text:
Goranboy

Goranboy is a town in the south west of Azerbaijan, in the Ganja Region.

Understand
Goranboy has about 8000 inhabitants. It is 350 km from Baku. Goranboy means a place situated near Goran river.

History
Goranboy history has changed much throughout its history. The treaty that divided Azerbaijan was signed in Gulustan village of Goranboy. Goranboy is bordered in the north-east by yevlax, in the south-west by Kelbecer, in the north-west by Samux, in the south-east by Terter, and in west by Xanlar region. During the 1930s this district had two cities. They were Goranboy, Delimemmedli and 4 settlements, it also had 79 villages. This region was created on 8 August 1930 by the new decision by lower Aghjikend by the Azerbaijan SSR centre committee. Then in 1938, with new decision  Goranboy's name had changed  and was called Qasim Ismayilov, the lower Agcakend  region was called Shaumyan village. In 1930 this region was separated from Aghjikend forming the Lower Agcakend. During 1963-1965 parts of Yevlax Region became under the administration of Goranboy. On 12 February in 1991, a new decision was adopted this decision was declared that there was no need for a division of the region in same area. That is why the former region of Shaumyan was eliminated. Already Goranboy region is entered Ganja economical region's commercial.

Climate

 * Winter – In the winter Goranboy is cold. In January and February it sometimes snows.
 * Spring – In Springtime Goranboy is beautiful. The weather is cool in early March, in April it is rainy. But in May the weather is hot.
 * Summer – Summer is very hot. It is very dry, but sometimes it is raining.
 * Fall – The weather is changeable in Fall. Many times it is raining. But sometimes it is sunny.

By taxi
From Baku it costs 40-50 manat and takes 3-4 hr.

By bus or marshrutka
From Baku, 6 manat and 6 hr.

By train
From Baku, 5 manat and 7 hr.

By marshrutka
There is 1 marshrutka in Goranboy. It costs 0.20 manat and goes from the hospital to the 5-storey building.

By taxi
0.50 manat. Can be found at the corner of main street.

Do

 * A burial mounds in Goranboy in Safikurd village. It situated in 15 km of village. It is 2,000 years old. During the excavations the they found jugs chains rings and etc. and now those all are kept in Goranboy history museum.
 * There is a Shatal City in goranboy region in the village of Rahimli.it is situated in south east of village. It belongs to middle centuries. The longest of castle is 700 m, the area is 40 ha, the meaning of shatal means happiness. The remainders of the city are still protected by the government. If you want to go to that place you can get on the bus going to ganja.
 * There are many mosques here. The people living here are Muslims. One of them is in Qizilhajili village. It is from the 18th and 19th centuries. In places they say that it has been built in 18 t centuries but in some origins they say that it has been built by Muhammad in 1861 year. During 1937 years it has been used as a grain bin, but then it was destroyed. But it has rebuilt again 1984.
 * There are also many temples here. One of them is in Borsunlu. This temple belongs to the 13th centuries. There are remainders of this temple and it is protected by the government. If you want go there you can get on the bus going to Ganja. It will take you there.
 * There is a history museum in the center of the city. Many things reflecting Goranboy's history are kept there. Open 10:00-18:00.
 * There is a HAYDAR ALIYEV museum located in central Goranboy, open from 09:00-18:00.

title: Goranboy


text:
Gordon's Bay

Gordon's Bay is a suburb of greater Cape Town, and on the east side of the Strand. it is situated between False Bay and the foot of the Hottentots Holland mountain range. This seaside town offers visitors a variety of activities and attractions in the immediate vicinity and within a short drive which include Cape cuisine and fine scenery.

Get in
From Cape Town, take the N2 eastwards, exit to the Strand and drive further along the coast, or turn off directly to Gordon's Bay at the bottom of Sir Lowry's pass.

Devon street

Do
Nearby, to the south of the old harbour, is the smaller and more secluded Bikini beach where you can enjoy a safe and protected swim and enjoy the sunshine. Other beaches in the area include Melkbaai, Sunset Beach and Kogel Bay.
 * Saiking cruises: Gordon's Bay Yacht Club is in the old harbour - you can take a sunset cruise on a sailing yacht; relax and sip wine; and watch the evening glitter of the ocean whilst listening to water lap the side of the boat. Other options include deep-sea fishing trips or a simple boat ride. One can also enjoy fresh seafood at the Old Harbour at its restaurants.
 * Neaco: If you are planning on spending some time out in the sun, Gordon’s Bay is has long stretches of white, sandy beaches. Here one can enjoy peace of mind with safe and protected bathing, though it may be windy in summer. The beaches are suitable for sunbathing, snorkeling, jet and water skiing, surfing, volleyball, sailing and rubber ducking (riding small inflatable powerboats). Several cafes, restaurants, coffee shops, pubs and curio shops can be found along the beachfront in the form of the Gordon’s Bay beachfront promenade.
 * Fishing charters: You can charter a fishing boat or angle from the breakwater or shoreline. You might even catch some fish.
 * Scuba diving is available when the weather permits, which is mostly in summer in Gordon's Bay, but there are some good days most seasons. There are scuba diving schools in Gordon's Bay and in the surrounding area where one can be trained and certified. There is often somewhere within a day-trip range where the conditions will be suitable for diving, from the Cape Peninsula to Hermanus. Do not be put off by the wind if it is from the southeast, the diving is often at its best during or after offshore south easterly winds, and the dive sites are almost all close inshore where it is sheltered from the wind below the steep mountainside. The dive sites are all on rocky reefs and are suitable for all levels of diver.
 * Golf: There are nine golf courses within about a half hour's drive: Pearl Valley, De Zalze at Spier, Stellenbosch, Devonvale, Somerset West, Strand, Erinvale, Bosch-en-Meer and Arabella.

Buy
Ordinary day to day goods and some souvenirs are available within the town, and a much larger range a little further afield at Strand and Somerset West. The County Craft Market has more than two hundred stalls, and offers its customers a diverse range of handcrafted arts and crafts. Somerset Mall, a fifteen-minute drive from Gordon’s Bay, is a large upmarket shopping mall with a large range of supermarkets and boutiques.

Eat
Harbour Island, the waterfront development, offers several restaurants – which include Snappers Restaurant, Dutch Bar, and the Star Fish Café – one can enjoy a light lunch, have an early evening drink, or dine adjacent to the sea. All of these lively or intimate venues are tailored to cater for an international clientele.

Go next

 * Pringle Bay - up the coast towards Kleinmond and Hermanus
 * Strand and onto Somerset West or Stellenbosch

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

title: Gordon's Bay


text:
Gore

Gore is a town of 8,200 people (2020) in the Southland region of New Zealand that is known as the world's capital of brown trout fishing, and New Zealand's capital of country music. It is on State Highway 1 about an hour's drive from Invercargill.

Understand
Named after Governor Gore Browne, the town is a service centre for the surrounding district.

By bus
There are bus services from Dunedin to Invercargill as well as to Queenstown and other places in the southern lakes district.

By car
Gore is about 2.5 hours by road south from Dunedin, along State Highway 1.

Do

 * Gold Guitar Awards. Country music awards at Queen’s Birthday Weekend in early June.
 * Freeze ya bits off busking Busking competition on the King’s Birthday Weekend.
 * Trout fishing on the Mataura River. Gore is said to be the brown trout world capital.

Go next

 * Mataura

title: Gore


text:
Goregaon (Raigad)

Goregaon is a city in the Raigad district of Maharashtra near the river Kal.

History
The original name was "Ghodegaon", the combination of Ghode (Horses) and Gaon (Village), which was main Horse trading centre in the rule of Chatrapati Shivaji. There is nearby village named "Ghodeghoom" at 10 km distance on steep hilltop. The warriors used to purchase horse from Goregaon (Ghodegaon) market after trial round at Ghodeghoom. There are three lakes in the village made to cater the water supply for the horse market.

By plane
Nearest airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai which is 153 km from Goregaon.

By train
Goregaon Road Railway Station, Kokan Railway, which is 1 km away from the town.

By bus
Maharashtra State Transport Buses are available from various locations in Mumbai. Other way is catch bus which goes to Mahad and further on Mumbai Goa Highway No. 17. Ask for "Lonere" stop. Get down at Lonere and catch rikshaw or share auto to Goregaon, which is 3 km from this place. Share auto costs ₹7 per passenger.

Do

 * PanchMukh Gayatri Temple: One of the few towns in Maharashtra to have Goddess Gayatri with 5 faces.
 * Kalbhairav Gramdevta: This is in the heart of Goregaon town. This temple holds an annual Fair (Goregaon Jatra). People gather as far as Mangaon and Mahad to attend this fair. As a custom each village brings a laath (a heavy tree trunk) with much fun and fare (with dance and music) and place it near the temple.

Sleep

 * BATU Guest House (Anandvan), which is 4 km from Goregaon
 * The University has a guest house located nearly in the center of the University campus: ₹75/- per occupant per day to the guardians of the students, teachers and staff members of the other universities and educational institutions; ₹125/- per occupant per day to others who would be coming for the personal reasons.

Private lodges:
 * Hotel Visawa, Main Bazar Peth, Goregaon
 * Hotel Maharaja, Mumbai-Goa Road, Lonere
 * Hotel Vinay, Mumbai-Goa Road, Lonere

Connect

 * Goregaon Police Station                   02140-250299
 * Superintendent of Police, Raigad (Alibag) 02141–222093. Control Room- 222100
 * Block Development Officer, Mangaon        02140-263002
 * Block Development Officer, Mangaon        02140-263002

Go next
By bus: Maharashtra State Transport Buses are available from Goregaon and Lonere.

title: Goregaon (Raigad)


text:
Gorey

Gorey is a market town in County Wexford. It's 41 km north of Wexford and is evolving into a commuter town for Dublin 90 km to the north; in 2016 the population was 9822. The nearby villages of Courtown and Riverchapel are beach resorts. The tourist information centre is in Market House in the town centre, open M-Sa 09:30-17:00.

Gorey in Irish is Guaire which may mean a sandbank, the bristles of a horse, somebody's name. . . no idea frankly.

Get in
Five trains a day run from Dublin Connolly, taking just under 2 hours via Dún Laoghaire, Bray, Wicklow Town, Rathdrum and Arklow. They continue from Gorey to Enniscorthy, Wexford, Rosslare Strand and Rosslare Europort the ferry terminal. A walk-up single from Dublin is €12, see Irish Rail for timetables and ticket deals. The is 500 m south of town centre by the retail park.

By bus there's competition on the route from Dublin. Expressway Bus 2 / X2 runs hourly from Dublin Airport and Busáras via Arklow to Gorey, and continues to Enniscorthy and Wexford, adult single €11. Wexford Bus 740 also runs hourly from the airport, with several stops in central Dublin (but it doesn't use Busáras), then Arklow bypass, Gorey, Enniscorthy and Wexford; similar fares to Expressway. The 740 bypasses Wicklow Town but the 740A stops there. Gorey doesn't have a bus station, the stop is on Main St by Market Square.

