15,000 (2020). Site of the first iron works in America, a big milk bottle, and produced the anchor for the Civil War-era ironclad USS Monitor.

Rehoboth is a mostly rural community with many historic sites, including 53 historic cemeteries, a population of 13,000 (2020).

By car
Taunton is crossed by Interstate 495 and is very near Route 24 which heads north to Boston. Interstate 95 is only about 15 minutes away. A half-hour drive to/from Plymouth and Providence, Rhode Island via US-44. It is about a 40-minute drive away from the Cape Cod Canal via Interstate 495/Route 25, also New Bedford via Route 140. Berkley is crossed by Route 24 and Route 79. Dighton is crossed by US-44 and Route 138.

Get around

 * The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA), (Route #19) designated stop in Rehoboth: Anawan St./Route 118, Toll Free: +1-800-483-2500, Phone: +1 508-823-8828, TDD: +1 508-824-7439. Convenient and relatively inexpensive city bus service to/from Taunton via Providence, including the town of Seekonk. Fares: $2 o/w to/from Providence, $1.75 o/w to/from Taunton.
 * The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA), (Route #19) designated stop in Rehoboth: Anawan St./Route 118, Toll Free: +1-800-483-2500, Phone: +1 508-823-8828, TDD: +1 508-824-7439. Convenient and relatively inexpensive city bus service to/from Taunton via Providence, including the town of Seekonk. Fares: $2 o/w to/from Providence, $1.75 o/w to/from Taunton.

Sleep
Also try nearby Middleborough for lodging choices.

Go next
Taunton is an excellent starting point for any tour of southern New England, as most of the region's major roads cross near Taunton center. You're about a 45 minute drive from destinations like Boston, Plymouth, Cape Cod, Providence, and Newport (Rhode Island).

title: Taunton (Massachusetts)