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Negros Occidental

Negros Occidental is a province occupying the north-western part of Negros. It is the fourth most populated province in the Philippines, known for its Chicken Inasal and its booming sugar industry, nicknamed The Sugar Bowl of the Philippines and home to one of the Philippines' active volcanoes, the majestic Mt. Kanlaon (also named Canlaon or Kanla-on).

Cities

 * — provincial capital of Negros Occidental, known for its MassKara Festival which is one of the most colorful and lively festivals in the Philippines
 * — a big town on the way from Bacolod to Dumaguete
 * — near Bacolod, has some highland resorts
 * — renowned for its colonial houses, of which there are about 30, and is one of the museum cities in the Philippines along with Vigan; Spanish and American architecture is so common here that it has been declared the center of Arts in Western Visayas
 * — Dubbed The Jewel of the Sugar Island, this city is home to beautiful white beaches, clear aquamarine waters and beautiful corals which are relatively unknown to the rest of the world

Fighting for freedom
Prior to Hispanic rule, Negros was known as Buglas and when the Spanish arrived in 1565 they named the island Negros as the people who settled there before were Negritos. The first settlements were founded in Ilog and Binalbagan. Ilog then was declared as capital but then transferred to Himamaylan and finally transferred to Bacolod in 1849. By 1890 the island was divided into two: Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. The Spanish rule had angered the people and they started wanting freedom from the Spanish. A rebellion led by Juan Araneta and Aniceto Lacson started on November 1898 which led to the defeat of the Spanish and was called the Negros Revolution, they then formed the Republic of Negros which then included the province of Negros Oriental which had their own administration.

Turning Japanese
Just like the rest of the Philippines, Negros Occidental was under American rule while resisting Japanese occupation. American rule gave benefit to the importation of sugar even though it was hard times which made the economy grow. In 1942 the Japanese occupied the province and asked the Negrosanon forces to surrender but they refused. Under Gov. Alfredo Montelibano Sr. a free government and guerrilla movement was formed. The Negrosanons joined the Americans against the Japanese until the end of World War II.

Sugar's sweet and bitter times
The province became the leading supplier of sugar in the whole Philippines with an account of 60% of all sugar production and most of the people depended on the sugar industry. The 1970s showed the bitter times of sugar when sugar prices remained low as well as the worst sugar prices. The following decade it was hit by two destructive typhoons after a serious drought.

Rays of hope today
Negros del Norte was formed but then dismissed. Sunshine again shined down as the economy had shown signs of upturns it was then followed by the growth of investment. Today the province remains as one of the fastest growing and largely developed provinces in the Philippines due to large income from the sugar industry.

People
Common demonym for people from Negros is Negrosanon or sometimes Negrense. They are reputed to be funny and fun loving people with their sweet accents and love for sweet food as the province is a major supplier of sugar. However when offended they may turn as fierce as a bull.

Religion
Christianity is prominent in the whole Philippines, and this includes Negros Occidental. Most of the people are Catholics, while minorities such as Baptists and Iglesia ni Cristo are also found. The Islamic faith has been growing since the province's connection with South Cotabato where many Muslim Illongos/Hiligaynons live. Taoism is also practiced in the province with the Filipino-Chinese being the largest minority.

Talk

Negros Occidental mostly uses the language Hiligaynon, also called Ilonggo. Towns and cities facing the Tanon Strait near Cebu speak Cebuano. English is understood by many, as is Tagalog.

By air
The only major airport in Negros Occidental is Bacolod-Silay International Airport (Tagalog/Filipino: Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Bacolod-Lungsod ng Silay) in Silay. It has daily flights to and from Manila, Cebu and Davao on Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific. It has no international flights.

Alternately, one might fly to Iloilo, which does have a few international flights, then take a ferry to Bacolod. Or one might reach Dumaguete by plane or ferry, then take a bus into Negros Occidental.

Sipalay now has a small airport with once-a-week flights from Iloilo and Cebu.

By sea
There is a major seaport in Bacolod that operates journeys from Manila, Iloilo City and Cagayan de Oro. Fast Cat and Weesam Express and Oceanjet have daily schedules to and from Bacolod. While 2GO Travel serves routes to and from Manila and Cagayan de Oro.

By bus
The province of Negros Occidental is mostly accessible through bus. Bus companies like Ceres Liner provide services to and from destinations within the province.

By car
Cities like Bacolod have many taxis.

By jeepney
The fastest and cheapest mode of transport in the Philippines, jeepneys have designated routes to follow. It is the best mode of transport to explore the province, Jeepneys were jeeps of the U.S. Army which were refurbished and made longer to carry more passengers. Flagdown rates start at per  and additional  for an additional. Ask for a discount if you're a senior citizen or a student.

By rickshaws
Used for short distances, pedicabs and tricycles are available and in this region are sometimes called rickshaws. However these rickshaws are meant for smaller people, and if you do not physically fit don't even try to ride on it, as you'd just give the pedicab driver a headache.

See

Religious sites
Church of the Angry Christ in Victorias City is one of the famous landmarks of Negros Occidental, it gets its name from the huge mural in the altar which is a mural of Jesus Christ who looks like he is angry, this is one of the unique murals in the Philippines as it depicts Christ as a Filipino. There is another mural inside the church which is incredibly made out of soda cans and which also depicts Christ as a Filipino being baptized which had caused controversy among some. San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod and Church of Our Lady of Peace and Voyage are made out of corals along binded together with egg yolks interestingly. San Diego Pro-Cathedral in Silay somehow resembles the dome in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Historical landmarks
Silay has been known for its Spanish-American colonial structures which still survive today and number around 30, among its most famous attractions are Cinco de Noviembre Street and Balay Negrense. Fountain of Justice in Bacolod is where the Spanish surrendered to the Filipinos. See Kabankalan for its sugar mills. Cities such as Talisay and Silay have many ancestral homes which stretches back to the colonial times.

Nature and wildlife
See Danjugan Island Marine Sanctuary which is a home to the endangered White Breasted Eagle. The island is known for its diverse marine life and beautiful saltwater lagoons. Mt. Kanlaon National Park is an ideal destination for hikers, while the nearby Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center serves as the gateway to the National Park. Lakawon Island Resort is a white beach resort with clear blue waters, and is not as crowded and known as the world famous Boracay. Campomanes Bay, Sugar Beach and Punta Ballo Beach are just 10 minutes apart from each other. Aside from swimming and strolling its sands; kayaking and diving is also possible. Sipaway Island has beautiful white sands which are enjoyed by both local and foreign tourists. Carbin Reef, Hulao-Hulao Reef, Panal Reef and Macahulom Reef are all suitable for snorkeling and diving. Mangrove forests are still found in Molocaboc Island. E.B. Magalona, Cadiz City and San Carlos have breath-taking rice terraces, while Sipalay has many caves. Many of the cities and towns of Negros Occidental are lucky to be blessed with waterfalls.

Leisure

 * Dive - Sipalay has the best dive sites in Negros Occidental, from wrecks to coral reefs.

title: Negros Occidental


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Negros Oriental

Negros Oriental is a province occupying the south-eastern part of Negros, and also includes Apo Island. The other part of Negros is the province of Negros Occidental.

Cities

 * - capital and largest city.
 * Our Dumaguete article includes some of the suburbs:
 * Bacong - on the coast, to the south
 * Sibulan - on the coast, to the north
 * Valencia - inland, to the west
 * Other suburbs include:
 * - on the coast, south of Bacong
 * San Jose - a seaside town of about 20,000 north of Dumaguete
 * Amlan - north of Sibulan and San Jose, a town of twenty-odd thousand with on a small zoo and theme park

Other towns include:
 * - known for whale and dolphin watching, north of Dumaguete
 * - on the southwest coast
 * - inland at the northwest tip of the province, with an active volcano
 * - north of Bais
 * - up in the mountains, known for its many caves
 * - near the southern tip of the island
 * - on the coast, between Dumaguete and Bais
 * - on the coast south of Dumaguete
 * - on the coast south of Dumaguete

Most of these are on the coastal highway that rings the island. Pamplona and Mabinay are up in the mountains, reached via other roads.

Other destinations

 * - a diving Mecca near Dumaguete
 * - a popular stop for cruising yachtsmen

Talk
The main language of the region is Cebuano.

Get in
See the Dumaguete article for the main routes into the province.

Get around
Bright yellow Ceres bus ply the major highways of Negros Occidental from Dumaguete, reaching most cities and towns along the coast.

Do
One of the best diving spots in the Philippines is Apo Island, off the coast of Negros Oriental, near Dumaguete.

Go next

 * Siquijor
 * Zamboanga Peninsula

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

title: Negros Oriental


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Neil Island

Neil Island, now known officially as Shaheed Dweep (Island of Martyrs), is in the Andaman Islands.

Understand
Neil, with its very relaxed vibe and long, deserted beaches is a place to chill out after the "bustle" of Havelock Island. Neil is quite small compared to Havelock. Its widest part is about 5 km in length. You can walk the whole island in about an hour or two.

Get in
Ferry from Port Blair to Neil. It takes 2 hours and costs ₹195. One return sailing a day. Neil Island has no ticket office, just get on the ferry and then buy your tickets on board. There's also the boat from Port Blair to Rangat which calls at Neil as its first stop.

Havelock to Neil. The Rangat ferry calls at Havelock and then to Neil. It takes 1 hour and costs ₹195.

Get around
On arrival, the guesthouse owners will meet you at the jetty, and give you a free autorickshaw ride to their guesthouse. The return journey will cost ₹50.

Bicycles can be rented here for a price between ₹50-₹75 per day. Though not needed they can be useful if you want to travel around Neil in a day.