By car from Dublin follow N11 / M11 south through County Wicklow and reckon 90 min. From Rosslare ferry port take N25 towards Wexford then join N11 / M11 north.

Get around
Bus 879 plies between Gorey, Courtown and Riverchapel, taking 15 min. In summer it's hourly, the rest of the year there are only 3 services M-Sa.

See

 * Main Street is a broad thoroughfare lined with 2- and 3-storey 19th century buildings, much improved in 2007 when the M11 bypass took away the traffic congestion. The centrepiece is the Market House, built 1709, which hosts the TIC.
 * Gaslamp Gallery is a small commercial gallery and art shop on Esmonde St, open M Th-Sa 11:00-17:00.
 * is a beach resort village 7 km east of Gorey; it's merged into Riverchapel to the south. The Seal Rescue Centre is open daily 10:00-17:00. The harbour was built circa 1850 as a famine relief project.
 * is only 253 m / 830 ft (a "Marilyn") but it rises prominently from the low coastal plain and commands fine views. The main path to the top starts from Tara village just south. It's not to be confused with the Royal Hill of Tara in County Meath, still less with Tara Hills near San Pablo California.
 * (sic) is a village 7 km west of Gorey with a restored 17th-century watermill, but this was closed to visits in 2020.
 * is at Coolnagloose Y25 NW42. It's closed until April 2021.
 * Ferns: see Enniscorthy for this village to the south with a castle and several historic religious sites.
 * Fr Murphy Centre: see Enniscorthy for this priest who became a leader of the Wexford rebels.
 * Fr Murphy Centre: see Enniscorthy for this priest who became a leader of the Wexford rebels.

Do

 * Little Theatre is on Pearse St.
 * Movies @ is a mobile drive-in cinema which visits Courtown in summer.
 * Golf: the courses are around Courtown, with Courtown GC, 5898 m par 71, Ballymoney, 6337 yards par 71, and Tara Glen which is a resort with a 9-hole course.

Buy

 * There's a superValu on Main St, and Tesco Extra west edge of town.
 * There are four banks with exterior ATMs along Gorey Main St, and one in Courtown village centre.

Eat

 * The better places on Gorey Main St include Table 41, The Bistro, One Hundred Degrees and Coach House Bar.
 * Near Gorey the standout is The Duck, within Marlfield House, see Sleep.
 * Courtown has a string of cheap and cheerful places for the beach and caravan-park crowd: pizza, Chinese, fish & chips.

Drink

 * A slew of pubs along Gorey Main St includes Coach House (see Eat), La Rochelle wine bar, Bob's Bar, French's, Katie Daly's, The Fowler, McGovern's, Browne's, Nell Sweeney's and Oscars 64. A block north on Pearse St are Breen's and Paddy Blues.
 * Courtown village centre has Shipyard Inn, 19th Hole and Ambrose Moloney's.
 * Brennan's Brewery is in Courtown, no tours.

Sleep

 * There are no camping or tourer caravan facilities near Gorey. The coast around Courtown is lined with caravan parks, but these are for individually-owned static units, effectively second homes, and not available for short stays.

Connect
As of Dec 2020, Gorey has 5G from Eir and 4G from Three and Vodafone, while Courtown has 5G from all Irish carriers.

Go next

 * Wexford the county town has the National Heritage Park, and Johnstown Castle with the Agricultural Museum.
 * Enniscorthy was the bastion of the 1798 uprising of United Irishmen: see the museum and final battle site at Vinegar Hill.
 * Arklow, scene of a break-out by the 1798 rebels, has a pyramid and a philosophical conundrum by Wittgenstein.

title: Gorey


text:
Gorgan

Gorgan is a city in the Caspian Region in Iran.

Natural attractions

 * Alangdarreh Forest Park, is especially beautiful at autumn. The trees of this forest are unique to the Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests.
 * Nahar-Khoran
 * Ziarat Village
 * Ziarat Waterfall
 * Hezarpich Hill
 * Ghorogh Forest Park
 * Tuskestan Forest
 * Shast-Kola Forest

Historical attractions

 * Emadiyeh School
 * Great Mosque of Gorgan (Masjed Jame')
 * Great Wall of Gorgan, is a series of ancient defensive fortifications dating back to the Sassanian era, built to protect the empire from the nomadic peoples of north. It is surpassed only by the Great Wall of China as the longest defensive wall in existence.
 * Qajar era underground bathroom at Sorkhankalateh
 * Amir-latifi Historical House
 * Bagheriha Comples
 * Ghal'eh Khandan Hill
 * Tureng Tappeh, an archaeological hill and a village
 * Unnamed caravansaries and houses

Shrines

 * Emamzadeh Abdollah
 * Ismail Shrine at Sorkhankalateh
 * Shrine of Seyyed Ebrahim, Bibi Hoor, and Bibi Noor

Museums

 * Archaeological Museum of Gorgan
 * Gorgan Palace Museum, originally the palace of Farah Pahlavi
 * Gorgan Craft Museum

Buy
Gorgan has a world-famous carpet and rug industry, made by Turkmen. The patterns of these carpets are derived from the ancient Persian city of Bukhara. Jajim carpets are also crafted in this province.

Go next

 * Sari
 * Gonbad
 * Mashhad
 * Shahrud

title: Gorgan


text:
Gorham

There is more than one place called Gorham:

United States of America

 * Gorham (Maine) - A town in Cumberland County Maine.
 * Gorham (New Hampshire) - A town in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire.
 * Gorham (North Dakota) - A town in Billings County in North Dakota.

title: Gorham


text:
Gorham (Maine)

Located about 25 minutes outside of Portland, Gorham is a town of about 16,000 inhabitants on an area of about 50.3 square miles. Though it seems like quite a large town, the center of Gorham is in fact very quaint. It centers around one intersection (of Main Street, South Street, and State Street) with multiple local dining and shopping options.

By train
Amtrak.

By car
If you are coming from the South taking I-95, take exit 45 to I-295 into South Portland, and follow onto Gorham Road. From there it is a straight shot into the center of Gorham.

Get around
The easiest way to get around Gorham is by car. If you want to get around the center of town, it is very easy to just travel by foot. If you want to take a more scenic route, traveling by car is the easiest since there are many long, winding roads that lead to views of hilly Fort Hill Farms, etc.

title: Gorham (Maine)


text:
Gorham (New Hampshire)

Gorham is a town on the northern edge of the White Mountains region of New Hampshire.

Get in
Gorham is at the Junction of Routes 2 and 16. Take Rt. 2 east from Lancaster or west from Bethel, Maine. It also can be reached by taking Route 16 north from North Conway.

Do
The Appalachian Trail runs through the town.

title: Gorham (New Hampshire)


text:
Gori

Gori (Georgian: გორი) is a city in the Shida Kartli region of Georgia.

Understand
Gori is most famous for being the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. Today, surprisingly, it does not look much different from when Stalin ruled the USSR. Gori is a short drive from Uplistsikhe, an ancient Silk Road cave city and former regional center of pagan worship.

The name Gori may look and sound like the plural form of the Russian word for mountain (горы, GO-ry), but the name of Gori, incidentally meaning hill (singular) in Georgian, is much older than the first Russian contact with the Georgian kingdoms in the 1500s.

By marshrutka
From specific destinations:
 * Tbilisi – Many marshrutkas run daily between Tbilisi's Didube market and the central square of Gori. 5 lari.
 * Akhaltsikhe – 08:15, and 13:00. 2½ hr..
 * Borjomi – 08:30, and 12:40..

By taxi
A more expensive, yet still reasonable option, is to hire a taxi (in some areas you can find cheaper intercity taxis).

By train
Tbilisi-Kutaisi trains pass through Gori. The train leaves Tbilisi daily at 08:30 and 08:50. The tickets cost 7–12 lari. Booking in advance is strongly recommended. (updated Apr 2022)

On foot
Everything that a tourist would want to see, except for, is easily accessible on foot—the city center is compact.

By taxi
To get to the nearby Uplistsikhe complex, however, it is best to hire a taxi. Taxis are easy to find around the main square and drivers will be willing to wait for you while you explore the Uplistsikhe complex so that they can drive you back to Gori once you have finished. The whole taxi ride, including waiting, should not cost more than 25 lari and drivers will go as low as 15 lari if you are a hard bargainer.

By marshrutka
Public transport to the modern Uplistsikhe village is much cheaper at 1 lari each way. Buses go from Stalin Avenue. A train departs to Uplistsikhe village from Gori at around 10:00 and returns around 17:00. A bus also makes the trip, departing Gori's bus station once around 09:00 and again at noon, returning around 15:00. There are also the usual marshrutkas running from the main marshrutka dropoff by the stadium. Once in Uplistsikhe village it is a walk of 700 m across the bridge over the river to the Uplistsikhe complex.

By car
If you are driving, head south in Gori on Stalin Ave across the Mtkvari River and turn left on the second main cross-street (not the one running right along the river). This road will take you through the village of Khidistavi, where you should try to maintain a straight course, bearing to the left if at a fork, and past the village you should approach Uplistsikhe. If you are feeling lost, ask anyone for directions (try "sahd-ah-rees uu-plis-tsi-khe?") and they will point you right.

Stalin

The principal attractions (and the principal revenue earners) in the city are monuments to Stalin and they are all on or near the main square along Stalin Ave. Having visited Gori and not having seen the birthplace of Stalin is like going to Agra and not visiting the Taj Mahal.

 * The plaque which reads in both Russian and Georgian:
 * Here I.V. Stalin was born on 21
 * December 1879, and here he
 * spent his childhood until 1883.
 * spent his childhood until 1883.

Uplistsikhe

The Fortress of the Lord) is easily one of the oldest existing cities in Georgia, although it is now uninhabited save for tourists. Founded in the sixteenth century BC and carved out of rock, this was a bustling city over 3,000 years ago and was, before the introduction of Christianity in the 4th century, a major regional center of Caucasian pagan worship. After Saint Nino converted King Mirian II of Iberia, the pagan temples of Uplistsikhe were sacked and the city went into long-term decline. Its decline was hastened by devastation at the hands of the Mongols in the 12th century, although it remained inhabited, serving as a stop along the Silk Road until the 15th century.

Highlights include: a Hellenistic amphitheater overlooking the Mtkvari river where residents of Uplistsikhe once enjoyed Greek-style performances, a functioning 9th century church built atop the ruins of an ancient pagan temple to the Caucasian sun god, a once pillared seat of kings, and a fun cave tunnel leading out of the city to the riverside. There are round storage spaces that were used for wheat, and shelf-like spaces for medicinal herbs—a veritable Bronze Age pharmacy!