You can get an auto-rickshaw and go around to see self-declared private 'resorts' to find accommodation.

Two Wheeler Hire: You can hire a two wheeler for ₹300 per day. This is the best way to explore the Island as you have the freedom to go to any place at any time. Definitely much more cheaper than hiring a taxi or an auto. Make sure to fill Fuel before 5 in the evening, as you might not find any later. Having a bike would also help you to stop at any part of the beach to click Pictures and enjoy the place. Also one can use a two-wheeler to explore other resorts for better food, if the food given by their resort is not so good.

See

 * Beach #8: Snorkeling here plus a small cave to check out. Lots of shells around if you are a shell collector.
 * Natural bridge: A small strip of land that connects the mainland to a small (3*3) island of sorts (not worth it but the rockpools around this at low tide are worth checking out).
 * Sitapur beach: Lovely sunrise. Serene beach. Good for a swim.

Do

 * Sunset point is the west most point of the beach west of the jetty which the guesthouses are on. There are ravenous sandflies, so if you're spending any time there then take a hammock.  Pretty sunsets.  If you snorkel directly west off the point there is some wonderful snorkelling.  There's sometimes a current.  Snorkeling near beach with the caves and also off Havelock if you choose to take the private ride. Mantas to be seen on the ride if you are lucky.  Get here in the morning. check the rockpools, snorkel then bail in the afteroon.
 * Snorkelling is also very good around the jetty at Neil. edges of the shallow reefs have some live corals, many different kinds of fish and lots of anemones with resident clown fish. Great variety of shells are available but are not supposed to be taken from the islands.
 * Water sports and swimming are only allowed at the Bharatpur Beach in Neil Island; all other attractions are for sightseeing only.
 * Water sports and swimming are only allowed at the Bharatpur Beach in Neil Island; all other attractions are for sightseeing only.

Eat
The main bazaar has a few eateries serving the usual Indian fare.

At the beach resorts, food has to be ordered generally at least two hours in advance as the "cook" travels to the market gets the supplies and prepares it.

Drink
Coconut milk.

Alcohol is also available in most of the resorts.

Go next
Two options:

1) Leave via the ferry that got you here sometime in the evening

2) You can manage to get a private boat ride to Havelock from here for around ₹1000 if interested.For Indians this is not a problem but foreigners be aware, the police at the jetty on Havelock do check your RAP (restricted area permit) on the way out and EXPECT to see an entry number on it, which you will not have if you came privately. This is done, precisely to stop tourists making unauthorised visits to islands they should not be on and the authorities take this quite seriously so DO expect trouble if you decide to do this. (Of course if you left by the same method and went back to where you came from nobody would be any the wiser).

title: Neil Island


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Neillsville

Neillsville is a small town of about 3000 in rural central Wisconsin. It lies on the Black River in farm country, at the southern edge of the Northern Highlands, overlooking the flat bottom-lands that once were Glacial Lake Wisconsin. If you like quaint and quiet, it can be a nice place to spend a weekend.

Understand
Logging began on the Black River in the mid-1800s. Neillsville had early sawmills, and other businesses grew up around them. Fortunes were made, big houses and stores were built, and the town grew. As the trees ran out, dairy farming took over in the surrounding country and the businesses in town shifted to serve the farmers.

Fortunately, things were prosperous enough in later years to keep the heart of town alive, but not prosperous enough to fund tearing down and rebuilding, as happened in some other places. So today the old part of Neillsville has almost a Tom-Sawyer feel on a warm summer afternoon.

Get in
Neillsville is on highway 10, three hours east of Minneapolis and four hours northwest of Milwaukee.

Do

 * Drive out into the countryside. Follow highway 10 east along Pleasant Ridge, looking at the big old Italianate farmhouses and enjoying the views.  At the second curve, fourteen miles out, you'll pass a cluster of Amish farms, with an unusual barn cleaning system on the west side of the road.  Then follow Fremont Road back west back to Neillsville.  On a summer day other than Sunday you may see Amish farmers working with horses, and maybe even an old hayloader!
 * Drive out into the countryside. Follow highway 10 east along Pleasant Ridge, looking at the big old Italianate farmhouses and enjoying the views.  At the second curve, fourteen miles out, you'll pass a cluster of Amish farms, with an unusual barn cleaning system on the west side of the road.  Then follow Fremont Road back west back to Neillsville.  On a summer day other than Sunday you may see Amish farmers working with horses, and maybe even an old hayloader!
 * Drive out into the countryside. Follow highway 10 east along Pleasant Ridge, looking at the big old Italianate farmhouses and enjoying the views.  At the second curve, fourteen miles out, you'll pass a cluster of Amish farms, with an unusual barn cleaning system on the west side of the road.  Then follow Fremont Road back west back to Neillsville.  On a summer day other than Sunday you may see Amish farmers working with horses, and maybe even an old hayloader!
 * Drive out into the countryside. Follow highway 10 east along Pleasant Ridge, looking at the big old Italianate farmhouses and enjoying the views.  At the second curve, fourteen miles out, you'll pass a cluster of Amish farms, with an unusual barn cleaning system on the west side of the road.  Then follow Fremont Road back west back to Neillsville.  On a summer day other than Sunday you may see Amish farmers working with horses, and maybe even an old hayloader!

title: Neillsville


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Neiva

Neiva is the capital of the Huila department of Colombia.

Understand
The city was hit by a number of bomb attacks in 2010 and 2011. Neiva was situated in the zone of influence of guerrilla movements like FARC-EP. As of June 2014, the city was no longer subject to such violence. As always, research the current situation before travelling.

By bus

 * from Bogotá COP$28,000, 5 hours
 * from Villavieja COP$5,000, 1 hour
 * from San Agustin COP$30,000, 5 hours

Do
The town hosts the San Pedro folklore festival each year around late June and early July.

Eat
This city has made famous by the Tamales and Asado Huilense Huilense Beef and the different kind of bread or Biscochos, the most preferred is the Biscocho de Achira.

Drink
El Patio is a great cultural center with a refreshing atmosphere. You may have a drink or a meal while listening to live music. They also have nice temporary exhibitions.

Go next
Spend a night near Villavieja in the Tatacoa Desert.

title: Neiva


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Neiwan

Neiwan (內灣) is a city in Hsinchu County.

Understand
Although a prosperous community in the 1960s, the economy of Neiwan suffered greatly with the closure of the local mines and the town languished as an isolated backwater for around thirty years. Then in the early 2000s, the town's preserved historic buildings and traditional culture began to be in vogue with city dwellers, and this has resulted in the town becoming as a tourist destination.

By train
The Neiwan Line connects Neiwan with Zhudong. It is a small and slow train and crowded on holidays. Trains go every 90 minutes.

By bus
Chudong is connected with Hsinchu by bus. There are direct buses also from Hsinchu to Neiwan.

Get around
Neiwan is small enough to cover on foot.

Do

 * Hiking. Around Neiwan there are nice good established hiking trails into the Valentine Valley.

Buy
Pick up a traditional hat for NT$40.

Eat

 * ZongZi (糭子). Neiwan has a special kind of zongzi sold at many shops in the main street. It is wrapped in Gingerleaves rather than in Palmleaves and gives it a special taste.
 * Fried Flowers are sold by some other shops.

Go next
Neiwan is the entrance to the Atayal mountain communities. Continuing forward from Neiwan, the river valley makes a sharp turn left, and you'll come across a large sharp boulder in the middle of the river, the namesake for 尖石. Crossing the bridge here is the entrance to the mountain communities. Be sure to fill up with gas between Neiwan and the bridge as that's your last chance.

title: Neiwan


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Nejd

The Nejd, or Najd, is the central highland region of Saudi Arabia. Dominated by Riyadh, this is the ancestral home of the ruling al-Saud dynasty, and one of the most conservative parts of the Kingdom. The mosques and mosquegoers in the region are predominantly Wahhabi, Salafi, Muwahhid, Hanbali Muslim and ultra-conservatively Islamic.

Cities

 * – the capital of Saudi Arabia
 * (Sulayyil) — gateway to the Empty Quarter
 * (Sulayyil) — gateway to the Empty Quarter
 * (Sulayyil) — gateway to the Empty Quarter
 * (Sulayyil) — gateway to the Empty Quarter

Other destinations

 * — home to the endangered Nubian ibex and other desert animals
 * — better known as al-Thumamah Park, nature reserve and a popular hiking destination

Get in

 * King Khaled Airport

See

 * Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia — two sites in northern Nejd, comprising a UNESCO World Heritage site.

title: Nejd


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Nexø

Nexø, also spelled as Neksø is a city on Bornholm.

Get in
Next airport is Rønne Airport 26 km off via road 38.

See

 * Olsker Kirke a Round church.
 * - more than 1000 butterflies and lots of plants and other animals to see.
 * - one of the smallest, but best known schools for crafts in ceramics and glassblowing in Denmark, furthermore a centre for studies in industrial design.

title: Nexø


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Nelliampathy

Nelliyampathy is a virgin hill station in Palakkad District of Kerala. Nelliyampathy is blessed with lush dense rain-forests with number of wild animals like elephants, hill squirrels, deer and bison. 467 m above sea-level, it is well known for its sprawling tea gardens and plantations.

Understand
Nelliyampathy is better known as Poor Man's Ooty, due to its unexplored virgin hill station status, famed for its large bio-farms, plantations and orange gardens. The hills are part of highly sensitive Western Ghats and was once thick dense teak forests inhabited by tribals. Later the area became popular among English planters and the area soon developed into major plantation belt. Its one of the few plantation areas in India, where multiple crops like black pepper, cardamom, tea, coffee and oranges are cultivated.

Apart from plantations, there are several hill ranges and cliffs, which all are popular among tourists, especially those interested in adventurous. Kerala Tourism has identified the hills are one of the best areas for trekking.

It is home to about 9,000 people.

Nelliyampatty is in Palakkad District, 56 km from Palakkad city near Nenmara town.

History
The whole Nelliyampathy hills is known to have belonged to Vengunad Kovilakam of Kollengode (a small principality of Malabar), who then leased out vast tracts of this virgin forest area to the British Government of Madras Presidency. The Halls, perhaps the best known of the early planters in the Nellies, always held that there were others before them in these hills where only tribals roamed before the land was opened up by the planters. By the time Arthur Hall arrived in the Nellies in 1877, there appeared to have been coffee planted without shade in what were later known as Shernelly, halfway up the ghat, and Nelikolam Estates, the latter on the plateau. Arthur Hall started planting at Cotengady, near Padagiri, and was the father of planting in the Nellie. Similarly vast tracts of virgin forest in the Nelliyampathy hills were leased out in the year 1889 to two Britishers by name Mr. Holmes and Mr. Macanzey.

By the 1890s, there were over a hundred European planters in the district, mostly from the coffee districts of Mysore, but by the 1930s there were no more than half a dozen and most of the coffee they had planted lay abandoned· The Halls’ property and James Finlay’s at Sethangandy (Seethargundu) were two that were still flourishing at the time· Both older estates also planted cardamom and a visitor to Sethangandy said its cardamom were "the biggest and best he’d ever seen. In 1896 they have sold the leasehold right over the land to M/s Amalgamated Tea Estate Company Ltd; subsequently it came into the hands of Amalgamated Coffee Estate Pvt. Ltd., which was owned by Sri. Neelkanda Iyer. In his hands this estate was known as Seethargundu. Later he sold this estate to various parties in different portions. In 1969 Poabs India has got brought entire shares of various companies and amalgamated all to take over the plantation. Today 95% of Nelliyampathy hills are with Poabs India Company and remaining with Kerala Forest Department.

Landscape
Nelliyampathy starts at Poothundy lake, where a large dam exists, mainly used for irrigation purposes. The lake and its resovoir is a major picnic spot. From Poothundy, the hill range of Nelliyampatty starts.There are about 10 hairpin bends that have to be negotiated on the way to Nelliyampathy. As the Ghat road winds its way up to Nelliyampathy, at some places there are viewpoints from where the vast stretches of Palakkad district are visible with its extensive paddy fields forming a verdant carpet. It also offers a splendid view of the Palakkad Gap, which is a geographical phenomenon in the Western Ghats formation in this region, bringing into view, parts of the adjoining State of Tamilnadu.

The Nelliyampathy hill range has 3 distinctive landscapes

 * The plantation part with several plantations, orange farms and spice gardens
 * The rocks and hill-tops where several cliffs, rocky mountainous areas and large hill-tops, which all are for trekker's delight
 * The forest regions, which has some of the rare varieties of fauna and flora.

Flora and fauna
Nelliyampatty is blessed with immense flora and fauna. The adjourning forests regions have wild elephants, giant squirrels, sambars and leopards. One can find bison, deer, peacocks, goats and cows commonly in plantation and farm areas. Much of the area is under plantations and farms. Nelliyampatty is a role model for Indian sustainable agricultural practices, by having largest organic farms in the world, spread across 1500 acres of land. The hill ranges has the only Orange farms of Kerala. The forest regions has some of the rare and unique herbal plants, thus a favourite place for bio-researchers.

Climate
Nelliyampathy is an all around the year tourist destination with a pleasant climate all through the year. Summers during March to May have a maximum temperature of 30°C and the winters during December to February have a minimum temperature of about 15°C. Monsoons offer very heavy rainfalls during June to September.

The hill station is very imposing during the monsoons. Post monsoons and post winters are flowering seasons. Waterfalls offer eye catching experiment during monsoons and post monsoons.

Best period to visit here is September to May avoiding monsoons.

By plane
The nearest international airport is Calicut International Airport at Kozhikode which is nearly 120 km from the Nelliyampathy ranges, with regular connections to most of Middle East countries and South East Asia. Coimbatore Airport, in neighboring Tamil Nadu, is 60 km away offering connections to several leading Indian Metro cities and few international connections.

Or you can fly to Cochin International Airport or Chennai International Airport  and reach the hill station via train by boarding down at Shornur or Palakkad town.

By train
The nearest station is Palakkad Junction, at a distance of about 60 km away from Nelliyampathy and you can take a taxi to reach Nelliampathy. Or get down at Shornur railway station and reach via taxi. While returning, make sure to reach Palakkad Junction which is also called Olavakkod railway station only where the long distance trains come. Going to Palakkad Town railway station is of no use at all. A better idea is to head straight to Shornur or Thrissur railway stations where the frequency of trains are much higher.

By bus
Most of the south Indian cities are connected to Nelliampathy by bus. All inter-state bus travelling from Coimbatore, Bangalore and Chennai, plying on NH 47 passes through Nenmara, the nearest point to Nelliyampathy. Tourist buses and State-owned buses provide services from cities like Trichur, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Guruvayoor, Cochin and Trivandrum. From Palakkad to Nelliampathy buses run on regular intervals.
 * from Palakkad: 54 km
 * from Thrissur: 75 km

By taxi
From Cochin Airport: Come to Thrissur - 30 km; take a taxi or bus from Thrissur bus stand to Nemmara - 48 km. From Coimbatore Airport: Come to Palakkad - 50 km; take a taxi or bus to Nemmara - 30 km.

Get around
While travelling inside Nelliampathy or while returning from Nelliampathy, buses should be boarded only from Noorady junction, Nelliampathy. Getting a seat is possible only from this point and they quickly get crowded. All buses start from Noorady junction and go to Pulayam Para town first. Then they proceed to Nenmara town down the hill.

Buses from Noorady Junction, Nelliampathy

 * 8:45AM
 * 9:45AM
 * 11:00AM
 * 2:00PM
 * 5:45PM

Auto rickshaw charges
Auto rickshaws are very expensive in Nelliampathy. They charge ₹100 for shorter distances and ₹400 for short excursions because of the shortage of passengers. Most tourists come here in their own vehicles.

Sightseeing by bus
Buses are available from Noorady junction to scenic villages like Karady, Lilly, Victoria, Karappara, Kaikatty and Pulayanpara. Buses going to Karappara also cover Karady and Lilly villages on the way. Buses going to Pulaayanpara also cover Kaikatty on the way. Ask the locals for the timings.

Eat

Stay safe

 * Carry some table salt with you while going for trekking as leeches are common here.
 * Avoid trekking early in the morning because elephants and other wild animals are there in the hills.
 * Avoid solo trekking in the remote forests as there are frequent Maoist attacks.

Go next

 * Malampuzha Dam and Gardens, 75 km
 * Palakkad town, 55 km
 * Silent Valley National Park, 105 km
 * Thrissur city, 75 km

title: Nelliampathy


text:
Nellore

Nellore (also called Simhapuri in previous centuries) is one of the more prominent towns/cities in the State of Andhra Pradesh in Southern India.

Understand
Known for its agriculture, and more recently for its educational institutions and business, is coming to terms with its new found stature as a city. Nellore is fast blossoming into a hub for shipping and rail/road connections, a major port being built at Krishnapatnam. Nellore has been an exporter of Rice, Sugarcane/cane-based products, prawn/shrimp and a varied set of crops. Nellore has expanded enormously over the years, with newer flyovers, roads and highways. It has a rich historical past with the Archeological Department of India findings in places such as Duvvuru.

The weather is typically hot and humid from extensive deforestation in the area. Nellore is about 177 km from Chennai and 500 km from Hyderabad, well connected by rail and road.

By plane
The nearest airport with vast connectivity to the rest of India and other parts of the world is Chennai (Madras) about 177 kilometers south of Nellore on NH5. You also have the Tirupati airport that is about 130 kilometers south-west; however the connectivity to Tirupati airport is limited to Hyderabad, Vishakapatnam and other cities in AP.

By train
It takes 3 hrs by train from Chennai and 10 hrs from Hyderabad. Nellore railway station is on the Howrah-Chennai main line and Chennai-New Delhi rail route,

By car
A beautiful and modern four lane highway connects Nellore to Chennai. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach Nellore from the outskirts Chennai.

By bus
There are so many buses connecting Nellore from Chennai and Hyderabad. There are 2 main bus stations available to connect rural areas of district called PSR Bus Station (more recognized as Atmakur bus stand) and RTC Bus Stand. All APSRTC buses to Hyderabad and Chennai start from RTC bus stand. There are also many private luxury bus services available to connect Hyderabad and Chennai from the Railway station area. Buses of Tamil Nadu state road transport corporations start from Madras bus stand very close to the RTC bus stand and they operate mainly to Chennai.

See

Places to visit include temples such as Jonnavada/Narasimhaswamy Temple, Ramalingeswara Temple in Nellore besides several other temples in towns across Nellore district. There is a "dargah" called the barah shaheed dargah which is very popular around this part of the world.

Other temples include:

 * Buchireddy Palyem (Temple),
 * Golagamudi Venkaya Swamy (Temple),
 * Narsimaha Konda (Temple),
 * Jonnvada Kamakshi Temple
 * Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple
 * Penchilokana (forest and temple)
 * Ramatheertham (Beach Temple)

Naidupeta, Somasila (Dam), Krishnapatnam (port), Mypadu (Beach), Koduru (Beach), Paturu (sarees), Pennar River.