Uplistsikhe suffered long years of neglect and vandalism and is undergoing significant restoration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accordingly, certain areas may be closed off from direct contact during your visit, although all sites will still be viewable.

Getting there/away: It should cost 10 lari to get a taxi one-way from Gori to the Uplistsikhe complex. Buses also go from Gori to Uplistsikhe village on the other side of the river, 700 m from the Uplistsikhe complex. These run fairly frequently and cost 1 lari. The bus from Gori leaves from the bus station. Ask someone which minibus to take (there is no English sign); you can ask in the ticket office. Getting a bus back to Gori is very simple (just walk along the main street of the village until you see a group of people waiting by the road, just near the point where it meets another road) but you may have to wait an hour or longer.

Goris Tsikhe (Gori Castle)
Goris Tsikhe stands at the heart of the city atop a large hill and is the only structure in town that could dwarf the Stalin statue. According to locals, Goris Tsikhe's most notable moment in world history occurred in the first century BC, when it was conquered by the Roman General Pompeii. The current ruins are more recent, however, having been built after the Mongol invasion. There is not much to see inside the ruined castle's walls, but there are nice views of the city and the surrounding dark green plains of Shida Kartli. The approach to the ruins has been repaved and the surrounding area cleaned up, but the site remains free and the only price of admission is the short, steep walk up the path.

Gori Jvari (Gori Cross)

The church at Gori Jvari stands on an outcropping of rocks and can be seen from practically anywhere in Gori. Originally built in the 12th century, it was burned down by the Turks, rebuilt, and destroyed again by an earthquake in 1920. The current church was built in the 1980s. On days commemorating St. George (November 23 and April 23), Gori residents flock to the church with sacrificial sheep. The sheep are walked around the church three times, and in accordance with Orthodox tradition, are taken just off the church grounds for slaughter. On a clear day, the view of the Caucasus from the church is spectacular.

The moderate hike is a 3-hr round trip. To reach the trail head, walk south along Stalin Avenue until you cross the river. The road will cut to the right and then cross the railway tracks. On the other side of the tracks, turn right then take the first left and then the windy path up the hill that is immediately on your right. This twists up the hill. If you find a graveyard on your left, you are going in the right direction. There are more hiking options along the mountain ridge above Gori Jvari and there a number of ruined churches scattered through the area.

Buy
There are many shops in Gori where tourists can find Georgian crafts and gifts more cheaply than in Tbilisi. The Stalin Museum offers a few kitschy souvenirs in its main lobby. Small shops are also popping up in the city center. One good bet is the underground pedestrian tunnel below Stalin Square. Shop No. 14 in the underground offers a variety of handmade Georgian crafts made by local street children at a Gori-based NGO.

Icons and other religious paraphernalia can be purchased at the shop beside the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. These can make for interesting gifts. Shops along Chavchavadze Street (running perpendicular to Stalin Avenue) also sell Georgian jewelry and icons.

Along Stalin Ave. several late night stores sell essentials and foodstuffs.

Eat

Drink
There is not much nightlife in Gori and the bars and restaurants are basically one and the same. Almost all the restaurants listed above offer Russian and Georgian beers as well as Georgian wines of varying quality. One standout is Orbi's Restaurant, which offers a local brew for 70 tetri a pint. In the summer, beer tents pop up around town and offer the usual selection. But to really enjoy a summer evening in Gori, it's best to buy a bottle of beer or wine at a store and join the crowds of young people at the birzhas by the Stalin Museum and Stalin Park. Some of the nicer stores in town are beginning to offer imported beers, but be sure to check the expiration date on the bottle.

Sleep
Gori is only about an hour away from Tbilisi by marshrutka, so it is possible to visit Gori and Uplistsikhe as a day trip. There are not many commercial opportunities for overnight stays, though the options are improving. Staying in Gori does present a cheaper alternative to Tbilisi, and can be a pleasant change of pace from the capital.

Respect
The people of Gori respect and honour Stalin, and one should avoid offending them in how they talk about him, regardless of their personal feelings. Gori is a small, poor city and its residents really do not want to listen to foreigners attacking their heritage. The removal of the Stalin statue in the town's main square under Georgia's de-communization laws is a sensitive issue that was opposed by most of the town's residents.

Visitors to local churches should respect Orthodox customs. Women should wear longer skirts and cover their head (either with a hat or with a head scarf). Some churches will provide this for you. Foreigners are generally welcomed, but be mindful of those worshipping.

Stay safe
Outside the museum, taxi drivers hustle for tours to Uplistsikhe—avoid them!

Go next
Taxis are most easily requested by phone (# is written on taxis, 0.6 lari/km). They're also hailed by approaching bored looking men sitting in cars around the city; if you have any trouble, just ask anyone, "Sahd ah-rees tahk-see?" and they will get you a ride (picking taxi on a street costs extra 1 lari). Marshrutkas back to Tbilisi take off approximately every half-hour from Gori's bus station located beside the central bazaar (3.50 lari for bus, 4 lari for marshrutka; 1½ hr). If you've missed the Tbilisi-bound marshrutkas ask for taxi vans near theatre (Tsabadze st.) or near VTB bank. Expect to wait for 3-5 passengers to fill van, price - 5 lari (1 hr drive). To reach highway you have to use taxi. Taxi rides from the center to the highway generally cost 2 lari; alternately, you can stop city marshrutkas Nos. 6 or 24 along Chavchavadze Street and ride to the highway for 40 tetri.

If you're traveling west, there are daily direct buses and marshrutkas to Kutaisi, Borjomi, and Batumi. Timetables are posted in the bus station. All westbound vehicles pass through the transport hub in Khashuri, so you can take a marshrutka to Khashuri departing every half hour (2 lari, 1 hr) and transfer to another one from there. The Tbilisi-Batumi night train (15-25 lari to Batumi, 7 hr) passes through Gori at 23:30. Tickets can be purchased only one hour in advance, so be sure to show up to the train station early.

There are also other trains going throughout the day, although not much. Locals generally do not know of the existence of these trains and information is difficult to come by. As of September 14 (a Friday), a stop train to Kutaisi departed from Gori at 16:30 for 1 lari, and arrived around 21:00 in Kutaisi (roughly 40 stops in between, very slow and hard plastic seats. Okay scenery). On this particular Friday there were also trains to Borjomi (17:51), Poti (18:46) and Tbilisi (19:17). More trains are available, although sparsely and again there are very slow.

Additionally there are hourly north-bound buses during the day from the main bus station to the villages north of Gori on the road to Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia. However, since the South Ossetian conflict in August 2008, crossing the border is impossible except for a few locals in the border area, and there may be security concerns in the area around the border.

title: Gori


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Goričko Landscape Park

Goričko Landscape Park is in Slovenia. It is ideal for country walks, picnics, cycling, walking, hiking or exploring diverse ecosystem. Krajinski Goričko Goričko is a hilly and mountainous part of Prekmurje. Goričko Landscape Park was created in order to preserve the character who hides his identity and diversity and which man can co-exist. Landscape park covering the municipalities Cankova Goričko, Dobrovnik Petrovci Upper Castle, Hodos, Kobilje, Kuzma, Spa and Spa, Puconci Rogašovci and Šalovci. Park to maintain a balance between man and nature and protecting the natural diversity of Goričko Landscape Park agricultural crops, forests, orchards, meadows, wetlands, and thus the lives of many, including rare species of plants and animals. Hilly and covered with dense forest landscape was never densely populated. This can be developed and unspoiled nature preserve in its best light. The park is located between the other three very rare species of bats, and as 174 species of birds. As in other nature parks in the restrictions and rules that prevent large and damaging interventions in nature.

See

title: Goričko Landscape Park


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Goring and Streatley

Goring and Streatley are twin villages in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the boundary of Berkshire and Oxfordshire respectively, in England. Goring (or Goring-on-Thames) is in Oxfordshire and Streatley in Berkshire, but as everything in these villages is within reasonably easy walking distance of everything else, it seems better to deal with them as one.

The two villages cluster around a bridge across the River Thames, with an adjacent lock and weir. Both villages have their fair share of quaint thatched cottages and pubs.

What distinguishes these villages from many others on the river Thames is their location in the 'Goring Gap', a geological feature where, during the last ice age, the river forced its way between the Chiltern Hills and the Berkshire Downs. As a result the valley is much narrower, with some spectacular views from the tops of the surrounding hills.

By car
The villages are about 8 miles north-west from Reading on the A329, or about 16 miles south of Oxford on the same road.

By plane
Reading is about 11 miles (18 km) away from Goring and has connections to London's main airports:

 * Heathrow Airport is the nearest and can take 40 minutes on the M40 by car. Alternatively, the RailAir and Heathrow Connect trains can be taken from Reading train station.
 * Luton Airport is the second nearest and can take 65 minutes on the M1, M25 and M4 motorways. Alternatively, take a train from Reading to London Paddington, then take a train from London Kings Cross to Luton Parkway.

Further information can be found in the 'Get in by plane' section of the Reading article, and then travel on from Reading as described above.

Get around
All locations in and around the villages are walkable or drivable.

See

 * The views from Lardon Chase, the Holies and Lough Down over the villages and Goring Gap. From the bridge, walk or drive uphill on the Streatley side to the Bull pub, and then continue down the side of the pub up the steep hill to the car park at the top. Lardon Chase opens out to the right; walk to the end for the best views.
 * The views from Lardon Chase, the Holies and Lough Down over the villages and Goring Gap. From the bridge, walk or drive uphill on the Streatley side to the Bull pub, and then continue down the side of the pub up the steep hill to the car park at the top. Lardon Chase opens out to the right; walk to the end for the best views.

Connect
The area code for Goring and Streatly is 01491 when dialled from within the UK or +44 1491 from outside the UK.

Go next

 * Oxford
 * Reading
 * Newbury
 * Hungerford

title: Goring and Streatley


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Goris

Goris (Գորիս) is a city in Southern Armenia. Goris is a favoured destination of many local and foreign tourists, with a lot of hotels and inns. The stone-pyramids of Old Kores are one of the most attractive sites in Goris.

Understand
The city was possibly the first built in a grid layout in Armenia, with a very quaint regional style of stone architecture.

It's quite difficult to get to Kapan or Meghri, and thus Iran without passing through Goris, making this the gateway of the South.

Though Goris or Tatev can be crammed into a day trip from Yerevan, it's much better to spend a few nights in the area, and along the way.

History
Throughout its history, Goris has also been known as Kores and Gorayk. The name Goris had many variants including: Goristsa, Kores, Gores, Gorayk, Goru, and Geryusy.

The Goris area has been settled since the Stone Age and is first mentioned in the Urartian period, when King Rusa I of Urartu who reigned between 735 and 713 BC, left a cuneiform, where he mentioned that among the 23 countries conquered by him, Goristsa country was one of them, which is believed to be Goris.