Do
Don't miss watching movie in Nellore. Nellore has some of the best movie theaters from years.Nartaki, Siri multiplex, complex (krishna, kaveri, kalyani) now remodeled as S2 are some of the State of Art theaters.charges around ₹80-₹100 for first class depending on the theatre/screen.

Work
Sricity or Sri City is a Planned Integrated Business City (Township) located 55 km North of Chennai on NH 5 along the border of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Tamil Nadu (TN) States of India. Much of Sricity area is in Tirupati District and a smaller area along the NH5 is in Nellore District and Tirupati district of AP, adjacent to Tiruvallur District of TN.

The Satish Dhawan Space Centre (aka SHAR), India's Satellite/Rocket launching centre is located at Sriharikota in Tirupati district, on the eastern side of the Pulicat Lake which separates Sricity and the Satellite launching station.

Buy
The booming economy due to the increasing industrialization in the Nellore region is making it one of the major shopping hub in the south Andhra region. All the major cloth show rooms branded/ non-Branded are opening up. Nellore is famous for the best models in Gold jewellery.

Eat
Nellore is famous for its spicy cuisine, so popular across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, hot, spicy and replete with "pulusu" and "kodi kura". The Nellore Thali meals is a big hit across the state of Andhra Pradesh, and you see Nellore cuisine and Nelloreans as restauranteers in Hyderabad. Some hotels in Hyderabad serve the famous "Nellore Chaapala Pulusu".

RSR cold drinks, murali krishna ghee sweets are also very famous in Nellore.

Drink
Nellore has got a lot of bars and wine shops. You can find almost all the major varieties of drinks, with some imported types as well.

Sleep
There are a lot of hotels in Nellore ranging from budget to 3 star. Due to blooming economy a lot more hotels are opening up.

Stay safe
The traffic here is dangerous for pedestrians due to rash driving by auto-rickshaws and city buses.

Go next
Mypadu and Kodur beaches are good tourist spots about 12 miles away.

title: Nellore


text:
Nelson

There is more than one place called Nelson. They are listed here in order of decreasing population size by country:

New Zealand

 * Nelson (New Zealand) - A city of 51,000 people on the South Island, in the Nelson Bays region.

United Kingdom

 * Nelson (England) - A town of about 28,000 people near Burnley in England.
 * Nelson (Wales) — A town near Caerphilly in Wales.

Canada

 * Nelson (British Columbia) - A town of 10,300 people in British Columbia.

United States of America

 * Nelson County (North Dakota) - A county of about 4,000 people in North Dakota.
 * Nelson (Georgia) - A town of about 1,300 people in Pickens County located at N 34°22′55″ W 84°22′1
 * Nelson (Wisconsin) - A town of about 600 people in Wisconsin.

Argentina

 * A locality of about 900 people located at S 31°16′03″ W 60°45′46″ in Santa Fe province in Pampas region.

Australia

 * Nelson (New South Wales) is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales with about 700 people.
 * Nelson (Victoria) is a small fishing town in the state of Victoria with about 200 people.
 * Port Nelson (Western Australia) is a tiny gazetted port in the state of Western Australia of about 4 people.

Zimbabwe

 * A locality of about 30 people in Mashonaland East located at S 18°36′25″ E 31°29′20″

Trinidad and Tobago

 * An island in Diego Martin located at N 10°39′00″ W 61°36′00″ near Port of Spain

Cuba

 * A locality in Isla de la Juventud located at N 21°49′00″ W 82°54′00″

title: Nelson


text:
Nelson (British Columbia)

Nelson is a city of over 11,000 people (2021) in British Columbia. The 1987 film Roxanne starring Steve Martin was filmed in this city.

Understand
The West Kootenay region is part of the traditional territories of the Sinixt (or Lakes) and Ktunaxa (Kutenai) peoples.

Known as "The Queen City", it is acknowledged for its impressive collection of restored heritage buildings from its glory days in a regional silver rush.

In 2012 Nelson and Rossland, a small city south-west of Nelson, were jointly voted best ski locales in North America by readers of California-based Powder Magazine.

History
Gold and silver were found in the area in 1867. Following the discovery of silver at nearby Toad Mountain in 1886, the town boomed quickly, leading to incorporation in 1897. Two railways were built to pass through Nelson. Due to its location near transportation corridors, Nelson grew to supply the local mining activity and soon became a transportation and distribution centre for the region.

The town soon matured from a false-fronted boom town to a sophisticated city. Francis Rattenbury, an architect most noted in British Columbia for the Parliament Buildings in Victoria, the Vancouver Provincial Courthouse, and the second Hotel Vancouver, designed chateau-style civic buildings made of granite, which stand today. By the 1900s, Nelson had several fine hotels, a Hudson's Bay Company store, and an electric streetcar system. The local forestry and mining industries were well established.

The town built its own hydroelectric generating system. English immigrants planted lakeside orchards, and Doukhobors from Russia, sponsored by Leo Tolstoy and the Quakers, tilled the valley benchlands. The Doukhobor Museum is nearby, close to the neighbouring town of Castlegar.

During the Vietnam War, many American draft dodgers settled in Nelson and the surrounding area. This influx of liberal, mostly educated young people had a significant impact on the area's cultural and political demographics.

Nelson's mountainous geography kept growth confined to the narrow valley bottom, except for certain hillside structures such as the local High School and the former Notre Dame University College (NDU) campus. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, when more prosperous cities were tearing down and rebuilding their downtowns to the design of the time, Nelson merchants 'modernized' their buildings with covers of aluminum siding.

Baker Street
In the early 1980s, Nelson suffered a devastating economic downturn when the local sawmill was closed. To save downtown and Baker Street from blight, Nelson remodelled its downtown by stripping aluminum facades and restoring the buildings to their original brilliance. By 1985, Baker Street was completely transformed. Affirmation of the street's success came in 1986 when Steve Martin chose to produce his feature film Roxanne largely in Nelson, using the local fire hall as a primary set and many historic locations for others. More broadly, the transformation marked the beginning of Nelson's ongoing transition from a resource-based town to an arts and tourism town. A walk down Baker Street through the Historic District is now one of Nelson's promoted visitor activities.

Climate
Winters are cold and snowy while summers are warm and drier with cool temperatures during the night.

By car
Nelson can be best accessed from the Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) and is well signed, but is not located directly on the highway. Coming from the west, follow the Crowsnest Highway to Castlegar and then go east on Highway 3A. From the east, follow the Crownest Highway through Creston to Salmo and go north on Highway 6; alternatively, follow Highway 3A from Creston and take the Kootenay Lake Ferry at Balfour, which is the longest toll-free ferry in the world.

Nelson is about from Vancouver (9-hour drive) and  from Calgary (a 7-hour drive). It is also from Spokane, Washington,  from Banff and  from Kamloops.

By bus

 * Operates two days per week between Kaslo and Vancouver with stops in Balfour, Nelson, Castlegar, Christina Lake, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Rock Creek, Osoyoos, Keremeos, Princeton, Manning Provincial Park, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley, and New Westminster. Travel time to Nelson from Kalso is 1 hour, from Castlegar is 40 minutes, from Grand Forks is 2.25 hours, from Osoyoos is 3.5 hours, from Princeton is 5.25 hours, from Hope is 7 hours, from Abbotsford is 8.25, and from Vancouver is 9.5 hours.
 * Operates once per week between Calgary and Kaslo with stops in Okotoks, High River, Claresholm, Fort Macleod, Pincher Creek, Sparwood, Fernie, Cranbrook, Creston, Salmo, Nelson, and Balfour. Travel time to Nelson from Calgary is 9.75 hours, from Sparwood is 5 hours, from Cranbrook is 3 hours, and from Kaslo is 1 hour.
 * Operates once per week between Calgary and Kaslo with stops in Okotoks, High River, Claresholm, Fort Macleod, Pincher Creek, Sparwood, Fernie, Cranbrook, Creston, Salmo, Nelson, and Balfour. Travel time to Nelson from Calgary is 9.75 hours, from Sparwood is 5 hours, from Cranbrook is 3 hours, and from Kaslo is 1 hour.

By plane

 * West Kootenay Regional Airport  in Castlegar is the nearest airport with scheduled flights, located 40 km west along Highway 3A, but is prone to flight cancellations caused by fog.
 * Trail Regional Airport is further away, has less scheduled flights, but is less prone to flight cancellations caused by fog.

Get around
The downtown core of Nelson is very compact and walkable. The main streets stretch a few blocks up the hillside away from the lake, and along the contours of the hillside. You don't need a car to get between downtown businesses, but you might need one to get to housing away from the centre. It's a ten-minute uphill walk from the airport to the heart of downtown, though the Canadian Pacific Railway track just inland of the airport is a slight obstacle.

By public transit

 * Route 10 operates Monday to Saturday between Nelson and Balfour (55 minutes).
 * Route 99 operates Monday to Saturday between Nelson and Castlegar 40 min). Transfer to route 33 at Selkirk College to reach Castlegar Community Complex (10 min), which is Castlegar's main bus exchange. Some route 99 trips become route 20, instead traveling between Nelson and Slocan City.
 * Offers Health Connections trips three days per week to Salmo, and two days per week direct service to New Denver and Nakusp. Health Connections trips are open to everyone to ride, but must be reserved in advance and trips to medical appointments receive priority.
 * Offers Health Connections trips three days per week to Salmo, and two days per week direct service to New Denver and Nakusp. Health Connections trips are open to everyone to ride, but must be reserved in advance and trips to medical appointments receive priority.

See

 * The Arts: Nelson is highlighted as the "Number One Small Town Arts Community in Canada" by the publisher of The 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America, and is home to a large and diverse artisan community. The annual Artwalk, a display of artwork at various venues around town features local talent. In July, August and September, there are exhibitions throughout the downtown core in variety of galleries and local businesses. Each month has a separate grand opening, (usually the first Friday evening of the month), which includes refreshments, musicians, pan-handlers and artwork for locals and visitors to enjoy as they stroll through downtown Nelson.
 * The Arts: Nelson is highlighted as the "Number One Small Town Arts Community in Canada" by the publisher of The 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America, and is home to a large and diverse artisan community. The annual Artwalk, a display of artwork at various venues around town features local talent. In July, August and September, there are exhibitions throughout the downtown core in variety of galleries and local businesses. Each month has a separate grand opening, (usually the first Friday evening of the month), which includes refreshments, musicians, pan-handlers and artwork for locals and visitors to enjoy as they stroll through downtown Nelson.
 * The Arts: Nelson is highlighted as the "Number One Small Town Arts Community in Canada" by the publisher of The 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America, and is home to a large and diverse artisan community. The annual Artwalk, a display of artwork at various venues around town features local talent. In July, August and September, there are exhibitions throughout the downtown core in variety of galleries and local businesses. Each month has a separate grand opening, (usually the first Friday evening of the month), which includes refreshments, musicians, pan-handlers and artwork for locals and visitors to enjoy as they stroll through downtown Nelson.
 * The Arts: Nelson is highlighted as the "Number One Small Town Arts Community in Canada" by the publisher of The 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America, and is home to a large and diverse artisan community. The annual Artwalk, a display of artwork at various venues around town features local talent. In July, August and September, there are exhibitions throughout the downtown core in variety of galleries and local businesses. Each month has a separate grand opening, (usually the first Friday evening of the month), which includes refreshments, musicians, pan-handlers and artwork for locals and visitors to enjoy as they stroll through downtown Nelson.

Do
Nelson is a great base to explore the lakes, mountains and rivers of the surrounding area. The west arm of the Kootenay Lake flows past Nelson with several dams just below Nelson. The big orange bridge (known locally as BOB) is a local icon connecting the north shore to Nelson. Lakeside Park is a mix of grass and shade trees and sandy beach.

 * The Nelson area is home to over 20 cat-skiing, heli-skiing and ski-touring operators.
 * Mountain biking: Nelson offers a wide variety of MTB-oriented trails for all levels of experience. Excellent trail maps are available at local bike shops.
 * Rock climbing is also a popular summer activity., , and  are popular city crags. Slocan Bluffs and Kinnaird are in nearby Slocan City and Castlegar.
 * Bouldering: extensive bouldering areas in Grohman Narrows and nearby Robson.
 * Mountaineers and alpine rock climbers head to the in the Selkirk Mountains for long alpine routes on unique textured granite. The Mulvey Basin, Cougar Creek and Nemo Creek areas have routes ranging in grade from 5.4 to 5.12.
 * Hiking: Two local hiking trails are popular:
 * The Nelson-Salmo Great Northern Trail is a very gently sloped rail trail which runs across Nelson and allows biking. It can be reached from the and from the.
 * Rock climbing is also a popular summer activity., , and  are popular city crags. Slocan Bluffs and Kinnaird are in nearby Slocan City and Castlegar.
 * Bouldering: extensive bouldering areas in Grohman Narrows and nearby Robson.
 * Mountaineers and alpine rock climbers head to the in the Selkirk Mountains for long alpine routes on unique textured granite. The Mulvey Basin, Cougar Creek and Nemo Creek areas have routes ranging in grade from 5.4 to 5.12.
 * Hiking: Two local hiking trails are popular:
 * The Nelson-Salmo Great Northern Trail is a very gently sloped rail trail which runs across Nelson and allows biking. It can be reached from the and from the.

Buy

 * Nelson Markets: Nelson features several regular outdoor markets where artisans and farmers can be found selling everything from local produce, poultry and farm-fresh eggs to handcrafted jewellery, pottery and clothes.
 * , at Cottonwood Falls Park, takes place every Saturday from May through October.

Connect

There are many other locations where the traveler can access wireless Internet, including the following: Chahko Mika Mall (see listing under "Buy"), Best Western Baker St Inn (see listing under "Sleep"), and many restaurants in town.

Cope

 * The nearest hospital is in Trail.

Go next

 * Ainsworth Hot Spings, located about 45 minutes northeast of Nelson, is considered to be the best commercial hot springs in British Columbia and has many spa services, treatments and packages.

title: Nelson (British Columbia)


text:
Nelson (New Zealand)

Nelson (Māori: Whakatū) is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island. It is in a region often known as Nelson Bays or the "Top of the South" and is actually slightly north of the capital city of Wellington in the North Island.

Nelson is the geographical centre of the country and, together with the satellite town of Richmond, has a population of around 55,000 (2022) ranking it as New Zealand's tenth most populous city.

It's surrounded by three national parks and is the smallest city in the world to have its own symphony orchestra.

Understand
Nelson is named after the British Admiral, Lord Nelson. It's a beautiful coastal city set amongst some of New Zealand's most stunning scenery. With over 2,500 hours of sunshine a year, Nelson is also usually New Zealand's sunniest city. The city is the economic and cultural centre for the Nelson-Tasman region and offers an excellent range of shopping, eating and cultural experiences with an abundance of parks, rivers, beaches and nature trails to explore.

The Nelson region covers five distinct geographic areas:
 * The urban agglomeration of Nelson & Richmond
 * The highways of Mapua, Motueka, Moutere, through rolling horticultural land
 * The idyllic coastline of Abel Tasman National Park
 * The heart of the parks, Golden Bay between Kahurangi and Abel Tasman national parks
 * The alpine lakes and rivers around St Arnaud: Nelson Lakes & Murchison including Nelson Lakes and Kahurangi national parks

The Nelson economy is based on the ‘big four’ industries of seafood, horticulture, tourism and forestry. Port Nelson is the biggest fishing port in Australasia and there are also a range of growth industries, including arts and craft, aviation, engineering technology, and information technology.

Nelson is New Zealand's oldest city. (Although it was only proclaimed a Bishop's See and city under letters patent by Queen Victoria on 27 September 1858 and after Christchurch's city charter, Pakeha settlement had started in earnest in Nelson in 1841, a full nine years before the good ship Charlotte-Jane arrived in Christchurch on 16 December 1850.)

Nelson is the city where, if asked, most Kiwis say they would like to move to and has a small but rapidly growing Māori population. per capita, Nelson also has the highest settled population of people from Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, the Philippines and the United Kingdom in New Zealand. There are also large concentrations of settled refugees from Bhutan and Burma, in the Victory Square and Wood areas, including the largest population of Kayan (Yan Pa Doung in Shan or "Padaung") outside of the Golden Triangle. The Kayan Lahwi (some of whose high status women used to wear brass neck coils) were treated as a sort of "human zoo" before they left South East Asia because of their long ("giraffe") necks. All this harmonious ethnic diversity means that the shops and Saturday morning market (in Montgomery Square) are a great place to buy foods and delicacies difficult to find elsewhere in New Zealand.

The Top of the South region's tourism organisation is Nelson Tasman Tourism, which operates i-SITE Visitor Information Centres in Nelson City, Takaka in Golden Bay and in Murchison.

By bus
InterCity is the national coach company, with daily services to Nelson from around the South Island, including from Picton, the port for the Cook Strait ferries from Wellington.

By plane

 * Air New Zealand offers regular flights to and from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and other provincial cities.
 * Originair flies direct to and from Palmerston North four times a week.
 * Sounds Air offers flights around the Nelson Bays and on to Wellington.
 * Sounds Air offers flights around the Nelson Bays and on to Wellington.

EBus Route 4 connects the airport to central Nelson; every 30 minutes during the day (last departure from airport 6:22pm). Supershuttle offers door-door van services.

By car
Two hours driving from Picton, 1.5 hr from Blenheim and 6 hr driving from Christchurch via either SH1 and Kaikoura or the slightly shorter and more scenic SH6 route over the Lewis Pass and via Murchison.

Get around
The original city centre, comprising the CBD and The Wood is small enough to walk around, but for access from the surrounding suburbs and around the sites and attractions of the whole city and region you'll likely want to rent a car, take a taxi, or have a fresh set of legs and a bicycle.

By bus
Ebus is Nelson's city bus service. Four routes in Nelson city operate at 30 minute intervals. Less frequent regional routes to Wakefield and Motueka. Fares $2 in Nelson/Richmond with a Beecard.
 * 1) Richmond via Tahunanui and Stoke
 * 2) Richmond via Bishopdale and Stoke
 * 3) Atawhai via The Wood and central Nelson to Victory Square/Hospital
 * 4) The Brook via central Nelson to Washington Valley/Port Hills and Airport.
 * 5) Nelson to Richmond, Mapua, Motueka (4/day Monday-Friday).
 * 6) Nelson to Richmond, Brightwater, Wakefield (6/day Monday-Friday).

For late night party goers there is also an excellent "Late Late Bus" which runs on the hour Friday and Saturday nights only from 11PM until 3:15AM from Trafalgar Street to Richmond. The outbound service travels via Tahunanui and stops as required at designated, well-lit stops. The inbound service leaves Richmond on the half hour and travels into the city via Bishopdale. (There is no midnight service from Nelson and no 12:30AM service from Richmond). Fare: $4.

By bicycle
Nelson has a network of cycle routes for leisure and mountain biking.