During the Middle Ages, there was a town-settlement in the eastern part of the present Goris, on the left bank of Goris river, called Kores. Between the 12th and 15th centuries, it suffered from the Seljuk, Mongol, Aq Qoyunlu and Kara Koyunlu invasions, respectively.

At the beginning of the 16th century, it became part of Safavid Persia. The current spelling of the name was first mentioned in 1624. At the beginning of the 18th century, the region was the centre of the Armenian liberation campaign led by David Bek, against Safavid Persia and the invading Ottoman Turks. In 1750, the region became part of the newly-formed Karabakh Khanate.

At the beginning of the 19th century, it became part of the Russian Empire. Under Russian rule, the town of Goris was founded in 1870 to become the centre of Zangezursky Uyezd, within the Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire. In 1876, the construction of new Goris was completed near the old town of Kores.

It was part of the first Republic of Armenia from 1918 until 1920, when following the fall of the republic, it became in 1921 the de facto capital of the self-governing regions of Daralakyaz (Vayots Dzor), Zangezur, and parts of Mountainous Artsakh, under the name of the Republic of Mountainous Armenia. However, the self-proclaimed republic only lasted months until the Red Army forced it to capitulate on 13 July 1921.

Under the Soviet rule, Goris served as a regional centre. During the 1950s, the economy of the city was boosted by the construction of many hydroelectric power plants in the area.

The last major town in Armenia on the main route linking the de facto republic of Artsakh or Nagorno-Karabakh during its existence to the outside world, Goris hit the headlines worldwide in 2023 as thousands of Karabakh Armenians poured in following the Azerbaijani takeover of their home region.

Orientation
Goris stands 254 km (158 miles) south of Yerevan, in a valley surrounded by the Zangezur Mountains, through which flows the Goris River, also known as Vararak River. The town is approximately 10 km from the Azerbaijani border and about 70 km from the Iranian border, and has an average elevation of 1,385 metres above sea level.

Climate
Inside an alpine climate zone, the weather of Goris is characterized with mild snowy winters and hot summers. The average temperature in January is –1.3 °C and +19 °C in July. The annual precipitation level is between 500 and 600 mm.

By bus

From specific destinations:
 * Yerevan – Marshrutkas N°607 depart from the Southern Bus Station, at 09:00 and 16:00, cost 3,000 dram (as 2022), and take 5 hr. (they return from Goris at 09:00 and 16:00). It is prudent to book in advance by phone (the day before), as they get filled up. Ask you accommodation or the tourist information.) (Confirmed September 2022)
 * Sisian – Before 2023, one daily marshrutka departed at 10:30 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, stopping at Goris en route to Stepanakert, Karabakh (2,000 dram). Alternatively, you can wait at the highway for a marshrutka to pass through from Yerevan (four or five pass through every afternoon); they'll pick you up if there is space.
 * Kapan – At 09:00 and 12:00, 1,500 dram, 1½-2 hr.
 * Tatev – At 07:30 and 14:30, 700 dram, 1 hr.

By taxi
Regular shared taxis (4,500 dram per person, 4½ hr) depart daily from Yerevan between 09:00 and 13:00, and return from Goris in the afternoon. (They depart Goris from an unmarked door on Syuniki St. near the post office.) The shared taxis stop for a food break at Yeghegnadzor.

By car
Renting a car (with or without driver/guides) or taking a private cab is a more flexible, expensive option. A private transfer costs around 27,000 dram and can be arranged with stops along the way and further to Tatev. This can be worthwhile if you are in a group or short on time to see lots of places along the way.

Get around
Within Goris, it is quite easy to get around on foot.

Marshrutkas to nearby villages operate from the market on Syuniki street.

See
In town there's a church, a market, the Axel Bakunts Museum and some other minor sites. On the edges of town are some great rock formations which are attractive to photographers.

Nearby:
 * To go there by bus, you can take a bus that leaves Goris from the 14 Mashtots street, and goes to the village of Khndzoresk. At the terminus, start walking down to the old village (ask the driver if you are not sure about the direction to walk to as by bus you arrive on the other side of the valley, and not on the side where usually tourists arrive). From the bus stop, you can go down to the swinging bridge visit and old house (free) and then come back to take the next bus. You need less than 2 hours to do it and you will probably be alone as a really few tourists walk in the old village. During weekdays, buses leave at 7:50, 9:00, 11:00, 13:30, 15:00 and 17:00. On weekends at 9:00, 11:00, 13:30, 17:00. It takes 30 minutes to go to the site and the bus goes back directly to Goris which means buses leave Khndzoresk during weekdays at 8:20, 9:30, 11:30, 14:15, 15:30 and 17:30. On weekends the leave Khndzoresk at 9:30, 11:30, 14:15 and 17:30. The cost is 300 dram (November 2023).

Do

Buy

Eat
There are a few restaurant/cafes in town, and a few barbecue joints on the highway on the edge of town. There is also Loby Goris family restaurant that at the moment requires to make in advance reservations.

Drink
Where there is food, there is drink. Goris area is particularly famous for its mulberry vodka.

Go next

 * Tatev – Tatev is on an 850 m high cliff above a natural land bridge, springs, a cavern in an underground river. It is an unforgettable place. The town, its monastery and the cable car that leads there, are only the important sights to discover there.
 * Jermuk – A spa town where much of the country's mineral water comes from.
 * Sisian – A good base for visiting Ughtasar mountain and thousands of petroglyphs on top of it.
 * Yeghegnadzor – A small town close to spectacular canyon and monastery in Noravank, the impressive Smbatabert Fortress/Tsakhats Kar Monastery area and the old silk road caravanserai of Selim.

title: Goris


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Gorizia

Gorizia is a charming small city, right on the border with Slovenia.

Understand
At one time Gorizia was the main town of the surrounding region but has been separated since 1945 when the international border ran through the eastern part of the city. Today there is a new town, Nova Gorica across the border on the Slovenian side. Since 2007 the two cities have effectively rejoined when Slovenia joined the Schengen zone ending the need for passport controls between the two countries.

Talk
Surprisingly Slovene isn't spoken much in Gorizia (unlike the towns which surround Trieste). However across the border in Nova Gorica you'll find many people who speak Slovene, Italian and English.

Get in
There are regular trains from Venice (and Udine) taking around 2 hours. There are also regular trains from Trieste taking about 45 minutes and InterCity Night trains arriving from Rome once a day. If arriving from Slovenia trains will arrive at Nova Gorica train station, about 10 metres from the international border. Walk across the square into Italy and take the number 1 bus into the centre of Gorizia or the Gorizia train station (10 minutes). Bus tickets cost and can be bought from the ticket machine or from the tobacconist at the end of the street; day tickets are also available.

The closest airport is Trieste – Friuli Venezia Giulia. From the airport, take Coach 51 and then Coach 1 (coaches are operated by TPL FVG). Alternatively, take the train from the Trieste Airport railway station (right in front of the airport) to Monfalcone or Udine and change there.

Do
Walk across the international border to admire the stunning train station in Nova Gorica and have a gamble in one of the casinos in the Slovenian part. Generally Gorizia is the more beautiful city but it can feel like a graveyard especially in the afternoons and at weekends when shops are closed (as is common throughout Italy). Nova Gorica is much more lively and although the town itself isn't beautiful, its surrounding countryside, hills and rivers are especially so.

Buy
As with most Italian cities, shops tend to close for lunch and on Sundays (even though the neighbouring city's shops remain open, taking away their trade). Nova Gorica isn't a cheap city, but you will find that Slovene supermarkets have a greater variety of goods, and that alcohol and cigarettes are cheaper in the Slovenian city.

title: Gorizia


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Gorkha

Gorkha is a district in the western region of Nepal. It became part of Nepal when King Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha (also known as Gurkha) unified the country 250 years ago. The district headquarters is in Gorkha Bazaar.

Get in
Gorkha is connected by all weather road from Kathmandu (4 hours), Birjung (10 hours), Bhairahawa/Sunauli (10 hours) and Pokhara (3 hours). Buses are generally crowded. Micro buses are fast and relatively comfortable. Taxi can be hired from Kathmandu or Pokhara to Gorkha.

See

 * Gorkha Durbar. Residence of Shah Kings, at an elevation of 1510 m.
 * Manakamana Temple. Dedicated to the Goddess Durga, this temple can be reached by a cable car running from the Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway. The temple receives up to 3,000 visitors daily, which increases to tens of thousands during festival times. The high elevation also allows fantastic views over the Himalayas.
 * Mount Manaslu (8,163 m). The eighth highest peak in the world.

Do

 * Dashain. The festival in Kathmandu starts only after flowers and holy offerings arrive from Gorkha.
 * Cable car. Visiting the Manakamana Temple by cable car is one of the major attractions of the region.

Buy
Local handicrafts, garments and locally grown oranges.

Eat
Simple local, Western, and Chinese restaurants are available in Gorkha Bazaar and Manakamana. Local food stalls are available along the trekking route to Manaslu valley.

Drink
There is no restriction for any drink. Local wine, beer, and raxi (liquor) are available

Sleep
Manakamana has many budget lodges with facilities such as TV, telephone and en suite bath.

 * Hotel Bisauni, Gorkha Bazaar
 * Hotel Prince, Gorkha Bazaar
 * Hotel Old Capital, Gorkha Bazaar

Go next
Go trekking to Pokhara or go to Kathmandu/Pokhara/Birjunj/Sonauli by bus/micro.

title: Gorkha


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Gorkhi-Terelj National Park

Gorkhi-Terelj National Park (Горхи-Тэрэлж) is in Tuv of Mongolia, 55 km outside of Ulaanbaatar. It's one of Mongolia's top attractions.

Understand
Terelj is considered one of the most scenic areas in all of Mongolia and is a short drive outside of the capital. It's a rather mountainous area with a beautiful river, forests and some interestingly shaped rocks. The beautiful, mostly unspoiled natural area is a popular place to go for a picnic or spend the weekend for Ulaanbaatar's residents. Due to its popularity, there are many tourist camps and activities inside the park.

By Bus
There are 2 buses per day from Ulaanbaatar (UB) to the park (July 2018).

Departing UB at 12:00 and 16:00, they are not conveniently timed for short visits to the park, but are the most inexpensive way of getting there.

The bus, Route XO4, has a sign for "тэрэлж" and leaves from a regular city bus stop on the south side of Peace Avenue, opposite and 150m east of the 'Narantuul Hotel' and about 300 meters to the east of the junction with Ondor Gegeen Zanabazaryn. The bus waits at the east end of the bus stop.

Buses take about 2 hours to the south end of the park, 2.5 hours to Turtle Rock and 3 hours to get to Terelj village, which is the final stop.

Coming back, they leave Terelj village at 08:00 and 16:00. The bus costs 2500 ₮ one way (all prices here June 2018).