See

 * The
 * The
 * The
 * The
 * The

Do

 * Participate in a
 * Go swimming in the river up the Maitai Valley or Lee River Valley. You can hitch hike up there if you don't have a car. Take a sandwich and some water.
 * Participate in a
 * Go swimming in the river up the Maitai Valley or Lee River Valley. You can hitch hike up there if you don't have a car. Take a sandwich and some water.
 * Participate in a
 * Go swimming in the river up the Maitai Valley or Lee River Valley. You can hitch hike up there if you don't have a car. Take a sandwich and some water.
 * Participate in a
 * Go swimming in the river up the Maitai Valley or Lee River Valley. You can hitch hike up there if you don't have a car. Take a sandwich and some water.
 * Participate in a
 * Go swimming in the river up the Maitai Valley or Lee River Valley. You can hitch hike up there if you don't have a car. Take a sandwich and some water.
 * Participate in a
 * Go swimming in the river up the Maitai Valley or Lee River Valley. You can hitch hike up there if you don't have a car. Take a sandwich and some water.
 * Go swimming in the river up the Maitai Valley or Lee River Valley. You can hitch hike up there if you don't have a car. Take a sandwich and some water.
 * Go swimming in the river up the Maitai Valley or Lee River Valley. You can hitch hike up there if you don't have a car. Take a sandwich and some water.
 * Go swimming in the river up the Maitai Valley or Lee River Valley. You can hitch hike up there if you don't have a car. Take a sandwich and some water.

Eat
Nelson has a wide variety of excellent cafes and restaurants using fresh local produce. Nelson is the largest fishing port in Australasia, so the fresh seafood is always great!

For the best fish and chips within 10,000 miles (according to the Wikimapia author, click the highlighted link to see the exact location right next to Guytons Fisheries Ltd on Wakefield Quay.)

Craft brewing
Early settlers from both England and northern Germany found the hops that they had brought with them grew well in this region and they soon started to develop and propagate peculiarly New Zealand varieties such as Motueka, Nelson and Riwaka. Within a century or so, Nelson grown hops became valued as both high quality and disease free. Nowadays, all of New Zealand's commercial crop is grown in a triangle roughly formed by Brightwater, Motueka and Tapawera. The six week harvesting period in early autumn provides seasonal work for backpackers.

How natural then that Nelson is now renowned as the craft brewing capital of Oceania. A baker's dozen of craft breweries of varying size now stretch from the Mussel Inn Brewery of Onekaka in Golden Bay to the swanky new bar of Founders Brewery opposite the windmill in Founders Park, Nelson. Most of these breweries welcome visitors for tours and subsequent sampling at their in-brewery bars.

Bars
Many bars are located in the Central Business District on Bridge Street between Collingwood and Trafalgar Streets.

 * The Oyster Bar (115 Hardy St) has fancy drinks and a small menu of seafood items. Fresh oysters are available most of the time while the bar is open Th-Su.
 * The Oyster Bar (115 Hardy St) has fancy drinks and a small menu of seafood items. Fresh oysters are available most of the time while the bar is open Th-Su.
 * The Oyster Bar (115 Hardy St) has fancy drinks and a small menu of seafood items. Fresh oysters are available most of the time while the bar is open Th-Su.
 * The Oyster Bar (115 Hardy St) has fancy drinks and a small menu of seafood items. Fresh oysters are available most of the time while the bar is open Th-Su.

Sleep
Nelson offers a range of accommodation including backpackers, bed and breakfasts (B&Bs), holiday homes, hotels, lodges, resorts, serviced apartments and motels.

Connect
The local public library offers both free Wi-Fi and free Internet connected computers to locals and non-locals alike!

Consulates

 * 🇮🇸 Iceland

North

 * Mapua
 * Motueka - visit the district museum in Motueka.
 * Marahau
 * Abel Tasman National Park - Nelson is close (60min drive) to Abel Tasman National Park which offers sea kayaking and the 51 km Abel Tasman Coast Track (one of NZ's Great Walks). Also see Tramping in New Zealand.
 * Golden Bay - visit the district museums in Takaka and Collingwood.

East

 * Rai Valley – first stop in the Marlborough region

South & west

 * Wakefield – small town 25 km to the south-west
 * Nelson Lakes
 * Murchison - visit the district museums in Murchison
 * Reefton
 * Westport

title: Nelson (New Zealand)


text:
Nelson Bays

The Nelson Bays region, officially known as the Tasman Region, at the top of the South Island of New Zealand is famed for sunshine, art and craft and alternative lifestyles, and has a rugged farming backbone. The region includes Tasman Bay, the more central and populous bay, and the more remote Golden Bay to the north-west. It is bounded by the Richmond Ranges, Kahurangi National Park and Nelson Lakes National Park. The Abel Tasman National Park is on the northern coast between Tasman Bay and Golden Bay.

Regions

 * Golden Bay, over the Takaka Hill from Nelson and a world away, with beautiful golden sand beaches, native bush and solitude
 * Nelson Lakes has the largest native eels in New Zealand inside its national park and good alpine skiing centred on St Arnaud

Settlements

 * – at the northern end of Golden Bay, gateway to Farewell Spit and Heaphy Track in Kahurangi National Park
 * – beach town and popular holiday spot between Motueka and Abel Tasman National Park
 * – small seaside town between Nelson and Motueka
 * – the largest town outside Nelson and its satellites
 * – some of the finest white water rafting and kayaking in the Southern Hemisphere
 * – the region's only city, with many galleries, cafes and restaurants fringing its cathedral, and a big safe sandfly-free beach at Tahunanui
 * – small town in the middle of Golden Bay
 * – village that is the gateway to Nelson Lakes National Park
 * – the largest town in Golden Bay
 * – village south-west of Nelson

Other destinations

 * – road-inaccessible park, home to NZ's most popular coastal walk.
 * – famed for Wharariki Beach, the location of one of Windows 10's default lock screens and the country's second-largest national park.
 * – secluded highland lakes.

By car
From the east, State Highway 6 is the main route leading from Blenheim (and Picton) through Renwick, Havelock and the Rai Valley before reaching Nelson. State Highway 6 continues south through Richmond, Wakefield, Murchison and on to Westport and the West Coast. State Highway 63 starts at Renwick and leads to St Arnaud before rejoining State Highway 6 at Kawatiri Junction.

By bus
In the main, both buses and shuttle services in and out of the region follow State Highway 6. Nelson Lakes Shuttles specialise in providing transport for trampers, hikers, climbers, mountain bikers and skiers. They run on-demand together with scheduled services to St Arnaud and between Picton, Blenheim, Murchison as well as other tramping destinations further afield.

By plane

 * Nelson Airport, one of the busiest airports in the country with Air New Zealand and other airlines providing scheduled services.
 * Takaka airstrip has scheduled flights from Wellington on Golden Bay Air as well as charter operations.

Get around
For those without transport, there is reasonable bus transport around the region.

Scheduled services

 * Between Nelson, Stoke and Richmond – Nbus suburban buses are available, operated by Nelson Coachlines.
 * From Nelson to St Arnaud – Nelson Lakes Shuttles.
 * From Nelson to Motueka, Kaiteriteri and Marahau (the eastern end of the Abel Tasman National Park) – Abel Tasman Travel.
 * From Nelson to Motueka, Takaka, Collingwood and the eastern end of the Heaphy Track in Kahurangi National Park – Golden Bay Coachlines.

Stay safe
Sunburn and sun stroke might be the greatest dangers in this region!

Go next
For those heading south to Christchurch, there are two options which take roughly the same length of time. State Highway 6 branches just after Murchison lending to Springs Junction. Turning east leads soon to the hot springs complex of Maruia Springs before steadily climbing up the Lewis Pass on the Main Divide of the Southern Alps. Beyond too long the turn-off to the spa town of Hanmer Springs is reached, 1.5 hours from Christchurch. The alternative it to travel to Blenheim and then south on State Highway 1 through the whale watching town of Kaikoura. Both routes take approximately 6 hours.

title: Nelson Bays


text:
Nelson Lakes National Park

Nelson Lakes National Park is in the Nelson Tasman region of New Zealand.

Understand
This is a pristine landscape of greywacke mountains fringed by the sweet smelling (quite literally - the native trees exude a sugary sap that acts as the primary food source for a long and esoteric food chain) native beech forest that surrounds the two largest lakes of Rotoiti and Rotoroa.

There is a "mainland island" to the east of Lake Rotoiti where war has been declared on introduced pests such as feral cats, possums, stoats, etc in order to try and regenerate both the native plants and animal and bird life. The native eels and brown trout in the lakes are simply humungous!

The park's visitor centre is in St Arnaud.

Fees and permits
None of New Zealand's National Parks charge for general admission. Huts in the National park charge standard fees for accommodation.

The Angelus Hut must be booked online in advanced during peak time.

Do

 * Lake Angelus Routes
 * Mt Robert Circuit Track
 * St Arnaud Range track

title: Nelson Lakes National Park


text:
Nelsonville (Ohio)

Nelsonville is a city of 5,230 people in Southeastern Ohio.

By car
US-33 passes through Nelsonville.

By Bus
The green GoBus runs twice a day from Columbus Airport and Downtown Greyhound Station, 8:30 and 2:30.

By Bike
The Hockhocking Adena Bikeway connects Nelsonville to Athens

Go next

 * Columbus
 * Athens

title: Nelsonville (Ohio)


text:
Mbombela

Mbombela, formerly known and still often referred to as Nelspruit, is in the Mpumalanga province. Mbombela is a major stopover point for tourists travelling to Kruger National Park and to Mozambique. Other tourism attractions nearby include Sudwala Caves, and God's Window in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, a lookout point which provides a panoramic view over the famous Drakensberg Escarpment.