Alternatively to get back, take the microbus from Terelj village to its last stop Nalaikh town (every two hours, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, etc., 2000 ₮). There buses leave for UB every 10 minutes (900 ₮).

By car
The road is paved all the way, fine for cars. Lots of UB residents come for the weekend, so you can probably find a ride back to UB pretty easily. Offer to help pay for petrol.

Fees and permits
3000 ₮ payable at the national park gate, 6 km from the turnoff for the park road. Depending on your mode of transport and the time of day/year there may be no one to collect the fee and/or the bus may not stop at the gate.

Do
Trekking, horse riding, rafting, and golf during summer. Cross-country skiing during winter.

Buy
There are a couple of standard shops in Terelj village if you want to stock up on bottled water, biscuits, vodka, etc. Tourist camps sell stuff as well but will have less variety and higher prices.

Lodging

 * Authentic Mongolian Ger Heating. Heated by the wood stove placed in the center of it. The ger keepers start fire for you and can keep setting fire from time to time during colder nights.
 * Authentic Mongolian Ger Heating. Heated by the wood stove placed in the center of it. The ger keepers start fire for you and can keep setting fire from time to time during colder nights.

title: Gorkhi-Terelj National Park


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Gorno-Altaisk

Gorno-Altaisk (Russian: Го́рно-Алта́йск GOHR-nuh uhl-TIGHSK) is the capital of the Altai Republic.

Understand
Situated in the foothills of the Altai Mountains, Gorno-Altaisk has a population of around 55,000. Most of organized tourist groups pass by the city since it is not on the routes to major destinations. However, there is a lot to see. The city is located on the northern border of the Altai Republic in a valley of two rivers. Millions of years ago it was a lake here, but the feeding river Maima changed position and the lake disappeared. Ancient people started to settle here around a hundred thousand years ago. Sprawled 10 kilometers from east to west and 7,5km from north to south, the city has 200 streets and pereouloks. The main ones are Kommunistichesky Prospekt, in parallel to Choros-Gurkina Prospekt and Lenina Prospekt. Kommunistichesky and Choros-Gurkina Prospekts are concentration of shops, cafes, banks, education and administrative buildings. Thanks to the number of institutes, the city is full of young students (over 5000) and the weekends are always some sort of holiday. However, herds of cows can be seen walking around the streets.

By bus
In 2013 the construction of the railway from Biysk is planned.
 * Private taxis drive to Gorno-Altaisk from Barnaul and Biysk, buses depart from Biysk (every 2 hours), Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Kemerovo. Chuysky Highway is at the distance of 5km. The bus station is in the center of the city. From here private marshrutkas and taxis carry passengers to every town in the region.

Get around
The main transport in town are buses and marshrutkas (30 routes). Taxis are from ₽60. On a sunny day a walk takes 2 hours.

See

 * Museum of regional studies. 46, Choros-Gurkina st. Archeological findings, paintings of Choros-Gurkin, who is the first Altai painter, old photographs.
 * The Drama theater (a big white building with animal ornament) offers plays in Altai and Russian languages.
 * Art-salon Enchi of ethnic art. Address: 38, Choros-Gurkina st.

Do

 * There are trails to the mountains and as the mountains are quite high, the views are fascinating.
 * Mountain ski base (two hills 641m and 421m high) is very close to the city. Operates from December to March.

Buy
Of course, cheese, espcially hard sorts of cheese. Altay Balsams.

Kommunistichesky and Choros-Gurkina Prospekts are abound with shops, convenience shops and supermarkets.

Eat
All cafes and restaurants are located along the main streets.

Drink
The natural water springs are coming to the earth surface at the Central Park alley opposite the City Hall and at the Dinamo stadium.
 * Night club Galaktika

Sleep

 * There is a hotel just next to the central plaza that charges around 10e/night. Rooms are crappy, toilets (that probably do not work) are on the corridor. Shower costs extra 50RBL. Staff speaks only Russian, service is rude. Some rooms have a TV.

Internet

 * Pautina (Паутина), internet-cafe at the University.

Go next
Either Mongolia to the south or Tashtagol to the north.

title: Gorno-Altaisk


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Gorodets

Gorodets (Russian:Город'ец, Guh-ruh-DETS) is a small city in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.

Understand
The city is very old. Its foundation is dated back to the XIIth century. Few years on it was totally burnt down by the army of Batu Khan but soon was reestablished as the capital of a new princedom ruled by the third son of Alexander Nevsky. Emir Edigey of the White Horde destroyed the feudal state and the city was tagged as "empty Gorodets". Since then the city turned into a center of bread trade and wood utensil production.

Get in
By bus, by the river, by elektrichka from Nizhny Novgorod. Time travel is less than two hours.

Get around
Promenade Revolutsii along the Volga river is the most beautiful place.

See

 * the Gingerbread Museum at 2 Lenina st. (9.00-16.30)
 * the Samovar Museum at 11 Promenade Revolutsii. Open hours: 10.00-17.00 (16:00 at weekends)
 * Museum of regional studies at 11 Lenina st.

Buy

 * Folk art paintings.

title: Gorodets


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Goroka

Goroka is a city in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Famous for the yearly Goroka Show, it is also one of the closest major towns to Mt. Wilhelm, the highest summit in the country.

Understand
With around 20,000 people, Goroka is the capital of the Eastern Highlands province of PNG. It is above sea level and blessed with a very pleasant, spring-like climate all year round.

A university town and a base for several NGOs and institutes like the partially internationally funded Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka is somewhat less off the beaten path than rural PNG in general. For tourists, the town is best known for the Goroka Show cultural event, which draws visitors from near and far every September, though it does have natural and cultural attractions that can be enjoyed around the year.

Get in
Goroka's is in the centre of town and you can check in and then walk back downtown for a drink while waiting for your plane. Car rental is available at the airport. PNG Air both have twice daily flights from the nation's capital, Port Moresby. Port Moresby, in turn, has flights from Australia, East and Southeast Asia and a few other Oceanian countries.

By road, Goroka is on the "Highlands Highway", about west of Lae,  west of Kainantu and some  east of Mount Hagen. While this is the main road of the Highlands, frequent landslides, potholes and armed bandits make road travel a risky enterprise.

Get around
The centre of town near the airport, market, shops and Bird of Paradise Hotel is easy to walk around and fairly safe, although it can feel otherwise as it is crowded with people. There are some reliable taxi drivers around and the hotels and resorts will be able to provide drivers.

Other

Buy

There are several supermarkets in town, including Bintangor opposite the Bird of Paradise (open every day to 18:30 except 18:00 on Sunday) and Papindo at the back of the same block. Brian Bell (closes M-F at 5PM, Saturday at noon), on the west side of the airport, is best for homewares and there are many smaller Chinese-run stores with various goods.

Most large stores accept credit cards (but be aware of occasional fraud) and there are ATMs at the major banks, including Westpac and ANZ. There is an ATM inside the Bird of Paradise that does not charge fees, although it is intended for guests only.

Eat
Most restaurants are located in hotels.

Connect
As of late 2017, both mobile phone operators Bmobile and Digicel report having coverage in and around Goroka, the latter 3G coverage. As a rule, hotels offer Internet access.

Go next

 * Mt Wilhelm — Goroka is a convenient starting point for an ascent of PNG's highest mountain, Mt Wilhelm. The base camp for the mountain is at Keglsugl. This is about five hours by road from Goroka and there is a guest house, Betty's Lodge, with 37 beds (, fax: ). For the affluent, charter flights to Keglsugl airstrip, at, may be possible. The mountain is at and the climb and descent involves an overnight stay on the mountain. You may be close to the Equator, but temperatures can drop way below freezing at the summit. Taking a local guide is essential. Organized treks are available, for example from this company.
 * Kainantu is on the "Highlands Highway" approximately by road from Goroka. It is home to the Eastern Highlands Cultural Centre and Museum and is well known for its pottery. Kainantu is  from the nearby missionary station of Ukarumpa. This houses the Summer Institute of Linguistics, which aims to translate the Bible into all of Papua New Guinea's numerous languages. Accommodation is available at the 22-room Kainantu Lodge (, fax: ).
 * Kundiawa is the capital of Chimbu Province. It is on the Highlands Highway approximately halfway between Goroka and Mt. Hagen, the capital of Western Highlands province.

title: Goroka


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Gorom-Gorom

Gorom-Gorom is a market town in North Burkina Faso.

Understand
Why come to Gorom? The famous Thursday market is still as big as always but not as quaint, rustic, or charming as the days before economic development brought concrete and tin construction. The town has modernized a lot and is getting timbuktu-ified with tourists. The guides are pests. But it still makes a convenient base for travelling to other, more culturally interesting, colorful, remote, exotic villages and sites in Oudalan.

Call Amadou Vié 70 31 74 08 for an honest guide with an air conditioned vehicle. For those arriving by public transport and looking for a good guide, call Guiberou Babana at 76 41 20 61.

Get in
Everyday the SOGEBAF and TSR lines run buses leaving from Ouagadougou in the morning and afternoon and stopping at Dori. At Dori, get a bush taxi by asking one of the touts that hangs around the bus station - they will most likely find you first. A trip to Gorom costs 1500 CFA as of May 2006, but fares might be 2000 CFA in the rainy season, when the road is trickier.

On Sundays and Wednesdays there is a direct SOGEBAF from Ouagadougou to Gorom. It can be very crowded, since these buses serve people going to the Thursday Gorom market and the Monday Markoye market.

Get around
Bush taxis leave from the market to and from Dori everyday and to other nearby towns on their market days. You can also take a camel ride. Going any further than 10 km by camel will pulverize the behind of anyone unaccustomed to this mode of transport.

See

 * The Thursday market
 * The white hill
 * The Songrei neighborhood in sector 3
 * The Tabaski festivities (a Muslim holiday - check your calendar)
 * Many Mosques
 * Visit the artisan associations Tadarfit and Tegust in sector 4 and see their Toureg leather and ebony artworks. Buy art directly from them to cut out the exploitative middlemen.

Buy

 * street food
 * leather, silver, ebony, and bronze art
 * bissap and zoumkoum
 * rice and sauce
 * a turban

Eat
In addition to the spots listed below, there are little kiosks all over the marché and the major streets serving rice and sauce, mutton soup, rice and beans, and other traditional fare. Don’t overlook the street vendors selling fried snacks. Fried dough-balls with a little sugar makes a good breakfast—something like a donut if you use your imagination. Fried bean-flour balls make a good snack with a beer.

 * Restaurant Kawar. On the road that leads south from the market past the mosque with the tall tower. The menu choices are different every night, usually rice and peanut sauce (which is very good), spaghetti and tomato sauce (not very impressive), beans, mutton soup, or tô. They also brew terrific bissap and sell yogurt and soft drinks. A hotspot for visiting NGO agents and Mossi functionaries. Open for lunch and dinner.