Understand

In 2020, the city was home to 110,000 people.

Mbombela was founded as Nelspruit in 1895 by three brothers of the Nel family who grazed their cattle around the site in the winter months. During the Boer War, Nelspruit served briefly as the seat of government for the South African Republic, an independent Boer republic.

The settlement was a key stopover for the Eastern Railway built by the Netherlands-South African Railway Company in the late 19th century which ran from the newly discovered Witwatersrand goldfields to Delagoa Bay in Portuguese East Africa (modern-day Maputo, Mozambique). The discovery of gold in Mpumalanga, such as at Pilgrim's Rest and Barberton, encouraged further development.

Mbombela is the nearest major South African city to Mozambique's capital, Maputo, and as such Mbombela receives significant tourism from Mozambican locals.

Climate
Mbombela has mild winters and hot summers. Summers are hot and somewhat humid complete with high precipitation. Winters in the city are dry, with relatively warm temperatures during the day and chilly temperatures at night.

By car

 * Take the N4 highway from Pretoria. Have cash at hand for the toll gates. From Johannesburg to Mbombela is 359 km.
 * The distance from Mbabane, Eswatini, is 183 km; from Polokwane, 302 km; and from the Mozambique border at Komatipoort is 109 km.

By train
ShosholozaMeyl operates regular trains west to Johannesburg via Middelburg, Witbank and Pretoria, and east to Komatipoort on the border with Mozambique. From Komatipoort you can take a Mozambiquan train east to Maputo. The train departs Mbombela Thursday and Sunday at 8:40PM and you get to Johannesburg the next day at 6:20AM. The train departs Johannesburg every Wednesday and Friday at 6:10PM and you get to Mbombela the next day at 4AM.

By bus

 * There are City to City and Citiliner buses going to/from Pretoria R200 and Johannesburg R200 at 10:30AM and 10:40AM. The bus ride to Pretoria takes (6 hours), and (7 hours) to Johannesburg.
 * There is a City to City bus from Mbombela going to Maputo Mozambique every day at 12:40PM for R200 the trip takes (3½ hours).
 * There are minibus taxis going to/from Eswatini (Swaziland).

By car
Travel around Mbombela by car and get an eyeful of the beautiful scenery and meandering mountain passes. The area is still quite wild and while you are driving around at your leisure, you may view small game and even some vervet monkeys and baboons.

See
There are few attractions in Mbombela itself, but the surrounding towns and area can make for an interesting drive.

Do

 * Several cultural and agricultural shows are hosted annually, including:
 * The Lowveld Show
 * The Lowveld Agri Show
 * The Innibos Arts Festival
 * The Nelspruit Motor Show
 * The Colour Run
 * The Nelspruit Motor Show
 * The Colour Run

Buy
There are three large shopping malls in Mbombela, and like most of South Africa they are security patrolled. However, they are not open in the evenings.

Sleep
Mbombela can be used as a base for visitors touring the Kruger National Park and the nearby sights, like the Blyde River Canyon. There is a range of accommodation available here, but there is also a similar range near some of the Kruger gates like at Crocodile Gate and at Phalaborwa, which may be more suited to touring the park.

Stay safe
It is not safe to walk around Mbombela after dark. There are lots of traffic lights in Mbombela, and vendors and beggars will approach your car when you are stopped. Keep your car doors locked at all times, and consider whether you may find dinner at your accommodation more pleasant than driving a distance through Mbombela after dark.

Go next

 * Visit the Kruger National Park
 * Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve protects the Blyde River Canyon, including sections of the Ohrigstad and Blyde Rivers and the geological formations around Bourke's Luck Potholes, where the Treur River tumbles into the Blyde below.
 * Take the N4 to Mozambique. Even only for sightseeing. You can enter Krugerpark at the southern gates.
 * Visit the train tunnel at Machadadorp. Check before if safe to walk through tunnel.

title: Mbombela


text:
Nemuro

Nemuro (根室市 Nemuro-shi) is a city in Hokkaido, and the easternmost city in Japan. It is famous for its seafood, dairy industry, bird-watching, and wild nature preserves.

Understand
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site (including Russian!).

By train
Nemuro Station (根室駅) is the final stop on the JR Nemuro Main Line, called the Hanasaki Line between Kushiro and Nemuro. Service is sparse: two daily rapid trains (just over two hours from Kushiro) and six locals (just over three hours). Add on another four hours from Sapporo. Those who want to make a day trip from Kushiro to Nemuro and back should board the Hanasaki Rapid train leaving Kushiro at 05:55 (arr. 08:13) or 11:13 (arr. 13:38) and departing Nemuro at 11:12 (arr. 13:20) or 21:44 (arr. 23:53).

The second-to-last stop, Higashi-Nemuro Station (東根室駅), may be of interest to train buffs as the easternmost station in all of Japan. Several of the train cars and stations along the Hanasaki Line are emblazoned with characters from the Lupin III manga series, whose creator, Monkey Punch (Kazuhiko Katō), was born in Hamanaka, about halfway between Kushiro and Nemuro.

By plane
Nakashibetsu Airport has shuttle service to Sapporo (Chitose) and Tokyo (Haneda).

Eat
Even within Japan Nemuro is renowned for its fish and is a contender for one of the best dining destinations in Hokkaido. Sanma and Hanasaki crab are local delicacies which also merit their own festivals. There is a surprisingly wide array of cuisines and eateries in this otherwise quiet and far-flung town.

Sleep
As with much of Hokkaido, tent campers should feel free to set up tent after dark at a public rest area or parking area. If the tent is taken down before 9AM, nobody will mind.

Go next

 * Hamanaka
 * Akkeshi
 * Kushiro
 * Shiranuka
 * Betsukai
 * Nakashibetsu
 * Shibetsu
 * Shibecha
 * Tsurui

title: Nemuro


text:
Nenagh

Nenagh is a market town in County Tipperary, Ireland: in Irish it's Aonach Urmhumhan, the market Fair of Ormond. Tipperary was from 1838 divided into a north and south riding, but this was abolished in 2014, so Nenagh became the county town jointly with Clonmel and had a population in 2016 of 8968. It was a seat of the Norman rulers of Ireland, acquiring a castle and an abbey which are worth seeing. Another reason to visit is to reach the eastern shores of Lough Derg.

Understand
In the long-ago, the ancestors of the Gaels helped build the Tower of Babel, and fashioned the Gaelic language in the chaos that followed. They left Egypt about the same time as the Israelites, settling awhile in Scythia, then wandered in the wilderness to Spain, which they conquered. They built a tower in Corunna so tall, almost as tall as this tale, that from it they glimpsed Ireland. Now called Milesians (Latin Miles Hispaniae, Soldier of Spain) they set off to claim the new land, which was inhabited by pagan gods. Many battles, reversals, betrayals and casting of spells later, a deal was struck: the pagan gods would rule the underworld, to which they departed via the many burial mounds. The Milesians got to rule the land above, called, mmm, here's a dilemma. At Nenagh they had met three goddesses called Banba, Fódla and Ériu, who each extracted a promise that the country would bear their name. Ériu it was who gave her name to Ireland, but Banba and Fódla seem to have been alright with this, as they were a trinity of the same deity.

These legends were invented by 11th-century monks to give Ireland a back-story rooted in the Bible Old Testament. For centuries they were swallowed as having a factual basis, including by English overlords who found interpretations legitimising their own rule. The first Anglo-Norman rulers under Henry II were styled not lord, not governor, but Chief Butler of Ireland. This hereditary officer was so named because at royal coronations he presented the new monarch with his first cup of wine. The Butler dynasty initially had their main residence at Nenagh, building up the castle and abbey, until relocating to Kilkenny in the 14th century.

The medieval town was a peaceful, prosperous backwater, until being caught up in more than a century of destructive turmoil from 1550 through into the Civil Wars and Williamite Wars. It languished until the 18th century when agricultural reform and industry arrived and the Butlers sold their lands in the area. In 1838 Tipperary was divided into a north and south riding, with Nenagh as county town of the north, so it developed civic structures such as the courthouse and county jail. And Banba was belatedly placated by having Nenagh's main square named after her.

Get in
Bus Eireann X12 runs hourly from Dublin Airport and Busáras via Portlaoise and Roscrea to Nenagh, taking 2 hours 30 min, fare €12. These buses continue west to Limerick, another hour. A Local Link bus also plies the Roscrea-Nenagh section.

Bus 395 / 397 very occasionally runs to Nenagh from Templemore and Thurles.

Bus 343 runs once or twice M-F between Limerick, Killaloe, Nenagh and Birr.

From Dublin Heuston, two trains M-Sa and one on Sunday connect at Ballybrophy with the branchline train to Roscrea, Nenagh and Limerick. is southeast side of town centre. There are no facilities to collect online tickets here.

By road follow M7 from Dublin towards Limerick.

Get around
The town can be explored on foot, including Tyone. You need wheels to visit the lakeshore at Dromineer or Garrykennedy, or to get into the hills behind Silvermines.