 * Eldorado. Next door to Kawar. Besides serving Flag, Brakina, and So.B.Bra, they occasionally serve roasted pork around lunchtime and grilled fish or chicken at night—ask for the weekly schedule. Another spot for the Mossi crowd, especially the policemen who work at the station up the street.

 * Kiosk de la Paix. At the intersection of the road Campement Tondikara is on and the road leading north from the obelisk in sector 5. Open erratically for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can get the usual fair, and rarely a special treat like green beans or peas. They also make a tasty ground beef sandwich, very cheap but lean on meat (you can ask for double meat).

 * Le Petit Américain. Tasty ground beef sandwiches. Super cheap lunch. It’s on the main road going through sector 5 (Mayor’s office, Action Sociale and New Loock are on the same road. Go past New Loock towards PDL.

 * New Loock [sic]. East of the mayor’s office, past the obelisk. They serve beer and garlic grilled chicken, although Banguia chicken is cheaper and bigger.

 * Kiosk au Coeur du Sahel. Good place to eat riz gras, rice and beans, or whatever else they have cooking. Located in the Market.

 * Banguia. The place to go for dancing—there’s a huge floor and lots of patrons. Gorom is a good place to party on New Year’s Eve if you want to get away from the craziness and frenzy of Ouagadougou on that particular night. They serve the usual beers and soft drinks, plus the best garlic chicken in town, courtesy of Victoire. During gardening season (October to May) you might also be lucky enough to find the salad lady working.

 * Mouton au Four. Next to Banguia, in the direction of the market. Roasted mutton. Never ate there, but heard it’s yummy.

 * Le Monde. Next to the Campement Tondikara. They serve beer, soft drinks, and the usual dinner fare.

 * Guira’s. All the Gorom guides hang out here, getting loaded and watching the road for tourists to pester. Besides beer, they grill chicken and in summer they sometimes make omelettes and soup for breakfast.

Drink
See above... plus any number of small bouvettes where you can buy whisky, rum, gin, or wine and talk to local drunks. They are sure to love you.

Sleep

 * Orphelenat. It’s not in the guide books, but the orphanage, run by Catholic nuns, has comfortable and clean guest rooms with ceiling fans and running water (sometimes).  A good value at 2500 CFA a person.  The grounds are on the northern edge of town, a 10-minute walk from the marketplace.  Visiting the orphans can be a lot of fun, but can also be a heartbreaking experience, since they often are brought sick to the nuns.

 * Auberge. On the main road from Dori, close to the hospital and gas station. Basic rooms, and beverages served. Looks rundown and poorly managed. Cheap.

 * Le Mission Catholique. Across from the Catholic church in sector 4. Close to Restaurant Kawar and Eldorado bar. Basic rooms, not very clean, shared toilets. They do post a guard at the gate and you can sleep outside with relative privacy.

 * Campement Wouroutou. On the left hand side, on the road to Markoye, after the orphanage. Clean rooms, shared toilets and showers. Food and drinks.

Go next

 * Go look at the archeological site at Oursi
 * Koryzena has a new auberge for travellers.
 * Menougou - scenic village near a marsh -- good for bird watching
 * The marsh of Darkoye
 * Go to Deou to see the last remaining all-traditional market in the area (that is, all wood and thatch hangars instead of concrete and tin stalls.)
 * Go to Tin-a-Koff to see the Touaregs, the river, and the forest. There is an auberge there as well.
 * Go to Markoye and see old rock carvings and other archeological attractions.

Gorom-Gorom in popular culture
All three Sophie books by British children's author Stephen Davies are set in Gorom-Gorom.

title: Gorom-Gorom


text:
Gorongosa National Park

Gorongosa National Park is in Central Mozambique.

Understand
This 4,000-km² park is at the southern end of the Great East African Rift Valley. The park includes the valley floor and parts of surrounding plateaus. Rivers originating on nearby 1862-meter Mount Gorongosa water the plain.

Seasonal flooding and waterlogging of the valley, which is composed of a mosaic of different soil types, creates a variety of distinct ecosystems. Grasslands are dotted with patches of acacia trees, savannah, dry forest on sands and seasonally rain-filled pans and termite hill thickets. The plateaus contain miombo and montane forests and a spectacular rain forest at the base of a series of limestone gorges.

This combination of unique features at one time supported some of the densest wildlife populations in all of Africa, including charismatic carnivores, herbivores and over 500 bird species. But large mammal numbers were reduced by as much as 95% and ecosystems stressed during Mozambique's long civil conflict at the end of the 20th Century.

The Carr Foundation/Gorongosa Restoration Project, a U.S. not-for-profit organization, teamed with the Government of Mozambique to protect and restore the ecosystem of Gorongosa National Park and to develop an ecotourism industry to benefit local communities. In January 2008, the Foundation signed a 20-year contract with the Government to co-manage the park.

In 2010 the National Geographic film on Gorongosa National Park, Africa's Lost Eden, was released.

History
Origins 1920-1940: The dramatic landscape and abundant wildlife of the Gorongosa region have long attracted hunters, explorers, and naturalists. The first official act to protect some of its splendor came in 1920, when the Mozambique Company ordered 1,000 km² set aside as a hunting reserve for company administrators and their guests. Chartered by the government of Portugal, the Mozambique Company controlled all of central Mozambique between 1891 and 1940.

Little is known about the reserve's early years, only that at some point a local man named Jose Ferreira began living in a thatched hut in Chitengo camp and guarding wildlife. In 1935 Mr. Jose Henriques Coimbra was named warden and Mr. Ferreira became the reserve's first guide. The same year the Mozambique Company enlarged the reserve to 3,200 km² to protect habitat for Nyala (an antelope) and black rhino, both highly prized hunting trophies.

A letter written by a Mozambique Company official in 1935 indicates that in its early years the reserve was managed for hunters not as a wildlife sanctuary. "A visit to Beira will soon be made by the British Cruiseliner Carlisle, which will consist of a hunting trip for the respective officers in the open plains of Gorongosa," a company official wrote to a local administrator.

"It is hereby recommended to the Administrator that he take adequate measures to ensure that these illustrious guests will not find the animals too dispersed or excited, which would make it difficult for them to have a successful hunt."

By 1940 the reserve had become so popular that a new headquarters and tourist camp was built on the floodplain near the Mussicadzi River. Unfortunately, it had to be abandoned two years later due to heavy flooding in the rainy season. Lions then occupied the abandoned building and it became a popular tourist attraction for many years, known as Casa dos Leões (Lion House).

1941-1959: After the Mozambique Company's charter ended, management of the reserve was transferred to the colonial government. Mr. Alfredo Rodriques was appointed Warden, replacing Mr. Coimbra. Over the next 14 years Mr. Rodrigues initiated the first steps towards banning hunting and establishing a viable tourism business.

In 1951 construction began on a new headquarters and other facilities at Chitengo camp, including a restaurant and bar. The same year, the government added a 12,000-km² protection zone around the reserve to mitigate the impacts of the road from Beira to Rhodesia (now called Zimbabwe), which went through Chitengo. By the end of the 1950s more than 6,000 tourists were visiting annually and the colonial government had awarded the first tourism concession in the park.

In 1955 the Veterinary Services division of the colonial government assumed control of all wildlife management in Mozambique, including Gorongosa National Park. Gorongosa was named a national park by the government of Portugal in 1960.

Golden years 1960-1980: Recognizing that the reserve needed more formal ecological protection and more facilities for its rapidly growing tourism business, in 1960 the government declared the reserve and another 2,100 km² -- a total of 5,300 km² -- a national park.

Many improvements to the new park's trails, roads and buildings ensued. Between 1963 and 1965 Chitengo camp was expanded to accommodate 100 overnight guests. By the late 1960s, it had two swimming pools, a bar and banquet hall, a restaurant serving 300-400 meals a day, a post office, a petrol station, a first-aid clinic, and a shop selling local handicrafts. Revenue from hunting licenses and taxes on hunters elsewhere in Mozambique supported much of that development. At the same time, paving of the Beira-Rhodesia road and construction of the "drum bridge" over the Pungue River, in Bué Maria, helped to double the annual number of visitors.

In the late 1960s, the first comprehensive scientific studies of the Park were led by Kenneth Tinley, a South African ecologist. In the first aerial survey, Tinley and his team counted about 200 lions, 2,200 elephants, 14,000 buffaloes, 5,500 wildebeest, 3,000 zebras, 3,500 waterbucks, 2,000 impala, 3,500 hippos, and herds of eland, sable and hartebeest numbering more than 500.

Tinley also discovered that many people and most of the wildlife living in and around the park depended on one river, the Vunduzi, which originated on the slopes of nearby Mount Gorongosa. Because the mountain was outside the park's boundaries, Tinley proposed expanding them to include it as a key element in a "Greater Gorongosa Ecosystem" of about 8,200 km².

He and other scientists and conservationists had been disappointed in 1966 when the government reduced the park's area to 3,770 km². The official reason for the reduction was that local farmers needed more land. Tinley saw the situation differently. Pointing out that wildlife had been eradicated from many nearby areas, he suggested that the real purpose of the reduction was to make more wildlife available to local hunters. "Their hunger is for protein, not land" he said.

Meanwhile, Mozambique was in the midst of a war for independence launched in 1964 by the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo). The war had little impact on Gorongosa National Park until 1972, when a Portuguese company and members of the Provincial Volunteer Organization were stationed there to protect it. Even then, not much damage occurred, although some soldiers hunted illegally. In 1976, a year after Mozambique won its independence from Portugal, aerial surveys of the Park and adjacent Zambezi River delta counted 6,000 elephants and about 500 lions, probably the largest lion population in all of Africa.

In a clear tribute to the Park's growing worldwide reputation and importance to wildlife conservation in Mozambique, the Frelimo government selected Gorongosa in 1981 to host the country's first National Conference on Wildlife.

Civil war 1981-1994: The peace didn't last. South Africa began arming and supplying a rebel army to destabilize it. In December 1981, for the first time, Gorongosa National Park felt the full fury of war when Mozambique National Resistance (MNR, or Renamo) fighters attacked the Chitengo campsite and kidnapped several staff, including two foreign scientists.

The violence increased in and around the park after that. In 1983 it was shut down and abandoned. For the next nine years Gorongosa was the scene of frequent battles between opposing forces. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting and aerial bombing destroyed buildings and roads. The park's large mammals suffered terrible losses. Both sides in the conflict slaughtered hundreds of elephants for their ivory, selling it to buy arms and supplies. Hungry soldiers shot many more thousands of zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, and other hoofed animals. Lions and other large predators were gunned down for sport or died of starvation when their prey disappeared.

Thousands of people living in or near the park were being brutalized towards the end of the war when the rebels controlled much of Gorongosa District. Some people sought refuge in the Park. Desperate for meat, they hunted at will, further reducing the park's wildlife.

The civil war ended in 1992 but widespread hunting in the park continued for two more years. By that time many large mammal populations--including elephants, hippos, buffalos, zebras, and lions--had been reduced by 90 percent or more. The park's spectacular birdlife emerged relatively unscathed.

Post war 1995-2003: A preliminary effort to rebuild Gorongosa National Park's infrastructure and restore its wildlife began in 1994 when the African Development Bank (ADB) started work on a rehabilitation plan--with assistance from the European Union and International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Fifty new staff were hired, most of them former soldiers. Baldeu Chande and Roberto Zolho, employed by the park before the war, returned to take leadership positions. Chande was director of the emergency program and Zolho was wildlife coordinator and warden. "We have established that all species that were here before the war are still here" Chande told a reporter in 1996. "None is extinct but many are in very small numbers". Over a five-year period this ADB initiative reopened about 100 km of roads and trails and trained guards to slow illegal hunting.

New beginnings 2004 to present: In 2004 the Government of Mozambique and the US-based Carr Foundation agreed to work together to rebuild the Park's infrastructure, restore its wildlife populations and spur local economic development--opening an important new chapter in the park's history.

Between 2004 and 2007 the Carr Foundation invested more than $10 million in this effort. During that time the restoration project team completed a 6,200-hectare (23 square mile) wildlife sanctuary and reintroduced buffaloes and wildebeests to the ecosystem. They also began the reconstruction of Chitengo Safari Camp.

Due to the success of this initial three-year project, the Government of Mozambique and the Carr Foundation announced in 2008 that they had signed a 20-year agreement to restore and co-manage the park.

The dedicated team of scientists, engineers, business managers, economic experts and tourism developers now working to restore Gorongosa National Park are confident that with hard work, the involvement of the local population, and revenue from eco-tourism, this spectacular place will regain its former glory.

Ecology
Gorongosa National Park protects a vast ecosystem defined, shaped, and given life by all the rivers that flow into Lake Urema. The Nhandungue crosses the Barue Plateau on its way down to the valley. The Nhandue and Mucombeze come from the north. Mount Gorongosa contributes the Vunduzi. Several smaller rivers pour down off the Cheringoma Plateau. Together they comprise the Urema Catchment, an area of about 7,850 km².

Most of the rivers are seasonal, reaching the valley floor only during the rainy season, between November and April. The rest of the year they are intermittent rivers that appear and disappear into the earth. Only the Vunduzi and the Nhandungue feed Lake Urema the entire year. The Nhandungue receives help from the Muera, a smaller stream that feeds it even at the height of the dry season. Like the Vunduzi, the Muera comes from Mount Gorongosa. Thus water born on the mountain is the key to life in the valley below.

On calm, clear days, the lake's surface reflects Mount Gorongosa's huge green bulk, as if in gratitude, and rightly so: it's a commanding presence the indigenous people hold sacred. An isolated, 600-km² massif, 1,863 m high, it's large enough to create its own weather system. Two meters of precipitation fall annually on the mountain. Lush forests and grasslands on its upper reaches soak up much of that water and dispense it down slope all year long.

Flora and fauna
The rain and seasonal inundation of the valley, along with many different soil types, creates a unique mosaic of distinct ecosystems. The plains are dotted with acacia savanna, dry forests in sandy areas, wetlands or pans seasonally filled by the rains, and thickets on termite-built mounds. The plateaus contain miombo and mountain forests and a spectacular rainforest at the bottom of a series of limestone gorges.

Wildlife: lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, hippo, crocodile, zebra, sable, kudu, nyala, waterbuck, impala, bushbuck, reedbuck, oribi, lichenstein’s hartebeest, warthog, bush pig, serval cat, civet, genet, chacma baboon and vervet monkey.

The park’s birdlife is fantastic. About 400 species have been sighted. Many are endemics or near-endemics prized by birders. The green-headed oriole, for example, is found in southern Africa only on Mount Gorongosa, and the moustached warbler has been sighted at Chitengo and on the mountain.

Climate
Central Mozambique has a tropical savanna climate, with an annual rainfall of 1000 – 1400 mm. Summer temperatures average 30º-40º C, with high humidity (November - March). Winter months average 15º–25º C (April - September).

Chitengo Safari Camp offers modern cabanas with air conditioning, restaurant and swimming pools; the camp is open throughout the year except for the period from mid-Dec to the end of Jan. Photo safaris at the park are possible from April to November (dry season). During the rainy season (December to March) the safari road network is closed due to flooding.

You can use a 10-seat game viewer with a wildlife expert guide to visit places like the Lion House or the Hippo House. You can also visit the park using your own vehicle, following the instructions provided in the map and leaflet that will be given to you at the main gate.

Talk
Mozambique’s national language is Portuguese. Many people in its main cities (Maputo, Beira, Chimoio) also speak English. In and around Gorongosa National Park, local residents speak either Sena or Chi-Gorongosi (a local dialect), although many also know some Portuguese. Staff in Chitengo speak English and Portuguese widely, and some speak other European languages.

By air
Flights from Johannesburg to Maputo on SAA and LAM (Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique) and connecting flights from Maputo to Beira and Chimoio on LAM depart daily. Direct flights from Johannesburg to Beira on LAM and SA Airlink also depart daily. From Lisbon (Portugal) TAP and LAM fly directly to Maputo several days per week. Gorongosa National Park’s Chitengo Safari Camp is 200 km (about a 3-hour drive) from the airport in Beira. Chitengo is 135 km (about a 2-hour drive) from Chimoio.

For private air charters there is a licensed airstrip at Chitengo Safari Camp, with a landing length of 1200 m of hard earth. Advanced notification and authorization by the aeronautical authorities is required (from December to April the airstrip is closed due to the rains).

By car
Rental cars and driving in the park Maputo and Beira have Imperial and Avis rental car agencies. Rates vary, depending on the agency, the car you rent, and if you need a driver, but typically they are about US$125 per day.

You can drive to the park on the EN1 highway from Maputo or via the EN6 highway from Beira, which intersects the EN1 highway at Inchope. Both are tar roads. The 40 km of EN1 from Inchope to the turn-off to the park is high-quality tar. From there it’s another 11 km east on a graded dirt road to the park gate. The 18-km dirt road from the gate to Chitengo is drivable in a two-wheel drive vehicle with good clearance. During the rainy season (November–April) the road is only passable using a four-wheel drive vehicle, and in particularly heavy rains may not be passable.

Even during the dry season, it is recommended to drive a 4x4 vehicle on the park's roads and Game Drive Network. Driving a 2x2 sedan is not recommended for game drives because of the risk of getting stuck or damaging your vehicle. Four-wheel drive is essential for driving to the base of Mount Gorongosa or exploring any other rugged terrain.

Bus (“chapa”) from Beira Buses leave Beira hourly for Chimoio or Inchope, but they do not come all the way to the Park. You will need to get off at Inchope and take the bus to Vila Gorongosa. Ask the driver to let you off at the turn-off to the park, about 40 km north of Inchope. From there, you will need transportation to Chitengo, a distance of about 29 km. You will need to call the park (+258 23 535010 or +258 82 3020604) from Inchope (preferably from Beira or Chimoio) to request a ride.

Visiting hours: The park’s main gate opens at 6AM and closes at 6PM.

Fees and permits
Park entry fee

Per person (Non-Mozambican) - 200 MT/US$8

Per person (Mozambican) - 100 MT/US$4

Per car - 200 MT/US$8 Per trailer - 50 MT/US$2

Get around
‘Explore Gorongosa’ Private Safari ‘Explore Gorongosa’ is a private ecotourism outfit which runs exclusive luxury walking safaris based out of the comforts of a luxurious custom-designed tented camp. These intimate, personal mobile safari experiences led by expert guides cater for a maximum of eight guests and provide the ultimate in safari service and personal comforts. They offer a well-rounded safari experience which explores the whole gamut of Gorongosa's wilderness, and various set-departure special interest safari expeditions around a specific theme such as birding.

Wildlife Game Drives (3 hours) Trained guides can take you on early-morning and sunset game-viewing drives to view wildlife on the approximately 100 km of game roads from Chitengo. The drives will traverse various ecosystems, including floodplains, miombo forest, and lowland savanna. Due to safety reasons, children under 6 years are not allowed in the open game-viewing vehicle.

Self Game Drives If you prefer to drive your own vehicle you can do a wildlife self game drive. Get tickets at the Chitengo Camp reception and do not forget to hand it in at the gate before you enter the road network. You will be given a brief course on the safety rules for self driving on Park roads. If you want to be accompanied by a guide, there will be at an extra cost of 240 MT (US$10). Be sure your vehicle is four-wheel drive with good ground clearance. Sedan cars are not recommended for game drives.

Trip to Vinho Community (2-3 hours) Take a 30 - 45 minute walk with a guide to the community of Vinho just outside the park boundary. It is a 2-km walk to the Pungue River, with some birding along the way. At the Pungue River there will be a short trip in a small boat. You may greet many of the park employees as they commute from Vinho on their way to work. You will also visit the school and hospital in the community.

Bué Maria Sundown (2-3 hours) This approximately 2-3 hour visit takes visitors to Bué Maria which overlooks the Pungue River to experience the sunset.

Eat and drink
Chitengo Safari Camp has a reasonably priced bar and restaurant serving authentic Mozambican breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Breakfast is included in the price of the cabanas. Features many locally grown organic vegetables to support the local communities near Chitengo. Breakfast 6AM-9:30AM, Lunch: 12:30PM-2:30PM, Dinner: 7:30PM-9PM

Lodging
Constructed in 1941, Chitengo hosted thousands of visitors from all over the world until 1983, when Mozambique’s civil war shut it down. It was mostly destroyed during the war, but re-opened in 1995. Is now been restored with many modern conveniences. travel@gorongosa.net, tel +258 23-535010

 * Cabanas. There are 9 modern and comfortable double cabanas in a tranquil area of Chitengo, for a total of 18 separate rooms, each with 2 single beds or 1 double bed. All have mosquito netting, en-suite toilets, air-conditioning, and thatch chairs. Maximum occupancy: 2 persons.

Camping
Campsite has bathrooms and showers with hot water, a grill area, firepit, an area to wash clothes, and a covered gazebo.

Stay safe
Gorongosa National Park is mostly wilderness surrounded by rural areas with only a few small, scattered villages. Whether you’re traveling by air, car or bus, you’ll want to make careful travel arrangements well in advance.

Gorongosa National Park does not sell fuel. Buy fuel only from stations that look respectable and have a functioning electric pump. The closest reliable stations are in Vila da Gorongosa, Gondola, Nhamatanda, Beira, Dondo, Chimoio and Caia. Fuel at other locations may be dirty or mixed with water or other chemicals.