See

 * St Mary's of the Rosary 100 m north of the castle is a neo-gothic RC church built in 1895 using mainly local Lahorna stone and Portroe slate.
 * St Mary's Church adjacent is Church of Ireland, also neo-gothic but a much smaller and simpler affair built in 1862. Neither church is "oriented": they face southeast parallel to Church Street.
 * Banba Square is the town's civic centre. The most prominent building is the 19th century County Courthouse in Doric style, with a slender bronze statue of Justice on the pediment. Her portly predecessor had to be ousted when her weight cracked the stonework.
 * or Abbey was founded in the early 13th century. The Annals of Nenagh were written here 1336 to 1528 - they're biographies of local worthies. In spite of burning, smashing-up and the Reformation, a Franciscan community survived here into the 18th C; and even after that, they clung on as parish clergy. Only in 1817 did the last Franciscan priest die. The building is unusually long and thin, with no division into nave and chancel. It's "oriented" ie facing east, with an impressive east gable window, but since there's only one south-facing window the interior would have been gloomy most of the day. The ruin is still in use as a graveyard which you can visit any time, free.
 * 1 km southeast of town is a scrappy ruin of similar date to the Friary. It was an Augustinian hospital and priory dedicated to St John the Baptist. It fell into ruin after the Dissolution in 1551, but a graveyard was established in what was probably a cloister. In 1992 a community group decided that the graveyard needed a bit of cleaning up. They used a JCB.
 * is a village 10 km northwest of Nenagh on the shores of Lough Derg, a large freshwater lake on the River Shannon. It has the teetering stump of a 13th-century tower house, a 10th-century ruined church, accommodation and a pub that does meals. It's a popular base for boating and similar activities on the lough. Too popular, almost: they've had to install a lifeboat, which in 2013 rescued 33 people. Dromineer is the northern end of the 68-km Lough Derg Way, which follows the Shannon from Limerick. There's also a walking route from Nenagh, see Do.
 * is another little harbour on the lough. There's a ruined 15th-century tower house and a 19th-century church.
 * 8 km south of Nenagh had mines active from the 14th century to 1984, so there are many spoil heaps. It was mostly lead they mined, but there was indeed silver. The main reason to visit is to hike up Keeper Hill, which rears up to 694 m behind the village, and the other hills of the Silvermines range. The terrain is heath and bog, with unusual species that can tolerate the soil's high lead content.
 * is another little harbour on the lough. There's a ruined 15th-century tower house and a 19th-century church.
 * 8 km south of Nenagh had mines active from the 14th century to 1984, so there are many spoil heaps. It was mostly lead they mined, but there was indeed silver. The main reason to visit is to hike up Keeper Hill, which rears up to 694 m behind the village, and the other hills of the Silvermines range. The terrain is heath and bog, with unusual species that can tolerate the soil's high lead content.

Do

 * Look up your ancestors at the genealogy centre within the Heritage Centre, hours as above.
 * The Leisure Centre is on Dublin Rd 500 m east of town centre. It has a gym, pool and fitness classes, and is open M-F 7AM-10PM, Sa 9AM-8PM, Su 10AM-6PM.
 * Omniplex Cinema is on Summerhill, corner with Church Road.
 * Water activities such as sailing are based at Dromineer on the lough.
 * Sli Eala (Swan Way) is a walking trail along the Nenagh River to Lough Derg. The first section out of Nenagh is on ratty roads, it's better to pick up the trail at Ballycommon 5 km north. From there follow the back lanes to Ballyartella, which has scenic old watermills (still operational), bridge and tower house. Follow the river downstream to Annabeg then into Dromineer. The trail is named for the mute swans on the river.
 * is a peak of 478 m (1570 ft) west of Templemore, and roughly equidistant from Roscrea, Thurles and Nenagh. It's usually climbed on its south side from the car park on R501. The legend goes that the devil took a bite out of it, broke his teeth, and spat out the lump which landed as the Rock of Cashel. The tower near the summit is a 19th century Folly. The large cross on the summit was erected in 1953/54.

Buy

 * Farmers Market is every Saturday 10AM-2PM along Kenyon St.
 * Aldi supermarket is on the business park 500 m west of the centre. It's open M-F 9AM-10PM, Sa Su 9AM-9PM.
 * Tesco on the right side of the r494 going into town.

Eat

 * Turban  on Kickham St is reliable Indian food, open daily 4:30-11PM.
 * Hibernian Inn at 54 Pearse St dishes up solid filling food. It's open daily 9:30AM-11PM.
 * Hibernian Inn at 54 Pearse St dishes up solid filling food. It's open daily 9:30AM-11PM.

Drink

 * Town centre pubs are Figgerty's, Una Powell's, and D Pallas Bar all on Summerhill; Lily's, The Well, and Silvermines a couple of blocks south; then The Talbot, Maximus, Louie's and Kenyon Bar towards the railway station.

Connect
As of Nov 2021, Nenagh has 5G with Eir and Three, and 4G from Vodafone. This extends along the main highways, but there's poor coverage on the lough shore around Dromineer.

Go next

 * Thurles - go to the races.
 * Cashel was the seat of the kings of Munster, with the Rock and other pre-Norman sites.
 * Limerick is a historic city, a miniature Dublin with many attractions and amenities.

title: Nenagh


text:
Nenetsia

Nenetsia is a far flung region in Northwestern Russia on the Barents Sea, which borders Arkhangelsk Oblast to the southwest, Komi Republic to the south, and Yamalia to the east. The region is adjacent to the large Arctic islands of Novaya Zemlya.

Regions
Nenetsia (or the Nenets Autonomous Region as it is officially called) is administratively part of the Arkhangelsk Oblast.

Cities

 * — the capital and main sea port/airport/river port for the region
 * — a tiny settlement on the coast of the Kara Sea (in the even more far-flung northeast of the region) home to a military airport with a few civilian flights; its name means "Walrus Rookery" in Nenets

Understand
Nenetsia is named for its native Nenets people, who lived off the land in the tundra and forests of the region until most were forced into Soviet collectivization programs, resulting in a significant loss of native traditions. Today, the region is vast, very sparsely populated, an important center of Russian gas and oil exploration and extraction, and, yes, cold. Nearly the entire region lies to the north of the Arctic Circle. The principal riverway of the region is the northwards flowing Pechorin River, which leads into the region from the Komi Republic and leads to the capital, Naryan-Mar, before terminating in the Barents Sea.

In addition to its sheer novelty, visitors will likely be most interested in Nenetsia's stark Arctic coastline, its reindeer herders, and its spectacular, otherworldly, lake-ridden tundra landscapes.

Talk
Some knowledge of Russian is pretty much requisite here, unless you have a guide. The Nenets Language shares official status with Russian within Nenetsia, and may be useful only if staying in a small, remote Nenets village. And if you do find yourself in such a village, chances are good you do speak Nenets!

Get in
The easiest way to Nenetsia is to take a flight to Naryan-Mar from Moscow, Arkhangelsk, or Saint Petersburg.

Get around
Getting around in Nenetsia is particularly difficult because there are very few roads, none of them navigable during the snowy months by anything other than a snowmobile. The principal means of transport is by boat on the Pechorin River and on the seas to the north, but ship traffic is closed most of the year, only running from mid-July to mid-October. If you are traveling on an icebreaker, you may be able to navigate the Pechorin River as late as mid-November. For most of the year, the principal means of transport is by air—travel around the region may be possible via helicopter.

Nenetsia is also a good place to live out your Santa fantasies by traveling around on a reindeer-driven sleigh.

Go next

 * — the last major landmass on earth to be explored, the archipelago is very rarely visited and a good place to spot polar bears. It is also the location where the most powerful nuclear bomb ever built was detonated.

title: Nenetsia


text:
Neos Marmaras

Neos Marmaras (New Marmara) is a village on the Sithonia peninsula, in the Chalkidiki peninsula, Greece. In 2011, Neos Marmaras had a little over 3,000 permanent residents. However, its summer-time population swells and has been estimated at 20,000, including the residents of the Porto Carras Hotel complex.

The name of the village honours the former homeland of its founders, Marmara Island in the Sea of Marmara, Turkey.

Get in
Buses from Thessaloniki's KTEL Halkidikis station (which can be reached from the center by city OASTH bus 45) make 3 return trips daily in season, taking 2 hours and 20 minutes. If you drive, you'll be there in about 1 1/2 hours without traffic. There are free parking lots in the upper part of the town, near the main road (Epar. Od. Nikitis-Sartis); alternatively, hunt for a place along the road hugging the beach. Parallel parking on the (sometimes seemingly vertical) town streets is not for the faint of heart.

Get around
There is no local public transportation, but the town is compact, and the seaside promenade with shops and restaurants and the town beach are all in walking distance. If you want to reach the nearby (more tranquil) beaches on the west shore of the peninsula, you'll either have to time the departure and arrival of the 3 daily buses from Thessaloniki (which travel further south after passing Neos Marmaras), drive or get a taxi.

Do
For better sunsets in summer go around the small cape to the west of the harbor, towards Paradisos; from the town you'll see the sun sink over the roofs and the small hill to the north (also not too bad of an experience).

Buy
The shops along the quay range from the beachwear and touristy junk to some decently sourced stores with local produce (and, incongruously, fur and leather coats). Halkidiki is famous for the dry and insanely aromatic wine from the native Malagousia grape. Local honey and olives are also great.

Eat
The usual selection of souvlaki joints is well represented; choose any. For a slightly more upscale experience, Okyalos has a terrace overlooking the harbor and does competent grilled fresh fish by kilo (come before 7pm for the dinner or reserve in advance in season). Best ice cream is undoubtedly at the Fregio, down by the harbor across the road from the church.

Drink
Bars concentrate on the southern side of town: at the fringe of the boardwalk and lining the beach. Some have live music after dark, but none are especially boisterous or all-night affairs - Neos Marmaras in general leans to the wholesome family vacation side. Any restaurant along the quay will supply you with a carafe of a crisp house white to go with your dinner. A couple of good coffee places are Kofi Box (downtown) and Maria Barberhouse (up near the main road - across from Bougatsa Thessaloniki); Cafe Nuovo, right on the main square on the promenade, is nice for people-watching with a freddo espresso in hand.

title: Neos Marmaras