Stay healthy
The park's small health clinic provides basic first-aid, including anti-venom for some kinds of bites and primary anti-malarial treatments.

Gorongosa National Park is a recognized malaria area, so a course of prophylactic medicine two weeks before departure (or as prescribed by your pharmacist or physician) is recommended.

For serious medical problems, the park provides transportation to the health clinic in Vila Gorongosa, a 1.5 hour drive away (about 60 km).

Bottled mineral water is available at a reasonable price, so you’ll only need to bring purification tablets if you're on a tight budget.

title: Gorongosa National Park


text:
Gorontalo

There is more than one place called Gorontalo:

Indonesia

 * Gorontalo (province) - a province on the island of Sulawesi. See Northern Sulawesi.
 * Gorontalo (city) - the administrative capital of Gorontalo (province).

title: Gorontalo


text:
Gorontalo (city)

Gorontalo is a city in Northern Sulawesi, and the provincial capital of Gorontalo province.

Understand
With its old Dutch colonial buildings, surrounding waterfalls, hot springs, and pristine coral reefs for diving, Gorontalo should be a world famous destination. However, most travellers only use it as a hub for the Togean islands. A large majority of Gorontalo residents are Muslims.

By plane
Gorontalo is served by. The largest Indonesian airlines all connect Gorontalo to Makassar. Garuda Indonesia in addition has direct flights to Jakarta. Lion Air subsidiary Wings Air has regional flights to and from Manado, Luwuk, and Palu.

By boat

 * The overnight ferry, Touna Tomini, from Ampana / Togean Islands calls on Gorontalo every Thursday and Sunday, making the return trip the next day. Note: There's only 1 ferry and when it breaks down there's none.
 * The new fast ferry from Togean leave Dolong (handy for Malenge) on Wednesdays at 7:00 and Saturdays at 8.00AM to Buckland (arrive at 13:00) from where it's a 3-hour drive to Gorontalo.

By bus

 * Buses from Manado run daily (price Rp60,000).
 * Kijang (public cars) from Manado is a more comfortable option that will drop you at your preferred hotel. Rp150,000 for front seat (more comfortable), Rp100,000 for backseat (brace yourself for a bumpy ride).

Get around

 * Bentor is a cross between a rickshaw (Indonesian: becak) and a motorbike (motor), and will take you around town for Rp5,000. The price is about Rp20,000-30.000. for destinations outside of town, such as beaches and waterfalls. Arriving from the Togeans, the 4 km ride from Gorontalo harbor to the city should cost you Rp40,000 (Oct 2018).
 * Local buses and bemos (minivans in light blue color) have been observed, but they seem only useful for the locals.
 * Transportation sharing app like Grab and GoJek is available, although the number of cars is still limited. There is also some limitation (e.g. you can be dropped to the shopping center, but you can't be picked up from there).

See

 * Dutch colonial mansions littered the city.
 * Waterfalls
 * Hot springs
 * Dutch colonial mansions littered the city.
 * Waterfalls
 * Hot springs

Diving
Gorontalo is home to the Salvador Dali coral sponge, indigenous to this region. With more than 25 dive sites accessible from the shore around Gorontalo, this should be a mecca for dive enthusiasts. However, so far this gem has remained relatively hidden.

Snorkeling
Visit North Gorontalo, There is with good condition coral and fish also the white sand beach. As of June 2022, the island has become a private island with an entry fee of Rp5,000,000. Another is also good place for snorkeling with cheaper entry fee of Rp40,000.

Whale shark watching
Probably the one thing that the city is most famous for and the main reason why some tourists stay overnight. You can do this in and Olele Marine Park, and you can snorkel in the area as well.

There used to be a prawn processing plant nearby which attracted whale sharks for feeding. The plant has closed, but the locals are feeding the whale sharks to keep them in the bay so that it is "guaranteed" that tourists can see them all year round. This is arguably unethical because whale sharks are normally migratory animals. Secondly, tour operators and tourists alike are not educated enough on how to avoid injuring white sharks (for a start: do not touch them, and get out of their way). So knowing these things, act according to your own conscience.

Buy
Buy supplies for Togean Island because the island is remote and essentials are expensive so bring sunscreen, mosquito spray/coils, and other essentials that you can think of.

Souvenirs

 * Karawo, is a traditional fabric of Gorontalo.
 * Upiya Karanji, is a traditional Gorontalo's skullcap.

Eat

Drink
The local shops sell beer for you to consume in the privacy of your hotel. To enjoy a night out, I'm afraid you will have to put up with being at a karaoke place paying Rp30.000/hour for the pleasure.

Go next

 * Togean islands for that Robinson Crusoe island experience. Take Tuna Tomini Ferry to Wakai: Rp65,000 for Economy Class, Rp75,000 for Tatami Class (you can lie down), or Rp89,000 for Business Class (with aircon).
 * Manado public bus departs at 5:30am (Rp110,000), shared car departs at various time (Rp200,000 for front seat, Rp175,000 for middle seat, Rp150,000 for back seat). Expect a 10-12 hours ride.

title: Gorontalo (city)


text:
Gorst

Gorst is located on the Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound region of Washington state.

Understand
The hamlet of Gorst was the birthplace of Gorst Air Transport, a tiny carrier that was the basis upon which United Air Transport was built.

Aviation magnate William Boeing turned the small air service into the legendary company that now bears the United Air Lines name.

Get in
Gorst, located at the end of Sinclair Inlet, is a Kitsap crossroads. Hwy 3 leads north to Bremerton and beyond, and south to Belfair. Hwy 16 leads to Port Orchard, Gig Harbor and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Get around
Gorst is more like a business district strip mall kind of area. If you need a tire fixed or are shopping for a car this is the place.

Sleep
Try nearby Port Orchard or Bremerton.

title: Gorst


text:
Gorumara National Park

Gorumara National Park is a national park in the Northern Plains of West Bengal.

History
Gorumara was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1949 and a national park in 1992. Although Jaldapara National Park is traditionally considered popular for its one-horned rhinos, Gorumara has overtaken Jaldapara in footfall over the years and the options for jungle safari have also increased.

Landscape
Gorumara National Park lies in the Himalayan foothills and has great natural beauty. The park is on the bank of the Murti and Raidak rivers and has the vegetation of riverine grasslands interspersed with savannah woodlands. Much of the forest is moist deciduous and sal (shorea robusta) is the most common and valuable tree. Teak, simul, siris, khair are also found here.

This article also covers Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, which is separated from Gorumara by the Murti River.

Fauna
Gorumara has recorded 50 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 20 species of reptiles, and 30 species of amphibians.

Mammals: The park has a huge concentration of herbivores like the Indian rhinoceros, gaur, Asian elephant, sloth bear, chital, and the sambar deer. In comparison, there is a lack of carnivores with the only big cat being leopards. Tigers are occasionally spotted here. It has a huge population of elephants and wild boars. The rare pygmy hog and the hispid hare have been reported in this park.

Birds: Gorumara National Park is famous for its bird population - which includes brilliant submontane forest birds like the scarlet minivet, sunbird, Asian paradise flycatcher, spangled drongo and great Indian hornbill. Numerous woodpeckers and pheasants inhabit the park. Peafowls are very common to spot. The park is on the flyway of numerous migratory birds, including the rare Brahminy Duck.

Reptiles and amphibians: The park is home to a large number of snakes, venomous and non-venomous, including the Indian python, one of the largest snakes in the world, and the king cobra - the world's largest venomous snake.

Climate
The park is closed in the monsoon season (normally June–September).

By train
Although there are railway stations nearby, the nearest station to get to Gorumara National Park smoothly is New Mal Junction railway station at Malbazar. There's a railway station within Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, but no train stops there.

By car
National Highway 31 which connects Siliguri and Guwahati passes through Lataguri (about 75 km from Siliguri), Chalsa and Nagrakata near the park. Gorumara National Park is 1 km from Lataguri, 10 km from Chalsa. It is recommended to hire vehicles from Chalsa or Lataguri to enter the National Park. Most hotels will arrange for the visit.

Fees and permits
A terrain vehicle safari costs ₹2200 and can accommodate up to 6 people. Entry fees vary from ₹70-160. Fees for each watch tower and entry point is different. Other fees like parking fees and guide fees are also to be paid. Online booking can be done here. On-site booking facilities are also available. The park remains closed on Thursdays.

Watch towers
The best way to watch the wildlife at the park is to use powerful binoculars, with night vision facilities at night, from the numerous well-located watchtowers at the park.

Do
There are no ranger-led or otherwise all-terrain vehicle or elephant-back forays into the jungle. Hiking is permitted on gravel roads, but is slightly unsafe considering the population of elephants, gaur and rhinoceros present in the park.

Government lodges
The following lodges are operated by either West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC or simply West Bengal Tourism) or West Bengal Forest Development Corporation (WBFDC or simply West Bengal Forest). These lodges can be booked from either Kolkata or Siliguri.

Go next

 * Jaldapara National Park

title: Gorumara National Park


text:
Gorzów Wielkopolski

Gorzów Wielkopolski (German: Landsberg) is a city of over 125.000 inhabitants and one of the capitals of Lubuskie Voivodship in Poland.

By plane
Zielona Góra Airport is around  away from Babimost, a city close to Zielona Góra. Daily flights to Warsaw operated by the LOT Polish airlines. Negotiations are being held to introduce some international flights within the European Union.

By train
The Polish State Railways has direct train connections to Gorzów Wielkopolski from many large Polish cities, but almost all of them require a change of trains. There are direct connections between Gorzów Wielkopolski and Zielona Góra, the journey takes 2 to up to 2,5 hours. Furthermore there are some connections to Berlin, Germany.

The is situated in the western part of the city centre, it is just a 10-minute walk from the main square in the old town.

By car
You can easily get to Gorzów Wielkopolski by car from Szczecin, Poznań and Berlin.

Gorzów Wielkopolski has a good road infrastructure. Parking in the city centre can be a problem sometimes as in every large Polish cities, since there are few parking places to satisfy the demand.

By bus
The is located very near to the train station north of the city centre. There are many domestic connections, usually faster than the train, because there often a change is required. The bus station is located right next to the train station.

There are also international connections (see also Poland::By bus).

Get around
The centre is very compact and thus manageable on foot.

By public transport
Public transportation is provided by MZK - normal ticket 3,00 zł. A reduced ticket costs 1,50 zł. A 24-hour ticket (bilet dobowy) costs 13,80 zł.

Sleep
There are several hotels, cheaper alternative is accommodation in student dorms.

Go next
Kostrzyn and border with Germany

title: Gorzów Wielkopolski


text:
Goseong

There's more than one place called Goseong:

South Korea

 * Goseong (South Gyeongsang) (Goseong-gun) - a county in South Gyeongsang Province
 * Goseong County (Goseong-gun) - a county in Gangwon Province

title: Goseong